001Please rise for the flag salute. >> I pledge algiance 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 record messenger West Milford town hall, the county superintendent's office, the board attorney and cable vision of Warwick and posted on the district's website. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township, libraries, and all district schools. Roll for Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mr. Caitto >> here. >> Mr. Drew >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >>
002Mr. Gino. >> Mrs. Fritz >> here. >> Mr. Oshinski >> here. >> Mr. O'Brien >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyk here. >> Superintendent report. Dr. Adamo. Uh yes, good evening everybody. Uh a couple quick points from our superintendent report. We have the 2019 West Milford won the 2019 best communities for music education award. Again, um just there should be a [Applause] there should be something on your by your uh on the table over there. Just a brief history. This is awarded by the National Association of Music Merchants. Uh in 2019, the best communities for music music education program celebrated its 20th anniversary of honoring schools and districts across the country. West Milford has won this award consecutively since 2009. The best communities for music and education award recognizes a school district for their commitment to
003and support of music education. Our program in West Milford was selected based on an application submitted by John Barnau, our music supervisor. This award recognizes and celebrates the commitment of school administrators, community leaders, teachers, parents, and board of education members who believe in music education and are working to ensure that it is part of a well-rounded education for all children. The award highlights music as a national education issue and shows what your school or community is doing to provide opportunities for music learning. So on behalf of the students and parents and teachers of the district, thank you to the board of education for your support and congratulations to all our staff. I think I think if any of you attended the all district band and arts festival, you will know how why we got the
004award because the our kids are just doing phenomenal and you get to see them pro progress when you sit there through the the concert. >> All right. And second of secondly, a monthly progress toward district goals. Uh recently we've been piloting a program called linkit. Uh linkit connects three district goals for us this year. one for music, one for math, one for English language arts writing, and a third one for differentiated instruction. Linket allows us to house all of our district data on their platform. In addition, link provides our teachers and students access to standardsbased assessments, what was formerly known as park, and we can in turn use this predictive education or predictive information to help improve our instructional process. In summary, linkit brings time-sensitive real-time data to all our students and all our teachers.
005Struggling students can receive proper remediation. Stronger students can be challenged and enriched. Administrators can tailor school level professional development activities for staff and make informed decisions on curriculum, budget, and materials. So, we had a training uh two trainings actually in April uh one two weeks ago and one last week uh where they gave us a pilot. We've been piloting it in various classrooms across the district and we'll probably have an update for the board at some point in the near future. >> Um I I have a question. I don't know if this was acknowledged at our last meeting. I can't recall, but we had a culinary arts student um who came in second nationally in a competition. Was that acknowledged? Um >> well, it was acknowledged at all district at the old district, >> but
006was it acknowledged here? >> I I'd have to go back to my notes. >> Okay. We can certainly bring that to the next board meeting next week. Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you very much, >> Mrs. Francisco. Special reports. >> Uh yeah. Um at the next board meeting on April 30th, you'll have the minutes from March 12th um and March 26 for your consideration. And now it gives me great pleasure to present u members of the North uh Jersey BMX organization. they like to speak to the board, give you a presentation um and um try to interest you in in helping them create a a track for their the community. So, who's our representative? He said [Music] to move forward. >> I don't want to touch it. >> I don't like chicken.
007>> It'll fall down. Something bad will happen. >> You can hear me? Okay, good. >> Awesome. Oh, now we can't see. Good evening everyone. First, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight. And a special thank you to all the faces in the crowd here supporting us that have come from our town as well as others. Can you guys all put your hands up so we know how many of you are here tonight? Wow, that's a lot. Um, on a school night, nonetheless. Thanks, guys. I'm Lisa, one of the founders of North Jersey BMX. As a township and as parents, collectively, we strive for better things for our children. Better opportunities, better education, better recreation, and a stronger community. NJBMX is here tonight to give you a glimpse of what BMX
008racing is about, why you should be interested, and how it benefits us as a community. BMX racing isn't only a sport for the racer. It's something the whole family can get involved in and participate in. We've seen racers as young as 18 months old on strider bikes and lots of parents out there banging bars every week, too. Our BMX family, some who are here tonight, travel with us weekly over an hour each way in any direction from northern New Jersey to a racetrack. As the years go by, we spend more and more time at the pump track in town, which if you haven't been to, it's a very popular place. I sit there and I always meet someone out of the area. The farthest I've met someone is from Pennsylvania. The next natural progression to
009the pump track would be a USA BMX sanctioned racetrack in town. So what does that look like? The perfect property to house this track is behind McAppin school beyond the tennis courts. It's my understanding that at one time many years ago, this land was supposed to be home to a soccer field, but due to unknown reasons has since become an unused and overgrown open field. The location is the perfect size to call the NJBMX racetrack home. This track will be fenced in and gated only open for sanctioned events, which would be approximately 60 races a year from around April to November. We are looking to utilize this property with the board's permission. Let's run through a typical race day. Practice begins about an hour and a half before the race. During this time, families will
010come and register and start to practice. After registration closes, motos or races are posted. There are two rounds of motos and then the main event. These races are categorized by age and proficiency. After racing is over, typically the track stays open for more practice. How can this benefit our community? First, it brings people from all over New Jersey and the surrounding states to our track. Families would come and race, then stay to eat in our local restaurants, visit the air show, go to the boat races, picnic at Brown's Point, spend the day at Greenwood Lake, head to the pump track, etc. Secondly, it provides immense opportunities for volunteers. This is a sport where all of our volunteers always show up enthusiastically week after week to groom the track, stock our snack stands, sell merchandise, keep
011our learner bikes ready for the riders who need them. The list goes on and on. With the addition of the NJBMX racetrack, students who need honor society hours or a scout that needs a project can volunteer with us. BMX racing is also an effortless way to promote a healthy lifestyle and get kids off their electronic devices, which is something we're all looking to have our kids do. What most people don't know about USA BMX, it's also a big supporter of the STEM programs. The USA BMX Foundation runs three different programs. A STEM curriculum program, a track modeling program, and a read to ride program. Our kids need STEM more than ever. Recently, I read that these programs are equivalent to the metal shop of older generations. There is also a special needs program that is
012gaining momentum called pedal pushers. This init initiative is designed to help special needs kids get out on the track, further reiterating that no one sits the bench. Uh-huh. >> Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty insurance and what constructing this track will cost. USA BMX carries a $5 million spectator participant and public liability insurance policy. Volunteers and workers will be covered while they are on the track doing the build and during all sanctioned events, including practices, clinics, and races. Additionally, USA BMX provides secondary medical insurance to riders when necessary. In order to ensure this can happen, the track would have to be fenced in and gated. How do we achieve this? Fundraising, grants, corporate sponsorships, and town and county funding. Our organization NJBMX is a 501c3 charity, and all the money that comes in goes
013right back into the track. What will it cost? While I don't have too much time to go into great detail tonight, here's a brief overview of the majority of the larger expenses to be incurred. Using BM USA BMX numbers, our rough estimate for construction of the track is $125,000. This would include moving dirt, paving turns, a concrete starting area for our riders, a storage container, a mobile office trailer, and a perimeter fence. The actual design and construction of the track will be done at no cost by USA BMX and much of the needed dirt is on site already. So this again will help reduce the cost of construction. Following our hopeful approval of land use, our 501c3 charity will begin to do our best to solicit materials for donation and volunteers to help with labor.
014Having a track closer would also mean that so many kids in our area would have a chance to practice during the week, something they can't currently do due to distance. Our kids are so excited about the possibility to have a track nearby that they wanted to tell you themselves how much it would mean to them. So, if I can take a moment to introduce some of our BMX family. We have Jim and Joey Bufffordi. >> Come on up. We have Mateo the chopper. We have Zabbird, Salerno, Isaiah, Lindseay Delvecio, Johnny Rocket, Delveio, Dominic Boufisi, Declan Donaldson, and who did I forget? Did I forget? >> Gavin's not going to talk. Gavin can come up, but he doesn't let us talk. >> Declan, can you tell us all why you're excited to have a BMX racetrack
015in town? Declan has raced with us once and he really liked it. Right. >> Go ahead. Tell them why you want a track here. >> Um, it would be great to have a track here because a lot of kids here like to ride B like BMX bikes and they would love to have a track near them to ride and it would be they would be really happy if they had one. >> Thanks. Isaiah, come on bud. >> My name is Isaiah Salerno. I am from Compton Lakes and I am 6 years old. I'm going to kindergarten Atl School. I also race BMX. I think it would be great to build a BMX track here. All of the other tracks are far away and it's a lot of driving. If you build a track in our
016area, all of the kids from all over New Jersey will come to race. Thank you. Joey. >> Hello, my name is Joseph Buffer DC. My friends call me Joey and I am on the Racer Army BMX team with my dad, brother, and many of our friends. I am in I am in the fifth grade at Westbrook Elementary School. And I have and I have grades of A's and B's. The reason I am here to here tonight is for the track. I am a serious BMX racer and I love this sport because of the way I succeed as an athlete. Having a track in our town would be great because I can help my local friends learn the sport of BMX and be able to share our town with many BMX friends from other states and
017towns. Please consider North Jersey BMX and USA BMX to build a track in our town. Thank you for your time. [Applause] No, speaker. We had a speaker change his mind. >> Matteo. >> Hi, my name is Matteo Zuniga. I live in Montlair, New Jersey. My second closest track is Howell, but it would be cooler if we would have a track here in West Milford because it would be the closest. it would only be about 45 minutes and for some people in the area who also want a closer track. >> Thanks. [Applause] >> Hello everyone. My name is Dominic Bruford. I am an honor student at Macken Middle School. I am on the Racer Army BMX team with the rest of my family and friends. We have been working very hard to bring a new track
018to Northern New Jersey and I think that it would attract a lot of attention to our town. We have met many great people through the sport of BMX and it would be great to meet more people here at this track. I love the sport because of the adrenaline rush that I get while racing my bike out on the track. So, it would be great to have a track nearby to race at. I really hope that we could persuade you to give North Jersey BMX a place to call home. [Applause] [Music] So, in closing, I'd like to add that many community members have reached out to us offering their help in the areas of expertise to make this proposal a reality and to further benefit and strengthen our community. West Milford is our home and we
019want to continue to see it flourish. Let's keep striving to make our community a place where people want to go to and to stay. A copy of our full presentation along with more information about the USA BMX Foundation will be available on our Facebook page, North Jersey BMX. You may also reach out to Mike or I or anyone who's spoken here tonight at any time. Thank you for your time and consideration for the permission to use the land. I'd like to now open the floor to any questions. >> Yes. >> So, it's not so much questions. I don't know if this is working right now. Um, first to the young man from Montlair. I'm sure your parents will be so much happier. To all you kids that have cool nicknames, I have one, too. Mine
020is Will. I'm trying to talk to you sideways. >> But all things aside, I remember I remember the Delveacio family from two years ago. And it's nice to see that you've kept up with the efforts. It's obviously you're looking Yeah. It it's always an uphill battle, but with this kind of a turnout, seems like you have a lot of support on the side of having this track and frankly the spot that you chose, I'd love to hear more about it through discussions with the administration. So, good luck and I like the idea. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> The liability insurance, is that u secondary or primary? It's primary insurance as long as the track is fenced and gated. >> Thank you. You're >> welcome. I >> I think some of the questions that would
021be that that are going to come up are about the insurance find out how the the group goes about taking the land and doing what they have to do with it as far as the dirt and also if it's fenced in, you know, like it. You said something about an office. I'm thinking bathrooms, >> storage container. >> Okay. What about bathrooms? >> Um, most of the BMX tracks we go to have either portagons or they're on an existing recreation area and they have their own lavatories. So, >> something like that would be responsibility or BMX. >> That would be part of North Jersey BMX's responsibility. Yes. >> I have a question. Yeah. Um, BMX bike riding. I remember my son as a child did it and you know they looped and they turned around they
022did all kinds of neat stuff. Yeah. Um and he did it in Virginia. That's how far it went. >> Um my question is is this an all year round >> effort or is it just fall and spring and summer? >> Um so we just went to our first season opener in March at Harbor Township BMX Racetrack and that was called the Jack Frost. It was March. >> Beginning of March. So, weather permitting, it can start as early as March. And as long as there's no snow on the ground, our last race is usually in December. >> Wow. >> So, it's a it's a long, you know, and then you're talking one race a week and at least one practice night a week and some of the tracks run camps over the summer and clinics and
023new rider clinics. So, >> would you consider would you would you consider a clinic doing Okay. >> Absolutely. Great. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Anybody else? I >> I think what we we have to we're probably going to have to look at this and talk about it. Yep. I mean, this is very exciting because it it is a good opportunity for our kids and for our our community to have something that brings people here that is using a piece of land right now that we don't do anything with. cars. Um, Miss Delbecio, maybe you could explain a little bit to the board about what your original plans were and then how it changed from the Zenzo pond area. So, we started when Tim Roman was the rec director and we went before the rec advisory
024board and we presented this very similar presentation to them and we were looking for land and it seemed that the Nenzo Pond Road soccer fields were being rehabbed at the time and it would be easy to get onto that permit and go further beyond the soccer fields and there would be a lot of land clearing involved there. there might have been a water issue there and then Tim Rotman left the wreck department and then we were without someone for quite a while. So, we kind of stalled and then we came back when John Voy went in and it just it didn't it just didn't didn't jive right >> and we were a little too late to piggy back their permits as far as the Highlands issues >> because we were without uh because it went
025dormant for so long without >> for so long those permits were being closed and we couldn't piggy back on them anymore and uh from what Bully had told us that the town wasn't willing to put tons of more money into Highlands permits and I certainly get it. Um, so from what we understand is uh board of edowned property is pretty much highlands exempt and in this location we don't have to take down hardly any trees. I mean some sapling trees here and there and clean up a lot of the brush. >> A lot of the dirt is on site already. So we don't have to truck, you know, 3,000 yards of filling. It's already there. So, it's a lot less work. >> It's a lot less work. >> A lot less work to get it
026up to. >> Are there permits that you're going to have to obtain? >> I'm sure there will be build permits that we need to obtain. >> So, anything that would be as far as a permit or that would be something that BMX would be applying >> USA BMX. Yeah. >> Uh Nicole and then Debbie, >> great job in the presentation. And I know you've all been really passionate about this for a long time. So thank you work it out. But is there already an access to that field or is that another element that has to be >> No, there's there's not another area that needs to be road that goes up right next to >> Y. My question is about parking and light. Is that I I know I know you showed me on the
027map. I know what you're talking about. I I never been there so I don't know, you know, and I don't know if your advance You do it in at night, you need lighting. >> So, USA BMX, they work with us in conjunction with everybody else's race schedule in town, so there's not two races running at the same time. >> Okay. >> So, um we would like for it to be during the day, so we wouldn't need lighting, per se, you know. Um that's something that that we would hope for in the beginning. And um parking would be uh along Highlander Road or on the on the way up to the track. It's wide enough where people could park their cars. So >> hopefully the area is big enough where we can park some cars up
028>> up top up around the track. Yep. >> Not all the tracks have lights. Now HC doesn't have any lights. >> Depending on the success of the track, we would look at lighting down the road. >> Okay. But it's not a pre >> No, we don't need it to get started. We do need electricity and water. >> We'll we'll do it. >> So, we have a couple athletic fields up there. One artificial turf, one grass getting thing getting equipment up there and back. It wouldn't would not affect >> there's a dirt road access road. It's kind of highlighted. >> It looks like the letter P up there. >> Right in here. >> There's a dirt road that goes right up it. So yeah, it wouldn't affect the other fields at all. >> It's much more
029fun to drive up than walk. >> Yeah, true. >> I always end up walking. >> Barbara, did you went to check it out? >> Oh, yeah. I've been up there a few times. >> You have? >> So you you did walk you walked the property and >> Yeah, we know it pretty well. Yeah, we're pretty familiar with it. >> Well, I think does anybody have any other questions? I think what I do is we're going to have a discussion in committee and we will probably get back and we may even Oh, I'm sorry. >> That's okay. Are you planning on having a concession stand also? >> Yeah. >> Not sure. Not in the beginning. I mean, um bottled water, bagged, you know, snacks in the very beginning. Some of the >> be responsible for that
030cleanup. >> Us. All of us. It's all us. >> Thank you. >> Dur, excuse me. Uh during the presentation you talked about uh STEM special education connections that sort of thing. Is that a collaboration with the schools or is that run solely through the uh BMX organizations? Is that something that we could be a part of through the schools? >> Yes. So the the read the the three STEM programs can be run through the schools and the reader to ride program can be run through the schools or the library in town. So yes, it will be something I think would be really great for all of the schools to be involved in collectively. >> Thank Thank you for your commitment to getting these kids off their screens. >> Really appreciate it. >> Thank you. >>
031I just wanted to say also thank you and great presentation. Thanks. >> And I think to reiterate, I hear you saying that this is to no cost to the board. >> We just want to use the land that's there. >> You let us use it, we'll do the rest. >> BMX is going to fund this entire project. USA BMX >> and that their insurance would be the full liability um >> if it's fenced and gated. Yes, it will be their full cover when it's >> USA BMX is not funding the project, >> Right. No, USA BMX is not funding the project. That would be NJBMX >> from you know where we can solicit funding from uh grants you know uh open space grants or funding >> corporate sponsorships at some of the bigger companies. That's
032something that you would be working on. Yes. Yes. And the fencing gating and lot to consider is to allow you to use the land. >> Correct. >> Yeah. There is no you're not linked to the rec department anymore. >> No. This would be purely we would be dealing with >> with us. Yes. >> Through BMX New Jersey. >> Yes. >> Okay. I I would say that we'll probably just I'm sorry, Steve. Go ahead. Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt. >> No, no, no. I saw you there. Go ahead. >> Uh, one of my kids did this and he just It's fun. It's fun to parents. Great great exercise. >> You know, I can certainly see why kids just love this. >> It's great. It's great for for, you know, kids who aren't >> they don't
033want to be on the football team. They don't want to be on the baseball team, but they want to do something. You know, you send them up to practice one night a week and they race. And it's kind of a lot like wrestling and track where you're you're you're competing against yourself but you belong to something bigger >> aside from getting kids electronic devices like getting off ATVs and so forth my property [Laughter] legal riders destroying the land and noise. It's good to see some good also extra sunlight. >> And we'll put them to work. They'll rake the track. They'll water the track. They will sell concessions. They'll cover the track. They'll, you know, they they all get involved. It's really It's They will all sleep well for sure. >> And And this is all
034bicycles. It's >> nothing bicycles because it isn't an ideal spot where it really doesn't impact housing or it's on a street that really isn't used. No. Other than for us >> other than for school in a good >> anyone else I think I think we will talk to you a matter of I think we may want to see you at the meeting but I think that you know we're >> we're very excited about this and we'll let you know. >> Terrific. Well, thank you very much. Have a great night. Thank you guys. [Applause] Thank you everybody. >> Thank you for coming and supporting us. Make sure your homework's done. >> Even those kids from Montlair. They liked it. Great presentation. [Music] It's a good way of trying to get attraction to a small [Applause] discussion.
035>> Um although I will be voting yes on this, I would like to look to the future to possibly um maybe move the Highlander Academy into one of our schools if if possible. Um although I know immediately that that's you know that we have a contract and I do think it's good to keep it there for next year. But just wanted to say that I think that's something to look into for the future. >> Right. >> I was actually going to ask um if we could table that cuz I just had a few questions on that and uh for executive session >> to to come back and vote on it after executive session. >> I we need a second. >> All those in favor? I I Okay. >> So item four. So, we're going to
036change the the the motion to one to one to three and five to six. >> So, the motion now will be uh to vote on 1 through three and five and six. Yes. >> Any other discussion on the motions? >> Mr. Drew, >> uh I expressed some concern about the uh contract with the Wallace. Uh mostly that has been laid through discussions, but I'm still nervous about the language that's in there. No question those people are doing a great job with the property, but uh I'm really nervous about the potential to transfer control. I think the Wall Brothers wanted to keep that in the hands of the board of ed and the town council so we could argue about that over the years. And I think that uh uh we need to do that because
037there are some some very good uses that can be made of that uh over time. So I'm going to vote for it, but I I I still have some concerns about that. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> With the Wallish property, I had occasion to speak with Carrie O'Brien, the president. A lot of stuff people still coming to my house like insurance. So we had dinner actually last week issues. I don't think they are ready to take over any properties either. They would be a long way and uh we had a good discussion. They covered address a lot of my concerns and they've been catching up on very comfortable voting for resolution. >> Good. Thank you. Anyone else? If not, roll call. Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >>
038this is one to three. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> I'd like to move items one and two. >> Um, and with number two amended. Um, so second any discussion on the items? I I just want everyone to take note that graduation will be moved to June 19th and uh, McAppin's promotion ceremony will be moved to June 17th. So, we are backing those days off the calendar, which will get us an earlier summer and hopefully will not be sitting in the classroom in ex the heat this year. So, so, uh, I'd like to thank the administration for working hard to get this done. And
039I'd like to thank mother nature for not giving us much snow this year. Um, any anyone else have anything? If not, forward. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. Yes. Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidtoitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Um the action here for the uh H will be after the executive session. Personnel. Uh Mrs. Fritz. >> I would like to move items 1 through 12 under second. >> Discussion. Just want to take a minute obviously to thank everyone that's on here but particular and cash for their service as principles in the district. >> Thank you. I I I also just want to thank uh Mrs. Van Brent
040for her years of service to the district. She's been a friend for years and I wish her well um on her new job as being a retiree and probably taking care of her grandchildren. So, I wish her well and to uh I I um also like to thank both Stephanie Prima and Janet Cash for their service to the district. Anyone else? If not, Barber see >> yes. >> Uh item 12, Mr. Prima, is he related to the her bailing out on us? So, he's saying okay, >> they live here. >> Yes, the committee members. He's going to be a volunteer football coach. >> What do you >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Um, abstain on four. Yes. On the rest. >> Mr. Oshinsky? >> Yes. >> Mr.
041Drew? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke? >> Yes. Okay, we're going to move into the workshop portion of our meeting. Um, operations and finance. Uh, Mr. Guino. >> Uh, so I will say I wasn't at the um committee meeting. >> Mhm. >> Um, >> one of the items to take. >> Yes. >> Uh, you want to take that, Barbara? >> Yeah, we did have a nice committee meeting a few weeks ago before spring break. It's been a funny month with the break, but um Barbara, we did work to get the budget down from the last time we met, at least last time we discussed the budget, which would have been, you know, maybe 5 weeks ago, at least discuss it
042here. So, we did have a good committee meeting in early April. Barbara, can you give us just a brief overview? Um, this is just a discussion tonight. We have the official public hearing next Tuesday, and there'll be a PowerPoint that we'll get to ahead of time, which will have all the information for the uh public hearing, um, the nitty-gritty. We'll give you a brief overview tonight, Barbara, and uh that'll be good. >> Um the the committee discussed the budget and um we um they requested that it be under 2%. We came down to 1.99%, it meant a couple other cuts in in personnel. Um it was um we took out the um parking um paving except for the um portion of the transportation lot inside the fencing, but we took out the other pieces that
043were there. And we um also um took out some monies from health benefits to for the additional personnel that we were reducing. So um we were able to get it down to 1.99%. Interesting to note that with our debt service because our debt service also was reduced this year because we got more money from the state and we also had some extra money left over from the project itself which we are using to pay down the debt. Um the tax levy will actually be a negative number this year. So, um it it it'll be um less than than it was last year with that service. >> Anyone have any questions, comments? >> Thank you, B. Um Ray. >> So, um just a question on the um security service. So, the $299,000 for um right security
044cameras on which is already >> right. One one of the things that we've been uh trying to do was get um cameras into the elementary schools for security purposes. Um so, uh Rob Winston was able to work with um a state contracted vendor. Rob, would you like to comment on this? >> Sure. Um we've uh working with a company called Dine Tech. are state authorized and they're under state contract. So, um what we did was we walked all of the elementary schools which don't currently have any cameras and we also looked at some strategic placement of cameras in the transportation yard that we had administration building. Um and we came up with uh a solution that we feel is is is a good economical solution and a good long-term technology solution. it uh it's web-
045based. It doesn't require um a lot of in-house infrastructure to run. Uh and because of the way it's designed, it's agile, so we can add and move cameras very easily. >> And from the meeting that we had, the technology meeting a couple months ago, >> it'll provide inside and outside cameras, right? >> That's correct. Yes. In all key locations. So, we're covering key outside areas like drop off points, uh potential uh dangerous areas outside, slip and fall type locations, and also areas where building principles have indicated that there's been vandalism in the past and in interior cameras primarily in hallways um and also uh in the uh multi-purpose room. The only So, so my question too on this is is there a way to somehow piggy back on onto this with regard to the two
046schools where we have um um a big lack of cell phone coverage. Maple Road, Marshall Hill. >> We've made a little bit we've made some progress since the meeting I guess we had in maybe March whenever >> some progress. >> We had some progress with the >> the wireless services, >> right? So, the wireless will work. Um, you know, the problem with wireless is when you when you pay $20,000 for a shared 911, you know, a teacher isn't going to be able to go and remember to go to FaceTime audio to use wireless to, you know, use a shared 911. You can't you I still don't think you can use the app that way. You need you need cell >> Wi-Fi or you need cellular coverage. >> Cell coverage, >> right? And you could check
047into that more, right? We can have that conversation too. So >> it works with Wi-Fi or cell service. >> It doesn't work on Wi-Fi >> in in two build two of two buildings. >> So right Marshall Hill, we've got we've got some dead spots and Maple Road. We've have some >> not the whole building. It's just certain, >> right? Certain certain areas of both those buildings. And again, it's just because of you know our terrain and where >> where these cell towers sit. >> We didn't do we increase the >> Wi-Fi. We we do have we do have some additional APS access points um coming in. So, we're looking we're looking to do a reawit basically the the uh the Wi-Fi coverage in the buildings to make sure that we're not missing any we don't
048have any blind spots. Uh and we'll fill those in as we uh as we do that. Um, but I'm I'm confident that if we can provide solid um Wi-Fi coverage in all the buildings that will alleviate the need for the enhanced cellular coverage. >> Kate, did you have a question? >> I was just going to ask, are these conversations that are happening in committee? >> Well, they they just had the first uh >> tech technology committee committee maybe six weeks ago. >> Yeah. only because I would just have concern talking about safety plans and things that aren't working when it's being recorded. And I would hope that those conversations with respect like I understand. I was just hoping that that would be discussed in committee and not known to everyone where it's not working or
049you know because that's a safety concern and we want to keep number one our students safe always. So >> thank you. >> Any other questions? Nicole, >> I'm just piggybacking on the the cost of the cameras. I'm I'm torn on it because I I fully understand and appreciate the need, you know, for the cameras. I think it's something that we do need in the schools, but I'm also sensitive to the fact that $300,000 is a lot of money in a very sensitive budget time. Is it is it something that we've a already committed to and agreed to? is or is there a way to phase it over a couple of years or maybe we're not spending so much in one year. We can do like phase one versus you know >> what what we um
050we transfer we had intended to do this this year. >> This is this year we got the state part of >> Yeah. This was really getting done mostly in the fall. >> We had a little bit of a change in B bar to Robert. So it hit a little bit of a stall mid, you know, around the holidays and then we picked it back up again. So, um, we have money in the budget. It's been encumbered for security. >> We just wanted that it will all come to fruition. So, um, I think everybody be a lot more comfortable if we had this cuz I know even when u Mr. Novak was a principal in UGL, we had issues with vandalism up there and you have no way of knowing. And now that we've um put
051um a lot of money into McCormic Field, we're going to have we're going to have security up there also. So then everybody's going to be on notice. >> There's always ways to do a peace meal, but sometimes you lose the economies of scale, I think, if you do it. >> Obviously, this was dollars for next year. >> Oh, no. No, it's part that we have set aside for this year. Got it. That's fine. >> Oh, well, I'd like to go back to the budget. Um, Barbara, if you wouldn't mind, what did you say again regarding tax levy and negative? your head spun a little bit >> with with the um >> with with the debt service being reduced because we have less debt service this year than we did last year. >> Mhm. that even
052though there's an increase in the overall tax levy though that in the general fund with the uh increase in the ratables there is a slight increase in ratables this year and with the change in the valuation that the township advised me of there's actually uh it's $222 less a year so it's still a negative number it's not significant because but It's the fact remains that you know from where we were at 2.9% we've we've been able to tweak the budget and now with debt service because we added money to death to to offset the the cost of debt service. >> Okay. >> So >> now thank thank you. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Any questions on anything else under that motion? Because this is just workshop. We're not voting on this tonight. Okay.
053Uh, education. Okay. Move to discuss items 1 through nine. Discussion. Anybody have any questions about the items under educations one through nine? If not, we'll move on to personnel. Mrs. Fritz, >> we have a lot of stuff. >> Busy. It's a busy agenda. >> Yes, it is a bit. Yeah, it's going to be and most of this stuff will be in our packet, right? The list the names Barbara for all the renewal. >> Correct. There's going to be if you see number four, number five, number six, number seven. It'll say C folder insert. You'll get that ahead of time. So, if you have any questions, you can give me a call. Um, if you don't see a name that you expect to see, give us a call. Uh, but we'll have that digitally and then
054a hard copy as well. discuss items 1 through seven. [Music] >> Does anybody have any discussion under personnel? I I just have one question. Um I know the whole district is there are going to be cuts throughout the district. Is there going to be a cut at the board office? We're transferring someone >> there might be. >> So is that right now eliminated? >> We have we haven't eliminated >> as of right now. No, it may be done. We we have to still work through a couple things. >> Okay. Because um the compliance issues at the board office are not going to go away. Okay. Any other discussion under the personnel? If not, we can move on to uh policy. What about Wait, we only did one through 17. Oh, all right. I'm not done.
055I'm not done. Wait a minute. >> Oh, wait. Okay. I'm sorry. That's I'm sorry. Number 24. Um, are those volunteers do they is before they actually get involved with our kids, is there a criminal history done and a fingerprint done? >> They're doing more things. >> Yes. >> Before they actually step on to any of the fields or the courts or anything the criminal background is the fingerprint. It's the same. >> But volunteers aren't allowed to be alone with the kids either, right? I mean it has to have >> correct volunteers program sometimes it's pending. Okay. >> So we may approve them and then pending they won't go to onto the field until we get the clearance. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Kate, you had a question. >> I just wanted to point out number
05625 and say thank you to Dr. Mcuade. Um again doing things that are right for our kids when they're in a difficult situation. being able to have their own teacher possibly as their home instructor or whatever the situation be that all our staff have that opportunity to work with our students and I just want to say thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else? Any other questions? Carol, do you have anything else? Anybody else? >> Steve, I didn't see you. >> Relatively quick question. >> I'm going to get you a flag. >> Soccer ref flag. >> One of those cards. >> No, no horn. Why not? >> Item 62, the stipen. We've got several that are a step plus longevity. Is the number out to the right, does that include longevity or is longevity to
057be added to that? >> Well, we say plus longevity. >> I think it's plus. I don't think it's there. >> So, you look at the co you said 62 the coaching stipens. I >> think that's the entire >> I think that's >> with the site with the longevity in it. >> I think that's built into it. >> Yeah, it's there. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Anything? >> No, I'm good. >> We're good to 70 now. >> Yes. I don't know why I got 17. >> Policy. Uh Mrs. O'Brien. >> Okay. We have a long list of policy here, ladies and gentlemen. Multiple cases. >> Any question? >> You have any questions? Not >> they're second readings on the policies and they're they're all revisions, right? and nothing that we >> other
058than the the the recording of the board minutes cuz Barbara would like to not have to record those little tapes anymore. >> So, it's the 21st century now. >> And any other discussion on it? >> Question. What are we changing about the procurement procedures for nutrition? >> That that has to do with the cafeteria, didn't it? >> Right. What are we changing? >> I don't have a policy. Finally, the edits are on the policy. It should be in your packet >> on the policy. >> That's just a mandatory. It is a mandate mandated thing. We actually approved it in April on in January >> a couple months ago and then the state made another revision. >> So, it's it's more updating information. It's there's no radical changes to the policy. It's more or less a
059um >> we didn't we didn't seek the revision. of a vegetables or something. >> Well, >> no, this is these are meant for >> I thought it was a fruit. >> It has to do with procurement and how how you purchase things >> like in total instead of like by building and things like that. >> Any other questions? If not, we can move on to old business. Anyone have anything for old business? Cool. >> I'd like to discuss WordPress. Um I [Applause] guess my focus question is what if the plan with the building because I do recall that we were told at one point that building utilities needed to be maintained at a minimal level and then the utilities were subsequently turned off which just in my experience I know that in the house after
0603 months of not living in a house. All of a sudden, there's mold and the foundation's falling apart and it just it's a bad scene. And having a baseball field behind there, football field, just the the sports field, that's going to be an embarrassment. If it's not already, it's going to be in the future. And I I would love to see us kind of follow through in our in our discussions with what is intended to protect the baseball field and sell the joint and find a commercial realtor that'll do it for us cuz we're not in the business of being realtors. And >> well, you can't use a realtor. You have to put it out to public bids. >> Yeah. There you go. That's what >> but there's other discussions that are going on right
061now and um until we come to a decision on those things. There's, you know, we it's kind of like a limbo right now. We're we're actually we're actually in meetings right now with with the town council >> about an idea that has been put forth through um the mayor and she is we we're going we actually scheduled to meet now once a month with the mayor and council with with two of the council members to uh discuss some of this. She was she was going to be reaching out to somebody that she had brought to us and we were hoping to hear more back from her at the next meeting and see if the interest is there by this particular group which would be a nonprofit. >> You can share the same question. I wasn't
062sure if this was the right form for executive session. Can you give us more information on that executive session or >> Yeah. Yeah, we can talk about it in executive session. Not much to talk about at this point. We're not. >> Would that involve us still holding on to the property? >> No. >> All right. >> I don't think so. >> Oh, well, yeah, it might. >> Yeah, we don't know yet. >> We don't We don't know how they're going to how it's going to be proposed. That's >> all right. I'm listening >> in executive session. We'll let you know. >> Any other new business? I mean, old business. I'm already moving into business. If not, we need a motion. Motion to close all business. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> New business.
063>> Anyone have anything? Dave, >> uh touched um on this a little bit after our poll setting meeting of the loss of the state funding and pursuing, you know, kind of legislative uh so forth. I I would like to look at some more. some work with the econom um some of the issues with the highlands. Um I don't know where we go from here about maybe moving that forward, but I I you know think it's something we need to do looking down the road. It's I don't the exact formula declining enrollment. Well, that's one thing and other areas here, you know, we're pretty much stuck. You know, we can't build more, can't do anything. So, you know, consideration needs to be given for that. Also, with the Highlands Act, there was supposed to be a
064lot of funding and tax benefits to the town, excuse me, never really came to fruition. And I think we work with the town for that. Of course, that would be increasing our our funding. So I don't know where we actually go from here about adop committee or something. I don't know. >> That's what I was think I I that that was my that was one of the things that I was thinking. I think we probably need an ad hoc committee to work on contacting those volunteers. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like those volunteers which we already do. But yeah, that that was something that we had discussed in the goal setting too is if we could start maybe an ad hoc committee and have people, you know, different members reaching out to the the Highlands
065committee and maybe even save our what the support our students was another group and we do have parents who are interested and have uh asked us for information. So, we thought once we get past our budget season, maybe we could start working on that. >> Yeah. But I app you did email me and I appreciated that. I knew you said you once you thought you had an idea, you were going to >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I think that I think that probably we could come up with an ad hoc committee and and make that work. No, >> I just want to volunteer myself to go to train with whoever goes down too cuz I'd like to uh >> sit down on a committee. >> Sit on a committee. Speak to the committee. >> Make
066noise at the committee. >> Who the committee? >> Yeah. >> I'd like to volunteer Will to go. >> Thank you, Ray. That was very nice. Ray volunteers will I will put you down. Find out when the committee meeting is plenty of volunteers. That goes out to the people out there. >> Yeah, it should involve the community, too. >> Kate, I said two other um things for new business. One, I was at um Maple Road today and um I'm I'm not sure how this came about, but it looks like possibly a dad who owns a landscaping business in town, volunteered to um mulch and put flowers and things, plants. >> They did it for Earth, I think. >> It's beautiful. And I just wanted to say thank you to um Brian Generoso and his landscaping company.
067Um it looks very very nice. Um >> all right. >> And the second and last thing I have is uh there is a meeting uh Monday, April 29th at 5:00 p.m. um at the Highlands Family Success Center for the Stigmafree Initiative. It'll be their first meeting. Um everyone and anyone in West Milford is invited. Um they're going to be talking about um what the next steps are in making West Milford stigma free >> and that's at the the Highlands Center >> the Highlands Family Success Center. Um >> it's over by shop right >> there behind chap and >> that's April 29th >> Union Valley Road. Okay. >> Any other new business? If not, we need a motion to >> second. All those in favor? >> I time for public comment. Uh members of the public
068who've requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first with five minutes for each speaker 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 give their full name, spell their last name, and provide their addresses. Speakers may not use the name of name names of students during their public comment. Would anyone like to speak? If not, >> second. All those in favor? I >> I >> Okay, we need a motion under education for the go into executive session. >> Okay. at 8:31 p.m. Um, I make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, hibs, and
069matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer applicable. Second. Okay. We do we will be coming out after executive session to take action. >> Yeah. I'm going to go in. Yeah. I just says voice. It says norally have allergy but only I've been sitting here like my eyes are getting >> I didn't I didn't get a chance to >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mr. Greeno >> Mrs. Fritz >> where where'd he go? >> Mr. Oinsky >> here. Miss O'Brien, >> I'm here. >> Mrs. Van, I'm here. Uh, let's do here's Here comes Mr. O'Brien. We'll do the HIP first and then go back to the motion. >> Okay. Move to accept the um uh recommendation of the superintendent
070to approve Hib 20119 E8 as substantiated. >> Second discussion. If not, Mrs. Francisco, roll call, please. >> Miss Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> Mr. Guino, >> like to move item number four of your operations. >> Second discussion. If not. Roll call, please. Mrs. Francisco. >> Mr. Gino? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. >> Miss O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwer? >> Yes. >> Miss Oinsky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Mrs. Van Dyke? >> Yes. >> Motion to second. >> Second. >>
071All those in favor? >> I. >> Good night, everyone. Good night. >> 9:15. >> All right. >> There's a a show on Netflix called um Fry Festival. It's about