001Okay, we're good. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the October 24th um regular meeting of the West Milford Board of Education. Um if you could please silence your cell phones and notice the locations of the emergency exits. And I'd like to uh have a moment of silence for the victims of the bus truck crash out in California. Can we stand for the flag salute, please? To the flag of the United States of America. and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, the Herald News, The Trends, The Record, AI, West Milford, The Messenger, West Milford Town Hall, County Superintendent's Office,
002the 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, town library, and all district schools. Roll call, please. Mrs. Francisco. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Deber. Mr. Drew. Here. Mrs. Dwire, here. Mr. Foody, present. Mr. Yuber here. Mrs. O'Brien here. Mr. Robbins here. Mrs. Schultz here. Glenn, would you uh do the honors and read the executive session resolution, please? Sure. I will move to approve the following resolution. Resolve that the board go into executive session at 9:00 p.m. for approximately 60 minutes for the purpose of discussing personnel, student matters, negotiations, and matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer. Second. Thank
003you, Debbie. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Um, Dr. Anamone, superintendent's report. Yes. Good evening everybody and welcome to our regular meeting for November. Uh, before I pass it off to our new student repres representative, I would like to publicly thank groups. We had last Friday a K9 search unit come up to West Milford and help us out in the high school. We It was a joint effort between our administration, the West Milford Police Department, the Pay County Prosecutor's Office, and the Pay County Sheriff's Department who actually had the dogs. So, they came up here on Friday to do a search of the building, the campus, the lockers, etc. Uh I'm happy to report that no contraband was found. Um the they had three dogs up here. They were probably in and out of the
004building in about 45 minutes. There were a couple lockers of interest, you could say, where the handler said, "It's not really a hit, but he sniffed it twice." So, you may want to search the locker, which we did. And and again, I'm happy to report that we did not find any contraband. So, uh would like to thank those groups for their cooperation. Um it was a wonderful uh morning. It's something we will probably do again. Uh I don't know when, but it's something we will definitely consider doing again because uh again, I find it very effective. So, um, now next up, we have a new student representative whom I've already met. She was participated in our ad hoc policy committee meeting in late September where we discussed a uh potentially new and edited student attendance
005policy. So, I know she's more than capable of uh contributing to our board. So, welcome Miss Hogan and would like to hear your report now. I think it's I guess. Okay. Um so October in the high school was particularly dominated by the week of respect which ran from October 3rd to October sec uh October 7th excuse me and school violence awareness uh awareness week which was the following week October 17th through the 21st. We had numerous clubs um participate in this event. Model Congress created images and captions of US historic uh milestones and messages. The Piers's leaders group wrote uh positive chalk messages in front of the schools um inspiring inspiration uh for students and also encouraged them to wear blue on world day of bullying prevention. Model United Nations created signs featuring the Universal
006Declaration of Human Rights quotes um with a focus on respect and safety for all people. Um, the Gender Sexuality Alliance promoted Ally Day to wear rainbow. Um, and they also wore black and white statistics about violence against the LGBTQ community. Holocaust and genocide studies uh created profiles of courage from people from the Holocaust and posted posters around room 242. Sources of strength wrote respect quotes around the building as well as had a dating violence statistics uh posted around the school. poetry club had a poetry club member read a poem on the loudspeaker on Friday, October 7th. The art department made um many Highlander Pride posters and posted them around the building. Um and then the student council, we did morning announcements specifically on the topic of respect. We focused on peacemakers within the world and
007how we told their stories essentially every morning including Ellie Gazelle who was the Holocaust victim, Gloria Steinum, Emma Watson, peacemakers like that today. Um, and the German Honor Society, they also translated an anti-bullying pledge in German. Um, we also had a an inspirational speaker named Keith Hawkins, and he came to the school and he talked to us. And Miss Sally's English class, she posted um a bunch of post-it notes on lockers with these positive, uplifting messages reminding students that they were loved and that they were cared for within the school. It was a really wonderful idea. Um, so that was essentially October. November, we really just have career day. We're focusing on creating the senior choice awards. Thank you. Is that it, Dr. Elmoon? That's all. Okay. Uh Mr. Novak, education report. Just wanted to
008just want to bring everyone's attention again to the SAT and park presentation that we did at the workshop meeting. It's available on the uh website on the for families link underneath test. Um just want to like I said bring everyone's attention to that. Again I also wanted to highlight I've spoken a lot about character red. Hopefully I get through a single meeting without mentioning uh character ed and I just wanted to highlight a particular event that happened with our high school football team on Friday night. We played against one of the um one of the more challenging teams in our conference against Wayne Valley. Our our kids did a great job. had a heartbreaking um ending to the game. However, uh that seemed to all be overshadowed by the um joint effort between the Wayne
009Valley and West Milford football team where they allowed a student who had um previously had heart surgery and had been unable to play for for a significant amount of time. And uh both teams um allowed that player to participate in the game. He threw a two-point conversion and ended the game and um really was an impact on that student's life and his family. And I just want to say thank you to to our coaches, our team and our community for supporting it as well as for Wayne Valley. Really feel good ending to the game. And uh that's not something that was taught in the classroom or or something that they, you know, picked up from a a lecture. It was something that they chose to do because they knew it was the right thing to
010do at the time. Um, so I just want to, you know, make sure I mention that publicly and give it not to not to our team and to that of one. Thank you, Mr. Novak. Uh, Barbara, special reports and correspondence. Yes. Um, you have the minutes from September 20th and September 27th um available for your review and consideration. like to make a motion to approve the following board of education minutes. September 20th, 2016 workshop special action meeting. September 20, 2016 executive session. September 27th, 2016 regular meeting. September 27th, 2016 executive session. Thank you, Debbie and Marilyn. Um, any discussion? Voice vote. Barb, uh, voice vote, please. All in favor? I opposed me. Um legal report. Mr. Rosselli, I have a couple of items today as always. They will be discussed in executive session. Thank you,
011Joe. Um president's report. I have uh three things that I think we can go through relatively quickly. Um, first I had uh mentioned to the board last week about uh the ALF festival. I spoke to the town council. They're going to survey the businesses in town. Um but it seemed to be that the um council was comfortable with the al festival where it is but proposed possibly other things that we could do possibly something around the 4th of July like a a two or three day thing carnival slashfestestival. Um so we'll see what happens there. The um marching band took uh third at a competition at Ruters. Um I think they they took first in in percussion again. They seem to be doing real well. Um also concert choir. Um there was a I guess
012one one of the teachers found out about it, but uh the group Foreigner put out a competition for concert, you know, choir groups from schools to send in a demo tape and play. Uh there were five schools chosen. Um we were one of them there. That competition is tomorrow afternoon. When the kids get done eighth period, they're off to the city. Um, the winner of that competition, the the winning group will receive $5,000 and the opportunity to sing with Foreigner on stage tomorrow night. So, let's give a hand and and hope to God that uh our our kids are uh chosen. I think that'd be real real special. Um, that's the end of my my president's report. Um, we can move on to petitions and requests. Petitioners who have requested to speak prior to the
013meeting 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-inut period transpires. Petitioners speaking during petitions and requests are asked to address address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to give their name, spell their last name, provide their address. Speakers may not use the names of students during petitions and requests. I see Barbara that we have um a few people who have requested to speak. Uh Ali D'Angelo or you going to do it as a group? No, but the Can I go ahead of the students? I was going to speak after the students. Yeah, you're you're listed last, but go ahead. Right. Go ahead. Okay. Natalie D'Angelo
014D apostrophe capital A N G E L O. Uh, 9 Avalon Road, Huitt, New Jersey. Is that all you need? Yep. Okay. All right. Um, I want to thank you for giving us this opportunity to speak in front of you today and I want to thank all the parents and team members that are here. Also, um, I'm here today representing the West Milford Varsity Dance Team. Um, although if you go on the website it says dance club. Now I know this has been an issue ongoing. Um in different states you know it's recognized as a sport and in others it's not. In addition to that each state kind of makes up their own rules as well. Like you know I'm not going to name every school and every district but some recognize it as a
015sport some do not. Same as cheerleading. Some recognize it as a sport, some do not. Here in West Milford, we recognize cheerleading as a sport, but not dance team. Okay. So, oh, I want to give you guys this too. If I can, this is just the boring number part. If I can passion along for everybody. Um I want to start first with what is the definition of a sport? The dictionary definition of a sport. An athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature. That in it of itself um should be enough to consider it a sport. But I want to back it up with obviously some more information. Um, and I did find many reasons why it should be cons considered a sport, but I don't have that much time
016to talk. So, um, all right. Um, the first one being that they compete against other teams and that it is very competitive and just like with other sports, um, namely like my favorite one, football. And uh I was at that game by the way and it sent chills down my whole body. It was amazing. It really was. Um the team whether or not they win is based off of points just like in any other sport. Um, another big component to it is um, practicing, which they spend many hours each week together practicing. Um, and that's before they can even begin to do any type of choreography. And generally in a season, there's two dances that they learn. Like I said, they spend many hours each week learning this just like a football team would practice
017all week and then they have to learn the playbook. So again, another reference um they also have to do a lot of physical um things which for the sake of sounding repetitive um is required in sports. you know, they do a lot of push-ups, they do crunches, they have to do leg exercises, and a lot of this is one so that they don't get injured like in other sports, but also um it helps them with stamina, which is one of the most, if not the most important thing you need to have to be on a dance team. And I found a little note online somewhere that someone had said that for a dancer to do a 2 to three minute intense dance you need the stamina of an Olympic runner and I've seen them dance.
018So um you all have the you know numbers and all the poring stuff. So, of course, you know, we're here to ask, you know, for the district to help us, you know, by funding, you know, um we don't have a specific dollar amount intended. Um, parents do pay quite a considerable amount of tuition um, compared to all other activities where there's just generally the $75 paytoplay which we pay and then there's usually a booster fee which is $80. Our tuition is typically $1,500 and that's in a normal year. Last year we had to make an extra payment and it looks like this year we will also have to make an extra payment. So um that's regards to money. Just a couple other things that we would also like you to um hopefully be able to
019help us out with and that is um a a place to be able to practice. um as it is now we practice on the stage um and they have to move band equipment most of the time. Then from there once the play season starts in November we have to move to Hillrest and that requires in most cases parents to come at dismissal time le you know leave their wherever pick them up at the high school and then drive them to Hillrest. So, we were hoping, and I guess this has been done in the past, that maybe some sort of transportation could be provided to and from, you know, not not back to the high school, but from here to Hillrest. Um, six six minutes. And also nationals when we go to nationals um unlike other
020activities club clubs or sports um for us to be taken to and from the airport a fee of $500 is charged. And through my research, I've seen um many uh trip or an athletic event where the busing was either $1,100, $1,200 and it was paid for by the district. Um D'Angelo, how much am I done? How much longer? We're passed, but I I want to give you the opportunity to speak. Uh one other thing is just coach. I just want to recognize her. She's been This is her seventh year. She puts in a lot more time um than 60 hours. Um that it says that you know is what you know the season requires. Um and without her you know none of what we do would be possible. So thank you. Okay. Thanks. And of
021the the girls want to speak. Okay. Um Alli D'Angelo D Apostrophe A N G E L O N A E A E A Road H New Jersey. So I'm Ally and I'm a junior here at West Milford High School. This is will be my third year on the varsity dance team and I was on the junior dance team for the two years prior. I started dancing when I was two years old and it's been my passion ever since. There are so many reasons why I'm grateful to be a part of this team, but one of the first things that comes to my mind is the bond that I've been able to create with my teammates. There's I'll remember these girls for the rest of my life. Whether it's winning a national championship two years ago
022with just five girls or sharing an incredible experience together at camp this summer with 11, we all learned so much from each other and being on the dance team has helped me in other areas of my life as well. Dance is all about working together as a team and putting in 110% effort every day. I've learned to work hard, not only for myself, but for the benefit of a group. I've also learned self-discipline and dedication in order to prepare for the next season and be my best self. All of these lessons reflect in my schoolwork as well as my personality and social skills. And I can't imagine the person I'd be without dance. In addition to the things I've learned, I've also discovered an outlet to express myself. I'm typically a very busy and stressed
023person, but when I go to practice after school, I'm able to let go of all of my worries and just focus on my dancing. It fuels my creativity and imagination while allowing me to get in touch with my emotions and express them. I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to experience this, but I wish I could share it with more people. The high cost of being on the team discourage girls from trying out and deprive them of the chance to be a part of something that's so important to me. Additionally, I wish we got more recognition for all of the hard work we put in or order to produce a larger turnout of tryyouts and a greater interest overall. I would love for more people to be a part of the support system that we
024have and to learn the same lessons that I'll take with me even after I graduate. I hope you can see how much dancing means to me and how beneficial it is to my life and I hope you take that into consideration. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] My name is Alexandra ulty Road, West Moer, New Jersey. Okay, so hi, I'm Alexandra and I'm currently a senior and the captain of the West Moer dance team. I started on the town dance team in fifth grade with the hopes of some someday being on the high school team. There have been so many times when myself as well as my teammates have felt disregarded in the high school's eyes. There have been several instances since my freshman year that we have had to practice in the narrow hallways because
025in the school because someone else is in our practice space. We're supposed to be able to use the stage in the auditorium, but more often than not, it is loaded with band items or play props, making it impossible to practice on. At events and showcases held at the high school, such as freshman orientation, dance is separated from the rest of the sports and put in the cafeteria with the rest of the clubs. Dancers are athletes. We train, we practice, we condition, and we compete. We are trying to pro promote our team as a group of girls who take what we do seriously and sitting us between tables like the green team and the yearbook club isn't fairly rep representing our athleticism. Just like sports, we have to take physicals in the beginning of the year
026and get that whole thing filled out. So just like a comparison, we need physicals. Athletes need physicals. Sport every year, West Milford holds a home competition in our high school. Two years ago, the date of our home competition was board approved and finalized by by the board. They told us we had to change the date because wrestling needed it. As a result, we lost several of the teams that were signed up to attend and wound up losing a lot of money. The money for the competitions comes out of our parents' pockets with hopes that we make the money back and then some. Why is it that wrestling was more important than us that day? Wrestling is funded by the school. Our parents are not. And in the end, we paid the price. I've been dancing
027since the age of three. My coach Haley was my dance teacher at my past studio when I was just eight years old. She has mentored me all these years and she as well of dance have shaped me into the person I am today. Dance is not something you can just pick up overnight. It takes motivation and determin determination and lots and lots of practice. In the eyes of the school, we are considered a winter club. But just just ask any of us the amount of hours we have put in on the side. Dance doesn't have a season. We practice year round. We take class after class to improve our craft. Because of dance team, I have made lifelong friendships and created so many bonds with people who share the same passion as I do. I
028think what amazes me the most about dance is the ability we possess to step out on the floor as 11 girls and perform as one. Dance team is more than a club and we are more than a sport for that matter. Dance team is a family. Dance has taught me the meaning of dedication. It has forced me to remain focused and determined. It has shown me how to set goals and achieve them. Dance has given me a sense of drive and it has provided me with life lessons that I will reflect on throughout the years to come. Looking back on my time in high school, some of the greatest memories will come from my time spent on the dance team. It's a shame that it's taken so long to get the recognition we deserve, but
029I hope that after tonight, you all take what we have said into consideration and hope and help improve our program in the best way possible. Thank you from all of us here tonight. [Applause] Miners not give their address in public. Correct. All right. Yep. I'll give you a name, but not your answer. Okay. Uh, Taylor Roberto, R O B E R T O. Uh, hi, I'm Taylor and I'm a senior at West Milford High School and I've been dancing on the varsity team for three years now. And I can say without a doubt that this team has impacted my life in an amount immense amount of ways. Dancing is an unescribable feeling. It's a sudden panic of nerves and joy rolled into one dance or an adrenaline rush that takes over your whole body. It's
030like the world stops around you while each step or leap you take gets frozen in time. Dancing to me is something that keeps me being being the best person I can be. It teaches me discipline and friendship. It teaches me timeliness and it teaches me that even when you feel alone, you're not. Being on dance team, I have learned that the feeling dance gives you is unlike any other. Being on a team gives you a sense of unity and it makes you feel as though together as one you're unstoppable. When you nail those alysone turns that make your nerves race right before you start them. It makes you feel worth it after all the extra work you've put in pays off. It makes you feel like everything is worth it. I don't think being on
031a soccer team or a football team could teach you the types of things dance does. Because when you dance with a group of girls that you want to make proud, the smallest mistake could jeopardize your whole team's victor victory. That teaches you to believe in yourself because everyone around you does. So you have to step out on that dance floor and show your team that they have a reason to believe in you. Show them that you're not going to let them down. The greatest thing of all though is that dance team is family. And every practice you go in ready to give it all your give it your all. Ready to make your family proud. Dance to me is something that keeps my head on the right way. The thing that motivates me to keep
032up my good grades and to be responsible. Dance is the thing that keeps me who I am. And dance is just something that we need. It's what teaches us and betters us. And like Alex and Ally said, I hope that's something you take into consideration. Thank you. [Applause] Anybody else like to speak? I I would just like to make one quick comment and Dr. Anamone made the same note I did. Um, we got to look into if you don't have a place at the high school, maybe we can move over to Makipin and utilize that gym for you guys. cheerleading during the same season. Cheerleading during the whole gym is closing next year. Yeah, well, we'll figure something out. Yeah, there definitely has to be definitely definitely we'll figure something out. I've seen the performances
033and they are just well just want to get out there, dance with them. They're so good. So good. So, you know, question the the teams in which they compete, are they considered clubs? The you know, these these other schools you is it a sport or is it a club? They're going to have to ask them. They even have like a dance studio built into their school. Okay. Go ahead, dance teams recognized by the New Jersey State Intercolastic Athletic Association. Yeah. I don't I don't know. that I don't cheering. Joe says they're not. But cheering isn't either, right? Something the board can discuss student affairs committ Thank you for speaking. You did wonderfully very proud of you. was not easy to speak but spoke very very well and I know the board heard you and we
034typically take these issues and we discuss them in greater detail in our smaller groups called committees and we can do that in early November and certainly report back to the full board um as early as our next meeting. Thank you. Thanks. Thanks ladies. Thank you. All right. Seeing none, like to close petitions and requests. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Need a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. And we have a hand carry. Uh Glenn, I'll make the motion to adopt the agenda as presented. With the hand carry. Thank you, Marilyn. Um any discussion? Um Mr. Drew? Uh we haven't discussed that particular before can we do that after executive session we can discuss something we can discuss that that doesn't it's not excluded from I don't think it's something that so that
035I'm looking at the I'm looking at the resolution it's unless you're talking about the legal provisions of the lease itself um it's not really an executive session topic so you can ask your questions during uh the discussion part of the agenda. Um anything else? Yes. Go ahead. Uh number 14, number 12 under personnel student affairs number 12. Yeah, I'd like to maybe hold that till after executive session. Page five. Yes. Yes. Yes. What do you want to vote? Number 12 on page five under um personel student affairs. So you want separated. Yeah. That's correct. Okay. That's the only one right under right. Okay. Anything else? Um there was one more thing. There was a policy where we got some additional information today that we probably didn't have time to Yes, that was I thought we
036were gonna pull that until our That's number 27 under policy and I think we should just pull that and put it under the next policy committee meeting. Okay. So, we're going to um Alice could do that administrative list. Yeah, that's the one tonight. table. You just want to administratively remove it. Remove number 27 policy management of page 187. Just okay. Anything else? Marilyn Rodney. No. All right. Then um all in favor of adopting the agenda as presented uh with 12 in personnel on page five after exec and on page 18 number 27 we will discuss at our next uh we're moving to discuss at our next policy uh committee meeting. Hi. Thank you. Okay. All are in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Mrs. O'Brien, you're up. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'd like to make
037a motion to move items 1 through 11 and 13 under and 13 through 20 under personnel student affairs. Okay. Any discussion? Seeing Seeing none. Roll call, please. Barber. Mrs. Dwyer. Yes. Mr. Drew. Yes. M. O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Schultz. Yes. Mr. Yuber. Yes. Mr. Robbins. Yes. Mr. Foody? Yes. That concludes personnel student affairs until after executive session. Sorry. Education. Education. Okay. I'd like to move the following items one through six for Thank you, Marilyn. Second. Any discussion? I am curious to get more information about number five. I I wasn't didn't know that they had a competition there. Number five was previously approved resolution. It was a cross country meet in Florida. Um earlier I guess it was early October and it was canceled with hurricane Matthew. So the meet was rescheduled for November. So we're just
038really changing the dates. I should change the change the dates. Thank you. And number two, these are all students coming into the district. Yes. Yep. Okay. Um has that impacted our staff at all? Okay. Okay. Think we have an issue with crickets in the building. Okay. Any other discussion? Seeing none. Roll call, please. Barbara. Mrs. Dwire. Yes. Mr. Drew. Yes. M. O'Brien. Yes. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. Mr. Yuber. Yes. Mr. Robbins? Yes. Mr. Foody? Yes. Terry number seven. I'm sorry. Um move to approve number seven is after executive session. Okay. So we can't Okay. Mr. Drew budget and finance sir like to move item one. [Applause] second. Did you say 1 through 11? Yeah. Okay. I' I'd like to discuss number 11 after exec. [Applause] Oh, that's right. And you said that before, too. So, and
039I second it again. Okay. Any discussion? Uh, I'd like more information about number 10, please. About the Green Book Greenbrook Academy. Yeah, this is we this is for free and reduced meals. But it's a child's placed in an outside um oh child was placed in a residential facility and then recently the state changed the facility placement and the child's eligible for free reduced lunch as part of the contract so we had to approve it separately. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome Mr. Robbins. I I would have expected you on number eight, comprehensive maintenance plan. Um we're going to be working a little bit more on that um in a little bit more detail from about all the schools, you know, that five to 10 years out that you asked. So um be prepared to discuss that
040at a later date. Okay. Y um remember this is the New Jersey boiler plate that there's two different things. This is a maintenance plan which we have to include in our annual budget. Y the capital projects are items outside of maintenance. Outside of maintenance. Correct. So they're two different things. Any other discussion? Roll call, please. Mrs. 1 through 10. Yes. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. Mr. Robbins. Yes. Mr. Drew. Yes. Mrs. Dwire. Yes. On all items. No. On number nine. Miss O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Yuber. Yes. Mr. Foody. Yes. On items uh 1 through eight and 10. And I'm going to abstain on nine, Steve. Um, moving on to number 12. I'd like to move. Sorry. 12. Second. Okay. Um, any discussion? Seeing none. Roll call, please. Barber. Mr. O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Robbins. Yes. Mr. Yuber. Yes. As
041Pedro abstain. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. Mr. Drew. Yes. Mrs. Dwire. Yes. Mr. Foody. Uh, yes. On payroll, abstain on the rest. I didn't get a chance to go through everything. Okay. Number 13. Mr. Drew. I move item 13. Second. Transfer funds. Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call, please. Burmer. Mrs. Dwire, yes. Mrs. Schultz, yes. Mr. Drew, yes. Mr. Yuber, yes. Miss O'Brien, yes. Mr. Robbins, yes. Mr. Foody, no. Like to move items 14 and 15. Second. Any discussion? Seeing none. Roll call, please. Parker. Mr. Yuber. Yes. I'm sorry. What was that? Yes. Mr. Drew? Yes. Miss O'Brien? Yes. Mrs. Schultz? Yes. Mrs. Dwire? Yes. Mr. Robbins? Yes. Mr. Foody? Abstain. Uh under policy, I will move items 1 through and N28. Second. These are all second readings. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mrs. Schultz, yes. Mr.
042Robbins, yes. Mr. Drew, yes. Mrs. Dwire, yes. Miss O'Brien, yes. Mr. Guber, yes. Mr. Foody, yes. And that concludes policy. We're going to move on to special committees and liaison reports. Um, Mr. Robbins, Parks and Recreation. Yes. two items. Oh, were we supposed to do hand carry? We didn't include that. Oh, thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Sorry, Mr. Robbins. Should you be postponed for five minutes? I I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Like to move item 14 under budget mean second. my glasses. Okay. Uh, any discussion? Steve, I know you will hit U. No. Okay. Okay. Roll call then, please. Mr. Yuber. Yes. Mr. Drew. Yes. M. O'Brien. Yes. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. Mrs. Dwire. Yes. Mr. Robbins? Yes. Mr. Foody? Yes. Okay. Media and leaison. And thank you, Mrs. O'Brien. And Mr. Robbins, the floor is
043yours. Okay. I've been to a couple of the rec meetings um since since tonight. Um uh a couple of the highlights would be that uh the state county awarded the township two open space grants. One $7,800 to replace backspots at Bland Springs. And secondly, they're going to update Fereral Field and they've gotten $77,600. That's all good news for sure. Uh they're underway with um wreck basketball registrations are open until november 15th. Um past news when it comes to uh Bublin Springs, they were very successful this summer and the enrollments uh for kids participating was was up from last year. So u that's all good as well. Uh the last thing would be that they they keep mentioning about fields and we probably want to add it to budget finance. Um possibly because they're looking for
044some dollars to help maybe fix up the varsity field, but I'm assuming they're they're focusing on the varsity fields and and you may have some also some feedback with your joint committee with the council because they literally want us to work with them to improve some of the fields. But I don't know any of the details what type of improvements they Yeah. The the the last when we met, Mr. Roman had said um that he would try to work in labor if we could get some of the materials to do some of the elementary school fields. and that that was like clay for the infields, maybe some top soil and stuff for some of the outfields where there were complete bare spots. So, um, one of the one of the things that we should do
045um, and I had mentioned it to Mr. Signarino, he had called me the other day and would be to set up just like we set up our committee meeting dates at at our reorg shortly thereafter to set up a list of meetings where the town council and the board will meet and they're set for the year. No ifs, ends, or buts about it unless something, you know, extraordinary pops up. but it's it'd be a better way for us to move forward with the township. So, um he thought that that was a a good idea. So, we'll be doing that for sure. Um don't know how that though works into because we're coming into our budget season. So, it's it's kind of puts us between a rock and a hard place. And then we're going to
046have to watch Barbara pull a rabbit out of a hat. And I don't even know if she has maybe maybe three rabbits. I don't I don't know. The details that they're looking for, but I guess there's several tournaments that take place. Maybe the boys baring here, girls, they want to dress it up a little bit with, you know, when the other towns come it looks more impressive and but I really don't know exactly the details of what they're looking for. Yeah, we'll uh we'll make sure to go at the next meeting and then report back to to the board. So, Mr. There's money in this year's budget for some of the repairs we're making for fields. Then we do things with fences and Yeah, those things have already been done. Yeah, I mean there was
047money in there. Mhm. I had a discussion with some of the town people and said we need a priority list. So, six or seven more meetings. We just we need to know from them what do you want to do and we can see how that fits in and you're exactly right. budget thing is coming up pretty quick. So, yep. They got to tell us we'd like the fields to look better when the out of towners come in. I mean, tell us exactly what you want in the order and then we can see what we can help with. I'm thinking that, you know, the list that we're putting together for it won't have anything to do with the fields. Well, maybe we just might add it to that. Well, that that's kind of an open-ended thing
048because normally you would maintain the fields for your purpose which which would be fizzed, not necessarily for recreation competitions, right? Two different and every community goes through the same struggle. So, we're not unique in that regard. Right. I'm I'm thinking that the elementary schools that's, you know, naturally they want to be up and safe, but the high school fields is what I'm I'm thinking that they're wanting some We've done a lot of work to the high school field. A couple of years ago, the the varsity baseball boosters were here because Kilgallan Field was like a swamp. And now they can come in April and they can go on that field and they can play ball. and it's no longer a swamp. So, we have made improvements, but I don't know what they're looking for. And
049I don't know if it's going to be a board priority to give them what they're looking for. So, until they give us something in writing, I think we're just hypothesizing what it could possibly be. We have to get something right. You're right. Yeah. Well, if we set up a, you know, like Jim had said, if you set up some type of meeting, you get to the bottom of it. I think the lack of communication is what we're having problem. Just like we're improving our own communication, we have to do it improve it with the town as well. So, okay. Um, Mr. Bailey, thank you, Rodney. Um, Mrs. Schultz, superintendent roundt. We had a meeting on Thursday, October 20th. Um, some of the items that were brought up by WA would be items that um would
050need to be budgeted and there are certain circumstances that need to be addressed by the building principles before moving forward on it. So, Dr. Mr. Adamone and um Mr. Novak are working on those um questionable particulars. Not quite sure if it came from the actual parent organization themselves or you know one or two individual parents. So they're looking into those aspects of okay that situation. Um there were some items brought up as far as um maintenance issues that will be addressed. Um minor issues like a leaky faucet in the Westbrook bathroom. So all the items that were brought to uh light at the meeting are being taken care of. Uh there was also an issue with space for a project to venture at one of the elementary schools, but that has to do with logistics
051and scheduling. So that's also going to be looked at and followed up meeting. Um, one of those examples that I was talking about that would be a budgetary item would be crisis counselors in all of the elementary schools. that's been uh brought up on several occasions, but again um you know that would have to be a budgeted item and I think that more um discussion have to be looked at more closely I would think. So do I. Right. Before just she's jumping in. Yeah. Uh also there were some followup um continuing followup signage clear signage so that parents are coming from another district and they're not familiar with ours, it could be a little confusing getting around. So, that was a follow-up issue that was also being looked at. Um, they were also discussing um
052cafeteria when will that pay option be operational? And that's set up for November hopefully. Um, just a point of sale system. Yes. Yeah. Pay for it. Yeah. where you're pay schools. Yeah, pay schools. We're working on it, right? Yeah, parent can do that online. Okay. So, that's hope being looked. I mean, it's been being looked at, but it's hopefully it's going to be up and running in November. I didn't have my notes with me. That's why I'm on my phone. That's okay. Um, some other things already have been addressed, uh, such as additional parking, visitor spots here at Westbrook. Um, and then there were additional questions regarding updates on the roofing and the auditorium. Um, again, there were some schools that were looking at the possibility of implementing water filtration systems in the elementary school
053buildings because I think it was done um at one of the high schools. Was it the high school or me? High school. But that's an additional expense. That's not something that can just, you know, it's about $2,000 for each building each each each building each each b yeah the bottle filling station between the u materials and the um the the labor it's about $2,000 for each one. Is that something that if we do our guys would do it's about $2,000 for each one. Yeah. Okay. Mhm. You know that's been brought up and there was fundraising for the ones that have already been put in place at McPin in the high school. Right. Okay. I guess further discussion with the parent organizations will take place place with regards to whether or not they're going to fund
054raise for those. I'm not sure if it was all the elementary schools, but um and then they discussed um the turfield and you know security measures to prevent vandalism. There really have not been thankfully a lot of um problems in that area. Just the fishes I think that was it. A quick question. When it comes to the cafeteria card system, if they slide their card through, it's either not working or they don't have the money on the card that they assume they thought they had. How do you handle that? It's the IOU type thing or they're allowed lunch up to a certain point and then they the parents are contacted to reimburse the um school or to put money on the account. Um there is a grace period where you wouldn't go home if you
055just deny anyone from having bread. No, there's a board policy. And uh P County School Boards Association, we have a new field service rep from New Jersey school boards, uh Kathy Kalúa. We met her at one of the um workshops a couple months ago at um the Brandstone. Uh she'll be at the workshop. She provides services to all boards of education in the safe sess Sussex and Warren. Yeah, we met that was the technology meeting they had. Yes. At the Brandstone. Well, she was introduced, right? Yes. She'll be at the workshop. So, it's good that we have somebody. Yeah. No, it is. She seems like a real nice uh person as well. Um lot of experience. So, that's good. Yeah. I have nothing to report under school board New Jersey school boards except at our
056convention starts tomorrow then Atlantic City. Um I know Terry's going. Glenn you're going I'm I'm going Wednesday only. My schedule just doesn't allow me to I wanted to make a vacation out of it but doesn't work. Not this year. Um Mr. Drew legislative um and technology oversight while let me go with technology first. Okay. We continue to make infrastructure improvements and I think doing a great job on that. We got tremendous bandwidth now that we can handle pretty much anything that we can brought up uh ways of uh expanding the access of technology to students in general. Um there are different initiatives that we could employ and we also discussed uh the potential for different interactive technologies, smartboards and stuff um deployed at grade levels starting kindergarten up. So we did have a meeting of
057the technology committee. We discussed potential implementation in the New Jersey woman. Mr. Al did an outstanding presentation regarding that with some options for us and I think you know it's not something we can do this year but certainly Marilyn I think we need further discussion on the onetoone initiative. Yeah. Oh, no. We're going to have a lot more. Have that. We had a meeting in I think it was about a month ago, 3 weeks maybe. The tech offic. We haven't come to any decision. We're still discussing it. Um there could be I guess another report out or maybe we should have another meeting first. We uh we reached out we're generating a survey community to you know get some community on on the survey on the one initiative. So we're still in the planning stages.
058Nothing's been decided yet. Um really in the beginning of the planning stages to be honest with you. just so a lot more details be fleshed out and we really need another committee meeting on our calendar first to accomplish that. So yeah, we we should send another email out to get committee together as soon as possible in November. Yeah, because it took a very long time to try to get that meeting. Yeah, for various reasons. But yeah, we should start looking at dates. And I think I think we're quite a few committee meetings away before we have anything solid. I mean, we need to But I don't want to see No, I I Oh, absolutely. I agree. I agree. Because it could have implications for the budget that Yeah. we're going to do in several months.
059So, we need to be on the right lock step, right? if there implications for that. Well, I think one of the things that um you need to recognize is that some there is money available in this year's budget because that was the way we were going. So, the discussion So, we need to have this meeting. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um I did not We'll get an email out to gauge dates and times and availability as soon as we can. Thank you. I did not spend any time on the legislative issues, although I think there are quite a few things going on. Do you have any feeling for that, Barbara? Uh, you really have your ear to the track. So, I I can tell you that there's a lot of discussion right now as to whether or
060not they are going to change the funding formula for state aid for February. and they're requesting that um if that's going to be a possibility that they let us know sooner than later because uh we could stand to lose a significant amount of uh state aid if they decide to change the formula. Um there's been a lot of um concern by school districts that have been growing in enrollment that they have been receiving flat funding and um so so it needs to be weighted differently, but we don't know whether or not they're going to do anything about it. Hopefully, we'll know in the next month or so and not wait until the governor gets up in February to give his budget address. Um, other than that, there's been a it's been pretty quiet. That seems
061to be the biggest topic right now, the the funding formula. Somebody was going to the New Jersey school boards in Atlantic City should go to a legislative session and see where they seem to be leaning an election year. I don't see them doing much right now being an election. They're probably not going to get anything through Christy, but you just it is impossible to tell what they're going to do in ter that's that has everyone on the seat, the edge of their seat, because there's a lot of there's millions of dollars at stake. It's huge. Millions of dollars. Which is why that seems like an Apple card they really don't want to upset. Who knows when he's going to run for governor? I don't think he really wants to make everybody in New Jersey mad.
062Yeah, I don't I don't see it happening. If they do change the formula, I foresee it being by the courts because there's a lot of litigation come out of that. It could be catastrophic for a lot of districts claim that, you know, the old decisions aren't being things like that. So, it's not going to be need to change. Yeah, there'll be a reinterpretation of the adventure, right? It'll be the status quo for a year or so. All right. Didn't mean to get into a long discussion about that. That's important. Okay. Oh, yeah. Mrs. O'Brien, West Milford Education Foundation. On a happier note, ladies and gentlemen, two more days and the applications, the grant applications um opportunity will be closed. Um, so they're due the 26th. We have received plenty, plenty, plenty. I will be staying
063up late nights with a cup of tea in my hand, reading through all these wonderful applications. I am excited. We are all excited. We will be announcing winners. I don't know about announcing winners, but the winners will be I just wiped out my notes. That's lovely. Um, November 18th. Um, we're working on our spring fundraiser and other fundraisers going on. I don't have dollars and cents about how well we did. that's coming up in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, um with my new job, I haven't been able to make meetings. I'm hoping to redirect my life and get to a meeting and then um I have more to announce. But it's all good stuff. I cannot wait to to um tell you all the wonderful things we'll be doing for West Milford Township Education. My my
064final conclusion on that. Thank you, Debbie. Go ahead, Marilyn. Were you gonna make that clarification or was Debbie gonna make that clarification? Oh. Oh, yeah. Do you want to do that? Yeah, I do. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for reminding me. I knew there was something. Um, Yeah, I forgot about that. What a what a I'd like to make a clarification to the public. Um there was a letter written to the editor a few weeks ago pertaining to our event taking place on a Sunday morning. Um the first line of it stated that it was the West Milford Board of Education that was the uh impetus of this event. Um the couple correlations between the West Milford Education and the West Milford Education Foundation is the fact that we both are serving the educational community.
065I am the liaison to both organizations and that um I do the presentation on a monthly basis for the ED Foundation. I'm also on the ed foundation. Other than that, that whole color run was nothing had nothing to do with the West Milford Board of Education. It was strictly the Ed Foundation. Um and and I just want to make a clarification to the public of the difference. Thank you, Debbie. And thank you, Marilyn, as well. Um I have nothing as far as a township board of ed uh joint committee. We're going to try to set something up within the next couple of weeks so that we have one before our next um school board um meeting in in November. And do we have Barbara a list of our meetings for next year made up? We're
066working on it. Working on it. I've discussed them with Dr. Anamone. So, we'll put them together and they'll probably be shared in November with the committees. Okay? Because what I'd like to do is take that and say to the board, to the town council, here's here's our meeting dates, set up some joint committee council meetings, not using these dates, and maybe we can get it set for a reorg meeting. All right. Um, old business. Any anybody like to bring up anything under old business? Seeing none like to close old business. Thank you, Debbie and Marilyn. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. New business. Anything under new business? She Mr. Drew, are we doing that survey? The survey that you are we doing that you talking about the parent survey? We're doing that. We shared
067it I believe last ED committee meeting uh paper form of it. We're looking at creating a Google form so we could administer it digitally uh probably within this within 2016 meaning between now and the end of the calendar year but most likely in November. Yeah, we're going to um it'll be out during um teacher conferences. We had a great turnout last year when we have everyone in the buildings. We'll have it out during um visit is it's turned into a Google form. So when um parents come into the building for parent visitation day or for parent teacher conferences, we'll have tables set up with all the devices ready to go so people can just log in and go. Uh this year different than last year, it is um set up so it can be tracked
068on a district level as well as each individual school. Uh last year we were we were able to delineate between the high school and the um elementary school in terms of um in terms of staff. Our parent survey was also was able to be delineated between um secondary and elementary. This year we're able to do it specific to each elementary school, middle school and high school and then also the consensus as a whole. So we can take a look at at all that all that feedback. Um Dr. Edone shared that um the questions with with the ed committee and then that'll be up to the month of November at those various parent events. Administered anonymously. Anonymously. Yeah. Yeah. True truly and honestly there's no way no way to track it through through the Google form.
069There's another survey if you don't mind me jumping in on your survey question. Uh Mr. El mentioned the um onetoone um survey. The edtech committee met uh last week and we developed a survey to poll community you know parents, staff, students about um some of their um feelings about technology and that sort of thing. So we get a true um try to get a true picture of where the community feels we're at and where the community feels we need to go. And hopefully that'll help inform the board's decision and uh where we need to go with with onetoone. Okay. Um it really should have been brought up under uh old business, but um Barbara, how did we make out with our punch list for the roofs? Um pretty good actually. Yeah. Um the reason why
070MacB roof is not completed is they uh ran out of the metal the Yeah. So um that was supposed to that was being shipped last Friday and it should be done sometime this week. Okay. Um the um there were a few minor things. I haven't gotten a copy of the punch list yet, but um the engineer that did come in to do it was really pleased. I believe TMCO is coming in this week to do their punch list separate from the architects. Okay. Because they're the ones that have to warranty the roofs. Mhm. And um so I think we're in pretty good shape. I I asked to check if there was any uh concerns, water leakage over the weekend with the rain that you had and the wind and I did not get anything back.
071So, that's a good sign. That's good. Okay. Good. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Anything else under new business, Mrs. O'Brien? All right. Um I don't know if this was brought up last week. Please stop me since I wasn't here. Um I went to the first CPAC meeting on Wednesday, October 5th. Um, we had a I thought a nice turnout of parents and administrators and uh we planned out the year and there's going to be events taking place at Westbrook and at Maple Road School and um I think the uh special ed community should know and get involved with this group and and that there are going to be activity like workshops and kind of like um exchange of information, so to speak. Open forum. Okay. And an open forum as well. And um I
072as a a special ed parent, I wish they had this back in the day when my kids were in school, but I'm very glad to see that it's here and I would like to see more parents get involved with that. Thanks for coming. My pleasure. I'll be there. Yeah. One extra comment. uh you know you mentioned about the punch list of the groups uh I didn't I wasn't here in September to you know comments forward but I you know many thanks Barbara and Alex this past summer was unbelievable uh with two roofs being replaced generators being installed steps being redone uh it just compounded a extra effort from everyone the administration to do all this effort um in along with you know preparing our kids ready for school in September. So many thanks. Thank you.
073Agreed. I'm going to deflect the thanks to Barbara. She did practically everything over the summer. We did 270,000 square feet of roof. Yeah, it was a huge undertaking and thank you Barbara. I would echo your comments. You're welcome. My pleasure. I don't have to do it for another 25 years. And you'll be retired then at that point, right? That I can I can guarantee that one. I can guarantee 25. Uhhuh. Uh, anything else under new business? Okay. See none like to close new business? Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay, we're going to move on to petitions and requests. Petitioners who 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
074minutes per petitioner will be allowed until the 30-inut 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 and requests. Would anybody like to speak? Seeing Seeing none, like to close petitions and requests. Thank you, Debbie. I'll second. Thank you, Terry. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Uh Glenn, it is 8:48 p.m. Yep. At 8:48 p.m. I'd like to move to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel, student matters, negotiations, and matters of attorney client privilege. Second. Thank you, Debbie. Um all in favor I any opposed. Okay we will yeah action will be taken. We have uh HIV and a couple of couple of incidental votes. So see you don't have to
075make a motion to extend the meeting 10:30. executive session. We have a few items to vote on. I'll start with you, Mrs. Dwire. Okay. I'd like to um move item resolution number seven under education approving the HIV substantiated report 2017 and uh M1. Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call, please. Barbara. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. Mr. Robbins? Yes. Mr. Drew? Yes. Mrs. Dwire? Yes. Mrs. O'Brien? Yes. Mr. Yuber? I missed part of the explanation. So, I'll abstain. Mr. Foody? Yes. Uh, where are we going to? Personel number 12. Was that? Yes. Like to make a motion to move item number 12 under personnel student affairs. Second. Okay. Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call, please. Mr. Drew? Yes. Mrs. Dwire? Yes. Mr. Foody? Yes. Mr. Yuber? No. Miss O'Brien? Yes. Mr. Robbins. Yes. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. That
076concludes personal student forms. Thank you. Mr. Drew, would you be so kind as to move item number 11 under budget and finance, please? To move item number 11. Second. Okay. Um, page 14. Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call, please. Mr. Drew, yes. Mrs. Dwire, yes. Mr. Foody, yes. Mr. Yuber, yes. Miss O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Robbins? Yes. Mrs. Schultz? Yes. Okay. I have one resolution to add. Okay. Uh this would be number 21 under personnel and student affairs. Uh resolved upon the recommendation that superintendent the West Milford Board of Education accepts the resignation of Robin Wallace, elementary school teacher of Paradise Null, effective January 31st, 2017. And be it further resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education approves a settlement agreement and release with Miss Wallace, which the board
077president is authorized to sign on behalf of the board. And be it finally resolved that Miss Wallace shall hereby continue on a paid leave of absence with benefits through December 31st, 2016. and thereafter be placed on an unpaid leave of absence with benefits from January 1st, 2017 through January 31st, 2017 pursuant to the terms set forth therein. Second. Oh, is there supposed to be second? Well, you needed to make a motion. You need to make a motion. Oh, I have to motion it first. I'm sorry. I It's even personnel. You can't move. Should I keep them holding for a while? I'd like to make a motion to uh approve the resolution. Move a resol resolution number 21 that was just read. Second. Thank you. Any discussion? I have a question. Because that wasn't on any
078uh agenda with the sunshine. No, because the agenda is to the extent known at the time it's printed and as I said in executive session, there were some um extenduating circumstances that did not get this known until ASAP. Just check. Yep. Okay. Roll call, please. Barber. Mr. Drew. Yeah. Mrs. Dwer, yes. Mr. Foody, yes. Mr. Yuber, yes. Miss O'Brien, yes. Mr. Robbins, yes. Mrs. Schulz, yes. Now, that really concludes personnel student affairs for tonight. Well, that is the um end of our meeting. I need a motion to Thank you, Steve. Yes. Um, is that a record? Is all in favor? I. Any opposed? All right, that's uh then that's not a record. It's uh 9:27 meeting is officially a journ. Thank you everyone. You picked a good meeting to come. If you're good if you're
079are a good luck charm, you have to be at every meeting. You have no choice in the matter. Yeah.