001Good evening everyone. >> I call to order the regular meeting of the Boda Board of Education for Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. Please stand for the >> flag. Aliance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The New Jersey open public's meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice to and to attend the meeting of the public bodies at the at which any businesses affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the BOD board of education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date time placed and therefore posted in the Boda Boro Hall communicated by letter to
002the record filed with the county clerk of the Boro of Bod and posted on the Boda Boro education website. I'm sorry, I left my glasses. She's good. Our phone, please call the role. Sure. >> Mrs. Alvarez, >> present. >> Mr. Alvarez, >> present. >> Mrs. Cruz, >> Mr. Miranda, >> present. >> Mrs. Naim, >> present. >> Mrs. Olivo, >> present. >> Mrs. Salam, absent. Miss Ruckett, >> present. >> Mr. Chavez, >> present. We have the quorum. >> Also present. Superintendent Damian Kennedy. Board attorney Thomas Cobin. Um, business. >> She's on the >> Oh. Huh. Hi, Jessie. >> School board administrative board epsil assistant board secretary Elizabeth Rouge and student representative which we don't have today. >> No school. No school. >> Open the floor to hearing of the citizens on agenda items only. Do I
003have a motion to open the floor of the >> motion? Motion. Mr. Miranda >> Olivo second. >> Second. Any board discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> If there's any member of the public who would like to address the agenda items only, please come forward. Speak. Speakers, please state your name. You have five minutes. >> Is there a motion to close here? >> Motion, Mr. Miranda >> second second Mrs. Ruckett any board discussion all in favor I >> any >> moving on to section 3.1 on the agenda superintendence report is there any report Mr. Yes. First up, HIVs. We had one unfounded in the middle school, two founded at Steen, and one founded at the high school. Shout out to our building grounds team for working around the clock since Sunday get
004schools ready and cleared. We will be open for a regular day tomorrow. I'm reminding all parents and staff that parking and drop off will be very tough in the morning. Remain patient. Get to school early. buildings are open 30 minutes before you can drop your students off. We have staff in the cafeteria in the auditoriums and gyms of each building. So, please park as close as you can to the curb, making sure that cars could get past. We are out of snow days. We've used three already this year. My hope is that we do not need to use any more, but there's already snow in the forecast in the upcoming week. Just a reminder, if we have to add any days to the calendar, we add those days onto our spring break recess. Also, QAC
005review has been happening the last couple of weeks, uh, which is the New Jersey Department of Education system for reviewing how well school districts operate. QAC looks at five areas: instruction and student programs, fiscal management, governments, operations, and personnel. This districts must provide documentation shown they meet all state requirements. Districts that do so maintain local control while those that do not may be required to take corrective actions or receive increased state oversight. Early indications are that we have passed again this year. Uh we're just waiting for final approval numbers from the NJ DOE with testing and things like that. This will be QAC happens every 3 years. Uh this will be three for three for our administration team. Uh so we're very proud of that. Uh prior to me becoming superintendent, I cannot remember a
006time we passed QAC um in the 12 year uh seven eight years before I became soup. So uh kudos to everybody on that especially uh Mr. Chang and Fin who have some of the heavy lifting on that with all the documentation. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Mr. Kendrick. Um, moving on to resolution 4.3, which is the approval of the open minutes for January 6, 2026 reorganization meeting and the January 20th, 2026 regular meeting. Is there a motion to approve 4.3? >> Motion Cruz. Motion Cruz. Second BC bucket. Any board discussion? Roll call, please. Mrs. Alvarez, >> yes. >> Mr. Alvarez, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cruz, >> yes. >> Mr. Miranda, >> yes. >> Mrs. Na, >> yes. >> Mrs. Olivo, >> yes. >> Mr. Ruckett, >> yes. >> Mr. Chavez, >> yes.
007>> Motion carried. >> Great. 5.3. Moving on to resolution 5.3 in the policy section, >> which is for the approval of the agenda items 5.1 through 5.2. Is there a motion to approve resolution 5.3? Olivo >> Olivo any second Alvarez any board discussion roll call >> Mrs. Alvarez >> yes >> Mr. Alvarez >> yes >> Mrs. Cruz >> yes >> Mr. Miranda >> yes >> Mrs. Naim >> yes >> Mrs. Olivo >> yes >> Mr. Record >> yes >> Mr. Chavis. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to resolution 6.12 in the education section >> which is for the approval of the agenda item 6.1 through 6.1 6.11. Is there a motion to approve resolution 6.12 >> motion? Morandum second. >> Any board discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Sol. Yes, >> Mr. Alvarez.
008>> I believe I have to abstain from 6.1, but yes to all of us. >> Thank you, >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes, >> Mr. Miranda. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Naim. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Olivo. >> Yes, >> Mr. Litz. >> Yes, >> Mr. Chavez. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to resolution 7.14 in the personnel section, which is for the approval of agenda items 7.1 through 7.13. Is there a motion to approve resolution 7.14? >> Motion, Mrs. Rucket. Second. >> Second, Cruz. Any board discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Na? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Olivo? >> Yes. >> M. Ruckett? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chavez? >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Moving on to
009resolution 8.12 in the finance section which is for the approval of agenda items 8.1 through 8.11. Is there a motion to approve resolution 8.12? >> Alvarez. Second. >> Olivo. >> Alivo. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Solv. >> Yes. >> Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Naim, >> yes. >> Mr. Solivo, >> yes. >> Mr. Ruckett, >> yes. >> Mr. Chavez, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to resolution 9.10 in the buildings and ground section, which is for the approval of the agenda items 9.1 through 9.9. Is there a motion to approve 9.10? >> Motion. >> Sorry, >> Idalia. Second. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Alres, >> yes. >> Mr. Alvarez, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cruz, >> yes.
010>> Mr. Miranda, >> yes. >> Mrs. Na, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dobo, >> yes. >> Miss Ruckett, >> yes. >> Mr. Chavez, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to committee reports. Are there any committee reports this evening? >> I have. The education committee met on um the 3rd of February. Um and in our meeting we had discussions on our envision math program from K through six that it's in its final year. Uh right now they're piloting and reviewing a jump math program which has had shown um strength in other districts and um they're going to they're currently reviewing it and uh should have a decision for us by spring May 26. The uh two-year revised algebra 1 model um that's going on continues to show strength uh with student performance. our curriculum implementations.
011Year one we got core knowledge language arts for K through five. In year two we have um going into its year two is mystery science for K through five and going into year two for open was it science education. Yeah. Um for year for grades uh six through eight. Um the seal of biiteracy program has also um continued to grow. Uh this year there were 41 students earning distinction and that's up from last year in 2025 when it was only 39. Um the CTE programs are expanding as well with uh plans to uh add an additional um healthcare and building trades pathways for the students as well there. Grant funding continues to support the STEM program, mental health services, tutoring and adult ESL programs. grant funding highlights. We have um 10K that came for the
012CTE building uh for the uh garden beds, right? Garden beds. Um the FDU 290. Yeah. Um and New Jersey Department of Education Rise Literacy Grant providing 50K for reading interventions and pending grants um that are uh of course pending um our high impact tutoring which can uh provide up to 80,000 and AP expansion which can provide up to 50,000. There's title four swim a lesson pilot program that's launching in spring of this year for K and was it one or two grades one >> K1 and then planning for implementation on the uh bell tobell policy which uh is uh mandated now and I'm sure they're looking forward to also um I also met with Baxa I don't know if you want me to touch on that now too >> um Baxa the group has uh
013they're proposing hand hands-on coping engagement options for kids and teens and they're um they're offering they're looking for offer to offer uh local safe spaces for um uh through throughout the community um through the businesses. One of the things that came up in the meeting uh with regards to us as far as board of ed and of course I touched on this with them, they wanted to bring back project graduation as a safe supervised post-graduate event which um those of you are aware. Um it was not run by the board of ed. This was something that was parent uh historically led by parents and fundraised by parents to with some assistance from Baxa. So we had to give them a bit of clarity as to how that's run. Um but still they're looking to see
014if they can com you know continuing to uh work with us towards that and um they also have a co coalition um uh on a connected data work that they're looking for. Uh they're talking to the uh staff on that uh and their next meeting is in April. >> Great. Thank you very much. Anyone else? Next on the agenda is old business. Is there any old business the board would like to discuss? Any new business that the board would like to discuss? I wanted to um recommend that we while we have no control over who PTO's choose for things like picture day and those kinds of things that we do encourage them to do some research on the leadership at Lifetouch and decide whether or not that's an organization that we'd like our schools to
015continue to um do business with. >> Understood. >> I actually do believe we do have >> Yeah. um some say over what vendor partners um should be doing business with our districts. It is come to light um on a greater scale that uh many school districts and boards have uh basically taken that position as well. So to Mrs. Ruckus point, I do support and I encourage our legal team to find what verbiage needs to be utilized, whether that means we need to update policies to prevent the use of that organization in our district. >> Damian batters, I don't know the background of this at all. So, I'll talk to Damian, get some of the facts and we'll circle back to you on it. If >> you want, I will put the fact on the floor.
016Moving on to section 13. >> I did have something uh it just came to mind. Uh the renaming of the uh CT right now. >> Yep. Go ahead. >> How many people are >> froze? There's so many people. >> I'm still They're still on mine. Can you can you hear them if they if you ask them? >> Lizzy and Adele, you can hear me. >> We hear you. >> Yes, we hear you. Before there was a period for a few minutes that we couldn't hear, but it came back on. >> Same applies to Lizzie. >> Yes, I can hear you. >> All right. So then they can hear us. Um >> should I proceed? >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Okay. The screen's frozen, but >> so um the naming of the CTE building after Damian
017Kennedy, I want to make sure that we close that loop at our next meeting. >> What do we need to do to close it? >> Um I think we had some res >> Did we not agree already that we had >> some resolutions in place? >> Yeah, we did the resolutions, but they um I think contemplated a committee being determined to come up with the exact name. We came up with the names generally that it was going to be named the ratunda after >> you and then the uh >> the field not the field the >> the building >> the CT building after Damian but there was going to be committees formed to come up with the exact designation and and how it will go where it will go all that kind of stuff. Okay.
018>> So that's what has to happen at this point. We'll start that at this point and um start getting the committees put together. Uh moving on to section 13.1, open the floor to hearing of the public. Is there any motion to open hearing the public? >> Olivo second. >> Miranda Olivo second. Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I post. >> Is there any member of the public who would like to address the board? Speakers, please state your name and you have five minutes. >> Oh, he would have to back. >> Oh, it definitely were recording. >> See that? >> So, you got to repeat. Start over. >> Should I? >> No, no, I'm kidding. >> No, no, you just got >> just finish it. >> Just finish number two. that the matter discusses discussed
019will be made public with the when confidentially is no longer required and action pursuant to set discussion shall take place only at public's meeting. Action may be taken upon return from executive meeting. Is there a motion to go into executive meeting? >> Motion Cruz second. Any board discussion? All in favor? any of >> All right. So, a couple things on this. Um, we're going to come back out, target 45 minutes, although it may take longer than that. Um, and then no formal action will be taken when we come back out. >> Okay. >> We also have representation that >> I don't think we need no formal action is necessary, right? That's >> okay. Okay. So, formal action may be taken. Okay. take. >> Do we have a representative? >> Yeah, we'll go over that in
020a second. >> Okay, perfect. Okay, so we'll be back. >> So, I guess we'll get a new login. >> You probably will cuz you you'll probably be in the meeting, but not probably not me. >> Oh, okay. >> Unless it'll unless they send it to me. >> Okay, my friend. So, I'm going to log out then. Hey Dolly, I sent you a Google Google Meet. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> All right. >> Nice to see you, Lizzy. You too. Take care. >> It's let me know when you're ready. >> You don't see anything on the >> Do you have italia? I'm on. >> That's something else. >> Okay. >> Can I have a motion to reopen the public's meeting? >> So, any board discussion? >> Roll call. All in favor? >> All in favor?
021I >> I >> at this time I would like to adopt the resolution um resolve that the following a disciplinary hearing conducted on February 24th, 2026. The board approves the suspension of student ID number from February 2nd, 2026 through June 24th of 2026. During this time, the student shall be evaluated on a bimonthly basis. >> Is that a roll call or >> motion to approve? >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion. >> Yes. >> Roll call. >> Uh, Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oliver. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz. Yes, >> Mr. Miranda. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Sn. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Olivo. >> Yes. >> Uh, Mr. Rekit. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chavez. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Thank you everyone. And with that, uh, we end our night. So, motion to adjurnn. >> Motivo.
022>> Motion. >> M. All of us behalf of the one pathway. >> All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Have a great night, guys.