001the future uh we can adopt. Um and also I've mentioned to our colleagues before but we will be losing our master board certification come 2019 and I hope that we affirm an effort to uh jointly go through professional development with the New Jersey school boards. >> Thank you >> Mr. Yuber. Legislative. >> All right. Um, while there isn't anything that's come across as a brand new approved law that I know of that I can find, there are a number of things being proposed by various committees that are coming up the pike and being considered that I think that the board should be aware of even though they're they're not a done deal yet. And I'm just going to run through them very quickly and if anybody has questions about this stuff later, I can give
002you more information. Um there's a bill concerning recruiting male minority teachers. There's a bill uh concerning EpiPen administration by bus drivers. Uh and forming a new anti-bullying task force uh sharing school maps with law enforcement. That would be the schools would provide blueprints of schools and maps of the schools to the local law enforcement. Uh mandatory eye exams for um children under six. uh nepotism policies promoting backpack safety that has to do with uh health impact of heavy backpacks. Um they have a recognizing support staff day. Uh promoting apprenticeships which I think we'll be very interested in. Um uh health fizzed endorsement requirement. This one has to do with having a special endorsement um on uh teaching requirements for uh phys teachers for kindergarten through six. Um LGBT instruction in middle school and high school.
003Um career and technical education scholar awards, pupil transportation contracts. This uh would involve the ability a requirement to be in transportation contracts where if the management of the um transportation company uh allowed a driver who uh they had been notified is no longer authorized to operate. Any more than 24 hours after that notification, the contract can be broken. Um apprentice pilot program. Well, I think I already did that one. a STEM grant program, uh, a deaf students bill of rights, and class three special law enforcement officers, uh, qualifications they're reviewing. And that's that's it for now. If you have any questions about any of that stuff, you know, just just ask. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. uh technology oversight. >> We have not had a meeting but hopefully in January with our new person >>
004uh the township joint committee will >> um I'm a little confused as where to go in terms of direction. And I did touch base with most everybody regarding the Walsh property because I think that's a good direction to go. Um, however, I did not hear from everybody and I did talk to friends of Walsh prior to confusion on the board level. So, is there any direction that I should go in particular with the council leading on relations? I think that with the the new board in January, we we probably need to have a discussion with the two new board members that will be joining the board. Also, I feel like the board as a whole right now, the input that I got from the board was that purely what we were going to be doing
005with them were going to be information, getting information from them, but not giving them anything as far as what we're looking for out of out of the Wallish property. The only thing that we we've heard so far that you've given was about insurance and I think that there was a discussion pri with prior boards that they were not going that prior boards would not be uh kept covering the insurance because we could not do that. So I I I'm not really sure what else they're >> prior to approaching everybody. was with council councilman Signarino and uh Carrie O'Brien from the friends of Walish and jointly we agreed on having agenda prior to establishing any relations further because it would just make it easier to meet instead of going there blindly. So >> who who agreed
006on an agenda? I'm sorry. you the town council was Mr. Signarino speaking for the council and >> well just as much as he's a liaison to from the council I'm a liaison from the board Mr. O'Brien was a liaison. Well, not liaison. I met with the committee on uh with the friends of Walsh on another matter, but I just happened to be there. However, uh it just made sense to have somewhat of an idea what to discuss in order to get information. So, that's why I reached out to >> Well, I guess I I was thinking that they had reached out to us. No, but I think it's important and imperative to know what a joint property with the council has to offer because I don't know if anybody that's on this current board truly
007has an understanding of what the friends of Walsh are doing, will be doing, and how they are stewarding a property that we own. And I think that was the directive is for you to get the information from them exactly about what they're doing, but that we did not have any any more information to provide them as far as the board because when no one no one's, you know, we've heard nothing from them other than about the insurance, which when they researched back, they were told that we were not able to do that as far as pick up the cost of the insurance because they really needed to be covered under an umbrella. policy. Is that right? >> No. basically um there's been a lot of discussions over the last few years when the friends of
008Wallish organized and um because prior to their organization um if my memory serves me correctly um the um board and the council were attempting to get the county freeholders to take over that land and uh use it as some kind of a recreation site up county. um friends of Wallish um came into existence and they wanted to become the stewards of the property and try to restore the farmstead to its former state of of use. And so they um set about um trying to to get grants and and trying to delineate the work that was going to need to be done and things like that. Um the township as I recall um maintained most of the um the properties there as far as mowing and whatever else needed to be done in order to maintain
009those things. The board really had nothing to do with it. So there had been discussions with the friends of Wallish uh to to provide educational opportunities for students. There were some meetings to that effect. Um, but nothing came to fruition. So, um, is there potential? There possibly could be, but um, there would need that would need to come from if you're going to use it with for students, it needs to come from the administration and discussions with the administration. >> Sure, I understand that. Thank you. So, furthermore, if I went to the meeting >> to try to get facts, I'd be going on my own thoughts, which is why I'm reaching out to people. If you want me to find out facts, please let me know what facts you'd like me to find out. >>
010Well, then maybe at this point, we should just suspend it and not do anything until maybe the next board, if there's other people that are more interested in or have more input to it than what we have right now. >> Okay. uh Kasa, Mr. Vuber. >> All right. I don't have a report on that. However, I would like to say that CASA in the last few years has grown into a direction where they're on the verge of being very effective at um uh their purpose. And if anybody's interested in taking the Lison on position over next year, I'm more than happy to talk to them about it. let them know what's going on with CASA so that they can, you know, see the the value in it. It's a very rewarding and worthwhile endeavor. >>
011Well, thank you for your time on on CASA. I know you put a lot of time into that committee. Thank you very much. >> Um, old business. Anybody have any old business? >> Just real quickly, something that wasn't mentioned. We held uh our an event was held uh with Rotary holiday event Rotary and uh special uh education students and and quite a few of our administrators uh superintendent was there director of education and all of the principles who were here and I really think it's just a super successful thing that the kids lead each other to a large degree and it it was the kind of thing probably should have been mentioned in one of the reports But I I boy that's a heartwarming thing. >> Yeah, that was also partnered with the Rotary. Dr.
012McQuade, can you speak briefly about that? >> Sure. Yeah, it was it it was partnered with the Rotary. It definitely has expanded over the past several years. So, we're excited that it did reach about close to 80 children. Um, which is awesome. >> Um, the other thing I think that was really worthwhile is we do we started last year having our high school students help to become a part of it. So students that participated with the Rotary maybe in elementary school now are giving back by running activities and pretty much helping to greet. They run a music um station and arts and crafts area. Um students really benefited from it. >> Could you explain exactly what it was? >> Sure. So it's it's basically a a a holiday event if you will. Um and students
013it's really more to work on both social skills with interacting with one another. Um the Rotary provides gifts to every student. So the students have an opportunity to open gifts. There is a special guest appearance with Santa Claus which I must say the kids get very very excited about. The Rotary does provide lunch for the students. So the students are also working on, you know, conversation skills amongst one another. They get to mix with students um you know because when students are in some of our self-contained programs, they're they may not necessarily be in their neighborhood school or friends that they may have seen in another program in another school. So all of the elementary schools come together um at the same time. So, and that includes our students with autism, our multiply disabled classes,
014our learning and language disabilities classes. They're all they're all there together. Um, and then like I said, they break out because as students are receiving their gifts so that there's not downtime and so we're maximizing the whole time they're there, that's when the high school students run these um these stations, if you will, that the students go around to. So if there are students that are we for instance we have a student that is at the high school that is very good at guitar um and he has played some guitar at um the different schools. So he runs a station where he is playing the guitar singing holiday tunes and there is one of our students in the high school is singing. So and the kids participate in almost a singalong so it's a it
015really is a nice event. It's it's really really great and I know that the parents and the feedback from students it's all positive. It's It's been a really positive. >> And the magician. >> Oh, I forgot about the magician. How could I forget? >> Who that was? >> Yes. And the Rotary also sponsors that. >> Yes. >> Was it Dave? Was it Dave? >> No, it's not David Cresero. It's someone that comes on a cruise >> off of a cruise ship. We have they they book him like a year in advance to come. Yeah. And the kids really, really enjoy. >> What was the name of the event? I missed what Steve said. >> We call it the Rotary Holiday Event. It used to be a town tavern. It started before I was here, but
016we've expanded it because they were only Town Tavern, as many of you know, was very small. We couldn't reach as many children. So, the Rotary asked if we would open it up. I must say thank you to also the rec center because the recreation center building allowed us to use their facility in order to hold, you know, close to 100 people. >> Good. >> And our buildings and grounds maintenance men went over, helped to set it up. So, it really was a great >> a lot of people. >> It's a collaborative effort. >> Collaborative. Wonderful. >> Nice. Thank you for bringing that up. Yeah. So, thank you, Mr. Joe. Uh, anything else under old business? Seeing none, like to close old business. >> Okay. New business. >> All right. We have a couple resolutions. I'd
017like to read them. >> Go right ahead. >> Van Djk. >> As you know, we have Mr. Huber's final board meeting tonight as well as Mr. Bailey, uh, who's unable to attend due to a prior commitment. Uh, so we have a few resolutions to read as well as a nice plaque to give out. So, whereas Mr. Glenn Huber has served as a prominent member of the West Milford Township Board of Education from January 2016 until December 2018. And whereas Mr. Huber has diligently served on and chaired the policy committee and was a liazison for the legislative and CASA committees. And whereas Mr. Huber held uppermost the welfare of our students in his decisions and served with great skill and dedication. And whereas his service on the board has brought him the respect of his colleagues
018on the board, the administrative staff and the teaching and support staff. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of education on behalf of the grateful community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Mr. Huber for his outstanding contributions to the West Milford Township Public School District. And be it further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the workshop regular meeting of the board of education of December 18th, 2018 and presented to Mr. Glenn Huber. >> Okay, we do need a motion. Great. >> I'd like to make a motion to approve that resolution that was just read. >> Okay, all those in favor. Congratulations. [Applause] Thank you. >> Thank you. It's been an honor and a privilege uh to serve the students and the the citizens of West Milford. >> Thank
019you for the time that you've given to the to the school district. It's what very much appreciated. >> Thank you. So, do you read that? Yeah, we need another >> to make a motion to approve the following resolution >> about Mr. Bailey's >> M Mr. >> You read that, I guess. >> Do you want me to read? >> Do you want to read it? >> Sure. >> Give me a second. All right. Whereas Mr. Gregory Bailey served the as a prominent member of the West Milford Township Board of Education for 22 years from January 1996 until December 2018. And whereas Mr. Bailey has been the longest serving member of the West Milford Board of Education. And whereas Mr. Bailey has diligently chaired and served on the budget and finance committee. And whereas Mr. Bailey held
020the up held utmost the welfare of our students in his decisions and served with great skill and dedication and whereas his service on the board has brought him the respect of his colleagues on the board, the administrative staff and the teaching and support staff. Now therefore be it resolved that the board of education on behalf of the grateful comm community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Mr. Bailey for his outstanding contribution to the West Milford Township Public School District. And be it resolved that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the workshop regular meeting of the board of education of December 18th, 2018 and presented. Mr. Bailey. >> All those in favor? >> I just want to make a statement about Mr. Bailey because I probably served half of that time with
021Mr. Bailey on the board and I'm greatly going to miss him. He is a unique personality who people may not understand from the perspective of the camera, but he had always put West Milford students above all. He gave countless hours to this district. I still see him hanging there on that pole that they had the picture of in the paper. And I thought it was a wonderful statement on the father that he is that his children put that letter in the paper because he he he is a he is genuinely a a loving man who maybe some of us don't know quite well. But I want to say thank you to him for all those years of service and the many arguments that we had that we could still come together afterwards and respect each
022other. So I wish him well. and I totally appreciated the time that I spent with them. >> Yes. U Miss Van, I'd like to add and echo your comments on behalf of the central office staff, Dr. Mcuade, Miss Francisco, Mr. Novak, myself, the administrative team in West Milford, as well as the faculty and staff. Uh if you're watching, Mr. Bailey, thank you very much for almost a quarter century of of service to the board of education and to the children of this community. So, thank you again. [Applause] under new business. Is there any other new business? >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> last year I brought up uh flags being lit at night and we received a report and I would strongly urge that the administration revisit some of those flags. Uh, I can identify them in
023an email, but I wanted to bring that up publicly. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. >> They're supposed to be. >> Any other new business? >> If there's nothing else, I'd like to take a few minute point of privilege being it's my last few minutes. >> Sure. Um coming into the next year, you're going to be um moving into the year with a civil but somewhat divided board. And I hope that there are a few things that the board members may embrace doing that can help would help with that. Okay. Um, I think communication is something that will will be a big help and simple things like returning a fellow board members uh phone call promptly, hearing them out even if you don't agree. My experience is when I've discussed things with colleagues and and friends,
024even if we don't come to an understanding that we agree with each other, usually both of us have adjusted our idea of, you know, the topic a little bit. And that little bit sometimes makes a big difference. Um, even if even if you don't agree with a person, if you understand how they're thinking about something, maybe you'll respect their opinion as opposed to just um denigrating it. Okay? So, these kinds of things, even if you you don't come out and you agree with the other person or the other person doesn't agree with you, it can still be positive. Okay? Um I would encourage that um the next president be somebody who can bridge gaps um encourages open discussion and the kind of communications I was just mentioning and that that's it that you know that's
025it really just if you guys can collegially have discussion you don't have to agree you can still be friends if you don't agree you know it doesn't have to be you know loggerheads or anything like that Okay. But it'll it'll go a long way toward making the board experience more enjoyable and for you guys making better decisions for the students. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other new business, >> Mr. Sideway? >> Uh over the past year, I feel that we truly truly need a necessity of understanding at least foundational principles of Robert's rules. nothing archaic, but there are things that we should really entrust our debate to because it will make it smooth and make that collegial uh goal more of a promise that's fulfilled. Um some things that I suggest and I'll
026be quick with this makers of a motion reserve the first opportunity to speak. I think we can exhibit that. Uh also if we want to extend or limit debate, we have the opportunity to do that by making the motion to extend or limit debate and then creating a format where we can discuss matters. Uh be beyond that. Uh to call the question requires that a member calls a motion for the previous question and then you can vote to close debate. in that regard. Uh we've all been at fault for this and I'm not saying that I'm perfect, but when somebody asked a question to another person, the only people who should be speaking are that person that asked the question and the person that the question is being directed to. Instead, I think all of
027us want to share our infinite wisdom in matters and just kind of jump in. emotions definitely need to be restated in my humble opinion. >> I do believe that even if you disagree with a motion, it should be seconded just for the purpose of discussion. Doesn't mean you have to agree with what the motion is cuz you can always withdraw that second, but we need to have that debate. by not seconding the motion to me seems disrespectful and I think it takes away from the ability of hearing different points of view or challenging your own or challenging somebody else's. Um discussions and speeches that are made before emotion are improper under Robert's rules which is why seconding emotion is so important. That way, somebody can have the right to give their speech and give their
028opinions on a motion that they make. And during the course of the year, somebody asked if we could do straw polling. can't do straw polling, but Robert's rules does afford us the ability to go into a committee of the whole, which would be a committee format, and then we could discuss it, show of hands, and then go back into a regular meeting, which are all things that I'd love to talk about further, but I think we need to exhibit these types of fundamentals in order for discourse to be more collegial and more productive. And that's all I have to say on that. Thank you. Any other discussion? >> Seeing none, I'd like to close with business. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Uh public comments. Members of the public who have requested to
029speak 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 address. Speakers may not use the name of students during public comment. Anyone wishing to speak? If not, we need like to close public comments. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor. >> Any opposed? Executive session. We need a motion. >> Want to at 8:58 p.m. >> Um, >> no. >> 8:50. >> Oh, 8:50. Yes. At 8:50, I move to uh go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel and no action will be taken. Um
030that's it. No action will be taken. >> So will we adjourn from executive session? >> You sound good. >> Okay. But no second >> all those in um is that a that's a that's a roll call vote. I'm sorry. has a voice. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> We're going to return. We're going to adjourn from executive s. We can just do it in there, can't we? >> We've done it before. I've done it before, too. [Music] You never know. >> I bet my Christmas whatever. I'd like to call the meeting to order. And if we could have a moment of silence, please. Please rise for the flag salute. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for
031which 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, the messenger, West Milford town hall, the county superintendent's 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, and all district schools. Roll call. Mrs. Francisco, >> Mr. Bailey, Mr. Sidowitz, >> here. >> Mr. Drew >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mr. Greeno >> here. >> Mrs. Fritz >> here. >> Mr. Yuber >> here. >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here. >>
032Dr. Good evening everybody. Welcome to our December meeting. Uh as you can see, we're getting the entire band back together. Uh to my left, Dr. Mcuade. Her first meeting back from leave. So, welcome back. We miss you dearly. On with the superintendent report. We had our annual on-site decision day uh last week in in the high school. Just to refresh everybody's memory, this is a day where colleges and universities, two-year and mostly four-year colleges, come to the library and our children apply and receive a decision on the spot. So, our numbers that we have, this is the largest on-site decision day we've had yet. So, it's grown every year. If you were going to chart this, it would look like lower left to upper right, a straight arrow up on the diagonal. We had 235
033appointments this year. That's uh not necessarily 235 students, but some students had multiple appointments. Uh we had 115 students participate and we had 183 students accepted. So we had more acceptances than students applied because some students were accepted to multiple universities. Uh we had zero students denied although we do have 48 pending and that's typically just some uh paperwork that's missing from the process. So that 183 acceptances should grow to well over 200 once this paperwork comes in uh over the next next couple of days or weeks. Um scholarships received from students that very day ranged up to $24,000. So thank you to our guidance department and obviously congratulations to our senior class. It's a wonderful group. Uh you all know what they do athletically. This is what they can do academically. So we're very
034proud of them. Speaking of seniors, we have a winner of the 2018-19 WI National Girls and Women in Sports Award. Um, congratulations to one of our students. Uh, she will be awarded in February along with other fine student athletes from across the state of New Jersey. We are proud, we are very proud of her. She is a three-year letter winner in field hockey and girls lacrosse and also a captain in field hockey. She was named first team Pay County and first team all conference this fall. The National Girls and Women in Sports Award is given to one female student athlete at each school in New Jersey and across the nation. Congratulations to Kelsey Murphy. [Applause] And moving right along, this is not on my report, but I'm going to add it now. Uh, we do
035have I know I shared an article with you a few weeks ago. Um, we do have one of our alumnists, Nicolet D'Angelo here tonight. She's a student, she's a 2015 graduate of West Milford High School. She's currently a senior at Princeton University. She was one of 32 students in America who was named an American Road Scholar this a few weeks ago. Um, her mother just dropped off a nice plaque that we're going to hang out proudly in the board office. If we can get a zoom in on this >> and those of you who plan on visiting the board office will see this right as soon as you walk in the first available spot. And if we don't have space, we'll move something else out. So >> congratulations, Nichollet. Would you like to come up
036and say a few words? [Applause] Thank you so much. Um I remember I was the student liaison four years ago. So it's surreal to be back especially for this reason but um it's definitely the case that everything I've done so far is because of this amazing school district. I can't thank especially enough um the faculty and staff of UGL Makipin and WHS. This is an excellent quality of education that has inspired a lifelong love of learning for me um and will follow me in everything I do, especially at Oxford the next year. So, thank you so much for everything you guys do to make that possible for everyone in West Milford. >> Congratulations. [Applause] >> And just to repeat, that's 32 students in the entire country that won this award. So, congratulations again. Uh and
037lastly, our monthly progress towards district goals. We have a couple updates, uh two academic, one more managerial. We spoke briefly a few months ago, I suppose, about the ID card readers that our students have at the high school, and they've worn them as ID badges for a while now. Now, we have the ability to scan in and out of classrooms, bathrooms, etc. Um, parents can now check on the real time app or on the website on the parent portal, not just their students grades and discipline, but also their swiping in and out. So, we have we now take attendance at the at the high school at least with swipe cards. There's a laptop on a desk right when you walk into the classrooms as well as right outside the boys and girls bathroom. So, um,
038it's been a big help, but it really speeds up the start of each class. and our two academic updates. Uh we have recently finished our second administration of the star math assessment. That's for students in grades two through eight. And we did our first administration of fontis and panel benchmark reading assessment for students in grades 1 through six. Our kindergarters will take the assessment shortly after the new year. So the star math is given up to four times per year just to refresh your memories. The font and panel is a twice a year administration. fall and spring for students in grades one to six, winter and spring for kindergarteners. We give them a couple more uh weeks and months to get acclimated to the new school year. So, we're well on our way there. Uh
039we look to review that review that data with our principles and our data teams at each school. And next up, representative report, Miss Murphy. >> Okay. So, I have a few uh things that have been going on in our school. First off, I wanted to mention Evan Lame and Matt Hoffman. They're two high school seniors. And with the help of the school and the community, they brought roots across America to three cemeteries within our town. It's an organization with the mission of remembering our veterans, honoring their lives, and teaching their sacrifices. So, congratulations to those boys on a successful event. This was a beautiful way of showing gratitude during the holiday season. Way to go, boys, for putting it all together. Also, the boys varsity basketball team held a toy drive during their home opener
040against Mawa. They were able to get the Highlander Hery involved and collect a numerous amount of toys to donate to Toys for Tots, which is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts. We also just recently had the fall recognition assembly and the TV science classes put together a video to highlight some of the top moments this fall and recognize athletes and honorable students. The high school band concert is going to be tomorrow, the 19th, at 7:30. And students will have this concert assembly in school on Friday the 21st. And January 8th, the high school will be having career day or no, alumni day, in which the alumni will come to the school and talk about their accomplishments and where
041they are now. That's all I got. >> Thank you, Mr. Novak. Thank you. Uh before I introduce our supervisor of science and industrial arts, I wanted to take a moment just to uh recap on um last week's event, which was our annual our second annual safe night. I have a brief video that was prepared by Mr. Jordan of our um TV science program uh at the high school, who was there uh to to capture a little bit of the uh of the event in action. Um just to give a little overview, we we um co-sponsor this event with West Milford CASA. We had approximately 240 registered participants, which is a combination of students and families, and we target those students in grades uh 5 through 8 to um talk about uh substance awareness and uh
042empowerment strategies. Our focus this year was about uh being resilient and how to um cope with struggles in in our uh students and our in our family lives to to prevent these types of uh types of outcomes. Uh we had a a great process in place where we were able to provide a whole group session for all the parents in attendance with the West Milford Police Department to talk about uh current trends and current data for um things that are going on in West Milford. was also um presentation was shared with our um facilitator from West Milford Kasa, Rebecca Stumpf, who was able to come and and talk to all of our parents. So, we had a we had a great turnout. We close with a keynote from Mr. Matt Ellis, who um you know,
043really likes to excite the crowd and and and do a good job with that. So, um you know, some of the feedback we heard that is a um a night that that provided the real serious look at some of the things that our students and our families deal with in the community as well as some uh hopeful potential outcomes and and a little fun throughout the event. Uh we had a wide range of donations supporting our community raffle. the end of the event, we raffled off um everything from uh bubbling springs uh weeks of camp for for students and we also had um some ski passes. We had a lot of um activities, alternatives to um you know alternatives to to some of the problems that we see in our community. We had the uh
044North Jersey guitar was was there in representation. We we donated um uh raffles for uh guitar and and guitar lessons. We >> Yeah. So, we're getting there. We're doing this. >> A lot of basketball fans in the house. So, we did as as uh you know interrupted um sorry, >> we just remembered that >> the fast break basketball camp as long as as well as all of our sports camps. So, that wasn't just basketball. was all of our sports camps and and uh um we had a good representation of a nice uh well-rounded um activity selection for for for uh for kids. So, without further ado, um Mr. El Tab is going to roll our It's a a brief video to just give a little highlight of the event. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat.
045[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] So just a brief little video just to to highlight the event. Uh again I just want to say thank you for all the uh participants every all of our donors. Uh as you can see at the end we had a little recognition. This um slideshow is going to be available on our website. There is a safe night link um under district and also under four families. So if you want to take a look, you can see uh you know a little bit about about the event. We also have some of our resources and our our presentations um there as well. Uh shifting gears, I would like to take a moment to um welcome
046our uh supervisor of science and industrial arts. Uh she is the second presentation in uh what what is uh going to be many with a monthly overview of our content areas. Last week we had a presentation by not sorry last month we had a presentation by Mrs. Sharon West for uh English and language arts across the district. And today we're going to talk about science. Uh Mrs. Magisik will be back again uh in the spring to present all of the great things we're doing in our industrial arts programs as well. So u >> Mrs. Magisik, all yours. >> So I know that science really isn't a verb just to follow up with English language arts. Um but I say that Yeah, I I know. Um, but I say that because science is changing significantly in
047how we teach it. It's become a much more active subject. So, I just want to start off with this picture. Kind of appropriate for this time of year, right? >> We all know what that is, right? It's ice. >> Yep. >> And I'm just going to just leave you with a little bit. I'll just let this sit here for a while. It's pretty cold in here, so this might not change at all, but we'll just kind of take a look at that. And we know a lot about ice, right? especially um we use it to pull our drinks this time of year. We worry about it on the roads. So, it it's a common subject for us, right? But it is also a phenomena that we talk about in science. So, we'll let that sit
048for a minute. We'll come back to it. I just want to give you kind of an overview of how science is changing. So, science education when we all went to school, everybody here, because these changes are pretty new. We had a lot of memorization, a lot of vocabulary. If I said the word mitochondria, probably everybody in here would say mighty mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. But we don't actually know what that means. We don't actually think all the way through to the idea that it's taking our food, it's breaking it down, it's making cellular energy in the form of ATP. Because we memorize the vocabulary, but we didn't really embrace the vocabulary. And what we're seeing now as we move forward in this much more active theme-based kind of approach is that students are
049really embracing and understanding the language. So on the left we see students working with trout in the classroom and they're really understanding the life cycle. On the right they're doing different kinds of germination. In the top um we're looking at um Wisconsin fast plants where they've actually done pollination. On the bottom we have germination. You can't see it well, but there are plastic bags hanging at different places with seedlings and in the middle we have gardening. So big shift in in how we handle language. Um ideas are connected to a phenomenon. So we have some really great volcanoes going here. Volcanoes are a staple of elementary science education, but the shift here is not so much the idea that we have the volcano, but whether or not that volcano could happen here in West Milford.
050And so students know they cannot and they know they cannot because the question that they were out to answer was what kind of environment would be necessary for a volcano to occur and whether or not we have those land structures here. Um one of the beautiful things you see multiple volcano pictures here that's in multiple different elementary schools. When I started in this position, one of the things that I was really determined um to encourage to happen is that there would be consistency across the elementaryaries. So, everybody has their flavor that's kind of like their neighborhood flare and what makes them their neighborhood school, but there should be some common experiences for everybody. So, everybody comes away understanding that we won't have volcanoes in West Milford. Everybody in kindergarten, every student has an experience with
051ladybugs. Every student in sixth grade grows Wisconsin fast plants. So, we have some of these commonalities in their phenomena. Um, teaching equals guiding. So, this was actually happening in a forensics class. Those splats that you're seeing are fake blood splots. And they were using math to determine where the person was, where they were probably hit, and how how tall they were, etc., etc. And so in the top left corner, you see the teacher guiding the student. She laid out the process for how math is used in forensics and then just stepped back and let the students kind of figure this out. And I was observing this and the best moment for me was that aha moment when students said wow this really works. It all ended up in the same spot and I'm like yes.
052So teaching not so much up there standing talking at the students but getting them actively involved. There's not always one right answer. So we're doing a lot of these problem solving activities where students can get to the answer in different ways. Some of our units come from Engineering is elementary from the Museum of Boston. Others are STEM activities that that we've found, teachers have found, I found, and we've kind of shared, but it encourages students to look at all the ways to solve a problem. And then one of our common threads from kindergarten through grade 12 is the claim, evidence, reason model. So, it's not enough to come up with a solution, but to be able to explain why that's working. Give the evidence from your data or from your experience. Give the reasons from
053the um information that you've gathered in studying that in kindergarten and first and second grade. Really, it's just about making a claim and being able to use a little bit of your observation to support it. But we develop that over and over as we move up in the grades. Labs are not cookbook anymore. So once upon a time used to get the directions, do the lab, write out the data, answer the questions, hand it in, get your good grade. Six months later, somebody asked you what you did. You probably want to remember, you went through the motions, you did a really good job, but you didn't have that really deep understanding. So this is um pillow books, roly pulleys. Everybody remember rolly pulleys from once upon a time under logs and stuff. Um again I
054just happened to be in um one of the elementary schools when they were looking at them. I was walking by and I was like yes they were so excited looking observing and then asking questions. What happens if we move the roly poly here? How is that you know if we change the environment? What does it do? Um and then collecting some data and then crunching some numbers. So starting to get some of that computational science and engineering practice in there as well. Um, so worksheets, not really anymore. I say not really because there are handouts out there, but those are places where data is collected. We're really more interested in collecting data and making sense of that. So we tend to use science notebooks now more. The beauty of this is a lot of the
055things that are happening in reader writers workshop are mirrored in science notebooks. So students are using those same kinds of skills and processes. The difference sometimes is they don't think they're writing non-fiction when they're writing in a science notebook because it's science. So, we kind of kind of sneakily get that in there. But, um, not really. Again, no more of those lists of vocabulary and definitions, those are gone. The worksheets that students do and don't necessarily process deeply, those are gone. We've really moved towards a deeper understanding. maybe less topics, but if we do a few topics really well and there's deep understanding, that's far better than covering a whole lot and not coming away with much. So, science is for all Americans. Project 2061 um came out in the 1980s when Haley's comet came
056by and the next time it would come by was in 2061 and that was kind of the impetus for the title for that particular um piece that document that research that kind of drove this whole movement towards changes in the standards. So this has been a long time coming and the reason I bring it up now is because there was another inconsistency when I took over the job. Depending upon where you were in your learning and your learning challenges, you had different science experiences. And I feel really strongly that every student is entitled to grade level instruction, whatever grade that is. And so therefore, the class of 2023 will be the first one where every student will do biology as freshman, chemistry as sophomores, physics as juniors, and we'll still have all of our large
057array of um elective programs, our AP classes. Students can still take APs in junior and senior year, but this will provide everybody with those same experiences. It also ensures that we get a much wider breath of the standards. Um, prior to the students were getting a lot of physical science standards, not as many biological or a lot of biological science standards and not as many physical. So, we're we're leveling the playing field and making sure that everybody has this experience. Um, I think a lot of what we do kindergarten through 12 is getting tighter, too. And some of that's been through targeted PD. The first year that I was here, we did kindergarten, first and second grade. The sec last year, we did third and fourth grade, and this year we're doing fifth and sixth
058grade. Down the road, we'll look to see if maybe we want to shift what we're doing in seventh and eighth grade to make it more integrated. Um, that's a conversation for another day, but definitely um kind of in my in my vision. So, here we are. Does anybody recognize that? >> Yeah, that was this morning. We were out at um St. Joseph Cemetery. It was blustery cold. >> Um some students were dressed like teenagers do, you know, sweatshirts and they were tough and cool. and I kept saying to them, "I don't know." Um, and they they ended up on the bus earlier. And we were out there with environmental science classes. So, St. Joseph's Cemetery is large. It's it's old. It's the oldest Catholic parish in New Jersey. And so, some of the tombstones date
059back to the early 1800s. So, there's just a rich pile of data there that that is ours for the mining. And so what we did was the AP environmental science class, some of the environmental science students, two teachers and I all headed out early this morning and students just very respectfully went from tombstone to tombstone and collected data. And the data they were collecting was male, female, data, the year of birth, year of death. And in the past, again, the cookbook lab would be here's all the data, crunch all that data, answer these questions, and move on. But instead, these students are looking at this as so many stories about what's happened over time, and how can this data help us to see this story? And so, they collected data in different pockets. tomorrow they'll
060all dump it into a a common Google sheet where they can all look at that data and start sorting it and start graphing it and then start asking the important questions and use that to drive their research and instruction. And I have to say that um not everybody was sold on this idea when we were pulling out of the parking lot this morning, but when we came back an hour later, they all agreed that it was a really great experience. And of course, we got rid of some of those creepy misnomers about cemeteries while we were there. Um, okay. So, now back to your ice. So, you're looking at your ice in front of you, right? Has it changed? >> Probably not. It's cold in here. >> It's freezing in here. >> It might have
061changed. It might have gone the other way. >> So, if it was a little bit warmer, what would have happened to your ice? >> Melt. >> Would have started to melt, right? And so that has to do with a change in energy. Now ice is is a common theme that we see all through the standards. Not ice itself, but the phenomena that occurs in second grade. Students will look at this ice and they'll see that it's changed from a solid to a liquid. They don't even need to talk about gas. It's second grade, but just the fact that it went from solid to liquid. And then we'll ask them, well, can we change that back again? And if we can, how would you propose that we do that? Let's give that a test. In fourth
062grade, we start to talk about energy transferring from place to place. Simple things, heat energy. In fifth grade, we're looking at what's happening to those atoms and the law of conservation of matter. But we're not calling it the law of conservation of matter. We're talking about what happens when it melts. Is the mass the same or did it change? When we get into sixth, 7th, 8th grade, now we're starting to talk about particles? What are those particles doing? 9th through 12th grade, it gets much more sophisticated. Now we're talking about how uniform these things are, what affects these particles. So, just to give you some examples, in second grade, melting and cooling in um fourth or fifth grade, looking at transfer. In seventh, no, in eighth grade, they do the penguin shelters where they're looking
063at how to keep their penguin from melting and they're looking at transfer of heat. We all know that ice melts, but do we know why ice melts? And this is where the idea starts to really crystallize. Excuse the pun. Um, but it's not that the ice is making the area cooler. It's that the heat from the area is being transferred to the ice and causing it to change phase. So, if it wasn't so cold in here, I'd ask you to hold that ice in your hand and see if if you would if the ice would be making your hand freeze or if your hand would be making the ice melt. And your hand would be making the ice melt. in high school in one of the chemistry classes right now they were talking about ions
064and the teacher took the perspective of salt road salt how that's affecting ice and then they started talking about brining so that you know the brining that they're now doing on the roads so a practical application so these phenomena are not necessarily these big aha that's so cool but everyday things that are in your life okay so last but not least I just want to thank you always for all of your support in everything science. Um the green houses are almost done. They're looking fabulous. We're excited and can't wait for them to be up and running. We have a science Olympiad team going out in January to compete. We have a middle school and a high school team. Last year we came home with medals, so we're really excited to go back again and hopefully
065get a little more hardware there. Our robotics team will be going out competing in January and again in February. Our Science National Honors Society did a fabulous job with their full steam ahead program for elementary students last spring. They'll be doing that again this spring. And we used to um have a tech meet every year at UGL that was just at UGL. Last year, Maple Road did an iteration of that that they called the science showdown. And I think this year, I don't think I know this year all of the other elementary schools are going to embrace that. It's kind of a little bit of a science olympiad model and do the same events in each of their schools. Hopefully down the road we'll be competing amongst ourselves within district once they've done it in
066their schools. So we have a lot of great things moving forward and that's really um largely because of all of your support as we're doing these things. So thank you. And does anybody have any questions for me? >> Well >> uh first thank you for your passion. you always do come here and and bring a lot of your love of science to the table. So, thank >> thank you. >> Um my question for you is has the science department discussed physics first as an initiative because over the past few years it was just a topic that I hear a lot of and it just piqued my interest. Um so yes when we were considering biochem physics or physics chem bio those are two well there were four models out there that we looked at and
067and we looked long and hard this is a year-long decision so even though I kind of spun it out in 30 seconds it was really a lot of research and conversation um the four models we saw were biochem physics physics chem bio bio chem a choice of physics and environmental science or bio and then a choice of chem physics environmental science And so the reason we went with biochem physics is we do a very math-based physics program. Our college prep physics is algebra based. Our honors physics is uh pre-calc trig honors integrated. And that's because um our AP physics we do AP physics C which is mechanics and some piece of electricity and magnetism and that's calculus based. And so we feel that our programs have been really successful in in what we were doing
068and so we wanted to keep that in place. I have heard of districts that did physics um chem bio and they have found that their bio has been very successful or has been stronger as a result of that. But we just felt what we had in place was working well for our students in terms of physics. And so what we're adding is is a conceptual physics for students who might be a little intimidated by the math component. And then for our replacement classes, we will have a replacement physics. We currently have a replacement chemistry this year and we're having fabulous success with that. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Sure. Anybody else? >> Thank you, Colin. >> All right. Thank you. >> Can I take the pocket? >> I'll take it out of there. Thank you.
069>> Thank you again. >> I know it's a lot to absorb, but uh if you just want to remember one sentence, in the future, this new initiative will have more students at the high school taking higher level science classes. That's sort of the one piece you could take away from this presentation is in the future we'll have more students at the high school taking higher level sciences than we currently have. So, we're excited about that. >> Is that the end of your report? >> Okay. Uh, special reports and correspondence. Um, Mrs. Francisco, we have two sets of minutes. >> Yes, we have the minutes from the November 13th meeting, regular and executive session. >> So, I need a motion. I'd like to make a motion to approve the following board of education meeting minutes. November
07013, 2018 workshop regular meeting. November 13, 2018 executive session. Does anybody have any comment any um comment on the minutes? >> Okay. Uh voice vote. All those in favor? >> I >> uh I'm going to abstain because I was not here. Okay. >> I abstain also. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. We'll move on to the president's report. Well, everybody touched on everything I was going to say tonight. Um I did want to comment on the safe night. I It was a very informative presentation. Um, I hope that next year we can have some more people turn out. I think that the parents really got a lot out of the presentation in the cafeteria with the with the police department and with Rebecca. There were a lot of issues that, you know, a lot of information
071given that night that I think some parents were not aware of and I I think it was it was just very very informative. I look forward to it again next year. um the Reese Across America. I It's just a just a wonderful job that those two young men did and I know that they had extra wreaths that they wound up putting at Presbyterian on I think almost all the all the stones. You were there, right, Tara? >> Yeah, I um I attended the wreath uh press Erica along with Miss Schwarz from the from Westbrook and Mr. Stry from the high school. And what they did with the extra wreaths was to bring they had them sent to a cemetery in Maryland. And the ceremony was a military ceremony which was extremely touching. We started off
072with a gun salute taps. Our band, our pipers were there. Um they played Amazing Grace. There was not a dry eye to be found. We visited the three cemeteries. The organization was extremely happy with our um donation of the two buses. The reception later was so wellreceived that I think next year it might have to be moved out of the firehouse into a bigger venue. It was just moving and and the wreaths were beautiful and those two boys are just saints. They will both be going into the military after their graduation and we should be proud of them and proud of their parents. I mean just stand up people, good good people. >> I I said if I had to pick two sons I would pick those two. But um it was >> um also
073I just wanted to wish everyone a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and happy holidays and uh look forward to uh the start of the new year. Hopefully everything will be good and well for everyone in the new year. >> Uh I go on to public comment. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first for with five minutes for each speaker 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 during public comment are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to give their full name, spell their last name, and provide their address. Speakers may not use the names
074of students during public comment. Has anybody signed up? >> Would anyone like to speak this evening? >> My name is Tamara Jordan. I live in West Milford. Just want to give a shout out to Glenn Huber. I could say that, right? >> Sure. >> Say whatever you want. >> I know with the names and stuff. I just wanted to say thank you very much for everything that you have done for our children and for the parents. And um we're sure going to miss you. I just want to say thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Would anyone else like to speak? >> If not, I need a motion. >> Seeing none, like to close public comments. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Before we move on, just want to
075make one amendment to the uh to the agenda. Personnel resolution number two. >> page number seven. Personnel student affairs resolution number two. After it says January 31st, 2019, it should add comma for the purpose of retirement. Period. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So then we need a motion uh to accept the agenda. >> Like to make a motion to accept the agenda as presented. Doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. >> Okay. Um, budget and finance. >> Steve, would you like to do that, please? >> Sure. Okay. Uh, I'd like to move items one through six, please. >> Second. >> Discussion. I would just like I just like to say thank you to Karen Johnson for donating the automobile to the auto shop. >> Yes, >> that's it. That's very nice. Thank you. >> Anything else? >>
076Go ahead. >> I have a question. What's the annual amount of item number two? >> It's about 5%. >> No, I mean the annual >> We're leasing this over five years. What's the >> It's actually a 42-month period. >> So Um, I'm not We're leasing it over 42 months. The annual >> interest imputed interest. >> It's about five is about 5%. >> So, you're not sure what the annual I guess I could do that in my head. >> Yeah, >> it's about 5% per year, but it's a three and a half year loan. >> Okay. And uh my wife would sure like me to donate some of my vehicles. So, Any other >> I'll consider that. I just know we can do that. >> Any other discussion? If not, Mrs. Francisco. >> Miss O'Brien. >>
077Yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mr. Yubert, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> no to three. Yes. to the remainder. >> Miss Van Dyke, >> uh, I'm going to abstain on five and yes to the rest. >> I'd like to move item number seven, please. >> Second. Any discussion? Okay, Mrs. Francisco, >> Mrs. Fritz. Yes, >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes, >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes, >> Miss O'Brien. >> Yes, >> Mr. Yuber. >> Abstain. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Like to move item number eight. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >>
078Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Yuber, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> abstain. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> I'd like to move item number nine. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Mrs. Francisco, >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> abstain. >> Mr. Yuber, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> M. Van Dyke, >> I abstain. >> I'd like to move item number 10. Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. >> I have a quick question. >> I thought we were required by law to provide the annual summary for the previous fiscal year by the end of this year. >> Um >> what what what is >> statutoily is supposed to be by
079December 5th. that is supposed to be completed, but the Gatsby requirements are not done yet. The state hasn't provided them. So, everything has now been postponed until January. So, we don't have the annual audit because it um the state has held it up, >> but we do expect we'll have So, we still don't have the Gatsby requirements? >> No. >> So, we may or may not have these in January either. We're hoping to have it for the January meeting. We have the presentation set up for January at this point, but we don't know. No one knows whether or not we're going to have everything to complete uh the audit. And then once they do get those numbers, they're going to have to come back out and test the things that they tested during the summer.
080>> All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Any other questions? Mrs. Francisco, >> Miss O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Yuber, >> abstain. >> Mrs. Van Dyk, >> yes. >> I'd like to move item number 11. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> M O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Mr. Yuber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Steve. >> Mrs. Brier, can you do education, please? >> I'd like to move items 138 for discussion and approval. >> Second. Any discussion under education? If not,
081oh, I'm sorry. Do you have something? >> I thought I did. Um, >> no, I don't. >> Anyone else? >> I did. >> Mrs. Francisco, >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. >> Mr. Yuber? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? Yes, >> Mr. Sidawitz. >> Yes, >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Van Dyk. >> Yes. >> Personnel like to move items 1 through 33 under personnel student affairs. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Okay. Um on number one, this is Donna and Joyce Ken. I would like to thank her for her many years of service in our district and her many years of dedication to the students in this district and also Maryanne Feroli. Um both these people will be missed and I think the speaking to the
082board we thank them for their service to our children. >> Thank you Will. >> Item number 30. Okay. >> I am uncomfortable with saying yes to a GSA makapin. I think that the age is too young for a teacher to be speaking with 12 to 14 year olds about sexuality matters. So I will be voting no on that. >> Okay. Any other discussion? >> Um just like to thank the volunteers um in number 33 that are going to be helping with the student activity programs. Um dance team, color guard, baseball, mountain bike club, ice hockey, and lacrosse. Anyone else? >> Steve, >> briefly, I'd like to thank Mr. Alte for his service to the district. I think he did a good job in implementing quite a number of changes uh in relation to item six.
083>> Item 17. I don't know this person. I assume it's pronounced Pacion, but I always like to see people get more education. So, there >> anyone else? >> Okay. I I Terry, you stole what I was going to say because I I've known Donna and Mary for many years and they've been an asset to our district and um appreciate their service. I hope they have a wonderful retirement and look forward to seeing them and but they will be missed and also Bonnie Spooner for her many years of service too. Um so Mrs. Francisco Ro I would like to welcome Ubert Winston to our district. He will be um replacing Bard and um he seems like a very dedicated and informed individual very happy about that. So I'd like to welcome him. I don't know. >>
084I don't think so. >> Go ahead, Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yuber. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> No. To 30. Yes. To the remainder. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> M. Van Dyke. >> I'm going to abstain on 25 and yes to the rest. Okay. Committees. Mr. Gorino, Parks and Recck. any meetings? >> Yeah, just a couple quick things. Uh, the work on Denzel Fields has been done. Park looks great. So, again, tough time to go visit the park, but you take a ride over there. Things are great. They uh they are planning on uh reinvesting into uh resurfacing the fereral fields. So, we do have a grant. So, it's a $250,000 total um from
085the state. So, some of that work will begin, of course, once uh spring comes. And then, uh there'll be no meeting in December, which was supposed to be this Thursday. We figure most people will go out shopping and finish up their last minute holiday shopping. >> The new park at Nio Pond, they they have a dog park there. I I just read that. >> Really? >> Yes. Yes. I I I didn't know that. I just read it. I'll have to go check that out then. Great. Yes. Can I make a a brief comment? I know that we um obtained quite a bit of money through the uh Highlands Council and um um I think actually those people are doing an outstanding job. Um, and I don't know if you know Carl Richco or not, but
086I would highly encourage you to talk to him because I think maybe there's a way to coordinate between the town, the school board, and the islands council to see if we can't finally set aside a block of land that can be used as the park complex that we're we're looking for in town. It just seems like there's an opportunity. And Carl is exactly the guy who's got the enthusiasm and and the ear of the legislature to maybe help us do that. >> Got it. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Drew, back uh piggybacking on that, Mr. Richbo is a member of the board of education for many, many years. Um he was also mayor of the community. So, he knows the community, he knows the school district, and as you said, he knows the legislature and and
087it would be an asset for us to contact him. I agree with you 100%. Any other discussion? Nothing. Okay. Safety there. There's no meeting this month, right? We don't have a safety meeting. Um, superintendent roundt. >> Okay. Okay. Um, the first thing that the parents were concerned about was the visitation day that was going to happen two days later and I don't know if it was addressed to have morning and afternoon sessions available especially at Marshall Hill. Were you able to do that? >> Okay. What up? That was a snow day we had that storm Friday. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. The roof at Maple Road was a concern. It was explained that the work would be done at night and weekends. Um and the kids it would not interfere with the kids. Um I
088guess there was a little bit of a problem. Uh but that problem is been addressed. Uh the parents want the COGAT testing of resource students to be left to the decision of those parents. Um they're afraid that makeup dates would lead to extra days out of school for those who missed the test. Dr. animal explained that there was a misunderstanding and the use of the test was is going to be re-evaluated. Safe night was discussed and this district calendar was discussed and it was explained that it was posted um on the district roll uh website. There are still some safety issues with the PK voting that they're concerned with. Um Dr. explained that the county is going to visit the Freedom Church on Jan in January for the possible change of location for the voting.
089There there were questions about Camp Vakamus' district-wide six trade field trip. Um it needs to be looked at in the future, especially since CASA can no longer offer bubbling springs beach parties for the incoming sixth graders. And the next meeting is Thursday the 20th this week. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Dwire. Uh the P County school boards, uh the meeting was cancelled um in November. I haven't gotten anything for December yet. So, um New Jersey school boards, I don't have anything. >> I went to uh delegate. >> Oh, you did go to delegate or something. Go ahead. >> Uh they didn't have any motions to to pass that day. However, they went over the Department of Education's path to progress report and discussed was our state's poor financial stability due to uh our public employee
090pension and health benefit.