001Okay. To >> what degree were >> are we changing? >> But I I am curious. >> I'm curious about the answer though. >> You're out of order. >> Okay, >> Mr. Drew. >> No, I appreciate that was exactly what I was trying to arrive at. To what degree are we changing what we've done in the past? Thank you very much. >> I I'd like to ask the same question. >> Go ahead. >> Um in in do we reimburse the parents in other sports like for ski lift and things like that? We're >> not reimbursing the parents. The parents reimburse us. >> Oh, I see. Okay. It's just lessening their um responsibility in in uh raising funds to support the >> Okay. >> Part of the reason for the cooperative too. >> What percentage are we
002reimbured >> fully? >> Yeah. >> Oh, all right then. >> I think so. I don't have that exact number, but they pay a substantial amount of the cost for hockey. >> This is the first year of our co-op. So, uh, Puquanic, we're going to Pquanic is going to pay us. >> We'll pay the ice ball. They'll pay us half. >> So, this is a substantial reduction in cost for the parents and the district. >> Correct. Good job. Number three. >> Number three. >> Um, >> Barbara, did we get any bids at all or did we just get bids and they were too low? >> This was for uh financing and um we did get bids. However, um they felt that um we should reject them because basically they're selling the the um the loans to
003Excuse me. Can you please talk to the Thank you. >> All right. So, so basically um the committee said that the they didn't like it because the loans were being uh sold to another entity, which is pretty common in the lending arena. Um was there some problem with the entity they're selling it to or do we just not know? >> They're not. >> Okay. So, um, we just felt more comfortable with the other funings that we had in place. >> Okay. All right. >> And one through what was 1 through 10 and 12 through 16? >> 11. We're leaving. >> Mr. Yeah, >> I'd like to say thank you very much to the Maple Road uh PTO for donating the trajectory and to the uh great when parents have come up with something like that.
004Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other questions or discussion? Roll call vote. >> Mine. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sideless. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yuber. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I'd like to move item number 17 under budget and finance, please. >> Second. >> Is that a hand car? Oh, no. There it is. Sorry. Never mind. Never mind. >> Okay. Questions, discussion? Okay. Roll call. Mr. Spencer. >> Miss O'Brien. >> Yes. Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Uh, yes to all and abstain from tuition reimbursement. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> M.
005You >> abstain. Correct. Done. >> The vote is it over? Yes. Can't follow this >> like blue item number 18 on the budget and finance. Please >> second. >> Miss O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fris, >> yes. >> Mr. Hubert, >> yes. >> Like to move item number 19 under budget and finance, please. >> Second, questions, questions, discussion. >> Miss O'Brien, yes. Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wire, >> yes. >> Mr. Reno. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Huber. >> Yes. >> Like to move item number 20 under budget and finance. Please. >> Second. >> Question discussion.
006>> Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidawitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hubert. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Garino. >> Stain. >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fritz. >> Yes. Make move item number 21 under budget and finance. Please second >> discussion. Mr. J, >> the preliminary. Does that include the half a million dollars that we put into capital reserves? >> No, that's an audit adjustment. That's not on the bill list. >> Oh, no. We're on 218. Yes, this is um this is Yeah, it would be an audit adjustment. No, it doesn't. >> So, it isn't in there already. We're going to do that after the fact. >> Some with the audit. >> Any other questions, discussion? Roll call vote, please. Mrs.
007O'Brien, >> yes. Mr. Sid, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yuber. >> Yeah. Abstain. Sorry. >> Like to move item number 22 under budget and finance. Please. >> Second. Discussion. Question. Okay. Local please. Miss O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidawitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. Yes, Mr. Bino. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes, >> Mr. Hubert. >> Yes. >> Okay. Policy, Mr. >> Oh, that's right. Okay. >> All right. Ready for this? So policy and I'm going to make a motion to move uh the board of educate uh to uh suspend the rule of bylaw 0131 requiring two readings to adopt the following
008policies and regulations with one reading. Uh they are number two 7 9 10 14 15 17 and 19. Second. >> Okay. Discussion, question. Roll call. Mrs. >> Mley, >> yes. >> Mr. Sid, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Graham, >> yes. >> Mr. Huber, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Bron, >> yes. Okay. Okay. You may continue. >> I'd like to make a motion to move items 3 through 6, 8, 11 through 13, 16, 18, and 20 through 33. >> Second. >> Questions? >> Discussion. >> One moment. I got to I got to find it. All right. Uh 5512. I think it's number 27. Um I'm just going to suggest that before the next meeting the board look over the policy change including the
009optional change. Um, it provides a uh the ability of the school administrator to decide a HIV is not a HIB and not to do an investigation. Um, it it's my opinion that it's best to do an investigation when things are fresh. Um, memories are very poor. Eyewitness testimony is bad over time. So, in which almost the Hibs are almost all eyewitness testimony stuff. So, I I don't think at this juncture it's a good idea. Maybe sometime in the future when we've really got things the climate down a little bit better and um but not right at this moment. >> Any other question or discussion? A roll call vote, please. Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. Mr. Gino.
010>> Yes. >> Mr. Huber. >> Not to 27. Yes. To the remainder. >> M. O'Brien. Yes. >> Okay. We'll move on to committee reports. Don't we have to now move the other ones that were screwed? >> We already did. That was >> already committee reports and leaison parks and recreation. Mr. Burino, >> no. Uh summer meetings for parks and recreation. Nothing to report. >> And safety, Mrs. Van Djk, no report. Superintendent Roundt will continue in September. The Sake County School Board's Association will continue in September. New Jersey School Boards Association will continue in September. Legislation, Mr. Huber. >> Okay. There's been quite a bit going on. >> Um, [Applause] okay. Um, governor signed a number of things into law. Um, I'm going to try and zip through the ones that don't affect us much. Um,
011and give a little bit of explanation with the ones that do. Um, one of them there's a mandatory recess for at least 20 minutes for gates grades kindergarten through 5. Um, it does permit denial of recess, but it has to be replaced with something that is um, uh, a restorative justice activity, is less punitive, um, and is designed to support, uh, to establish more supportive and inclusive school c culture. Um, so that's that. They expanded the um eligibility for um the safety specialist in the schools. Uh which means that they basically uh made the requirements easier. Uh what they did is that previously you had to have a certified as a school administrator. Now the superintendent can appoint the most appropriate staffer to serve as the designated school safety specialist uh regardless of whether she
012holds an administrative certificate or not. Um, computer science endorsement um is a law that um used to require teaching credentials um a special instructor certificate and it will now for um grades 9 through 12, but they're grandfathering in those who are already teaching it and can I guess demonstrate that they're proficient and um know what they're doing. Um there's required sexing instruction to middle school grades. Um including instruction on social, emotional, and legal consequences of that. I'm not going to go into that any further. That takes effect at the beginning of the school year, though. Um there's a law that was passed regarding public private partnerships um that relate to certain building and highway infrastructure projects. I'm sure Barb Barber will know about that and have to deal with that. Um, there's another law passed
013with regard to auditing of state health benefits commission and school employees health benefits commission stuff. Again, that's probably an issue for Barbara. Um, one down. Um, let's see here. Uh the law was passed that um school board candidates can um circulate a petition jointly as you know a group running together on a ticket and then they can run on the same ballot if they want. Um there's something that has >> doesn't take effect. >> Uh it doesn't say when it Yeah, it actually does. The new law goes into effect immediately which will uh be for this November. >> Okay. that came out after the petitions were due. I think >> um it's been kind of in the works for a while, so it's not like it was a big secret. Um there's a law passed
014regarding summer meal programs, which I believe we don't have to deal with. Meal denial reporting, non-participation. Um oh, so those two really don't affect us. um a nonparticipation report for community eligibility which has to do with um New Jersey Department of Agriculture and Department of Education requirements. I don't think that that affects us, does it? >> Okay. It doesn't give a whole lot of explanation here. Um breakfast after the bell, which uh we don't do, I don't believe. Right. We have a breakfast program. >> Okay. Um requires a public school in which 70% or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced priced meals under national school lunch program um to establish a breakfast after the bell program. I I don't believe we qualify for that. No. Um there are a number of
015gun control measures signed into law which are considered in general to affect school safety. Uh but I'm not going to list all that stuff right now. Um I'm sure you could anybody who's interested can Google it very easily. U but it doesn't directly affect schools and it's very indirect. Um uh a law requiring email address on a nominating position uh petition for a school board candidate or any other candidates. Um there's a law that was passed with regarding to districts that were taken over by the state to run. Again, doesn't affect us. Here are a few that do. Um, safe haven law requires public school districts to um educate um I believe high school students uh in the safe haven law where it allows an individual to give up an unwanted infant safely, legally, and
016anonymously. Um I believe they can drop them at hospital emergency rooms and things like that. Um, there's a law banning styrofoam containers, uh, expanded polystyrene. So, we we can no longer in the cafeterias have styrofoam containers. Um, uh, there is something that's going to affect the special services IDA identification procedures. uh S2526 concerns state criteria for determining whether a child has a specific learning disability under federal individuals with disabilities education act. Um the NG NJ NJSBA apparently likes this bill. Um and there's a couple other things that are worth noting that are not in law yet. The assembly passed an overdose prevention measure that's that's to allow uh to require the schools to be prepared to give Narcan um an opioid antidote. Um especially with fentinol around. Fentinyl is very very strong and deadly. Uh
017I've heard about police officers who were exposed to it just by touching it requiring three um Narcan injections to survive. Um and the general assembly is also approving some nepotism policies and IEP awareness measures. Um and the bill if passed would put into statute the current nepotism regulations to which school districts and charter schools must comply. So that I'm not sure that's going to actually change anything. That's it for now. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. That was a lot. >> Yeah. Well, it's been saving up. >> Good. Technology oversight. Mrs. Fritz, >> we are looking at dates trying to get us a meeting. >> Okay. Township board of education joint committee. Mr. Sidowitz, >> we did not meet but I watched the most recent township meeting. They had their preliminary efficiency audit that was presented
018by Matrix Consultant Consulting Group and uh one of the highlighted needs was a for a focused asset strategic plan and I'd like to thank uh the administration and the board for supporting a 5-year capital projects list and also uh policy 7153 the 5-year capital maintenance and asset inventory plan. I think those things will head us in the right direction. I'd like to talk to >> them about that. Why am I getting cut off today? >> No, you're not getting cut off. I just want to make sure you're just going in the right direction. >> I always have a right direction. >> Okay. Are you done, Mr. >> Let me think about it. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. West Milford Educational Foundation. Mrs. O'Brien. >> Mr. O'Brien has no direction, has no report at this point.
019>> Okay. Thank you. And >> there was no recent meeting, so no reporting. >> No reporting. Okay. Thank you. And at this time, >> oh >> yes, I just I thought was gonna have more to say about CASA, but I just wanted to shout out to them and give them kudos for all the programs that they run for kids and just thought they were um they had a beach party that I chaperoned and had a child there and they had a great time despite the rain unfortunately. That kind of held it off for a while, but they do great stuff. And I have to say, Rebecca Stump, the the director, uh, does a phenomenal job. She's really taken it in the committee in a really good direction. >> Yeah. Okay. Old business, correspondence to legislators
020and freeholds about state aid. Uh, Mrs. Francisco, Dr. Anamone, do you have anything to say about this? We we discussed this in previous board meetings and again in committee about perhaps setting up a meeting with our representatives at the county level first and perhaps the state level after to discuss our unique situation, loss of state aid, Highlands Act, etc. So, um we haven't we don't have the meeting yet. We are looking to set it up. >> Mr. >> Are we done with that? >> He's done. >> Okay. Um, I think a long time ago we voted to put cameras in the maintenance shed. I'm wondering if that was ever finished and if not what the progress is. >> Yes, it was done. >> It was done. All right. Great. >> Okay. Any other questions, discussion?
021Okay. Motion to close old business. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. Vote. Voice vote. Hi. >> Hi. >> Any new business? >> Dr. Long, you want to >> I'm sorry, >> Mr. Bailey. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice President. >> As we are on the verge of opening up the 2018 2019 school year, uh, a lot of our fall sports and extracurricular activities have already started. opening a football game on Friday night, which is always a big deal for marching band, cheerleaders, fans, players, etc. However, my point is I'd like to wish the staff, the administration, and everybody, you know, involved with pulling this off year in year out here in West Milford. The best of luck. I hope you guys have a great year and I know you have a board that's always there to
022support you and uh do what's best for uh all parties involved. When you think about it again, what we get done here in West Milford on a year in yearout basis, you know, given the expansive nature of the place and you know, those types of issues, I think it's nothing short of miraculous. So, I give you guys a lot of credit and uh I give you my uh good luck. Thank you. >> Okay. Do you want to talk about that? Um >> there was a letter sent out uh just to backtracking to July. The state aid formula was run. It was altered this year, you know, well after the budget was finalized. of the 500 and something districts in the state, 180 or 175 lost state aid. The rest gain increased their state aid. So
023those districts uh be it a Ridgewood, be it a another community, they had to make a decision what to do with their extra money. At the same time, we were trying to figure out what to do with our state aid reduction. Um, separate from that, the county vote statewide uh received a windfall of money. So, in Atlantic County in South uh Jersey, the county vote since they already had their budget finalized and since they received extra state aid that they weren't counting on in July, rather than just spend it to spend it, they decided to reduce their tuition for the sending districts. So really spreading those savings out to all the member districts in Atlantic County. So there's a there's a lot of discussion in P County uh for that same uh thing to go
024on at P County because they have extra money. A lot of communities are refunding that to their taxpayers in the form of a lower tax increase. So instead of increasing their budget their taxes by 2%, they lowered it to 1.75 or whatever the difference would have been. So the discussion here for the board should be does this board want to send a letter to P say county tech to help tax relief in West Milford for that same purpose. >> It should be no >> question is whether we send it to PCTI or to the freeholders >> or both frankly both the freeholders who got the extra money. Yeah. Oh, >> because the prehold is given the money and PCTI decides what to do with it. >> What is is the money already committed to PCTI?
025>> Yes. >> Then the letter should go to PCTI. >> Okay. >> Like to back it up. >> We write a letter to PCTI and Freehold >> and copy it to >> Yeah. >> and ask for the surplus back. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Do you need a roll call? >> Do you need a second? Do we have a second discussion? >> Okay. >> Any new business? >> Okay. [Music] >> They're doing it. >> Motion. >> There's no motion necess I mean, if you'd like to make a motion, it just is unnecessary. So, >> we'll just do it. >> Okay. Motion to close old business. >> Motion to close business. >> New business. New business close new business. >> I'm sorry. >> And second voice, please. >> I public comments on the agenda
026or non-aggenda items. Members of the public who have 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 five minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute period transpires. All speakers are asked to give their full name, spell their last name, and provide their address. Speakers may not use the names of stupid the >> It's getting late public comments. Okay. Um does any Oh, we have one. Mrs. Mrs. Duchess Duchess. >> Thank you. I go by Jodie Murphy Duchess and I live in West Mford on Ashbrook Lane. my daughter, son, and well, my son's moving on to Mackaban, my daughter, and now my second daughter will be attending Ash with school. Um,
027full disclosure, I'm also a mental health professional. I want to talk to you guys today about one in five. One in five children struggle with mental health illness. I know it's a scary number. 20% according to the CDC. Further, the CDC states that twothirds of these children are not getting the help they need. I'm not sure if you're if you're aware of that. Further, 40% of these children are not will not go on to graduate. After an incident that occurred with my daughter last year, which I don't want to further discuss because the people here are already aware of that um including the principal, the superintendent in schools. It further got me to explore this is issue further. Okay, I've been in the field for 20 years and I can see myself getting anxious right
028now. So, I'm going to take a deep breath. Okay. Working with many children who struggle with with mental illness, anything from depression, suicidality, OCD like my child does, but nothing prepared for me for when my own ch my own daughter came down with the illness. Um but after this incident that occurred in the school last year, it got me wondering what is going on. So I further explored this issue and I came to find out that our teachers, our wonderful teachers here and West Milford School, but not only in West Milford, all along New Jersey are not fully training to mental illness. So, I have gone on to further want to educate you and I apologize if I do not have enough for everybody. So, I >> I'm sorry. I'm going to make a request.
029Can you say that in at the mic after you pass those out? >> Because I think >> that should be on record. >> That's okay. Thank you. and if you wouldn't mind repeat what you just said. Okay. Thanks so much. >> I think it's important. >> So my mission continues. >> I wanted to look further into this issue. So I ended up pulling our top schools, our New Jersey top schools, Ruckers, Monontlair, William Patterson, Ramapo, Satan Hall, and College of New Jersey, D, you know, further known as Trenton State. I pulled the curriculum. The curriculum that our teachers are going to are five-year programs, some of them specializing in special education. And I was floored to find out that these teachers are not getting any training in mental health. They're getting lots of training in
030autism, which is great. One in 34 students have have autism. One in five children have mental health issues. Now, I also pulled the stats from our schools here in New Jersey and I pulled your stats from the report card. I apologize. Let me find that for you. Where did I go? And I found out that New Jersey report card. Okay. So, for our district, I hope I got the numbers right. So for 2016 2017 we had roughly 3,388 students in our district from 8 from from first to to 12th grade. So that means one in five would be 677 students. Okay. So with that statistic, our children are spending on average 1,080 hours under the care of these professionals with no mental health training. You have a you have a you have a special you
031have uh some some training there. You have some training with a nurse and you also have a social worker that is borrowed. So when there's a crisis like my daughter had that person was not available, the situation was handled profoundly incorrect. Miss Primmer Vera can probably comment about that. My daughter ended up having a severe panic attack. Her teacher did not handle it her professionally at all. It resulted in her having a severe phobia and she was not able to continue on in the school and she lost three months of her school. She had to be have had to be home instructed. As a result to that, she had to have her medication changed and then she h suffered a severe reaction to that medication. We almost lost her. >> I've chosen to not seek
032>> Sorry, I'm sorry to interrupt, miss. You're at uh 5 minutes. Can you just maybe conclude in 30 seconds? >> So, I want to conclude with this. What do I want to do with this information? I want to join with you. I want to be proud. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Is there >> Can I just make a motion to allow her to continue further? >> Second again. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. Okay. I've chosen to not take this experience and bash you guys, right? To bash West Milford. I chose to live in this community. Okay. And I want to take my wealth of information and I want to go on this mission to make a change. I've contacted our senator's office, Senator Pacio, our assemblyman, Jay Weber. Um, and I've actually
033got him on the phone, people. Yes. >> Okay. And I've also reached out to Cody because I know that he is very passionate about mental health. I've contacted a National Association of Mental Illness and I would like Miss Premier Vera to please stand up because I know that she's really been amazing with coming forward to help bring my daughter back and I would like for the October 7th through the 14th is National Association. It's it's the uh uh mental health awareness week. And I know autism is so important for us, but I would like I would like Miss Prima to wear a t-shirt to to and I would like our whole district to come forward with this. So, Mrs. Premier Rivera, I'm going to ask you and I'm putting you on the spot here. I
034have a meeting with you tomorrow, but I would like for you to wear a t-shirt, not just for Darcy, but for so many of our 637 students that are probably here in this district that have mental health issues. So, I am a mental health professional and I'm going to brag. I graduated from NYU. Um, I am from Well-being Therapy Center. Um, I'm not trying to get business here, but I'm I've talked to uh to the superintendent here. We've had several meetings and I've offered my service free of cost to the district for an entire year. Please bring me in. Let me be your consultation. I've worked throughout the community. You can research me. I want to help. I'm also going to be fighting for my daughter, but not just for her, but for lots of
035other students who are struggling here. It's not just about belly breathing, okay? I respect that and I want to work with with your daughter or your son to find out something that's respectful to respect your needs. And you're you made a very good point because those professionals didn't understand that her religion and customs are important. Okay, you have to figure that out. And it's not just the parents role to do that. The teachers need to understand that from the very very moment. I shouldn't have to go in and none of you guys who have children should have to go in and teach these to the teachers. They should already know this when they come out of school. So, thank you for your time and please call me whenever you want and I'm here to help.
036>> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else who wishes to Mr. Foody? Hello, Jim Foody. Tukasha Shaka Trail, North U, New Jersey. Um, I'll start with uh this before I go down the Hillrest. I'm I'm watching this meeting. I'm a little bit perplexed. Who's running it? Is our attorney running it or or are you, Mrs. Dwire? Because the attorney is here to answer questions of law, not to ask Barbara to take roll call votes or call for discussion. That's not in his purview. >> Mr. You're out of order. I'm not out of order. You're out of order and I'm speaking. >> You're not supposed to address me personally as a >> You're the board president. That's who I'm addressing and that's who I'm supposed to address when I'm standing at this podium. >> Mr. Foody,
037please just make your comment. >> What's that? >> Please make your comment. >> Oh, I am going to make my comment. And again, he he's here to answer questions of law. However, I'll get into onto Hillrest. Hillrest is no longer a building that needs to be used. You guys passed that resolution what month ago, month and a half ago. Um there's value there. And let me explain to you how the value is there. Across the street there's as you're coming up this way on Macupin Road, there's half a dozen houses before you get to Camelot Drive. Those houses are on the township's MUA. Behind those properties is the easement for the MUA that comes right up to the lot that we own on the other side of Makapin Road, which holds the septic system for
038the Hillcrest School. The MUA is not allowed to expand under the terms of the sale, but any anything that is within any of the lines, any properties that when any of the lines of the MUA, they're allowed to connect up to it. That plant down in the the bottom of Camelot Drive is the only plant that has excess capacity. So hooking Hillrest into that, you now have a property in the Highlands of 34,000 square feet with sewer, very marketable, can be sold in a heartbeat. As a matter of fact, I'm not going to ask I would never ask for a commission, but I know people that I've spoke to would buy that in a heartbeat. And from what I've been told, pretty good money. So you guys thinking about tearing that down, making another ball
039field, that's not the responsible way to go. If you are going to do that, you need to have a bunch of things. You need to have an appraisal done. Properties, remember, property is assessed at 4.4 million. Even though we don't pay taxes, that is what the assessment is. So you need one, you need an appraisal. Two, you need to know what the cost is to hook up into the MUA. And I doubt anybody here has done that. But that's what second thing you need. The the third thing you need is a cost. If you are going to tear that down or do whatever it is that you plan on doing with it, if making another field because I'm sure that's what's going around, you need to know what the remediation cost is in that building
040because we all know from the report that we got there's a speestous in that building. So before you guys make any decisions, those are three things that you really need to do in order to be able to make an informed con, you know, an informed decision on that building has got value under the the the way that the state is going. They're going to be as you guys all know, I've read it in the paper and I've heard it from several other people. You guys are going to be living losing a tremendous amount of state aid. be nice to be able to sell a building and get a million dollars for it instead of tearing it down and spending a million dollars to do it because that's what you would have to it's probably spend
041in order to contain the asbestous that's in that building cuz it's not only around the pipes it's in the flooring it's in the paint guys read that report that the car Rabino gave us and it's in there it tells you the town has got a similar report tells them the same thing so you guys really need to make an an informed decision, an appraisal, a cost to hook up to the MUA, and what's your what's your demolition cost? And they're not going to be cheap. So, I would hope that you guys would make that uh those three things happen before you make that decision. Thank you. >> Does anybody else wish to speak? [Music] Tara Donahghue, Fairlon Drive in Hwitt. I'm here tonight because the first time in 40 years, I have a child. Well,
042myself and my last child will not be entering West Milford School District. I started in 1975 in UGL, as did my other two who graduated. And now my son will be starting freshman year at Pope John. And it's because of everything that happens here in this room amongst the administrators, the eye rolling, the back and forth. You want to run for a board and help your students, then run for the board to get up here and help the kids. Don't run and then vote against him because you don't like her or you don't like him so you're not going to vote for her. That's not why you're here. And if you want to play politics, go to the town council. Don't include kids into politics. You don't know what you're doing to this school district.
043The enrollment numbers are dropping. The math scores are absolutely horrible. The placement tests that these kids are taking to get into private schools, they're not making the classes. My son got placed into honors classes um in his freshman year at West Milford. Placement test at Pope John. Uh-uh. None of them. Another boy who moved out to Northern Highlands. His mother has to hire him a tutor. It is a disgrace what happens up here. I'm not here, but you hear me when I call you and I get you get my emails and I watch these at home. The bullying that happens in this school and the blind eye that's turned is obnoxious. They wanted to put my son in a flex class. Do you know what flex class is? It's a Snapchat class. That's what it
044is. I sit next to my son at night and I open his Snapchats with him. I see what happens in this school. And let me tell you something. What went down on a Washington bus underneath covers was X-rated. So you guys don't know half the stuff that's happening in this school and you don't want to listen to anybody who gets up here and tries to tell you. You all think you got your degrees and you're better than everybody else in this room. There are a handful of people in this district that truly care. And you know what's going to happen? The rest of y'all are going to run them over and they're going to stop caring, too. I can't go out to eat at our local diner without hearing the two tables over from me
045how bad the two girls are getting bullied in Makapin School. It's a it's an absolutely it's a disgrace. Now I have friends calling me because St. Catherine's closed. That tells me that West Milford school system is cold calling them, asking them to send their kids to West Milford. We are so desperate we're making cold calls. You're soliciting now. Is that what we do? This is absolutely heartbreaking for me. When I came to this school, our We had the best football team that there was. There was no bullying in this school. There was no drug problem in this school. It's been a rumor for years. It never was. There was no peer pressure happening in this school. It was It was a great school. I graduated from it. My two kids graduated from, which I had
046to pull them through and beg teachers to teach them. As Mr. Novak knows, the thing that I get the most is, "Oh, they're having trouble. Let's move them down to an easier class instead of let's try to challenge them. Maybe they want more snapping going on." I don't know that you have to challenge these kids. You have to be involved with these kids. You have to listen to the parents about the kids who are saying, "I want to kill myself." I personally know a little girl who goes to Makapin, bullied by three girls every day, wanted to throw up and said, "I want to kill myself." And she's just one of the ones that I know. Why aren't you listening? I don't understand it. today our athletes. This is all athletes. Like like I know
047I personally know athletes in this school that are playing and they failed three classes. When I was in this school, if you got below a C, you weren't playing. I know damn well they're playing right now and they couldn't pass a drug test. And you know what? They're not the ones that get picked for drug testing. Okay? And I know this as a fact. I know a hell of a lot more than any of you ever want to think I know. So, I'm asking you please, my son may not be coming here anymore, but a lot of his friends are that they've been together for the past nine years, and I care a lot about all of them. And I'm sorry, one last thing, Mrs. um Barbara Francisco, I'm sorry. I just want to say
048I didn't ask you before if your mic was on. I said, "Can you please speak up because we can't hear you." So, I didn't I didn't like the rude comment back, "My mic is on." You could have very nicely said, "I'm sorry that I didn't realize you can't hear me, but nobody up here knows how to be polite." Thank you. >> Any other comments? >> Okay, seeing none close comments. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I Okay. Mr. Huber, would you please read executive session? >> At 9:39 p.m., I'll make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, and matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality
049is no longer applicable. [Applause] >> Okay. All in favor? >> I will take action on these items when we return. Thank you. >> I was looking at Okay. Can you find We're almost there. >> There you are. Yeah. Kind of sinks up there. Dangerous. Thanks for showing. Mr. Bailey. >> What? Here. >> What are we even doing? >> You're here. >> Mr. Side >> here. Mr. Drew >> here. >> Mrs. Squire >> here. >> Mr. Greeno >> here. >> Mrs. Fritz >> here. >> Mr. Gooer >> here. >> Mr. Brian and Mrs. Van Dyke are absent. Okay. Can we do Personel first. >> Thank you. Sorry. I move item number 11 under personnel and student affairs. >> Second. >> We had it in the back. Yeah, we have Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sid
050was >> No. Mr. Drew, >> no. >> Mrs. Dwer, no. Mrs. Fritz, >> no. >> Mr. Gino, >> no. >> Mr. Hubert, >> no. >> Can I change my vote? >> You forget what we were talking about. >> I want to know. >> I think he forgot what we were talking. I move to reconsider personnel item 58. >> Second. >> Okay. Question. >> Can we be clear about the vote? If we vote on the reconsider, we're we're voting against 58 or what we're doing is because previously in the past for the board item 58, >> there's a motion to reconsider and now change that vote to a no. >> Due to concerns, >> voting yes on the motion to reconsider means you're changing the prior vote to no. >> It would mean no. Well, somewhat
051we're reconsidering it then we would vote on it again. That's how we go. I know it's declarative, >> but essentially we have to vote to remove that passes, then we vote once again whether we are going to pass it or change it and then that votes out. >> Yes. Got it. >> Hold on one second. >> Because of the dependency on the former, >> right? >> Well, in 11 says it replaces somebody else. Don't get that. >> But there's somebody else. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> You don't have to worry about that. >> It's okay. >> All right. It's okay. >> All right. >> See you motion. >> The motion is made. Seconded. >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cidto. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Swer. >> Yes. >> Mrs.
052Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Motion carries. I move to table number 58 >> under personnel and student affairs. So essentially I'll just discuss I told this well in terms of procedure. You can also table normally we do which we postpone it that we'll just table it um until we come back from executive and we vote on you can also and you've probably heard in the legislator table something indefinitely which is you also can vote right now to just vote on it again and vote no or yes or have the exact same vote whatever you want to do. Table it will just remove it and end it since it won't go. Also, just another thing to consider is if you do vote no on this, you would be able
053to vote once again at your next meeting the same exact thing if you for reason don't have that. So, just something else to consider. >> Okay. >> Well, if it's tabled, we could do the same thing, couldn't we? >> Same thing. It's the exact same, >> right? >> I have a second on the table. >> Second, >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sid, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. Mrs. Dwire, yes. Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Okay. And we have >> um >> what I'm going to do is just read um >> the resolution that we came up with. Whereas the board heard an HIV appeal 2018-m as in Matthew-4 in executive session at the August 28th meeting. Whereas the administration had determined that
054the event rose to the level of harassment, intimidation, and bullying as defined by NJSA 18A colon 37-14. Whereas the board considered the testimony and evidence of the student and her mother. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of education wish to overturn the previous positive termination of HIV. >> So moved. >> Second. Second. Mr. Bailey. >> Abstain. >> Mr. Sus. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Yes. >> Mr. Huber. >> Yes. >> Okay. Budget and finance. >> Move item number 23 under budget and finance. Please. Second. questions discussion Mr. Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sawitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yuber. >> No, you don't have any discussion. >> She called. >> I did. I asked questions discussion. >>
055She did. It would went pretty quick. Could we go back to it if Mr. Drew has questions or comments? >> Okay. Mr. Drew, can we go there? Mr. Drew, do you have a question? >> Uh, yeah. I have a comment. I think that we should put this out for a referendum. >> Ask the voters about this. I don't really like the idea of a referendum, but if we do it that way and bond for it, we get 40% reimbursement from the state of New Jersey. Given the budgetary restrictions we've got, that comes up to about a half a million dollars and I think it's worth doing it that way. So, it's my comments on this. >> Thank you, Mr. Bailey. In the midst of quite honestly probably the rainiest six-month period I think I've ever
056experienced in North Jersey. I think it would behoove this board to finally move forward with this resolution to seal up the roof at Westbrook because Road >> Naple Road excuse me because we have >> Excuse me. >> Bucket water. >> Oh, I thought you said something else. because we have discussed this item for a long long time and certainly the roof isn't getting any better. >> So voting and I'll just say as we've had good conversation I feel like if we wanted to do the referendum that could have happened last year or the year before >> and it didn't. So now we're in a situation where we need it because there's buckets catching water in the hallways. Any other discussion questions? Okay. Roll call vote. >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cidto. >> Yes.
057>> Mr. >> No. >> Mr. Drew? >> No. >> Mr. Gino? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bailey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Have a good night everybody. >> Have a good Labor Day weekend everybody. >> Labor Day. Thank you. >> And thanks for your patience