001Hello and welcome to the Monday, September 29th, 2025 Hills Township Board of Education meeting. In accordance with the state's Sunshine Law of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting of the Hillsbor Township Board of Education was provided on September 16th, 2025 to the Hillsboro Beacon and the Courier News. Uh, Mr. Eert, if you please take role. >> Mr. Davis, >> here. >> Miss Jackson >> here. >> Miss Craig >> here. Miss Lenny Beer >> here. >> Mr. Lee, >> Miss Nurse >> here, >> Miss Stats >> here, >> Mr. Trillo >> here, >> and Mr. Marini >> here. We have a quorum. >> Uh, I'll take a motion to move into executive session. Whereas the open public meetings act chapter 231 of the laws in 1975 provide that a public body may exclude the public
002from that portion of the meeting of which the public body discusses certain matters for which confidentiality is required as permitted in section 7B of the act resolved by the board of education of the township of Hillsboro in the county of Somerset and the state of New Jersey as follows. The matters to be discussed are legal matters and employee matters. Uh the matters discussed in executive session shall be disclosed to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. Can I get a motion in a second? >> So move. >> Second. All in favor? >> All right, we'll be back around 7:30. Thank you. [Music] Hello and welcome back to the Monday, September 29th uh 2025 Hills Town Country Board of Education meeting. We are now back from executive session. Uh Mr. Record, if we
003could please take ro. >> Mr. Davis >> here. >> Miss Jackson >> here. >> Miss Craig >> here. Miss Lanning beer >> here. >> Mr. Lee >> here. Miss Nurse >> here, >> Miss Stats >> here, >> Miss Trillo >> here, >> and Mr. Morin here. We have a quorum. Let's stand for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. I'd like to acknowledge the correspondences listed. Um, for board president's report, I don't think we have anything for today. So, we'll move on to the superintendent report. Thank you, Mr. President. For my superintendent report, there are three parts. Um, two that have presentations, but the first part does not. I'm going to kick it
004over to Dr. Lisa Rabimus, who has a recognition for us. >> Good evening, everyone. As we end the month of September, I would like to take a moment to remind us all of the beauty of each and every student who comprises the intricate tapestry that makes up Hillsboro Township Public Schools. Our schools are composed of students who come to us from various cultural backgrounds and heritage heritages. Throughout this year, we will take the time to recognize some of those heritages and cultures. Unfortunately, we will not be able to recognize them all, but we've asked the staff to recogni recognize those that belongs belong to the students they serve in a respectful and meaningful way that connects to the New Jersey learning standards and the district curriculum. With this in mind, from September 15th to October
00515th, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Elmes de laencia Espana, to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. This is a time to remember that here at Hillsboro, 14% of the students identify as Hispanic or Latino. As a reminder as well, the observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to over a 30-day period. It was enacted into law August 17th, 1988. This year's theme is collective heritage, honoring the past, inspiring the future. Understanding cultures and heritages provides a mirror where students and staff may see themselves. It also provides a window that opens a collective, individual, and universal understanding and appreciation for each other through experiences with each other's culture, heritage, food, art, music,
006literature, and family traditions. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I shared of some some of my favorite pieces with the district staff and I asked them to share theirs. If you if you so choose, I hope you take a moment to experience some of the unique specialties that make Hispanic and Latino heritage special. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Rabimus. Second part of my superintendent's report today has to do with something that I've been speaking about for about a year and a half now and it's been creeping ever closer with more and more information. And although it's not finished and there's still a lot of work to do, today we will be providing the most detailed information and in-depth information we have to date about our redistricting efforts as well as full day kindergarten implementation
007for the school year. As I've said before, while of course it is a team effort and everybody is working on this, uh Mr. Joel Handler has taken the bull by the horns and spearheaded this initiative and he has a presentation for the public here in Hillsboro this evening as to where we are, where we're going, and what next steps may be. And Joel, I will uh put the uh presentation up there and you can just tell me when to advance the slide. >> Perfect. Thank you. Yeah. So, tonight we're going to talk about um basically the two goals. Um if you want to go to the second slide that'd be great. Um that uh Mr. Vi talked about which one um one is completing the redistricting process for the elementary level um with the goal
008of communicating that to parents before the end of this school year and then the second goal is completing the planning for implementing a full day kindergarten for the 2627 school year. Um both of these goals are very intertwined and interconnected. um uh there and you know intrinsically linked um redistricting process uh increases um balances our class sizes um so that we can have space for full day. We are also running into several issues where some of our schools currently are very overcrowded while there are several schools that are um undercrowded. We can use that word there. Um so if you can go to the next slide. So, um, I want to show you this slide very particularly. This is a demographic layout, demographic word, um, more of a population density layout of Hillsboro. And this
009was very eye openening for me and for everyone I've been showing it to, they were like, "Wow." Um, so it highlights the core issue we really have in Hillsboro um, in terms of population density. Um, our current elementary density across the town is unbalanced across six elementary schools. So each of those red dots represents one of our elementary schools. I'll kind of talk a little bit about it. Um for me it I know right away where they all are, but for those um who aren't too familiar with the township layout may not realize. Um so the high density areas can be seen um in the lower right corner. So every blue dot represents a current K4 student of ours. So the blue So if you look in the bottom right corner which is the um
010southeast side of town those two red dots there represent Amsterdam Elementary School and uh Woods Road Elementary School. Then when you go to the center of town um you'll see two red dots kind of in the middle of the map a little bit to the right but in the middle that's your that is Triangle Elementary School and Hillsboro Elementary School. And again, very densely populated areas. Schools are right there. You go to the upper right corner, that's Sunnyme Elementary School. And though the map does not reflect it well, those blue areas are very densely populated. So again, right where the densely populated areas are, you have a school. And then you go out to the um Woodford Elementary School all the way to the left of the map. Um it's all the way uh nearing
011the uh border of Hillsboro. Um when you look at it, Woodford Elementary School covers about a third to almost half of Hillsboro's land, but is about a tenth, possibly even less of our elementary school population. So it kind of gives you an idea of, you know, transporting school uh students around town um and where our students live. Uh it gives you an idea of that. So, it's something we have to take into account when we look at redistricting and balancing our schools. Next slide. So, but before we look at any redistricting, we wanted to make sure um we take into account any future construction that's coming up. Um we also want to take into account looking at any historical uh population changes that could be happening in our district. So, if you can go next
012slide. So, uh, last year the board had, um, contracted with Arkbridge to provide redistricting planning for the town. Um, they looked at a comprehensive demographic study and looked at enrollment projections, uh, determining building capacity and utilization. Uh, I'm going to go into some of these numbers in the next slide so I can switch. So, uh, as part of that study, they kind of gave us a new development, um, projection for the town. And based at the time they did it, uh, it showed kind of all the current and just completed, um, projects that are happening in Hillsboro. Some haven't started yet, some had just completed and and some were under construction. So, when we look at this, um, four of those developments were already just completed. So, one of the things we did right away
013was look at um they projected from those new developments we would probably get about 66 students. Well, the good news is that was last year they projected that. This year we're able to look at our numbers. It's actually about 71 students. So, the their their projection seemed pretty pretty on with those four developments. Um looking at this further though, they're actually projecting total with those developments we' get about 309 total students. um over the course of these project these project these construction projects um you know coming coming forward. So next slide. So now I want to this slide just shows you where those new project those new construction projects are happening in the town. Um you'll see the uh kind of orangey uh color are where single family homes are verse the green um dots
014are where multif family homes occurring. Uh that's just important to distinguish because obviously if it's a multif family dwelling you'll have multiple families in the same area of land which means more children for the schools potentially. So, if you go to the next slide, this one actually highlights even more so the uh density um conundrum we're in a little bit in Hillsboro in that if and uh if you kind of in your mind lay the two over each other, you can see a lot of the construction is happening in what's currently considered Amsterdam school, currently considered um Sunnyme, and then a little bit in Triangle, a little bit in HS. Um so gives you an idea. So we can move on there. So looking at the future construction of what hasn't been done yet. Um
015Arkridge has projected we'll get about another 243 students over the next year or two with these constructions. And very specifically if you look based on the type of housing that's being built they're projecting Amsterdam school to get us 68 additional students and Sunnyme school to get 106 students. Um for those who um aren't aware, Sunny School right now is actually at capacity um slightly even over capacity in some sense. So um that's a problem for us, right? We need to address that very quickly. So before we get into the redistricting, the other thing we have to look at is not just who's coming into town, but what is our historical trends been? And that's actually an eye openener. Um a lot of us have been saying, "Oh, we're growing, we're growing, we're growing." But when
016we actually look at the numbers, um, our general ed population, I'm very specific about saying general education. We're going to talk about why in a second, but our general education for students in grades 1 through four, and I'm specifically eating off kindergarten because our current kindergarten program is only a half day program. We suspect we cannot use our kindergarten numbers to predict next year's kindergarten numbers because when it's full day uh there are some families who will send their child to a full day private kindergarten because we don't offer that. So we have to think that in our mind. So we looked at grades one through four and what has our population done over the past um in this case 14 years. we were able to look back and as you can see we were
017pretty flat kind of fluctuating a little bit until about the 18/19 school year. Um and then um that year was our um our our our peak where we went a little over 220 stu uh 2,200 students. We we we broke that number. But ever since that year and every year since we've gone down in terms of general ed K grades one through four student population. It's important to keep in mind. So that on itself looks like oh problem solved. Number of students are going down. We have more students coming into the town based on new construction. Shouldn't be much of an issue. Um if you go to the next slide now um when we look at special ed self-contained that population is increasing. Um so over the past couple years it kept going up and
018why this is important to note is the um room utilization by special ed um is completely different than the general ed education classroom. So in general education um in kindergarten grades one we can go up to um 22 students in that classroom. In grade two we might have up to 25 students in a classroom. In grades three and four, we will have up to 27 students in our classrooms. When it goes to special ed, the average special ed classroom sizes um for the self-contained special ed is about seven to eight students um depending on the program. Some programs like our autism programs can um by code cannot have no more than six students in them. Um and then some of our other LLD um and other self-contained programs may go up to eight or 10
01911 students. So when you look at populations in terms of room utilization as special ed students come into the district, their use of classrooms significantly increases compared to the amount of rooms we are quote unquote losing. That's not the right word, but from um a population decrease. So taking all that into account, we looked at our district, our six schools, our density populations, you know, where our growth is coming and going and developed three plans. Um, one was the idea of taking Hillsboro Elementary School and Triangle Elementary School being center school towns and seeing is there any advantage to that in terms of transportation costs, in terms of educational program that we can use to our advantage. So, plan one is what we've kind of been talking about, the idea of redistricting. We're going to
020keep six local elementary schools, each one serving a local population um, within the boundaries of that school. Plan two was to look into developing an early childhood center um specifically at Triangle Elementary School. And I'll talk about why in a minute. Um early childhood centers, there's a lot of advantage to them. A lot of districts have gone in that direction. And that would involve taking our prek and all kindergarten all going to that one school. We'll talk about that in a minute. The third plan we looked at was we have that central school, Hillsbor Elementary. That's actually our largest elementary school. could that serve as um a a central program for our fourth grade? So those were the three scenarios we kind of looked at and I'll go through each one of them now. So
021in plan one at redistricting um basically we had two things we were looking at here very specifically. One was increasing wood furn utilization. Um we talked about earlier the population there the amount of students going to that school. It's very underpopulated. we're not using it to its fullest extent. At the same time, when we look at the other side of town, we see that Amsterdam and Sunny are very crowded. Sun specifically overcrowded. And in the next few years, the both those schools will grow tremendously. So, we looked at trying to adjust the borders, working closely with transportation, working closely with special ed, and all the um those involved in the committee to see how we can adjust that. Uh this is not finalized, but it's it's kind of where we're leaning towards in terms of
022if we stick with six uh K4 schools. Plan two is to develop an early childhood learning center um for our youngest learners. So Triangle happens to be the school that has actually the most number of bathrooms in the classrooms. Um why is that important? uh state mandate requires that elementary school kindergarten specifically must have a bathroom either in the classroom or um bathroom. We can potentially get waiverss from the county that if there's a bathroom within line of sight somewhere nearby those rooms that classroom it can potentially be used and we do that in a few cases already in some of our schools. Um, but going to the idea of an early childhood center, you know, Triangle, we would need we wouldn't need to do any construction any of our other schools for bathrooms. Triangle
023has a lot of bathrooms. And when you look at that building, depending on if we can get waiverss or not, pretty much every single room in that building could be within line of sight of a bathroom or has a bathroom already in place. So, construction costs looking at that may be lower. Um, we're also we looked at transportation. The original concept was, oh, those are center schools. Could we save on transportation costs because now you kind of minimize routing. Um, that was not um achieved. Basically, we were going to potentially have one or two extra bus routes. This uh having Triangle be a centerized school for the early childhood learning center wasn't a major cost, but also not a major savings. um it does maximize um uh triangle in in a way that it maximizes
024it to the full extent. Um and if you go to the next slide, I'll explain what I mean by that. So this is where we have to kind of do a little bit guesstimation. Um we don't know how many kindergarter students we'll have next year. We can only go by what our current populations are and what populations are telling us. Um, looking at our current population of first grade this year, general ed students, we have 392 students. So, assuming we have that again next year for our kindergarten, again, we can't go by kindergarten numbers because kindergarten numbers don't really reflect who's really coming to our schools next year because some families do choose to send them to private uh full day K. We know that. Um so assuming we would have the same number of
025kindergarten students, we max out the building. Um that is every classroom is used um you know including bringing the prek programs over to the um triangle school as an early childhood center. So all that school now becomes a real kind of um home for those for that level students and becomes from an education point of view a great advantage. But from a from a housing point of view or or room capacity point of view, we we would be maxing out the school which does not leave us room to grow and that could be a possibility in the future. Um we did talk about well would there be overflow schools? Would we do other things with that but that's kind of where we left it at this point in kind of represent and kind of um
026presenting to the public and to the board. Um, one thing to note too, it would require us to uh going back to putting kindergarters in the module classrooms that are at that school. Um, those those module classrooms are getting replaced. Um, that that is part of um the the current budget. Um, so honestly, they'll probably be some of the nicest classrooms next year because they'll be brand new. But, um, and I do want to note that when those were actually originally constructed, they were used for kindergarten at one point. So that was plan two. Plan three was to develop a fourth grade transition school for at HES. Um one person one might ask school well why didn't you use HS for an early childhood center? It's actually our biggest elementary school by about four classrooms.
027So it actually makes a lot of sense and we wouldn't have this this problem. The big issue with HS in terms of an early childhood center is bathrooms. They currently only have three classrooms, large-siz classrooms that have a bathroom. And on top of that, the rest of the way the building's constructed, they don't even have um classrooms that would pass a waiver to be within line of sight. So, um that we could not use that as an early childhood center. So, we did look at it though as a fourth grade transition school. The idea would be um you know we would reduce cost because we're going to have to do something there about bathrooms for sure because they don't have enough um and it would be central for busing. Um next slide. So when we
028looked at it though some of the things we we found was that first of all it's not educationally the most conducive for students. um an early childhood center at an you know for kindergarten and prek makes a lot of sense because that you can develop a program that's very geared specifically for that level of student. When we looked at a fourth grade only school we saw a lot of transition. He said, "Well, you got students now going from a K3 school, going to a fourth grade school for one year, which is great for an educational program for them, but then immediately going to another school for five, six, and then going to another school for a seven, eight, and then going to a high school where they can they'll they'll be for a while." So,
029we thought that might be a lot of transitions. Um, the it didn't yield the anticipated uh busing cost savings that we thought might happen. um and it did also introduce some uh complications with special ed um at specifically at that grade level. So that kind of wraps up where we are right now in terms of our um planning and researching for different alternatives and how to redistrict. Um we've had several community inputs over the past couple of years as you can see up there. Discussions were held on the March 10th meeting. Um, we've had multiple social media posts about what we've been doing as well as our Hillsboro happenings. Every week we do kind of or every other week we we do put um updates in there as well. If you aren't uh subscribed to
030Hillsboro happenings, it is on our website. If you go to the website, go under community, you'll see it there. So, if you are not subscribed, we do recommend that you subscribe. You don't have to have children in the district to subscribe to that newsletter. Lots of good information. Um, we are planning on holding uh several in-person opportunities for discussion about these plans. Um, kind of moving forward and getting more feedback from the community. Uh, one will be in October 16th from 9:00 to 11:00. Um, the next will be uh, November 13th. We'll do one during the day from 1 to 3 and again on November 13th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Um, the locations will be uh, forthcoming. So, and then of course at any board meeting, uh, we do invite the public to
031come up and to talk about, um, any of the redistricting, uh, progress we've made and the plans we're proposing. >> Thank you, Mr. Handler. That involves a lot of work. Uh, it's still going to involve a lot of work. Our goal for all students and parents is right around spring break time, either right before, right after, we want to let everybody know where they're going to be going for school for next year. And to make that clear for anybody who will be registering for full day K, which registration starts in uh January, towards the end of January, we're not going to be able to tell you which school you're going to at that time. So, we have a lot more work to do. Uh we have a lot of conceptual plans. Mr. Handler is going
032to be involved in other presentations to the public, but we are happy that we were able to provide you this information at this time. And anytime we do have a presentation like this, we will be uh within the next couple of days cutting out a clip of this from YouTube, sharing it out on social media. So if you only want to uh learn about full day K and redistricting, you can watch a shorter video rather than scrolling through the entire board meeting. It's very conceptual right now, but does anybody have any questions of Mr. Handler, Dr. Rabimus, or myself? Yes, misters. >> I do. I two out of the three options that are being explored involve transitional buildings whether you know it's an early childhood center or the fourth grade transition. Was there a time
033and if so why was it removed that we looked at an early learning center such as prek to one or prek to two and then 2 to four or 3 to four was it the least cost effective or we when we looked at the concept of perhaps sister schools uh one of the things that we ran into right away was a transportation costs went much higher than we had anticipated um and there were also some other logistical challenges too. So that kind of got moved to the wayside very very early on I think last year when we started looking at this but we what we still wanted to do is we wanted to come to the board as well as the community with options that we didn't just want to say okay we ruled out
034one option so there's no other options we have to go there uh we really started brainstorming and came up with these other three options we have discussed these in administrative committee uh one of them tends to be the most popular one's a little bit popular and one of them people are like I I don't like that option But the sister schools got ruled out for cost reasons and logistical reasons very early on. >> Okay, thank you. Um, yeah, we can't take questions from the the I see some people raising their hands. You can come up at public comment and u make something a little bit later and then we will have in-person opportunities where you can meet with administration where we'll be happy to sit down with you and answer any questions for as long
035as you want about full day and redistricting. So we invite you to that. >> Thank you everybody. >> That would be during the second public comment period. >> During the second public comment period. Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. So on to the last part of my superintendence report. Um one of the things that really gets going in October is the creation of our budget for the next year. So that would be the 2627 budget. What we want to try to do during the course of this year is try to get out as much information to people as we possibly can. Uh sometimes information is uh talked about with board members and administration administrators behind the scenes and we just want to give everybody an insight as to all the options we're looking at. Similarly, as
036we're looking at options when it comes to full day K and redistricting, we're looking at multiple options with our budget in general. Generally speaking, um Mr. director and I will approach the operations committee of the board and talk about parameters. And what are parameters? Parameters are how comfortable is do the board members feel in uh going up a certain percentage of the budget. Most of the time in the state of New Jersey over the past however many years it's been at a 2% cap, sometimes with a health benefits waiver. So we'll come to that committee meeting and say how high can we go? Um and then starting after that, starting in October, there's many months of work where we put together a budget. Uh then in the spring, the board votes on the budget. So
037the board then has to look at a tenative budget, approve that, and then a final budget. We don't have the actual dates for those meetings yet because we don't have our 2026 uh meetings uh designated yet, but the board will vote at some point. But we are just at that point where we are starting to talk about parameters. I want to make it very clear and I highlighted it on the presentation behind me. There is no budget vote taking place at this time. Board members can speak about things if they want to, but they don't have to. But one of the things that we wanted to look at uh especially with the tax levy incentive option that took place last year was what do different scenarios and different parameters look like? uh the board can
038ask me for for my opinions and recommendations but in the end the board has to approve some kind of a budget uh within approved parameters. So, what I'm going to be showing here is what a 2627 budget, very high level, very conceptually, not with specifics, with rounded numbers, would look like with a 0% addition to the tax uh increase to the tax levy, a 1% increase to the tax levy, a 2% increase to the tax levy, and a 2% increase plus the healthc care waiver. Again, these numbers are rounded and conceptual. And um if anybody has questions like, "What about 1.45%." We're not going to be running those numbers at the table tonight, uh if you have those types of questions. We can answer those in committee, run them, and certainly report out. But I
039wanted to show the public as well as the board options that we are looking at. And I want to remind everybody of of something behind me uh as well. Last year when we uh the board passed the tax levy incentive option and raised the taxes uh higher than it had before, the first 4.5 million um of that tax levy incentive adjustment went towards putting back the things in the budget that I was eliminating in my superintendent's budget for the tenative budget. So that included staffing that's all listed behind me. that included a whole lot of other things like school supplies, courtesy busing, uh not getting rid of the paytoplay, uh rekeying efforts for school safety. $4.5 million of that raise money immediately went to that. So, I want to make it very clear that having
040that option prevented those cuts and all of those positions, even if some of them have been transferred to another position, uh they're with us today. And all of those efforts under those other items, uh they were in part of this year's budget. So, it's important to remember that fact first and then I'll ask you to just uh bear with me as I try to explain the next couple of slides and what things would look like because what I want everybody to look at are the the big buckets and then also what things might look like the following year. So, if you could just follow me down the table behind me and again these numbers are rounded. After last year's budget was passed there was about a $26.6 6 million added to the tax uh tax
041levy as compared to 25 uh as compared to the previous year. Then if you follow me down to the next one, immediately 4.5 million of that was put into a lot of recurring costs. Um and that number so is now down to about 22 million uh 100,000. Again, very rounded. This is the possibility with a 0% tax levy increase. So the green number there shows zero. Nothing else is being added. Here's what I have to plan for as superintendent and then advise the board. Some very big ticket items there. Hillsboro and I think everybody's aware has been a victim of state aid cuts for many many years. I have to plan for that. And every time I plan for it and think I plan big, it ends up becoming much bigger. Last year it was
042capped or it would have been much bigger. So, into my very early budget, could be more, could be less. I'm hoping it's less. I'm saying, okay, the state, maybe they're going to come and take two million more in state aid from us this year. They shouldn't, but I don't put anything past the the state aid formula and how things can sometimes be moved around. I also have to plan for a health benefits increase. So, right now in September, this isn't the final budget. Off the top of my head, I'm saying, "Okay, if we got a 20% increase in health benefits, I've got to find $5 million in my budget to cover that health benefit increase. I then have to make sure all of my employees get their raises for the next year." Again, this isn't
043exact. If anybody from the HA is out there with the contract, I know this isn't exact, but I'm putting about $3 million. It's ballpark right about there. We can get that exact number eventually. Then we have some general cost increases. Inflation goes up, things cost more, energy costs more, some things simply cost more. And I'm putting that at about a million dollars. Mr. Zigga has said, "Mike, that's too low." Well, I'm hoping some of them come in lower, and it kind of balances out. But just based on that, just by us existing, I have to find about $11 million in our budget to cover all of those costs. And I haven't. Last year, we tried to as the the board to write the ship. I I have that money. One of the things as a
044priority for the board is they also want to implement full day kindergarten for the fall of 2627. Again, I don't have this 100% accurate. Um, but I'm thinking it's going to take about 17 new staff members as a recurring cost. About 17 new staff members to fully implement full day kindergarten across all six of our schools or potentially at one school. Um, but it's going to be about 17 staff members, about 1.95 million. That means I've got to find about 12.95 million moving forward, not just this year because every year moving forward, I'm going to have those kindergarten teachers. It's not going to be a one-time thing. We have full day kindergarten for one year and then goodbye. Every year, I'm going to have to plan for a state aid uh state aid cut. I
045hope that changes at some point. Every year I'm going to have to plan for a health benefits increase. Every year I'm going to have to plan to pay my employees more. And every year the cost of things go up. Again, these are general ballpark numbers. So moving forward in my budget each and every year I'm going to have to find about 12.95 million in order to keep us moving forward afloat and not have to cut anything. And I have those two red arrows there. It's important for you to w match up those red arrows. So if the board wanted to have a 0% tax increase uh for for going into next year, I could eat it. I we could eat it. It's not a million is left in non-recurring cost projects, fixing roofs, all of
046those kinds of one oneoff things in this year's budget. There's about $9.1 million. That's how much is left out of that 26.6 million. But I've said that each year I'm going to be carrying an additional $ 122.9 million in my budget. So at the 0% tax increase 2627 we're fine. before we start the budget we are $3.8 million in the hole. So what has happened in Hillsboro over time is we have been in survival mode yeartoyear because we don't know about the state aid cuts. We don't know what's coming. I can be a little bit more strategic now and show these numbers that a 0% tax increase could be eaten for the 2627 budget, but then in 2728, we're starting $3.8 million in the hole. Granted, before we decide what to do with the budget,
047but we're starting in a hole. And one of the things I thought this picture was kind of funny. Maybe some people don't. On the left hand side, you got people who just are patting down that that hole. they just refilled a hole. And I feel that in looking at this as superintendent, um that's something that this board did last year was they filled that gap uh that was here for so long because of the state aid cuts, because of the 2% cap, and because of what boards did many years ago. There was a long time ago that boards sitting right here where these board members are today did not go to CAP. And that has hurt us and haunted us for a long period of time. There's multiple factors. So, what I would hate to
048do is have this board have filled in the hole and then if we go to 0%, okay, that next year, just start digging that hole all over again, following that same pattern that I showed you. And I'm not I'm going to go through this slide a little bit more quickly because you understand it. At the top again, showing the tax levy increase, how much we carried over, but this time out of 1% we would bring in about $1.44 44 million. You know what I thought all the costs were. You know how I lined this up. Now, what you see by going to 1% is those two numbers by the arrows get a little bit closer. Again, in 2627, no problem at 1% going only to 1% this year. We start in 2728 just under a
049million dollars in the hole again before we start that budget. So, we dig that hole just a little bit. When it comes to 2%, 2% would be about $2.8 million. And now you can see that those two arrow numbers have flipped at 2% starting in 2728. For the first time, I think, well, Jerry, you and I haven't been here that many years, but for the first time in a long time, at 2%, Hillsboro starts in the good before we develop the budget. It would be the first time in a long time where Hillsboro doesn't start by saying, "What are we cutting?" And that's at 2%. Last year's sticker shock for everybody who was a Hillsboro resident, I get it. looking at the long term of this, that's not something we need to do again. And
050I'll show you what it looks like with 2% plus the health benefits waiver. Again, this is approximate. We don't have our health benefits numbers. We looked at what the health benefits number was last year and we're making some estimates. If the board decided to go with the 2% increase and the health benefits waiver, that'd be adding about $5.2 million to the tax levy. And then heading into 2728, you're actually $6.6 6 million ahead. And with where we were with last year's budget and the tax increases, I don't think that's necessary. Um, it's an option obviously in front of the board, the the healthc care waiver, but I don't think we need to be $6.6 million ahead of the game. I would think that going to the 2% uh might be very logical because I don't
051want history to repeat itself in Hillsboro where we didn't go to the cap and then a new state aid formula comes in and then we're in trouble and trying to figure things out year after year after year. The reason why I show you all of this uh both to the board members and the public, these aren't hard numbers, they're approximate, but they show you the different options that the board can look at, that administration can look at once the board gives us direction, what they're comfortable with, and we can move on from there. So, to give you the the the large general next steps, board administration, we're going to have continued committee level discussions. We can continue to talk about this in public. And what I'm going to do, similar to the redistricting and full
052day K uh video snippets, I'm going to do the same thing anytime I talk about the budget. Anytime there's a presentation on the budget, I'm going to snip it out, put it out on social media, put it in Hillsboro happening. So, if you just care about the budget and want to watch that 10 minutes, you can watch that 10 minutes. Our budget process really starts in October. That's why on October 1st in both Hillsboro happenings and on our website, we're going to put out a form for public feedback that anybody can tell us their thoughts about things they would like to see included or eliminated from the budget as we move forward. On October 13th's board meeting, the next board meeting that we have, uh, budget input is going to be added to all public
053comment at the board meetings. And then if you want to keep this in mind is sometime in the middle of March we'll have the tenative budget presentation and then the final budget presentation will be the last week in April. And I want to make it very clear to the board members here so you're not feeling any pressure. This isformational. You do not have to come to any type of consensus as to what option you are picking. But I think it's important that the board and myself show the community that we're looking at all these types of options. But in addition to looking at all these types of options, what are the long-term uh positive and negative consequences of whatever we would take? So that's my uh budget presentation as far as it comes uh to
054parameters and uh you'll hear more budget information uh from future superintendent reports and of course board members, we will continue to discuss that as well. Yes, >> I have a question about So, first of all, thank you so much for creating this. It's very very helpful to see the implications of a zero and all those different things. Um, but if you would go to the one right before this, the one with 2% and taking the health benefits waiver, the conclusion that I come to, and I don't know if this is correct, so I'm going to ask, is that $26.6 6 million that we raised doesn't last very long. >> Well, I think it depends on it depends on what we do with it. It depends on what we do with it. So, one of the
055things that I had tried to to commit to do um it could have we could have blown through it in one year. If I hired and I'm not, you know, it's always good to have more teachers and I don't want to make it clear, but if I hired all new staff members within one year, I'm just making I hired 100 staff members, 150 staff members, then in one year we're we're in trouble. uh it we need to take a look at a lot of things moving forward um including things like health benefits, including things like continued advocacy when it comes to to the state aid uh situation because what this assumes, Gene, and this may be the the flaw in this the the red items that I have as costs, I assume that those are
056going to be the continued costs every year. So, my hope would be that within two years we could get better health care insurance uh for for cheaper, that we can not have a $2 million state aid cut. Um 26 million goes fast if you don't look for good options and how you spend it, >> right? But I think what what you're showing here with the in the red is that so going back to the 0% it's basically it's every year our costs increase by 11 million. And the reason it's decreasing is because we're taking that 2% plus the health waiver, but the actual cost of being Hillsbor is $11 million. So that to me is like that's a big problem because I don't like the 26, right? We said the 26.6 million was against it,
057but okay, it's passed. >> It looks like based on this, it's going we're going to be raising taxes again at some point. Well, I think what I'm trying to show here is I think that if we went to zero, I think that's that's a pretty significant problem. I do. Um I think if we looked at the 2% I think we're on a good path and we're starting to stabilize and honestly, yeah, we have to do things like we have to at some point shop around our health insurance. We have to try to find the best deal on everything that we can. Um, I don't want to send everybody into a state of panic with this because please remember all those red numbers that I put right there right now are estimates. What I would love,
058and I know this is hope upon hope, you know, what if we didn't get a state aid cut this year? What if that $2 million number I I had that's coming out of our budget every year disappeared? That's a significant chunk. It is very early to try and make these predictions but uh depending on how money is spent, how money is used, uh it can go faster or it can go slower. >> Right? But I think my point is even on the 2% increase in health benefits waiver going into the 20 so not next school year but the year after at 6.6 6 million like in um >> to the good >> if you minus 11 million you're still at minus 5 million. So that's >> uh no no um >> sorry the year after
059right so like >> because like that's so >> No actually no it would be for the 2728 because if you're at 6.6 million and you're assuming an 11 million increase to do business you're already going to be in a $5 million hole in just two years. Well, again, I think it depends on what the board decides to do because, example, if you did a 0% this year and then a 2% the following year. >> No, I'm saying if if we do what you're suggesting, I mean, not you're suggesting, but what's shown here, if we take 2% and the health benefits waiver >> in 2728, we're still going to be 5 million in the hole. >> Just based on >> in 20 in 2728, you're you're ahead $6.6 million. You're thinking maybe 2829. No, because because
060I'm I'm looking at the Okay, maybe we'll take it in committee because I >> Okay. Yeah, you know. Yeah, absolutely. I'm happy to answer any more detailed questions that we could take there. I think as far as it goes for the community, we want you to know we're looking at options. We want to let you know that there are implications for any of those options and we will continue to talk about this in committee and Gene after we have those committee discussions and uh we have that we can report back out to the public as well. >> Thank you. And I really do appreciate the comparison here. >> Thank you, Mayor, >> Mr. President. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Joel. >> Um, and I know there there will be more detailed discussions down the
061road, but uh what is a health benefit waiver and why would we not exercise it? >> I will tell you why we would not exercise it. The health benefit waiver, Joel, means that, and Jerry, you can explain it. means that we can go through the 2% cap and pass extra tax uh costs on to the taxpayers to make up for a difference in and you want to explain the difference there, Jerry? >> Basically, it's allow it's whatever the difference is between the state health benefit plan increase and the 2% tax levy cap. So, in the upcoming year, the state health benefit plan is projected to be at least around a 30% increase. Fortunately, we're not in that plan. Um, so if ours comes into like the 20% that Mike has listed on here, we would
062be able to do a waiver for 18% of that. So for the for up to the amount of our of our >> a health benefit waiver allows us to increase taxes even further >> more. Yes. Pass the 2%. Correct. >> It's one of the allowable exemptions. So if we were hoping to not increase taxes, we then we don't want to exercise a health benefit waiver. >> Correct. And and what you know, again, it's early in projecting and there's a lot of things that moving parts that can change, but based on the numbers that I'm showing right now, I'm not necessarily seeing the the need for that within this budget. That is of course the board's prerogative uh to to talk about that further and we can talk about that further in committee. But the waiver,
063yes, is an additional uh tax. >> Thank you, >> Mr. President. That now concludes probably my longest superintendence report. >> Yes, I agree. All right. So, uh I will mention um eight we have your policies and regulations requiring annual review for this section. Uh this is not actually something that the board votes on. They're just required annual review. They're available for the public to to see. Uh there's a clickable link in the agenda if you look online. We'll now move on to committee reports. All right. So could we start with HR as nurse? >> Sure. The HR committee meeting uh we discussed the a sidebar agreement with the HA. We also talked about a labor settlement um involving the district and the HA. um a need for some unbudgeted instructional assistance uh based on uh
064the uh rise in student needs and then we finished with a personnel matter. >> Great. Thank you, Miss Jackson, if we could review education. >> Yep. So we met on September 9th and we reviewed book adoptions and uh revised ASL 1 and two curriculum abolishing policy 1648.15 which is recordkeeping for healthcare settings and school buildings COVID 19. Policy 2422 uh statutory curriculum requirements policy 5339.01 student protection. And then um we did the review 2526 district professional development plan and mentoring plan statement of assurance. Uh and we reviewed a highly effective option um which focuses on teacher self assessment and professional growth. And then we had a discussion on the HMS grade 8 Hershey Gettysburg trip update. And then AI in in uh excuse me, AI use in the district. >> All right. Thank you. Uh
065Mr. Davis, operation >> Yeah, operations committee. Uh kind of speaking of the devil, we spent a lot of time at the last operations meeting talking about health benefits and cost projections and cost increases and what some of the options are. And uh an option that we spent quite a lot of time discussing were health savings accounts and the long-term benefits that those hold for uh people who are in godly staff, people who have that kind of benefit. And there's this kind of paradox that uh a lot of people are not interested in or afraid of or are squeamish about health savings accounts. Oh, it's not the same old same old. You know, I like my old plan, but everyone who knows about health savings accounts and how they work reports great outcomes. Um, and one
066of the nice things about health savings accounts is that uh folks who participate in a health savings account actually can experience long-term benefits that would even extend way beyond their employment here at the district. Uh, so that's something. And of course the uh the various groups uh need to get on board and decide they're willing to accept that kind of a program for their members. Uh but that we spent a a good amount of time talking about that. Uh one of the items on the agenda tonight is renaming the basketball court and we'll vote on that later. Uh we had uh some preliminary discussions about budget planning and some of the things that go into that and questions did come up at that time about the implications of holding back on increasing taxes. You know,
067well, what if we just say, look, enough's enough. We're going to go with 0% for next year just to give people a breather. But besides the implications that Mr. Vulpi just pointed out, uh Mr. Eert explained that from the state point of view uh if if we don't increase taxes, if we don't go to the 2% or some in intermediate tax increase, we may find ourselves again just plotting down the road toward the state deciding that we're not paying our fair share, which in turn turns into cuts in state funding. uh it does become of a bit of a catch 22 and uh I don't that can't be changed until the actual legislation is is adjusted in Trenton. Um we did talk about uh school facilities related to the all day kindergarten uh program and
068the needs that are required there and again a lot of that is statutory. It's it's not just an indulgence. There are minimum requirements if you're going to have kids uh of a young age at your school. And that was about it. All right. Thank you. And for governance, um we had a lot of varying discussion on proclamations and um who and what we're going to cover and who's going to be presenting them at board meetings. Uh so there was a good good thorough conversation there and that conversation will continue. Um as Mr. Davis mentioned, he mentioned something about the budget discussion that has resulted in what you've seen today. Uh we had a very thorough conversation on Hazel Health, which is a potential state funded grant um for additional counseling options. Uh we actually got
069to speak with uh a representative from Hazel Health as in addition to our internal team here and uh was a very good session I thought uh for that and then we you know did some kind of other staff recognition discussions as well. Um but that was it. Okay. All right. Um so given that we will now move on to comments from the board public. Um we very much welcome in the public. During board meetings there'll be two 30-minute periods of time. The meetings will be open public comment where members of the public are invited to comment which they may do if they are attending in person. Before you state your comment, you'll ask provide your name and address. There's a limit limit on public comment. Please understand that our public forums are not structured as
070question answer sessions rather offered this opportunity to share your thoughts with the board. In instance where the board believes there's 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 ask question about personnel or hiring decisions not the open public meetings act and the privacy rights of public employees encumbent therein do not permit the board to discuss personal issues in public session. I know some people had raised some hands before. The first uh public comment is on items on the action agenda. If there's other questions say about redistricting or comments though that can be during the second uh public comment period. There's a there's two comment periods. Yes. >> Hello. Alicia Gailis live in Hillsboro. So basically anything
071that's already happened is that part of the action agenda? Basically, >> this is anything that's on the action agenda that's listed on tonight's meeting. So, this first public comment is for those items. >> Like, so I could talk about Triangle School and like what you just talked about. >> No, that's >> it's just going forward. >> That'll be the second session because that that's not on the action agenda for tonight. >> Yeah, >> it's stuff that the board is voting on before the board votes. >> Okay. Um let's see. So, let's see. Um, just in general, if anyone wanted to abstain or vote no on um, books, if it'd be nice if they could share why. Probably not needed, but not required, but it'd be nice to just hear why. Um, and I guess I'll
072hold the rest later. Thanks. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Okay, seeing no others, we'll move on to the action agenda. Actually, first, approval of minutes. Motion to approve regular meeting minutes. 9825. I had a motion to second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All right. Now the action. >> You obain. Abstain. >> Thank you. I ask for the board's consideration approval of the following motions and in the area of education. Professional travel related expenses for board member Jane Stats. Professional travel related expenses for board member Gene Trillo. Affirming the HIB determination for the attached cases, field trip destinations, overnight trips, statement of assurance for the district professional development plan, revised ASL1 and 2 curriculum, optional activities for highly effective educators, adopting books, approving staff for the NJGPA wraparound program, approving staff for afterchool languages languages
073extended exploration program, PSAT proctors for October 11th. affiliation agreement with Teachers College in Columbia University. Amending agenda item 11.8 from August accepting the funds for the TCJ PDSN educator inquiry project grant. Application for funding for optimal comprehensive universal screeners grant to the NJDOE, approving the submission of grant application for Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, and approving long-term suspensions of students whose names are on file in the office of the superintendent. Can I get a motion in a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion before the board votes? Miss stats? Regarding uh item 12.6, motion approve overnight trips. Um uh especially about the middle school overnight trip. Uh we had this concern a year ago and um the same reasons uh why uh they promoted this field trip uh are still existing um that uh well we
074don't want to you know they they've already gotten the fundraising in motion etc etc. Well with this reasoning this will never change. My concern is the cost. It's over $500. It has resulted in about 70% 71% of the sta of the class attending the field trip. So they're not experiencing it is a lovely wonderful experience to to stay overnight, but it's also the reason why it costs so much. So it keeps about 30% of the kids from experiencing this wonderful, you know, supposedly unifying experience for for the class. Um and it concerns me that we made these points a year ago uh that they said they would explore you know alter uh and but now they have explored alternative alternatives but they now saying well we should we should uh you know uh you know
075get input from the parents and the students. Well that should have been done a year ago. So um I'm concerned about a good chunk of the students not being able to experience this because of the costs. Thanks. Thanks, Miss Sense. >> Along those lines, what happens to students who cannot join the trip? >> Where do they sit in the classroom? Do they go to study hall? >> Yeah, al alternate plans are made for them. Of course, we welcome students in the school. Some some students may not choose to go to school that day for a variety of reasons. But if a student comes to school, yes, alternate plans will be made for them. Uh >> I I think it sounds like we have to, you know, if you know, Jane brought it up. I remember
076the conversation. Um but I think we need to have this on an agenda at some point. I don't know if it starts in committee, but so we are not in the same position next year. I think we need to jump on it like October, November, wherever we need to be so we can really truly discuss discuss it and get the parent input. Um, but I did not realize those statistics were so high. I did not realize that 30% of the children cannot go and that is um surprising and and definitely I feel a need for discussion. >> Yeah. So Wednesday, Dr. Towelski had made a presentation with both the history of the of the trip as well as the numbers over the years as well as potential recommendations for some alternate solutions for this problem.
077So I think at this point he made a first presentation. He's going to come back and make a secondary presentation on this. >> When was >> in the education committee? >> Oh, in the education. Okay. It's just I think it for a lot of board members it feels like this was brought up a year ago and no progress was made as far as here's regurgitating the information with some options. >> That's good to hear. >> I would encourage the board to vote no or to table this trip. To echo what Miss Stats has said, this was brought up over a year ago. At the time the reasons that were listed, well, it was like we don't have anything else that we can do. And actually I remember at the time I said I was conflicted
078about it because I do remember how nice the overnight trip was. However, looking at the statistics when my older kids went 90% of the students attended to this past year 71% of the students attending it now becomes a halves and halves not. And it does echo to me my concern that I brought up with the choir trips as well as the band trips. These are trips that go to Disney World to the tune of $1,700, which by the way was what my third and fourth quarter tax bill increased. So these are numbers that are quite significant for families to pay for the privilege of going to public school. So I will be voting no on this Hershey trip. It's and it's not because I don't want the kids to experience a wonderful trip. I do
079want them to, but there are other ways that don't burden parents and families that really are making a choice between paying for essentials and then paying for this lovely trip. >> Yeah, I think at this point, I mean, I think the the counter-argument to that is that there has been a lot of fundraising done for this trip already for this year. So, just keep that in mind as you're as you're voting. >> That seems to be the case what we as it was brought up last year. So, my point is, and and I everybody has their their say, but if if there's not a a um if the board votes this through or does not table this, then there's really no incentive in my view to change because I brought up the the band and
080the choir trips in the past, and there's really been no appetite to discuss it. It's as opposed to voting it down entirely. If we table it, do we have time to discuss or are you know how I know there's always a time crunch in terms of when deposits need to be in and things like that. So, are we able I think it I think it's a conversation that definitely needs to happen. Um, do we have the time to to make time for it? >> I honestly I don't know the answer to that 100% unfortunately. Um, the one thing that I do want to say is I know it was brought up last year and that's why, you know, we have taken the steps that we have taken. I just want to make it very clear
081because I think some of that might and the board can vote however it wants to vote. We can we can do whatever. Um, but we did have uh Dr. Trabolski provide a report to the education committee. Uh we did go over the options and talk about things that he's looking at for the future. He is scheduled to come back to either next month. I don't think we've confirmed it's October. He's coming back to the October meeting uh for further discussion about looking forward in the future. So I just want the the public and the board to understand that. I've heard the concerns and yes, last year's trip went through. Um and since that time, we have been looking at what our other options are. That being said, the board can vote however it wants to.
082Uh but uh Allison, I I don't know the the timing. Uh I wish I had that information for you now. I I I don't have that. >> Another question. >> Miss, >> I just want to also bring up I know I know there's at least one other dance for the eighth graders or at least at the middle school, but there is a a dance as part of this uh overnight trip that 30% of the students will not be able to participate in. uh something that's touted as a wonderful experience that's unique that they will not be experienc this experiencing this and I I just think it's yes yes yes there have been I wouldn't even say there steps have been taken there has been uh research done and a presentation but we have not moved
083forward I don't think we've moved forward if we can't don't we we really have >> I'd respectfully disagree we we are moving forward >> I don't I I feel that um we're we're sort of compelled to approve this because of the fundraising that's going on, etc., etc. >> I want I just want to be very clear that I'm bringing the information uh to the committee as I get it. Um we share that information with everyone and the board can vote however the board wants to vote. You can vote on this trip however you decide. I'm not trying to compel anybody or push anybody to do anything. And I will Yeah, >> I'm not I'm not saying you're compelling us. I'm just saying the the circumstances >> understood. >> And also another factor is that has
084been brought up is it can be disappointing to to the students and the parents especially when they've been expecting this to happen. Um but then again, no, if we do eventually do this, if they're the first one in years to not have this overnight trip, yes, it might be disappointing, but I still go back to that 30% that don't experience it at all. How do I go about making a motion to table it? Because I too like hearing that statistic, I don't have a problem with saying yes tonight. I I don't have enough information fully. I didn't know. And if it was Mr. Trabolski that came to the education committee, maybe it was I understand what Jane is saying. Maybe it's a little later than we expected or wanted it to happen. for me the
085fundraising can go to an alternative so I don't think it's lost or I mean we have until June so but >> so just to clarify you know so just to give you the sequence last year we had the full discussion with all the information Dr. Quilski came to the meeting with with this past meeting it the trip was again put on the agenda because it was presented that there was an expectation they would go to Hershey based on the fundraising. So in between last year and this year nothing else was there was no difference in the information that was available. this information was available last year and again whatever we talk about I guess in October the assumption is that's going forward on how to hopefully change the expense of the trip >> but but
086I think the the difference in this year is was he actually presented I think three or four different options for next year if the board did not want so it was like hey here's what the plan is this year and we now have three or four different options >> for next year if we choose not to go through with Hershey so it was not just the same thing regurgitated. There was some additional content on options like going to I forget the different place Dory Park for one day. We gave them busters. So they had like options in lie of this. But that was the thought was we've already done fundraising. So there's an expectation for the students who have fundra done fundraising that they would go this year before we set that expectation for next
087year that we could decide on a path forward. Is that sorry is that my understanding would be then obviously last year's seventh graders had the impression that they were yes >> starting to fund raise for their Hershey trip. So how >> that that is correct. >> Okay. Have this year's seventh graders >> I don't believe so >> been told that that is not necessarily a given >> that that they what he expressed over the meeting was that they have not started fundraising for the trip yet. So they wanted to make get our discussion points to set expectations appropriately and that's and that's why Dr. Trabolski is coming in October to the education committee. That's wonderful and and we certainly don't want disappointed students at all. >> But if if there could be communication made that
088please understand we're looking at that just to make sure the trip is a much more inclusive >> opportunity move you know moving forward. >> One of the reasons why Dr. Tbolski is coming to the education committee is just isn't just to present his ideas when he is there. If the board has concerns, questions, things about communication, he needs to hear that from you. Uh, he might be watching this meeting right now. He might not be. I may intend to call him first thing tomorrow about this and then a fire alarm could go off in the school. So, I want him in front of the board members so the board members can hear him and that he can also hear from the board members. I guess my big concern and what would sway me right now
089is this is the first time that I'm hearing that 30% of kids did not show. >> No, it was >> I mean I could have been sleep here at some point >> last year. >> I understand that. But I don't remember ever getting those statistics before tonight. I I could be wrong. I will fully admit that I could be wrong, but I don't ever remember hearing that because I >> So they were comm they were in committee meeting minutes, I believe, >> in the committee, but not to the full board. >> Well, I mean, full board has access to committee meeting minutes, but yeah, it was not proactively sent out. >> So, I didn't read it correctly or I didn't look and say I would have only known if I had >> Yes. looked at
090the minutes. Yes. >> Um, so point of clarification because I also didn't know, but I've read the education committee minutes for this month. So, was it only this month? >> No, it was last >> It was last year. Last year was also mentioned. >> I can I can find out when it was was sent. Yeah, we we have been talking about this for for some time. Um I'll try to hunt down the information for everybody. >> No, that's okay. I mean, I just But it's to Cindy's point. So, >> I think the the way the last meeting was left is that the the committee was unhappy with the numbers and we're happy that other options were presented and that we would think about it and come back. he would come back a couple months later
091and have a further discussion on future planning of this. But they would not start fundraising for the next trip until this was figured out. >> So I guess what's important then is to make sure that there is communication done well in advance to uh especially regarding the idea of fundraising already starting etc etc andor not disappointing. they might disappoint, but at least at least the earlier you let them know the better for them to adjust. >> So, some communication that we potentially will be adjusting the trip. It's not necessarily Hershey, but we'll come back to you with an answer. That was >> I think was my point about hopefully that is communicated to the current seventh grade class that just >> I guess I thought I was hoping that was happening last year, >> right?
092I would much prefer to table this until our next meeting and get more information than to vote it down. But if I have to vote tonight, like I don't feel comfortable saying that let's go forward with a trip where 30% of kids can't come. If I can come back next month or next meeting and know, hey, there's going to be a process in place this year. Like maybe now all 30% maybe aren't because of the affordability. maybe some of them because families don't feel comfortable sending their kids overnight. They're they're young. There's other things. But if it is a financial issue, is there a fund that can be started where kids can apply? Like I would like to hear some of those possibilities so we're not leaving out anybody because of financial burden. >> And
093I think I think Dr. Jabolski spoke that too in the in the committee meeting. If we have student now it all comes down to perspective and a sliding scale. If we have students who um can't afford uh there are ways uh with uh our HSAs with um other funds that we do try to make sure that those students go. Now mostly that's when students are identified with free and reduced lunch we try to take care of it. That being said, in the same way that I had problems with the pay-to-play policy um and identifying that people who are just beyond that threshold, beyond uh the free and reduced lunch, um they may still think that that's not in their financial situation to go. The problem with the 70% number, the 71% number is we don't
094drill down as you had said with the people, hey, why aren't you going? Um and we don't want to to put people put people off. So, um, we had planned for Dr. Trabolski to come to the next education committee meeting. You guys can separate this out and do whatever you would like with it. Uh, we may have answers that you like after that meeting. We may have answers that you don't like. But either way, uh, he is coming on the 14th to to, uh, present, to answer more questions, and to hear from you. >> And just confirming, I did look in it was >> 16th, sorry, 16th, >> the June 17th committee meeting for education, and the attachment of the explanation is attached to the uh, the agenda. >> Okay. Thank you. What year was
095that? >> 2025. June 17, 17th. That was the last meeting we had with him on this was >> No, but I thought it was just this last one I read. >> No, no, no. I said it was a couple meetings ago. It wasn't It was not this month. >> But I read the education minutes this >> there may have been additional discussion on that with the board members, but his presentation >> his presentation was June 17th. >> He was in person for that and presented. >> Okay. So I believe Miss Nurse you were asking about just procedurally about >> yeah if you want to make a motion to table you can do so >> I am making a motion to table >> is our first meeting before October 16th the when Dr. Does anybody have
096the calendar? >> I think it's the second one. >> The second will be the second >> the second meeting which is October >> 27. I motion that we table this vote until the second meeting of October which is October 27th. >> So c can I ask to amend to after we get to speak with him? >> Yes. That way if we can make that sooner we can just add it make that recommendation. >> Absolutely. Yes. >> So don't put a date on it. >> Sure. I motion to uh table this conversation until we have had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Trabolski to find out more information. >> Second. >> All right. Uh any discussion before we vote on tableabling? >> Just point of clarification. Are we separating out just the >> this would be
097>> eighth grade trip from 12.6 >> right but keeping in the marching band >> correct >> that is the motion all right seeing no other comments we'll take role on that Mr. Davis. >> Again, just to clarify, we're voting on the motion to table the question. >> Yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> yes. >> Miss Craig, >> no. >> Miss Lanny Beater. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lee? >> No. >> Miss Nurse? >> Yes. >> Miss Stats? >> Yes. >> Mr. Heo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Marini? >> Yes. Motion passes. All right. So, is there any other discussion on the action agenda before we move to voting on the action agenda? Okay, seeing none. So, 12.6 will be included, but we'll exclude the uh eighth grade trip. It'll just be the marching band. >> Mr. Davis, >>
098yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> I'm a yes with exception. I am a no on 12.10. >> Miss Craig, >> yes. >> Miss Lighting Beater, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Miss Nurse, >> yes. >> Miss Stats, >> yes for everything, but I abstain for 12.2. >> Mr. Hill, >> yes for everything and abstaining on 12.3. >> And Mr. Murray, >> yes. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Thank you. In the air of human resources, I'd ask for the board's consideration to approve the following motions. Resignations, appointments, leaves of absence, revised bus drivers and bus 8 hours, sixth and seventh period coverage, co-curricular and intramural advisors, student teachers, buddy, extra coverage, group changes, an HA sidebar agreement, an HA per unfair practice charge settlement agreement, four unbudgeted instructional assistant positions due to uh special education
099needs. the suspension of a district employee and the suspension of a second district employee. >> Can I get a motion in a second? >> Any discussion by the board? >> The stats. >> It's not really discussion, but um it's it's item uh 13.6. Um included in that list of co-curricular inter mural advisors. There's quite a few volunteers and I just really appreciate all the time that the volunteers put into uh to help our students. >> Thank you. Okay, seeing no other comments, we'll roll. >> Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> yes. >> Miss Craig, >> yes. >> Miss Lanning Beater, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Miss Nurse, >> yes. >> Miss Stats, >> yes. >> Mr. Ho, >> yes. >> And Mr. Marin? >> Yes. Motion passes. >> Thank you.
100In the area of operations, I'd ask for the board's consideration to approve the following motions. Monthly bills, the disposal and sale of obsolete equipment. One I'd like to specifically point out the motion to name the Hillsboro High School basketball court after Ian Proen be called Ian Proen Court. Uh settlement agreement uh second settlement agreement out of district placements for the 2526 school year accepting a donation and approving a tuition contract for the state responsible student for the 2526 school year. Can >> I get a motion to second? >> Second. >> Any discussion by the board? Seeing none, move to roll. Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> yes. >> Miss Craig, >> yes. >> Miss Lenny Beater, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Miss Nurse, >> yes. >> Miss Stats, >> yes.
101>> Mr. Trillo, >> yes. >> And Mr. Marin, >> yes. Motion passes. >> I'd like to take a moment to just thank the board for honoring a truly remarkable human being that we lost last year. And didn't think I'd get emotional uh for naming the court after Ian Proen. Thank you very much for that. In the area of policies and regulation, you can clap. [Music] In the area of policies and regulations, I'd ask for the board's consideration of the following. Approving policy 2422 and 5339 is reviewed by the education committee for first reading. Approving policies reviewed by the operations committee for first reading. And abolishing policy 1648 as reviewed by the education committee for first reading. Can I get a motion on a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion by the board? Seeing none, we'll
102move the role. >> Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> yes. >> Miss Craig, >> yes. >> Miss Laming Beater, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Miss Nurse, >> yes. >> Miss Stats, >> yes. >> Mr. Hill, >> yes. >> And Mr. Marie, >> yes. Motion passes. All right. Uh, we'll move on to the second public comment period. We very much welcome in from the public during board meetings. will be two 30-minute periods of time. The meetings will open for public comment where members of the public are invited to comment which they may do if they are attending in person. During the second public comment period, members of the public may comment on any school or school district issue. Then a member of the public feels may be of concern of the
103residents of the school district as per bylaw 0167. Before you state your comment, you'll be asked to provide your name and address. There's a three-minute limit on public comment. Please understand that our public forums are not structured as question and answer sessions, but rather offered as opportunities to share your thoughts with the board. In instances where the board believes there's 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 has a question about personnel or hiring decisions. Kindly note the open public meetings act and the privacy rights of public employees encompass therein. Do not permit the board to discuss personnel issues in public session. This is anybody can comment on anything at this point. There's three minutes and
104name and address and then you can begin. >> Address. >> No, no. I mean just >> like just my general. Yeah. >> Elizabeth Arosa, Flag Town. Um, and I just wanted to talk about redistricting a little bit. First of all, thank you for everything. It seems like a very tedious job to do. So, we really appreciate that. And I want to say this. Out of all of my education, higher education, I brag most about my years at Woodfront. I was a Woodront elementary student, and there's pride in the elementary schools. And I'm nervous that if you break up the elementary school and these children have to go to five different schools, you lose that community, that sense of value. This year, my son went to kindergarten. He got on the bus with his neighborhood kids.
105The older kids helped him on that bus. his cousins happens to be on the same bus. They guided him to his classroom. There's a beauty within the community when you have a nice age gap from kindergarten to fourth grade. Um, now speaking as a parent, breaking that up and having two bus stops in the morning for my next child who's going to be in kindergarten or my one that might be moved to a fourth grade class. It's a lot to juggle on the parents in the community. That's two bus pickups, two bus drop offs. Most parents are working families and that's a lot to put on them. Also, I concern I have a concern about joining an HA, right? How do you pick if you have multiple children now you have to pay the fees
106in let's just say triangle, right? If we went to kindergarten, Triangle, Woodfern, if you have Aerys and stuff like that. Those are the concerns that we're seeing. We're losing that nice community schools and I know Woodfern is the smallest class sizes but there's a pride in our elementary schools and I feel that by breaking it up you really lose it. there's roots in the communities and um I just have a few notes that I'm just gonna go on and um I think it's really important that the younger kids have the older kids to be there and it's a lot of stress on parents to have multiple schools, different pickups and all of that. So that was just my opinion. So thank you. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Hi, I am Shauna Radzio and I am
107over here for as a Sunny Me parent, new Sunnyme parent. Um, I'm so Liz and I obviously know each other. I'm a little in a different sense than she is coming from, you know, the teacher aspect versus the non-teer aspect. I just had a son who joined kindergarten this year. He is at sunny me. We'd love it. Um I do agree that I I'm glad I'm not in your shoes making the entire decision because it just Yeah, it seems like it sucks all the way around. Um but I it it's difficult. I'm torn. There is a part of me that thinks the idea of all the kindergarteners being together, I can see why that idea has merit. like I have a child who is a little difficult with some transitions and going to kindergarten was
108very big in all of these big kids. So I can see the merit in that of wanting those kids to be just in a school to get acclimated just the kindergarteners altogether maybe get a little bit more personal you know oneon-one but my flip side again which I have another little one too who will be coming up into kindergarten in just a few years and how is he not going to go with his brother and now why want to be on the bus with my brother and and whatnot. So, I guess my other point is from the preliminary maps, I'm probably going to be one of the ones affected by a shift in in that and and that sucks because I really like where we are. I'm getting in with the HA and to have
109to start all of that over next year is is upsetting. So, I guess my only comment on that is if that map is well, I know you probably can't answer this question, but if that map where those lines are, is that like final where those lines are? Because I guess even though maybe a decision won't be made until spring break of which option you're going to go with, having that map even be semifinal and clear and available would at least give me a little bit of peace in knowing, okay, well, if this change comes and this line these lines look like this, okay, we're at Sunny Mean right now. That means where this line is, I know I'm going to be going to Amsterdam. I can start meeting people over there and and finding out
110more about that school as opposed to going there's six elementary schools. I have no idea where I'm going to be and not knowing, you know, all of that. So even if the decision isn't made yet, if the lines are drawn and the map is available, having that out to the parents and on the website or wherever it is that we can access it, again, I think would would ease some of my anxiety over again being one of the ones who's likely going to be affected by this. >> Thanks. >> Thank you for your comment. Um I'm Ta Joiner. Uh we address Ernest Drive. Um Hillsboro. Uh so just a few things. My husband and I, we have six kids, right? So we've had a college student, a high schooler, elementary school, middle school, all at
111one time. It's hard, but but you do all of that to say kids are resilient and they figure it out. It's us who have more of the issues than everybody else. Um it's hard. It's hard. Like it's it's just none of it is easy. Um I know we I'm asking a question. I know I may not get an answer, but the prek situation um I knew kindergarten was going to be mandated, but is prek also going to be mandated? Because then why are we trying to find somewhere to put the prek students? like why don't we leave the pre-K students where they are because then if we add the prek students to the kindergarten school then it becomes full so we should just leave them where they are right kind of like maybe K and
112one or just kindergarten maybe so I know some of you may not like this I'm I'm a fiveyear I'm a fiveyear Hillsboro person right a New York City transport so New York City is a little different clearly but you guys have a lot of schools we don't really have we didn't have that many schools there. Um so four, five and six is my suggestion. It works really well. Um we have 7 to 26. So been through the school system quite a bit. Um that was like one and two. And then I heard you say about um hiring 17 staff members for kindergarten, but if we have all of the half day kindergarten teachers, wouldn't they then become permanent teachers? Again, a question. It It was an inquiry. Um we would why would we have to
113hire new teachers if we have all these half day um teachers? I know we had a great HS kindergarten teacher for our seven-year-old um and she really wanted to be permanent and and a full day teacher, but that wasn't in her um situation. So, and my last comment, um, I heard you about the budgets and the we can't take another increase. Um, our taxes are like getting out of control. It was one of the reasons we moved here is because taxes had hadn't gone up in a really long time. Since we've moved here, taxes have gone up like every year and it's it's stressful. um understanding the deficit possibilities yearbyear taking a break I think this um me board member said it like taking a break may or may not break us but it's worth
114going to the next year to find out because it's breaking some of us like month so we have to figure it out quarter by quarter where the board has to figure it out year by year so just take that into consideration >> thank you for your comment I never come to A's meetings, but I'm going to put it on the record in front of everybody. I'm gender fluid to make sure you all know what that means. You look it up, but I did receive a letter. I don't know where it came from. Use of facilities. All students are entitled to have access to the restrooms, blah blah blah. So, with all the money that we have, we can't make a and I'm not even spec specifying transgender, could be gay, whatever it may be. Why
115with all the money we do have and the especially the amount of bathrooms we have that you explained before, why can't we just put a general neutral bathroom so that people could change in there that my 16-year-old daughter doesn't have to worry about? Because 90% of you is all married. You probably got daughters, you got wives, you're all married and you're women. But if I just claim in front of the world that I'm gender fluid and I happen to see any of you ladies out or you're wise out and I feel at that moment I'm a woman, I walk in behind them. I just want you to know how my daughter feels at this point. So I made it public. I'm gender fluid and I have enough money to play games with you guys. So
116I suggest you just make it simple. I'm not saying that they don't have the right to exist. anybody. Everybody has a right to exist, but we can accommodate my daughter should not feel or anybody else's daughter that doesn't have the guts to come up here and talk about it. Be able to feel safe in general because you can use this general fluid thing and a gentleman can go into the bathroom, a young man, doesn't matter what age it is, and identify and you can't tell me any different because I just told you right now I am gender fluid. So, you're married, you're married, you're married. Would you mind me walking into the bathroom while you're in a restaurant? because I'll remember the faces and I'll remember the wise when I see them. Would you be
117upset if I walked in because I felt that way that day? All I'm saying is I accept everybody. We can make this real easy. Just like you have a TD Bank happens to be bank I use it doesn't say transgender and I don't want to specify general neutral. Men and women should not be in the same bathrooms changing or in locker rooms changing. They shouldn't be in women's sports anyway, but I don't care. That's different story. But the changing that bothers me. So, I need to make sure that you all the tax money, all the warehouses that I pay tax on, my houses that I pay tax on. 9 million is nothing compared to what I could put this board through. Make a suggestion of genderneutral and a separate place for everybody to be safe.
118Not just the four or five, I don't know how many students you have that claim that doesn't really matter to me. We got to accommodate everybody though. So if you can't accommodate when it comes to a point I have to sue you or I have to embarrass yous when you're at dinner, I will make that my objective. So I suggest that you come up with a better thing than having my daughter walk in or anybody's daughter for that matter or son vice versa. Doesn't matter. Feel more comfortable in the school. They're supposed to be safe. I moved from Orange, New Jersey up here to feel safe and I'm not feeling safe. Neither does my daughter or anybody else's kid that doesn't want to come up here and front you guys. I know you can't answer
119it because it's a it's a dumb question. You'll look stupid up there, but if I see you out, I I told everybody I'm gender fluid. So, if I follow your wife into the bathroom or you into the bathroom, you can't sue me, but I'll make you feel uncomfortable just like my daughter feels uncomfortable. So, just make me very simple. No, gender neutral. That's it. That's all we're ask. >> Thank you for your comments. >> I will look out boys. Unless you change, >> please. No comments from the from the crowd. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Licia Gabriel Bailis again, still live in Hillsboro. Uh, let's see. So, I have a couple different things to go over. [Music] Um, so with the eighth grade trip, it's my understanding. So if next year if you wanted to
120bring this up and have it voted on in like June or July, that would probably be easier, although I think it's going to be finalized to this year. Uh, so last year, I think that the vote might have been around the same time, which is after back to school night. This year, I believe that Dr. T has already told the incoming seventh graders or the current seventh graders that your trip is going to look different, but the eighth graders already think that they are going to be going on Hershey. So just letting you know that but I'm sure Dr. T will uh explain that to you too. Uh let's see. So [Music] uh thank you for sharing on the uh how many kids are coming in that went from like 66 to 71. So it's
121like a 7.6% increase. We don't know if that's going to be the same going forward, but it was nice to see what was expected and what actually happened. Um, just letting you know that Triangle, in case you aren't familiar, uh, they created a a playground that has a nice enclosed larger playground for special needs. It would probably be great for the younger kids. Uh, for line of sight, I remember that uh, a town up north, an hour an hour north, they were able to get waiverss for line of sight for the bathrooms. And I just wrote my friend and she's like, "Oh my gosh, we got that done like 10 to 15 years ago. Like, what's up with you guys?" And now they're getting grants for prek. But, you know, it's better late than never.
122Uh, let's see. So, also, in case you haven't heard, in the past, at least one board of ed member had suggested if we ever got a new high school that we could have K through 2, 3 through 5, 6 through 8, and 9 through 12 uh schools, which is the same number of schools that we have now. Uh, just FYI. So, also with that is, uh, I know that we had raised all of the taxes recently. Uh, and if the state would allow us, if we're not using the non-recurring uh, dollars for for much, if we could possibly like bank that and save it to put it down as a down payment for a new high school in some point, that would be nice. Uh, so if the state isn't allowing you to keep more
123money aside and we have that money that we're not using it for anything, that would be uh, something to look into. Uh, local fair share, it' be lovely if the state could actually tell us uh, what our local fair share is ahead of time so you sort of know what's going on. Same thing with state aid. I know that last year we had the discussions with the state saying like these are some things that we would like and um so maybe if they listen then maybe that would help us. Uh let's see uh shopping around for different health care. Uh my husband's company is is changing. So I I think that at one point we had changed the to the states model in order to save money. I think that's where we are now. But,
124you know, if you can provide a good package uh at a lower cost, that's always great. Um, I think that might be about it. >> Thank you for your comments. Okay, seeing no others, I will close public comment and I'll open up to any board members if they'd like to make comment before we close the meeting. >> Um I don't know if I owe Alicia an explanation, but um the books that I voted no on. Um so um for the social studies I understand the intent I understand the need but there were two sections in there that I found questionable and I thought required more conversation. Um one of the sections was on January 6th and elections and I think it was premature to write anything in the book and I actually found the passage
125biased. I didn't think I think it presented one perspective and didn't necessarily open up the content for discussion. So that that was one that was the takeaway. The other the other issue for me was there was a section called student activism with respect to voting and the content in there had to do with students 16 and 17 voting on board of ed elections in California. I think they were trying to push for more um more elective u more uh local government members. Um I know we gave the floor to the former um student delegate to give her presentation. I know she went to the town. We never had any conversation after that. And I think relative to what happened with the tax increase, I think it's um a very raw situation. We haven't had any
126conversation on it. And I think one of the one of the glaring things about this is that while a student feels they have the right to talk on speak on behalf of their the content they learn, they don't necessarily understand the financial burden of the property taxes, nor do they understand the damage that the state has done. And I think it does a disservice to taxpayers in this community not to have more conversation on it, but then to put a section of this book out there for potential conversation where parents are not there, other stakeholders are not there. So that's my biggest concern is these two sections are open for discussion. They're open for discussion in limited fashion and these are these are discussions that should be had at the dining room table as well.
127I mean parents should be fully engaged in this content. Um I have the same feeling about the other books, you know, from the literacy perspective. I have no question about or no issue with the uh concept that you're working with. You know, I found the monster book for a ninth grader without the ability to see comparatively what other books are offered. And I know I guess it's a lot of work. I know different teachers prefer different options, but there's nothing to compare it to. the American like me. I found some of the passages were a bit harsh and I you know some of the passages had a lot of self-deprecating humor and I just don't know if that's the right way to talk about some of these issues. So I think part of this for
128me is and we can take this to the education committee is talk about syllabus and how teachers present what they're doing what the optional books are because I know we had this conversation a couple years ago I had I know an education committee with Dr. Feltry and at that time syllabus were used. So, I think what I would like to see, I'd like to see a little more conversation about these books, a little more time, you know, before they get voted on because I I think, you know, you we're touted as one of the most diverse states in the country. And I think sometimes I I worry that we're losing sight of who we're not including anymore and or how we're presenting certain information. we're losing maybe a sensitivity we should still have um and
129but again going back to the social studies I don't think it was wise in an updated book to put those two subjects because they are new they are limited and and again with January 6 it's a controversial issue it's a complex issue that's what I noted in my comments and I just think it's too complex to open up for discussion especially when it's a one-sided presentation of the con content Thank you for your comments. >> I do have one more. >> Sure. Cool. >> Um and thank you for clarifying um section 8 in the agenda was about the documents that parents are reminded of reviewing. Um, and maybe to this gentleman's point, I think we should add policy 5756 so that parents are aware of what the expectation is of them and their children as
130far as how what's been approved here prior to this board. Maybe some people were here. I don't know. But, um, it it was a it was an social media issue. Um, and I know we had the conversation about what was going around social media and I think out of fairness to everyone, the policy should be socialized and the um accommodations should also be socialized so that students understand what their rights are and and where their safe spaces are. >> Thank you. other board members and stats. >> I just want to say that I I attended the uh Robocon that was at Bridgewater Mall uh Saturday and Sunday and uh there were several school districts that participated including Hillsboro and uh there all these different activities going on and uh demonstrations. They were demonstrating what the
131uh robots they created last year going through different scenarios and uh uh the president of of the Robo Raiders Vicki she gave me a wonderful tours very very well informed very uh interesting and uh it's amazing what our students not only what they're learning what they're able to convey and communicate to people of all ages. There were a lot of young children. I mean the the parking lot was packed. Um, it's hard to find a parking spot, but uh but you know, older people as well. It's very interesting and uh I applaud our uh our students for being part of that. >> Thank you. >> Comment. Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Go ahead, >> Mr. Hugh. >> Well, [Music] >> all right. I'll go. Mine's quick. I just have a question. So, we talked
132about the next board meetings. We're having two in October, October 13th and October 27th. And just confirming that we're having the board retreat on the Tuesday after the first board meeting, October 14th. And is the agenda available? >> Is the agenda available for the board retreat? >> Yes. >> Um I believe Monica just finished speaking to the rest of members. I don't I don't know if she has. >> Okay. No, no. I was just I was just I just wanted to make sure because it was like back to back. So >> thank you. >> I'm uh kind of bouncing off Miss Jackson's comments. I'm not on the ed committee and so I don't get to preview the books like she had but I'm interested in hearing that uh the January 6 incident is included in
133a class textbook partly I mean it is contemporary but it's also still unfolding. Uh just in the news last week, the FBI's just identified that there were 275 FBI agents at the January 6 event in plain clothes and that's currently being investigated. People are unraveling that. So I'd be very interested if I were teaching the class that had that section in the textbook. I'd like to make sure that I'm folding into the content what's unfolding before us on the evening news and uh it's you know it's something about which to be concerned. >> Okay. Thank you. steps >> and I and to your point I mean I think it's okay to include that even if it's recent as and but you know as long as we continue to uh you know address whatever is new
134information or newer information um yeah >> but you know the recent something that's a recent event it's still part of history and yes it is complex but I believe this is an AP course so we do have the higher standards of them being able to address the complexity of issues and and there's a lot of older uh occurrences that are quite complex as well that we expect them to rise to address. >> Thank you. >> May I go ahead? >> The primary concern is that the way it's written is one-sided and so without the guarantee that multiple aspects of January 6 are going to be discussed, there's no there's no guarantee that a a robust conversation is going to be had. And I think I think first and foremost the responsibility of having done the
135right thing should have been on the author of the book and it is premature again based on recent events. Not to go into it, not to take a side. The story is still unfolding. It's not complete. And so you risk not having that robust conversation. And you know, you could always, you know, you're it's fair to say you should have it in the classroom, but there's no guarantees and that's the biggest biggest risk there as well. >> Thank you. >> Yes, there is no guarantee. Um but uh we have uh well-qualified teachers that uh I I I have been on the uh stage uh working on um you know the sets of the plays and sometimes they'll be uh they'll bring their class classes into there to have uh different classes discuss um certain topics
136uh you know serious topics like abortion or whatever. And there's there's quite a variety of uh different points of view and uh and that I I trust the teachers with their professionalism and their backgrounds and their their education um that they make sure that happens and I think they they encourage that and uh it's it creates at least a more interesting discussion when in fact you do address all the different um sure >> perspectives. >> Okay, thanks everybody. >> Well, I guess the topic is over now, but not if anyone wanted to bring it up again, feel free, but I just wanted to say a couple of good things that are happening in the high school right now because I guess that's really my job. Um, so I just wanted to comment on the new
137like pass system that we have going on. It's called Securely for anyone that doesn't know. Um, it's a like it's technology based, so we kind of just sign out using our teachers names, then we sign in to wherever we have to go. It's we can go to like the bathroom or the library or another teacher's room, but it's working really well. There were a couple of bumps in the road in the beginning, but we've kind of gotten the hang of it. So, that's a positive thing. I'm not sure if it was discussed at the board meetings last year, but just wanted to let everyone know that that's going good. Um, also with AI usage, someone me someone mentioned it before, but we're trying to look at it um as more of a tool, not as
138a threat. Like in my marketing class specifically, she was saying we could use it um for for research. So, I don't know who mentioned AI before, but we're trying to make that more of a like a friend, not a foe, not to. So, um, also we me, you mentioned the Robo RoboCon. That was something successful. Mr. Dolola went to that and I talked to a couple of my friends who also attended and they said they had a great time and applause to the um, robotics team. We also had a successful club fair. Um, I talked to a couple of the freshmen that I know and they had a lot of fun engaging with the different clubs. So, um, the school community is going, as far as I know, it's um, working pretty well so far.
139The last thing, we're also having a pep rally next Friday. I am very excited about that. I've been working with the student council and I've been talking to Mr. DLO. We're excited to um make it a fun event and include everyone that we can. So, that's kind of the good information from the high school as the year has been progressing. >> Thank you, Miss Montoy. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh the only thing I would say for the people who had questions about uh full day kindergarten and redistricting, please remember and we'll get this out in Hillsboro happenings, we're going to have three times where you can engage with members of the administration. Uh board members can come too, but we can't have five of you come to any of those things, otherwise it's a
140it's a board meeting. Uh and that will be a time and a place where you can ask the hyperspecific questions and we can answer those questions for you. Um so please be on the lookout for that. >> That information is on the presentation that's shared. Okay, >> the stats >> you mentioned the redistricting just I'm sorry I didn't bring up earlier but but I appreciate the point of view from the parents because I didn't think about you know you have kids going to you know if it we do that that uh one kindergarten uh school um so you have put kid on the bus for kindergarten another kid on to another school um so that's a hardship for the parents not to mention like you know now you can't have the older kid you know
141helping along the younger So that's another perspective that I appreciate. >> Yeah. Not a simple issue. >> All right. See no other comments. I'll take a motion to adjurnn. >> All in favor? I. All >> in favor? I. >> All right. Thanks. We'll see you in a couple weeks.