001I would I'd like to have a moment of silence for Lydia Lava who lost her 15month-old child. Flag salute, please. I pledge allegiance 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, AIM, West Milford, the messenger, West Milford town hall, county superintendent's office, the board attorney, and cable vision of Warwick and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township library, and all district schools. Roll call, please. Mrs. Francisco, Mr. Bailey, Mr.
002De here. Mr. Drew, here. Mrs. Dwire here. Mr. Ky, present. Mr. Yuber here. Mrs. O'Brien. Mr. Robbins here. Mrs. Schulz here. Um, our executive session session resolution um that the board go into executive session at 9:00 p.m. for approximately 60 minutes for the purpose of conducting a student hearing and discussing the superintendent search, personnel, negotiations, and matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer applicable. Can I have a second, please? Thank you. Second, Mr. Rashika, the superintendent report. Oh, all in favor? Sorry. Just looking at that. Any opposed? Don't think so. All right, Mr. Rashik, another superintendent's report. So, what I'd like to do this evening is um give you the HIP report. Uh this is the midyear
003report. So, go back from July through the end of December. Uh which gets submitted to the state was actually submitted on the 29th of January, maybe even the 28th. Um the total amount, and then I'll give a breakdown, but the total amount of HIPP investigations during that time period was eight. Uh all eight were completed within a 10-day time frame. Uh affirmed or as we call them substantiated HID reports by the board were two and the total amount of training hours across the district for HIV for all the buildings was 78 hours combined. uh program hours. That means anything from our assembly programs for a week of respect, violence, and vandalism awareness week and all the other programs that we bring about uh to students, parents, and the community was a total of 515.75 hours.
004So almost 516 hours of programming that was brought. Um I want to give you a breakdown from each tool. This way you have a better understanding of what's happening. Actual was zero. Nothing reported. Maple Road was also zero. Marshall Hill had one reported but unsubstantiated. Paradise Null, one reported, unsubstantiated. Upper Greenwood Lake School was zero. Westbrook school was also zero. Makipin School had two during that time period, both unsubstantiated. And the high school had four. Two were substantiated, two unsubstantiated. So that's what's on the report. Uh moving forward. Um we we just have these two during this time period. Of course uh you know we have to get through the next half of the year. Um and this is you know for the past two years. Now this has been required uh twice a year.
005It used to be the annual report. Now we do a bianual report. I gave you all the information on the EDVRS component uh at the last meeting and I promised that you have the hit piece for today. So that's where we are with that. Um and and on the same topic, I was very happy that uh last week we had Melissa Stra was here who did the assembly programs for all the schools uh except Westbrook because she did a program at Westbrook, I believe back in October, so there wasn't any sense in doing that. But we had did have that presentation and then there was a parent uh presentation on a week night last week as well. Uh very informative and was uh good to have her here. So, we want to keep moving in
006that direction, keep everybody informed. Uh, better communication, that's one of the goals that we're working on. So, that's good news. Um, now, not such good news, I have to share with you is the fact that uh earlier today I received notice from one of uh one of our well, I wouldn't say one of my favorite principles. I can say that one of my favorite principles across the road from where I sit over at Makipin, Miss Mary Reinhold handed me the dreadful letter of retirement. So, we are going to miss Miss Reinhold and sincerely wish you all the best with you and your husband and your daughter. Uh she wrote a very nice letter to her staff today. So, um explaining her plans and how difficult it was. And you know what? Mackin's in a very
007good place. Don't accept it. That's up to you guys. I didn't I shouldn't bring the letter. I was going to hold it till I be honest. I was going to do it next week, but since uh Miss Reinhold sent out the an email to her entire staff, I said this is no longer a secret. So, with that being said, we certainly want to miss uh Mary all the best. Okay. Congratulations. Congratulations, Mary. Thank you. Endure and thank you for your hard work. We'll see you again. Um, the other thing I brought in for everyone's there was some discussion in the past on the 3D strategic plan which uh was completed I guess back in 2014. Uh, I like using a strategic plan. I believe the board does too, but I don't think any of us
008really have enough time to sit down and look at this. So, I make copies for everyone. Some of you might have them already. What I'm going to ask you to do over the next week or so, I know there's plenty of things going on and we're looking at lots of things. Uh, but if you could just look at the first two goals out of the four and what the plans are and what I'd like you to focus in on so we could talk about it perhaps at the next meeting is just the look at the plans that were set for those goals and let's kind of measure where we are uh since this has been in place and where we are now, what things we've accomplished because you'll be surprised. There are a number of
009spots there, a number of areas where you can actually check off and these are things we've either been involved in or currently working on. So, I think it's good. But I I would start off with the first two goals. Certainly, you want to look at all four. That's that's your prerogative. But, uh, I just wanted to share this. So, thank you. If you have a chance to in a week, just look for it. That's all I think I have for right now. Tony, the the dates on the HIB, when did that reporting period, when did that end? That that ended December 31st and then go into the state on the has to be into the state by January 29th. Okay. We reported on. Was that a full year? No. 9:15 to December 31st. Yeah. Okay.
010Special reports and correspondence. Mr. Francisco, uh, just for your um, please note that the minutes from the January meetings um, regular and special meetings will be available for your review and consideration for next week. legal report. Mr. Roselli, I have nothing to discuss in public. Okay. Do you have anything to discuss? I think uh we do. Okay. All right. Um president's report. I have, as I think as all B board members have, uh, received in their packet, a relay for life of the Highlands kickoff party, Thursday, March 3rd, 2016 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Grasshopper Irish Pub on Route 23. Um, what can we expect to hear there? Learn about the Relay for Life of the Highlands. Enjoy complimentary appetizers, refreshment, and live music. And then for any more information, there's relay.h highlandsj atgmail
011or relayforlife.com highlands New Jersey. Um hope to see some board members there. Um, and I I'm I'm hoping that we can have another softball game this year where we kick the town council's butt. I'll be available. I'll be available this year. Oh, I hit a bat. What? What's that? I could hit a bat. Hit a ball with a bat. Um, I'm I'm glad that uh Tony handed out our strategic plan. Um I I was going to ask people this evening to take a look at it. Um we instituted the strategic plan in October 2014. We haven't had any review and it's it's important that we review it. um with all the other things going on, this hasn't been um high on my radar, but um we we need to as a board start reviewing this,
012looking at any progress we made, make any changes that need to be made in order to help us get where we need to be. Um the superintendent search has taken a little bit uh just a little bit of our time. Um, so I I would hope that the the board can start looking at this and and we can start working on that because it's very important. We haven't had uh any discussion on it, which frankly is a shame. Um, with that said, um, Mr. De wanted to have a few words. Yeah, I just wanted to start off real quick. Um, congratulations, Mr. Reinhold. um as the CEO of Macan Middle School, you did a stellular job and you're going to be missed. So, thank you very much. Um what I did want to mention to
013the public is I want to let you guys know how hard everybody on this board is working on the superintendent search. It's one of the toughest jobs and only opportunity the nine board members get to hire a district a senior district staff leader. Um, I also wanted to say that the city of trustees that compromise is not a dirty word. It doesn't mean we're settling for anything. Um, everyone approaches challenges in a different way, but I think we're all mindful of making the district, the kids in this district, uh, the best it can be. Um, I'm hoping, we're looking forward from here. I'm hoping that we can uh set aside any any personal concerns. I know that I'm guilty of those myself because I'm very passionate about what I do here. So, that tends to
014come out of people when you're when you're excited and concerned about making something better. Everybody has a little bit of type AM on this uh board here. So, hopefully tonight our mission or one of our missions in executive session is to focus on getting a permanent superintendent in place for this district. So, I hope we can all work together tonight, discuss things, hash out things, and and get some and get it done, for lack of better words. Um, the last thing I wanted to mention, I spoke to Barbara earlier in the week about uh Rodney had brought up a couple board members, a couple board meetings ago, having a top 10 list. And I did mention it to Barbara. We spoke about it getting a list together for high dollar items, capital items. Um, I
015haven't said a number. We haven't really hashed out the details of that, but it would be nice to have for the board members, for the public, um, you know, forwardlooking in view. These are things that may come up. They're not in, they may not be in the budget, but these are things we're considering work being done on or being done. Um, tonight I just, this wasn't part of my thing. I went to use the bathroom and we have like three three labs that are out and there's 10 in there, so that's about 30%. Um, I know that they need to be whatever it's unclogged or fixed or whatever, but these are all little things that need to be talked about and cleaned up and I know it's not the board's job to do that, but
016the board is conscious about how maintenance is performed and how our schools are, uh, how the buildings are. So, um, thank you very much. Thank you, Jamie. Uh, petitions and request. Petitioners have requested to speak prior to the meeting. We'll be first with five minutes for each petitioner. for a period of 30 minutes. 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 for special action 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, were there anybody signed up to speak? No. Is there would anybody like to
017speak? Okay. See to close. Thank you. Second. Thank you, Glenn. Um, all in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. I need a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. I move to adopt. Second. Second. Okay. Thank you, Marilyn. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Um, personnel, student affairs. Since Miss O Mrs. So Brian is not here. Um, want to carry that forward? I was actually going to ask Mrs. Schultz if she'd carry that forward. Jamie, if that's she's on the committee. Marilyn. Okay. Move items one through 14 under personnel. Second. Okay. Any discussion? I would I would like Okay, Glenn, I have a question. Uh, number four. Is that an aid for a problem bus? I'm sorry. What was that? Is that Is that an number four? Is an aid for Is that an aid
018for a bus that has an issue for a special education students? Okay. Um to the board members, I'd like to point out uh item number two, we're approving the appointment of uh Dr. Jonathan Heznney, supervisor of special services. Um so anybody who didn't notice that, I wanted them to be aware of that. Um, any other discussion? Okay, roll call vote, please. One. Yeah, I have a question about number 11. This is substitute building aid. Um, based on the salary you have down here, it looks like a part-time job, but it has benefits. Uh, because it's in combination with a current part-time position she currently has. So, this is added on. Uh if you look so that brings her up over the 30 hours because it's just it's packing 9 10 and 11 are connected. So
019one's going out one's moving up and now we need another spot filled. So that's what happened. And last question number seven. Uh that individual um was he previously here and let go? It it was here. Uh that was on not let go necessarily, but wasn't renewed because we were doing budget cuts, but the position became available. So then he did come back uh into the position listed in number six. Uh but now he's moving into the history department once again uh to fill a position there. So he wasn't he he didn't leave for call previously. Okay. Marilyn under number six the difference was from BA1 to BA2 right and and that's basically because he was here last year full-time uh and we were waiting for the negotiations to finish. So we just held everybody. So
020that's what made that happen. Thank you. Any other questions by members of the board? Seeing none, roll call vote, please. Mr. Robbins, yes. Mr. Drew, yes. Mrs. Dwire, yes. Mrs. Schulz, yes. Mr. Yuber, yes. Mr. De, yes. Mr. Foody, yes. Motion carries. Budget and finance. This time it says Mr. Drew. I would like to move items one to four. Second, discussion. Seeing none. Oh, wait. I do. Okay. Okay. Item number four. Is that a sick day thing? No, it's it's a litigation matter. Okay. Thank you. When um for what it's worth, in the future before these come up on an agenda, I'd like to understand what it is in executive session before we vote on it. So, I'd like to never mind. Go ahead. No, go ahead. Go ahead. No, I'll just I'm going to
021abstain from this when the vote comes. Sorry. Is that number four or number four? I believe it was last year. We weren't here, but I I believe that um we did speak about that real quick. Wasn't the agreement on the board member page? I believe it was. I think I but I think we No, it was before it was last year, Glenn, and but we but we did speak about it at our last meeting that we were settling it and when we were in executive session. So, okay. It was like a been there, done that kind of thing. It was fast. I do believe that we put the settlement agreement for your Yeah. But I'll make sure in the in the future have any Well, okay. Any any other any other discussion? Okay. Seeing none,
022roll call vote, please. Mr. Mr. Drew. Yes. Mr. De. Yes. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. Mr. Robbins. Yes. Mr. Huber. Yes. Mrs. Dwyer. Yes. Mr. Py. Yes. Okay. Now we're on to workshop discussion. Um, Miss Dwire, that would be you. And if you have any report for the the board. I do. I have a a report plus um what I have to move forward. Well, these are these are for workshop discussion. These items there nothing to vote on. Okay. But all right. Can I get my report first then? Yeah. Okay. Well, we met with the education the education committee met on the 10th of February. We were very excited about Mr. Matt Los's initiative to apply for a blue ribbon district for our school district. Very excited. Uh Mr. Novak informed the committee that a group has
023been formed in the district that is studying the need for grade change. They'll be addressing the possibility of raising the failing grade to 65. Currently, our district offers 22 AP courses. However, not all the courses run every year. For the 2016 2017 school year, 20 courses are being offered. The education committee would like would ask that the possibility of adding more AP courses be explored. There are currently 1,146 students enrolled in the high school and 537 students at Mccapin. Approximately 20% of the students in the high school are enrolled in AP classes. The education committee would like our administration to investigate ways for more students to take these classes. The same goes for the 28% of students taking honors classes at the high school. Honors and AP grade weights are one point higher than the
024B and C level courses. Makipin does offer some honors courses and a preAP 7th grade history course. The committee would like to see a muchneeded initiative at the middle school level in science and math. Despite the steam lab, there's a need to increase other science classes as the history and English courses at Makipin have moved forward. 19% of the students in the eighth grade are taking honors classes. Again, the education committee would like the administration to investigate ways of encouraging more of our kids to take these classes. Mr. Novak stated that clusters have no impacts on grades, but we would like to know the purpose of the clusters, but perhaps that's a conversation for another time. The science supervisor came before the committee to request a B-level chemistry class. There will be no lab according
025to him. However, the supervisor's paper proposal states hands-on practical lab experience. Um, according to Mr. Novak. There's a need for the class because of the new generation science standards. According to the science supervisor, there will be no additional cost for this class. Some discussion has begun regarding different types of scheduling at the middle and high school. The need for vocational education was introduced. There's a need, we feel there's a need to address the needs of all our students. So, the committee would like to approach certified teachers and certified administrators to explore ways that our district can support vocational studies other than the limited courses currently being offered. And that's it for our meeting. Now, discussion. Um, the following agenda items are being presented for anticipated action at the regular meeting of February 23rd, 2016. Um,
026shall I read the the music thing? You don't have to read the Okay. All right. Well, we have um March is um music in our schools month. Uh we also have um art education. Um and we also have the play Young Frankenstein. next weekend. I am so excited. You have no idea how hard these kids work, how wonderful the performances are, and um they just deserve a little bit more than a pat on the back. They're really, really good. And uh what else do we have? We have art education. Any discussion on that? Any discussion on girls track and field? Any discussion on boys track and field? Okay. special education. Yes, if you don't mind. Go ahead. Um, with regard to music in our schools of order, we need a first and a second in
027order to discuss workshop items. No, no, this is just this is for discussion right here. Thank you. I think he needed one. [Laughter] Thank you. uh with regard to both music in our schools and art. Um we know for a fact that the music education, the art education we offer in in West Milford improves um brain development u students minds, opens their horizons uh for the future. And um I think one of the things we ought to recognize is that West Milford schools do an outstanding job in this area that we really all should be proud of this. Um and and just thank you to the to the teaching staff and the people who put this together. It's a great area to do well in and I'm I'm proud to be associated with the schools
028of what we do in these in these areas. And just so you know, there will be I'm sorry, there will be a uh performance of excerpts from the students in the musical here at our board meeting next Tuesday. Um Okay. Is there any other discussion on any of the items? Well, I just want to point out to the board that on item number three, the addition of Cilantro restaurant was because of Mr. Rashika. He's going to be taking the board there. Oh, so let me get my calendar up. Look at Steve. Huh? Not putting you on the spot too much. We attend a concert at Lincoln Center. Okay, that's okay. I love Lincoln. What What field trip is that for? Uh it's a Spanish 2 class trip. They're going to the Met. Uh and generally
029why this was put on here is that it's an annual trip. Uh there is a restaurant that they typically go to that has changed hands. So they're just going they add this one to the list. That's it. Okay. Uh Mr. Drew, budget and finance discussions. Uh do I really need to discuss all these? the one that is is uh the items two and three we're going to complete work to make sure that we can use we have a usable area for a STEM lab and uh middle school that I think is uh going to be very advantageous for the school district. Um the uh uh we've got to do fix the elevator to be um in compliance and help our disabled students. Um, we're getting an absolutely great deal on the uh switch programming uh
030from Bergen County Technical Schools to move forward with wiring up all of our schools for wireless and uh the security that needs to go along with that. That could easily cost 10 times that amount. Um, so and I want to say thank you to B bars for arranging that. Glenn, I just have a question on number five or one question. Uh what's the uh consulting for that's for the wireless services that is relate to that? Okay. Yep. There's there's programming that has to be done on the um switches to meet our requirements and uh the redundancy and that kind of programming I can just tell you is those people are really highly paid. So we're getting people very knowledgeable, competent at this and fantastic rate. Well, it said consulting so I wasn't sure. So program
031hands-on consulting and and teaching if I remember correct horse, right? Yeah. So teaching our staff how to our tech our technology people how to uh utilize. Frankly, the great deal on that is is because of his knowledge and his connections that you know I mean you just absolutely be commended to we got to do it either way. That's excellent. I just want one more thing and and I don't know if this is the appropriate time to bring it up so if it's not say so. Um, we have in here we're um soliciting requests for proposals on food service management companies. Uh, I'd also like to inquire about soliciting proposals for uh legal litigation services. I think we're supposed to do that periodically anyway. Um, and we, as far as I know, we haven't done that.
032It is it is something that New Jersey school boards says all boards should do every year instead of just willy-nilly giving giving contract. Um I I would like though to have a brief discussion on that uh in executive session. So when we when we go to executive we'll briefly talk about that. Mr. Whatever. I just wanted to add we do like Joe. So is he changing? Is he changing? He's not litigation. Rodney. Yes, sir. Yes. On item number four, the elevator. Uh just to get up with this this issue of the elevator. Um what is the I have a few questions. What is the status of the elevator today? Is it actually working? Yes. Um the work that it is working. Um we we were having problems with the relays. Um what it needs is
033some type of overhaul. We've received um proposals from Otis and Schindler along with Kenor. Kenor basically does our maintenance on our lifts and our elevators. Um and um so what Kenor uh has proposed to do and I could show you the proposals if you haven't seen them um is is to give us new um circuits, a new circuit board um without doing a lot of cosmetic changes that the other companies um gave us proposal for. Um if we um we're hoping that this is going to be effective. Um if it's if it's not, then we're going to need to get an engineer in. We're going to have to go out to bid to to to upgrade the entire car. Okay. So, is this a budgeted item? No, it is not a budgeted item. We've had
034many problems with it since September. Um it's been down a number of times. Um, not only is it used for students and staff, um, our maintenance, our custodians also use it to bring stuff upstairs to the second floor. So, it's it's an it's a valuable piece of equipment. It's something that's needed in the high school. And, um, for us to budget for something that we don't know is going to uh, have a problem. Um, you know, we've repaired it a number of times, but there's some more extensive repairs that need to be done. Okay. So, So, a new one is kind of like out of the question. Is that like four times as much or um the the two proposals that we received from Otis and Schindler just to upgrade the um operation and to
035do some cosmetic changes um were triple the price. Yeah. Okay. And that was really the reason why I brought it up the last meeting about the top 10 because this in my book is much higher than the woodpecker problem that we have, you know. So it is a pretty costly item on this agenda and I'm I would like to point out to the board and people in the public and anybody who's watching the elevator is over 40 years old. um with no major renovations done to it or repairs. It's been fix fixed the little things and they're just you know you can put band-aids on stuff for just so long before you really have to get into the replace the electronics and do that stuff. So since this dollar amount is quite quite steep Yep.
036does it really are we going to get anything out of it? Is it going to break and and add another I don't think that we know that. We don't know that we've been repairing it since September. We've had to re uh we've had relay issues. Um it's been out of service for weeks at a time. Um because it's old, it's difficult to get parts. Um sometimes they have to be um manufactured or um re-engineered. Thank you. Thank you. I I didn't want to say jewelry right there. May be a situation where we may consider thinking about replacing, but I think that this this is the next best thing. You're replacing the guts. You're replacing the mechanical aspect. You're not just replacing the car and and doing all that stuff, but we're replacing it to make
037it functional again. So hopefully this is going to be um what you know give some service for the next few years at least and see what happens. And maybe my last question here on is this the only school that has an elevator? No, West Brook also has one right here. I I would like to know Barbara, we discussed it in committee. Um any warrantee that they're going to give us? Um I could check into it. Okay. If you could do that before next Tuesday's meeting, that would be great. I'm sure they're going to give us something, but yeah. Okay, Mr. Drew, the other bids that we had, which were also not replacing it, but just more extensive repairs were, I believe, 80 something thousand,000. 80 and 170 doing the whole car is way more than
038that. This was unanticipated. There was no reason to expect to put this in the budget last year. Although anything that's this old, you sort of know you're going to have to do something sooner or later. It seems to me that, you know, we're going to re replace the basic systems in this, so it ought to last a significant period of time. But if it doesn't, then we probably have to replace the whole thing. However, I will uh point out that Otus elevator number one is still in service. So, sometimes you can replace the mechanics and electronics and the you know the car and the cables and those kinds of things still perfectly adequate. Do you think uh do you think that um what we're investing in this elevator that we can reuse if the with
039a new one or it would be a we would scrap the 37k? If if if you went and replaced a new one, we'd probably be in that quarter million dollar range to to redo it. That would be my guess. putting everything in new. This is just replacing the the mechanics of it. I I think that you know hopefully we can get another among the things that are being done in in this are the circuit board and I think you know enough about computers to know that the circuit board is somewhat specific to the unit. So if we put a new one in, we couldn't use you know the old circuit board. And part of the problem is that you know there isn't a junkyard for elevators out there where we can go get a circuit
040board to fix this that we made. I I will check into um if you know what they're giving us for a warranty. Um I can tell you though as Mr. Foody said the parts had to be made. The relays are not available. Everything is just too old. They don't manufacture it anymore. All right. Are we um any other questions on any of the budget finance items? Marilyn, you stepped in for Debbie. I'd ask you to step in again if you don't mind. Sure. There are 18 items under personnel student affairs. Are there any questions on any of these items? Number nine. Is that is the 57670 the annual salary or a prorated salary? That's prrated. It's prrated. It is actually prrated because we've used that word before without it really. Yeah. No, no. That that
041Oh, no. That's the total salary for the year on that. All right. So we we should really make a motion just to remove that. I know I should have done it under agenda, but well, you don't need to make a motion. This is for next week. So the good news is all it needs to say is that this at the annual salary, prorated or something like that. Yeah. So I know it needs to be re rewarded. Well, it was it's it's actually correct in every other one in in here. You didn't have it anywhere else. Just this one was I think that that was also because this is the continuation of that extension of the motion. So I think they may have went back to that Yeah. It's just it's just a draw throwback I
042have a question on on number 11. Are these individuals certified? Have they had training? And if so, what is their training? The training is the standard training that's part of the program under HIPP. You have training for uh the specialist and for the coordinator. So they they are part of that. Um what we're trying to do is is build a better base of people that are available to investigate. So we have multiple u things going on at the same time. We don't have to push things off to the side. It's as I mentioned before, the goal is to try to have everything done within 10 days. uh and at times you know when you're dealing with multiple hip cases it becomes impossible based on the amount of uh interviews you have to uh follow through
043with. So um these are the two for now. I think we're also um not listed here but I believe that we're also looking into including uh two other investigators to work at the Highlander Academy as well. So and again these are non these are nonpaid positions. These are people that are willing to take on this role. So Oh, wow. Wow. Okay. Thank you. On on on number 11, um that's for the 2015 16 school year. Um online, we still have are only identifying the 20145 specialist. So that list might have changed. Yeah, because I brought that up. Okay. So if we can if we can look at that Tony and and have it corrected. Okay. Uh any other discussion on any of the items in personnel? No. Thank you, Mrs. Schultz. Old business. Anything in
044old business? Maryland. Mrs. Francisco, did we did you ever receive anything in writing regarding the polling at No. Uh the clerk said that she would try to get something to me this this week. Um speaking of which, um well that I think that would be under new business, wouldn't it? While we discussed it, you could I I think it's time it's almost time to do the school calendar for next year. And um because I'm retired and sometimes very bored, I sat down and um went through a calendar year knowing that we do have 184 days for our kids and 187 for our faculty. Is that correct? 1873 I think 183 for our kids. Oh, so we let them out a day earlier. 181 for the students contact days are 181. Okay. Most of our staff
045have 183 with the professional development. Okay. Well, that's fine. So, I wor I worked out um I worked out a I I worked up a calendar that would fit that and I think I have a solution for that where we could close the school on election day. Um, so I would like according to the administrator supervisor's contract to have the education committee sit down with them and go through this possibility to try to solve this problem. And if if we can alleviate the concern of the PK parents, yeah, and it's not causing us anything, let's do it. No brainer. So if you gave the election day, so that would take one day off the calendar as far as and we do have you know uh we had a tough morning this morning obviously but uh
046we have seven days that we also build in and there shouldn't I I think I think five is plenty and I kind of find it unfair I have to tell you I have to tell you I kind of find it unfair for the whole district to be held hostage for project graduation. I think the district needs to move in another decor uh direction. Perhaps project prom where we need to get the kids back in school and and they don't come back, you know, they go down the shore for a week. My own kids did it. They're guilty. But um they did combat that somewhat last year. Yeah. Good. With a different way, but I'm just that's just my opinion as a you know, as a board member with this year. Uh I believe we only
047used one snow day as we're on the topic. Um, so there are six days out there. So the thought is, uh, I already had somebody contact the venue, uh, to see if we could possibly move that date. Uh, but and I believe it is possible, but part two is checking in with the vendors, uh, the DJ, uh, magician, whoever they have coming in, uh, to see if they're available for those dates as well, for that date wherever we were to change it to. Uh, so, you know, that that's something we need to look at. you know, we need to have some some flexibility, I think, is is the way to do it. We certainly want to make sure that the students have something and their parents that work very very hard at putting this together,
048but we should come up with a way to look at flexibility. But I think I think that calendar committee needs to meet with the board and with um a a parent and um administration and supervisors. They're all stakeholders. Um it actually is. Yeah. who's on there currently is we have representatives from the administrative office u secretaries uh there are supervisors principles uh I believe there's representation from the association as well okay to do with the contract the contract says that we should be involved so yeah okay all right I I I I want to thank you for being bored and and doing that just for the parents at at PK and and I hope you didn't jinx anything by saying that we're going to No, we're done. Bite your tongue. If it happens, I'm blaming
049you. But thank you. Thank you, uh, Terry. Um, anything else in old business? Anything? Nope. All right. Like to make a motion to close all business. Second. All in favor? I Uh, new business. Okay, Mr. De, new business. Uh, you and I have discussed um, and I just wanted to make the other board members aware. We've talked about this having a policy of wellness review by the New Jersey School Board Association. Um, it's something I think it's a free service. We pay for the uh, services of New Jersey School Board Assoc. So, this is something that we can have done for free and just um get this looked over by a second set of eyes, so to speak, and maybe we can streamline some of the policy, get rid of some of the old stuff,
050you know, shrink it down from the thousands of pages it is to less thousands of pages. Okay. So, are you making a motion then? No, you don't you don't really need a motion for that. We already approve school boards to do this, so it's a free service they offer. Um, do we do need to vote on it before I send that? No, I I think it's this is the discussion that we have tonight. So, if there's I don't can't imagine there would be, but if there was an opposition to it, it's the time to bring it out and you know, but otherwise, we don't need a motion to do it. It's just something that we should do. Okay. All right. I think it's a great idea. Okay. Mr. Drew, I would think that individual recommendations
051of NJSBA to change our policies, we might have to vote. Well, of course. Yes. Ask them to review it. It's a norainer. Depending on the revision, I'd like to see as well. I mean, you know, so it's the first step in streamlining, getting things straightened out. That's what it is. That's what comes down to which everybody's on board with. Yeah. While we're on this topic, I would just like to add it wasn't listed in here is the uh along with the committees last week, we also had a policy committee meeting. Um, and the two policies that we focused in on was one was for student grievances. uh if they want to appeal something uh and we looked at that and that is something we're putting together and certainly we will review that again and if
052it meets the requirements uh and the direction we want to move in uh then that will have to go to the two hearings here. Uh the other the other topic that we're looking at is the uh transgender um Mr. Ubers supplied one to me. I believe that's based out of New York State I think is pretty much that was the sample from New Jersey school boards. And so we have that one and I also have two other one coming from Strauss Esme and one from another school district. So comparing them they're pretty close. Uh I think uh method I think it's it's necessary. It's something that we need to address quickly. So we want to stay on top of those two policies and make sure we uh finish what we started. Thank you. Thank you.
053Okay. Thank you, Tony. Rodney, you have anything uh to say with regards to sending policy down for review. Any opposition to that? No. Okay, Mrs. Schultz. No. Okay. I will um I've already contacted New Jersey School Board's um Jean Hartness, I believe is her name. Yeah. Um and asked her what the procedure was and she told me. So, I I I'll send that email out tomorrow with a link to um to our website with the policy on it and she said it would be anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks that there's 10 reviews ahead of us. That's not bad. So, that's not bad considering the size of our policy books. Yeah. Yeah. So, um Okay. Any other discussion in in new business? Seeing none, I I need a motion to close. So move. Second. Thank
054you, Glenn. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay, we have uh petitions and requests. Uh petitioners who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first with five minutes free 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. All speakers are asked to give their full name, spell their last name, provide their address. Speakers may not use the name of names of students during petitions and requests. Would anybody like to speak? No. Okay. Need a motion to move to. Thank you, Marilyn. Thank you, Jamie. Uh, all in favor? Any opposed? Thank you. Um, Mr. D'vor, would you read the resolution for executive session and to and to discuss it add in there
055to discuss uh attorney representation? like to make a motion at 8:30 p.m. to go into executive session for the purpose of conducting a student hearing discussing superintendent search personnel negotiations and matters of attorney client privilege along with attorney representation. Have a second. Second. Thank you, Marilyn. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay, we will Okay, before we before we go into executive session, because of uh the recent announcement of Miss Reinhold's uh retirement, I would like to ask her, Miss Rhinol, where are you going on retirement? I'm going to Disney World. She's But she's leaving. She is leaving tomorrow with Yes. So, thank you to the board for approving that trip. Please enjoy. Thank you. Where's third? Thank you so much. We are not in that soon. We are adjourning executive session at 10:46. 10:46. Thank
056you, Marilyn. You're welcome. Um, okay. Mr. Deber, one one quick thing. I'm proud of this board, but we still went over 47 minutes into overtime here at 11 almost 11 o'clock at night. But we did good. Let's keep it on track. So maybe in the future we can actually hit the time goals of getting the public out, getting staff who have to drive hours or wherever they come from and us who have to get up early to go do our day jobs. Do we need a motion to extend till 11:00? If if you and Steve didn't talk so much 47 minutes and 30 seconds that is correct. 47 minutes and 30 seconds. Motion to call myself motion to adjurnn. Do I have a second? Second. Okay. All in favor? I I meeting at 10:47. But
057it was it was a very productive meeting. Yes. Okay. [Music]