001I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the board of education for Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Please stand for the flag salute. >> So am I. >> Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation under God, justice for all. Thank you and good evening everyone. The New Jersey open public's meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of the public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Bagota Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the Boda Burough Hall communicated by a letter to the record
002followed the clerk of the Burough of Bagota and posted on the Bagota Board of Education website. I'm sorry. Uh to roll off. >> Sure. >> Mrs. Alvarez absent. Mr. Albert absent. Mrs. Cruz >> Yes. >> Mr. Navaro >> here. Present >> absent. >> Mrs. Olivo >> present. >> Mr. Racket >> present. >> Mrs. Sal >> present. >> Mr. Chavez absent. Mr. Miranda >> present. >> We have the quorum. >> For the recordalia Alvarez Joseal is at work stuck at work. Jose Chavez contacted me as you know he had to do a little travel um out of the country and Robert Alvarez last minute stuck at work as well and thank you Trina for logging in. Um also present is superintendent Damen Kennedy, board attorney Thomas Coin, school administrator secretary, assistant board secretary of Elizabeth Ruiz
003>> is not absent. >> I'm sorry she's absent. uh secretary, assistant board secretary and student representative, Miss >> Amena Vargas. >> Ha Vargas. >> Want to get that right. Amen. Um I'd like to open the floor to citizens remarks on agenda items only. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> That's a rocket. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Cruz. Any board discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Please state your name. Um, you have five minutes. Anyone from the public? No one come. We have no one present. Are we buffering? Okay. So, I have a motion to close citizen remarks. >> Motion. >> Cruz. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Rocket. Any board discussion? All in favor? I >> President Kennedy, you have. >> First up, our
004student rep, Miss Vargas. October has been an exciting school filled with achievements, school spirit, and community pride. From athletic competitions to homecoming festivities, students and staff came together to make this month a huge success. To start off, both the boys and girls cross country teams captured the Bergen County Group D Championships at Darlington. This was the boys' first county group title since 2016 and the girls first since 2022. It was an incredible accomplishment for both teams and everyone is proud for the dedication and effort they've shown throughout the season. We also celebrated homecoming weekend which brought a lot of excitement to the school and community. The volleyball, soccer, and football teams all won their senior night games which made the week even more special. The high school had a great pep rally where students showed
005off their school pride and supported our athletes and performers. Later that afternoon, the bonfire took place and it turned out to be a huge success. It was a great community event featuring performances from the twirling team and the Bagota High School band. Saturday's homecoming game was definitely one of the highlights of the weekend. During halftime, the band performed their evolution of a hip-hop show while fireworks lit up the sky, creating an amazing atmosphere. The performance was beautiful and showed how much time and effort the students and directors have put into making it a standout show this year. The weekend wrapped up on Sunday with the 5K in the morning followed by the Bagota High School band performing at the annual band festival later that day. The band represented our school at the Clifton Field with
006Pride and did an excellent job at both events. This week, students are focusing on testing, but there's still a lot to look forward to. We're preparing for the college fair which gives students a chance to explore future opportunities and the football player play playoffs in New Milford which everyone's excited about. Overall, October was a month full of accomplishments, spirit and teamwork at Bagota High School. From academic efforts to athletic wins and community celebrations, it was a great reminder of how much pride and dedication our student and staff bring to everything they do. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. She stole some of my thunder, but I will elaborate on some of the things. First up, our HI HIB report. Since last meeting, there were five investigations. Two confirmed at Steen, one unfounded, one unfounded,
007one founded in the high school, and one unfounded in the middle school. Again, great week for our athletic teams. Girls volleyball finished the regular season. They're 19 and4 right now. They are the three seed in the state tournament. again highlighting the football team. This is the first time our football team has made the state playoffs since 2014. So, we are the number five seed and we are going to New Milford on Friday night. So, we do have a good shot there. I also want to highlight the college fair which is happening tomorrow 8:15 to 11:15 in the high school gym. All of our high school students, 9th through uh I believe 12th grade will be vis uh visiting the college fair and over 30 colleges and universities have already confirmed attendance. So that will be
008a great thing for sure. Um also again I I I don't know if we can keep saying enough what a great weekend it was. The Bota Buck Pride was out in full force. Definite thank you to everyone that made that possible. But the two point people were uh our athletic director uh Coach Appleton and then uh Pat Rockford for organizing that 5K to all the volunteers to the town to the council to the police department uh the fire department. It was just a big collaboration between multiple organizations and in my 16 years here I've never seen a collaboration like that. So kudos to everyone involved. Lastly, we do have to have our testing presentation by statute. Uh, and this is the last meeting before that date. So, we would like to go over that. And
009there are some great things to highlight in this testing. So, let me just get that up and running. Sure. Like that. Sheep. Bear with me one second here as I get the slideshow to work show. Oh, there it is. All right. So, this is our testing presentation from the spring 2025. These are state required state testing this year. Last year the NJSLA which is student learning assessment and then also the DLM is an alternative assessment for our students with the most significant intellectual disabilities. Our participation rates for the for the NJSLA is uh 95% for the ELA, 96% for math and 97% for science. And the uh DLM is all furered because we we don't want to identify any of those students. If the number is great less than 10, we don't identify them. Scoring
010for the NJSLA is uh level five is exceeding expectations, level four, so we're looking for four and fives. The the the the meeting expectation score is 750. The lowest score you get is 650. The highest score you could get is 850. Uh we test grades 3 through 9 in ELA, algebra 1 for 9th grade students. Uh and that also includes our eighth grade honor students and also our ninth grade honor students. The science test is a different scoring. It goes through levels one through four. Highest score you get is 300. Lowest score you get is 100 with a 200 score as being proficient. And this is just for grades 5, 8, and 11. People always ask why do we uh show the subgroups? This is statue by law that we have to do that for
011each subgroup unless there are 10 or less students. [clears throat] ELA, so ELA, which has always been strong for us, continues to be a strong um tested subject for us. If you compare us to the state, we are exceeding the state in many grade levels. Uh we are a little below in third and fourth grade, but once we get to fifth grade, we're at 56% compared to 53. Uh 1% in sixth grade, but over 55%. But then when you look at our seventh grade, we're at 71% are proficient compared to 57% in the state. That is 14 percentage points better than the rest of the state average. ELA, we are at 67% 10 percentage points better than the state average. And then in ELA 9 this year, we were almost 20 percentage points better than
012the state, which is se 69% compared to 50%. So I like to say that's 70% there. But if you overall you look at it, we have if you add up all our our grade levels, we are outperforming the state by 5%. And if you look at our trends, they're not very bad, but we were at an all-time high right before COVID, which was 70%. And since then, we've been at 59, 58, 60, and 58, but well outperforming the state. As you can see here in our subgroups, what I always like to point out is what the state is always looking at is our economically disadvantaged students. And as you can see here, we start low in the lower grades. But the more these students are with us, they end up outperforming the other grade uh
013the other students in their grade level. If you highlight the uh ninth grade students, 74% outperform 61% which is something to really be proud of. Math, we continue to see growth in math which we're very happy about and we feel what we have put in place for the last two years is really starting to show results. >> [clears throat] >> If you look math according to the state, very similar in most grade levels, but when we get to math 7, math 8, and algebra 1 is where we really started to concentrate on over these last couple of years. And as you can see, math 8, which is a big grade level, 17% higher than the state average at 38% compared to 21. Algebra 1 42% compared to 38%. geometry, we're right there. If you again,
014you look at our trends, we still are outperforming the state most years. So, our pathways to algebra 1. So, what we've what we've determined and what a lot of studies determine is that algebra 1 is the true indicator for student success for the rest of their lives. And we're looking at our trends right now. So in math 7 in 2022, BGOD was at 30% proficient compared to the state at 34%. But this year in 2025, we were at [snorts] 44% compared to 39% which is 5 percentage points better. So we're showing that growth. Math 8, same thing happens. In 2022, we were at 19% and that still outperformed the state. But the state went from 15% to 21%. We went from 19 to 38, which is a 17% increase better than the state and almost
01520 points better in the last few years. And then again in algebra 1, we went from 11% in 2022 to 42%. That is a lot of growth and outperforming the state as well. Again, these are the subgroups with the math. We have some areas to improve upon there, but we continue to show growth across all areas. And science, science is not great across the state. This year, 18% was the state average for the math eight science score. That's they they have to start looking at this test because the no one is showing growth in these areas across the state. But we're right where we are. We continue to make improvements and we will go over that when we talk about what we're doing to get better. Our trends over the last couple years by grade
016level through the years. So we are seeing growth each year in our grade levels if you look at it in 2023 30% 2025 31 1919 20 I'm sorry 19 to 24% 9 to 14% 14 to 21%. So overall we are seeing growth and we have added some new things that we started last year that we will continue upon that we can discuss. Again our subgroups here DM these are for our students that are have IEPs and they cannot sit for the NJSLA. This is all furered out because of the number of students that take it. We don't have many students that take it. Most of our students take the NJSLA. So, district analysis for our ELA district analysis for 2025, we have some clear areas of excellence. Our grades seven, eight, and nine students show
017high proficiency, significantly outperforming the state average. Overall, our ELA district proficiency is 58%, which is 5% points above the state average, indicating strong written instruction. We also had four students achieve perfect scores in the ELA. So, we will be honoring those students at a board meeting later this year. But four students with perfect scores. We still have some areas that need improvement, especially in our 36 grade three proficiency needs to increase and instruction in K2 should be strengthened. We're also seeing a difference in performance between schools and classrooms, which with redistricting, we're already seeing our teachers working more collaboration and uh our grade level meetings will pay dividends. Grade three, four, and six are below targets in reading and writing and vocabulary is weak area across ELA grades. To address this, we will include more
018district vocabulary instruction, explore teaching word structure, and provide professional develop for teachers on vocabulary strategies. We will continue to monitor the roll out of CKLA and look for ways to improve our RTI ELA process to make it more effective. Moving on to math. [clears throat] Bagota's overall math proficiency is 43% slightly above the state average of 41%. This is a significant achievement as our district math average has not been above the state average since co. So we are definitely going in the right area. Our areas of excellence include math 7, 8, and algebra 1 where we see positive growth. Our algebra 1 honors eighth grade students achieved 100%. So every kid in our math 8 that sat for the algebra 1 passed the test which is also something great with three students earning perfect scores.
019We also saw positive gains in geometry increasing from 26% to 47%. The adjustment to our algebra 1, making it a two-year course is showing to be successful. We still have a few areas that need our attention and we need to strengthen our key algebra skills in grades five and six and especially in fractions and basic arithmetic and we will explore ways to adjust the schedule to provide additional support for geometry classes. We also have to look with students IEPs and English language learners. We need to provide more explicit instruction, break lessons into smaller parts and address learning gaps while still teaching grade level content. Finally, we will explore a summer math acceleration program to help students progress more quickly towards calculus. In our 2025 science district analysis, our overall science proficiency is 19.4% which is
020about 6% to below state average. The good news is that we are moving in the right direction. We also expanded STEM STEM opportunities for students at all grade levels. In the middle school, students go to Bergen Academyy's engineering enrichment program. In the high school, we offer the FDU Saturday STEM class. And in the elementary star lab interdisciplinary planetarium, our next goal is to improve our overall proficiency. We said from all along, we want to concentrate on math and ELA. Once we see growth there, we will see growth in our science across all grade levels. Starting in third grade, we will begin including more NJSLA style questions and add science-based inst interdisiplinary units into elementary ELA instruction with our two K5 and 6A curriculum. We are just started our second year. So, we're hoping that the
021consistency and the growth we saw last year will continue into this year. And that concludes the state data. >> That's all. if anyone has any questions. >> Any questions? Uh, we had a great weekend. It's unforgettable one. Thank you to everyone involved. It's something I think will never be forgotten. So, thank you. Thank you. Uh, moving on to 41 resolution, which is the approval of September 16 regular open meeting minutes. Is there a motion to move 41? >> Motion >> Cruz second. >> Yes, >> you can. Okay. >> I don't know. >> You say >> salam. >> Okay. Any board discussion? Just really quick, you weren't here for September 16th meeting. >> No. >> So, you should Did you If you didn't read them, if you did online or anything, you can vote. I advise
022you if you didn't get a chance to really go through them, just abstain. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Uh >> that's not gonna carry that, >> right? >> It's not going to carry. >> Yeah. You >> put it in the next meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I'm moving on to 53. Resolute. >> Do you have to roll it anyway? >> You have to roll it anyway. >> You can't just table it. >> What? >> Uh we can just table. >> Yeah. A motion to table on it. >> Okay. >> I have to abstain too, but >> Okay. Okay. So, can I get a motion to take >> motion? It's the motion. >> 41. >> Motion. Do I have a second? >> Second, Chris. >> All in favor? >> I >> table that. Okay.
023Moving on to 53 policy section, which is approved for agenda items 51 through 52. Do I have a motion to move 53? >> Motion. Cruz. >> Cruz. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Rocket. Any board discussion? [clears throat] All in f roll call on >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Olivo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Record. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Salam. >> Yes. >> Uh Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on [clears throat] to 618 which is resolutions uh resolution of education section approval of agenda item 61- 617. Do I have a motion to move 618? >> Olivo. Do I have a second? >> Second. Rocket. Any board discussion? Roll call or phone. >> Mrs. Kus. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Solivo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Racket. >> Yes. >> Mr.
024Salam. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ronda. >> Yes. >> Motion to carry. >> Moving on to 7:15, which is personnel section. Do I have a approval to uh I'm sorry. Here to approve items 71 through 714. Do I have a motion to move 715? >> Motion. Cruz. >> Do I Cruz? Do I have a second? >> Second. Salam. Any board discussion? Roll call. >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Solivo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Record. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sal. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to A10 finance section. Do uh for the approval of 81 through 89. Do I have a motion to move A10? >> Olivo. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Cruz. Any discussion? Roll call. Oran. >> Mrs. Cruz. Yes, >> Mr. Soliva.
025>> Yes, >> Mr. Reett. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Salah. >> Yes, >> Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Motion carry. >> Moving on to 97, building and grounds for approval of items 91 through 96. You have a motion to move 97. >> Motion Cruz. >> Cruz, do I have a second? >> Second. >> Rocket. Any board discussion? Roll call. Eron. >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Olivo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ruckett. Yes, >> Mr. Solo. >> Yes, >> Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Committee reports. Old business. New business. Moving on to seven uh 131. Floor of hearing of the public. I have a motion to move 131. >> Motion. >> Rocket. Do I have a second? >> Yes. >> Salam. Any board discussion? All in favor? I. I. >> Okay. Anybody can
026come up. You have five minutes on absolutely any discussion. Come on. >> If you want. >> Yeah, if you're here to come up. Yep. >> You just need to say your name. >> Sure. Time to shine. >> Hi. My name is Raina. >> There's a mic. >> Mr. Kennedy. >> Yes. >> How you doing? Nice to meet you. Finally. My name is Raina Mariano and I'm a resident here at Bagota. I have a 4-year-old son who attends the school as well. Unfortunately, two weeks ago, I found myself at the police department making a report for harassment against one of your co-workers, uh, Miss Molina, who continuously harasses me. This has been since last year. She's been finding herself at the school. She went to back to school night. She interrupted the meeting between me and
027the teacher. She's been telling the teacher how to write up. Ma'am, if I can. Ma'am, I'm over here. Hello. What you need to do is report this to either the principal or the superintendent because the board can't discuss this in open session. >> Okay. So, I did, but what's going on now? I went to the police department. I made a report. I also reported to Mr. Kennedy. And I just I don't want any problems. So, I made a report. I wrote a report here. I made a actually I made a speech. I don't want to report I I don't want any problems with anyone. What I do want to discuss is what's going on with whatever has happened. So here there's more teachers here. I looked up the stats. So the stats here in Bod,
028there's more students here. The stats say here that that there's 72% of Hispanic students and 86% of the staff identify as white. When I first got here, my child only spoke Hispanic and I was told that there was more white students than Hispanic. And so it's amazing things you find out when you look up on the internet. So I was looking up the stats and I decided to come here to discuss the things that I found out because obviously there's a culture ignorance going on here. How can >> how can the teachers understand the students if there's more American white teachers than the students who are Hispanic? And obviously my son now speaks English, a little broken, but last year he couldn't communicate until they brought someone who spoke Spanish, which was a little bit
029difficult for him because they couldn't understand him for almost 3 months. So that's also what I'm here to discuss. That that was difficult for us. >> Well, any any of these concerns, you just have to bring them to the superintendent. Okay. And you're making them apparent to the board. I mean um you just saw the test results which were very good. So it seems like the teachers and staff are doing what they need to do and um you know there's also laws on when people have tenure and teachers have tenure you can't take action against them. Okay. So there's there's restrictions that the board does have in that regard. But if you have any issues with any individual teacher it has to be raised with the superintendent. We can't raise it here and deal with
030it at the board level cuz the board can't discuss personnel issues in open session. >> Okay. Okay. Well, is there anything else that I can discuss here about safety? Can I discuss safety here >> if you have a concern? Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, my son also cut his hair twice in in the classroom. He also was sent home with feces all the way to his back. It was dried. I was concerned about that. He also was sent home submerged in water. He was wet. He was soaking wet. So that was also a concern. >> Okay. These these things you like the board has no knowledge of this. No way of promoting it. >> Disgusting. >> I know. But >> it's a concern. >> But you have to bring this through the channels with this with
031the principle so it can be looked into like whether this is we have no idea whether this is accurate or inaccurate. Well, no. It's accurate because they're aware of it. And Kennedy, excuse me, sir. Let me talk. >> Let me talk because you're interrupting me and it's rude. Mr. Kennedy is aware of it. And if I'm here, it's because everyone under you is aware of it. And it's a concern. I'm a mother of a four-year-old child. You have to imagine I'm well, let me correct myself. You may not imagine if you don't have a child what it's like to have your child experience this. And so if I if I came all the way here to the board, it has to be a breakdown happening somewhere. Imagine that. >> Okay. So what I what I
032would suggest is you raise the concerns. >> It's it that's why I'm here. >> Okay. So let the board speak to the superintendent when they're in executive session when they have that opportunity to do that and they can find out what's going on. But right now, you're talking to a board that probably hasn't heard these issues. And then the superintendent probably had it looked into and has a different or a like update or report or it's ongoing or some answer to this that that he can fill the board on. But these are student issues and personnel issues. So, we can't discuss them at a board meeting. Okay. But your points are are well taken by the board and I'm sure they'll ask the superintendent about it. Don't be discouraged to speak up though. That's all.
033>> Thank you. Thank you for listening to me because you know I'm a mother who cares about your young sir. It's like you really don't care. >> No no no no. Let me let me preface what I am saying though. Okay. >> The board as an entity has legal restrictions on what it can discuss. >> Okay. So I'm obligated under the law to protect the board as an entity. Okay. It's not that they don't want to hear these things and then go through the right channels of looking into it. >> Okay. But I'm hearing it for the first time, too. And Yeah. >> Okay. So, >> so we'll look into it now. >> Yeah. >> As a board, >> don't don't be discouraged. And just so just to make it just so that you understand
034it, he has to protect the board. That means you as a taxpayer. It's not us, the bodies. is the bod taxpayers. Remember, you live here. There's people who don't and and they might find this. Don't be discouraged. We heard you loud and clear. >> See this view this meeting as if we were standing outside and there would be conversations that you wouldn't want us to have in front of other people, right? Like related to this, that's the what's that's what he's trying to help protect your own interest. We can't talk about this out loud because we're in public. We would have to talk about it where in a closed session where we can discuss your concerns and whatever is found without any of these other people hearing that. >> We're not ignoring you. I promise
035you we're not. >> Did he want to >> I don't know. Are you coming up? >> No. Oh. Um, do I have a motion to close hearing of the citizens? >> Motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any dis any board discussion? All in favor? >> I guess is Good evening everyone. Good night to close it. >> Oh, do I have a motion to close? >> No. Executive session. >> No. Excuse me. Do I have a motion to close? >> Motion cruise. >> Cruz. Do I have a second? >> Second. [laughter] All in favor? Any? >> Good night.