00110:54 and we're back from executive session. We do have uh two items. Terry, if you could read the uh HIVs under education, please. >> Okay. Move to approve the recommendation of the superintendent to approve the following um incidents. 2018 E7 substantiated, 2018 H7 unsubstantiated. [snorts] Any discussion roll please? >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Mr. Robins. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes. >> M. Mr. Huber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sid. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. [snorts] And we also have um motion um to approve the continuation of Nathaniel Simon, the special counsel for special education and other matters as assigned with her new firm of Scarinsy and Hollandback for the same terms and rates of the current retainer. Second >> is >> we need a second. >> I'm sorry.
002It was quiet. All right. Sorry. >> Okay. [cough and clears throat] >> And what's the appropriate time to ask if we can solicit bids for other attorneys? >> I think is it July 1 to June 30th? >> Well, you do it way before that. >> So, prior to What's the procedure? Do I need to make a motion or can I just ask for that? >> How does that work? >> Yeah, >> you make the make the motion. >> Make make the motion. Make the motion under new business, Glenn. It's a simple >> spring >> and get a second and then vote on it. Discuss it and vote on it. >> All right. >> Any comments? No. Okay. Roll call, please. Barber, on that motion to approve the continuation of Nathaniel Simon. >> Mr. Sid. >>
003Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Booty. >> Got to abstain. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> No. >> Mr. Robbins. Yes. >> Passed. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> I I need a motion to adjourn the meeting. It is 10:56. >> Was made. >> He was It was made and seconded. >> Made second. >> No. >> All in favor? >> I >> Any opposed? Merry Christmas everyone. >> Mr. Thank you for your service. >> Thank you. >> You said Alex. What am I doing here? >> Top one. >> Check the top sign. >> Check it. >> Yes. That's our uh file. >> And then my signature and print my name. >> Merry Christmas. Enjoy the holiday. >> We'll see you. Happy and through the new
004year. And through the new year. >> Wow. >> Welcome everyone. Just lean down. >> Wow. >> Good evening everyone and welcome to the workshop regular meeting of the West Military Board of Education. It's December 19th, 2017. I hope you all have your uh Christmas shopping done. I'd ask that you uh please silence your cell phones and note the uh location of the emergency exits in the room. Uh tonight, unfortunately, um I'd like to have a moment of silence for Mr. Carpenter um who a resident in town who had uh passed away and left behind two daughters and a wife. Um it's a it's a real tragedy. So, if we could have a moment of silence, please. [snorts] >> Please stand for the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America
005and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act, the 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, county superintendent's office, the board attorney, cable vision of Warwick, and has been 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, please. Mrs. Francisco, >> Mr. Bailey, Mr. Sidowitz, Mr. Drew, >> here. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> here. >> Mr. Robbins, >> Mrs. Fritz, >> here. >> Mr. Yuber, >> yep. >> Here, >> Mrs. O'Brien. Mr. Foody >> present. Would you
006do the honors of reading the executive session resolution, please? >> Certainly. Resolve that the board go through the executive session at approximately 9 p.m. or as soon thereafter as is possible for approximately 30 minutes for the the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, HIVs, and matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege of confidentiality is no longer applicable. Second. >> Uh, all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay, Alex. Um, superintendent report, please. >> All right. Good evening, everybody. Happy holidays and happy new year as well. Uh, it's not on the board agenda because this incident came up after the board agenda was uh printed and sent out, but last Friday on the 15th, uh,
007West Milford High School had a shelter in place in the morning. I just wanted to clear up some inaccuracies or confusion as best I could. Uh we received a call from the police department at approximately 6:30 in the morning on Friday. Uh they heard they were they were contacted by one of our students and one of our parents saying that they heard something about a weapon being brought to school. Um so we they speak they reached out to the school administration, myself, Mr. Korski, and we conducted a joint investigation. And by the time we got everybody to the high school, we had law enforcement officers from the police department at our front door, at our rear door, at our side door, and we brought the three or four students that were mentioned in the original
008rumor into the main office. Uh after a brief investigation, probably no more than an hour, um the police department was able to uh debunk the claims as unfounded and simply just not credible. Um, in a nutshell, they everybody had heard something and when you asked that student where did they hear it from, they said a friend and then we spoke to that friend and where did you hear it from and then a friend and eventually worked itself into pretty much a circle of about 10 or 12 students and they all heard from each other but there was really no credible threat. Um, now any student who was affected has been offered counseling services uh in our district and if they ever needed to seek counseling services outside our district, we could certainly steer them in
009the right place. Uh, the West Milford Police Department posted on their Facebook page yesterday a statement which basically what I just told you here. So, um, there was no arrest, there was no weapon, there was nothing. There's probably five, perhaps as many as 25 rumors about what happened, but uh I was there, the police department was there. Um it's on their website or their Facebook page if you want additional clarity. So I just wanted to start with that and then move into a more of a positive direction. Earlier this year, we have a student at our high school, Audrey Liebig, who scored uh took the ACT and scored a perfect and earned a perfect score. Um, I'm reading a letter here that Mr. Gorski sent her and then I'm going to invite her up to
010receive to receive a certificate from me and perhaps take a couple of photos. Dear Audrey, I was so excited to learn of your outstanding academic feat. Scoring perfectly on the ACT put you in tremendously exclusive company amongst all US high school students. Fewer than 3,000 students out of the 2 million that took the test scored perfectly. I am prouder still of the example you set for your fellow students and the broader community. You lead in an unassuming way, setting the bar for your fellow Highlanders. Your work in our classrooms and on our performance stages is unparalleled. And I appreciate your dedication to excellence in everything you do. I know that you have a bright future ahead and I join you and your family in celebrating this accomplishment. I look forward to seeing you take your
011next step in life and thank you for being a young woman of character who embodies what it means to be a Highlander. With every best wish, Paul Gorski, West Mil High School principal [applause] here, the Patrick of West Milford Board of Education or Liebe has attained recognition for perfect ACT score and is hereby awarded this certificate of honor. >> [applause] [applause] [clears throat] >> Next up, uh about two weeks ago, our high school had the our on-site decision day 2017. Uh this is a day where our high school seniors get to apply in our lower media center at the library and they receive notification during the interview whether or not they're accepted into the university that they're interviewing for. Uh there's a full list of universities and our guidance department of schools that were there.
012Just a brief sampling of some data from that very successful day. The total number of students participating increased by 130%. From the initial year, the percent of students participating from the start of this program increased from 22% to now it's 68%. So greater than two out of every three high school seniors participated in the on-site decision day. The total acceptances from the first year of this program to now has increased by 87%. And on this past uh on-site decision day, [snorts] about $411,000 in scholarships were offered. So, in other words, we didn't just have students who were accepted, they were also offered scholarships on that same very day. Over $411,000 for our children. So, it was a wonderful day and we look forward to next year as well. Alex, I just want to real quick
013because I don't know if Audrey is going to leave, but when you do the math, 0.00015% of the students who scored perfect out of that 2 million. That really is a tremendous feat. And I want to personally say congratulations. And my daughter said she's going to try now. So, >> she might just do it. [laughter] >> Well, thank you. >> And lastly, uh monthly progress towards district, school, and department goals. We are in the final stages of our initial budget preparations. We've been meeting with principles and supervisors, central office staff to begin planning for next year. Uh and uh we're trying what we're doing at the start of this year, we explained that we're going to look at the master schedule at the high school for 2018-19 to potentially make changes at the high school
014level in the fall. Um after looking through our initial budget data, um we're going to it looks as though we'll be revisiting the master schedule at all three levels at the high school, at McAppen, at the K6 elementary schools. Um we are looking at some fairly significant personnel cuts at the at all three levels, elementary, middle, high school. Um personnel cuts that may necessitate a an additional look at our master schedule. So, uh, in other words, the schedule that we have now at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, it's going to be difficult to run that same schedule in September with consideration of the cuts that we are going to have to make for the 201819 budget. Um, so those cuts will be made at the end of the school year and they'll [snorts]
015take effect July 1 or practically speaking September 1. Um, so we are going to have to take a hard look at our master schedule moving forward. um because I said we're looking at some fairly significant personnel cuts across the board. Okay, with that we have our student representative report. Miss McIntyre is unable to attend, so we have Sarah Chimalleski here to help out. December is always a busy month for the high school. December 5th, the faculty partnered with Highlands Family Success Center and CrossFit to make holiday cards, pack backpacks, and presents for children in the community. December 7th opened our new Sorry. Thanks. [laughter] Um, December 7th opened our new auditorium to the Highlander Choir, who gave an amazing winter concert. The same school day was on-site decision day where many people were accepted into
016college. Upcoming events include the winter band concert on the 21st, our door decorating contest on the 22nd, and then winter break. Winter sports have just begun and their seasons are looking bright. >> Thank you. >> Can I can I just say something? Um um this Saturday the um theater department who's going they're going to be doing Little Mermaid in March did a Christmas event for children and Audrey was involved with that and had the intention had the attention of all these little kids. It was the most remarkable magical thing and I just wanted to compliment you and add that to your report if that's okay. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> That's it. >> All right. Uh Mr. Novak, education report, please. >> Thank you. I just want to wish everyone happy holidays as well. Uh
017be uh since our our last meeting, we had a couple of um major events in terms of um some of the parent communication involvement that we uh embraced in the district. Uh one of them being American Education Week where we um open our doors to parent visitation and we had a tremendous turnout in in each of our elementary schools. Um that following week we had our parent teacher conferences where we were able to um invite our parents in and and um you know be able to talk about student progress and and the things that we're working on in the classrooms during that um during that time. While we had um you know staff involvement with our parents coming in, we took our opportunity to um get as much interaction with our uh climate and culture
018survey as as we could. Um, so we have our um we cut the survey off this past uh this past Friday on December 15th. So we're in the process of collecting the data. We have um 2,831 responses, which is which is tremendous. Um we have 397 parent responses, which um in a district this size might might sound low, but it's actually about a 100 higher than we had last year, which is a which is a great sign. Um, one of the other uh pieces that that really stood out is the um area for student write in. Uh, we had, you know, in the previous surveys it was very very limited and and brief. Um, now it seemed to be more elaborative. We we did a good job last year with taking the comments that students
019and parents wrote into last year's survey and and acted on them. And I don't know if that had been something that was noticed, but people took a um a little bit extra time to to type into that box and and give us some information. So, we have uh we have our administrative council meeting tomorrow where we're going to be distributing um our survey breakdowns by school. And it is my intention that the um January director of ed report to present the comparison between last year's survey and this year's survey is that was that was one of our goals is to show growth and and just um in a in a brief review since we've had you know two days to to take a look at it. We we have seen improvement um but we have
020some more comments to to sift through which which are great. So last year we we were able to um you know afford um some different trainings to some staff members who hadn't been trained in in in certain uh strategies in the past and I believe that once we glean the the data from this we'll we'll be able to um um really have a nice impact. So the principles and the um administration will be armed with this tomorrow and we're hoping for the new year we can act on the data we've received and and be able to put some great things into place. So, um, like I said at the, uh, January meeting, I'll present the comparison between the two two sets of data. And that that's it for my report tonight. >> Thanks, Dan. Um,
021Barbara, special reports and correspondence, please. >> Yes. Um, we have, um, Ryan Clearly Clearary and, um, Tom Feroli from um, our audit firm to provide us with the latest audit from June 30th, [snorts] 2017. >> [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> I got a loud voice, but I'll put the microphone here anyway. >> Um Chuck couldn't make it tonight. Um he's at his son grad uh his son's graduation. Um his oldest son, >> uh he was a graduate of West Mford School District. Um his son is um going he's uh graduating as a nuclear chemistry a PhD getting his PhD in nuclear chemistry. So he's attending his um his graduation tonight so he couldn't make it but um another job well done by Wes Mulford. >> Um in the packets or uh you have two
022order two booklets. One is the caffer which is a comprehensive annual financial report. The other one is the management report. They, um, which is where the comments or recommendations are. Uh, what I'll do, um, normally Chuck throws me under the bus. He usually says, uh, Tom is the bad cop. So, Chuck plays good cop. I'm always the bad cop. So, tonight I I'm the good cop, Ryan's the bad cop tonight. >> Not really. Um, I don't throw him under the bus. I know how that feels. So, um, with that, I'd like to go over, um, as you can see, the document is very large. uh the CAFA report, but uh what I'll do is I'm just going to go over some highlights um of the uh CAFRA. So, if you want to follow on page
02327 of the big CFRA book, >> sorry guys, we're just figuring out that we don't have >> I have it at home. I didn't get it at home. >> Okay, page 27. >> I'll I'll I'll talk to you and I'll talk tell you what it's what it's about. Um what this is is the uh business um enterprise funds. Um it's the food service in the uh school age child care. Uh they basically are supposed to operate almost like a a business where um like a cafe like a like a deli where the money comes in pays for the expenditures. Um at the end of the year there was $63,000 in food service um which is the um investment in capital which is your fixed assets minus depreciation. You really had no uh retained earnings in
024that in the food service and we haven't in a while and I'll talk to you about that in a minute. The uh school age child care fund balance the unreserved retained earnings were $58,000. If you go on to page 28, this is basically your income statement for those two different enterprise funds. Uh the food service again had an ending balance of $65,000, but it was really zero because that was just for the investments that you have, which is your uh equipment minus depreciation. If you look on the left hand side about two rows up, you could see that we transferred in 56,000 $156,000 to get that to be zero. Um, that comes out of the budget every year. Not that a dollar amount, it could fluctuate, but I just want to make you aware that
025156,000 had to go in from the general fund budget to make this um, solvent. And the reason being is that there are still um employees that are receiving older employees that are still receiving health benefits from the days when we West Milford had their own food service. And eventually once, you know, they start retiring um we we don't have to pay for their health benefits and everything else that number should hopefully come back up and we won't have to be funding the uh food service anymore. uh the school age child care. The only re the only thing I want to make you aware of it did have an $18,000 loss. Um but they still ended with $97,000. Um and of which 58,000 is unrestricted. So just to make you aware, no red flags to come
026up, but just you know, we're going to I'll we'll look at this every year to make sure that there's not a continual loss. Um and if there is, you need to react. you need to do something. >> Okay, that's all I have. Oh, yes, sir. >> Do you know what the loss um was in our food service last year? >> Unfortunately, these audit reports are only one year. >> Okay. >> You would have to go back to 2016. >> Yeah. Audit >> and look at it. >> Comparable. >> Do you remember? >> Yeah, it was comparable. It was. That's what I'm I don't remember the exact number, but I thought it was just a little bit lower than this one. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But if you go to the same schedule last year for
02716's audit, you could see what it was. You could see that transformation. >> I I will. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Tom. >> Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. >> Uh you were mentioning that you saw a similar result last year. Um, how far back were you were you looking when you were going over this uh income statement? >> I only think we we um I think Ryan I think you only saw it because we were doing when we do the um audit report we when we use last year's audit report um we use this year's um information from what Barbara give us and we also keep the order report open up from the previous year. So >> yeah, I recall it from, you know, working on it this year. >> I believe we've had a similar
028result for several years. >> It's been in the It's been >> I think so. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I think so. But it was a lot I think it was a lot lot worse. And Bar can back me up on this when we did have it in house. I >> I think it's important that board members realize that um we have close to $500,000 in expenditure. Um, so the balance of that expenditure line between salaries and benefits and FICA is being funded by the profits of the food service. So, we're really only making up for the difference between the profit that the food service is providing and the actual expenditures that we still have having our own employees. And I remember when the last year that we ran it as West Milford running food
029program was like 125,000 126,000 and that actually spiked the following year we went to Ponian it almost doubled to >> and then it it's started to slowly come down. Yeah, once, like I said, once those employees um once they they start retiring, you'll see um because I I deal with pump we deal with a Ponttonian a lot and for the most part they were always showing a profit at least break even. So, yeah. Okay. Okay. On page now, I'll go into the general fund, which is your your major fund. Um page 76 um page 76 is a consip C1 which is your budget as you um as the board um introduced adopted this budget. So there's uh one two three four five columns. The first is your original budget. The second is your budget transfers.
030The second is the modified budget and the actual column. Um, I only have the summary on page 76, but you can go back. Um, it's five pages long. So, you can look at the revenues versus how how they came in and how you budgeted them and all your expenditures, how you budgeted them versus how they were expended and whether or not there was a uh favorable um or how much your favorable um variance was at the end. The reason why I talk about um exhibit C1 is this is the the fund balance and these are the um numbers that we use going into next year's budget um because there's four diff balances in this order report. One is on the gap basis but this is under the budgetary basis and that's the one we use
031when we do projections and when we do the next year's budgets um and that what Barbara uses. So on the bottom of of page 76, you'd see there's a recapitulation. And what that means is that that's a recapitulation of your fund balance. Your fund balance is made up of various components. And I don't make this stuff up. It's uh given to us by the state. Um so the total fund balance of West Mulford was $8.8 8 million of which 1.1 million was capital reserve. This is money you put aside for major projects so that you don't have the bond. It's it's cash that you have on hand that you could do bigger projects less than you put in the budget but a little less than what you bond for. Uh we have a maintenance reserve
032of half a million dollars. this year's um this year beating meeting the audit year 1617 we generated excess surplus uh of 2,48,000 from previous years which um the state I'm not going to say forces you but when you have excess surplus you have to put it towards the upcoming years. So this excess surplus that we generated from from 1617 goes towards your 1819 budget and this is the the minimum amount the minimum amount you have to use to balance your budget. It's almost like forcing you to use fund balance. So this is over and above the two uh the 2% number the previous year which would have been 16 I always mess this up uh 1516 you generated um $2.9 million of which that's being used in the budget we're in right now the 17
03318year budget. >> Um >> Tom, you >> Tom, I'm sorry. Here >> I'm sorry. Could you just explain that in a little more detail? >> The excess surplus >> the the difference between 2.9 and 2.0. >> Okay. Let me just go on to the last two things and I'll come back to that. Thank you. Okay. Um so uh you had um year end incumbrances of $732,000. Those are purchase orders um as of June 30th that haven't been liquidated. So basically what we do is we put that money aside knowing that those bills are going to be paid in July and August of the new year, but they go back to the old school budget. They go back to the 1617 budget. So that's money put aside. And then what you're left with is your 2%
034number. Um your unrestricted fund balance of $1.4 million. Now, as Alex mentioned, I wanted to mention to you, we used 2 2.9 million 2,940,000 to balance the budget we're in right now from previous year's excess surplus. Okay, that's the 1718 budget. What we generated this year was the 2,48,000 which has to be used for your 1819 budget. So you see there's a difference of $892,000 of money that you or excess surplus that you don't have going into that 1819 year. So you're basically have a hole you have to fill. Now it could come from excess. It could come from results of operations if you're lucky from this year's audit that you were in right now. So let's say hypothetically you have more money come in from tuition or something that you budget that flows into
035your fund balance. If you don't spend all your appropriations that flows into but you can't we don't know what that number is now until we get there. But all I'm telling you right now is you got an $892,000 hole that has to be filled. Well, whether it comes from um unrestricted fund balance or you dip into your um cap that you haven't used over all the years, which is around $3 million. The cap is basically um going up to the maximum amount you can go to the taxpayers for. And if you don't use that whole amount, it gets banked. So, you do have a bank. It's not like you you're in serious trouble, but you have to use that bank to fill up that $892,000. But unfortunately, when you use the bank, the tax rate
036goes up because it's it's still it's not bankked cash. It's just amount of money the state allows you to utilize that you've haven't utilized over all the years. So there's a few options going into the 1819 budget. >> So just for clarity the way you described it. So going into the next year if all things considered stay flat to this year, no increase in salaries, no increase in programs, benefits, we go in 800 plus under which alludes to the cuts that you were saying or things before. So that that's where it's hurting us. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Not many things will go up. Salaries will go up, benefits will go up, >> right? Yeah. Excess surplus is not a bad thing. I mean, I don't like the word surplus. Whenever I go to municipalities, I
037say it's really fun balance. Surplus to see to means like gluttony. It shouldn't I don't know who worded it that way. It really should be excess fund balance. Um, but you always try. It's not a bad thing. I'd rather be on that side of the fence having that, you know, excess fund balance than not having it. Um, unfortunately, we just didn't generate what we did in the past and and utilized in in the budget we're in right now. >> Don't we also have a capital project in the auditorium that was close to that number that we're not going to do this year? >> So, doesn't that kind of balance out a bit? >> That was in the previous year. >> That was in previous year. >> Yeah, that was in the previous year's budget. But
038>> um last year we put what was it 250 into capital reserve or was that maintenance reserve? >> Um capital >> capital reserve capital >> and then we had about $500,000 in expenditures um between upper Greenwood Lake school water um issues and then transportation remediation. I mean, so those are expenditures that we weren't expecting. So we really would have had another almost 750,000 on top of that 20048. So I I look at it as we didn't we didn't create this hole by but it it was kind of engineered in a in a sense by us spending that money that we were not anticipating spending. you know, >> there's always going to be some unanticipated expenditures in a district this size. It's not really >> I don't think it's fair to say if we didn't spend
039that money, we'd have more. >> So Tom, you mentioned our capital reserve is a million dollars >> with a million 189. >> So with a district with eight buildings, >> how does that You're in other districts as well. Picture another district you're in with eight buildings. >> What kind of capital reserves are you seeing in other communities? I just did do and they Well, they have a lot. They have like five million in theirs. >> How many buildings do they do they have? >> Um I think they have a little less. >> They got a middle I know they got the middle schools right on 46 in do. I know they got the high school. I don't know. I think they What do they have elementary wise? Maybe six. >> Maybe six. So I mean
040they're a little smaller and they're a little more compact too, >> right? >> A little more compact, too. We don't have insurance for that by the way. >> Yeah, that's right. Chuck will pay for it. It's called collateral damage. >> So that's this that that's the major fund. >> Now there's still excess surplus says in addition to the regular surplus, right? There's also >> the excess surplus is the 2,ion48,000, >> right? And the regular the regular unrestricted the 2% number that gets calculated is 1,ion434. Now put together the 2 million excess surplus and the 1.4 >> one uh it's 2 million 2,ion48,000. Yeah. And the 1.4 1.4 regular surpluses, >> you know, whatever 3.5 >> 4 million 3.5 million >> million. >> Yep. >> That is money we collected largely in taxes in excess of
041what we spent. >> Uh yes, it's accumulated. It's accumulated over the years. Yes. >> And and the state of New Jersey in fact requires us not to do that. We got to spend that money the next year. If we had a balance, we got to spend it. There's state law says when you collect more from the taxpayers than you needed, >> what we've got to the tune of 3.5 million. >> 2.4. The 2.4 is >> between the surplus >> and the excess, >> right? 3.5 million more that we collected than what we needed and state law says now we have to spend that. So I'm just really not happy with characterizing that as a whole. That isn't a hole. That's $3.5 million of money we collected from the taxpayers that we didn't need. Now you
042can carry that money forward by spending on capital project. There are a number of ways to carry it forward but the last thing in the world it is is a hole. It's extra money excess that and surplus more than we needed. So I I you know I I understand we want to make sure we've got balances. We want to make sure we've got a fund balance every single month so that we can meet payroll and so on and so forth. But I I just have real problem with calling that a hole when we took $3.5 million more from taxpayers than we spent. Not whole. >> Well, we have we start the budget year. I think Nicole mentioned uh you know if everything stays the same or maybe Tom mentioned it we'll have $900,000 less to
043pay for it. The problem is not everything stays the same. >> Collect 2.5 million more from taxpayers than we need next year. >> Well, if you The problem is nothing stays the same. Total is 3.5 million and we're saying that's gone down 900,000. >> No, it's 2 point it's 2 million. Just over 2 million. >> The excess surplus. >> Correct. That's what That's what you >> The regular surplus is is >> 1.4. I'm sorry. The regular surplus is 1.4. The excess surplus is >> 2 million48 >> 2 and change >> 2.1 2 and change. The total surplus is 3.5 million. And what we're saying is oh that's going to go down that or that I'm sorry that went down from the previous year. And it's it's still 3.5 million more that we collected from taxpayers
044than we needed that we needed to spend. And the state of New Jersey in fact has a law that says we've got to include that money back in the budget. At least the >> excess we we get we it helps us generate some tax relief. But um just to Tom's point about, you know, if everything stays the same year over year, our health benefits is probably 10 million >> 12 12 >> 12 million. >> Oh, yeah. >> If that goes up 10%, that's $1.2 million in additional costs. Our salaries are about >> 40 million. If that goes up$2 and a half%, that's a million dollars. So you're looking at you might have $2 million of extra costs and $900,000 less to pay it with. So you're looking at potentially 2.9 million that you're you're off.
045See nothing everything goes up. >> We got 3.5 million. >> Well, we we have to keep some reserve for another if an emergency for if an emergency happens tomorrow. The other thing, of course, we're not there yet, but the other thing to to seriously look at, we we in the past, we kept building up a surplus, >> you know, an excess surplus, >> and now it's now it's spent it down a little bit, >> a lot of bit, >> but the reality is our enrollment is declining. >> Correct. Now, yeah, we've got every year we've got some inflationary costs and so on and so forth, but you know, if if if enrollment is going down, costs should go down. Although you're going to have some adjustment for inflation, but they should be going down. And
046instead, we completely forget the fact that we have fewer students to pick up in the bus, you know, fewer classrooms, etc., etc., etc. And we assume the thing just needs to keep going like that forever. And and in fact, we're we're being alarmist about, you know, having done what the state told us to do by law to spend some of the excess surplus. And we're saying, "Oh my gosh, we got this huge hole." We don't have a hole. >> We have extra money. >> We most certainly do. A lot of >> we have this discussion later, but I >> a lot of the surplus over the last few years was generated by the employee benefit contribution >> because we had no way of knowing how much it was going to end up being and and
047that was um that was a a contributing factor to the excess surplus that we experienced. But um now we're we're basically budgeting um the employee benefit contribution pretty close to what we we're believe we're going to have. Um, I think that, you know, we don't have any control over our leaves of absence and people that are paying for their benefits in full. So, that that gives us a a float, a little bit of a float. Uh, but for the most part, we no longer are accumulating large dollars with the employee benefit contribution that we were and that we were able to turn into capital projects that we were able to do in the school. Obviously, when we get to the budget, we'll have to look at, you know, all of this kind of stuff. And
048it all factors in, but I >> I don't mean to be alarmist. That's not my fiscally. >> I would correct the impression that the sky is falling and the school district is about to fall apart. >> No, absolutely not. >> 3.5 million. >> And I don't if I send you that message, I apologize. I don't I certainly don't want to be alarmist. We're still a goodiz district. Um there are districts significantly healthy. >> There are districts significantly smaller than us. So, we can probably absorb, you know, two dozen cuts much better than a small district could. So, and I don't mean to be alarmist about it, but we'll we'll get there and we'll do our job. We'll make sure our children are educated and that we have two students next year with the perfect ACT
049score. So, that's we're going to keep moving the keep moving the envelope. Um, but the harsh realities are there and we'll have additional discussions in committees, you know, moving forward. Steve, just this 1 434 million that Mr. Furry was referring to, we have to generate that every year. That 2% we generate when it's 74,000. We generate that fact that 2% of 74 or 74 million, excuse me, that goes to 75. We generate 2% of 75 million. We're required to by law to do that just for emergency things that might come up that we might not. But we're generating on top of that 1.4 million an additional 2 million4ome,000. That is the crux of the surplus because even though that 1.4 surplus, that's something we have to generate every year. So >> on the other hand,
050that's that's a New Jersey law. Y >> and and I agree with the laws to keep school boards from doing stupid things and making sure that we've got enough money to pay the bills that you know we didn't do something in our budget and then find out about it in August when we can't pay an employee or something like that. So, it's a good law to keep, you know, school boards here and there. Lord [clears throat] knows, you know, we can do all kinds of stupid things and shouldn't and that makes sure that we don't that we've always got some cushion there to to move forward with, but it's still excess money. >> It's a surplus. It's more money that we collected from taxpayers than we needed to spend. >> And and our surplus over
051the years we've been using to do projects in the district, the auditorium, the green houses, things of that nature. We don't have a lot of projects this year. It's really the greenhouse projects. So hopefully that 2.9 that we put into this year's budget will take will since we didn't have all the expenditures of projects and things that we normally have been doing for the past five six years hopefully we can see a a a move in the other direction which I think we will I think we're we're 2.9 we went down to two I think we're going to go back up as long as we watch the dollars just to be you have to do. >> Yeah, I I check that number every morning and we're trending about a million dollars off of where we
052were this time last year. So that 2.04 most likely one year from today will be a million dollars maybe 800,000. So it's trending downward um because it carries a year over from the budget. So the this what we're feeling right now is from the 0% tax levy increase two years ago. We're going to feel next year this time is the 0% tax levy increase from last year. Um that was a decision we made and now we just have to live within our means and live within our budget uh for the next couple of school years. >> Good idea. [laughter] >> I think it's important that you know Steve point out what he pointed out. There's public perception that there are board members that are willing to spend on students and there's board members that aren't.
053And I am here to say I think that all the board members spend on the students. If they're going to if they want to cut, they're going to cut from other areas. They're not going to cut from academics and the necessary activities to wellround the students and things like that. And I want to correct that public perception that somebody uh some people told me about. Um we have enough money in our budget to handle what our job is to teach the students what they need to learn. And uh yes, there's other projects that we want to do. We have to be creative and fiscally responsible and we can do them. >> Under the guise of letting the meeting go a little quicker, I would ask everybody at this point to hold any questions until Mr.
054Furry done so that we don't get off on a tangent and we're here like it's great. It's great discussion. And I mean that's what the audit I like doing it bringing out the numbers and that's my job to explain the numbers cuz it gets very confusing this document. >> So let let's let Mr. Furry finish and any any questions we'll we'll do that. >> Well that was the crux as you can tell that's the crux of your of your whole district that the um the C1 schedule and your fund balance and the and the student activity. Everything else is either trust related which you can't control or um uh the f um the federal and state grants get the federal and state grant um special revenue fund. That's the fund where you get your title
055ones, your IDAs. You really can't do much that. The state says federal government says here's your money spend it this way or we don't like you anymore or you get a nast. So that was the crux of the budget uh and your audit report and your CAFRA. So what I'll do is I'll go over the management report and that the comments and recommendation section. That's the smaller report and um the first comment we have is on page seven. Now let me be talking about the comments or recommendations. Most of my comments 99% of the comments that I do have in school districts are three um there's three things. It's either food service related, student activity related, or ASSA related application for state school aid, which is a pet peeve of mine, the ASSA, but I'll
056talk about that in a minute. So, on page seven is the first comment, and it is student, it is um it is the food service. So what we do is um every year the parents come home with um or the students come home with a free reduced in uh application um and if you fall within a certain income level and number of people in your household you either get a free reduced lunch um at the counters as the kids go through it's counted and at the end of the day it's counted it's put it on a a report at the end of the month it's added all up we send it to the state and they give us a certain dollar amount for each category. So, I become a state auditor and a federal state
057uh federal auditor making sure that that systems working and that we don't overclaim or underclaim. So, while we were doing that process, we found that there was a um a deviation, not substantial, and you're going to laugh. I mean, there'sund I think there's the one it was like 186 the one category 186,000 kids went through. We tested 9 90 9,000 something like that and we found like 68 deviations. So sometimes it's a 68 plus a 68 minus. It comes down to $22 with all the deviations. But unfortunately it's not the dollar amount, it's the system. So there's a system that sometimes there's a breakdown in the system and we need to find out why. So um as we're going through we're trying to find out why. we try and fix it before we go into
058the next year. So, $212. That's that comment. Do you have anything else on it? Um on page eight is uh comment number two, student related, student activity related. In a few instances, student activity purchases were missing supporting documentation slashinvoices. So every time the student activities, no matter what school, middle school, high school, high school, elementary schools, every time there's an expenditure, we need some kind of backing documentation to back up the expenditure. In some instances, we do a test sample of every school. Um, we found some instances that there was no backing invoices for some of the dollar amounts. Now, it's not large, but still you got to have a process. And, um, that's that. Uh, finding number three, the high school student activities account and the high school athletic account have unclear checks. All
059right. So, as we're going through, we're looking at the bank wrecks and we we noticed that there were um some old um outstanding checks and we just make the recommendation and I think it's been we've done them already. we just to clear out uh cancel those outstanding checks. Um bring the account more current. Um it's just more of a house cleaning chore than anything. Um coming number four, in a few instances, student activity purchases were found to be for purchases other than student activity. So student activity monies uh it's collected we put it towards the students and we found that there were a couple instances where they were spent um besides being on the students um of course as we're going through um Barb's been made aware and um we educated whoever the uh problem
060was. on uh on page nine. This is ASSA related application for state school aid. So back in the day, a couple year about maybe 10 years ago, 15 years ago, we have to do a student count as of October 15th or close to whatever that date is of every student in every category those students are in. Um it was supposed to be used for state aid um to change the state aid formula. um the number of students you have, the number of um at risk students you have, the number of um all the different categories. Um you had to do it, you had to do all this work, put it all together and auditor has to audit those numbers. So we have to make sure that all the numbers on the ASSA application that's sent
061down to the state are okay. Uh we found instances where there were um instances where number five were um actually student transportation. The SSA includes transportation. So we found that five students classified as special education transported on the DRTS um were listed as regular students. So it's just a classification error. Um on page nine again um this one happens to be on the application for private school transportation um there's these forms called B16TS that have to be signed and we found um they were incomplete and all forms tested were noted as approved were not were not approved by the supervisor of transportation. So the forms that you know we need to test um there signature pages um and they not they were not all signed. I think none of them >> none of them were
062signed. >> So we just say that you uh please sign all those documents and that is all I have. Any questions on the comments? just on on uh finding 04 um you say in a few instances student activity purchases were found to be for purposes other than student activities. Do you know what they were? >> So when we go through we look at we'll look at a voucher and the attached invoice or receipt. Um, it seemed like a lot of the the expenditures were more like office supplies, administrative costs, maybe like the funds were being used as uh the office I don't want to say that they're being used as pay cash, but it was more like postage um office supplies. There was >> Yeah, >> there were two. Yeah, the ones we found was
063for faculty yoga and teacher appreciate a teacher appreciation purchase. >> They just didn't fall under an expenditure for student student. >> I have a question. Who's responsible for that >> building principal? Student activity fees are collected at the high school only, right? >> Yeah. >> That money comes into the budget though. >> Yeah, >> that's it's a different account. >> No, I'm I'm good. Anybody will In the caffer page 16, I just would like clarification. The expenses of instruction in pupil transportation, does that include benefits? >> What page? >> 16. Uh statement of net position. >> Page 16. Yes. Is that the um >> what section is that? >> Program expenses. >> I think that's MDNA. >> Think it's the MDA. >> Did you say 16? >> Yes. 16. >> The capper. The larger one.
06416. >> 16. >> No, employee benefits are not broken down into the individual line items. Is that what you were asking if it included benefits >> in in the statement in that position? >> Yeah, it's not broken down by by the employee benefits is uh listed under um Not allocated. >> Which way were you talking about? I'm sorry. I'm going to >> just walk over. >> No, no, we've got it. >> We got it on there. >> You got it on there. >> Yeah. What dollar amount? >> The dollar amounts are for 2017 for instruction 54,900,000. >> Do they allocate a percentage of benefits by each area? >> Okay. Yeah. In that particular So, it's a different position. That also includes the the GAP 68 pension expense which is >> yeah so it is broken
065down by >> that is on the acrruel basis which doesn't technically refer back to um exhibit C1 because we have to add in acrruel expenses which is the um how much was the TPF expense? It was a large dollar amount. >> Okay. Page 19 please. same book in uh the schedule of the general fund special fund capital projects fund the undistributed expenditures. Can you define that for me? >> This one this kind of this schedule is kind of hard to look at. I'm more used to looking at C1. Um the undistributed expenditures are everything else except for student um for >> instruction. So support services >> support service. It could be janitorial. It could be um very administration >> administration insurance tps social security >> nursing. It's like a It's like a huge >> I
066mean that's that's awfully broad. >> That's what that's what the state of New Jersey chart covers. >> It's a broad category of your total budget, >> let's say. So you have instruction, you have undistributed expenditures. >> If you go pay if you go to the C1 report, it's it's made up of like three or four different pages. It's sum of all. >> Yeah. It could be like three pages long. >> In Thank you for the segue. In C1 report, >> am I able to request any one of these items and see what uh accounts fall into them? Say if I requested the state under state sources for revenue the equalization aid if I requested the accounts that fall under that >> that's a revenue equalization aid >> that's a revenue >> right >> so I
067mean we have >> that comes from the state of New Jersey as a bulk amount >> okay so more specifically then say for expenditures of salaries for kindergarten teachers >> Mhm. I would be able to request from perhaps you or anybody else from the budget in the budget the budget book >> on the budget. >> It's in the budget book. >> So the when Barbon puts together the b when the board puts together the budget you have every teacher within that category and she has to make sure that they fall within your your stats. >> It's not quite listed like this where it's encompassing in one area. You have they have it broken down by school? >> No. >> Yes, we have it broken down by school. >> Not salaries. No. >> Well, there are
068other items that I'm speaking about. Not, you know, I was just pulling that uh item just as a conversation piece, but there's other things in here that aren't listed all in one sum. But that was just a basic question. Uh, I have township questions. Uh, when we bonded and we went off of a credit rating, that was the township's credit rating, correct? >> No, >> that's how we get our own. How often does that get updated? Every year >> the state and I I'm not bond counsel, so but I do get involved a little bit. I think you're you're an automatic you get an automatic rating. Isn't that Barbara? Is that >> I know Moody's does it on an annual basis. They'll take a look at your position. >> Um last >> you pretty much
069get an automatic rating because the levy and the state aid. I mean that's the bulk of your revenue. So there's really nothing unless the town goes under. you know, your credit rating is kind of higher than like a regular municipality if they have a low fund balance or something like that. Um, so but the answer is you're they look at they do look at it pretty much every year like as Barbara said and they do do look at your fund balance to make sure you do keep it at the 2% and you don't dip into it and you have you know you're generating excess surplus and those kind of things. Those are all positive things they look at. >> Okay. So, that's something we do have on hand. Thank you. >> Uh how does funding
070occur between the municipality and the board in terms of uh collection collecting tax revenue? How does it get dispersed to us? When does it get dispersed to us? >> We we have a schedule. We we develop a schedule and then they they send it on a monthly basis unless they're having a problem with their revenues and then they ask us to hold off for a few weeks which is usually right before um a tax period when they're when they're getting but >> we always get 100% correct. >> They have to Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. If there's a tax appeal we still get what we're owed but if if there's a tax appeal will the town The town has to take it out of what they would have gotten. They have to give
071us our full funding. Any tax appeals, they they get hurt, not us. >> Whatever certified for taxes. >> Okay, good. [clears throat] And last question regarding the township. My last question and then I'll shut up. Uh, does your firm actually I have two more questions I lied. Does your firm have a tax collection tax collection rate for the township? Are they 80% collection? >> Is it in the um statistical section? >> We actually in the in the back of the audit there's a stat statistical um section and it might be in there. >> The one that goes through 10 years. >> Yeah. >> Yes. There's a lot of statistical information on the town. >> Um it might be in there. Um I don't remember if we show it every year. >> I don't know if
072it has a percentage per se. >> Yeah, you could always look you could always go under the town and look under they have their audits under the financial if you look under departments financial um they keep audit reports in there budgets and it's part of that it's part of their audit report. >> Great. Thank you. >> We give like five years uh there's usually about five years of of tax collection information on that. >> Great. And the final question is, what other services does your firm offer school districts? >> What other >> services >> do we offer? >> Yes, >> for the most part, it's only auditing because you have to remember that um auditors can't encroach um into management because there's a line drawn in the sand where if you cross over um now
073you become management and you're not independent anymore. So the AICPA since Enron, WorldCom, all those guys really messed us up big time. They they we're under a microscope. So they watch what we do um and make sure and tell us what the guidelines are so we don't encroach onto those things. I mean, for the most part, we can look at the audit because we're familiar with the with the audit and we could say, you know, now's the time to bond because your debt service will be dropping off and your principal and payments will drop 300,000. So, if you want to bond, now's the time to do it in this year. So, maybe start, but we also can't encroach on that kind of thing. You have financial advisors for that and bond counselor for that. So,
074um, we're kind of very limited on the services we can we can do over and above the auditing. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else have any questions? >> No, money's worth. >> Okay, >> we're all good. >> We're good. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you so much. I know, right? Till Turkey doesn't have to come back anymore. Have a great holiday everyone. >> You too. >> Do we and and any of the the his Mr. Furry's findings? Do we need to update the procedure manual or anything? >> That's in the process of being updated as we speak. Okay. just that we don't have a lot of time to work on it. >> Yeah. No, the um I was looking at it earlier um and I did notice that we still have listed in the
075book um bid specs at 36,000. I think we're up to >> 40. >> Yeah. So, >> that'll have to be updated. >> That was last year. >> Yeah. Yeah. Changes every year. >> Every Yeah. I move to approve the uh minutes of the November 14th workshop regular meeting and November 14th executive session. >> Second. >> Any discussion? [clears throat] None. >> All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Um, okay. Joe, legal report. >> I don't have much to say, but what I do have will be discussed in. >> Okay. Um, president's report. Since it'll be my uh last, I'm gonna I'll try not to be too long- winded. Um I guess the the first thing that um that I want to say is uh I want to I want to thank
076Alex um for coming to the district. I want to also thank him for allowing me next year to hand my daughter her diploma. I appreciate that. Um that'll mean a lot to her. Um Dan, I want to thank you for all the work you've done in the past couple of years. >> Um you're you're doing an outstanding job and and I know I do and I'm sure the rest of the board appreciates that. Um, Liz, you're going places. You're doing a phenomenal job. Um, I I appreciate everything you've done the past couple of years and keeping us up to date on things. That's uh uh it's a breath of fresh air. Um, I only see one other building principal here. So, I Stephanie, doing a great job. Keep up the good work. Um, thanks for
077all you do. Um we've got uh I think uh quite a few things accomplished over the last couple of years. Um, one, I think we finally got our goal setting on the right track and I have already emailed Alex uh the information. So, it'll be in um your meeting schedule for next year, but May 8th at 6:30 is your next goal setting with Kathy Hela. It's a Tuesday, so it falls under our our Tuesday meeting schedule. Um, I think it's important that the the district do this in early on so it allows uh Alex time to come up with a plan before the start of school in in September. And it's it's I think it's been working very well. um our senior walk. Um I'm I'm I pushed that with Anthony Rashika. He didn't want
078to do it and I brought it up again to Dan and and Alex and they were able to uh put it together and as Alex said, it'll be a new tradition here in the district. I think it's a good way for the kids to look back and I see Sue Neber smiling and I hope that's from what she saw last year. Um, but it's a it's a good thing to let the kids look back at where they came from and they had some kickball games and things like that. So, it uh I think it's all good. We uh we reviewed our policy manual. We got that up to date. Um, we got some roof projects done at Makipin in the high school and the auditorium. We got the fireworks going on again over by the
079uh high school football field. So, I'm I'm glad that it's a good spot for it, you know. Um, we initiated an LGA. For anybody who doesn't know, that's a local government energy audit. Um, we should be getting our site visit soon. According to I guess Barbara with them, hopefully next month. >> I'm still waiting for them to give me a date. >> Yes. But, uh, hopefully, like I said, hopefully within the next month and we can utilize uh some of the savings that we can get there to do some much needed projects instead of asking for the taxpayers to do it. Um, we've kept the budget down the past uh three years just to a 1% and I I thank Steve for a lot of the hard work he's done and I know Will and
080everybody else who's been involved with that. Um, we came on board I guess uh we had a ranking according to New Jersey Monthly magazine of 494. Um, with a lot of hard work, we jumped to 301. That's a uh a substantial jump in in our rankings. And, you know, the criteria didn't change, but what we did changed and that's what moved us forward. So, I I hope that trend can uh can continue. It's uh it's good for the taxpayers because as our rankings go up, people are going to want to move in and you're going to be able to get a better dollar for your home and um it's it's all good. Um things that need to be done. I'm gonna I'm going to say this. Uh there's there's still a lot of work I
081think that needs to be done. Um part of our goals were looking for economic efficiencies. You know, we we're we're going to look at transportation. I I believe that and that's just my belief at this point. I don't have the any solid numbers or anything to look at. That'll be your guys' responsibility. Um, but I think that that's uh I think it's a worthwhile endeavor just to look at. Um, some people might like like this, but we had a study done in 2010 by Ross Haber Associates. um for the members of the board which is everybody except for for Greg um should request a copy. I think you did Will if I'm not mistaken. Um they had advised the district uh back in the beginning of to revisit redistricting and the possibility of closing an
082elementary school. Um we're we were told then that our population would be about 3,500. We're a little late from 2015. We're down to 3,300 [clears throat] and our population looking at our current enrollment enrollment numbers will continue to go down for at least four or five years. Um, it's a I think it's a discussion that uh its time has come, especially when Alex talks about losing staff. We don't like to lose staff, but I think if we can consolidate some of our operations, um, that we'll be in a in a better position to serve our students, serve our teachers. Um we're at a population in the Makain of about 520 students. That school has a capacity of 840 students. Um, I think it might be about time that we consider, and we've had these discussions
083already, but you guys are going to need to have these discussions, except for Rodney and I, um, about the possibility of of [cough and clears throat] moving the sixth grade students to McApin. I don't think they really want to hang out with kindergarten kids. And a lot of districts have a six, seven, eight middle school. And because we're almost we're approaching [snorts] half capacity at uh Mccipin that it's it's another worthwhile endeavor to look at along with the possibility of redistricting and maybe closing an elementary school. Um these are all things that we should look at for the sake of of the community and the staff. Some people aren't going to like it, but you know, it's something that needs needs to we need to take a a a close look at. Um, for a
084board to be defective, we need to work together. um when we're not told the whole truths and all the information, it's it's hard for us to to work as a board. And at the same time, when board members don't return calls, can't can't uh say with a straight face how they really feel and truth. That's I think in this past year is what has divided this board a little bit. And if you're going to be collaborative, um that means, you know, when somebody calls, return a phone call. If you don't if you don't uh feel the same way you felt about a a fellow board member, tell them. Don't lie to them. Just tell them. These, you know, I know myself, I can take it. I and I think all of us to to work
085with a uh a board that we we respect one another. We respect when when we tell each other the truth and we have these conversations to to go behind people's backs and it's not good. It's just not good. And if and if this new board wants to work collaboratively, then I I hope that uh they heed some of these words. But uh that's that's for the new board to do, not for for me to say, but I just hope to God for the sake of our students and staff that you guys can all uh work together and work together harmoniously. It's remember it's it's not about your your egos or my ego or anybody else. It's about what we do here for the kids and that's it. That's the only thing that any of us
086should be talking about is the kids and just the kids. If you don't like somebody, you know what? That does that that doesn't even can't even come into the equation because it's about the kids. It's not about personal egos. Um, with that, I want to uh wish everyone a merry Christmas. I'd say happy holidays, but I I celebrate Christmas. If you want to say to me, happy Hanukkah or whatever, Quanza, you know, go go right ahead. But for me, it's it's merry Christmas. Hope you all have a wonderful new year. And uh you can count on me being the audience coming in January to uh to keep an eye on on what you guys are doing and express my opinions because I think that uh the more you hear from the community um the better
087off you all are. So, I wish everyone here the best of luck come uh January, and I uh I'll call it quits for my my last president's report. Um we're going to move on to petitions and requests. Petitioners who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first with five minutes for each petitioner for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other petitions and requests limited to 5 minutes per petitioner will be allowed until the 30 minute period transpires. Petitioners speaking during petitions and requests 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 of students during petitions and requests. >> Barbara, do we have anybody who signed up?
088>> No. >> Would anybody like to speak for first round of petitions and requests? >> No. Okay. >> Move to close petitions and requests. >> Second. >> Thank you, Glenn and Will. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. >> All right. Before we vote to accept the agenda, I would like to make two amendments, two changes. Page 13, personnel student affairs resolution number 16, the fourth name down, Jessica Gonda. That should be nurse, substitute nurse, not teacher. And on page 16, personnel student affairs resolution number 28, the last name under WMEA agreement should read Glenn Wagner. [laughter] >> You going to send him a copy of that with that check? >> I'm sure he'll like that. I guess those are the only two uh corrections. >> Okay. No hand carries. >> Nothing. Okay.
089All right. Um need a motion to adopt the agenda as presented with the corrections. >> I move to adopt the agenda as presented with the correction. >> Second. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. >> Sorry, >> Mr. Bailey. >> Uh, under policy, I'd like to have one and two voted separately, please. >> Okay. >> Sorry about that. >> You can do that. Ask that do do it at any time, but you know, sooner sooner or later, sooner is better. Okay. >> My motion still stand. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We'll um did we second? Did we get a second? >> Okay. >> We'll make the motion. >> Debbie. >> Yeah, that's what I I was about to say. >> Will Debbie. Okay. I >> All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. Mr. Drew, budget and finance,
090sir. with me. >> Like to move uh 1 through 12. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> Questions? Uh six and seven together. The new fire alarm. Was there a fire alarm installed that was not working and there was change orders to fix it or was there never a new fire alarm? [clears throat] >> This is in the auditorium. >> Yeah. Cuz I understood that after everything was all done, there were any electrical problems with the fire? >> No, they weren't having any problems with the electrical system. They weren't. The change order that you see before you is a correction because the first change order that was approved by the board included in an amount that uh for the sanding um of the stage and it was also included that same amount or a lesser
091amount was included on a subsequent purchase order. So we're correcting the first purchase order to remove the amount that was originally approved. So, it's actually um overall a lower total amount than the board was intentionally or or thought that they were going to be paying out. So, there's a difference. >> So, we're actually getting more of a savings for uh the work that was done. >> Okay. I don't understand the connection because it doesn't have the um uh the staging here. It talks about fire alarm and some some related you know work because of that. >> There were on the first on the first change letter that was approved there was a number of areas. There were three things that were incorporated into the payment application. >> But the reality is that there's a a
092lesser amount that the board is paying. So, it's actually a credit to the board. It's not additional money that you're paying out that you've already approved. It's a lesser amount. So, um the change order balance change was corrected. Originally, there was a balance of 2,800 and with the revised change order, you have a balance of 6,200. So, that was still money that you had set aside to apply toward the next change order. The reality is that as the change orders, you had three change orders. So you have you're paying out a lesser amount of money >> as as we're discussing this. Um and I'm not going to be around, but you guys need to take a a good look at the bid specs for that uh high school auditorium. Um, the bid specs were perfectly
093clear that the contractor had to take the utmost care when tearing down the ceiling to make sure that the fire alarm system continued to work. It was operational. Um, that we all know that wasn't the case. Um, we then had to do a firew walk every half an hour to appease the town fire marshal, which our guys did, not their guys. That came out of our pockets. And that's something that you guys need to clear up with um with the vendor. We shouldn't have paid for that. If you look at >> I'm confused. Who's supposed to advocate on beh on our behalf? >> I'm sorry. What >> that >> what I didn't >> who's supposed to advocate on our behalf for things like that? If the contractor made a mistake, the contractor should be >>
094resolving it, not us. And we shouldn't be paying extra for it. >> We we shouldn't because if you look at the time >> to answer the question, who's responsible for advocating for us? >> Is it the architect? Is it Barbara? Well, I would I would say the the the architect, the clerk of the works, our attorney. I mean, those are the those are those are our advocates. When when you you take the fact that a guy's got to do a walk through, fill out a report, he's got to stop what he's doing, go down to the auditorium, do the firewalk, fill out his report, go back up, come down another half an hour later. That's about 40 minutes out of out of that person's hour every day out of every hour, eight hour day. It
095begins to add up. Okay. So that means that for an hour he's getting maybe 20 20 minutes worth of work done and an hour he's basically worked two and a half hours but we but he's getting paid for an 8 hour day. Those five and a half hours or approximate there should be reimbursed to us from our contractor. We shouldn't have been responsible for that. Hands down. You read the bid specs. It's as clear as the big honker on my face. [clears throat] >> Well, are there any discussions? You don't have to agree with the architect to to resolve that in our favor because >> you have to realize something that um we we had a responsibility to have that room available to work in. and the fire alarm system was not um it it
096made no sense if you want to repeat the whole story. It made no sense for us to put the um new ceiling up on old wiring. So, we had the wiring replaced and it was tied into the existing fire alarm system, but we had to make that room available for the contractor because otherwise we would have had a breach of contract and they would have been suing us because they signed a contract to get work done and it was it was the room was not available for us for them to work in. >> So, the wiring for the fire alarm was not in the original dispects. >> No, it was not. >> Okay, that's why it's not. It was, >> but when you read the bidsp specs, Barbara, I'll argue this with you all day
097long. >> You know, the bid specs said >> they're supposed to take the utmost care of the wiring to ensure that that fire alarm system is operational during the entire construction project. and they just ripped and tore and snapped wires and >> Well, we should be talking to them about the cost that we incurred with having personnel there, but the actual cost of the fire alarm system was a an upgrade, right? >> Yes, it was. because you didn't want to have cuz eventually we have to talk about redoing the fire alarm system at the high school because of the the age of the system and if you had to rewire you would not have wanted to go and rip down the ceiling or go behind the ceiling in order to rewire it. So now that
098whole section of the building is complete so that when we eventually get to the point of putting in a new fire alarm system, they could just tie in that new wiring to a new system and we worked with the fire marshall in order to come up with an acceptable solution and this was it. >> Um, could you explain number eight to me? Number eight. >> Number eight. Eight on page six. Barbara. >> There were allowances in the original contract and after everything was added up, we had a $300,000 allowance that was not used. So out of that $300,000 the board is getting returned to them $236,63. That's what that means. >> Will that be does that go in the general fund board or does that have to go towards >> Okay, that's a good thing.
099>> So we want that on that. But there now out of that that was the um roof project at both of the buildings but they are doing the work at um Westbrook here >> was that on the penthouse >> that was done that new roof. Okay. >> That's that was completed before school started. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions on items 1 through 12? Steve, go ahead. Um, an out of 10, I'd like to commend those employees um for I I assume these are actions they took to stay healthy that were rewarding. So that's great. And nine, I'm sorry, eight. That's fantastic. We got 240,000. Number >> number 10, Steve, that health benefits incentive. >> Yeah. >> Is they are dropping our insurance because that a family member has it and we're giving them
100>> so that isn't quit smoking or something. >> No. No. >> All right. Um the 240,000 [clears throat] that's absolutely fantastic. I did have um question. >> If we already bonded for that >> or >> Yes. >> do we reduce the amount of the bond or pay the bond back immediately? No, we bonded for $6.5 million. Originally, the the community approved us for $7.9. >> Yeah. >> But when the bids came in and they were about a million dollars less than we anticipated, we only bonded for 6.5. Whatever is remaining out of that 6.5 million that we bonded goes into debt service. So that money would be used to help pay down pay down the bond. >> So we're saying we we spent less than the 6.5. So we make an immediate bond payment for
101>> No, you don't. No, >> There's a schedule of payments >> and we just stay with the schedule. >> What year does that 240 go into? Is that last fiscal year? This fiscal year? When do we recognize? It'll be recognized in the next audit, June 30th of 2018, and it's available to use in the 18/19 budget. >> Fantastic. Great. Thank you. >> Does that lower our because we have a certain amount of money that we collect for debt service. >> Mhm. >> So, will we collect less on the debt service? we're using it. [snorts] If we're using that money, it offsets >> debt offset for >> it'll offset the amount that we collect in taxes for that particular year. You don't want to use if you have 400,000, you don't want to use it because
102then the next year you're going to spike your taxes again. So, you want to use it gradually to try to keep some equilibrium. you look ahead and you see what your next year's payments are going to be with principal and interest and you try to make it as equalized as possible to prevent spikes in the uh the tax levy. >> Would you you would use that money then over >> you could use it over >> years or whatever, >> right? Depending on how much it actually comes down to and if you see that your payment is actually going to go down in the following year then you could adjust it accordingly. Technically, could we put that money in an interestbearing account? >> No. And >> it just stays in your fund balance. >> Stays in
103the fund balance. Okay. >> All right. Any other questions? >> No. Uh, roll call, please, on items 1 through 12. >> Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Robbins? >> Yes. >> Mr. Yuber? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidawitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Foody, >> yes. >> I would like to move item 13. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call then. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Robbins? >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mr. Yuber? his accent for the vote. Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Foody, >> uh, yes on payroll and and bill, legal bills, and no on
104everything else. >> I would like to move item number 14, please. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. Barbara. Miss O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Mr. Robbins, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Yuber, >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Foody. >> Um, yes. >> I would like to move items 15 and 16. >> Second. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Stwer, >> yes. >> Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Miss O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Robbins, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Foody, >> yes. Thank you, Steve. Um, Mrs. Dwire, education. >> I'd like to approve I'd like to move to approve
105items 1 through 7 under education. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Will >> uh what is in item number two? What is contemporary crafts and what is communications design? >> Contemporary crafts. Um this is part of a plan to um right now our students are able to take uh courses art one through four on the track for AP studio. Um, this allows a student who might not necessarily be on the AP track to um, pursue more focused mediums, painting, craft, etc. So, I can just give you a quick synopsis of the craft. >> Sorry to put you on the spot. >> It's fine. Um topics covered include basketetry, print making, weaving, paper making, uh altered objects, ceramics, foil reviews, basic jewelry and other techniques [clears throat] and they're half year electives the uh different different medium
106courses. >> Thank you. Communication, >> communication design, >> poster design, [clears throat] bag design, album cover design, >> menu designs, design terms, space and compositional designs, 2D um you know features that that primarily exist uh graphic design advertising fundamentals. That seems to be the the you know more of a um principles of design I guess is the language that could have been used for this course but maybe a little bit more flash sheets 2D design >> and that uses a current teacher for those courses. >> All these courses require current stuff. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Question on number one for Alex. Does memory include um access to your protocols, things like that. >> Uh, in essence, the memorandum really they leave that up to districts. Um, but the memorandum just is a information sharing
107agreement between the schools, the police department, and the prosecutor's office. So, we all agreed as five signitories, the superintendent, the board president, the county superintendent, the local police chief, and the county prosecutor. So we agree to share information throughout the year. It's an annual document uh that we complete and submit. >> Do we have active shooter protocols already? >> We have uh we have school safety teams that meet monthly and we do have plans in place. I was going to bring it up under new business, but and I think I probably will just for the sake of moving this along, but what had occurred last Friday, um I think the way it was handled scared a lot of kids. There was a lot of yelling at the kids, telling them to get into the auditorium,
108which kind of freaked them out. >> Um >> we had a lot of yelling. >> Well, I didn't hear that. I did, you know. Yeah. My my daughter and from a lot of other kids who who said the same thing >> and and that doesn't uh that doesn't I think that's why there were kids were texting their parents and all freaking out. So, um you know, if we want the kids to remain calm, we got to remain calm. So, >> um I I hope that you would uh look into that. >> Okay. Any other thing, Steve? >> If I can briefly, I'm really excited about number two, some of the new courses we're offering. AP computer science, robotics one and two, animation, video game design, several new art courses. So, you know, thank you, Mr.
109Novak. These are, you know, we're expanding. >> Our supervisory staff did a great job posting. Well, in general, the administration to come forward with these kinds of courses that are relevant and interesting to kids and keep them engaged. I think I just love this is fantastic. >> And last year, I think we we add some other courses and innovative business courses and things like that. It's steadily the curriculum is is uh really becoming progressive. [clears throat] >> Good stuff. Anything else? >> Roll call then, please. Barber. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yuber. >> This is one through seven, right? >> Yes. >> Miss O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. Yes, >> Mr. Robbins. >> Yes, >> Mr. Foody.
110>> Yes, number eight. We will take action on after executive session. >> Uh, Mrs. O'Brien, personnel, student affairs. >> Like to make a motion to approve items 1 through 42 in the Personnel Student Affairs. Second. 42. >> Any discussion? >> Question six. What's the exact function of the intervention specialist? Um, our intervention specialist, we, this is a a position we've had on and off over the years. Um, it's funded through our title, our title grant. Intervention specialist has been, as we used it last year, uh, last year we were able to have them in all of our elementary schools and two at Mackaben. This year, our funding structure only allowed for it to be in um, a few locations. So the purpose is to identify our students who are um in greatest need from our
111basic skills um selection and work on them in a t uh very targeted capacity in a the brief time that we have them. >> And do they do that they separate them out of class? >> It depends on uh it depends on the building. It depends on period by period. Um the the building principles work with their encore staff to which is our basic skills instruction and our reading specialists to determine the best use of that uh of that individual. Um it sometimes takes the view of a of a balance. Uh sometimes they'll push into the into the course and support the students in the classroom and sometimes they'll pull them out at additional times. So it it really varies and and they end up doing uh both. the 27 um addition of a snow
112removal worker. Is that what what's that for? Is that for the buses? >> Yes. >> Wasn't that the purpose of us getting that? >> They need people to move the buses. >> Oh, okay. So, that's what that person will be just moving buses. And >> we have a a crew and depending on the amount of snowfall, they call in certain amount of people. They have to move the buses. >> So, you're adding this person to that list, >> right? Um I think on number 29 session I just like to clarify my understanding of the implications of of that motion table it >> was >> I thought you could just do it. I thought I could just do that. >> You call the table. >> We're doing it tonight. Then yeah, we can just hold. >>
113So you want a separate vote on that? >> Yeah. >> After executive 29. >> Okay. Anything else? >> One second. >> Yeah. Number 34. Um, under number 34, there seems to be disparity in payment between music teachers and other teachers. Is that because music teachers spend more hours or is it just because they're getting paid more per hour? I mean, music teachers seem to be getting paid roughly three times the usually getting paid. >> Different different amount of hours, >> is it? >> Yeah. That includes the rehearsals for the performances which the industrial arts would be doing in the classroom. >> Hey, Steve, did I see your hand up before? >> Yep. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um I'm slightly confused on item 29, which is our um >> extra payment for teachers of the
114year. Uh, one, I don't think we read out the people that are receiving that and I would like to. I'm also confused about why in the last meeting we voted to approve that. >> So why are we voting on it again? >> You voted to approve the concept, but every time we put out money, >> you have to pay the board has to approve it. >> Okay. We've already approved doing it >> and [clears throat] then >> and now we're just going to allocate it to >> doing it but we haven't >> as opposed to putting there's no vote on it yet so I >> I didn't remember that. In that case I'm going to withdraw my request this to vote on it after executive session. I can still ask the question in executive session
115anyway. >> Okay. >> Well, if you don't >> so then >> mind I would like Dr. actually recogn [clears throat] >> we had the teachers of the year uh honored last year at a board meeting. All the all the eight names and then we brought the winner to our June meeting. So uh this is really just a punctuary to get make sure we authorize us to pay these people. So um we're very proud of them. We know who they are and uh we will continue to honor them. We actually have our newest, our 17 18 teachers of the year just came in today. Um, so we'll honor them in the January meeting. So, we're going to get right back to it. Uh, >> three [clears throat] times as many. [cough] [laughter] >> There you go.
116>> Okay. So, I guess we're not going to mention him. You want to read? He wants you to read the names. >> Oh, sure. say outstanding job. I'm really happy we've got people like this. >> They've been everybody everybody's been rised who's on here. So you can >> you know he just wants them recognized. >> Sure. I I would love to call them I read them into the record. So we have >> but you can see >> uh school teachers of the year at Westbrook School Allison Perry at Upper Greenwood Lake Blake Viscanti at Paradise Null. Brian Leslie Marshall Hill, Ellen Cmerford at Maple Road, Diana Bavona Aptua School, Christina RodCapin School, Mary Boza Meyer, and our high school teacher of the year, district teacher of the year, and P County Teacher of the Year,
117Nicole Petraillo. So, uh, congratulations to all our staff. And like I said, we'll be right back at it in January with the new slate of teacher of the year and education service professionals of the year as well. >> Okay, thank you. >> We going to uh we done with the discussion on items 1 through 42. >> Okay. Roll call, please. Barber. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Yuber. >> Yes. >> Miss O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Robbins. >> Yes. >> Mr. Foody. >> Yes. >> One policy, please. >> I'll move item number one. >> Second. And I'm going to ask with these particular items. There's been quite a bit discussion. Um, I'm going to
118ask and both of them seem to be to me at least patently apparent. I don't think nepatism is a good thing at any time. Uh, most corporations recognize that it's not a great thing. Um, and most other organizations, school districts and such. And um, the content of board meeting, which I know it's not under the motion just now, um, has to do with uh, attendance and we're We're also fixing the fact that we don't have to talk at the legal for executive session every month. Okay. Um so either one of these things, if you have an objection that's non-political, that's based on its merits, I'm asking you to please tell us what it is during discussion so that we can properly consider everything. I think too many too many times we just vote yay or
119nay and nobody understands why the others voted the way they did and instead of coming up with the best solutions we simply vote something up or down instead of maybe making it better. All right. So I guess discussion on number one I guess would come next. >> Any discussion on item one? Mr. Bailey. >> Nice try. Here's what throws me. Who front of this meeting? The president or the have you acquiesced? >> And this portion of it is the policy chairman. Am I going to question him or run? My question is through you to the rest of the board. >> Boy, am I going to be glad to be off of this in about an hour? I can tell you >> The questions go to the board president. He was just making a statement as
120chairman of the policy committee. He was just making a blanket statement and that's it. What questions do you have, Greg? So, I'm going to ask you the question, then you're going to throw it around to the rest of the board. >> What's the question? >> Here's the question. Here's the comment. This is a joke. And I'm even a little surprised that you as the superintendent allowed this to even see the light of day out of the policy committee cuz you sit in on all of those committees. So I'm disappointed. Furthermore, in West Milford, as stated previously, it's a multi-generational employee. So by putting in this restrictive policy tonight, I believe it may take away opportunities from those that we don't even know about. And it could be good, bad, or otherwise. Because in a place
121like West Milford, in a close-knit, tight community that we all live in and love, I think it's a good thing when our own bubble up to the top during the interview process and are considered to be more for the board for hiring. So, this is micromanaging. This is wrong. I'm disappointed in the policy committee and I'll be voting no on this tonight because I think it's too restrictive and again I must say I'm disappointed in you the superintendent and I think my words speak about how I feel about the policy committee looking forward to uh the future where maybe we can begin to modify some things and keep moving forward instead of trying to throw our brakes on everything around here which is Why the meeting is 9:30 at night? >> Are you done? >>
122Maybe. >> Okay. >> I I I just uh you know, I I got to say this, Greg. You're on the policy committee, so I'm glad that you're disappointed with yourself. However, Dr. Anamone has been to every meeting it and and has listened to us as we've discussed things and he's advised us. You know, surprisingly enough, you've been on this board for what, 20 years? Boards operate by setting goals and setting policy, and that's what we're doing. That's our job. That's the only thing we can do. We're not micromanaging, as you say. >> If you were here at board meetings, you know, you were on the education committee last year, you didn't show up once. You're on a policy committee this year, you didn't show up once. Not once. You had the opportunity. plenty of times
123if anybody's going to be disappointed. I'm I'm I can say unequivocally I'm disappointed that 20 years that you would have made a a good faith effort to do this, but you haven't. Just like you haven't sat in on any of the superintendent interviews or any of our board gold meetings in the seven years that I've been here and from speaking with other board members >> the same. So, you know, you could say all you want and disparage him. Look in the mirror first. >> Terry, >> may I ask Mr. Rose Elliot a question? >> What is the difference between a bylaw and a policy? >> Technically, nothing. The bylaws control how the board acts, but it's basically a policy that the board itself follows. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Any other discussion on number
124one? Steve, I saw your hand up first and I'll get you. >> Now, my understanding with regard to nepotism, state law, New Jersey state law requires us to have a policy on on nepotism. I'm not going to pass judgment on whether they ought to or not, but state law. Um the difference between the second version and the original version, we had some comments that it was too restrictive and I think you know we may have been about to go down a path that would keep us from hiring the best person. So we made a change to it that we can hire whoever we want. You know we can go ahead and and you know hire an employee so on and so forth. And the only difference is that when we're about to do so, the
125administration should tell us we're considering an employee who's closely related to somebody or a board member and we require one extra vote. So, this is really not a situation where we're going to say, "Oh, we'll never even consider that or anything." Of course, we'll consider that certainly if they're the best person. Um uh so you know one we have to have a policy and two we're just saying personally I want to know about it. If we're considering hiring somebody who's a close relative to somebody else I'd like to know in advance to say let's make sure we're really doing that and giving away to do it. >> Can I just ask a question? >> Sure. >> In terms of um being someone involved in in the hiring process setting up interviews etc. How do we
126know if they're the best person if we don't go through that interview process? So my my guess my question is how do we set up the interview process with a >> with the potential though that they wouldn't be [clears throat] >> I wouldn't make any at all. >> Right. >> You're not disqualifying them. Go through your normal interviews >> and if it turns out that and you make your judgment. We don't. If it turns out that the person you think is the best person for the job is a is a close relative, just inform the board when we vote on it and we need one extra vote. >> Let me see. >> So, it's really not a >> state law already prohibits us from hiring a board family member from a board or a relative
127of the superintendent. >> Yeah. So, you know that it it would be moving onward to people that have already are already working in the district, but they can still apply. They can still apply. They can still go through the interview process. It would just require a twothirds majority of the board, six out of the nine. >> Point of clarification, the way we did have it set up and this was actually uh partly Dr.'s Everyone's worried is that if there's a particular need uh or um particular need >> or or a unique quality then that makes you know a relative specifically eligible and Dr. An can then recommend them and we can vote with a two-thirds vote instead of majority vote which is six instead of five votes. >> Okay. Now you had your hand up,
128Glenn. >> That was the >> Okay. Um Nicole, you had your hand up as well. >> No, you had it before, Greg. >> That's why full disclosure. >> Um I recognize that state requires us. Again, I think I've said it before. I still think this is way more restrictive than any I mean, I didn't look at a ton, but every school district that I looked at was not this restrictive. They have the policy in there. I think this is going to hold a lot of people back. Um, you know, I agree that this is definitely the type of district where we are encouraging that community environment and I I think it really is the best person for the job and it could be a relative. And I think someone made the comment about corporations having
129defism policies and again it's it's around that supervisory element where somebody's reporting to somebody where somebody has you know obviously the superintendent can't hire a relative right we've got you know oversees everything that they do but to have a teacher in an elementary school and you know a bus driver they absolutely one has absolutely nothing to do with the other and I think it's really about allowing people to apply and hire the best and I I think this is just way limiting and very very restrictive and not in line with what other districts are doing either. >> Greg, you had your hand up again. >> But yeah, clarification. We have an existing policy on the books, you know, as per state law that deals with uh the subject of nepotism. Correct. >> Nope. >> So
130I want to know who suggested that we change the existing policy. Did that come from the board or from the administration or for some outside source? >> Came from the board. >> Name please. >> What's that? >> Who please? >> Who? It was just in discussion and we all decided to. So it was the people on the policy committee. So >> remember who >> I don't know. the policy committee recognized there was a problem in the district with nepatism and again it's hard to talk about without naming names >> but I mean there's issues where you know people's you know spouses girlfriends get jobs and um you know certain parents get favoritism because uh uh somebody was hired in that's friends of theirs or whatever it may be there's a lot of problems that aren't
131covered by this policy so you know to to do what we can with this policy. To me, having heard all of these these things that happened is uh minimal effort to try and make things just a little bit better. I do have a question for the administration. >> Well, >> what how many >> Hold up. >> What percentage? >> Hold up. >> Yeah. >> Greg, does that answer your question? >> No, not at all, Jim. Nice try. As a matter of fact, again, um, now what I'm hearing is that >> our administrative team needs help in all of this. You need a better policy because no matter who was at the policy committing uh, meeting or not. Now, what I'm hearing is that this problem was identified and as a good board, we decide to
132do something about it. But I've yet to hear who is making these claims besides my colleague here. Furthermore, one more point. As board members, we have resources that are available to us and one of them is attorney of the day. Very simple number 609. When I ran this by the person I was talking to at the other end in our field office down in Trenton and not so many words. I'm not putting words in their mouth, but they did use terms like it's rather different. I've not seen it in other districts. I'm not going to put Mr. Roselli on the spot who represents other districts. However, I do have a saying at a time like this. If something is so good in Lakeland or in Vernon or in neighboring districts, I don't understand why it
133always is such an issue that we talk about on and on and on in West Milford. I don't get that part whether it's Turk Fields or whether it's something like this. And that'll be my final statement on this other than I'm voting no for the reasons I've just talked about. That's it for me on this one. Okay, Terry. >> Um, I have a concern that um the these people that that work for us who are related in some way um may come up from a promotion and may be um discriminated against because they're related to somebody and and I'll be voting no for that reason. I'm trying to I I'm trying to frame a question because I don't understand that connection. >> The connection is that if person A is related to someone on the
134board or an or a supervisor and that person is up for a promotion, he's not and he's excellent. Excellent. He's not going to get that promotion because he's related to somebody. >> This is strictly a hiring policy. has nothing to do with anything after they're hired. >> Well, you're hired in another position, >> you know. So, >> so once they're in the district, I think they're in the >> No, not true. >> Can I see there should be an except I thought there was an exception for promotions. >> I didn't see that. >> If they were already here. Yeah. >> It would be a new position and and according to this My understanding is I mean you guys should do whatever you want to you think is best for the district. We vote on all
135these things anyhow and when we vote if we have one of these cases it takes one extra vote. >> I think I'm reading it. >> Did I read it? But what about a promotion? The person is in effect going for a new position. >> They get the opportunity because they've been here already. They're >> see. >> Excuse me. >> I [snorts] didn't hear. No, I heard lawyer. very sensitive. >> That's never a good thing to hear. >> Mr. Bailey doesn't show up to anything. He really >> Can I call the question? >> Let's call the question. >> Can I call the question? >> Then you got to read it. Does that mean? >> Yes. >> No, it was already second, wasn't it? >> Yeah. >> So, I understand. >> No, you just call the question.
136>> Okay. >> Did you say >> call the question? >> All right. Call the question. Will Barbara, would you uh do the roll call on item one under policy, please? >> Mr. Bailey. >> No. Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, no. >> Mr. Foody, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> no. >> Mr. Yuber, >> yes. >> Mr. Robbins, >> yes. >> Okay, that passed. Um, >> even said, I'm going to review it regarding the promotions. >> Yeah, >> we might have another version coming up. >> Sorry. >> I think it should be reviewed for that. >> I didn't remember if it was in there and I didn't have it with me, so I'll talk to you about that later and then it should be reviewed for that. >> Glenn
137move to >> number two. >> I'll move number two under policy >> second. >> Thanks Will. Any discussion >> Greg? >> I don't get the part about and I know this is dear to me because I come and go as I please which I'm not proud of but I do. So, how will we quantify the 75%? Will I get a time card? Will I get facial recognition, a fob? How what is the mechanic? What are you laughing at over there? I'm serious. How How are we going to do this? How are we going to determine what constitutes 75% uh whether I'm absent or not? My understanding can may I answer the question? >> You can answer the question. >> My understanding is that uh the board secretary keeps track of the time of the meeting
138from start to finish and keeps track of the time of when uh members arrive at 75% of the time of the meeting the span of the meeting that's okay. So let's say I only make a night 70%. That's That's a lot of time. 70% of a meeting. >> What happens to my actions during that percentage of time? Are they >> They're count. >> They counted. >> Are they I'm sorry. >> They count. >> They do. >> Yep. >> The votes count, right? >> Yes. So, while I'm here, my my votes count, my actions count, which is what's important to me. However, if I don't make the 75%, I'm going to be voted absent. >> You would be deemed to be absent under this >> by the voted. >> No, there's no vote. I mean, >>
139no count. >> Yeah. >> Yes. You can't the votes always. >> That's good news. >> Not at all. And that would be really hard to manage. >> That's good news. >> No, there's no way not to match. The vote would count. >> And what is the significance of being classified absent from a board meeting? We have an we have an attendance policy in the meeting, you know, for all our meetings. That's where it would come in. >> What's the significance of that? >> Well, if the board so wished, if I came in and didn't didn't attend 75% of three meetings or four meetings, you could ask for me to be removed and and vote on it. So in other words, Joe, >> there is a law. >> If we have consecutively uh >> a board
140member, forget that if I'm in violation of the attendance policy, there's mechanisms that could be triggered that could lead to me being removed from the board. >> Technically, yes. There is a law that says if a board member misses three consecutive meetings without good cause, they could be removed by the rest of the board. >> Let me ask >> what that means is up to >> where do you think that kind of a thing would be vetted, argued, discussed? Because when it comes time for me to push back, I could come in with my 70% attendance record. >> Yep. >> And probably persuade what? >> An arbitrator, an administrative law judge. Who will I be uh appearing before? Well, first there you you would I don't want to call it a peer, but you would
141be it would be discussed before the board, >> right? >> And then they would make a decision and let's say the decision was to remove a board member, >> not you personally. >> So let just use me. It's a good example. >> Then then the question would be and I don't I'm not going to give any individual advice, but the question in general would be >> I have my own lawyer. Thank you, sir. >> It's not that it's that we're on TV or TV. The question would be what is good cause? So you would have to go to an administrative law judge and argue whether it was good cause. >> Oh, so in other words, if my absence may be related to my say what I do for a living, that might be good cause
142>> for a judge. Sadly, if I had an illness, >> correct? >> Illness would be good cause, but it's a judge's decision after the board's decision. Have you ever seen in another district anybody removed from a board because of this kind of thing? >> No. >> Mr. Aelli, [snorts] >> is there any potential of adding language to include attendance at executive sessions? >> No. >> Well, you would. >> That's technically part of the meeting. >> It's part of the meeting. So you wouldn't need it because the time the meeting is open and the time the meeting is closed is the meeting time. >> I move to propose an amendment. >> I move to amend 75% to 50%. >> It's dead. >> Okay. There's no second. >> One second. A question. >> What's your question? >>
143Forget I'm going to wait for it to be second. It's not going to be a second. It's like air flying around for nothing. >> It wasn't something. >> Yes, sir. >> Do you have a question now? >> No. Oh, >> and one last short comment that when we run for the school board, my understanding is we understand that this is a times that this is a lot of time investment for the kids of the district and I'm it just surprises me that anybody wouldn't try and attend fully because otherwise why did you run? And that's all I had to say. Jim, it's your last meeting here to pray. I'll stop or >> I have a reply to that. >> Listen, in the spirit of the holidays, as a going away gift, you make the choice.
144[snorts] >> In other words, I have a question to put before the board or I'll just shut up and take the vote. >> Oh, you speak, Greg. If you got a question you want to put before the board, that's your prerogative, sir. >> Happy holidays to you, Jim. >> Here's the real point. This board takes such an inordinate amount of time to conduct these meetings and I can speak from experience because what's gone on here recently is something that I've noticed before. Furthermore, as board members, we do a lot of work here on TV, sitting around this table. All of us do a lot of work in other ways, not sitting around the table, attending committee members, occasionally calling the administrators, not to be a drag on the people are very busy, but we all
145have a way to get things done. Certainly I have after all these years. And certainly the fact that I continue to have the support of my citizens come that special special time in November speaks for themselves. So for you to question about how I conduct my board business because I'm not clocked in for the full extent of these meetings which I agree is wrong. However, we all do it in our own way. Some of us are more effective in other ways than others. and this nailing me down to this percentage. Shame on you there, sir, for trying to lower it and make it worse, I think is wrong because that's what makes this board, this town and state and country great. We all bring something to the table. We all bring different strengths and values.
146And just because my work might not be done or I might not be at my best right here on the third Tuesday of every month, do not talk to me about being an effective board member because my record speaks for itself and I'll put up against anybody. And I've seen all different types of boards and that's my main complaint. If you could promise me that these meetings would start even at 7 and be over at 9:00, 70% or 75% whatever it is too easy duck suit. But that's the real problem here. The meetings kick off at 7:30 and it's like a Stanley Cup hockey game. If it's tied after three periods, we don't know when that that next goal is going to come and it could go on until 12:30 tonight. That's a nice wintertime
147hockey analogy. >> That's the point. >> Question. >> Will I'm gonna uh You want to make a statement or >> I call the question? >> I want the question. >> I agree with Jim. >> The 75% to 60%. >> I'm going to call the question. Will >> Barbara? >> Yes. >> Roll call, please. On on number two, >> Mr. Bailey. No >> Mr. Sidawitz. >> No, >> Mr. Drew. >> No, >> Mrs. Swire. >> No, Mr. Foody. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Fritz. >> No, >> Mr. Yuber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Robbins. >> Yes. >> Motion. >> Okay, we're going to move on to uh special committees and liaison reports. Mr. Seid, parks and recreation. I do not have a report, but I do wish to inform the board that Mr. Gordino, trustee elect Gordino, is
148the chairman of the recreation advisory committee, and I'm pretty sure he'll be happy to keep that job. So, that frees up a Thursday for me. >> Okay. Nothing on safety. Superintendent's round table. >> Okay. It was quite a meeting. Um, a lot was discussed about virtual backpacks and the high school band website and Dr. Anamone is taking care of that. Um, the biggest concern that I see that came out of this was once again the voting location at PK. Parents [clears throat] want to know what's been done about it. They were concerned that people were using the kids' bathrooms to go in and out of and one security guard was certainly not enough. Um, also the fifth grade chorus and band, there's an inconsistency throughout the district. Most of the elementary schools require chorus, but
149Maple Road offers a choice. Um, and they want to know why this isn't consistent throughout the district. Mr. Novak explained um somewhat why this happens and um that was that was done but kindergarten paperwork is being included in the packet. Um and other than that the biggest thing as I said was the once again the PK voting place. My suggestion was to know uh get in contact with Terry Duffy, our freeholder, and hopefully maybe he could do something for us to move the the voting place. >> Yeah, just an update, Terry. I'm going to brief the entire uh Wampa group on I guess it's Thursday of this week. Uh I did send a letter to Miss Pagley, the township administrator, >> uh formally requesting that the township moves the voting FPK to another location. >>
150Okay. Thank you. Thank I'll see you Thursday. >> There's a bill in the legislature defining museum or whether that can occur and access and separate access and so on. So >> absolutely impossible to tell whether that will be >> approved. Okay. >> But it's it's not just an issue for us. >> Mrs. O'Brien, did she leave? >> Yeah, she did. But I did attend that meeting. >> Yeah, I saw her holding. Yep. >> At the crown. >> Yeah, I did attend that school board's meeting. >> Uh it was uh it was in regards to ethics and it was a presentation based on different scenarios that board members have been in. And I believe personally that any opportunity that we can get to ever just have that in mind and have that present presented to us
151by attorneys, it's always good to just think of the nuances that could happen to you. So that was held at the Brownstone. And I believe the next Pay County School Board's meeting is in February, but I'm not 100% certain. >> We did have an ethics training last year. I think every time it comes up, we should just be there just to kind of get the gears always rolling with it. >> All right. Well, New Jersey school boards >> Oh, well, well. Uh, for those newly uh elected trustees, governance one training will be held January 5th through 7th. Um, I will be attending the January 20th bargaining at the table and because the several uh organizations that are going to be uh in negotiations this upcoming year. I think it's important to just understand the process
152and to learn more about it. So, if anybody is free, I greatly encourage that. Also, at the Pose County School Board's meeting, Kathy wasn't was present. She's our field service rep and she's willing to come and speak to us about the new superintendent evaluation tool. So perhaps that's something that we could take up and perhaps bring to a board meeting. And that's my report. Thank you. >> Okay, Mr. Drew. Legislated legislative and technology oversight. >> Uh there it's just a ton of stuff in the pipeline in the legislature, but I sort of learned you just have no idea what's going to go through, which house or one vote gets signed new governor. So, I mean there just all kinds of things >> being tried and but but nothing substantial that's been passed at this point
153and I I don't have anything on technology even though I probably should. I'm sorry about that. >> Um nothing on the joint committee. Mr. Yuber Casa, >> uh there hasn't been a meeting since the last meeting, but I do have one announcement they sent around u >> oh marijuana >> about Yes. It's about uh what to expect uh with legalized marijuana coming in the upcoming future. It's uh Friday, January 5th from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Eagle Ridge Country Club. >> Lakewood. >> Okay. And in Lakeland, right? >> Lakewood. Sorry. Yes. Lakewood, New Jersey. My apologies. >> And other than that, I have nothing but I believe Dr. Mcuade has something that's not a related topic. >> Yeah. And just to mention, I know at the safe night we talked about a focus
154on substance abuse and mental health issues. So we do have planned, we did a little save the date at the safe night, but I just wanted to remind the public that we do have an open workshop that's called substance abuse and mental health issues. What every parent needs to know. It is open to all parents January 10th um this coming year 7 o'clock p.m. here in Westbrook. So it's open to parents. We are key presenters. We have Janice Garish, one of our um student assistance counselors. We have child team social workers, our elementary social workers, Highlander Academy social workers. We also have the some people from the community that are offering some support services and CASA will also be there representing as well. The topics are parent awareness, mental health impact, signs and symptoms. We're
155going to have one of our nurses presenting as well, suicide prevention, access to care, community resources, and also a Q&A. So, I think it'll be a nice um event and we're encouraging all parents. We're going to really try to target again that fifth starting at fifth but all the way up to grade 12 um parents. So, hopefully we will have a large group here. >> Thank you, Liz. >> Thank you. >> Um we're going to move on to old business. Um we have uh two items here under old business. uh bleachers at McCormick Field and Hillrest RFI request for information. Um I know that [clears throat] you and and Barbara are working on that. >> I've completed a draft for the RFI. Barbara is reviewing it and as soon as we're we'll discuss it and
156get it out. >> Okay. Um, I had told um, Alex there's the possibility that there's a church in town that might want to take Hillrest. >> A church. They had rented from us. Uh, rented that building in the past. There was no air conditioning. So, they after the first year they didn't renew. Um, but their idea is to make it a church and also double as a community center. So, it would be a a good thing if if that could come to fruition. We'll well, you guys will find out. I'll hear about it, but you guys will find out. I'll I'll uh let them know when those requests for for information and um and they'll be in touch with with Alex and Barbara and probably speaking with Joe as well. Um bleachers at McCormickfield, does
157anybody have anything? >> No, just I had uh requested uh that the budget finance I'll repeat it again. But if I look into um the costs and possibilities of doing a a natural bleacher on the opposite side of the field against that hill, it seems like it might cost a lot less for the district and enable us to maintain it at low cost so that we'll never have to replace them again perhaps. Um it seems like a cycled cost. We're going to buy bleachers, they're going to deteriorate. We're going to buy bleachers, they're going to deteriorate. If we build something that can be maintained then uh it might not also it seems like on that side of the field it might be nicer to watch not into the sun or maybe >> oh no in
158the afternoon you sun be right in your face. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Isn't the issue also with the current bleachers just the safety of them but plus the ADA requirements and things as well? So >> well there's an ADA stand on the other side of the field that was built. Um, >> but the the issue, you know, >> I don't see it, but there should be an area where there's stairs, some fence along the back in in the back end, something at the feet, you know, I think they could be retrofitted, and I got to believe a lot less than replacing the whole thing. So, but that's again, that's your guys decision in the coming year. You're going to have to deal that deal with that. >> Um, anything else under old business? Okay,
159we'll need a motion to close all business. >> I move to close old business. Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> Any opposed? We're going to go on to new business. I have one thing under new business um before we get to these resolutions unless other people have things as well. But um committee meetings last week um we were told that uh the new board members along with three current board members want to move the meetings to 7:00 and have only one a month. I expressed my concerns to uh to Alex. The new board members can't request anything until they're sworn in. Um, I mean, you guys, if there's, you know, I was told that, uh, Debbie and and Nicole and Greg inquired about that. Um, if you guys want to vote on it now,
160then Barbara can bring that, but other than that, she really can't be taking any information from from current or new board members who haven't even been sworn in. And that brings me to the to the next thing to have only one meeting a month. We have one meeting a month in October, November, December and July and August. Half the year we have only one meeting a month. The other meetings, you know, you got starting at the budget cycle coming in January. Those are important discussions that need to need to be had and try to move those to one meeting a month. Do you think you're getting out 10:30 is going to be late? God, you guys will be here because nobody you go through the workshop meetings to ask questions. This meeting has gone a
161little long because we haven't had a workshop meeting this month. Last meeting went a little long. We had a lot of presentations and again we didn't have any workshop meetings where where we could ask questions. So the idea of going to one meeting a month to me, yeah, that's being allin for the West Milford children, I tell you. Anybody do you want to you want to have a vote on that? >> Go ahead, Will. I I feel that as you were mentioning that having one meeting a month pre-budget is very very very unconducive to that process. So I I could support >> beyond April from May on perhaps. >> Look at June. June you have one meeting that's for awards that runs for three hours. I think that didn't the schedule reflect that there was
162a an awards >> and a workshop. Okay. So, >> at that point, I think we're at the end of the year. >> I can deal with experiments and if it goes long, we'll probably figure out quickly that it would be better to have two meetings. However, pre-budget season when we are in discussions, I I don't think we should do that. I think that we should combine the two elements. >> That that's a discussion for the new board. >> Well, I'm throwing it out there now. Yeah. As an opinion. >> Go ahead. >> Point of clarification. Um there was an inquiry. We've had inquiries about creating a schedule for one board meeting a month. But if you notice that my minutes from the board budget and finance committee meeting and the schedules that were given to
163you, there were two options available which will be discussed and included in reorganization. So nothing definitive. We're asked to create a schedule that what it would look like with only one board meeting, but it's up to the new board at reorganization to determine what they feel is important to them. Well, that was my concern. So, I just felt I'd express it to the current board who are remaining. >> Okay. Anything else under new business, >> Steve? >> Two resolutions. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, >> I believe >> there's been some discussion. We might not have TV coverage in the future unless we do something about um some kind of modest compensation for our cameramen. So, I would like to make a motion to pay the cameraman $50 a meeting. >> Second. >> Well, I'll I'll second
164it to wield it. Nate, that was as part of Highlander Productions. You had asked for $50 a meeting. Is that correct? >> That is correct. >> Thank you, Nate. >> All right. Any discussion? >> Didn't we vote on that? Didn't we discuss and vote on something for that already? Am I misunderstood? I thought >> No, we never voted on it. We >> discussed it. We discussed it, but we never voted on it. >> Nothing. Go ahead. >> Go ahead, Will. >> Believe it or not, when you volunteer for an arm of the West Milford government, it's very difficult to maintain uh the volunteers that are in it. >> You get asked beyond your means more often than not. and uh the dedication that's put behind the camera for the countless hours. I mean, it's modest
165talking gas money and the usage of equipment and there's plenty more that goes into it. I do feel that it's modest. I do feel it's necessary and I hope that we can support that. >> Is the township also um compensating >> the TV person? doesn't give them anything. It's like you said, it's volunteer, >> but they have a contract with the cable provider regarding video for their meetings because they're the governing body that contracts for who's got the monopoly supply. They didn't really include us in those discussions. So, we're running the risk. >> But Cable Vision doesn't come in and do the meetings. volunteers >> such as Nate >> that do it. He's not getting paid by the town either. They just the town made a deal with cable vision years ago that they get
166a TV channel for 15 years. >> Yeah. >> Whatever whatever they had decided to pay. Go ahead, Nate. >> I [clears throat] will inform you that based on that contract with cable vision, the only uh stipulation we have is to cover town council meetings, not board meetings. Yes, >> we're doing this as a favor >> and it's nice that it's put on the West Milford TV. >> Well, >> so the town can see what's see what's happening in the meetings. >> Being that there were 3 seconds for this motion, which I don't think has ever happened before, I'm going to call the vote, please. >> Okay, [laughter] >> that's fair. >> We don't want to run the risk of not having these. >> And it's we're talking $50 a meeting. It's not going to it's
167not going to kill us. Um, so the the motion is to >> $50 >> pay $50 a meeting to Highlander Productions for the taping of meetings and >> giving those tapes, I guess, to West Milford TV as well. >> Wait, wait, wait. Are we paying Highlander Productions or are we paying Nate for his time? Whoever is Highlander Productions. >> Okay. >> All right. Want to roll call that please? Barber. >> Mr. Cidto. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Foody. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Huber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Robbins. >> Yes. >> Okay. Now, Dr. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. >> It's funny that we throw lunch today. I just wanted to make one comment. I know there's late there's not a lot
168of people left, but I thought coming to the end of the year that I just wanted to give a shout out to TV Land to all of the PTAs at all the schools. There's been just a tremendous amount of activity throughout the district over the past few months and some really amazing events. Um, I've been to several of them from movie nights to holiday shops to pocketbook bingo to the veterans thing in the school. Um, I think what's really nice is a lot of there's been a lot of crossover between people from different schools coming together. Really built um a community feeling um and talking about countless hours um you know there's tons of time that goes into executing the details of all those events and um I know that a lot of it goes
169unrecognized. So, just wanted to shout out to all the folks that volunteer from the PTA as well as all the parents that chip in and things like that. >> Great. >> One more thing. I was going to ask uh uh Dr. Anon and uh Mr. Novak uh to to give a shout out to the teachers that organized the uh seventh and eighth grade um uh choir concert. I saw you guys both there, so I know you I know you were there to see how how what a great job they did. They did. We've had a great concert season. I've been to probably six schools or maybe five schools already. Uh I saw a wonderful concert at Maple Road, Upper Greenwood Lake, Westbrook, Makipin High School. Uh we have a final concert for anybody who's interested
170Thursday night. Uh it is the high school band and instrumental. That's a wonderful concert. So, we've had a great concert season across the board at all three levels. Uh, so kudos to all of our teachers uh in the music department. >> Okay. >> All right. Moving on. We have two resolutions here in new business. Um, I guess we I'll read them. I'd like to vote on them. And then we have uh two plaques for outgoing board members. So, um, >> Alex, one change to that. Um, when it comes to mind, uh, it just happened to be I was appointed in November 2014 to fill a seat, a necessary seat on the board. So, I'm not sure if that would be modified in this motion. >> Mhm. >> November of 2014. >> Yeah. >> Right after
171the election. >> Okay. And we're going to have to get you a new plea to get the right year. >> Oh, yeah. That's fine. >> Um, we won't have that tonight. But, uh, whereas Mr. Rodney Robbins has served as a prominent member of the West Milford Township Board of Education from November 2014 until December 2017 and whereas Mr. Robbins has diligently served on the joint committee between the township and board of education and was a liazison for the parks and recreation committee. And whereas Mr. Robbins 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 on the board, the administrative staff and the teaching and support staff. Now therefore, be it resolved that
172the board of education on behalf of the grateful community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Mr. Robbins for his outstanding contributions to the West Milford Township Public School District. and be further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the workshop regular meeting of the board of education of December 19th, 2017 and presented to Mr. Rodney Robbins. >> So move [applause] Well, will you made the motion and I seconded it? >> Thank you. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. >> All right. The second uh resolution we have is whereas Mr. James Foody has served as a prominent member of the West Milford Township Board of Education from January 20 2015 until December 2017. And whereas Mr. Foody has diligently served as board president, chaired the negotiations
173committee, served on the personnel, education, policy, and budget and finance committees, and was a liazison for the joint committee between the township and board of education safety and New Jersey school boards association. And whereas Mr. Foody 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 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 community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Mr. Foody for his outstanding contributions to the West Mifful Township Public School District. And be it further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the workshop regular meeting of the
174board of education of December 19th, 2017 and presented to Mr. James Foody. >> [applause] >> Thank you. May I add something for for those out there who don't know it? Jim Fy's been Everybody knows he's been president of the board for the last few years, but I don't think the average person knows how much time he put in on this. >> It he >> Yeah, that's right. Jim went to put a lot >> most of all the committee meetings whereas most of us were appointed to one or two committees or one or two positions. He's spent time having special meetings behind the scenes keeping himself up to date on all kinds of things. I swear to God it must been another full-time job on top of your regular one. And it it was amazing that
175you could always go to Jim Foody and he would have a clue what's going on. Just keeping up with that kind of information as a board president had to be hugely timeconuming. So thank you Jim for your dedication in that position because I don't think everyone would do that. Thank [applause] you. I appreciate that. Okay. So, I have to do it. All in favor? [clears throat] >> I I >> Any opposed? Okay. Um, need a motion to close new business unless somebody else has something. >> Go ahead, Rody. >> I do want to comment, Jim, how cooperative and and how responsive you've been uh during my three years here, and I really appreciate everything uh that you have done. >> Yeah. Thank you, Rodney. I appreciate I I appreciate everything that everybody's done whether whether
176I've said it or not and I probably haven't as much as I should have but I apprec appreciate all the time that everybody's put in. So, thank you Rodney. So, motion to close. >> Move to close. Take it to the spotlight. Second. >> Okay. And all in favor? I I >> Any opposed? Okay, we have uh our last petitioner request for 2017. Petitioners who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first with five minutes for each petitioner for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other petitions and requests limited to five minutes per petitioner 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 students during petitions
177and requests. Is there anybody who would like to speak? >> Seeing none to close petitions and requests. >> Second. >> Thank you, Will. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, Glenn. Um, it is 10:16. Would you read the resolution for executive session? >> Okay. At 10:16 p.m., I'll move to go into executive session for the purposes of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, HIV, and matters of >> second. Thanks, Will. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? We will back be back after executive session to take action on uh HIVs. Oh yeah, [laughter] I can't resist and see. must he