001It is July 21st, 2015 Board of Education workshop regular meeting agenda. Please silence or turn off your cell phones and note the locations of the emergency exits, please. If we could just have a moment of silence for those staff members and families that may have lost a loved one recently. And if we could stand for the flag salute. 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, 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, the county superintendent's office, the board attorney,
002and cable vision of Warwick and posted in the administration building with a copy in the district's monitoring files. 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. Francisville. Mr. Babbot here. Mr. Bailey here. Mr. De Mr. Drew here. Mr. Foody present. Mrs. Key. Mrs. O'Brien here. Mr. Robbins. Mr. Schultz here. Thank you. I need a motion to approve executives resolution. like to make a motion to approve the following resolution. Resolved that the board go into executive session approximately 900 p.m. for the purpose of discussing negotiation student matters personnel HIPS, the Upper Greenwood Lakes School principal position and matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is
003no longer applicable. Need a second. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Mr. Rashika, superintendent report. Okay, so it's summertime and uh there are lots of things going on. Uh construction work. We have boilers uh being replaced in this building uh along with some other projects and um roofing work throughout the district. Um and at the high school, we have the science labs uh are making progress. They're all rooms are gutted out and uh things are taking place every day which is good. Um I want to also report that in this uh tonight's meeting you'll be looking at something to approve uh other work to be done over the course of the summer. So it's it's very very busy. Most of the buildings uh things are going on. And speaking of things going on uh
004as far as educationally uh we have the ESY program, the extended school year program uh taking place here at Westbrook and also at Maple Road School. And we have our with approximately I think there's between 50 and 60 students in that program. And then there's the literacy program which is also uh at about uh 70 students that are participating in that uh taking up I just found out about four classrooms. Okay. So, that's going on. And tomorrow night there is a uh parent literacy night. So, they can come in and and visit and get an opportunity to not only see their children at work and work with the children, but I understand there will be quite a spread before that even happens. So, that's good. Uh so, you're invited to that. Um as I understand
005it, there is a RSVP list of approximately 120 people at this time. So, that's excellent and we're happy to see that. Uh, as far as my work over the summer, it's trying to uh replace and interview teachers for various positions and uh looking at our administrative openings. And of course, I'm working on uh many of the issues that came about throughout the course of the year trying to resolve issues and make some changes. Uh always working on making West Milford a better place to be. So, uh that's where we are. Thank you. Special reports and correspondence. Mrs. Francisco. Um, yes. Um, I have minutes here for you to um review and consider. Um, I noticed that June 16th uh, 2015, the staff recognition special action and the executive session minutes from the June 16th um,
006meeting are not listed, but they are were also included. So, there will be four sets of minutes um, four sets of minutes for uh, consideration. Uh, also I'd like to call your attention to page um 26 of the June 23rd minutes. Uh, there's a correction from the ones that were sent to everyone. Um, that was for the motion to um reconsider the donation at the high school. Um, Mrs. O'Brien voted no and we had Lucid as voted yes. So, we did make that correction. Um, I don't have copies for everyone, but um, I'd like to have the minutes move with that correction. That was page 26. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. So, I need somebody to move the minutes. Like to make a motion to approve the following minutes. Workshop. Now would that
007be the workshop special action of June 16th? Oh staff recognition special June 16, 2015 executive session June 20 June 16, 2015 workshop special action meeting of June 23rd, 2015 and executive session of June 2013 as amended. Yeah. Need a second. Thank you, Kevin. All in favor? I. Any opposed? I abstain from the the minutes from June 16th since I was not there. Otherwise, yes to the rest. Thank you, Debbie. You're welcome. Okay. President's report. Uh I would just like to mention that um at the reorg meeting there was a team charter. We've had this team charter for quite a while. It kind of states the rules um of board members courtesy, respect, that type of thing. And uh we need to sign it. So I thought maybe next month when everyone is here, we could
008probably pass it around and have everybody sign it. Uh it was in our packet, so if you need another copy of it, let me know. I can You're looking at me. I'm not trying. No, I'm just looking trying to look at everybody. I don't remember. Um, it did come in our packet at the reorg meeting, but if you need a copy of it, let me know and you can read it. We did vote on it, but it wasn't signed. Yeah, I believe that in the in the board packet there was a copy of what the team charter was developed to be. Um, we have the correction that was or the change that was made during the um June um 23rd meeting. They corrected one of the um areas I think I believe they added M
009policy to it. Oh yeah, the January. So the the one that's going to be distributed next month for signature will include that that change. I received a letter in the mail. It's it's it's actually old news, but it's such good news. I'm just going to repeat it and read it to everybody. It came from character.org. It says, "On behalf of all of us at the character.org, I want to make sure the school board of West Milford Township Schools is aware of the high honor bestowed up bestowed on Makipin Middle School as they were named a 2015 National School of Character. It takes a lot of work to meet the high standards to receive this designation. Schools had to coordinate with all stakeholders to reflect on how well they met the standards of our 11 principles
010of effective character education. They also had to assemble an impressive online portfolio of evidence to showcase their achievements. In addition, schools received a school site visit or careful review from our trained evaluations. Only a small number received the national certification. This year, we honored 64 schools in three districts across the country. We notified the schools in May and hoped that they'd had some time to celebrate their well-earned achievement. We want to ensure that the school board was aware of this significant honor as well. You should be justly proud of Makipin Middle School. We hope that the schools are now making plans to attend the National Forum on Character Education in October where we will honor them more fully and present them with a display banner to hang at their school and an award certificate. Schools
011will also receive some copies of the Schools of Character magazine in which they will be featured. Then it goes on to talk about how um national schools and districts of character, they're encouraged to reach out to other schools to help them learn about the power of effective character education and um that schools of character should be in every community throughout the United States. And to help you appreciate the power of effective character education, I'm enclosing an infographic of the data from the 2015 schools. As well you know character and academics are not an eitheror proposition. Our kids need and deserve both. Our goal in education is to after all create both smart and good students and national schools of character like yours are our greatest success stories. Thank you and congratulations. And this came from
012Becky Sippos, president and CEO of character.org. That concludes my president's report. So, I need a motion to approve. Um, I'd like to make a motion to adopt the agenda as presented this evening. There are some changes though. Do we need a second and then change them or just as second hand came I'll just uh Okay. Yeah, I'll do it now. Um, thank you. If we look at um under personnel student affairs uh number 14 under that section um number one uh we're going to pull that motion off the agenda that's on page 13 on the bottom and uh that will topic will be discussed in executive session. [Music] Okay. Okay. Yeah. Um there's also a correction on page 16, resolution number 17. Um that's a 0.5 position, not a 6. And so the salary um
013would be 26,960. What number again, please 17 on page 16. So it says it already. It says.5. Yeah, it's a 0.5. The salary originally it was on as a 6. It's a.5 position changed to a 0.5, but the salary was not 6,960. Okay. Thank you. Guess that's it with the changes or corrections. So, um, we have a motion and a second. All in favor of adopting the agenda with those amend amended with with the corrections with the corrections. With the correction and the hand carries and the hand carries. All in favor? Any opposed? Any abstensions? Thank you. Petition petitions and requests. Petitioners who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first with five minutes for each petitioner for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other petitions and requests limited
014to 5 minutes per petitioner will be allowed until the 30 minute period transpires. Petitioners speaking during petitions and requests are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to give their full name, spell their last name, and provide their address. Speakers may not use the names of students during petitions and requests. Would anybody like to speak? Seeing none, move to close petitions requests. Need a second. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Thank you. Okay. Um, education. There are 12 items. 12 1 through 12. Yeah. Okay. I would like to move items under education 1 through 12. Second. Any discussion? Have a question. Mr. Joe. Um item number nine. Is that uh tuition number given there the total for the 19 students? Is that the amount per student? Per student. [Music] Thank
015you. Any other questions or discussion with regards to 1 through 12? Yes. on number nine. Um, and I don't have my notes because I left my packet because of this principal interviews, but um, Mr. Drew reminded me why is there such a big difference between New Beginning Annex at Maple Road and the cost per student and the New Beginning Annex at Aptuous Schools. They're different programs. The Okay. The actual school program is actually a transition program for the students that age out at at uh Maple Road and then they have to go into something else before they go into the second class. So it's a transitional type program. Okay. [Music] Anybody else discussion, questions? Roll call, please. Mr. Bab, yes. Mr. Bailey, yes. Miss O'Brien, yes. Mr. Foody, yes. Mr. Drew, yes. Mrs. Schulz, yes.
016Item number 13 will be take uh the vote will be taken after executive session. [Music] Budget and finance. Like to move items number one through 32 under budget and finance, please. Second. Discussion. Mr. Foody. Um on item number five um to approve the cancellation of an annual maintenance support agreement. Are we replacing that with anything? Yeah. Um apparently CC Productions was a middleman. So Data Business Systems is the actual owner of the program. Okay. So, uh, the contract that we approved it, um, for CC Productions was actually a little bit more money than the one that we received from Data Business Systems because they're going to be it's going to be direct with the, uh, the owner now. Approximately, how much did we save, do you know? Um, I think it was a little over
017a couple hundred dollars. Okay. It was minimal, but it was still a savings. I questions if you don't mind. Sure. Hopefully I'll be quick here. Um, item number 10. I'm wondering what that is that we're spending. This is a transfinder. It's a our program for routing for uh buses. Interesting. Okay. So, it's a it's an online program. Sure. No, that's important. Maintenance agreement. Yeah. Efficient routes. Uh 11. And what is that? Tyler Technologies does our uh uh a different program. The um tracking all the maintenance of the vehicles for Department of Transportation um uh inspections. We have to track all of the um the parts that get put in when they're serviced. And the um the tracker software that is the fleet vision software in Tyler Technologies is much more comprehensive than the one offered
018through Transfinder. So, we have two different uh systems um based upon the needs of the uh department. Uh item number 12, there's some fairly large amounts there. Were those put out for bid? Um Morris County Co-op is a cooperative that um we're part of. You just went through that. Okay. Yes, we've discussed it in in budget and finance. [Music] Thank you, Mr. Foody. Thank you. um a question and then and and then a suggestion. Number one, um new cable runs districtwide, right? We talked about that in budget and finance. Um this is through remember we had gotten the - funding update. Yep. And number 27 um to approve the transfer of interest from payroll agency agency medical and capital projects uh in the amount of 295756 to the general fund account of last last year's
019general fund for the year that just ended June 30th. Yeah. Yeah. Which is last year June ending June 30th. Yeah. Um 20145. I'll I'll throw this out there and I don't know if we can amend this now, but um I know that there was quite a hoopla about the transfer of monies into our capital reserve and it was well below what the district was looking for. Could we move that money in capital reserve? No. The only time you can move money into capital. Oh, that's right. You're right. Before June, that's right. Never mind. Yeah. Yep. I soon as you started saying that, it just started clicking. That thought though. Any other questions or discussion? We're going through 32. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. Yes, I did. I'm sorry. What did you say? I did have a
020couple more questions. I didn't realize it was on that phone. um in 26 uh certified physician um 175 an exam. We're required the department of um transportation um implemented a program where any physician that does the required medical examinations uh for the renewal of the um CDL license has to be DOT approved and Dr. G is and um it's not covered by health insurance because it's an employment exam. So we've made arrangements with Dr. G uh we would have to pay anyway and um so we've made arrangements with Dr. for this amount the 175 per exam we usually have maybe um around 10 a year that need to be done um 28 training and travel annual meeting of international where are you going and how much are we expecting in the um within your information
021it's a conference in to Texas. Um, okay. So, it won't be a fortune. I want to make sure it wasn't No, or something. No, they have to make school. They have to make one for school board members. I'm going to be in Paris. Okay. Wish you were here. Any other questions or discussion? One more on on number 24. um National Joint Powers Alliance. Um I don't ever remember seeing this in the past. Is this something new? No, we've been part of this group uh for a few years. And when we purchased the playground equipment at um UGL and Maple Road when we implemented the preK program a couple years ago, we used their cooperative pricing and we saved a significant amount of money. And uh there's also a resolution where uh we're accepting a donation
022from Ashawa School PTA for their playground equipment and we use the same purchasing uh cooperative and they were able to save a couple thousand dollar. Okay. Sorry. Got one other. Yes, Mr. 18 and 19 include a 4% administrative fee for working together with another group and I assume we're paying them for that. Yeah. Ed Services Commission. Whenever we have contracts to the Ed Services Commission, they have an administrative fee that they charge us. Why don't we charge them a 5% board consideration fee for our time? I just, you know, just splitting this with somebody. I don't know why we're paying them extra. Close supply and demand. They have something that we need economics. Quiz next week. Okay. That's it for me. So sorry. All right. U Mr. Foody, what? You're any more questions? No. She
023wasn't sure if your hand Oh, no. I was probably in the back of my head. Sorry. All right. Roll call, please. Mr. Foody. Oh, yes. Mr. Bab, yes. Miss O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Drew? Yes. Mr. Bailey? Yes. Mr. De uh Mrs. Schultz? Yes. Like to move item number 33 under budget and finance. Please second. discussion point of work. Mr. Drew, can we vote on reimbursing our own expenses? You would abstain for yourself and vote how you would vote for the others, right? It's that way so it could be marked off as abstaining for yourself. You would you would abstain on your own. I was just sort of thinking if everybody has to abstain then we can't approve. Yes, you could. I'm going to vote for you. No, you can you just can call I I did
024it in the past because there was some confusion. Roll call. Mr. B individual. Yes to all others. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mr. Drew. Abstain for myself and yes to all. Mr. Foody. Uh abstain for myself and yes for for others. Miss O'Brien. Abstain for myself and yes for others. Mrs. Schultz abstain for myself and yes for others like to move item number 34 under budget and finance please second discussion roll call Miss O'Brien yes Mr. Foody no Mr. Babbot yes Mr. Drew yes Mrs. Bailey Mr. Yes Mrs. Sure. It has motion failed. Excuse me. Motion failed. There's only five people that majority for that motion. You only need four actually. So sorry like to move item number 3500 budget and finance please. Second discussion. Roll call. Mr. Foody. Yes. Mr. Babbot. Yes. Mr. O'Brien. Yes. Mr.
025Drew. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mr. Schulz. Yes. Like to move item number 36 under budget and finance. Please. Second. Discussion. Roll call. M. O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Foody. No. Mr. Babbett? Yes. Mr. Drew abstain. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mrs. Schulz. Yes. Like to move item number 37 under budget and finance. Please second. Discussion. Roll call. Mr. Drew. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mr. Babbot. Yes. Mr. Foody. Yes. Miss O'Brien, yes. Mrs. Schultz, yes. Like to move item number 38 under budget and finance, please. Second. Discussion. Mr. Joe, just want to clear this up that we're finally buying those Spanish to textbooks that have been made too much of. Those are the ones. The supervisor is transferring money from her instructional play account. questions. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Sorry. You have you have questions? Is there questions? No. No. No.
026No. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mr. Drew. Yes. Miss O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Foody. As you know, I normally don't vote for transfers, but under the circumstances, it's for textbooks for the children and the protection of the building with the lightning alert system. So, I'm voting yes. And you have your two/3s, but you were anticipating Barbara. I wasn't, Mr. Yes. I was actually, if pointed out, I was going to point out that the Spanish textbook Okay. Item number 39 under budget and finance, please. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Mr. Babbot? Yes. Mr. Bailey? Yes. Miss O'Brien? Yes. Mr. Foody? Abstain. Mr. Drew. [Music] Somebody tell me what this is. I don't have it. Um, as you know, we're looking to do a referendum for the roofs. And in order to start the process,
027we have to submit the uh project information to the Department of Education. And this is the resolution authorizing us to do the submission. Yes, Mrs. Schultz. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Bailey. Personnel, student affairs. Okay, item one is pulled. So, we're going to skip item one. We're going to go to item two. I'd like to make a motion to uh uh vote on item two. Second discussion, Mr. Booty. Uh that includes um allowance that was moved into the salary. Yeah. Okay. Any other discussion? Roll call. Miss O'Brien? Yes. Mr. Bailey? Yes. Mr. Foody? Abstain. Mr. Babbot? Yes. Mr. Drew? Gladly. Yes. Thank you. Uh Mr. Mr. Schultz. Yes. Like to move items number three. Second discussion. Mr. Bailey. I want to back up and address number two. Um Barbara, congratulations and um the person who has
028this job in West Milford. At this point, it's you. Um, you know, it's really a phenomenal thing what goes on here because if you compare Barbara's salary and those that have come before her, the people in the same position scattered throughout neighboring counties, specifically heading east, it's really phenomenal how much lower your salary is than some of your colleagues. I'm not mentioning names. It's not the point I'm trying to make. God bless those guys and girls over that way. What I am saying is that we get a tremendous bang for a buck here in West Milford as always with all our administrators and all our staff. And it's especially noteworthy to single out and um respect and compliment the people that are in the middle of the everyday activity in our central office. And whether
029it's the superintendent, the DA, or the new uh director of education, I just want the record noted cuz I don't think enough gets said thank you on behalf of myself and I'm sure on many citizens here in town for what goes in on a day in dayout basis at a rather discounted rate. How about that? Done. You trying to encourage Thank you, Mr. Bailey. Excuse me. instead of Bergen County. Don't do that. They pay much lower over there. Any other comments, questions? I believe we're on number three. Yes. Oops. Roll call. Mr. Bailey? Yes. Mr. Drew? Yes. Miss O'Brien? Yes. Mr. Foody? Yes. Mr. Babbot? Yes. Mrs. Schultz? Yes. would like to move items number four through 35 under personnel. Mr. Bailey, new strategy. I'm waiting for the results of the vote, then I'm going
030to work backwards because uh I'm very nervous, shall we say. So, going backwards, I want to congratulate Mr. Novak on his into this position, which is a very important position and often times u serves as a stepping stone over my career. I've seen several people move from your position into his position. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. That's so fast. I don't know what your aspirations are, but I know one thing. You're a West Builford person. You're well suited for this job, and you live, breathe, and every move you make uh takes into account what's the best for the staff and the students and everybody else who has a vested interest in the Wester Education Association. So, uh, having sat here for a long time, many people are aware of my position that I love
031to see these types of situations where Novak, a West Milford person who came through this system, who went out and got educated and, you know, put together this resume and assumed these positions and performed admirably is now in this position. So, I wish you well. I congratulate you and you'll always have my support as have your predecessors. So congratulations, Mr. Novak and I hope nothing but the best for you. Can I get a second? I need a second for items 4 through35 under personnel. Second discussion, Mr. Drew. Uh, since we're doing these all together, um, I'm wondering where we're voting to accept a resignation. There's at least one of these. Item number five, uh, resignation of Lee Turkowski that I'm really disappointed to see. What if we vote against that? What What Oh, well, it
032doesn't make any difference. It's it's it doesn't make a difference. you can't force somebody to stay, but there are some situations where voting yes does benefit both parties. So, timing things like that, but if you did vote no, it it really has no legal effect. All right. Um, I also note in looking through these that in most cases we are uh replacing somebody. And of course, that's always unfortunate to have to do that kind of thing. The new positions are uh item 15 and item 18. And I can't help but notice that uh in in new positions, we don't have anybody doing classroom instruction. that uh these are those are the only two new positions that I see and they are effectively additions to uh it's addition to the special education programs uh this both
033of them yes so both both of these positions one's from uh multiple disabilities and the other one would be a uh social worker uh which would also help general population as well but it's based on the fact that we are starting those programs where we're having students stay try to get more students to stay in district. Um so this was one of the pieces we had discussed is that we're going to have to get some uh positions filled in order to support the new programs but on the other end uh we reduce the number of uh tuitions that we're paying out of district. So this is it right here when Dr. Buden had discussed these are those positions that we were looking at. Absolutely position. Okay. And and we hope that by doing this that
034our costs will are going to go down. All right. Thank you. I appreciate Thank you very any other questions or discussions. Seeing none. Roll call. Mr. Babett. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mr. Foody. Yes. Miss O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Drew. Yes. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. Okay. I'm going to go to hand carries. The blue is she. I'd like to move items number 36 to 38. Please. 30. 36 will be I'm sorry. So, we're pulling 362 after executive session. 36 is after executive session. Okay. I am sorry. Let's try this again. I'd like to move items number 37 38 under personnel. Need a second. Kevin Beman. Thank you. Um, discussion. I'm sorry, mis I misunderstood that. Roll call. Mr. Babbett. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mr. Foody. Yes. Miss O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Drew. Yes. Mrs. Schultz. Yes. That concludes personnel
035student affairs. Thank you, Mrs. O'Brien. Safety. Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Joe. I know there isn't an item on the agenda, but there's one other thing I kind of forgot here. We're paying a a premium to uh some bus drivers for perfect attendance, and I think that should be noted. I'm happy to pay that because I know when we go get substitutes and other people, but uh um you know, that costs us additional money and it's disruptive and it takes people time. And so our bus drivers who have perfect attendance uh uh you know to be commended. You're right. Absolutely. They know who they are. I'm not going to read these six names, but uh Thank you, Mr. Joe. Okay. Um safety. Mr. Booty, do you have anything? Nothing to report. Thank you. Um Mrs. Orion,
036do you have anything to report for P County School Boards? Not at this time. Thank you. Um, New Jersey school boards, Mr. Booty, anything to report? No, but I just want to go back if I can to safety because there was something I read over the weekend um in Puquanic. They um were doing a roof project and no permit. And it made me think back to when I suggested that uh we get permits for all projects and and we worked out a policy, but it it uh eventually it didn't get adopted. But um I'm just glad to see that because it made me wonder if we had all our permits for what we're doing and we do. and I'm just glad to see that that we have them. So, I just I would like to
037add that. Thank you. Do you have anything for New Jersey? No. No, I don't. No, we don't. Thank you, Mr. Drew. Legislative. Uh, yes. I'm not going to take a huge amount of time. Uh the New Jersey Department of Education has released their effectiveness numbers for teachers and principles uh for the year 2013 to 2014 uh by district and school. So these are not the u overall numbers. But I kind of looked at these and frankly they're right tell you know I haven't added them up to say are we doing better we doing worse are we you know any of that kind of thing but those numbers are out there you can Google it anybody who wants to look at it um you know it seems like the measurements that we have show that our
038teachers are effective and highly effective highly effective she didn't hear uh so really thank you. We're doing great with that. Um, among things that have happened, it seems like they've slowed down a little bit uh in the legislature. Uh, but one that has been uh passed by both houses requires school business administrator, you probably know about this, uh, uh, Miss Francisco, requires school business administrators to annually report to its board of education on district contracts. So, I'm not quite exactly sure what that means, but there was um in your um board members only area, there was um a a listing of all of our professional contracts for your review. Okay. Um I believe that next year I have to put it on the agenda. I wasn't saying gee, where is it? I was just pointing
039out that that was something you have to put professional contracts together in the document. Uh the New Jersey legislature has established measures to deter steroid use among students. Uh and it appropriates a whopping $45,000 uh across the entire state of New Jersey to administer that program. And I can't even begin to imagine how $45,000 would uh uh address that. Uh it just knows what they're thinking. That's a um for those who just really enjoy watching the circus, the US Congress is considering amendments that would prevent any federal education mandates regarding curriculum such as common core um and uh in exchange for federal dollars. So that's a it's just a humorous discussion. Um, Governor Chris Christie announced last month that New Jersey was backing away from the Common Core state standards. He said that the reason
040was that we were simply that they were simply not working. Quote, simply not working. uh his administration yesterday, this was last week, uh unveiled a wide- ranging plan for reviewing the existing standards. It calls for listening tours, focus groups, an online survey, and nearly a dozen meetings of four separate committees and subcommittees totaling 98 members in all. And I just can't help but wonder that after only 2 years, how we could possibly evaluate the effect the effectiveness of a program. And I guess if you're running for higher office, you are granted some kind of divine wisdom. Uh as far as I can tell, and I prefer not really to comment on these kinds of things, but I'm going to anyhow. uh park uh the park testing was not normed to previous years. So for example,
041we didn't do something where a little girl scored this on the ask and the same little girl scored this on the part. So that we would have some kind of ability to say that this kind of score in English on the old test is this kind of score in English on the parts. so that if they go up or down or whatever they're reported as, we would know whether we made progress or didn't make progress or whatever. Uh so without that kind of norming, you get numbers and might as well be numbers out of a hat. We know that the test was not suitable for many students with disabilities given the way it was administered uh on computers. uh no particular accommodation for uh various kinds of impairment. Uh the tests were given to young
042children on computers uh where the children may have never seen a computer before. I know that West Milford went to considerable trouble to introduce our students to computers before we did it. Um but it's still there are kids who are familiar with computers and kids who aren't familiar with computers. The tests required substantial extra cost and staff on our part. We had to go hire substitutes to come in and took away a considerable amount of class time across the state. Um uh the number reported for for students opting out of the test was I think around 45%. Somebody may know the exact number but it wasn't some little number. It was like half almost half 45 to 47%. 45 to 47. Um which again leads me to believe whatever that number is or whatever numbers
043we've got. We don't know which students elected not to take the tests and which students elected to take the test. Did we lose the top half of the curve, the bottom half of the curve? We don't. So we get a number. We don't know how it compares to last year's numbers. When all was said and done, uh, New Jersey schools, including West Milford, paid substantial amounts of money to help Pearson beta test their test. We paid for that. And, uh, being in the software business and having delivered beta versions of software, usually you don't charge people for the junk. Um, so at the end of the day, I'd have to say that the park tests that were administered this year were probably not particularly helpful to assess students or teachers. Um, you know, we did
044it. We learned something in the process, but whatever numbers we get back, I don't know what they mean. Um, so is there any way that we can make some value out of that? And I I've thought about this. I'm not going to introduce the emotion at this meeting, but I think I will at the next meeting. I would like to get the raw test back with names removed so that for example, if we gave a test for English, we can look and see that the children didn't understand adverbs or they didn't so that we can actually look and see, you know, and and and maybe go back to individual classrooms. I know that in in um um I teach uh uh people how to officiate athletic events and one of the things that we do
045is we give a test and we get the test results back and we can say ah you didn't understand that you didn't understand we know exactly what to address to improve understanding it's probably not something that anybody wants to do but I would like us to ask them for that information so that we could actually get some value out of the test that we're giving this year. So, I'm not making a motion at this meeting, but I would like to at the next meeting. Um, it would sure be good to get some feedback about where our education is working and where it isn't and what we need to focus on. That's it for legislator. Thank you. You done? Yeah. Okay, that was enough. Mhm. Did you include the cost for technology and the park assessments
046and the uh because cost fly statewide which meant a lot. You got nothing. Speaking of technology, um I'm going to give you an update on it. Uh Mr. El Taib's recommendation to begin the cable runs for the wireless system upgrade was brought up in the technology committee. Um he actually gave us a few scenarios and the one scenario that um he gave us that the technology committee recommended and brought to the budget and finance committee and we voted on this evening uh was bundling the wiring installation costs and the amount came in below the original budget. So we did vote on it last uh tonight. It's in this agenda and uh the wiring is for the wireless is going to begin the upgrade and um at that -ate discount. So that's all I have for
047technology and um the West Milford Education Foundation. I don't know if you have anything for us, Mrs. O'Brien. Um we'll be meeting in September. We'll be getting the process rocking and rolling to let the teachers know that the grants will be the application will be going to you guys and gals. So, keep us busy. Please send in a lot of great ideas. We are we we missed doing it last year and we look forward to doing it this year to support our teachers, our faculty and staff. I get more posted next month. Thank you. Goodbye. Okay. and Township Board of Education Joint Committee. Mr. Deborra's not here, so there's nothing to report there. So, does anybody have any old business? Seeing none, move to close old business. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? New
048business. Does anybody have any new business? I I have new business. Uh we are scheduled for a board meeting for August 18th. Um, and the problem is that before I was uh rehired for this position, I have a conflict with the date. So, I'm asking if possible if the board would be willing to move the meeting to the 25th, which is the following Tuesday. I'm going to have to put my phone on. Um, do we need do we need to answer that right now or? No, I just want to put it out there as new business. Thank you. We'll communicate. I just want to put it out there while we're sitting here. Okay. Okay. So, send an email, right? I think that's going to be fine. Yeah. And I'll I'll send an email out to
049everybody, too, as a reminder. Unless you just want to do it without me. So, I think that's fine with me the 25th. I don't think that's fine. Go take a look. I I will remind you. I'll send out an email. Mrs. Francisco, did you say you were going to send the email out to all members to send out? Okay. Thank you. Any other new business? Mr. Drew, I am not going to introduce again a motion at this time, but I've been thinking about this for months. At our reorganization meeting, we discussed some of the bylaws and so on and so forth and some particular changes. One of them is that, and I don't think people are really aware of this, that we're prevented in responding to public comments, asking additional questions, answering questions, and um
050uh I would like to bring that up for consideration. Again, I think it uh the public doesn't necessarily know that that's the case and so we wind up uh unresponsive like we're ignoring the uh issues brought to us by people who were brave enough to stand up in front of the cameras in this group. Um so I am mentioning it. I'd like people to think about it. You're certainly welcome to vote either way, but I'm tired of sitting here not responding to the public and not answering their questions. And uh I I personally would like to at the next uh make a motion to change that. Uh Mr. Foody, I I've brought this up in the past as well and I agree and I'd like to put this into uh the policy committee with Mr.
051Babbot and um and see what we can do with the help of Mr. Novak and and whoever else and Joe, you can chime in as well. Say that's the appropriate way to do it. Yep. Cuz to make a motion at the next meeting, you still have to have the policy in place to have the readings on. So, it really is the policy committee that should handle that and then bring it to the board uh for the vote and and and if we can Marilyn, I don't I don't know who's on remember who everybody on that committee. I thought Steve might have been on that, but he could sit in that as an alternate maybe if if he wants to when we have those discussions. Mrs. So Brian, is it normal or usual for a board
052of ed member at a board of ed meeting to reply? I mean, I've been to multiple school districts and I usually don't see board of ed members actually conversing. It's not usual. Um, sometimes the board president does reply, sometimes board president could recognize other board members, but in general, every board's bylaws say that there will be no response. that it it happens in every district, but it doesn't mean we couldn't change it. It's just not common. We don't I mean, personally, I'm sorry, Jim. Personally, I have no I I like to talk to people, so I actually don't mind that. I'm just concerned that somebody says something inappropriate, especially if if something is on the that borderline between if you know it's a a parent coming up and wanting to discuss a personal matter with
053a stu with his or her child or that confidentiality, you know, you know, is is that gray area. And I I know that you guys over in in policy would make sure that you know we would cover our bases in that manner. Um I was going to say a lot a lot of times in those policies the superintendent would handle the the response for somebody had a complaint on that or let's say simulator or something like that. Um that's also an option. We've done that before responding on certain items but there are ways to do it but you're you're correct. It's not common. Okay. Thank you Mr. Foody. it our our policy and bylaws now doesn't preclude us from speaking out in public. Um what it does preclude us from is speaking for the whole
054board as as a board member. So in any policy that we would have it would have to preclude with that statement that this is our opinion. We'll ask questions. We'll do whatever and then Mr. Rashika or Miss Schultz or Mr. Novak would then address it later on if it's something of a nature. But so I mean there there are a lot of ways that we can work around this. But that's why it has to be in the policy. It has to be in really has to be in the policy. Yep. If I can real quickly, I think uh I like that idea. That's the best way to do it to come up with some sort of format where we might do that. I don't think it's something that I expect to do, but you know,
055frequently, but there have been times when people have legitimate questions that somehow or another we should respond to. I I think I would disagree with uh your characterization, Mr. Rosselli, that it is rather uncommon to do it. Uh but it happens. Uh what on the other hand I think that there are many many school boards within New Jersey who uh allow it don't preclude it the way that we do. So doesn't mean that we're going to run off and start making wild statements. Um uh but I so I think that's a perfect way to do it. Have the policy committee consider how to do it. But I and I really would like that if we can think about some way to to do that, right? And for those that don't include it, there's a procedure
056in place such as the president recognizes something, you know, a speaker or something like that and that's what's in policy. So you have to perhaps you can suggest the language that we might consider in the policy committee instead of reinventing the wheel on that. Okay, Mr. policy committee normally meets before board meeting, correct? Is that that's how we've done it in the past? I I did uh when we have our committee meetings, I usually if there's something for us to look at when we get updates from May, uh I will have a meeting with them prior to the actual start of the committee meetings. Okay. So, you would have like Yeah. I mean, in the past, we all Okay. In the past though, my last time on the board, it was always done before a
057to whatever before a before like tonight's right we would be the half an hour 40 minutes beforehand. That's what I remember. What we've also done though in the past is since the education committee meetings have been moved to a daytime um slot. It frees up the committee night. So if we have a policy committee meeting sometimes we put it in on Tuesday night. Okay. because I there is I had gotten some policy um from New Jersey school boards with regards to legal bills and ways of and I'd like to share that with the committee when we meet. So if we could do that next month I would I would like to that's okay. Sorry. So that would be uh as you know Mr. Babbot is the chair. Yes. Mr. Deber's on that committee. Mr. Foody
058you're on that committee and Mr. Drew is an alternate on that committee. Okay. What do you got? First week now. You got Okay. Any other new business? You started. Seeing none, move to close new business. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. So, petition to request. We have Oh, yeah. Thank you. Tell us forgot about that. Thank you, Mr. Back on the other page. Yes. Okay. We're not answering any questions. Petitions and requests. Petitioners who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first with 5 minutes for each petitioner for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other petitions and requests limited to 5 minutes per petitioner will be allowed until the 30 minute period transpires. All speakers are asked to give their full name, spell their last name, and
059provide their address. Speakers may not use the names of students during petitions and requests. Would anybody like to come up and speak? Seeing none, move to close petitions and requests. Be a second. Sorry. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Thank you. All right. I believe we will be going into executive session. Resolve that the board go into executive session at approximately 8:40 for the purpose of discussing negotiations, student matters, personnel, HIVs, the upper Gum Lake school principal position, 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 applicable. There will be action taken after executive session. Need a second. Need a second, please. You got it. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay, thank you. Are we going to
060go into the other room for executive session? We can go in there in there. Okay, thank you. We're going into executive session on the 4052 and we are on item number 13 under education that would be on page six of the agenda. Whereas in accordance with the requirements set forth in public law 2010 chapter 122, the West Milford Board of Education has received results of HIV investigative reports on July 21st, 2015. Therefore, be it resolved that the West Milford Board of Education approves issue of written written decisions, one being unsubstantiated, one being substantiated. And you're affirming those and we're affirming those decisions um in the superintendent's determination of these HIV investigations. You need a second. Yes, please. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Babett, yes. Mr. O'Brien, yes. Mr. Foody, yes. Mr. Drew, yes.
061Mr. Schulz, yes. All right. All right. Under personnel, I'd like to move item 36. Need a second. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Babbot, yes. Mr. Foody, yes. Miss O'Brien, yes. Mr. Drew, yes. Mrs. Schultz, yes. I need a motion to adjourn at 9:54. I'd like to make a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:54 p.m. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay, meeting is adjourned officially at 9:54 p.m. Thank you very much for attending this meeting. Have a nice night, everybody. You too. Thank you. Thank you.