001Give a few seconds. Are we good? Yep, we're good. >> Yeah. But >> okay, we're going to move on. Uh, no one's online, but we'll move in. Uh, call to order the regular meeting of the Bagota Board of Education for Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Please stand for the flag salute. To the flag, United States of America to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Good evening everyone. >> I know >> 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 this provision with the provisions of this act, the BOD
002board of education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the BOD burough hall communicated by letter to the record file with the clerk of the bureau of bod and posted on the bod board of education website. Fon >> Mrs. Alvarez absent. Uh Mr. Alvarez >> present. Mrs. Cruz >> present. >> Mr. Navaro. Mrs. Olivo >> present. >> Miss record >> present. >> Mr. Chavez >> present. >> Mr. Miranda >> present. >> We have the quorum. >> For the record, Mrs. Alvarez is uh behind schedule in Europe. Um so also present superintendent Damian Kennedy, board attorney Thomas Cobin, school business administrator and board secretary Epsil, and our lovely assistant board secretary Elizabeth Ruiz. I'd like to open I'd like to move to 21 which
003is opening the floor hearing of the citizens. Do I have a uh on agenda items only? Do I have a motion to move? >> Olivo. Do I have a second? >> Alvarez. >> Mr. Alvarez. Any board discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Any member, please state your name. You have five minutes to address agenda items only. Do we have anyone? We have no one. Okay, I'd like to close hearing on citizen agenda items only. Have a motion. >> Motion, >> Mrs. Rocket and Mr. Chavez for a second. Liz, you're good. All right. Um, moving on to the superintendent's report. >> I do my full report right now. >> Yeah, however you want to do. You want to do the report first? >> Yeah, just do your report. And >> good evening. Uh
004we have a very very busy summer going on right now with a lot of projects going on. Uh as everyone knows, fields are open. We still have some items to finish up down there, but most importantly, we're hoping that PSSE ENG gets there this week to provide electricity. Once electricity is provided, we will be able to light up the fields, which will be a great thing. CTE building was provided with power today. Next up, the elevator has to be installed. We're hoping that we're going to be able to get students in there uh in the middle of September. But most importantly, we're fully staffed there. We have a auto mechanic, we have a culinary, and we have a cyber security teacher. Three very tough positions to fill, but we were able to do that. So,
005we're excited about that. The high school auditorium and the Bixby gym are well underway and moving along. We will be starting the school year with these projects continuing into September. Plans have been put together to deal with these spaces not being available for the start of the school year. All security vestibules were installed over the summer and are ready for the start of the school year. We are scheduling a big homecoming 100redyear celebration of BHS this year in October. Starting Friday night, October 23rd, there will be a lot of games going on. We're planning bonfires, possible fireworks. possible fireworks. >> We're gonna get them >> Saturday games all day. Um and then school tours. Hopefully all our projects are done at that time, but school tours. And then we're going to finish up Sunday with
006the 5K race uh run by the athletic department. So that's going to be a great weekend around here. So make sure to put that on your calendars. Again, October 23rd through the 25th. >> 23rd to Thursday. >> I'm sorry. Oh, because Thursday night's the first game. I'm sorry. The first game is Thursday. Yes, first game. >> 4 day weekend. >> Um, new teacher orientation is tomorrow. Um, more uh and which is great. We are fully staffed. All our teaching positions are staffed. I've talked to a lot of superintendents in the area and they are very short staffed right now. So, in BOD, as of today, we are fully staffed and we are excited about that. All staff reports back next Tuesday, September 2nd, right here. Uh we're inviting the board members as well that we're
007going to have a breakfast in the morning, a little kickoff meeting with everyone here and then we will get into our professional development. Uh so I will send an email reminder and invite to every but again next Tuesday around 8:00 we will be meeting here for breakfast. The whole staff, everyone that's involved in the staff tries to get to that when we can. And then each year we have to present our testing data and it's very stringent when we only have a certain amount of days and I can't make it to September. So I do have to submit I do have to report on that right now. So bear with me. It's good information but I just don't like to start our school year going into testing data. All right. So, this is our NJ
008GPA and Access for Lis testing that's conducted in the spring. Access for L is our annual English language proficiency for English language learners. And the NJ GPA is our graduation proficiency assessment for all juniors. The NJ GPA is required by state law to as a graduation requirement. So, it's based off of ELA grade 11 and math grade 11, ELA 10th grade standards, and algebra 1 and geometry standards. The purpose is the graduation assessment for 11th graders. Now remember, a lot of our students take the PSATs, the SATs, and they can already they can already have a graduation pathway, but still must sit for this test. Cutoff score is 725 if you're considered graduation ready at if you are greater than 725. This year we had 99 students participating in the building, 106 because we also
009have to consider district-wide students. This year graduation ready in the district in ELA was 87% close to 88%. Uh the state was at 80%. And then in math we were 52% and the state was 58%. So again with math we continued to make strides there but we did fall a little behind there. But we do have some more information coming up. But if you look at our trends over the last three years, our ELA, I would again I will put our ELA scores up against anyone with 70% Hispanic population and over 50% free and reduced lunch. We are at 88% proficient. Again, I I dare someone to see me with our numbers and get better in ELA scores in that four-year trends in Bagota. As you could see uh after that COVID year and the
010score being at 750 when the score went to 725 but you can see the state comparison and the district comparison we went from 90 to 81 to 88. Once you get over 80% again we're dealing with you know 90 to 100 students one or two students as a percentage point at this point in time. Four-year trend for math we were at 36 44 55 and 53. again just a little bit below the state and then we have to break it out by cohorts male female who are considered graduation ready uh again furpa we cannot present a lot of the data because we don't have enough students in each in each e ethnic or race so we cannot give those details but as you could see Hispanic is 82 91% graduation so we went up uh
011and then white was 90 in 2004 and 80%. Non-free reduced 80 85 free reduced 83 90 students with IEPs 52 and this year 64 uh students without 91 and 92. So any student without an IEP was 92% pass rate nonMLS and then MLS 50% pass this year. Math again that's something that we continue to work on. The numbers speak for themselves. Overall district average 53 last year was 55. Uh females were 59%, males were 46, Hispanic were 58 uh last year 51% this year. White was 60 and 60. Uh free and reduced 53 47 this year. Last year 58 non 61 students with IEPs 14%. This year we did not have a student pass. students without 69 and 61 nonMLS 58% 57 and then fura last year and 10% this year. So, compared against the
012state, when you break out the ELA scores, literacy,formational, vocabulary, expression, conventions, compared to the state, as you can see, vocabulary is something that we're going to uh hone in on this year because that was the one thing we were lacking where we were just about above everywhere else for math. Uh, major contact supporting, contact reasoning, and modeling. Uh, you could see where we were just a little bit behind the state. I'm going to get into that in a second. Observations for ELA. We are on par with the state each year. In 2025, ELA readiness is 7% above the state. EL ELA proficiency over the past three years is relatively stable. Vocabulary is a challenge. We look to collaborate and create systematic vocabulary instruction. So, we're going to our action steps continue to provide structured writing
013instruction and opportunities for students. seeing strong writing improvements sustain strengths, standardize and work on three common writing benchmarks, continue to offer afterchool turtoring, uh, tutoring and summer instruction for struggling students, and then work with the English department to improve vocabulary instruction and adjust academic programming. We want to look to improve rigor and support special education students. So the good stuff for us is that each year we're picking out where we're having tough time and then that next year we're we're honing in on those areas and really seeing improvement. Again, in a small district like we have when we put these programs into place, we can see that improvement or if it's not working immediately. Math analysis. So, uh, steady improvement, positive trends in math over three-year periods. We're going to continue to provide scheduling to
014support eighth grade and algebra 1. So this current group of juniors that took this test that we're focusing on has not been a part of the last two years of the uh of last year when we started to improve math 8 and algebra 1. So we've really started to hone in on algebra 1 and math 8 by increasing instruction time using norm benchmarks and then providing academic to support for any student. And what I'm very looking forward to is when we present our NJSLA scores, you're going to see our math scores are really starting to blossom. So what we're doing is working. So we're happy to see that. So that's next presentation. That'll probably be next month. That's going to have to be out. But we've been reviewing that data over the summer. Access for
015L's testing. I can't get too much into this because the the furpa, but this is for our ESL students or uh ML, multiple language learners. It's a two to measure a multil- language learner's proficiency in English language. So they're assessed in the four domains, speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We start in grades K through 12, right? So these are the languages that we're dealing, but 88% are are Spanish speakaking. As you can see our trends, if you look at this over the years, in 2020, we only had 62 multilanguage learners. This year we had 109. Um but um we're not seeing a big increase this summer. We're not getting a lot of transfer students for whatever that reason is. And there, you know, you can make your uh assumptions on why, but we're not seeing
016multil- language learners coming from other countries right now. Just composite scores over the last couple years and trends. We're staying steady. Again, our population continues to grow. We're going to continue to focus on reading and comprehension activities to increase proficiency levels for all uh multil- language students. Provide explicit writing instruction training for teachers. Make sure that our students are are speaking and conversating in in English. And I think a big thing that we started doing is our check and connect mentors that we are connecting a adult in the building who is touching base with students and their parents to make sure they are assimilating to the district and understand all the opportunities and all the resources that are here for them. So that has been a big help and working with these students to make
017sure that they have the proper support. And that concludes my testing presentation. Does anyone have any questions on the testing presentation? Yes, sir. >> We're all good. >> I'm good. Moving on. >> Anything else with the report or >> No, that's it. I'm done. >> Okay. >> So, so the next thing we're going to do as part of the superintendent's report is, as everyone knows, um, Adrianne Alcal submitted her resignation, which was effective earlier this month. uh the board advertised and uh posted for the position and as I understand it we we did receive one letter of interest or resume uh from Miss Salam. So what we're going to do is uh the the board I think uh the president distributed four interview questions. So we'll we'll go through those interview questions with Miss Salam.
018And uh after that if there's any questions there's only one candidate. So, if if someone does have a question on a procedural issue or something like that, we can go into executive session, although I'm not sure we're going to need it. Um, but after the interview, uh, if if the board wishes to proceed without the executive session, then we would take a nomination and then a vote to close nominations and then um after that uh we would do a vote to appoint the candidate. Uh, and then after that, uh, M. uh will swear the candidate in and the person will take the seat on the board and participate in the balance of the meeting. Okay. So that's kind of that's the process that we'll go through. Okay. So I think if Miss Salam if you'd
019like to step up to the podium and we'll start the interview process. >> Sure. So I I I basically put it on the four first people who arrived and gave you those questions. Those came uh recommended by the New Jersey Board of Education website. They have a l of questions. So I selected well attorney selected four questions and I guess I'll start the first one and then >> yeah that sounds good. >> Um Pasim Salam good evening. First of all you're gonna just he's going to help you with the microphone. Uh, first I want to thank you on behalf of myself and I'm sure the board as well. Having a vacancy is sometime tough, but also stepping up and and willing to do what we're doing is is uh is gratifying to know that there's
020someone who cares to do that. So, thank you. Thank you so much. >> Uh, so I'm going to go on to my first question. Um, it's more of an open question. It's why do you want to serve on the Bota Board of Education? Evening everybody. Uh, thank you for >> Can you try to get the mic? >> Wait, is it Can you hear me now? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Sorry. >> Okay. Sorry. Uh, good evening everybody. Uh, thank you for giving me this opportunity. And um, the reason I like to be on the board is like over all the years. >> You can't hear her, right? >> Can you get that? >> Can you hear me now? >> There you go. >> Can you hear me now? >> Yeah, I think I'm giving you
021on the V. Thank you. >> All right. So, I've been a long-term resident of Bagota almost 33 years, and I would like to and I've seen over all the years of how well the board of BOE has accomplished over the years in our school district, and I'd like to be a part of that. >> Thank you. >> So, how are you? >> Good. How are you? >> Thank you very much for stepping up. It's very important for all of us to do that. So, thank you. Thank you. >> Um, in your view, what is the greatest challenge facing the bug smooth? >> Okay. So, like I was saying, um, BOE has done a wonderful, wonderful job for past couple of years and have you guys have made the track team, the track field for our
022kids to make a new track field. It was like which was well needed and deserved for our kids and it was long time it was coming as being a parent I had to take my kids somewhere else to play or they had to go for somewhere else but now they don't have to go anywhere they can be right here in our town playing the track doing the soccer and all that stuff all the sports which I'm very happy and also making the new trade school so which I'm really proud of that because the kids can do better, you know, like they can I'm sorry, I'm just so nervous. Please don't mind me >> if I mumble up. >> So like the kids is good for the kids for the trade school. >> Who kids who
023don't want to go to college or something, they can do this and make the trade and you know like uh get a better education as well and go into jobs that are like you know I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Good time. Have a good time. >> Um, but I like to be a part of this challenge that's happening. >> So, I really apologize. >> Well, I don't want you to be nervous. So, but I'm going to ask um are there any particular goals or policies you would like to see the board pursue or address? As an active member of a Muslim community which growing here in our town, I would like to see our community along with all the other communities join together and improve our kids' future in our education and the education field. >>
024Thank you. Okay, I have a question for you. Sure. >> Um, what perspective or experiences will you be able to contribute to the board? >> Okay, that comes back to the trade school. So, I'm working in a manufacturing company as an account specialist. So, with that, I would like to use that my trade thing. So maybe like the partnership with the school so that way it'll help the kids make a right decision for career-wise and as well and being a children of five kids who have gone through bottom was 27 years they have all my kids have gone through system has come a long way. Bagota has come a long way from my oldest one to my youngest one and I would love to be a part of that accomplishments of all you guys have
025worked hard for everything. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody have any other >> Okay. Um uh so does anybody else have any like other questions, follow-up questions they want to, you know, as to any clarification on the comments or anything like that? I think it was pretty straightforward. So, um does anybody have a need to go into executive session to clarify anything or understand the procedures? Um, and if not, what we could do is I would I would ask the board president to just ask for a nomination. Uh, there can't be more than one nomination. So, uh, we would close that with a formal vote after the nomination and then we would I'd ask the board president to take a vote. >> We proceed. >> Proceed. Proceed. >> All right. Do I have a
026nomination to appoint Tasim Salam? >> Nominate. >> Okay. So Olivo for the nomination. Who second it? >> Navaro. >> Navo. And then >> roll call. >> Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Navaro. >> Absolutely. >> Yes. >> Okay. Sorry. Mrs. Solivo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ruckett. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chavez. Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> That's to close the nominations actually and then we got to do a vote to appoint. >> Okay. So uh may I have a vote to a motion to move the appointment of tasin salam that's a chavez >> second >> rocket for a second any board discussion >> roll call from >> Mr. Alvarez Mrs. Cruz >> yes >> Mr. Navaro >> yes >> Mrs. Sivo >> yes >> Miss Rackett >> yes
027>> Mr. Chavez >> Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Welcome, Tasnim. >> Thank you. You Thank you so much. >> So, we're going to do the swearing in now. >> We are so lucky to have you. I'm so happy to have you up here. >> Thank you. I'm so sorry. I'm so nervous. It's okay. It's okay. >> I was I was horrible at it when I was when it was my turn up there to film. fumble that football, >> huh? You don't remember? >> Well, we were lucky. Our first time we were on Zoom. >> Okay. >> Zoom. >> So, the camera stopped. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, Zoom. >> And it was still near. >> I wasn't so lucky. I had to stand there upstairs. The second time >> I this
028name salam do solemnly swear or affirm >> that I will support the constitution of United States and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. do the same and to the governments established in the United States and the states under the authority of this people of the people. So help me God. I this name Salam do solemnly swear or affirm that I possess a qualification prescribed by law of the office of members of the board of education and I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS19 column 4-1 nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offensive listed in NJSA 18A column 12-1 >> and that I will faithfully partially and justify justly perform all the duties of that office
029according to the best of my ability. So help me God. >> Congratulations. >> I think she's means so help me Allah. All right. Aside from this, is there anything else on here? She's like staying from >> Welcome again, Tasnney. Welcome again. Yes. So, so just so you know, for today you should abstain on absolutely everything that comes up next as you just sat. >> No, just a minute. >> Oh, just the minutes. >> Yeah. You >> uh >> she wasn't here for that meeting. So, >> and if she feels comfortable, >> I think she should have stayed to agenda items as well. Just >> just It's her first time. She's Yeah. Let her get acquainted. >> They can go online. >> No, no, no. But, but I I I that's what I'm saying. just abstain
030all the way through. Um, but I do want to make uh just give a little bit of I want to thank you. I really do want to thank you. I want to thank you for for various reasons. Um, when we took on this journey uh one, two, three, four, about six of us, seven of us on this board, one of the things that we were in search for was diversifying what uh what what the previous board uh looked like. And I mean look like in in all walks of life, not color, face or greed, but just just what believes were and and and we did it right. There's all sorts of backgrounds here, whether they the old beosians, new begosians, as I often call them. I I refrain from that now, but you got to
031know where the past was to move forward in life. And and I will say that it it has been it has been such a um long thought to see the Muslim community uh come up and rise in our in our school district and get involved. Um I have been longtime friends and and maybe they probably see me as an adult, right? Um to some of the Muslim children. Um, and it's been an honor to watch them be at the top of their classes, uh, go on to great universities, be great runners and great track uh, individuals and and just everything that they've contributed to this community. And I must say, you know, that's why I want to make sure that we are all inclusive as as we've been preaching for a long time. And and
032I would say it right, thank you to God. I'm a Christian and c and there's Catholism, but but you know, thank you to Allah, right? that's who you worship and we take that proud. I I want to say though that it is the first time that I can remember to see someone of the Muslim community sit on this board. And if if that doesn't make if that doesn't rattle someone's cage and all we believe in, it's insane because that's exactly what we look and and and I know that people just don't get up and say, "I'm going to go sit on this crazy board." I'm I'm just saying that, right? But or I'm going to sit on all this. you do it because you see great things happening and you I think you've made that
033statement very clear. Um and it's just good to have more kindness and more more people involved and I will say that that support system you have back there is absolutely beautiful and kudos to you. Um so I just want to say you know um keep bringing the Muslim community about keep talking uh you know I fought for my community and everyone else here as well. It's about every community. Everybody's gone through it, right? Because if anyone sat up here and say, "Well, I don't think about uh doing this or that." At the end of the day, you're here to serve. You're here to represent your community. And I'm really, really proud of that. So, I really, really, really, truly want to thank you. And I'll say this. >> Um, we're 4.3, right? >> Yes. Yeah.
034>> Yep. No, we're moving into Okay. So, moving on to 4.3 uh resolution, which is the approval of June 17th, 2025 regular open and close meeting minutes. Do I have a motion to move 43? >> Motion. >> Rocket. Do I have a second? >> Olivo. Any board discussion? Roll call. >> Uh, Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Navaro? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Olivo? >> Yes. >> Miss Ruckett? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Salam >> abstain Mr. Chavez >> Mr. Miranda >> yes >> motion carried >> no policy resolutions this evening moving on to 6.3 in the education section of approval of agenda item 61 to 633 is probably the largest do I have a motion to move 634 >> Olivo do I have a second >> rocket any board discussion roll
035call >> Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Navaro. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Solivo. >> Yes. >> M. Reckert. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Salam. >> Absent. >> Mr. Chavez. Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Moving on. >> Thank you. Moving on to the personnel section. Uh, resolution 728, uh, which approves 71 through 727. Do I have a motion to approve 728? >> Motion. >> Do I, uh, Navara, right? Do I have a second? Chavez. Any board discussion? >> Roll caller. Fon. >> Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Navaro? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Solivo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rackett? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Salam? >> Absent. >> Mr. Chavez. Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to 8:16. Resolution in the finance section which is
036approve agenda items A1 through 8:15. Do I have a motion to move 8:16? Thank you, Chavez. Do I have a second? Alvarez. >> Alvarez, I got you this time. Any board discussion? Roll call. An >> Mr. Alvarez? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Navaro? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Solivo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rackett? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Salam? >> Abstain. >> Mr. Chavez? >> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda? >> Yes. >> Motion carry. >> Moving on to 93, buildings and ground section. Do I have approval of agenda items one? Uh, 91 through 92. I apologize. Uh motion to move 93 >> motion. >> Okay. So that was Rucket or Chavez at the same time. So I'll give it to Rucket and then Chavez. Is there a sec? I mean any discussion? Roll caller.
037F. >> Mr. Oliver? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Navaro? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Olivo? >> Yes. >> Miss Rackett? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Salam? >> Absent. >> Mr. Chavez? >> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda? >> Yes. >> Motion carry. >> Committee reports 101. Any members with committee reports? All right. We had the ribbon cutting. As you all know, children and adults and senior citizens and dogs and bikes are using the fields having a lot of fun. Um, so it's actually really nice down there. It's impressive. I, you know, for those who haven't used it, please do so. Um, I will tell you that it's very comfortable on your feet. If you go around, four and a half times is a mile. >> Four times is a mile. So if you get two
038miles in, your Apple Watch will say you got all your cardio in. Make sure you do that. We have healthy hearts in Bagota now. So moving on to agenda. Old business, any old business? Any new business? Okay, I'm going to open the floor. I'm moving 131. Open the floor to the hearing of the public. Is there a motion to move the hearing of the public? >> Olivo. Do I have a second? >> Cruz. Is there any board discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. So, any member, please state your name. You have five minutes. Absolutely. Anything you want to talk about. Come on up. >> Hi, good evening everyone. Nadia Hussein. I'm a TK resident. So, import from Tene. I just wanted to congratulate you guys on Tim Salam. She is a phenomenal lady. I've
039worked with her. She brings energy, passion, enthusiasm to whatever she does. and I know that she will leave a mark on this board. So want to say congratul congratulation to steam welld deserved. Thank you guys very much. Also appreciate your thoughts on diversity, inclusivity. Uh we live in a time where we know that's being shunned upon and it's more and more we're seeing less of it. So for Boda board of to say something like this, it's really heartfelt. We take it to our heart seriously. We wish more communities would express the thoughts that you express. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Hello everyone. This is a man behind this woman lady there. They say behind every man there is a woman, right? She was the woman who I am today. What I do at
040my company, what I did in my community. Um, not to brag or anything. I run a company. I'm a director of operations at Acme Gear Company. It's a manufacturing plant in Angalo, New Jersey. One of the only ones left in this area and luckily she works for me, but not at home. So, she's the boss at home. So, >> okay. >> But, uh, overall, I mean, my all my five kids grew up in Bota. She was a full-time mom for 27 plus years, 28 years almost. And um thank god she did a wonderful job. All my five kids are doing excellent in the in their areas. The oldest one is an eye doctor. Second was an second one is a pharmacist. Ali who was sitting here he was the validictorian here in Bagota High School
041and he's going to be a doctor also. And the fourth one um Hamza he's doing his computer science in Mamameapo College full scholarship. And the fifth one, Hussein, who's sitting here, he's uh I guess one of the good students here. I want to just keep it at that. But the thing is, Bagota has given us a lot. And this is the time I think we thought, we sat, she came up and she said, I'm going to do this. And there was a lot of support in the community, a lot of support from a lot of friends. Um and uh you know we are here uh I've been very active in my mosque here in tene in the arislah. I was I've been one of the longest serving executive members. I was vice president, secretary, communications
042director. Uh so I know a little bit of community service too but now we want to give it back to the community where we are living for so long. So this is the time and anything we could do as one of the best things that you have done is that uh business uh trade school or something that you're starting I'm here to help. I'm here to see what you know kind of uh uh you know positive motivation I can give. So we are here and we need that because we in manufacturing we are very behind. Sorry to say that because we don't have operators, we don't have machinists. We have such a hard time finding machinists. >> Mhm. >> And we need that. We need our niche back here. I mean, Acme Gear company is
043one of the oldest companies in this area. One of the only ones in United States actually built 1929 since Long Island. Then moved to Ingal, New Jersey here. And Acme Gear is one of the finest producers of precision gears in the world actually. But the problem is our market is shrinking and our jobs are going out of this country. And I don't want to go into that, you know, stuff. But as I said, we are here. Thank you so much for all of you for giving us this opportunity and uh we are here and she is of course she'll be a tigress hopefully. Thank you. Bye-bye. >> Thank you. >> Hi everyone. Thank you. I'm so proud to be here. I've been in Bota 42 years now. Uh so my daughter graduated here too as
044well and I think uh if you want to look at the immigrant story right you come to a different land you learn the language you learn the culture you struggle my first job was cutting lawns for 10 bucks uh a house uh shoveling snow then I got a job in Paramis the staples that used to be there uh I actually attended Richfield Park and I moved over here like my the end of my senior year so they said no no no finish up don't worry about it otherwise I would have gone here as well. So anyway, but we just want to thank you. Uh congratulations and we want to do more, you know. I I want to like I remember Mayor Feed, she had scholarships. I was like, who's this lady? She comes every year
045and she I want to do that, you know. I want to help mentor kids. If there's somebody needs a resume, uh like an application, a LinkedIn profile build, whatever, tutoring, rely on me. I'll do what I can cuz America's given so much to us. Bora's given so much to us. We're proud to be in Bora. and my friends say, "Oh, why don't you move to this town?" I'm like, "No, no, no. You move to our town. Our town's the best." So, I just that's why we're here to support uh everybody. Uh so, thank you so much. Again, it's a wonderful town, welcoming town. People care for each other and uh we we love Queen Anne Road. I tell people this is the most accessible, Think about this, the most accessible town in America. You want
046to go to California, you get on Route 80, bam, 3,000 miles. You want to go to Florida? Get on a turnpike. Bam. Like 1500 miles. You want to go to Canada? I'm like, I feel bad for all the Bergenfield folks and the Cresco folks, half an hour on Washington Avenue. Stop and go. Bagora is the place to be. So, thank you so much. Congratulations. And we will do more. Uh, that's our commitment. Thank you so much. I appreciate >> Thank you. That was a good one. Well, >> yes. Yes. Rob, you know who we have to make a commercial for real estate, right? The most accessible town in the country. >> Good point. >> Hey, my name is Hussein Salam. Um, I just wanted to say like, you know, I just thought about this like
047while I was sitting there. um you know like me and my team like you know the track cross country kids we are so thankful for the field that you guys have you know put your time money and like uh thoughts into um you know my coach Rockford um he he carries a leaf blower on the track uh blowing away the geese poop every time we're done with practice and I'm just looking at him I'm like dang you know like for so many years we have like a gravel track where like so many people have gotten like such like bad injuries from and stuff but now when I go there at 8 o'clock in the morning every day this I see people like old people, young people, you know, middle-aged people running on the track, jogging
048on the track with their families and everything. So, honestly, like that's probably like one of the best things I've seen happen to this town and like everyone coming there and like having fun. Honestly, like I see a really big and bright future, not only for our school and like our athletics, but for Bod itself. So, I just want to say thank you for that. >> Thank you. Wow. Anyone else in person? All right, we have we do have someone online. >> Ana. Ana. >> Yes. >> Hello. >> Um, my name is Ana Be. I'm a longtime BOD resident. Proud to be a BOD resident. Just wanted to say congratulations to Miss Dasim. We are so so proud of you. You did it. Women empowerment. God bless you. Congratulations again. Go Bagota. Thank you so much
049Bagota board. We are very happy to be on your board. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That was Wow. A small meeting bigger than the year. Anyone else? >> Anyone else? Okay. So, unfortunat, you know, you never have hardly ever you have these great positive meetings. So, it's a sad one to leave tonight, but again, thank you so much. Thank you so much. This is what it's about. It's all about this. Thank you so much. Um, do I have a motion to close hearing of citizens? You could tell I don't want to go home, right? >> I have a motion. Chavez, do I have a second? >> Alvarez. Got them again. All in favor? >> Any nayers? No. So, so we're closing it. And do I have a med? Do I have
050a motion to adjurnn? >> Alvarez. Do I have a second? >> Oh, sorry. >> Cruz. >> Was that Cruz? Yes, that's a second. All in favor? >> I >> Sorry. >> Have a good evening everyone. >> Thank you everybody for giving me this