001and Paul usually. >> Welcome to the January 29th, 2026 Hillsboro County Board of Education meeting. In accordance with the state Sunshine Law of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting of the Hillsboro County Board of Education was [clears throat] provided on January 23rd, 2026 to the Hillsboro beacon and the courier. Can we take the role? Mr. Eric CR here. >> Miss Jackson [clears throat] >> here. >> Miss Craig >> here. >> Miss Lanning Beater. Mr. Marini, >> Miss Nurse >> here, >> Miss Stats >> here, >> Mr. Rojo >> here, >> and Mr. Davis >> here. >> We have quum. Whereas the open public meetings act chapter 231 of the laws of 1975 provides that a public body may exclude the public from that portion of a meeting of which the public body discusses certain
002matters from which confidentiality is required as permitted in section 7B of the act. uh resolved by the board of education of the township of Hillsboro and the county of Somerset State of New Jersey as follows. The matters to be discussed is an HIB appeal. The matters discussed in executive session shall be disclosed to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. May I have a motion for >> So move second. >> Motion is passed. So we'll adjourn until 7:30. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Hey. Hey. Hey. [music] >> [music] >> me. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Hey. Hey. Hey. [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey, hey, hey. [music] Heat. [music] Hey. Hey.
003Hey. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey. >> [music] [music] >> My kid's not going to college. It's [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey. Hey. Hey. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat [music] up [music] here. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Good evening. We are back from executive session. Uh, thank you for joining us. Mr. Eert, would you please take the role again? >> Mr. Eron CR here. Miss Jackson >> here. >> Miss Craig >> here. >> Miss Lanny Beer. Mr. Marini. Miss Nurse >> here, >> Miss Stats >> here, >> Mr. Trillo >> here, >> and Mr. Davis >> here. >> We have a quorum.
004Let's rise for the pledge of >> allegiance to it stands nationisible andice for all. We have uh correspondence from the community and we have the board president's report and that is me and the uh most significant thing uh for tonight is to site the liaison positions that had not been cited in the uh opening meeting in January because they hadn't been assigned yet and they are listed for you. Do I need to read these individually? Are you changing this one >> from Mr. not being able to make the meetings? >> I have not been aware of that. >> Yeah, she sent the email the email yesterday this morning that she did not make the meetings, but you can always change that later. >> Yes, I don't I don't think you need the reading to say
005as listed. >> They're in the agenda. >> Yeah, we may be having one change to liazison. >> Yeah, I just was informed of that. So, we'll announce that change when it comes. >> Uh, superintendent report. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I am very excited to start the superintendent report uh by mentioning uh something Dr. Ireland brought to my attention a little bit of time ago. We have a fantastic community member, Donetta Johnson, who is here with us tonight, and she is going to be making a donation to the Hillsboro Board of Education, which will be formally accepting later by a motion. So, I would like to invite uh Miss Johnson to the podium as well as Dr. Ireland and anybody else who would like to come up to talk about the donation from the Jonah
006Johnson Foundation as well as what we will be doing with that generous um donation. So, please feel free to come up and and chat. Come on, Dr. Get everybody. [applause and cheering] Just in terms of what we'll be doing uh with this wonderful donation, uh Miss Johnson uh challenged me earlier this school year with can you find organizations that can uh that focuses on what her foundations focuses on and that is how mental health uh can be supported through the arts. And so we found some wonderful PD opportunities. They're going to come in and do two sessions for us on February 17th with how social emotional learning and mental health well-being can be supported across um neurode divergent as well as our our standard population students. So it's going to be a very exciting day.
007The teachers are jazzed. The teachers have some input into how the sessions were designed. So it's a fantastic opportunity. And then here's the data. >> Thank you Dr. Arland. Uh, good evening to the Hillsboro Board of Education and to Whoa. [laughter] [laughter] >> My name is Donetta Johnson. I'm the founder of the Allegra School of Music and Arts and the My Son Your Daughter, the Jonah Johnson Youth Scholarship Fund. The Jonah Johnson Scholarship Fund celebrates our youth, supports mental health training and suicide prevention programming through the arts and education. I started this fund to honor my son Jonah who struggled with and lost his battle with depression. He was 17 years old in 2009. Today we want to make sure that the school systems and community members have the support they need to overan overcome
008and win against depression. Tonight I'm joined by my son Jordan. um Algra's performance and education manager, Sarah Adams, and Yuri Martyr, our communications director. Um we are thrilled to present this check to the Hillsboro Arts District for $3500. We are so happy to support Hillsboro's kids as your community partner. [applause] and [applause] President Marie wants to thank you personally. He'll he'll take the big check [laughter] to the big bank. >> Um second Oh, sorry. Represent Davis. Yeah, sorry about that. [clears throat] All happens die hard, I guess. And Miss Johnson, I just wanted to take a note uh a minute to thank you not only for your kind consideration of the donation, but for sharing personal story with your son and I think you have done a tremendous way to honor um him through this
009and we will make sure that these resources get in the right places. So, I just like one more round of applause. [applause] Thank you. So, awkwardly shifting gears, [laughter] uh, the second half of my superintendence report tonight has to do with the annual uh, requirements for or the annual refresher for board members and their ethics training. And tonight, we will have that ethics training uh, with our attorney, Mr. Doug Sylvestro, who's reporting to the podium. and I [clears throat] will have the display right behind me. So Doug, whenever you're ready, >> please feel free. >> Uh, thanks for having me everybody. Uh, this is going to be a much less exciting presentation than the one we just had. So, apologies in advance for that. Um, thank you for a very good opening. Um, I know
010that most of you have had uh gone through the school ethics act with previous attorneys and in other capacities and settings. Um, each of you hopefully are are up on your mandated training uh provided by the New Jersey School Boards Association. That is something that is required for all new members and uh members when you are reelected to the board to get advanced training. So, make sure you don't skip out on that. This this is really a refresher, a chance for you guys to interact with your board council, but you do still have those training requirements uh from the state as well that only the school boards association can provide. Make sure you're keeping up on those. Um, as it says here, looks like we have some formatting issues on on the screen, but we
011we'll power through. Uh, I do not want to just read these slides to you folks that you will obviously have a copy of the presentation. You can look at at your leisure. Um, so I'm just going to hit some some main points as we go through tonight. Uh, really drive home a few things that it's important that all board members know. um that the school ethics act has a a handful of provisions to it that uh are important to keep in mind. The things that we're going to focus on mostly are the actual ethics act itself in terms of the code of conduct for board members as well as the conflicts of interest law. As you can see here um the ethics act the purpose is to establish the uh rules of the road for
012how to comport yourselves as as board members. Um, interestingly, while you do gain some power and authority as a me as an elected official and a member of this board, uh, you actually do give up a lot of rights when it comes to interacting and contracting and things like that because of the legal conflicts that those might create. The the purpose of the the law is to make sure that um you do not give a justifiable impression to the public that you have a conflict. So that's when we talk about all the various rules. That's the thing to keep in mind if you don't remember all the specifics is uh if by doing this thing would it give a justifiable impression to the public that I have a conflict of interest in my role as
013a board member. That's kind of the underlying theme of all of these things. >> So talk about here about the accountability. You know the obviously the your role as an elected official and a member of this board is very important. I'm sure it's very important to you. It's very important to the public. your role here in terms of policy and planning for this school district and the school children, the staff, the community is a very important role. Uh the school ethics act is is designed to make sure that you all live up to the standards that people will hold you to in terms of your conduct. Um as we note here again, board members and administrators, you have to avoid conflict which is a violation of the public trust which creates that justifiable impression among
014the public that such trust is being violated. We'll get into specifics of that going ahead. So kind of the core elements of what the school ethics act establishes. Um the school ethics commission is created by this act. Uh the commission is the obviously the organization that is in charge of um a number of things we'll get to but mostly it's about calling you know balls and strikes when it comes to board member conduct. Uh there's the standards for conflicts of interest. This is the uh this is the kind of standard conflict of interest that apply to a lot of elected officials. Um, each body has its own ethics rules, but this is the conflict of interest, things that prevent business dealings that would go in conflict and and serving in roles that would go in
015conflict with your role as the board member. There's the code of ethics. This is uh unique to boards of education. Um, really dives down into how your role is very unique uh in terms of an elected official but serving in a capacity that has a kind of a limited but very purposeful scope. Uh there's also a requirement in the ethics act about the annual submission of your disclosure statements. Uh if you have not done so already, make sure you talk with uh Mr. Ecket, your BA about the forms that you need to to file. Uh you do have to file every single year that you are a member of this board uh with the state of New Jersey. Uh disclosures of uh relatives that you have that may have uh uh be employed by the
016school district as well as uh any source of income that you have over a certain threshold. Um, these things have to be disclosed to the state. This is part of the making sure that you don't have conflicts. Just be aware too that, you know, you want to fill these forms out accurately, but these forms are publicly available. So, when you file these forms, they get filed in the state of New Jersey. Uh, anyone can look you up by name and see your financial disclosures for each year. So, just be aware of that as you serve. There's also training requirements, which I touched upon earlier. Um there are uh annual training requirements uh new member training requirements and reelected member training requirements all required by the act. Uh so first up the 18A 1224. This is
017the uh prohibited acts or the conflicts. Uh I'm not going to run through the entire statute. There's a number of provisions here. They're pretty technical in terms of legal ease. So I'm going to spare you. Uh what I have here are just kind of the major points of this applies to not just you as board members but anyone who is a school official. So anyone sitting at this deis today is a school official. Uh school official is generally defined as um anyone who's involved in in administration of the school district uh who has a say in the hiring process. So if your district as most do you know use principles as part of the hiring process and you know they have say over who's in their buildings to some degree. Obviously that final decision is
018with the superintendent and with board members. Um but if you involve principles or any level of admin in that process, they are school officials for purposes of the school ethics act. Uh so anyone from admin all the way up to people sitting here tonight. Uh the prohibited acts, the conflicts of interest law applies to you. These rules generally set forth again mostly it's about contracting and business relationships either for yourself or your family members or relatives. you can't be making money from the school district while you serve on the board of education. Um there are some exceptions. For example, there's in a lot of school districts uh board members whose families uh family members already work for the district by the time they get elected. That is allowed. Um we'll get into how you have
019to navigate those situations through abstaining, but that's not a legal conflict that would require you to not serve on the board of education. So something to keep in mind. But um again the prohibited acts largely deals with prohibited um receiving gifts and favors essentially you know they don't call it bribes but it's bribes uh in order to take specific action right um giving up your your uh independent judgment on behalf of special interest groups. These types of things the kind of traditional um if you saw it you'd know it was inappropriate kind of acts. That's what's covered by this first section. Uh, next up is the code of ethics for the school board members. Um, this is the more specific. Again, this does not apply to all school officials. This doesn't apply to your your
020superintendent, your BA. This is just for you guys as members of the board of education. Um, the code of ethics section is frankly where most board members when they get into ethical trouble, this is where they trip themselves up. Um, you know, you're going to hear a lot from a lot of people, usually lawyers and administrators. um you have to uh restrain yourselves to uh not administering the schools but seeing that they are well-run. That language comes from the code of ethics. Um this is of the form that when you are sworn in as a board member uh you have that code of ethics that you have to sign that you've received uh and that you understand that the not the whole ethics act, not all the rules, just the code of ethics. They really
021want to drive home that you guys are following the code of ethics. Um, so again, the purpose of being a member of the board is is not uh surrendering your independent judgment, not having, you know, putting your personal opinions uh at the door. You're allowed to have personal opinions. That's why there are so many of you. Diversity of opinion to to help guide the district. Uh but these rules are set so that you understand that you do not act as an individual, you act as a board. Um that you don't administer the schools, you don't run the schools. to see that they are wellrun by keeping I might [laughter] your your administrators in check. Um this is to support your staff to not undercut them here at the day to watch your comments. Um so
022again this is the code of ethics is really important one. If you still have that sheet uh that you had to sign and get a copy of when you got sworn in great otherwise all of these rules the very specific technical language are available uh for free on the DOE's website. Um, if any of you have any questions about the requirements of either the the code of ethics or the prohibited acts, the conflicts of interest, um, please speak to the administration or your board president. Um, if they can't answer your question, I'm sure they'll put you in touch with me to make sure that you you get your answers uh to your questions. We want to make sure that, you know, please ask if you have a question about uh whether conduct is ethical or
023not before you actually do the thing. Um there's a process later we'll talk about in a second um about advisory opinions. There's a there's a way to make sure that you're not running a foul of these prohibitions and we'll get to if you happen to trip up uh and this goes through the process what that looks like some potential consequences. Uh again this is as we talked about confining your action to to policym and planning. Um seeing that the schools are wellrun move on to the next one. Again, recognizing the authority that rests with the board of ed and take making no personal promises, refusing to surrender your independent judgment, uh upholding the confidentiality of school matters, uh providing accurate information. So, this one again, things that uh we say in close session, stay in
024close session. Things you hear about students, about staff, any of these things that are not for public uh consumption are not for public consumption. Um, you can't use your membership uh or position on the board to, you know, gossip with the town about the things you hear enclosed. That would be a violation of the code of ethics. Um, you have to vote to appoint the best qualified personnel after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer. So, the board is not able to directly appoint anyone besides the superintendent of schools. Um, anything that's on the agenda for personnel has to come at the superintendent's recommendation. You are not a rubber stamp. um the uh the superintendent obviously is making recommendations to you about personnel items because he believes those things to be in the
025best interest of the district. You are allowed to uh give due consideration and disagree. Um that being said, those decisions still have to come from the superintendent and you as a board do your due diligence to to vote uh how you feel is appropriate, but you have to actually still vote for the best qualified personnel. You don't get to decide who those people are. Go to the next one. um you have to support and protect the school personnel in the proper performance of their duties. Uh this is make sure you follow the chain of command. Make sure that if someone comes to you from the community, this is often an area where uh board members can trip themselves up is that uh you you want to serve your constituents. You want to help people out.
026You're a member of the board. You know, you can do those things. You can certainly talk with people about their concerns, but you are ethically required to direct those people either to follow the chain of command of the district or refer them to the chief school administrator who can then uh address their concerns. You cannot as a board member directly address their concerns. If they have concerns about the district, it is not your role as a board member to see that their concerns are met, but to see them to the right chain of command or to the superintendent to actually address this. this kind of as a double duty of uh you don't get to administer the schools through proxy, right? Um you can't take upon the well someone came to me and said this
027and you can certainly then report that to the superintendent, make sure that the superintendent is following up on it. That is something you can certainly do as part of the superintendent's evaluation. Um but it is not something that you can personally take on to take action as a board member individually. uh unless the superintendent fails to do so or something as we had tonight an appeal comes to your level in which case you can act again as a board not an individual. Go to the next one. So the school ethics commissions nine members appointed by the governor uh two are members of boards of education two are administrators uh and five non-school officials. These are people that are political appointees uh um some with political connections, some because they volunteered. Uh so there's a mix
028of people with varying degrees of expertise. I will say that in in practice, a lot of the decision-m comes from the in-house uh staff attorneys and professionals that work with the ethics commission, but they have uh meetings just like any other agency like yourselves. They have public meetings, agendas, uh, and they will discuss advisory opinions, complaints, uh, and will eventually rule on complaints that come before them. Uh, school official, we we talked about this about who qualifies as a school official. We'll move on. The school ethics commission jurisdiction. So, they handle ethics complaints. Uh, they decide complaints filed by anyone, all caps. My office loves to emphasize this. Uh, there is a those of you who get to work with me more often. Uh, and I know that Dr. Rabbimus has heard this, anybody can
029sue you for anything at any time. Similarly, anyone can file an ethics complaint against you for any reason at any time. That doesn't mean it'll go through the whole process. Uh, but the ethics commission does receive and hear and deal with every single complaint. Anyone from the public can file a complaint against a board member alleging an ethics violation. Again, that doesn't mean that it's going to go very far if it's not a a reasonable or justified complaint, but just be aware of this is why we really focus again what I started this presentation on that justifiable impression of, you know, was the ethics act violated? Um because it's that impression that we have to worry about that impression that leads to to complaints. Um if the complaint is uh accepted, we'll move ahead to
030the next one for the the process. Um, one point actually on that last slide, you don't have to go back, but the here the um, advisory opinions I do want to drive home advisory opinions are something that you can request uh, on your own behalf or about one of your fellow members conduct. We'll start with on your own behalf first. Uh, the advisory uh, opinion process is free. Uh, you basically just write a letter to the ethics commission. They have on their website instructions on who to send that to. If you have a question about prospective conduct, you can't ask, "I did this thing. Was that okay?" They will not answer your question. They might actually start a complaint investigation process against you if they think it was not okay. But if you're concerned about,
031can I join this group? Can I participate in this event? Can I do this thing? Or if my family member works in the district, can I vote on the superintendent's contract? These are the questions that I haven't done this yet, but I'm curious if this is okay. The you can ask for an advisory opinion from the school ethics commission. it is anonymous. Um, you will get an answer. Uh, they'll consider it at their next meeting. You'll get an answer usually 30 to 45 days. So, you know, hopefully it's not an emergency you need to deal with. Um, if you need assistance in putting that together, again, speak to your administration, speak to your board leadership. I've assisted board members in the past kind of crafting and and understanding the issue. Um, sometimes you'll be surprised.
032You know, one of the things I talk about in terms of the ethics act really drives home you're not supposed to make money off the school district. Um, but sometimes if you just ask the question, it'll turn out that things actually are okay. I had a board member years ago uh who's a photographer who the PTA uh hired this photographer who's a board member to take all the prom pictures. Um, it was a big money event for her. But there was concerns of if I do this again now that I'm on the board, is that an ethics issue? Ethics commission heard it, issued her advisor opinion, said it's run by the PTA, not the school board. That's okay. Right? So sometimes you find out that everything's okay. Um, but the only way you're going to
033know is an advisory opinion. Uh, these are anonymous, meaning that the if the you're they're not publishing these publicly with your names on them. If the ethics commission uh hears your issue and says, you know what, this isn't just one person thing. We think it's important that everybody in the state hears about this, they'll make it anonymous. They'll take your name out. They'll take the name of the district out. They'll make it so you know, you know, person requests, board member A requests, and they'll actually publish. If you go to the school ethics commission website, there are decades of published advisory opinions. It was because some board member asked. Um again, there's a process that if you have question about one of your fellow members conduct prospectively, not something that they did, but something that
034they might do. Um you actually can ask the ethics commission to weigh in, you just have that extra step of you have to copy and notify your fellow board member who you're asking about so that they have a chance to weigh in to to the ethics commission. And then the ethics commission will issue an advisory in those cases as well. Um, in terms of the complaint process, uh, someone files a complaint with the director. Anybody can do this. Um, the people that file a complaint essentially prosecute the complaint against the board member. Uh, if the complaint is accepted, there's this initial determination by the ethics commission about whether or not to actually open the case uh, or proceed with the case. It's called the probable cause determination. a lot of complaints kind of die at
035that first step because on the that's why I said everybody could file these things but they have to get this past this hurdle of if true would this be a violation of the act and if it does it then goes forward for the ethics commission will hear it they'll send it to the um office of administrative law we'll go to the next one on the actions on complaints lay out the steps here I don't need to repeat them all but basically there's a hearing before the office of administrative law um there's the decision goes to the ethics commission they rule in the commissioner of education will issue a decision and then there are we'll skip ahead to the next one process before the OL it's it's a trial essentially um there's discovery there's witnesses it's
036it's not a fun process and it's not a a short or quick process either so um the the message of all this is try to avoid unethical behavior because you don't want to get wrapped up in the end of this go to the next one uh who's a relative I want to drive this home for a reason So the the law talks about two different kind of categories, three which I'll get to in a second. Uh immediate family members defined here as you would expect. Relatives uh very broad definition of what a relative is. Um obviously you're not allowed to have uh terms of the conflicts. Uh most of the provisions that prevent you from doing certain things, having certain relationships talks about relative, the broader term. Um but there are a number of provisions
037in the act that talk about or others. So the the one of the ones that trips people up is you are not allowed to have um use your position to give unwarranted advantages or privileges to immediate family members, relatives or others. The ethics commission has read that exactly as it reads, which is if you do use your position on the board to give pretty much anybody something that they didn't otherwise deserve, you pulled some favor for someone and they didn't deserve it. Uh you've committed an ethics act. doesn't matter whether they're an immediate family member or relative, a friend, a constituent. So again, the the issue is that justifiable impression gets you through the door. Make sure that you're acting, you know, in the best interest of the community and this board and not on
038behalf of individuals. Go to the next one. Uh so uh there's some just common classic ethics issues people trick themselves up over. One is, you know, entering in union contract negotiations when you have a relative employed by the school district. Big no no. Um take voting on personnel matters when you have relatives that you know doing things like voting on the contracts of people in the chain of command of your relatives. Um social media posts. Uh this is a whole presentation unto itself. I'm not going to get into too many case there's tons of cases backway. Um you have to be very careful if you're speaking on social media. You don't give up the right to spoke speak on social media or speak in the public just because you're on the board. you do have
039to be careful about when you're talking about board matters. Um because it's going to be very difficult for you to take off your board member hat when you're talking about board issues publicly. Um the the best recommendation I can give is if you want to talk about board matters, right here is where you do it. Um you can have a personal opinion, you could disagree with your co your colleagues. Um but when you go onto social media and you start doing it, you're opening yourselves up to that justifiable impression issue that we talked about before can lead to a lot of board issues. Uh there are you can also be on social media and talk about non-board things. Um you can get yourselves into trouble for those things too. But it's it's a smaller pool
040of things. The example up here about the kind of you know clearly grossly inappropriate comments on social media can impugn basically the board of ed which could be an ethics issue. Um, you'll be surprised at the amount of things that you can say that are generally inappropriate that aren't an ethics violation, but I'd prefer that you not go there [laughter] as your attorney. We'll move on to the next one. Uh, penalties issued by the commission. So, if you go through the complaint process, you have a complaint, you have a hearing, and it's found that you've violated some version of the act. There's uh four levels here of times of increasing penalty. Um, just like your progressive discipline in schools. uh and with staff you can skip levels depending on how severe the issue is. So
041the lowest level is a reprimand. It's a hey you shouldn't have done that but you know maybe this is a first-time offense maybe it's a small minor thing a technicality the issue what's called the reprimand which is a you violated the act don't do it again. It's that the decision is is is public, but it's not anything that gets broadcast everywhere that everybody gets alerted to. Unlike a censure, which is also essentially a reprimand, a you did a bad thing, don't do it again, but you have to actually read it out at a public board meeting. Hey, guess what? I got my hand slapped by the ethics commission. Uh after that, uh you jump right up to suspension. Your membership on this board of ed can be suspended by the ethics commission. During the period
042of suspension, you essentially aren't a member of the board. Um and then all the way up to removal. Um your membership can be terminated. It doesn't matter that the voters voted for you if you commit a serious uh violation of the act. You could be removed from the board. And just a note here about um if you were going to be removed, but by the time the decision comes out, you're not on the board. They'll just censure you and note that we would have removed you. But uh so just these are the kind of the levels and they jump up real fast. The most common that you'll see is a reprimander censure. Um there are things that you can do that get you kicked off. It is um one of the things surprisingly that can
043get you removed is those trainings. Make sure you do your trainings with the schoolboards association. You have to do the ethics commission will remove you from the board if you do not do them within a certain amount of time. So just make sure you're up on that. Um I have after this a number of case decisions but I don't want to take up the whole meeting doing you know an hourong presentation. So I'll stop there. There are some example cases uh over the past few years kind of guide you on some examples of things not to do. Um but you can look at those at your pleasure. If you guys have any questions about those, feel free to ask me. Um if you have any questions tonight, I'll be happy to answer them unless they
044are about specific questions you have about your conduct or your fellow members. I will discuss that with you privately [laughter] and not in public session. That's it for my presentation. Thank you. >> Do any members have any questions for Mr. Sylvester right now. I do want to just let everybody know that in tomorrow's grass tax my communication to I will give you a copy of this as well just so that you have it. But he is here right now and go over some things. So if you have any questions now will be the time to ask him. If not that's fine too. >> Okay. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you. >> And then Mr. President that concludes my superintendence report today. Thank you, Mr. Vulpi. Uh, we move on to our committee reports and um,
045so Mr. Marini is not here to report on the operations committee. Uh, is there anyone else here who's on operations who could share? Oh, I'm on operations, aren't you? [laughter] How do you like that? Um, so we'll come back come back to that. I've got to open up the minutes. Uh, education committee, Miss Jackson. >> So, we met on January 22nd and um what we went through were the um books that will be on the agenda for approval. Revised curriculum, the Jonah Johnson Foundation grant we had some conversation on. We discussed the overnight trips that are on the agenda. Um, and we did get an update from Mr. DLO regarding the high school rotating drop schedule. Um, and that is it. >> Thank you. [clears throat and cough] Pardon me. Uh I will provide the
046uh operations committee report and um we met on January 23rd, Friday and uh items that were discussed uh included uh LAN associates, that's the architectural firm, uh various projects that need to be performed around the the district, some of which are on the agenda this evening. uh work at Wood Road Elementary, uh masonry work that needs to be done on several of the buildings in the district, uh and those kinds of things. Um, we did have a conversation about uh retaining real purpose of helping the district evaluate available properties uh in the township uh for future development. And um other items that really LAN is helping with uh there will be work done on the track and field uh facility over at the high school. Um and that's about it. We continued to discuss the
047idea of the transportation facility versus uh Bloomingdale. Uh and but those are just items of discussion. And we did uh talk about a schedule for future meetings and that was the operations committee. Um Miss Nurse, can you give us a report from HR please? >> Yes. Um our committee met uh Wednesday, January 21st. We talked about a few club proposals including the East Asian Society Club, the Sports Analytics Club, and the Rush Club, which I believe was Russia and Ukraine. Yes. Uh speakers. Um, we then continued on to look at and discuss a sick bank application, uh, the ana settlement agreement, the possibility of what coaching stipens could look like for girls flag football, and we also uh spoke about committee norms and the dates for meetings for the following year. and we unfortunately uh
048were going to talk about a um possible supervisor's position, but we had to move that to our next agenda because we ran out of time. >> Thank you. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Because we did have a some conversation about a policy that had to be rewritten. I believe it was in brass tax in regard to the harassment policies. >> Thank you, Miss Nurse. Uh also the governance committee met. Uh the governance committee is comprised of the chairs of the various other committees. Uh the purpose of the governance committee is primarily to share information among the members and also to discuss items that might not naturally fit under the umbrella of one of the other existing committees. Um and really mostly what uh we did at that first governance meeting was decide on future meeting dates.
049Uh we did talk about does the governance committee need to meet uh when we decided we did. Um and uh there was a brief conversation about security and you know our security folks being at meetings along with uh Hillsboro Police Department and what that security should look like and uh we have agreed to go ahead with that and that was it for the governance committee. Um, so we now are at the time for public comment. We very much welcome input from the public. During board meetings, there will be two 30 minute periods of time that the meeting will be open for public comment where members of the public are invited to comment, which they may do if they are attending in person. This is a I'm sorry. There is a clipboard for all participants to
050write their name. Before commenting, please [clears throat] state your name and address. There is a threeinut time limit on public comment. Please understand that our public forums are not structured as question and answer sessions, but rather are offered as opportunities to share your thoughts with the board. In instances where the board believes if there is a misunderstanding or inaccuracy, the board president or superintendent will address the comment. There may be times when a member of the public makes a comment or asks a question about personnel or hiring decisions. Kindly note that the open public meetings act and the privacy rights of public employees encompassed therein do not permit the board to discuss personnel issues in public session. Thank you. If there's anyone that would like to comment at this time, please come forward. 54321. [laughter]
051So we will move on. Close public comment. Uh, approval of the January 5th public meeting minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> close. >> Oh, any opposed or say? No. Okay, Mr. Superintendent. >> On to the action agenda. I would ask the board's consideration to approve the following motions in the area of education. Professional and travel related expenses, revised curriculum, books, overnight trips, and approving a long-term suspension of students whose names are on file in my office. Do we have any questions? I do. Um, >> there you go. On the uh proposed professional expenses, there's a trip that is noted as the NJSIA meet of champions and the estimated cost is $7,500. There's a footnote that says it depends on
052the number of people who qualify. Can anyone explain that in more detail? >> So students who compete in our sporting programs have the opportunity if they qualify to compete at the state level. So those require an overnight stay and it the the cost of the um overnight stay depends on how many students are actually um make it to that level. >> So if we if we are fortunate and have a large number of students then the the cost may increase. Um if it's on the other side which I won't put out there in the world then there may not be a cost >> certainly. So, is the $7,500 a ceiling estimate? >> That's the way we've provided it. If there would be a change that would be over the threshold, we would come back to
053the board to request approval. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so for action items, item 11, uh, do we have a motion to accept? >> So, move second. Mr. Eckert, will you record the vote? >> Mr. Erin CR, >> yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> yes. With exception on 11.4, I am a no on the cheer team. >> Miss Craig, >> yes. >> Miss Nurse, >> yes. >> Miss Stats, >> yes. >> Mr. Hill, >> yes. With the exception of 11.4, for no on the um trip to Florida which is the cheer team. >> And Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. The mayor of human resources, I'd ask for board's consideration to approve the following motions. Retirements and reservations, appointments, change in employment status, leaves of absence, student teaching placements, co-curricular and intramural
054advisors, buddy 7th period coverage, extra coverage, group changes, uh employee and ha settlement, uh agreement and release, revised science lab coverage. >> Do we have any comments or questions? Do we have a motion to accept? >> So moved. Second. >> Mr. Eckert. >> Mr. Arrance. >> Yes. >> Miss Jackson. >> Yes. >> Miss Craig. >> Yes. >> Miss Nurse. >> Yes. >> Miss Stats. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ho. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Davis? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. I ask for board's consideration to approve the following motions in the area of operations. Monthly bills. proposal for field and track replacement at Hillsboro High School. Approve a land proposal for ceiling replacement at Woodsro Elementary School. Approving a lamb replacement proposal for district-wide exterior masonry control drones replacements. Approving the disposal and
055sale of obsolete equipment. Approving the out of district placement for 2526 and accepting a donation. And I believe 13.7 needs to be revised. I believe um it may say 3,000. Did Did you adjust that? Oh, never mind. >> If you saw the agenda originally, it said $3,000. Andrew has since adjusted it to $3500 for Miss Johnson's donation tonight. So, it's correct in the minutes in the agenda. >> Are there any questions or comments? >> Mr. Hugh, >> I would just like to make a comment with respect to 13.3, which is the proposal for a ceiling replacement at Woods Road Elementary School. Um, and request that um well, I'm going to vote no on that, but perhaps request that um that the operations committee be like I I just don't think that that's the highest priority.
056And I I think that there was a request for the operations committee to to take a look at it or even Did I miss the pictures? what it said in the operation. I can certainly get pictures of the ceiling if you want. I think for any my understanding of what was agreed to is that for any projects like this moving forward, I will provide pictures or videos from but if it does if it does make the board members more comfortable by next week I can get pictures of the existing wizard sale. And I think the [clears throat] so this this proposal is 28,750 is for the land proposal, but I think the actual work was $300,000 was the estimate for replacing ceiling tiles. >> Yes, that's the estimate of what they expect the bids would
057come in up to about that. >> And so like my my view on it is that that's a lot of money for ceiling tiles and I just feel like that could the money could be better spent elsewhere. Yeah, just to for edification of all board members and most of you know this. We do have one board member. Um what you are voting on tonight is the land proposal for the costs that are there. And to your point, if it goes out to bids and it comes back, uh the board still has to take action to um accept any of those bids and then go ahead and do that work. So, uh it's my recommendation that this work needs to be done and we can't solicit bids for it until we have the architects do the
058work. But if it came back and the board was like, you're not interested in doing the work, that's still within your rights to to vote one way or the other. I just want to be clear to the board members what you're working on voting on tonight is the pre-work so that we can put this out to bid so we can see what the real costs are. >> Thank you. Um I actually have a question and um on the donations, what is the New Jersey Golf Foundation donation and what's it for? Jerry, do you do you have those details? Um I know you're going back and forth with Mr. Paul about that. >> Yeah. So, basically they're the foundation is is donating like starter kits to add golf to the to the gy curriculum. Um and
059I believe they were donating three sets to elementary schools um that would be shared between the six and I believe a set to Auton and I think the middle school as well. Um, so they're donating all the equipment necessary for us to run that curriculum as well as providing some PD for it. >> Thank you. >> So, do we have a motion to accept these action items? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Eckert. >> Mr. Errance, >> yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> yes. >> Miss Craig, >> yes. >> Miss Nurse, >> yes. Miss Stats. >> Uh, yes. For everything except for 13.2, I abstain. >> Mr. H. >> Yes, except no for 13.3. >> And Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Motion's carrying. >> Thank you. areas of policies and regulations. I ask
060for board's consideration to approve the following policies and regulations reviewed by the education committee for second reading and motion to approve and abolish policies reviewed by the human resources committee for first reading. Again, needs two readings. Staff policy 14.2 is first reading. >> Do we have any questions or comments? I do >> if I may. >> I am. And my concern is with policy 2535. This policy has to do it's entitled library material. Uh this is from uh legislation that had been proposed by our senators wicker uh last year and was eventually passed. But there are several aspects of of this legislation and this consequential policy that I find disturbing and worthy of of attention. And uh the intent of of this policy and the legislation, it's called uh it's the nickname, if you will,
061is the Freedom to Read Act. And what is it intended to do is uh allow for certain materials to be present in the library uh under the discretion and if you will the exclusive discretion of the library staff. Uh it says in this policy distinctly that the board that's us that the board of ed there's an interesting dichotomy here. Uh there's the board of ed can approve materials to be added to the library but the board cannot remove materials. So, we can say yes or no at the gate, but we can't make a comment on materials that are already pre-existing. Some of that is because the part of the intent of this policy and this legislation is in essence to protect certain materials um that are in the library to which other groups or other
062people might object. Uh it's interesting in this policy that it it gives some limitations to what these materials can be and several times within the policy it uses the phrase uh developmentally appropriate. So what's appropriate for this age group? One might say, and of course that's a very uh ambiguous term. What's appropriate for a given age group may be up for discussion and debate uh which is a discussion and a debate that is underway all across the country. Are these materials appropriate? But what I find perhaps most disturbing and uh which is at the very very end of the policy and it's several pages and I would want to encourage all the board members because this is the first reading. >> This one's for second reading. This came up first, right? >> I don't remember
063seeing it. >> All right. So, if this is the second reading, then we would have to vote no on it tonight if that was our inclination. >> If that was your inclination, correct? I think we do have to have a policy on this. Yep. >> In some way, shape or form and our policy does need to align with the law. >> Of course. Yep. Uh what I find uh disturbing is that the final provision in this policy uh it's entitled immunity school library staff. This was a controversial provision that Senator Zwicker had in the legislation. And what it says is that school library staff who are doing their job managing the library and the materials are nevertheless and it says immune from civil and criminal liability arising from good faith actions performed pursuant to these
064provisions. And what that means and one of the reasons that is in there uh there are people uh individuals and groups of people who are disturbed by some of the materials that are available in the library to young kids with graphic illustrations. Some have described them as borderline pornographic or obscene or whatever word you want to attach. And I don't know this myself firsthand, but I've heard it reported that some of these books might actually cross the line to being in violation of New Jerseyy's own laws about pornography and distributing pornography to young children. And yet here they are in the library in the opinion. >> Can you just clarify that you're not you're speaking in general. You're not speaking currently about our libraries. Correct. and I don't know what's in our library, >> but
065I just want to make sure that you're not >> Thank you so much. Yes, that's true. I have not uh perused our own library, but I'm just disturbed by the principle of the provision that, you know, should it evolve or develop that some of these materials are found to be in violation of New Jersey state law that there's an immunity being awarded to staff for providing them. I just find that disturbing. Perhaps the uh something that I would want the public to be aware of, there is a provision in this policy as it stands and would and is in the law. So, it has to be in the policy that there is a way for filing if you want to call it a complaint or a request for removal. So, if there's a parent or
066a family or a guardian who specifically has an objection to a specific work, maybe your child brought something home or said something to you, uh there is a provision uh beyond just sending an email of actually being able to request that something be removed from the library. that in turn would be subject to a series of reviews and etc. But there is a provision in here to allow for that. And this all might seem very complicated and obscure and the other thing I object to is that it is uh you know it seems that there's a wall of obfiscation around so many things. But those are my comments about uh policy 2535. I object to it in principle even if it is law. And uh so that's where I'm at tonight. Miss stats regarding the
067part part about the immunity for the library staff. There is that um part about you know in good faith. So, um, in a way that's is a little vague. Um, that can go both ways. So, um, you have that that could be interpreted on your side. Um but everyone in in our district u they're professionals and they're they're they have expertise in this field and um they are uh they use that expertise and their care for children to make sure they pick material that is appropriate for them. Um now if for some reason uh it is possible I guess somewhere in the universe where there is a library member of the library staff um has uh evil intentions. Okay. But uh I would say that's really not happening here. Um, there's a difference between someone
068thinking, "Oh, I think this is pornographic." And and a member of the library staff thinking, "Oh, this is this is really gross. This is really pornographic, but I'm I want to uh you know, influence these children in an evil way." >> Sure. So, um, for that and and for them to be protected by, you know, uh, you know, legal liability, I think that's really important so that they're not in fear of with their good intentions placing um, a material um, in their library. Otherwise, we'll have, you know, everything vanilla in the library because out of fear, they will avoid anything that could possibly be controversial. >> Yeah, I appreciate I I what you're saying and of course it is a balance and an ongoing conversation. Mr. Aron, >> yeah, to be clear, there is a
069provision for removing objectional material in the process. >> There's a process. Yeah, Mr. Jackson. >> Yeah. Um at least two things here. Um to the point of the pornography versus not pornography, there are laws obvious that you said um but it's a judgment call and that's where that's where I think the line is blurred. Okay. Who's making judgment call as to what is pornographic and what isn't? And that's a concern with a lot of families um including you know and we've all seen books that are in libraries that a lot of us would considerate for our children but it's accessible to them without us knowing. And on that note >> can I just clarify just publicity we're speaking in general >> in general right now I'm gonna speak >> I'm gonna speak in specifics now.
070Okay. Is there a way for parents to see what books are in the libraries of each school? >> Uh Dr. Rubenus, can you can you speak to that? I do believe we have an online um catalog that people can go in and see, but this might be either your area of expertise or we need to look into it, but I'm pretty sure they can. >> I believe they can, but I think I prefer to just look into it and get >> we can report that. So the answer is I am almost positive. I don't [clears throat] do that myself. So we can look into that and we can report that out to you. >> Okay. >> And that could be made um avail that those instructions could be made available to >> Yeah, I think
071they probably are right now, but I'll also publicize that make sure that it's out there >> and it's kind of hard having you know having had two kids go through the district and you know there's there's some differences like some teachers do um like a syllabus or an agenda and some teachers don't. you learn back to school night and things like that. But I think given the nature of what's going on here, I think every family needs the opportunity to see what books are in the library and to know what their children are reading, especially if it goes against their family values. >> Sure. And we we do have I just want to say again, I'm not an expert, so I don't have off the top of my head, but we do have that access
072for parents and we can make sure that everyone knows. >> Thank you, >> Miss Nurse. >> Excuse me if I speak with passion. Um because this is very near and dear, >> very rarely, very rarely. Um but I want to say this as objectively as I can and I'm trying to find the words, but like Mrs. Stat said, there are professionals in their jobs that are doing fabulous jobs. Um, and our society has changed a lot. And 20 years ago when I was in the classroom or 15 years ago, 10 years ago when I was working with a group of fourth graders, I picked a great book that had a lot of conversational attributes to it. And the times have changed where everything is or a lot of things are taken and and twisted >>
073and it makes teachers at least I'm speaking for myself but I know that I have colleagues are worried about an outlash because you're doing something good for kids that you think will benefit kids and because one parent or one member of the community doesn't like it. it. Fear is the exact word. Um, I purchased the book this year as again I haven't been in the classroom for a long time. I like to have new materials with, you know, old classics. And I read I bought it at our school's Scholastic, which was also probably available at every elementary school here, um, because those are usually similar. and I didn't have time to read it at the book fair, so I had to take it home after I purchased it. I loved it, but there was, you
074know, one comment about something that I'm like, is a parent going to call me if their child chooses? And this was an independent reading book, so a child would have to choose it because they wanted to read it. Um, I introduced it to my class. I said it was going in. I told them that it was um there was one or two things that I would have to talk to them about if they wanted it and I would have to get permission from their parents if they would like to read it because I didn't want to say no I'm not putting this in my book my book bed. It was a great piece of work and it's frustrating as a teacher that that's how I have to think now um and be so concerned. So,
075I just I understand that everybody has different feelings and opinions, but we're talking about a library. We're talking about kids going in and self- selecting. We are not talking about curriculum driven material that everybody has to read. So, if you want to know what your kids are reading, you should be asking them what what they're reading. and you should be asking them to bring the books home that they've checked out of the library so you could see them instead of infringing on the professionalism of the of the people that are there. So again, I'm sorry if I've offended anybody, but >> it's something that I'm very sad about in this education field that I have to worry about as a teacher and as a professional um who wants to do nothing but good for my
076fourth graders. So just so you have a teacher's perspective and I know Mrs. Stats used to be in the classroom as well. Um but it is really hard when you're making professional decisions that have the best interests of students. Um, and you know, like Miss Stats has said, we don't want a uh bookshelves full of vanilla because it does not give us an opportunity to help our kids think critically um and think for themselves. So, >> okay, >> Mr. Jackson. Yeah, I'd like to go back to January and I I appreciate what Miss Nurse has said here, but in January, with the exception of three of us, a book was approved for required reading with I think in ninth grade. It was called She Kills Monsters. And there was content in there that some parents
077would find inappropriate for their students. Being a required book, the book had to be read whether or not parents approved of it or not, especially if they knew what their child was reading. If the book had been approved for an for a selection or an optional book, it would be one thing, but this book is required. And I think that's an example of where the lines get blurred here. I still think the book is inappropriate for require required reading. And I still think that parents need to be fully aware of what is in the libraries, where tax dollars are being used to buy and what their children are being exposed to. >> Thank you. >> I think there are two different things being discussed here. If you don't mind me coming in as superintendent, of
078course, when it comes to novels or choice readings with the curriculum, we bring all of those to the the board for for full votes. So the board can discuss those and decide one way or another if those are part of that. Um, and I think Mr. Davis's uh foray into looking at the policy was more speaking about uh the law versus what's necessarily going on in the in that being said, he doesn't know all the books, but we can check that out and we will get that information out. It's it's not nothing that we are we are hiding. If I may speak positively about our our libraries and our librarians for a second because I just did an observation in the library at the middle school and we have a great librarian Taiisha at the
079middle school and let me tell you what our librarians are are focused on. Our librarians are focused on making sure that our students become lifelong readers and let me tell you how how Taiisha and other people are are doing this. Um, when we were in school, we probably had library instructions and here's how you can get your local library card from your library. And maybe you had somebody from the library come in and sign up for library cards. Well, Taiisha is taking that to the next level. She is working on students with an app called Sora that is loaded onto their Chromebooks that acts as a library card for the county library system. And students can access books, magazines, every kind of reading imaginable from the county library system from their Chromebooks here. So, they
080won't only be able to just access when they're home, you know, reading what they're taking out of our libraries, but they can go home, get on their Chromebook, and check out a library book from any county library while they're at home reading. So, I know we're having conversations about laws and policies and whatifs, but I just want to say too, I don't want it to get lost in here, that our librarians are doing some wonderful work to make students lifelong readers. So, I just want to put that out there. >> Thank you. Thank you. And these are the kinds of philosophic questions that are swirling around from coast to coast. And how one views these issues can be quite different uh from well-intended and well-informed points of view. the stats, >> but it it can
081be interesting and uh entertaining if it is only on a philosophical basis. However, we're talking about real people here and it really it really concerns me that there's any question of granting immunity to library staff when they're acting good in good faith. Um, so [sighs] and you know, as as Miss Cooper pointed out at our education committee meeting, you know, we want to make sure these we want to make the the children become lifelong learners, readers, as as you said as well, Mr. Vulpi. And so, you know, I I for one am all for I want I still want them to be uh uh educated with the classics, but to ensure that become that they are excited enough to become lifelong learners or to be engaged in their current learning, it's great to provide um
082I think the more controversial um the more interested they get into it. Um, of course I'm not saying you should get something just because it's controversial because there's some stuff out there that is inappropriate and again I go back to the expertise of the library staff and I want to emphasize I think they need that protection of immunity. Um, otherwise uh I fear for them as well as the content of our libraries. >> Thank you. Um, I would point out I'm going to ask that we move on from this conversation because it'll be a while. I'll take advantage of my chair to make the last comment. >> Yeah. I >> which is >> I I'm sorry. I don't I'm sorry, Mr. Davis. As as princip as president, I don't think that that's okay. Like I
083think if people want to sit up here at the deis and say what they want to say that they should be able to. I'm sorry. Sure. If I'm the only one, I'll shut up because I've said my piece, but I would like to hear what everybody else >> No, the comment I was going to make is that uh the fact that we have a school board at all in and of itself testifies to the reality that the uh that the professionals who are in the school system and who are making these decisions and who are running the schools do not at the same time have cart blanch to do absolutely anything without restraint. There is restraint and there are guard rails and when we bump up against those guard rails on either side of the
084road that that's part of where the discomfort comes in. But uh no, I don't agree with the idea. Certainly, I endorse the idea that the folks who are employed in in Hillsboro School District are professionals and people of good faith and these things, but that does not award them cart blanch to make whatever decisions seem appropriate to them without regard to what the families and the parents and other people have to say. And that's where the balance needs to be discovered. Um, >> Miss Jackson, >> I think what um I think what makes people uncomfortable is the guarantee of immunity right there. >> Okay. So, when you come out with something saying that, you know, the librarians will select it. And this is not pointing out. I don't even know who the librarians are here.
085I I don't question their integrity. I've not seen anything. But the sheer fact that a politician would come out and put the blanket immunity out there will start to make some people think of why do you have to do that? And and that's a different perspective than what you have. But try to look at it from that perspective. Why do you need immunity? >> Amen. Well, there there there are occasions I think there was one I think in I'm not I forget which one specifically one of the districts in Hunan County where the public was really going after the librarians. Um uh so and and I'm there are other occasions throughout the state. So it's things like that is that is that is prompting the need for this. And again, I'm I'm go I I'm
086I'm I am definitely not in favor of rubber stamping anything. Anybody who knows me on here, you know, I'm not. So I I and I do think there are built-in guard rails to remove material, but to go to go after with a a civil or criminal liability against a staff member that just again acting in good faith. I I just that just breaks my mind. >> Well, I I think I I don't know the specifics of that. There's two sides to every story and I I don't know that taking that example right now is a good idea without seeing both sides of that argument. Okay. And by the same token, there are parents that have been put in that place, that position too, where they have been told that what they're asking is inappropriate. So
087I think it it's a very very difficult thing but the immunity as you as you mentioned the word rubber stamp is a rubber stamp and that's what makes it uncomfortable >> again remember has the phrase acting in good faith for one thing and as far as um there's still the opportunity to remove the material. You don't have to go after the staff. Yes. And or there there is a process to remove the material that's offensive >> as long as that process is fair and not drawn out. >> Well, that would >> Okay, that that's another issue. But >> Mr. Chris, >> thank you. >> If they the library has a a history of questionable selections, then there's another way to go about it, too. >> Yeah. And and I just want to say too, again,
088I I understand people are debating this from. We aren't having this problem in Hillsboro. I realize that some people may question the books we have, they can look at them, but if you think I'm sitting on a a pile of requests um or or reports of librarians doing incorrect things, that's that's just not happening. And to just uh come to the point about the immunity versus the policy, I just want to make clear, and I know when Mr. Davis started this, you know, the things that are in the policy are in the law. So if you have problems or issues or concerns, it's not something you're going to solve right here at the deis. That would be a legislative issue. Forward too, we have a we have pretty good regulation on this, right, Lisa? Am
089I correct? So I can forward that to the board so that you can see that. Actually, you have access to it now. >> Right. Yeah, that spell I'm sorry. That spells out the process and everything so it's public and people can see it. So I just want to clarify that. Well, thank you all for once again showing that this board uh is unusual in the sense of its professionalism and u ecommenity. So, thank you for that. So, do we have a motion for items uh in the 14 category? So moved >> second. >> Mr. Eckert, >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> I'll say no. >> Miss Craig, >> yes. >> Miss Nurse, >> yes. >> Miss Stats, >> yes. >> Mr. Heel, >> yes. >> And Mr. I'm a no on 141, but
090yes on 142. >> Motion to carry. >> Yes. So now we have our second period for public comment. Um we very much welcome input from the public. There [clears throat] is a clipboard for all participants to write their name. Before commenting, please state your name and address. There is a threeinut limit on public comment. Please understand that our public forums are not structured as question and answer sessions but rather are offered as opportunities to share your thoughts with the board. In instances where the board believes that there is a misunderstanding or inaccuracy, the board president or superintendent will address the comment. There may be times when a member of the public makes a comment or asks a question about personnel or hiring decisions. Kindly note that the open public meetings act and the privacy rights
091of public employees encompass therein do not permit the board to discuss personnel issues in public sessions. Thank you. If you have a comment, please come forward. >> State your name. Hi, my name is Lysa Gabri Bis. I live in Hillsboro. Had a couple of uh announcements from the HSA side and they include if you have a seventh or eighth grader um just a reminder that we have movie night to knock tomorrow night. Doors open at 7. Um again, that's for seventh and eighth graders who are in the middle school. Um we have a STEM summit coming up for grades 5 through 8. We're having a combined HMS uh with Aerys day on Pi Day. You can imagine what that might be, right? March 14th from 1 to 4 p.m. Uh you can sign up. Sign
092up is almost coming out. We're almost ready for the sign up for that. Um kids can do trifold boards. They can work with other kids uh you know in their grade level or within their within those four grades. Um we'll have hands-on. We'll have some demonstrations. It'll be fun. Uh let's see. Also, crispy cream donuts are on sale um now through uh through next Friday, which is February the 6th for pickup on Saturday at the 21st. And also, as you may know, The Wizards Ging back through Aerys, and that's on March 7th. Um so, again, if you haven't bought your tickets yet for the movie, you can do it uh tonight or just pay in cash, $6. Um, and you can also find out more on uh through on Facebook through the Hillsboro Middle School
093HSA. Um, also just taking off my hat for HSA for a second. I um I went to the gratitude event. It was very nice. We came late. There was still things to do with food. There's a lot of food this time. Um, and so I was late getting here, but I was listening online and I heard you guys talking about the books, so I figured, okay, I'll come over in the cold. Um, one thing that I thought was interesting, like when you do um have dislike for a book, it it makes me want to read it. Um, like I think The Hate You Give might have been one of those. Um, I grew up in Baltimore. I was a minority in my school. Um, and it it just seemed like that book flowed for me.
094It was just like, but I can imagine it could be different for other people maybe not used to kind of environment. Um, also with the different topic from that as well, um, the rotating drop schedule. Um, I love the idea of having extra electives. Um, I know it may not happen this year, but if you could, that'd be awesome. Um, just want to put my two cents in on that. Um, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Cassie, do you have anything to report? >> Closing public comment. Closing public comment. >> I am closing public comment. >> Okay, here are some updates from the high school. Right now, our soda tab drive is going on. We're in competition with HMS and Aerys and Dr. Vimbus. Can I take your soda tab after you finish that drink?
095Thank you. Um, and also I'm biased, but congratulations to the winter track um, girls 4x200 meter relay, the mix 4x400 meter relay, the board 4x200 meter relay, and EB and Emma Stibbitz in the 55 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and 300 meter dash because they all broke the school record. So, our track team is looking super strong this year. >> I'm definitely very excited to be competing. Um, also, Burough Compliments is an Instagram account. It's been around for a while, but they just spread positivity throughout um mostly the high school. So, it's definitely worth checking out. People can submit compliments through DM and then it it's overall just a really good experience for everyone. So, if you get a compliment, it feels really good. If you send a compliment, it feels really good. And also,
096last but not least, peer tutoring for science and math is back in session. And I've heard great feedback from it because my sister is a math peer tutor, but I like that the high school is giving everyone the opportunity to um do like peer sessions so that it's better to understand, I think. And that's it. >> Thank you. >> Can I make a comment? >> Yes, Mr. Superintendent. >> Yeah, I I just want to address the public. I did send a message out to the community yesterday that there was a a threat of explosives at a couple of buildings. working closely with our security and HPD. We thought that that was a noncredible threat, yet we took all precautions that we needed to. I want to assure the community that after investigation last night, it
097was indeed a noncredible threat. It came from a student in another town in another county on a dare from a friend like, "Hey, why don't you do this and send this?" And now that student from another county is in trouble and their county juvenile services is looking into the matter. So I assure you that it was as thought not credible and prank but we'll always air on the side of caution and your students are safe in our schools. So I just want to let everyone know that. >> Thank you Mr. Vultby. So we're done right board members to come. >> Any other comments, Miss Jackson? Yeah, just uh I know we got a rundown on the HSA, but um I had a request and as as the support to reiterate that the Harlem Wizards basketball
098fundraiser is March 7th and as mentioned um March 7th at 6 p.m. and tickets are available. So this month and next I will be pushing this because years ago I went and it was a great great time. >> Miss Stats They're very sensitive. [laughter] >> Uh on January 10th, uh I went to the Robo Raiders kickoff. Uh the theme this year is archaeology and um I I just love their enthusiasm. I think there's over 100 students that participate with uh Robo Raiders and uh I find them very inspiring. Um uh also uh several of us including Mr. Walpie, we went to um a Sunnyme, I'm going to call it a writing experience, which doesn't exactly reflect it. That's the intention of it, but it's this whole scene, that underwater scene that was uh created by
099staff at Sunnyme. And it's it's so amazing and it's to inspire the students to to write. And uh um I was amazed by that. And of also that the enthusiasm by the students, they're adorable at that age. Um, and it it reminded me of a Facebook post I saw because um, thank you. I think that was from the uh, sending me to HSA gave them maybe a couple hundred dollars, I guess. And it reminded me of a Facebook post where someone said, "If I ever get married, I'm not going to hire some pay thousands of dollars for someone to uh uh to, you know, do the decorations or whatever. I'm going to find a first or second grade teacher and give them $200 because they will create magical uh decorations in an amazing environment. >>
100So, it's amazing what they they were able to achieve with just that limited amount of money. >> Yes, I was uh delighted to visit that myself and um it they had it was an underwater theme. was like this room that was encased with curtains and black lights and different colored fish hanging from the ceiling. And in one corner there was a whole pirate ship >> that someone had put together with corrugated cardboard and painted. And it was really something. And the intent was for the students to just be in that atmosphere and be able to meditate and imagine and allow their imaginations to run wild. And it was really something. Job well done. Well, I think we're done. >> Uh motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> Thank
101you.