Board of Education Meeting 9/17/19

001Let's have a moment of silence and maybe we could if you could please remember the people that are in the Bahamas that are suffering from uh Hurricane Dorian. Please rise for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, the Herald News, the Trends, the Records, The Messenger, West Milford Town Hall, the County Superintendent Office, the Board Attorney, and Cable Vision of Warwick, and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township, library,

002and all district uh schools. Roll call. Mrs. Francisco, >> Mrs. Romeo >> here, >> Mr. Cidelitz >> here. >> Mr. Drew, Mrs. Dwer, Mr. Gino >> here, >> Mrs. Fritz >> here, >> Mr. Oshinsky >> here, >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here, >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here, >> Dr. Yes. Good evening everybody. Uh we're going to start off the superintendent report tonight by uh honoring our West Milford Township Public Schools teacher of the year. Uh we do have a resolution we printed and we put on a nice plaque and we do have a nice uh small little token of appreciation uh for Mr. Robert Kamari uh teacher McPin School. I'm going to read it for you and then if you'd like to come say a few words that would be great. All right. So whereas

003the West Milford Board of Education encourages recognition of the contributions of their teachers and leaders and whereas the West Milford Board of Education annually participates in the Governor's Educator of the Year program. And whereas the Governor's Educator of the Year program seeks to highlight educational innovation, student achievement, the rewards of teaching, and important services outside the classroom that lead to student success. And whereas this recognition brings public attention to the positive aspects of our educational system. Whereas Robert Calamari has been recognized as the West Milford School District teacher of the year for 201920. Now therefore, be it resolved that the West Milford Board of Education on behalf of the community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Robert Calamari for his contributions to the students of Makaban School. And be it further resolved that

004this resolution be spread upon the official minutes of the board of education meeting held on September 17th, 2019 and presented to Robert Kalamari. I have a camera. >> Thank you very much. >> But this up really Got it. Hey, thank you very much. Thank you so much. Congratulations. My goodness. My goodness. Thank you so much. >> Just one more swallow. >> Oh, absolutely. >> Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Novak, Dr. Anamone, members of the board, and all those in attendance. What a privilege it is to stand here before you this evening. I am humbled at the notion that my colleagues and district administration would find something in my teaching practice worth honoring. This has caught me by surprise. But if one were to ask why it is that I stand before you tonight, I

005would tell the one asking that I have very little to do with it. I am a product of our West Milford school district. I was taught in our halls and played sport on our fields. Anything that I have learned of teaching, anything deemed praiseworthy by administration. Anything to be recognized here tonight must rightfully be attributed to its original source. My teachers and my coaches, the names of Koger, Lane, Zacharov, Frink, Dwire, Balkcan, Batales, and Cosgrove. These are just a few among the many who helped to make me into the man and the teacher that I am today. And many of these names still teach in our schools and still shape the lives of our young men and women today. It was from them that I learned in the words of Teddy Roosevelt that we must

006dare to be great in all of our endeavors. That nothing in this world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort and difficulty. and that it is from such difficulty and hardship that we find value and purpose in what we do. I am so proud to have come through West Milford. I am better for it and I would not change my experience for the world. To be honored here in my hometown among my teachers and lunch aids and in the presence of my family. I do not know of a greater honor than that. And so it is with the utmost humility that I accept this award knowing full well that a good teacher is only worth their weight because of the great teachers that stand behind him. Thank you. [Applause] [Music] Thank you.

007One of West Milford's finest. Um so our back to school nights are off with a bang. We already had two uh two back to school nights at Absua and Marshall Hill, our two newest principles. Dr. Shaleri and Mr. O'Donnell went first and second respectively. Uh we have six more schools to get through over the next couple weeks and we're looking forward to those evenings. Uh we hope to see as many parents out as we can. Um next up here is uh 20 on the agenda tonight for approval is the uh 201819 school self assessment grades. Um you should see those in your packets. We are going to approve those tonight and then submit them tomorrow to the department of ed. So each school has to score itself on a one to se one through 78

008scoring um chart and you should have the packet in your board in your board packet. Uh, Aptua scored 76 out of 78, Maple Road 76, Marshall Hill 75, Paradise No 72, Upper Greenwood Lake 75, Westbrook 76, Macben 72, and the high school 71 out of 78. These will be submitted to the department tomorrow once we approve them tonight. And then they will send us back their final report later in the year uh affirming these grades as well. Um, student re-registration. We mentioned this last year a couple times, um, at least twice that I can recall. We're going to conduct a student re-registration and select grades districtwide. Later this autumn, probably in November, we'll select one grade per level of school. So, for example, it could be four, seven, and 10, which hits all three levels

009of our schools. uh and asking parents in those grades to reregister their their children and and prove residency. Uh once again, we're finding a lot of uh letters that we're sending home or getting returned undeliverable. We're calling home. It turns out somebody moved some time prior. So, we want to make sure the students that are in our school are currently doiciled in West Milford. So, I'll be on the lookout for more information uh probably at the next board meeting. uh monthly progress towards district goals. Um we reviewed uh spent a good portion of the summer uh Mr. Novak and I going over our most recent standardized test scores. Um it's called the New Jersey SLA. This is what you might remember as the park. Uh the park is no more. We did the park for

010four years and this past year we did the New Jersey student learning assessments uh in math and English. So, we're going over our data and we have new target goals for all of our schools, which is to see an increase in either 2 or 3% in either subject across all grades. So, um that are the goals, the principles and supervisors have those already. So, we've discussed it with them. Um second class, and it's not on here yet. Um in March of 2017 it was a recent news report that that mentioned that we were under reporting HIVs. So um just to which is not accurate. We are absolutely reporting them correctly. So in March on March 8th of 2017 we received a note from the department of education saying a a parent had at mccipin school

011had complained that makapin was under reporting uh hibs which are bullying reports. So, we received a follow-up visit on March 29th, 2017. We had two representatives from the Department of Education came to Mackaban School where they spent a full day reviewing all of our HIVs, all of our paperwork, binder after binder. They were there for probably eight, maybe even nine hours that day. Um, so they uh based this on the report from a parent that September 2016 through December 2016, we had under reportported HIPS. So about a few days later or a few days after that, March 31st, 2017, we received a letter saying there were no findings of non-compliance. So basically our HIV reporting is 100% accurate and this came from the state. Um, so they filtered it through the something called the EVVRS,

012which is the electronic violence and vandalism reporting system. It's a little inside baseball, but that's that's a mechanism that we report hibs to the state. And they selected this five-month period, and they reviewed every piece of paperwork at Macin School, the parent letters, the letters from the parents, the letters from the students, the witness reports, every single thing they could report, every single thing they could review. and they said that we were doing everything perfectly accurately. So, um they thanked us for our continued cooperation and they had no findings of non-compliance, no recommendations, which if you ever dealt with a state audit, it's extremely rare to have at least not at least one finding or not at least one recommendation. They usually, you know, if they're there for a full day, they'll find one thing

013wrong, but they found nothing wrong. So, um, if you can pass this around, board members can take a look at it. And lastly, we have a new student rep, uh, Mr. Brian Rena. So, welcome to our board of education, Brian. >> Thank you. >> And if you could make your report. Thank >> Well, good evening. My name is Brian Rena. Like Dr. Analone did say, I'm the president of the West Milford High School Student Council. And we're starting off with a wonderful school school year and we have a wonderful school year planned as well. Already this year, our girls varsity soccer has won three games during their season. The gymnastics team recently broke 90 points during their meet against Indian Hills. And the football team won one of their two games already. And the girls

014uh field hockey team is having a great year as always. As the school year begins, so are many of the clubs found at the high school like mock trial team, model UN, mini golf club, GSA, lighting and audio, and the yearbook club. We hope to see great things from these clubs as the year progresses. The high school student council is also working diligently on the upcoming spirit week, pep rally, and homecoming event happening September 27th during the West Milford versus Lakeland football game. Student Council is also preparing for the annual Spooktacular Halloween event taking place October 26th from 4 to 8:00 p.m. And this year we will we will be raising funds for a local dog rescue organization and America Cares, a disaster relief and global health organization. At this time I can take any

015questions if you have anybody has any questions. >> Oh, we just want to welcome you here. >> Thank you. >> Well, thank you for your time and I hope you have a great rest of your evening. >> Thank you. Thank you, Brian. >> And that is all from me. Uh, Mr. Novak. >> Good evening. Welcome back. >> You want this one? >> I can talk. Okay. Um, tonight we are going to be introducing uh Mr. Treniccasta to um review and highlight our athletic uh professional physical education and health program. my microphone. But before I invite him up, I just want to, you know, intro, you know, start of the new year. Last year, we began the process of um bringing in um some content supervisors, bringing some staff and some students to highlight some of

016the features of our of our academic and and athletic and and um club programs that we have going on. Uh so, Mr. Tranostas will be the first in that series. Next month, we're not going to have um a program presentation, so to speak, but we will be presenting our test scores on October 29th. Like I say, for the first time in the history of my sitting in this seat, I'm looking forward to sitting here and and standing in front of this room and presenting our sports. Our our staff did a tremendous job. Our students did an amazing job. Everyone worked hard and and uh to quote a recent presenter we have, it seems that we're all pulling the same rope. So, uh, proud moment for West Mford schools and it's only going to get bigger

017and better from here. Um, in that same vein, I'm just going to I can't get through a meeting without talking about link. So, bear with me. Uh, we are coming up on the first administration of the standardsbased benchmarks that I talked about um many times over the over the past year. They will be implemented over the next few weeks in grades 2 through 11. Um this again is a it's a comparison of our students ability at this point in time against the state standards that they will be scored against when they do take the NJSLA and and you know other other aspects in in their academic career. So uh expect a lengthy honey welcome from me on Friday to the community talking about the uh talking about this assessment. We're also going to be launching

018a uhformational page on our website with links to uh the information about Lincoln. So a parent has a concern, they can go there first to take a look and if they have uh there'll also be contact information for um you know if anyone has additional followup followup questions. So look forward to that on Friday afternoon. Um with uh nothing else for me, we will come on question before I introduce >> quick question. Sorry. How many days of benchmark testing are there for link grades 2 to 11? >> It's a single one day >> for ELA single period for math. Uh typically 45 minutes to to an hour. >> Thank you. >> For for the kids, they'll do that three times uh three times through the year. >> Thanks. Um again it's vary some kids go

019through it quick as you know and and some will take some time and we are also um implementing all um students with modifications accommodations that sort of thing for for everyone um Mr. Novak, thank you for the opportunity to um talk about athletics, physical education, health, driver ed. Um particularly though, um and more so, I'd like to thank this board of education, central office administration for um the great work we're doing here with our facilities. Um it's it's so important. Uh about a year ago, I went to a workshop about curbside appeal and how there's so many little things we can do um just to make our facilities that much better. And um right now, we're doing not just little things, we're doing some huge things. And that's a thanks to all of you here

020um who support you know athletic programs um and not just for athletics but obviously a lot of the uh other clubs and groups and activities that that go on here. Um so I'll start by saying uh again thank you um the see if this is going to work. >> Rob, do you want to click from there? >> Thanks. up there you see uh DJ. Um that's our our state organization, Directors of Athletics in New Jersey. And back in 2017, we were awarded a program of excellence. Um it all started there between um Character.org and Promising Practices and um and and looking to get some recognition for our district for the great things that our coaches, our student athletes, um you know, our our administration at the high school, we all came together, formed a committee.

021It took two years to win the award, but um it's something that there's only been three or four winners now at this point. Um we were one of the first, so we're really proud of that. And there's our Twitter handle. I can share this presentation with anyone um if if you'd like. But again, I just want to make sure that you know for those of you who maybe have not gone up to the bleachers, they look amazing. Thank you also to Chris Kelly um for for his vision. The new fieldhouse, which is going to be dedicated, as as you all know, um in a week and a half, the new gym floor at Makipin, the finished floors at the high school. I mean, this is the curbside appeal and the things that we really um

022we really strive to to have our student athletes be a part of. So, again, thank you. Um, I'd like to also thank Joe Jordan who does a fantastic job with TV science. He and his students uh made this video with some very current content. So, take a look. That's actually a drone that he recently uh was able to get up there and practice playing around with. First touchdown pass of the year last week. Legacy Rob. [Music] There's your jump force. [Music] yet. [Music] >> We need that on our website. >> Yeah, we can get definitely. Yeah, we can have Joe just take that piece of this presentation or however um because obviously it's a little bit longer, but he trimmed it for this. >> Rob, you can go to the next slide. But again, thank

023you so much. You see all those great additions to our to our district and that's a thanks to the people in this room. Um so we have 34 varsity teams now with the addition of swimming. Um you can see in the bottom um we have a boys and girls swimming team and we're co-oping with our rivals Lakeland. So we're going to have the theme rivals unite which we've seen before when we play Lakeland in all of our contests. Uh 26 sub varsity teams. We are one of the few schools in the state that have as many offerings um as we do. And there's the individual by season. Um obviously we are in the fall season now. Um so with the addition of swim, we're now like I said up to 34 varsity sports when you

024factor in the girls and the boys. Rob, can you click on that link? I I we can see. So our website our district website links you right to that. If you click on athletics tab, you'll go right to withathletics.org. And once you get into here, you'll see all current content. You can go to the calendars by season files and links for physicals information for any parents at home watching. Um we have a actually on September 23rd, Monday, we have our first signups and interest meeting for winter sports. And that's going to go out in Honeywell and um we'll send that out in email as well. But that's the website and there's a lot of interesting features. There's a parent handbook, Rob. I think there's a There you go. You can see the winter sport sign

025under announcements, winter sport signups, information, parent handbook, um physical paperwork, time-lapse video of the bleachers, which I think you've seen here at a board meeting. Um but again, you can go to that and then information on the no contact period. We already have that established for next summer. So, people are planning um to go away. um that's the time to go so we don't miss any fall sport try triyouts and things of that nature. And of course the hall of fame which you know this district this district and this board totally embraced and uh supported as well. >> I only have a few more minutes so we'll go right there. gear up in the two. >> So, as you saw in the video, we had some championships last spring. Um, softball team winning a state

026section, uh, baseball and lacrosse. Baseball also, I don't know if you saw it on the on the video, but they won an ABCA award for academics, which kind of gave us the idea as coaches and as, you know, in our athletic office, we were saying, well, let's focus more on that. All right. So, baseball's won that twice now in three or four years um for having, you know, a higher GPA for the varsity program. I think if it might be the next slide, a bowling team also won conference and trip to the group three championships as well. Another fantastic program that does a great job. Coach Cali, um as I mentioned, you know, character.org, we've been championing the promising practices for years. I'm not going to click the link now because I'm running out of

027time, but if the link at the bottom gives you all the promising practices that the athletic department has has achieved over the years, and that's that's not me, that's the coaches. They go out and they they do these community events and they try to promote um service learning and and it's just fantastic. We're up to about nine now in in the last 5 years or so. And these are links to the newsletters. Again, I could send this um this out if anyone's interested. You have a hard copy, board members, you have a hard copy of that in front of you. administration, but that's links to the newsletters. And I'm going to end with this. Uh we decided to start a GPA project where we are analyzing the um the the GPA for each program, highlighting

028the highest GPA, but also more importantly towards the end of the market period, highlighting the growth. So we met by team. So even teams that maybe fell a little short under a 3.0, um you know, some of them said, "Well, we're going to set goals. we're going to get from a 25 to two a three. Um, and so we're doing that by so I went from team to team this summer highlighting the individuals but also setting goals with the teams and this was an idea that came out of the baseball winning you know the ABCA award again. Um, this thanks Mr. Novak that was your cartoon you sent me. Very good. Um and then there will just >> Yeah. Right. >> And you know and research shows you click the next. Thanks. Research shows that

029uh when students are involved particularly in athletics and clubs at a high school level they do better academically. So there the research has been out there. This is not new. I'm not coming here saying that we have this great idea uh you know that we think that we have higher GPA because of sports. Um the research is out there and now we're just trying to improve as we go. There's just a couple more pictures and you see these are all our fall fall teams. These are the pictures I took when I went from sport to sport sharing their GPA. Oh, and this was just the other day the football team yesterday um helping with the books moving them from >> Walsh. Very nice. >> Right. Walsh. >> That's a great job they do. That's the

030second year in a row. Then again, we have the links to our Hall of Fame. We are accepting nominations in December. We're going to be picking the class of 2020. Um so that's exciting stuff. So nominations are live at that website. I think we're on the last slide video. Oh, NCAA. Uh if a student athlete wants to play D1 D2 at the college level, they have to go on to the eligibility center and they have to register. Um that's something that, you know, students were finding more and more they need to know this earlier on. They could be a freshman um and not know if they're going to be a college athlete, but that's that's important. Okay. And not to not to not talk too much about health driver physical education but these are some

031of the things that um that have been going on in the uh in the phys department particularly you know with passing qac the help of you know Mr. Novak and uh teachers going out for training, things like that. Um new curriculum guides, as you know, have all been approved. Full value language across the district. Um most teachers using Google Classroom. We have a safe night, an annual safe night, DUI reenactment last year. Um a health fair that we're reviving this year and then the expo come about October 7th. So, does anyone have any questions for me? >> Okay. Yes, sir. >> The GPA project is seems like a really great u idea that I'd like to see more about when the time comes to provide data to the board. >> AB: Absolutely. It's actually one

032of my goals as administrator to to improve by a certain percentage, you know, as we go through. So, >> fantastic. >> Yep. Absolutely. No problem. Anyone else? >> Thank you. Because you've been putting that on the Twitter. I'm seeing each day I'm I'm giving a little back each sport that's hitting their GPA, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, just to follow uh Mr. Sitz, Mrs. Trenicas and I met probably last uh if it was late spring, early summer. We talked about, you know, what makes a great athletic department and, you know, we must have had about 10 or 20 things listed before we even got to wins and losses. So, one of the things we were looking to focus on was academics and how to connect that to athletics. So, now we're tracking uh student

033GPA by team to see if we can increase them all by a little bit this year. So, >> great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Joe. have any questions? >> Thank you again. I'd love that if we could do something with that um drone. >> Oh, the drone. >> Let me just quick mention that he's also the athletic director of the year of state county and get honored on October 2nd. >> Thanks, coach. >> Okay. Special reporting correspondents. Uh yes, the minutes from the October of the August 20th meeting uh the regular meeting and the executive session are available for you to review. >> I need a motion. >> Move to approve the August 20th workshop regular meeting and the August 20th executive session meeting minutes. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I report.

034>> No, thanks. Um, first of all, I want to thank Dr. McQuade. She took myself and um, Mrs. O'Brien and Mrs. Fritz on a tour of the Highlander Academy, which was wonderful. I I completely enjoyed going. it it gave us a whole new perspective of the what the students are doing there. I was very impressed with the students that we met. I feel that um it's probably a hidden gem for us and I I I would love to see more people I would love to see more students be able to use that in the f utilize it in the future if we need it. And and I I I think we talk about it as if it's there, but we don't but it it really did um I I think it it opened our eyes

035to what's going on there. And I I I can really you can really feel the pride of the students that are over that are over at Highlander Academy and how they feel better being where they are. So I I want to thank you for for doing that and I hope each board member gets a chance to to go over and see it. It's always a great feeling to go into our buildings and get a feel of what the students are doing and how they feel about the programs that they're in. So I I you know I hope everybody gets a chance to to experience that. Um >> I do I do plan to offer so I know Mr. Sidowitz was able to join me today and I do plan to offer one more um time

036maybe in October that might be able to meet the rest of the board. So I welcome >> Oh then to join us and then I'm hoping to give an update in October just briefly to the board. >> That would be great. Thank you so much. I I I I truly I enjoyed going. Um I as um Mr. Trennecasta mentioned, Friday, September 27th is going to be our dedication and ribbon cutting of our new fieldhouse. Um we are inviting everyone to come out and enjoy the night, enjoy the football game, enjoy our new facilities. We have a beautiful set of bleachers in this wonderful new fieldhouse. and a young man did a wonderful portico over by the um the refreshment stand. So there's many things that West Milford has, you know, can come up there and

037have a good night of being together in in in a community atmosphere. So I hope everyone will come out. The dedication, I believe, will be like around 5 5:15. So if you can make it, it would be great. I hope all the board members will be there. Uh I know Mr. Bailey will be there with his family and we're going to do the ribbon cutting. So, I hope everybody can attend that. Uh over on um was it Monday that we met with Reads Across America? >> Last week. >> Oh, last week we we met with Emma Darnstead and Trev Trevor Darnstead. They're doing they're picking up the ball on the Reese Across America. Two wonderful young people. and uh the West Milford Board of Ed again will be supporting them with the bus service and

038um I believe we're going to be opening up our cafeteria for them for after the event. Uh if any families are interested in the events that are coming up, uh the Reese across America will take place on December 14th and that I I believe the ceremony and everything starts off at town hall, but uh please feel free to either go on the the high school website or um or is there anything else out there for them? >> They'll they'll they're going to have some additional information that we can send home. I don't think they have it. They're going to be going into the individual, they're going to be going into the elementary schools and speaking with the kids. There's going to be some uh penny, you know, jars around the different schools for them to

039collect change and that. But it it's a very it's a very rewarding program and I'm glad to see that somebody else is picking it up because the two young men have moved on to college in the military. So, it it it's a very uh worthwhile program and it was a pleasure meeting both the two Dornstead children. It was a they look like they're ready to move ahead with it. And I believe that's all I have for under my president's report. So, we will be going into public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to the members of the public for the purpose of addressing resolutions on this agenda only. Members of the public who have requests to speak requested to speak to the meeting will be uh prior to the meeting will be recognized

040by the chair. Each uh each speaker will be given five minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to five minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All members of the public speaking, sorry, excuse me. All members of the public speaking during the public comment period are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided and to give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that the members of the public be courteous

041and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board of of the board are discouraged. The board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Has anyone signed up for uh for public comment? Would anyone like to speak? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> Okay. And now um we're moving on to the

042agenda. >> Couple adjustments to the uh agenda. If you could turn to page 11. This is personnel student affairs resolution number 20. The first name is misspelled. It should say Carly C A R L Y. And the second adjustment is on page 16. There's a couple changes on this page. Operations and finance five and six have been replaced by operations and finance five and six on a hand carry. That's a green sheet. We can pull these two and add these these two. And resolution number seven on that same page. It says Eastern Datacom. It should be dataccom with two M's. >> D A T A C O M >> and then we have hand carries another hand. >> And then number 20, right? Move to adopt the agenda as presented amended with the hand carried.

043>> All Nicole seconded. Okay. All those in favor. >> Any oppose? Okay. We'll move into education then. Um Mrs. O'Brien, would you take education? >> Sure. My pleasure. I'd like to provide one through nine under education. Second. Any discussion? No one. If not, roll call. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ochinsky? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Staying from nine. Yes. To >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Like to move item 10 under uh education. >> No. 10. Is it a hib? that we have to go into exact. >> No. >> Oh, no. Oh, I'm sorry. >> Prior to >> Yes. I'm sorry. >> I know. I did the same. I >> I

044I'm I've got them marked differently here. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> If not, roll call. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno? >> Yes. >> Mr. Objinsky? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Abstain. I wasn't here. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew >> abstain. I was not here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Item 11 will be taking place after executive session. >> Mhm. >> Thank you so much. You're welcome. Personnel student affairs. Uh Mrs. Fritz. >> I would like to move item one under personnel. >> Second. >> Discussion. Well, >> when it's stated in our district goals to increase student mathematics achievement at every level through specific data analysis, I find that mer fall short of paralleling this goal due to the unreliability of

045the state's results. Though a noble goal on paper, I further find that this goal is ineffective without the utilization of Star Math realtime results. After discussion, I will be entertaining a motion to table this motion until our next regular meeting in hopes that the mer can iterate the star math assessment. I share the sentiment with go merit goal 2. Another analysis of these goals loses the measurement of improving student writing across the district which I find is a paramount challenge in our society and is therefore paramount to our district's focus. And I apologize to everybody. I was hiking for the past week, so I couldn't really email anybody. I was too busy thinking about water sources. >> Any other discussion? >> If not, >> I move to table motion number one under personnel and student

046affairs. >> You need a second for that. >> Second. >> Okay. Discussion. >> Roll call on tableabling motion. >> Yep. Excuse me. I just think to my colleagues, I just think that if we could put this off till October, maybe something can be put in there that does give us that real-time analysis. I think it's really crucial. was really just it's missing and I know from my history on the board that the state is completely unreliable in terms of getting data back to us and I don't think that it's fair to the miracle number one and to our student focus and our goals. So I hope that somebody supports this tableling. >> Are are you are you stating that you feel they're unachievable? >> No, I feel that the I guess so. Yes. Because the

047state is completely unreliable when it comes to their state assessments and in order to have a goal that's achievable. I think that the real-time analysis that we put in place is something that's more beneficial to his goals. >> But you came up with the goals. So >> I did um there is a September 30th deadline on these um to submit to the county. Uh we we we are still going to do um star math will and that does give us actionable formative data. So if we do that in maybe two weeks I'm thinking we will have data back as soon as we click submit and the class finishes we'll have the data. We have additional link exams this year which teachers can use as a formative data. >> Oh okay. >> This is sort this

048is the new park and this is a it's a it's a summitative assessment. It's something that gets done at the end of the year. So the two work hand inand you have your formative assessments and which are ongoing and they provide feedback almost daily and then there's your summitive assessment which is your annual state test which used to be the NJS then it was the park now it's the NJSLA so if you look at that annual growth goal which I think that's the spirit of the merit goals it's it should be based on the park or the SLA now because it's a year-over-year comparison I think the star math is going to give us a middle of the year, you know, beginning of the year, middle of the year, end of the year with some

049smaller checkpoints which are really designed just to help teachers with their instruction. They can see who's struggling in, I don't know, multiplication or fractions or whatever. But the the goals for the for the schools for the district is always going to be and we've talked a lot about you know school rankings and I'm not a 100% believer in the school rankings and the star ledger or uh the real estate real estate magazine but they do matter somewhat and a large part of those uh data those rankings are tied to standardized testing >> and those outfits the star ledger the real estate companies, they don't have access to our real our uh our star math data, our fontel data, our link data. That's just internal, but they do have access to the state database, which is

050the NJSLA. So, I think if we're going to try to move the district forward, and you know, again, I understand it's just one test. It's it's a week of math testing and a week of English testing. Doesn't completely rate a doesn't perfectly rate a student nor a teacher, nor a school, but it is important. It's how that's our measuring stick. The big picture measuring stick. So, >> it is a snapshot though. >> Snapshot. It's It's one test, but it's it's what everybody says you're a good school because you have high scores when you're not a good school. It's not so >> It's not fair, but that's to me that's the way it is. I'm sorry. >> It's not so much the test that I'm in disagreement. I mean, it's more of when you actually get

051the results is usually the problem. I mean, if you have results that are coming in the summer, that doesn't make sense to base your miracles on that. And I don't think it helps our district goals. And it's not anything that the personnel committee did or anything that you did. It's how the state handles this. And the test change more than people change their shirts sometimes. So, I I >> would rather a more focused opportunity. It's probably it's probably a two-month lag. >> Testing is better. >> It might be, but there's a two-month lag on average, two and a half months, maybe 10 weeks between the end of the SLA testing and when we get our our initial results. The parents don't get them at that time. We get them in July. So, it's not ideal,

052but it's, you know, it's a year-end test and we're getting it in the summer. It's not perfect, but it's >> I hope everybody sees what I mean that you get them in July. The goals for this year are being analyed. >> We used to get in October. We used to get on the phone in October. It's better now than it was. >> I'll withdraw my motion. But >> I understand. >> Yeah. >> I I I understand your point. I'm I I I think we're all we're we're probably in agreement in the fact that the testing is not the best gauge because of where we are. >> I do withdraw. So the second I I will come to you. So you're withdrawing your motion. >> Oh yeah. >> Okay. And you'll withdraw your second. >> Yeah.

053>> Correct. >> Absolutely. I could just say >> Okay. >> Go ahead. >> It's still worth some discussion. So for example, >> that's why we're here. >> We're going to get these results in >> October. end of October, which is too late to make any kind of determination regarding your salary and merit goals and everything else. If we get them in July, could I ask that we get them in July or August instead of waiting two months? And you know, there's there's always some kind of problem with testing, but I'm not sure we have for we've spent millions of dollars nationally trying to do the best job we can with testing and we're not going to make it perfect, but it gives us some idea of where we are and where we are. >> Probably

054billions. You're right. Yeah, probably billions. >> Now, the numbers, the target numbers, the baseline number, the target numbers are are written in those goals. So, we that's districtwide. What we'll what we'll have for the next board meeting is the we'll have the different grades, the different schools, the different subjects. So, we'll break it down, but the overall scores from this past year are in this are in these two uh goals. They're written in there. That's a district-wide goal, which is what we're doing. We're focusing on the district. >> I I like the way these are written. It's a, you know, quantitative, measurable thing, independent, so on and so forth. regardless of whether the test is good or bad or whatever, it at least tells us, did we do better than last year? I think >>

055that's exactly and the test may not be perfect, but everybody in the state is taking the same imperfect test with the same imperfect timeline. So, it's a relatively level playing field because we're all on the same we're all doing the same thing. But my question here is if we get these results in July, can we see them in some kind of >> We did we did get to look a little bit at them at the last meeting. >> We did a little bit. Um I share with the board when I did last year's merit goals. The >> the printouts of those um would have been in probably July maybe. No, August. >> August. >> Maybe August. >> Was it at our August? Yeah, last month. Our last meeting you did. Yes, you did. >> Might

056be in your board packet from last month if you still have it. But if not, we'll we'll we'll certainly get to you. >> Um, did you have something else, Kate? >> No one. >> Anyone else have any discussion? So, the motion's been withdrawn for the tableing and we are going to be voting on the motion itself. Correct. >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Chris, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> abstain. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinski, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Gerredo, >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> I abstain. >> So now, um, Nicole, move on. [Music] >> Um, I think you can. >> Yeah. No, I think they could be that could be added on. That could be part of Sure. >> Discussion on personnel. Any

057discussion? >> If not, Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Scripts. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinski? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> Yeah, >> thank you, Mrs. Fritz. Operations and finance. Mr. Gorino, >> I'd like to move items 1 through 4 and 7 through 9. >> Second. discussion. Mrs. Fritz, >> um item number eight, I just wanted to Ray and I talked a little bit about this. Um I just wanted to clarify around that funding. I know we looks like it's earmarked for technology security for the extra fund. Have we talked about other things? Is it have to be used for that? I mean, if something else were to bubble up

058that we needed other building improvements, other things that could lock into that. >> It doesn't have to be. Uh, Dr. McQuade, do you want to just the XA? >> You want to just uh give a brief overview on that? >> Sure. So, the XA application we have to submit each year annually and then we submit it based on the current students that we have for that past school year, what their it's based on their disabilities, the type of extraordinary services you have to provide, and you fill out an application. So you really can't you always predict as best you can but you do not know exactly how much you're going to get after you submit that application and they take a portion from that. So fortunately the good news is that we received more than

059what we anticipated. So from bringing back some of the programs and the ratio and some of the services that we've been providing we got some of that back. You really don't know year to year. You have to make an estimate. So when that money um comes in then we talk amongst our like amongst the group to decide where where the additional funding could be used it could could be best utilized but we really could not have anticipated it because you really do not know you base it off of the amount that you get from the prior year and you make a educated guess at the time of budget time which is dece you know December >> but we mean it's great news I mean it's wonderful I guess my question is mostly around like >>

060how is it decided you in that bucket for security like versus staff or you know I mean >> well first we look at the special ed. So first we look to our budget and we say is there is there a need and Barbara and I usually have a conversation about for instance we got you know three out of district tuition moveins this summer. So sometimes we have to look to see but then you look to see did another student move out of district and then am I okay and and my special ed services funded correctly. So we look there first and then administratively we look then next to to the other secondary need if you will. >> One of the other uh resolutions that are on the agenda is uh to improve the the cell

061service in a few elementary schools and that is basically a security need because um they they can't use share 911 at certain locations in the building. So the long and the short of your question is yes, if something is identified six months from now that and there's still money left in that account, we can certainly transfer it or 6 months from now if something comes up operationally or educationally. We would look to other areas of the budget that we could transfer which is why we have those transfers on a monthly basis. We have the the ability to move our money around unlike the municipality which doesn't have that flexibility. Any other discussion? >> We we envision some additional security projects coming forward. >> So, this uh gives us the ability to do that. >> Mr.

062Drew, >> I just have a question about item seven. Um, I mean it is what it is, but I know that I have two repeaters in my house that I didn't spend over 100 bucks for each one of them. >> Did we get competitive bids on this? >> This is a uh a state contract vendor. >> So, we can just ignore that. >> Competitive bids. >> Uh, Mr. Winston. >> Yes. >> Uh, Mr. Drew is questioning the Eastern Data Club proposal for the uh >> all the pricing is already state. It is already goes through the bid process to become a state on the state list. So by purchasing from a state authorized vendor, you effectively have done the bidding process because they the state's done it for us. >> So you have the lowest

063bidder at that point. >> Correct. >> So they're the lowest bidder in that category on a state contract. Correct. So, it's been bid out already, so to speak. >> Yeah, I get that. But I just wonder if you went to a company, one company might do it with four repeaters and the other one does it with 10 repeaters. Sure, you're you're paying the lowest for each of the repeaters, but was it the optimal way to configure repeaters in the building to minimize cost? >> So, so I'll tell you, um, >> this is a technology committee. I sat in with Eastern Day to come asked the same exact question and um there are pieces of the building that >> where we have more repeaters and other parts of the building where there are less repeaters because

064uh of >> you know sufficient coverage in a certain area. However, right, we want to make sure the entire school has coverage. You know, so you go to a school like um Maple Road, the whole front of that building, believe it or not, doesn't have coverage. So when you don't have cell coverage in a nurse's office or those are safety issues, there's no question about that. But the 911, >> they actually put that out to us and I think it was initially Bart did this a year prior where we had a bid that was quite a bit more than this. Yeah. >> So the bid I think that had >> it's three buildings. >> The bid had was 300,000 plus. So this is three buildings for >> I actually think came in and they did

065an assessment too on all the buildings and I think that was the one that was 300,000. >> This I mean it is it is three buildings too and >> no because I remember that other bid and this is substantially less than that. So, >> okay. >> Any uh Will, >> uh I I'll be voting in favor of these, but um why would these schools identify particular need and are is there a need the other schools in the district? >> They just have dead spots in them. You know, there's a cell tower next to UGL, so they actually have very strong coverage. >> There's certain spots in town, PK, there's one around the corner, I think. >> Yeah. So there's just some dead spots in town and uh Aptua Maple and Marshall happen to be in

066those those >> Marshall in Marshall Hill in partic in particular >> aren't on this list. >> So uh well we um when we met with Eastern Dataccom they actually went to >> So they identifi So right we knew that already but they just confirmed what we already do. So they went to each school, right, and they tested it out in various areas. So the other schools have right here in this whole area now. All four of the key um wireless carriers, they're all on the Macin tower PK. They're all on the tower that's 500 ft from the school safely with UGL. So thank you. >> Any other discussion? If not, roll call, please. >> Mr. Bita >> um abstain from seven. Yes to yes. >> M O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs.

067>> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. uh Mrs. Roio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sid. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Number 10. Uh, we did not submit five and six. >> No, I'm going do that at the end. >> Yeah, I'd like to move item number 10. >> Discussion. >> If not, roll call, please. >> Mrs. Fris, >> yes. >> Mr. Fto, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mrs. O'I, >> yes. Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Roio, >> yes. >> Mr. Sid, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van, >> yes. >> Move item number 11. >> Second. Discussion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rio, >> yes. >> Mr. Greo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew,

068>> yes. >> Mr. Sitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Let's move item number 12. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> We have enough. >> Do we have enough people to vote on? >> Yes. Mhm. >> Uh, roll call, please. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> Steen. >> M. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greer, >> Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. M. Mr. Sid. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vite. >> I abstain. like to move item number 13. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Mr. Greo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. RZ. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vite. >> Yes. >> Like to move item number

06914. Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Mr. Gerrio. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> M. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fisky. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sid. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bidley. >> Yes. >> Like to move item number 15. >> Second. [Applause] >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mr. Sid, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Roio, >> yes. >> Mrs. V, >> yes. >> Like item number 16. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Mr. Grio. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Roio. Yes, >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes, >> Miss O'Brien. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes, >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes,

070>> Mr. Sus. >> Yes, >> Mr. Van. >> Yes. Move item 17. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Mr. Greo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ochinsky? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Bri. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Roio. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vander. >> Yes. >> I like to move item number 18. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Mr. Burrito. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Roio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sid. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. I like to move item number 19. >> Second >> discussion. >> Yes, Mr. Drew. >> Can we postpone that until after executive session so I

071know what it is? >> Sure. That was uh one of the agreements we discussed. >> Oh yes, he wasn't here. >> Otherwise, I'll have to abstain, which may be okay, but >> I'd rather know what it is to discuss it session again. >> We're in the middle of have to make a motion to move it after executive. >> Yeah, just I just make a motion to table it. >> Okay. >> Until after executive session. >> Motion to table until after executive session. >> All those in favor. >> Okay. >> So, we'll go on to five and six. >> Green sheets. >> I'd like to move items number five and six >> under operations of finance. >> Sounds agree. Second by Miss O'Brien. Will, you have discussion? >> Uh, just a request uh if the updated

072LRFP could be put on to extra when it's available. >> Thank you. >> What? >> Any other discussion? If not, roll call, please. >> Mr. Burrito. >> Yes. Mr. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinski. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ritz. Yes. Mr. Drew. >> Can I finish reading this? >> Or am I already the last one? >> No, you're not the last one. >> You want me to come back to you? >> Please. >> Mr. Sowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. Number 20. >> Uh the last green sheet like to move item number 20 and we done >> discussion. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Burrito. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Roio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes. >>

073Mrs. Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sid. >> Yes. M. >> Yes. policy. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Discussion. >> Well, >> for resolution 12 media relations policy seems fine with the exception of the following stage. Board of Education reserves first right to regulate the exercise of school district staff members first amendment right to the United States Constitution in such situations to the extent that such exercise may interfere with the safety order we operate in school and the learning environment. Uh the rest of the policy seemed fine but when anybody says we reserve the right to regulate your first amendment rights I don't think I can vote for that just for that statement is there any way >> we we didn't come up with this policy these were updates just I just want >>

074like I said I apologize that I couldn't wouldn't yell back and forth but that statement in particular if that could mean I would vote in favor of this otherwise have a hard time with saying I'm going to restrict. We have the possibility of restricting your first amendment. >> This is the policy. I don't know if you want to >> that one of the mandatory ones. >> Yes, >> that was one of >> which one is that? >> Well, which one did you read from? Right. >> Thank you. It's the media relations one, right? >> You got it. >> This came from Esme. >> Is there an M on the top? Right. >> No, it's not. >> It's not mandatory. >> It's not It's not listed as mandatory. >> Okay. >> We didn't like we didn't

075review it. It just came in in the in the updates >> because I feel that the policy properly gives regulations that are given to the superintendent or his or her designate. And that's great, but I don't want any part of regulating a first amendment right. >> So what is what is problem with it? >> I just think the first amendment is the first amendment. Don't >> I don't want to have >> I swore to protect the US Constitution when I was >> took my oath of office. board is regulating a person >> that's so broad and if anybody has read any Supreme Court decisions >> anything that's vague on its surface is something that gets overturned >> would you like to hear the attorney's opinion >> can we move toy Yeah, earn your money, dude.

076>> The big bucks. >> You know, your first amendment rights stop at a certain point, especially if you are allowed to regulate it within the public sector. Um, you know, screaming fire in a crowded theater is the example that they give. You're relying on everybody's reasonable conduct. And if you don't like it, maybe there's a way to soften it. But you are allowed to regulate speech. Not all speech, but some speech. shall not be a bridge. >> In your opinion, is that vague language? >> You're going to put me on the spot in a way which is not really necessary or appropriate. Every every piece of language you can parse into being vague. You're relying again, you make a decision. When you make that decision, if somebody tells you 3 months later it's vague, you

077did the best you could under the circumstances at that time. You've empowered your administrators to make these decisions and that's what that's what you do and that's what you hired us to be. Thank you. >> I move the table resolution 12. Can >> can we just let Dave talk and then I I'll I'll entertain your motion. >> Like you know understand your feelings towards that. It's always been my understanding of it being management but the employer has a right to say yep >> you can't say something you can't say it out in public. That's why I asked them. That's part of employment contract. >> This is a first reading. So you will be part of committee next month and if you want to delve into it a little further you can. But if you would

078like to make your motion to to table that is up to you. >> But if it but if that section ultimately gets removed then it becomes another first reading because >> but it's not it's not it's not something that's pressing. It's not this is not a policy that if it's not adopted to next meeting we will have an issue with it. It's it's an update that came through us and you have a right you you should have discussion you you should have a right to the discussion but what I'm saying just because it's the first reading if we adopt if we do the first reading tonight we can still bring it back to committee next month and you can talk about it in committee maybe more in length and debate it if that's what you

079would like to do >> I'll wait till after this discussion or Okay, >> Nicole, >> it's funny when you just when Dave just gave his explanation, it kind of made it a very real example and I now I reading it again, I see the other side of it because it's media. It's around media relations. So, you can dictate what people can and can't say out there. So, now that I've heard it that way and read it, it makes it makes more sense. >> That's why I asked the question. I wanted clarification from you. I I was thinking of it against >> you have to read it a few times because it's a boss. the boss can tell you what to do and not to do >> work that comes down. >> Well, the >> rest

080of the policy does a great job at underscoring that point. I don't think that this language >> is appropriate. >> Okay, Debbie, >> I'm going to throw in my two cents, too. Um, where some of us don't work with children, we work in businesses. The business is our children and and we are in and the faculty here at West Smoker are representatives of the community. They also work hands-on specifically with our children and the families. >> So, um yeah, that it it I read that too. It was it's pardon the expression is icky, >> but at the same time people >> if it's out of context, >> it's so easy in social media to kind of >> say something that is just not the right thing to you know it's not proper and they really

081should have that we should have that in place. >> I've also been misqued by >> never have Uh so we're any other discussion? >> I move to table resolution 12 of the October regular meeting. >> He needs a sec. We need a second for the table. >> Second. >> Just um >> do I do a roll call for a second or >> No. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. No. I'm opposed. >> Opposed. >> So, one, two, three, four, five. >> The opinion of the chair. >> Motion fails. >> It's a first. It's a first >> and it's a first reading. And I hope you that we'll have the discussion in committee. >> We could do it. Yeah. >> Because you're on that committee. Uh, back to the motion at hand. Any

082other discussion on the motions under policy? If not, Mrs. Francisco, would you roll call, please? >> Mr. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes to 1 through 11, no to 12. >> Mr. Buro, >> yes. >> Miss O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rio, >> yes. >> Mr. Sus, >> yes. For 1 through 11, no to 12. Yes. And please remember this was first reading. There will be the second reading will be next month. >> Okay. Negotiations. Um Mr. Drew, we have a motion under negotiations. >> I'd like to move. Uh great. >> Item number one, >> second, >> the agreement between uh >> West Milford Board and West Milford Education Association. >> Any discussion? I I mean I need a second. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> If not,

083roll call. >> This gu. Yes, >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes, >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes, >> Mr. Greo. >> Yes, >> Mr. Sid. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Rio. >> Obscene. >> Mrs. >> Yes, >> we can vote on that. >> I'm in. >> Oh, okay. Never mind. It doesn't matter. >> No, for a different reason. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Which I can explain. I'm in it. >> You don't You don't have to explain it. >> So, >> you don't have to explain. >> Thought that was appropriate. committee committee reports and liaison. Uh Mr. Gorino had parks and wreck >> summer is a parks meeting this Thursday. >> Oh, Thursday. Okay, Mr. >> about parks and wreck. >> Go for it. >> Go ahead. >> You know, I say all the time and I always

084raise my hand around the airport. entertainment. During our last meeting, we brought up the possibility of using open space funding for rehabilitating board of education fields. Um, if that's something that you could bring up to the parks and recreation committee, I think part advisory committee, I think that would be beneficial if that's possible. >> You got anything else for parks and w safety? Um, we don't have a meeting yet. >> October. Do you know the date? >> Not yet, but K and I are working it out this weekend. >> Okay. October. Uh, superintendent roundt. We'll meet on September 26th. That's next Thursday. That'll be our first meeting. Uh, P County School Boards. Last night I attended the P County School Boards meeting. There were um they had the election of the officers. They talked about

085workshop. Um, workshop has an app. I I mean, I don't know how many are going, but I already downloaded my app and if you do it, it gives you all of the different um all the different uh rooms where you can go, what what programs are running, and you can kind of click on them, and then you'll be all set ahead of time without having to walk around with a little book. You you got your app right there. Um they also discussed um at the meeting last night that they're going to have a program called Unsung Heroes and it's a student recognition program. They will be sending something to the superintendent. They will be recognizing one student from each district. And it it's it's an award that is meant for a student that isn't the

086scholar athlete, isn't you know, isn't your number one in the class. It's somebody who has done something or has participated in your community and your school community and deserves that recognition, but normally might not get it. But they do this in the in the s southern part of the state and they're starting it now in the northern part. I'm sure there's going to be more information coming forth. When I when I get more information, I will let you know. Um they were just starting to form their committee last night, but there will be one student from each district that will be recognized. They'll have a dinner. They'll be inviting the parents, you know, the the you know, the the parents to the meeting and any siblings. So, I thought that that was a great program,

087but it really is talking about their civic involvement and that in in your community. Um, I talked about they also mentioned that and I I might be cutting into Will's stuff, so I don't really want to step on your legislative. Um they talked that the delegate assembly is meeting November 23rd and that if there if any districts have any uh resolutions they need to be in by September 19th. Um there were a number of resolutions which I'm sure Will's going to maybe address, you know, talk about. Uh and they highly recommended the keynote speaker at the at the workshop. He is a parent of a student from Sandy and he he is quite uh a a quite a good listen they said. So I think it's if you're going to be there try to make

088sure that you see the keynote speaker. And that ends Pay County school boards and New Jersey school boards because we'll be attending I'll be attending workshop from October 21st to the 24th. Legislative will >> unfortunately I don't know what resolution Wow. I >> I know >> Will was in the dark deep. I do have some here that I I don't know. I I'll I just because they talked about it last night. There w there is a bill about healthc care reform that's going to impact school districts that are um through the New Jersey state health plan where um the Senate President Sweeney would like to do away with any platinum programs. And there's like a three- tiered level that they're looking at and they're trying to uh address there. There is a bill that's out

089there, a pilot bill about the later start time for schools, which is something is really out there on on the discussion table for the districts. I know that the governor has decided to pilot a program in some what four districts I think they said >> four like in different parts of the state. Um, there also was an interesting uh bill that was presented by Senator Pacio about having the SRO officers or their equivalent become your HIP coordinators, which opened up a whole discussion at the meeting last night about confidentiality and all kinds of things and the fact that in in a lot of districts that have S, SO officers. They are uh employees of the town, not of the school. So there there are quite a few things that are and I I know that

090that probably will be something that they'll be they'll be looking at, but that's that were that was the topic of discussion last night too at the meeting. >> Uh technology. Oh, I'm sorry. You have something. Oh, you do have something. Okay. I'm sorry. No, >> you were off the grid. I get it. >> If it's aed bill, I don't really think about it until it's nearing the governor's desk because there's just too much that goes to committee and if I reported on everything fall asleep. >> Um, however, this isn't quite legislative, but it is pertaining to school districts. The Murphy administration on 94 presented the state board of education with its latest multi-year plan for replacing the much derided park exam. Park was a favorite campaign promise of Governor Phil Murphy back in 2017 that

091needless to say is proving hard to execute. unveiled by education commissioner Lamont Replet and his staff. A plan called Parkstyle test for at least another two years while the state devises a next generation of assessments to serve as both an annual gauge of student progress and an exit test for high school graduation. Hat tips New Jersey spotlight and that's all I have >> he and the commissioner will be at workshop also and they will be discussing some of that. That was another item that had come up. technology, Mr. Gorino. >> So, there wasn't a meeting, but Robert and I we'll email back and forth on occasion and I know that he is uh working to research a new phone system because our system is uh definitely outdated. So, uh thanks for that. He continues to

092improve the website and the Wi-Fi and the schools. Um I I do challenge the the team. Uh, one of the challenges I have now is, uh, you know, tech and beyond improving the sound system field that needs a drastic upgrade and I know that they're working on uh, getting a a new sound system up there uh, hopefully sooner rather than later. Um, because that's going to be a fantastic field to use for band events and so many other different things. >> And then I just want to say I know that just working with Robert for a little bit, he's always wanted to give accolades to uh the guys on his team. So, thanks to all those guys on Robert's team for all all that you do and you know, thanks for recognizing them frequently. We

093appreciate that. >> They're the ones that make it work. >> Uh t the township and board of education joint committee. Um the town had to cancel um this last meeting, but do are we October 4th would be our next meeting. Um we're trying uh what time? >> 9 a.m. >> 9:00 a.m. on October 4th. We are trying to open up the dialogue. I I feel that both uh Mayor Dale and myself have had some really good communication back and forth, something that we haven't had before as long as I was on the board, even past. It's a good it's a good give and take and I I think that we're moving ahead with that. Uh CASA um there was a meeting last week and the only thing is just that there is a new coordinator

094hired um Grace Habrook is the new CASA coordinator um and just discussion again about um their grants filing you know for their grant stuff. >> Okay. Do you want is there a next meeting? Moms I >> I have a question. Is there any discussion at CASA or would it be within CASA purview about the uh vaping among use and flavored vaping? >> Certainly. Um, and this last meeting the the grant writing that they're doing, they needed to do a needs assessment of the community. And um, we reviewed, you know, what the community from every age group, not just what's happening in the schools, but our entire community, looking at prevention, intervention, what programs can they run? And so, you know, there were four main topics. um marijuana um alcohol, opiates or you know vaping was

095its own topic. So it was discussed quite a bit. Um and I think it's often discussed you know and >> it's been on it's been on their agenda for a while. >> Yeah. Um so it is you know being discussed. Yes. And I'm not sure I mean stay tuned to see what they write the grant towards because I I don't know yet. We'll we'll see. This was just discussion on what the community sees as the current issue and where our needs are. You know, >> we may have to react. I mean, here New York has already >> taken kind of emergency action and it looks like the federal government may >> right, >> which in my mind might be a pretty good idea. It's a very dangerous obviously. >> I think we're all in agreement

096on that. I mean, we've talked about the vaping at our meetings quite a few times. >> Yeah. Well, and if nothing else comes out of it, the greatest thing is that it's in the media and that it's being talked about, and hopefully the FDA starts to approve what's being sold and what's in our community and what's, you know, >> um, so it's it's not good what's happening, but it's good that it's in a spotlight right now so that it's not being ignored, you know. So, that's that's always a tough, you know, those things are always discussed at CASA, like what are we doing and what more can we do? We're very proactive. >> They've just been in a little weird state of flux like Rebecca leaving. The summer was kind of a slow time probably

097for us. >> Yeah, this grant is very very very important. It's important to to our community. It's important to us many of our programs that are run in our schools. Um >> what's the DARE program called now? Real >> real is one of them that's funded. Uh there's a lot of big things. So I believe that's their main focus right now so that we can continue programs that we've had for many years. So >> thank you. >> Okay. Old old business. Anybody have any old business? Mrs. Mr. Drew, I'm sorry. >> A slip of the tongue. What can >> Okay, Mr. Van, >> take three pages and pass it on. Uh I wanted to talk to we met in the education committee and discussed the issue of honors biology and AP biology and uh um

098one I think the education committee minutes should show right now it shows five board members. At no time were five board members present. When I was present, Linda was not. When Linda was present I was not. And the minutes ought to reflect that. >> We never had a quorum. The uh reason to give this around this is is an area that's important to me because there is substantial research that shows that children who take uh our kids who take AP classes uh do better in college. It's peer-reviewed research control groups. It's just the fact >> including average students >> that average uh students who take an AP class and score two or higher or going to do better on their subsequent college courses than if they had taken the same class in college. So the

099AP classes improve education. There's no question about it that several studies have been done with average students. The reason, one of the reasons to bring this up at all is looking at our own West Milford High School report card, we do a great job. Almost a third or twothirds, I'm sorry, of our students enroll in college in a four-year college with within a year of metriculation from from our school. So, we're really doing well. We're graduating 95% of the class. Twothirds of the class is going on to college, but less than a third have taken an AP class while they were at West Milford High School. One year after graduation, they're going to take the same classes or the equivalent of the same classes that we offer here. So, those kids are ready. They're going

100to take those classes either way, but we only teach AP classes to elite students. And we ought to understand that the other students who are also going to go to college will do better if they have some exposure to a college level course in our school with a limited number of students. teachers who work closely with them instead of some big 60und student, you know, and and I mean the research is just very very clear about this. Those kids will do better. They'll learn more in high school. They'll they among other things, they avoid a tuition cost. Uh they may get out of college sooner. So what what I'm arguing for is that we should take seriously those kids who are going to go to college should take at least one AP class. It's college

101level. They learn how to instead of getting to college and finding out they didn't know how to do the footnotes and they didn't know how to do this and that and everything else. Learn that here. These kids are smart enough to do this. They're going to do it one year later. So anyhow, that's my my piece on that. I would like us to expand that offering. It's not just for the top of our class. It's for the twothirds of our students who are going to go to college. >> Well, I know that this has been a discussion for at least three years and I think I've been in support of moving in that direction. Um perhaps we could further discuss it and at least hear if there are cons to how this wouldn't work or

102the hurdles it would take to get to the point of being able to offer it to the twothirds that are going to college. But other than that, I am in full support of that direction. >> I need Okay, >> I'm also in support of that for numerous reasons. Um, and when we talk about, you know, school rankings and things like that, and they're debatable no matter who's rating them and why, AP courses and how many students you have in the test, how many seats you're filling is often one of those things rated, you know. Um, it's funny because I've been talking about this quite a bit, even, you know, in my own profession and and all over, but I'm in support of it. However, I do just want to note, Steve, that footnoting and proper

103paper writing and research is definitely taught at our um not in our a AP courses. That would be introducing because I went through them and I was I learned from our very teachers and Terry's not here to um to uh point that out. So, I feel the need to have to do that for you and for her and the you know, department English departments. But um but what they do learn are skills. exactly like you're saying um that are extremely different and they see DBQs that most kids in in high school don't see and they learn there are skills that that they will learn and it's rising it's having higher expectations and rising to them you know so I would also be in support of that maybe it's something we can talk about as a

104pilot program in one area maybe it's something we can talk about moving forward in looking at a subject and preparing you know I don't know there's a lot to talk about here it's a big thing and you know I haven't read all this yet um but I'm excited to see what you know what you've come up with here because I am in agreement with this >> that might be a deeper discussion in doing some type of a pilot. >> I think we're all in agreement with that and we've made a lot of strides towards increasing enrollment in some of our upper level courses whether it's AP honors or even college prep. So if you're in a B-level class, college prep is a higher level. So we have moved students up into higher levels from B-

105level to college prep, college prep to honors, honors to AP, etc. >> And even resource into into gened. Yes. >> The pull out replacement to inclass. I think you have to move it. >> I think we are moving in this direction. >> I think it's talking about a process that takes time. I mean there's preparation of the staff. There's a you know, you say you talk about it for three years. We've done a lot in three years. Um, I don't I think maybe discussion of a pilot. >> I don't think we're doing a bad job. I just like to see this be a real goal that we we move towards because I think we could the you know 60 twothirds of our kids who are going to go to college, we give them some exposure

106to it. They find out here how to do that instead of going there and failing. they're having to take >> I think some of the resistance might not only be on our part but it might be on the parent part too. I think we we do find that because some >> you know when when they when they are pushed a little bit it might be there might be a push back on on that I could see too Ray >> so I poor what you're saying what about the other third of the students right you're talking about twothirds what are we doing for the other thousand students besides AP like I feel we pro we need to do more for those students too. We need to >> I agree with that completely >> programs and this

107>> well I think again I know that's hard public schools but >> one thing I want to public publicly say is I want to thank Dr. Anamone for being able to keep our auto shop program up and running because it took it took him and Mr. Novak this year working very hard this summer after we lost our our our order shop teacher and that is a program that is is very important to our district and they saw the need and they made sure that they they worked hard to get that certification so that we have someone in the district who can can do that program and I agree with you there are programs you know our you know our our woodwork you know the woodworking program the mechanical drawing program I there's some things that

108are out there, the graphic arts. I mean, we have some really great programs. Will >> uh I think it's important for me to make clear that I am at I am not slighting the district by any means because we also said three years ago, we'd like to see more students go into AP and the offering be expanded. And you've accomplished that as administration. So, by no means is this taking a jab at anybody. This is more to the explicit point of eliminating honors versus having honors offerings and AP offerings. That's how I see it. I don't know if I'm mistaken. Mr. you could correct me if I am mistaken, but that was the specific statement that was made three years ago and two years ago and if I'm not mistaken was made kind of here

109and now. But yeah, it is absolutely commendable how the offering has been made to other students who otherwise wouldn't have been able to take an AV course or an honor course for that matter. So please don't take it as a jab. any other discussion on I think it still is something that has to be a recurring topic in education. I think that as we're progressing uh I would believe that Mr. Novak will be presenting more to us. I this this education committee was was a real good look at you know the questions that we put out about the AP and honors. Yeah, I think we continue to have discussions and that actually reminds me of my something I was supposed to say before. You all know that um there are county groups, the county group

110of superintendent. There's a county group of uh pupil service administrators. Dr. McQuade has been selected president of that group. You you've known that she's last year. >> Yes, I've been >> second year as president of the state. I was on maternity leave and I did serve out >> remotely. >> Well, in addition to that, there is a county group of curriculum coordinators, directors of education and Mr. Novak was recently uh elected as president for the 201920 school year. So, congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> There we go. >> He's a leader at these county meetings and uh there are a lot of districts in the county looking now to West Milford to see what direction we're going in in math or STEM or or different areas. So, all good stuff. >> If if I could kind of

111summarize a little bit because I may have been misunderstood. I think we do an absolutely outstanding job with our elite students and and you know the facts be we've got a road scholar. We had a kid who had a perfect score on the ACT last year. We had the first chair trombone in the New Jersey All State orchestra. We, you know, every year the top of our class is doing just absolutely outstanding. And part of what I'm talking about with the AP is looking for what we do with the middle of our class. And you're exactly right, Ray, that we also have to look at that other third. And I think from what I've looked at, we do better with the vocational education than most of the other schools in in Pose County also except

112with the exception of maybe um uh PCTI. But you know, we've expanded the auto shop, we've expanded cooking, and I think we should continue to do that. That's a long trip, and we need to continue to offer opportunities. And you know, I've suggested some heavy equipment and repair, HVAC, you know, things like that that these are good, you know, good skills for kids to have. Here, I'm just concentrating a little bit on AP. That instead of making it an elite program, we need to expand it into the middle of our class, that middle third, and and at least expose them to it. It doesn't mean I want to forget the B, you know, the kids who aren't going to go to college, but at all, you know, I I we're we're doing well and we

113need to do better. But this is something I know we can do. In some cases, I think we could combine um uh honors and AP. There are others I think that that we need to talk with our peers about whether that's a good idea or not a good idea. You know, reasons why some people don't want to do that. But so anyhow, it's just one of the things on the step to making West Milford the best school system in in Pose County. >> Debbie, >> I don't think anybody around this table or understand arguing about improvement, but we have to understand as well is that it's a community thing. and the community if the community doesn't get on board with any of this then this talk is for no in a way. So um and

114I I believe there's many parents that are don't mind challenging their children but I think there are some families that that would be frightful or hesitant or apprehensive about this. So, it's a it's a work in progress and I I don't anticipate seeing any big changes for a few years to get everybody and won't be able to get everybody. No, >> but I think we're I think we are on the right track at this time. >> Any other discussion? Any other old business? >> Seeing none, I'd like to close business. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay, new business. Any new business? [Laughter] >> Seeing that, I'd like to close new business. >> I need a motion to close new business. >> Motion. >> All second. >> Second. All those in favor? >>

115Okay. >> I already did. >> Time for public comment. Okay. Uh this portion of the meeting is open to members of the public having a legitimate interest in the actions of the board for the purpose of addressing any subject matter pertinent to and al also directly related to the operations of the West Milford Public Schools District. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair first. Each speaker will be given five minutes for a period of 30 minutes. and then time permitting other public comment limited to 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All speakers are asked to sign the register, provide and give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their

116address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged and the board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in the light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they

117are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Anyone wishing to speak under public comment? All those in favor? I >> I'm going to need an exe a motion for executive session and we will be returning at 9:12 p.m. I'd like to make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, designations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, and matters of attorney service. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege of confidentiality is no longer. >> I need all those in favor. >> We will be returning. >> We should be about about 15 20 minutes. >> Roll call, please. Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mr. Sick >> here. >> Mr. >> here. >> Mrs. Ritz >> here. Mrs. >> here. >> Mr. M >>

118here. Um, under education. Mrs. O'Brien, can you move item number 11? >> I like to make a motion to approve the following agenda item. The re recommendation of superintendent to approve the following resolution. Whereas in accordance with the regulations set forth in CL210 chapter 122, the Wester Board of Education has received results of the HIPP investigation reported reports on September 17, 2019. Therefore be resolved that the West Multa Board of Education approves issuance of a written decision affirming the superintendent's decision in the following HIPP investigation 2020 E1 substanti >> any discussion roll call please >> yes Mr. Grio >> yes >> Mr. Chinsky >> yes >> Mrs. Fritz >> yes >> Mr. Mr. Siditz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vander. >> Yes. Operations and finance item

119number 19. >> I'd like to make a motion once again move item number 19 under operations of finance. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call. >> M. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greo. Yes, >> Mr. Oyski. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes, >> Mr. Sawitz. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Roio. >> Yes, >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Vite. >> Yes. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I. >> Good evening. >> Andy, you want to meet with Sunday.