001Hello and welcome to the Monday, May 12th, 2025 Hillsboro Township Board of Education meeting. In accordance with the state sunshine law of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting of the Hillsboro Township Board of Education was provided on January 8th. Mistake. Okay. May 8th. May 8th to the Hillsboro Beacon and the Courier News. Uh Mr. Eard, if we could please take role. Mr. Davis here. Miss Jackson here. Miss Craig, Miss Lanning Beater here, Mr. Lee here, Miss Nurse, Miss Stats here, Mr. Rio here, and Mr. Marin here. We have a quorum. Uh, we will now take a motion to move into executive session. Whereas the open public meetings act, chapter 231, the laws of 1975 provide that the public body may ex exclude the public from the portion of the meeting of which the public
002body discusses certain matters for which confidentiality is required. credit is permitted in section 7B of the act resolved by the board of education of the tach of Hillsbor and the county of Somerset and state of New Jersey as follows. The matters to be discussed are student disciplinary matters and legal matters. 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 and second? Second. All in favor. All right, we'll be back right around 7:30. Thank you. It's not Hello. All right. Thank you. Hello and welcome back to the Monday, May 12th, 2025 Hillsboro Township Board of Education meeting. Uh we are now back from executive session. Uh Mr. Eard, if we could please take ro. Mr. Davis here. Miss Jackson here.
003Miss Craig. Miss Lanning beater here. Mr. Mr. Lee here, Miss Nurse, Miss Stats here, Mr. Trill here, and Mr. Murray. Here we have a quorum. Will we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands nationy andice for all. All right, I would like to acknowledge the correspondence as listed and we will move forward with committee reports. Uh so we will start with Miss Jackson on education. Our I'm sorry our uh committee meetings tomorrow. Just making sure we go through them all. That's fine. Um I think we have a standin HR. That is correct. Um, thank you. The HR committee met last Thursday, um, May 8th at 4 PM. We had a pretty brief agenda. Um, we discussed non-renewals,
004um, for the upcoming year and we also um had a brief discussion regarding the budget. Um at that point uh we had not heard anything back from the state. Um so our talks were kind of just what we were going to do moving forward and that was it. All right. Thank you very much. And Mr. Davis uh operations. The operations met on May the 9th and uh we discussed uh at pretty great detail a policy that is in fact on the agenda this evening 511 that would have to do with uh allowing non-resident students to attend the school and we'll be voting on that later. Uh there was also some discussion about uh the rates for using school facilities, what to charge for different meetings and different groups and those types of things which needs
005to be updated. And um that was about it. We had asked uh previously for information about the breakfast menus at schools and the uh food service company did provide us with that information and we're still reviewing that. There was some good news there some concerns uh maybe too much sugar and too many carbs you know and that kind of stuff but uh we will be talking about that in future meetings and that was about it. Okay. Okay, thank you very much. All right, and in governance, last but not least, um relatively light agenda um as Miss Lenninger mentioned uh in her committee as well, ongoing budget discussions, things that around that. And then we just had some ad hoc discussions around um uh you know, getting some reporting around cumulative funding loss over the last
006couple of years and getting some numbers just so the board uh can be better educated as we have ongoing discussions in the future. uh and then to just a discussion on um thoughts around public comment recently and just some discussions we had in that regard. Okay, and that concludes that section. Uh we will now move on to the board president's report. So we are going to do some recognitions. So this will be a fun meeting. Um I will though quickly start with one other point. Um you guys are probably well aware if you've been paying any attention to the board of education. We've had a lot of budget discussions as multiple people were alluding to. Um we had originally passed a tenative budget which would have had a large number of cuts throughout the district
007and other things. Um and then there was an offer from the state um to increase our funding up to our local fair share, right? Not adequacy local fair share. We increased that to the uh maximum allowable amount. Uh and then the state kind of sat on their hands for a little bit, not really giving us any information on whether our request was actually approved or not. Uh we did re uh receive notification this week that the budget with that amended dollar amount was okay to move forward with. No additional votes required. So um depending on your thoughts on the matter, good or bad. Um but um we are retaining the staff that we were originally going to cut and all the other things that uh Superintendent Bulpi had discussed in the previous meetings that come
008along with that increase are going to be accepted and in place moving forward. So good for the uh strength of the district moving forward. All right. So we'll now move on to the student academic. Oh yes. So, I just want to mention that the the board wants to recognize lots of students and staff and then we're also recognizing some retirees and it is actually done today uh for a reason. Uh some of you retirees have influenced the students who are going to be coming up here for awards and what a great way to go out but then to see some of your efforts pay off. Um, you can see it's a pretty packed room tonight, so we couldn't invite another 122 students uh that we would like to recognize, but behind me right now as
009I'm going through the board president's report, we had 122 students who achieved the seal of biiteracy in our school district. And that can be done through both classroom instruction or if students also have a strength in a language that we don't teach within the classroom. So, I'm going to go through these few slides quickly. Some of you in the audience already, students are probably double dipping here. You might be up here and you might be here for something else too. So you can see behind me right now the amount of students who achieved the seal of biiteracy in Spanish. It's an extraordinary amount. We also have students who achieved the seal of biiteracy in French. So congratulations if you're a student who has done that. We also have several uh in American Sign Language, a
010relatively new language here in the Hillsboro Township Public Schools. Congratulations to those of you who have received that seal. In Italian, we have several students who also received the seal of biiteracy. Congratulations to you. Also, uh the same along those lines in German. And then we have some other uh languages as well and some that aren't taught in the schools, but students have shown great skills at that including Chinese, which we do have in the schools, but Polish, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, and Latin. So, we want to make sure that although we couldn't fit another 122 students in the room, it take a really long time that we certainly recognize that outstanding achievement and we are planning on having a little reception for these students for their efforts in the schools. So, congratulations to everybody who's
011achieved a silver bio and like I had said we have we have many students here with a lot of recognition some staff members too and then of course our retirees and Mr. president. Uh behind you right now is the list of all of the students for academic and extracurricular achievements. And the board president is going to read off a part of a proclamation for either the groups or the students. And then we want to take a little bit of time. We would ask that the student groups or individual students come to this side for a quick uh photo op and to receive your proclamation uh from the board president. So uh Mr. Marini, I will turn it back over to you. Hope you had your caffeine because this is going to be a little bit
012of a time. So, it's good stuff. Yeah. Abs. Absolutely. So, I'm not going to read every word on every proclamation because it'll be a little bit repetitive, but I want to make sure that people are recognized uh for their achievements. So, the first proclamation is reci recognizing the achievements of Hillsboro High School's mixed uh coral and legacy show choir at the Titan Tournament of Choirs. Whereas the Hillsbor Township Board of Education is committed to fostering excellence in arts and celebrating the dedication and talent of our students. And whereas the Hillsbor High School Mix Coral and Legacy Show Choir have consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, and commitment to their craft. Whereas these talented ensembles recently participated in the prestigious Titan Tournament of Choirs in Mid Lithan Midlothian, Virginia. And whereas the Legacy Show Choir debuting in
013a larger and more competitive division showcased their talent dedication by achieving an impressive fourth place in the medium mix division and seventh place overall. And where whereas the mixed coral delivered an outstanding performance achieved remarkable success and distinction by earning the following accolades. Best male soloist for the exceptional performance of Malap Gupta. Best repertoire recognized and thoughtful and engaging selection of musical pieces. best vocal quality, acknowledging the superb technical skill and artistry of the ensemble. First place in the chamber division, demonstrating their mastery of smaller ensemble performances, and the esteemed title of overall grand champion of the Titan Tournament of Choirs. Can we have that student group come up here for [Applause] pictures? Keep coming down. [Applause] All right. Next, the Hillsboro Township Board of Education uh resolution recognizing the accomplishments of the Hillsboro High
014School robotics team. Whereas the Hillsbor Township Board of Education recognizes the significant educational value of participating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEM programs, including the first robotics competition. And whereas the district champion robotics team 75 distinguished itself by winning the prestigious autonomous award recognizing the team's exceptional ability to design, program, and execute reliable and high performing robot operations during autonomous periods. And whereas the robotics team 75 further demonstrated its competitive prowess by achieving first place in the district championship, earning the blue banner for the second consecutive competition, showc showcasing the team's consistent high level of performance and strategic execution. And whereas the collective efforts, dedication, and technical skills of the students on robotics team 75 have resulted in their qualification to advance to the highly competitive first robotics competition world championship in Houston, Texas.
015And whereas Robo Raiders earned the first sustainability award at the district championship, recognizing the team's impactful efforts in fostering interest and engagement in STEM fields and the principles of first robotics within the school and community. Congratulations. Robotics team, come up. Congratulations. years. Do it. [Applause] All right, our next proclamation recognizing the outstanding achievements of the Hillsboro High School Science Olympiad team. Whereas the Hillsboro Township Board of Education is committed to fostering academic excellence in celebrating the achievements of our students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. And whereas the Hillsboro High School Science Olympiad team has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, knowledge, and teamwork throughout the 2024 2025 academic year. And whereas at Princeton Invitational Competition, the following students earn medals for their outstanding performance. Milan Patel, Tun Mahesh for achieving sixth place in robot tour and
016Arav Chamana and Ruby Zhao for achieving first place in wind power. And whereas the team continued their impressive performance at the Columbia Invitationals in New York City with the following students earning medals. Ethan Chen and Ricky Sue for achieving first place in Fermy questions and Arana Kchar Leali and Anish Tanden for achieving first place in periodic table quiz and Arnob Chimuna. Shariah Jane and Kabia Nemla Kanti for achieving second place in the science quiz bowl and Aaliyah Merchant and Cynthia Le for achieving third place in dynamic planet. And whereas com culminating in the recent successes, the Hillsboro High School science Olympia team achieved the outstanding first place overall at the regional tournament. And whereas the at the regional tournament, the following students reserved not received notable first place medals. Teran Mahesh, Drew Jampa, and Ethan
017Chen for code busters and Ricky Sue and Ana Verma for micro mission. You can have the science olympiad come up here. [Applause] All right, our next proclamation. Whereas the national merit scholarship program collaborates with prominent organizations like the public service enterprise group and pro to provide scholarships that support the educational aspirations of exceptional students who demonstrate strong academic promise and commitment to their communities. Whereas National Merit Public Service Enterprise Group Scholarship is a distinguished award recognizing students with outstanding academic records, leadership potential, and demonstrated interest in fields that contribute to the well-being and progress of society. And whereas Matthew Goldman, a highly accomplished student within the Hillsboro Township Public School District, was previously recognized as a national merit semi-finalist, placing them among the nation's most academically talented graduating seniors. And whereas through a comprehensive evaluation
018process that consider their academic achievement, PSAT, NMSQT scores, essays, recommendations, and involvement in extracurricular and community activities. Matthew Goldman has been selected as a recipient of the esteemed National Merit Public Service Enterprise Group scholarship, a testament to their well-rounded excellence and future potential. Whereas this procedure scholarship acknowledges Matthew Goldman's dedication to academic rigor and their potential to become a future leader and contributor in fields aligned with public service and community betterment. And whereas Matthew Goldman's achievement as a National Merit Public Service Enterprise Group scholarship winner brings significant honor and recognition to themselves, their family, their school, and the Hillsboro Township Public School District. Congratulations. [Applause] Not sure we're even halfway done. We will continue. Hillsboro for Education Proclamation. Whereas the National Association for Music Education fosters excellence and promotes the importance of music education by
019providing opportunities for talented young musicians to collaborate and perform at the highest levels. And whereas the All Eastern Honors Ensemble sponsored by NFME represents the most accomplished high school school musicians from across the Eastern United States. And whereas Sharyi Gasabi, a dedicated, talented student within the Hillbert public schools, has demonstrated exceptional musical ability and commitment to vocal performance. And whereas through rigorous audition and evaluation, Chari Gasabi has achieved the distinguished honor of being accepted into the National Association for Music Education's All Eastern Honors Choir. A testament to hard work, talent, and the quality of music education our schools. Whereas Shvy Cassabi's acceptance into this prestigious ensemble brings honor to themselves, their family, their school, and the Hillsboro Township Public School District. [Applause] All right. Whereas Hillsboro Township Board of Education recognizes and celebrates the diverse
020talents and accomplishments of its students fostering a supportive environment for creativity and intellectual pursuits. And whereas Tiana Quo, a dedicated and talented student at Hillsborough High School, has demonstrated ex exceptional initiative and literary skill in authoring her memoir Abide Abiding Adventures. And whereas this remarkable achievement showcases Tiana Quo's dedication, perseverance, and passion for storytelling, serving as an inspiring example for her peers in the entire Hillsboro Township Public School District. And whereas Tiana Quo's accomplishment as a published author while still a high school student brings great pride and recognition to herself, her family, Hillsboro High School, and the Hillsboro Township community. Congratulations, Congratulations. [Applause] Whereas the National Merit Scholarship Program is a highly prestigious academic competition that recognizes the exceptional scholastic achievements and potential of graduating high school seniors across the United States. And whereas achieving
021semi-finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program places a student within the top 1% of the nation's graduating seniors, signifying outstanding academic promise and intellectual rigor. And whereas Aaliyah Merchant, a distinguished student within the Hillsboro Township Public School District, has demonstrated except exceptional academic excellence, a strong commitment to learning and outstanding performance on the preliminary SAT national merit scholarship qualifying test. And whereas Leia Merchants's selection as a National Merit Scholarship semi- finalist is a testament to their hard work, dedication, intellectual intellectual curiosity, and support of their educators and family. And whereas this remarkable achievement brings great pride and honor to Ali Merchant, their school, and the Hillsboro Township Public School District. Congratulations. [Applause] getting my steps in today. My watch is my watch is going to be happy. Whereas, the Veterans of Foreign Wars annually
022recognizes outstanding young citizens who demonstrate a clear understanding of and belief in our nation's democratic ideals and the responsibilities of citizens through its Voices of Freedom program. And whereas Dean Milano, a student within the Hillsboro High School, sorry, the Hillsboro Township Public School District, has participated in the Voices of Freedom program, demonstrating a commendable understanding of civic responsibility, American history, and democratic principles. And whereas through thoughtful reflection and articulate expression, Dean Milano has conveyed the importance of these values in shaping a strong and free society. And whereas Dean Milano's participation and recognition in the Voices of Freedom program reflects a commitment to active citizenship and a promising future as an engaged and informed member of our community and nation. Congratulations, [Applause] Okay, we will save this. Yeah, we'll make sure you get All right. Whereas
023the Hillsboro Township Board of Education is committed to recognizing and celebrating the outstanding contributions of individuals within our school community. And whereas the Somerset County School Board Association annually bestows the unsung hero award to individuals who consistently demonstrate dedication, selflessness, and a positive impact on their school and community, often without seeking recognition. And whereas Connor Oranchek has been selected by the Somerset County School Board Association as a recipient of the prestigious Unsung Hero Award for this school year. Congratulations, [Applause] Whereas the National Association for Music Education is off is communic is committed to advancing music education and providing exemplary musical experience for young musicians across the nation. And whereas the All Eastern Honors Ensemble offers a unique opportunity for talented students to perform under the direction of renowned conductors alongside their equally skilled peers from
024the Eastern region. And whereas Eva Quinn, a highly accomplished and dedicated student within the Hillsboro Township Public School District, has demonstrated outstanding vocal talent and a deep passion for music. And whereas through a competitive audition process, Ibaquinn has earned the prestigious recognition of acceptance into the National Association for Music Education's All Eastern Honors Choir, showcasing their exceptional musical abilities and the strength of our music program. And whereas Ibukquin's acceptance into the NFME all Eastern honors choir is a significant accomplishment that reflects their talent, perseverance, and the support of their educators and family. Congratulations. [Applause] Whereas the National Merit Scholarship program is a highly esteemed academic competition that recognizes exceptional high school seniors for their outstanding scholarship, scholastic achievements, leadership skill, and potential for academic success in college. Whereas the dist distinction of being named a
025national merit scholarship winner represents the culmination of years of dedication to acade academic excellence, intellectual intellectual curiosity and perseverance. Whereas Nquille Shankar, an exe an exemplary student within the Hillsboro Township Public School District, was previously recognized as a national merit semi-finalist, placing them among the top 1% of graduating seniors nationwide. Whereas through a rigorous selection process that evaluates academic records, PSAT, NMSQT scores, essays, recommendations, and extracurricular achievements. Nquille Shankar has now been selected as a national merit scholarship winner. A truly remarkable accomplishment. Whereas this prestigious award signifies Nikquille Shankar's exceptional intellectual abilities, commitment to learning and potential to make significant contributions to society. And where Nquille Shankar's achievements as a National Merit Scholarship winner brings immense pride and honor to themselves, their family, their school, and the Hillsbor Township Public School District, serving as an
026inspiration to all students. Congratulations, [Applause] Whereas the National Merit Scholarship Program serves to identify and honor academically talented students and students who demonstrate exceptional potential for success in college and beyond. And whereas the designation of National Merit semi-finalists is a significant accomplishment representing the highest level of academic achievement among graduating seniors nationwide with only the top 1% earning this distinction. And whereas Neveta Sunduran, an exemplary student within the Hillsboro Township Public School District, has exhibited remarkable academic prowess, intellectual engagement, and outstanding performance on the PSAT National Merit Scholarship qualifying test. And whereas Nevada's selection as a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist reflects their unwavering commitment to academic excellence, their intellectual curiosity and and dedication of their teachers and family. Whereas this prestige prestigious recognition brings great honor to Nevada, their school and the Hillsboro Township Public
027School District. Congratulations [Applause] more students. Students Okay. Whereas the Hillsbor Township Board of Education recognizes the importance of fostering patriotism, civic responsibility, and strong writing skills among its students. And whereas the VFW annu annually conducts the Patriots pen scholarship essay contest to encourage students to examine United States history and government, develop their writing skills uh and express their views based on a patriotic theme. And where whereas Rhythm Udar, a dedicated and thoughtful student within the Hillsboro Tach Public School District, participated in the Hills Hillsboro Memorial BFW Post 8371's Patriots Pen Scholarship Essay Contest. And whereas through diligent research, thoughtful reflection, and articulate writing, Rhythm has been recognized for her insightful and compelling essay submitted to the contest. And whereas her participation and recognition in this esteemed contest demonstrates her engagement with civic values, her commitment
028to expressing her understanding of patriotism and strong writing abilities. Therefore, be it proclaimed town board of education on this day celebrates this achievement. Congratulations. [Applause] Whereas the VFW is dedicated to fostering patriotism and civic responsibility among young Americans. through its esteemed Voices of Freedom Scholarship Program. Whereas Yazmi Yam, a student within the Hillsboro Township School Public School District, has been recognized as a recipient of the Voices of Freedom Award, signifying a deep appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy and the sacrifices made to preserve them. And whereas through insightful articulation and thoughtful engagement, Yazmi Yam has demonstrated a strong grasp of the fundamental tenants of American democracy and the vital role of responsible citizenship. Whereas Yasmi Yaim's achievement in the Voices of Freedom program highlights a dedication to learning, critical thinking, and a commitment to the
029values that underpin our nation's strength and liberty. Congratulations. [Applause] Okay, we have a couple more to go, but this is our final student uh proclamation. Whereas the National Merit Scholarship Program in partnership with esteemed organizations such as AON uh provides crucial financial assistance to exceptionally talented and academically pro promising high school seniors enabling them to pursue their higher education and goals. Whereas the National Merit and Scholarship is a distinguished award granted to students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, strong leadership qualities, and a commitment to excellence in their endeavors. Where you Ron U, an accomplished student in the Hillsbor Public School District, was previously recognized for their exceptional academic standing as a national merit semi-finalist, placing them among the top scholars in the nation. And whereas through a comprehensive evaluation process that considers their academic
030achievement, PSAT, NMSQT scores, essays, recommendations, and extracurricular activities, they have been selected as a recipient of the prestigious National Merit Scholarship, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and remarkable potential. And whereas this significant achievement not only recognizes their academic outstanding academic abilities, but also highlights their potential to become a future leader and contributor to society and where their selection as National Merit Scholarship Winner brings great honor and distinction to themselves, their family, their school, and the Hillsborough Township Public School District. Congratulations. Now, Mr. President, you will be moving on to three staff achievements and recognition awards. All right. [Laughter] Whereas the Hillsboro Township Board of Education deeply values its dedicated and expert educators. And whereas Marina Deino, distinguished mathematics teacher in the Hillsboro Township Public School District, has significantly impacted her students mathematical understanding
031and appreciation. And whereas Marina Deino has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Edith May Sliff Award for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching by the Mathematical Association of America recognizing her exceptional ability to motivate students and foster a love for mathematics. And whereas this national award reflects Miss Deino's passion, dedication, and talent for making mathematics accessible and engaging. Congratulations [Applause] Whereas the Hillsboro Township Board of Education proudly recognizes the exceptional dedication and expertise of its educators, in shaping the future of our students. And whereas Anjuna Ayer, a distinguished teacher within the Hillsbor Township Public School District, has demonstrated outstanding commitment and excellence in the fields of mathematics and science education. And whereas the presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching represents the highest honor bestowed by the United States government for K to2 teachers of mathematics
032and science recognizing their profound impact on students learning and their exempl exemplary contributions to the profession. And whereas Anjuna er has been honored with the prestigious presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching in recognition of her exemplary teaching practices, her ability to inspire students in mathematics and science and her significant contributions to STEM education. Whereas this esteemed national award underscores Miss Ay's passion for mathematics and science, her unwavering dedication to her student success, and her exceptional ability to cultivate curiosity and critical thinking. Congratulations. I just I just want to say as before I go over there for a picture, Anja and for those who don't know, there's no higher award in the country for a teacher. This comes from the White House and she is carrying a banner now which is going to
033go up permanently in Hillsboro High School as Anjuna's own legacy is not just with students but will literally be up on the wall somewhere at Hillsboro High School. Congratulations An [Applause] Last, but certainly not least, whereas the Hillsboro Township Board of Education deeply appreciates the dedication and service of its educators and recognizes the importance of civic engagement and patriotism in our schools. And whereas Cassandra Shannon, a valued teacher within the Hillsborough Township Public School District, has demonstrated exceptional commitment to her students that's fostered an understanding and appreciation for civic responsibility. Whereas the VFW annually recognizes outstanding teachers who instill a sense of patriotism in their students and demonstrate an understanding of American ideals. Whereas Cassandra Shannon has been honored as the 202425 VFW teacher of the year by both Hillsboro Hillsboro's Memorial VFW Post 8371
034and BFW District 15 for Somerset County recognizing her dedication to promoting patriotism and civic education among her students. And whereas Miss Shannon's achievement brings honor to herself, her students, and the Hillsboro Township Public School District. Congratulations your report. I think that that concludes my report. Great. Congratulations to everyone. Yes. Congratulations. And there's a few more people that we have to congratulate as well. And there's a reason why I wanted to make sure that people got a chance to see students go first because the people who are still here behind have made a difference. I know some of you were talking to some of those kids. You absolutely made a difference with those kids. So, we are going to be calling up our class of 2025 retirees uh building by building uh to recognize you, to
035say a couple of words, and to wish you a good last month of the year because you're not done yet. even though we're recognizing you right now, there's still a month to go and uh we want to make sure that you know exactly um how much you are appreciated. So, President Marini is going to be over there. We have a small token of our appreciation there. We would ask that you stay up here with your entire school and then once your school is done, you can sit back down to recognize the next school. So, we will be starting with Hillsboro High School. We have some legendary people including Jules Heran, teacher of music. Jules, Is Jules here? Jules is not here. Okay, that's okay. She had a big um concert this past week and everything
036too and she is certainly someone we appreciate here too. Uh we also have Mary Klooski [Music] [Applause] here. Not sir. Okay, we'll get what we'll get a person. We will. Thank you very much, Mary, for your dedication. Dina Maresi Marches. Okay, we'll keep going. We'll get people Tony Tony March. No, no, Tony. Oh, there you have it. Go over there. Miss Marchuk began her career at HS in 2002. She is known for her calmness, patience, and compassion with our students, which has made her a consmate positive force at HHS. She has an incredible way of helping students with her gentle demeanor and is always there to lend a hand and make things easier. Tony's impact at HHS will be felt for many years to come as her legacy of support and steadfastness has contributed to
037the strong foundation of generations of HHS students. Congratulations, Tony. Elizabeth [Applause] Steinbrook. Prior to her long career at HHS, Miss Steinbrook worked in Alaska with atrisisk youths and in reform efforts in Washington DC for young gang members. She came to HHS in 2000 and was immediately recognized for her unique approach in building strong relationships with all students. A co-teer in history and social science, Miss Steinbrook has been a critical contributor to the development of not only students but colleagues as well. Always willing to give a young person another chance, she has been instrumental in assisting many students reach their full potential. Congratulations, Elizabeth and [Music] Bernoya. She know okay and no issue. Congratulations. Yeah. [Applause] Lisa Swedler. Miss Swedler began her career in at HHS in 1999. The dedication, support, and the positive impact she
038had on her students is truly remarkable. Lisa has worked with several teachers throughout the years at the high school where she was always willing to go above and beyond for our students. In class, Lisa gave her greatest effort to always help our students thrive. She lived out the belief that a personal connection, especially one-on-one with a student, would prove transformative. Congratulations, Lisa. And I would be remiss if we didn't take an opportunity to recognize a longtime member of our school community that we lost recently. Ian Proen did retire during this past school year. He was a beloved counselor and coach for a long period of time. And I know the high school uh community and the Hillsboro community had a tough time with his loss, but the um the indelible mark that he left on
039students will be carried for a long time. So, our thoughts and prayers are with Ian's family and uh his legacy lives on. Thank you, Hillsboro High School. Thank you for your service to the schools. Next, Dr. Trabolski, you can come on up for Hillsboro Middle School. And we will be starting with Debbie Core. As the front office secretary for Woods Road Elementary School and later as the counseling office secretary at Hillsboro Middle School, Debbie Core has been a steady port of calm in a swirling sea of activity, welcoming new families, caring for kids in crisis, and guiding faculty and staff, both young and old, through the bureaucracy of school policies and procedures. She keeps it all afloat with a smile and a gentle hand. Debbie Core is an unsung hero of Hillsboro Middle School who
040can manage the craziness of a middle school office with class and grace along with kindness and an assurance that everything needed to hold the place together is done and done right. Congratulations, Debbie. Next we have Carol Jeressi. For 35 years, Carol Anne has served as a special needs served the special needs youngsters at HMS with dedication and care. First as a special education teacher of mathematics and later as a member of the child study team in the role of the learning consultant. With a heart three times the size of a regular teacher, Carolyn could always find the most creative solutions to meet the special needs of any youngster and forge new paths to success and individual growth. We proudly celebrate the vital difference she has made in the lives of innumerable young adolesccents for more
041than three decades at HMS and as the guiding force of our child study team for nearly two decades. Congratulations, Carol. Next, Moren Npalitano. Congratulations, Moren. Nina Preso, congratulations to Nina. Shelley Rubin, congratulations to Shelley. Helen Sapphire. Congratulations to Helen. Congratulations to all of our middle school retirees. congratulations again. Now at Road Intermediate School, Dr. Car, are you up there already? Thank you, Dr. Carrie. We'll start with Joanne Armore. Congratulations, Joanne. Marlene Boon, Congratulations also to Marlene. Joan Murphy, I knew I saw her there. Joan retirement marks the end of an era dedicated as dedicated service as a longtime instructional assistant. Recognized as ESP of the year in 2022, Joan's leadership within the building has been invaluable, providing guidance and support to both staff and students alike. Her ability to connect with and effectively work with
042students from diverse backgrounds has created a welcoming and inclusive environment. Joan's patient and capable approach has empowered countless students to thrive academically and personally. Her presence and contributions will be deeply missed by the entire school community. And honestly, Joan, when the kids were all getting their awards, you had the biggest smile of anybody here, and that shows a lot about you. Congratulations, Joan. Patricia Cellar, congratulations, Pat. Barbara Zbo, congratulations, Barbara. Patty Vancur. Congratulations, Patty. And congratulations to everyone from Road School retiring this year. Next up, Zextin will come and represent Hillsboro Elementary School and their two retirees. Our first retiree from Hillsboro Elementary School is Pat Hicks. For over four remarkable decades, 41 years, Pat Hicks has been a true embodiment of dedication, passion, and community spirit. Growing up and attending school right here in
043Hillsboro, she laid the foundation for her extraordinary career when she began as an instructional aid at her elementary alma mater. Her journey continued as she stepped into a second grade maternity lead position, which led to ultimately spending many cherished years shaping the minds and hearts of second grade students. Each morning, her students voices joined hers in singing patriotic songs, a tradition that became a cherished hallmark, inspiring everyone who paused to listen. Pat brought her wealth of expertise to her role as an interventionist, helping countless students discover their potential as readers and lifelong learners. Pat is also celebrated for her boundless generosity, positivity, and willingness to help wherever there was a need. We are very grateful for her years of service and wish Pat the very best in retirement. Congratulations, Pat. And also congratulations to Bernardet
044Mertens. Bernardet Mertens has been a true cornerstone of our school, offering unwavering support and a steady presence in moments of uncertainty. Always visible, always engaged, Burn embodies the uh spirit of service, seamlessly solving problems and running into help wherever it is needed. and I've literally seen you run. Through her wisdom and care, she guided countless students by encouraging independence while instilling values of resilience and excellence. Perhaps her greatest legacy lies in the relationship she nurtures. A bond filled with strength, love, and a smile that says, "I believe in you." Miss Merin's legacy lives on at HS, and we wish her the very best in her next chapter. Congratulations to our HS retirees. Congratulations. Next up, we'll have Mr. Aliperie from Triangle Elementary School for his retirees. And we'll start with Laura Felker. Congratulations, Laura. Barbara
045Shine. Today, we honor Barb Shine, a truly remarkable educator whose dedication, compassion, and unwavering patience has touched many countless lives. For years, Barb has championed every student, believing in their unique potential and guiding them with heart and purpose. Her classroom was more than a place of learning. It was a haven of acceptance and encouragement. Barb, your impact reaches far beyond the walls of Triangle School. You've inspired students, parents, and colleagues alike. As you step into retirement, may you find the same joy and fulfillment that you've so generously given to others. Thank you, Barb, for everything. Sandy Smith. After decades of inspiring young minds, including one of my childs, Sandy Smith is retiring. And what a legacy she lives behind. Leaves behind. Sandy has been more than a teacher. She's been a mentor, a guide, and
046a friend to students and colleagues alike. Her passion for learning, unwavering patience, and heartfelt dedication have shaped countless lives. From early mornings to late night grading, she gave her all, always with a smile. As she moves on this well- earned next chapter, we celebrate her impact and thank her for everything. You'll be deeply missed, Sandy. Congratulations on your retirement. You've truly made a difference. Laura Spencer. It is my pleasure to celebrate the incredible Laura Spencer, whose dedication and kindness have shaped Triangle School in countless ways. For years, Laura has been the quiet hero behind the scenes, keeping us organized, supporting staff, and welcoming every student with a warm smile. Her work has been the heartbeat of our school and her presence will be deeply missed. Laura, thank you for your patience, loyalty, and tireless service.
047May your retirement be filled with peace, joy, and all the adventure you've earned. You leave behind not just a job well done, but a lasting legacy. Congratulations, Mom. And those are our triangle retirees. Thank you Jesus. [Applause] Now, I know Dr. Carrian couldn't be here tonight for Woodfern, and I'm not sure if we have any Woodfern retirees, but we will acknowledge them. And Mr. Marini, if they come up, please just hand that to them. Thank you. First from Woodfern, we have Barbara Durkas here. Congratulations to Barbara and also Susan Lesey. Congratulations to Susan. Next we have Woods Road Elementary School with Mr. [Applause] Raja. Woods Road crowd's a little rowdy. You want to do something about that? First, we'd like to recognize Jackie Levash. Miss Levash has worked in Hillsboro for 38 years. She started
048as an instructional assistant and moved into a classroom before working as an ASI teacher at Sunnyme Elementary. She found her way to Woods Road as an interventionist where she worked closely with the students, teachers, and administration. Jackie seamlessly transitions between creating schedules and diving into student data to impact our students and teachers. She has been such a steady and reliable presence at Woods and her insights as an interventionist have been invaluable. Her constant willingness to lend a hand anywhere she may be needed will be missed. Congratulations and Barbara Wilson. Miss Wilson has worked as an instructional assistant in Hillsboro, bringing the glitter to our schools for 25 years. She has a love of all things Barbie and is forever young at heart, which will come in handy as she retires to spend time with her
049grandbabies. Her kindness and willingness to bring her special flare to our school, making learning uh learning glitter for all will be missed. Barb, we wish you a retirement filled with pink, joy, and endless sparkle. Congratulations to you. And those are our Woods Road retirees. And I think you know that besides our schools, we have several other departments with unsung heroes who also are heading into retirement. So I'd like to acknowledge them as well. George Ripley is George. George. Yes, he's here. The retirement of George Ripley marks the conclusion of 23 years of dedicated service to the district. George joined the maintenance team in October of 2001, quickly establishing himself as an indispensable member of the department. His adaptability was evident as he seamlessly transitioned from building maintenance to grounds upkeep and later took on the
050responsibility of overseeing the district's critical door and lock repairs. Throughout his tenure, George consistently demonstrated a willingness to assess wherever he needed, often going above and beyond to support the team, even in the midst of demanding tasks. His positive attitude, good-natured spirit, and sense of humor remain steadfast even during the most challenging situations. George's contributions to the department will not be forgotten, and we'll extend our best wishes to him as he enters this well-deserved chapter of his life. And George, on a personal note, I want to thank you for anytime you helped me out as a principal, as a director of HR, and one thing that I always noticed about you, whether you were doing something hard, carrying something heavy, you always went out of your way to say hi to me. Hey, Mike, how
051are you doing? Um, and and that's something that we all need to make sure we do for other people. So, George, thank you for everything you've done for the Hillsboro Township Public Schools. Also, Michael Baton. Congratulations to Michael. Terresa Klene. Congratulations to Teresa. Janet Rodriguez. Congratulations to Janet. Cat Anderson. Congratulations to Cat. That is 82 years kindness, caring, and dedication to the students of Hillsboro Township Public Schools. I think they deserve a standing round of applause. [Applause] Okay, we'll take a five minute break and everyone can speak and then uh we'll begin again in five minutes. Well, yeah. probably All right, we're going to start in one minute. Congratulations to our retirees. Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. All right, we are now back. Thank you. And I'm sorry for an extended uh superintendent report tonight, but
052certainly the recognitions we have are are worth it. And uh the two more parts to my superintendent report. The next thing that we do have to do uh by this meeting is a report out on our school performance report and uh Dr. Regan will be doing a brief uh summary of that tonight and I will be scrolling along as you're going through it. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Please note that tonight's annual performance report is based on 2023 24 district data compiled by the New Jersey Department of Education. and the department requires that the report be presented at a public meeting of the board of education. This presentation and the New Jersey Department of Education website from which the data for this report was gleaned will be posted on the Hillsboro Township Public Schools
053website tomorrow. The New Jersey Department of Education encourages communities to visit the district website to learn more about the district's demographics and performance reports. The reports provide state, district, and school level information and reports. The New Jersey Department of Education website provides hundreds of data points, including information on demographics, student growth and achievement, college and career readiness, graduation rates, school climate staffing, and narratives about the district and schools. New information for this year included in the district reports include chronic a chronic a absenteeism, sorry, visual and performing arts, participating student disciplinary situations, and high school graduation rates. Enrollment has been steady over the past three years. We are seeing a somewhat significant increase in our economically disadvantaged population. This growing rate will impact programming and services for students. The economically disadvantaged uh population increased from
0546.8 to 11.6% over the past three years. It is anticipated that the next year um report the 202425 school report will show an increase for the economically disadvantaged population up to 16%. Our English language learners increased from 2 and a half to 3.6% over the past three years. These graphs illustrate trends in student growth over the last three years. Student growth is measured by median student growth percentile. This table tells us how student growth over the last three years compares to the state standard of between 40 and 59 and a half and to the statewide median. As you can see, the district is meeting the state standards for student growth. Median student growth percentiles are how growth is measured for groups of students. If the SGPS for all students in a group are ordered from
055smallest to largest, the medium SGP is the percentile in the middle of that list. And it's important to see that some of the years are missing and that's due to federal waiverss and assessment cancellations. Uh state uh assessments include the New Jersey student learning assessment for grades 3 through 10, the New Jersey graduation proficiency assessment in grade 11, access for our English language learners, and dynamic learning maps for students with significant intellectual disabilities. These graphs show trends in the proficiency rate for federal accountability over the last three years. The data includes the results of students taking both the New Jersey student learning assessment and the dynamic learning maps which is rather new and for English language arts and mathematics. The proficiency rate for federal accountability measures the percentage of students who met or exceeded expectations
056on the assessments. The table provides participation rates, proficiency rates, annual targets, and status in meeting the targets, and statewide proficiency rates for the New Jersey student learning assessment. Annual targets are determined based on a combination of factors and these include baseline performance, long-term goals, progress towards these goals and each school and student group has its own baseline which is based on their performance on the New Jersey student learning assessment in the previous year. The long-term uh goal for all students and student groups is achieving a state designated percentage on the New Jersey student learning assessment. That means proficient or highly proficient. And as you can see, um the district ELA and math targets were met. Students graduating in the class of 2024 were required to meet graduation assessment requirements, which included either demonstrating proficiency on
057the New Jersey GPA, meeting the designated cut score on competency tests such as the SAT or ACT, um, or submitting a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education. four-year graduation uh rate trends uh remain steady without significant changes as you can see. And chronic absenteeism um isn't new to the report and is defined as being absent for 10% or more of days enrolled in school. This information is considered important by the state because they believe it says something about the school's culture and climate. Again, our chronic absenteeism rate is holding steady and meeting state targets. And my apologies for the next one. Uh it's difficult to see the graph as it's uh download downloaded from the New Jersey Department of Education website, but the graph begins on the left from preschool and
058it moves all the way to the right to grade 12. The light blue is our state rates and the dark blue is um the uh the state rate. And um interesting, our highest chronic absenteeism is prek to grade one. And uh the state believes this is because of childhood illnesses. If you look at grade 12 um we're doing rather well. I think it's like 5%. So chronic absenteeism on the whole we're doing well in this district. The district has exceeded performance benchmarks in every area on every level. Although the district is strong in all assessed subjects, language arts literacy stands out. This data on visual and performing arts participation is new to the report this year. And as you can see, we're we're a little below state average um in K5, but we really kick
059up in middle school and we're pretty steady with the state in the high school. This next table shows the number of incidents reported by type. A single incident may be counted under mult multiple incident types. The total unique incidents row and I've highlighted these num uh these numbers and percentages um provides an unduplicated count of incidents. The last row shows the rate of incidents for every 100 students enrolled. In the past, full day kindergarten was funded and available in title one schools based on free and reduced lunch data. Uh the New Jersey Department of Education has disallowed funding for this purpose moving forward. The district continues to seek appropriate funding to support full day kindergarten in all elementary schools in the future. And finally, this um this slide provides um student supports and service ratios,
060which is also interesting. So for additional information, these are uh hot links. You'll you'll get them. This presentation will be posted on the district website tomorrow. Uh, and I will also have um a link to the state website that goes into greater detail and that concludes my presentation. Thank you, Dr. Regan. And just because of the way the meetings fell this month, I think we had a reschedule education lane, I think you mentioned that it's happening tomorrow. Normally, we bring this to the education committee meeting first, uh, but we had to just because of state timelines. So, it's truncated compared to what you usually are, but I think she got the important information. But if any board members are interested in a deep dive, there's links where you can check it out individually. I'm also
061happy to discuss it in any committee meeting. And if there's anything in particular you want to discuss at the next board meeting, we just had to have this done by this board meeting. We can certainly do that as well. One thing that I did want to point out to in my journey here as superintendent when I came in in a half year and I think we've seen a lot of progress and I think back to some of our education committee meetings and and the statue been a a a vocal proponent of math education and I think what we have seen over some time is we were missing some targets over time and because we have that constant focus on it we're now moving in the right direction and looking to continuously improve improve in there.
062Um so thank you for bringing that up as as a constant focus. Um, if anybody again does want further deep dive into this, we can certainly bring that to a committee back here. Uh, but thank you Dr. Regan for making sure that gets done today. And does anybody have any questions at this time? Seeing none, we are open to questions. If you do have any, please just let me know. Uh, I'm almost done with my superintendence report. Two more quick things. Um, we do have to legally also put out there our lease purchase bid uh information and it's updated. Uh, Mr. Mr. Recker, did you just did you want to point out anything about a highlight for that? Uh, the highlight is really the the interest rates have come down from last year. Um, almost
063about threequarters of a point lower than last year's awards. Thank you. And it is publicly available right there on the superintendence report for anybody to see. And last thing that I do want to mention, when we come down to our human resources uh section tonight, I want to point out a longtime Hillsboro staff member and administrator who's in the audience tonight, Mr. Joel Handler. He's here with his wife, Ellen. Um Joel Handler has been serving the Hillsboro Township Public Schools for over 20 years. Um, he actually was on the interview committee when I was hired here for the first time as a principal and I think I impressed him with my technology abilities because I think I was his recommendation. When Joel first started here, he was truly a director of technology. He was running
064wires and making sure uh things are set up hardware-wise. And over the decades, because it's been decades, he has been transformative to this district. and um that's why he is being promoted by the board tonight to the assistant superintendent for instructional technology. A well-deserved promotion for Mr. Handler. Um and I want to say I look forward to working with you in your new role. This will be effective for you July 1. So Ellen, he's going to be at a lot more meetings. It's just the the way that it goes. But Joel, I just wanted to make sure that everybody knew that when we get down to the human resources section tonight that your well-deserved promotion will be on there. And Mr. President, that now concludes my superintendence report. You don't want to keep going? No,
065I'm good. Okay. All right. All right. We will now uh move on to approval of minutes. Believe that's next. Yes. Uh 91. Motion to approve executive session minutes for 2825 and motion to approve regular eating minutes for 2825. Can I get a motion? A second. So moved. Second. Any comments or discussion? All right. All right. All in favor? I. Thank you. We'll now move on to the comments from the board public. Uh public input on the action agenda. We very much welcome the input of the public. During board meetings, there will be two 30-minute periods of time. The meetings will open public comment where members of the public are invited to comment which they may do if they are attending in person. During the first public comment period, members of the public may comment on
066about items that are listed on tonight's agenda. Before the board votes, during the second public comment period, members of the public may comment on any school or school district issue that a member of the public feels may be concerned the residents of the school district as per 0167. Before you state your comment, you'll be asked to provide your name and address. There's a limit limit on public comment. Please understand that our public forms are not structured as question and answer sessions rather offered us as opportunities to share your thoughts with the board. Instances where the board believes there's a misunderstanding or accuracy. The board president or superintendent will address the comment. There times remember the public makes a comment ask question about personnel or hiring decisions. Kindly note the open public meetings act and the
067privacy rights of public employees and compass therein. Do not permit the board to discuss personnel issues in public session. Okay. Seeing none, we will close the first public comment before we move on to the action agenda. I will open up to any board members if you'd like to make any comments before we progress. Miss stats, I I would just like to uh congratulate and thank uh all the uh retirees for all the work and dedication they've given to our students. And I'd like to further acknowledge four people who were not here uh that were former colleagues of mine at the high school. uh Jules Haron um I think a lot of us know her as she's amazing uh music teacher not and especially a band director and she's done a lot for our district and
068I think I forget what the actual title was but I saw on Facebook that uh we've been our our district has been acknowledged for what they've done for music education and and that's in much thanks to uh Jules herself um also uh Mary Clovisiki a math teacher um has a great sense of humor and really good rapport with students and of course high standards for students in her math classes. Dina Mar Casey, she she teaches Italian and I had the good fortune and pleasure to observe her in class. It was such a exciting period to be uh part of. Of course, I don't I I should say course, but I did not understand Italian, but I still learned something being there. And uh of course, uh uh Ian Proan, uh amazing school counselor and also
069basketball coach for both boys and girls basketball teams. Um he is a well he was amazing father, husband, friend. Uh everyone you talked to just seemed so fortunate to have uh he he always made sure uh he that you were acknowledged and he really was a good listener. So uh I just want to acknowledge all those people. Okay, great. So, uh, if there are no other comments, we'll move on to the action agenda. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I ask for the board's consideration to approve the following motions. Affirming the super in the area of education. Uh, affirm the superintendent's HIV determinations for the CA attached cases. Approving teachers for the summer credit advancement program. Approving staff member for title one family engagement nights. Approving staff for the summer multi-ingual learners program. approving the
070submission of the application for the teacher climate and culture innovation grant in the amount of $60,962 and approving the long-term suspensions of students whose names are on file in the office of the superintendent. Can I get a motion in a second? So moved. Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll take roll. Mr. Davis, yes. Miss Jackson, yes. Miss Lenning Beater, yes. Mr. Lee, yes. Miss Stats, yes. Mr. Heel, yes. And Mr. Murie, yes. Motion passes. In the year of human resources, human resources, I ask for the board's consideration approve the following motions. Resignations, appointments for 2425, appointments for 2526, change in employment status, leaves of absence, rescending a co-curricular club, revised seven period coverage, extra coverage, approving a job description, approving the reappoint and contract of the business administrator for 2526. Approving the appointment and contract
071of assistant superintendent for instructional technology for 2526. Approving the renewal of non-tenur certificated staff for 2526. Approving the renewal of tenur certificated staff for 2526. Approving the renewal of RNs and personal nurses and aids for 2526. Approving the renewal of instructional assistants for 2526. Approving the renewal of lunch aids for 2526. Approving the renewal of HA office personnel for 2526. Approving the renewal of clerical assistance for 2526. Approving the renewal of building monitors. Approving the renewal of bus drivers and bus aids for 2526. Approving the renewal of custodians, maintenance, and mechanic workers. Approving the renewal of HPSA staff, non-tenured and tenur for 2526. Approving the renewal of unaffiliated administrators, non-tenured and tenur for 2526. Approving the renewal of unaffiliated staff for 2526. Approving the 2025 summer enrichment staff. and approving the extended school year program
072for 2025. Can I get a motion to second? So moved. Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to roll. Mr. Davis? Yes. Miss Jackson? Yes. But on 1211 there was a a portion on that um is it a salary piece to the that I'd like to abstain. Okay, Miss Lanning Beater. Yes, Mr. Lee. Yes, Miss Stats. Uh, yes. Everything except for 12.11. Uh, regarding the salary portion. Abstain or or no? Oh, I'm sorry. Uh, no. Okay, Mr. Ho. Yes, except for 12.11. No. And Mr. Birdie? Yes. Motion passes. Right. Motion passes. Congratulations, Assistant Superintendent Handler. All right. In the area of operations, I'd ask for the board's consideration of the following motions. Uh, approving monthly bills, accepting monthly financials, accept financial status, accepting line item transfers, approving the master special education tuition agreement with the
073ESCJ for July 1, 2025 through June 30th, 2030, approving the submission of the new security gate at Hillsboro High School by LAN uh, associated to the state of New Jersey Department of Education, accepting donations, approving out of district placements for 2425, approving ing out of district placements for 2526. Approving the lease agreement proposal with UBS re uh motion to renew the proposal for health and dental benefits with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. Renewing proposal for vision benefits from VSSP Vision Care. Approving the agreement with the UCEC for the 2526 school year. Uh professional services for nursing and therapy services for the 2526 school year. And approving the disposal and sale of obsolete equipment. Right. Can I have a motion and a second? So moved. Second. Uh, any discussion by the board? Seeing none, we'll move
074to roll. Mr. Davis, yes. Miss Jackson, yes. Miss Ling Beer, yes. Mr. Lee, yes. Miss Stats, yes. Mr. Hill, yes. And Mr. Marine, yes. Motion passes. In the area of policies and regulations, I'd ask for the board's consideration of the following policies and regulations. Approving uh policy 9163 as reviewed by the ED committee for second reading. Approving policy 8500 as reviewed by the operations committee for second reading. And approving the policy 5111 as reviewed by the operations committee for first reading. Can I get a motion to second? So moved. Second. Second. I have a question about 5111. How should I submit that? Yes. Is it now? Well, it's a discussion. So if you Yeah, we're we did a motion a second. So you can have a discussion now if you'd like. Um 5111 is about
075uh allowing non-resident students to attend the school. Uh in discussion, it was our understanding that the current policy is to not allow non-resident students to attend the school. But in this policy, and I realize this is a generic acrosstheboard policy, but there's this on page four, there's this a heading that says non-resident students. Um, and it stipulates that the county executive superintendent can set tuition rates, and there's a couple of things in there about non-resident students. So, that section, I move, should be stricken from the policy entirely. That was on page four. You said it's on page four. It's a minor heading. Non-resident students NJSA 18A 38-3. The board shall receive the approval of the executive county superintendent to establish a uniform tuition amount for any board approved non-resident student etc. And is I just
076want to make it clear you want that stricken um Mr. Davis because since we're not allowing non-resident students, it seemed Okay. So, just for the other board members too, if we're making a motion to strike that, it is um it's not substantive if we're not allowing non-resident students. The executive county superintendent is not going to set a rate if we're not allowing it. I would agree, which is why I don't want it in there. Understood. I just wanted to make sure all the board members understood that. the stats. I'm sure you've discussed it and maybe you can give me an answer, but why don't we want to do that? Could be good revenue source. Yeah, this was Joel, do you want to disc chair of operations and we did discuss that. Did you want to
077add anything to that or no? Well, we did talk about I mean it's the revenue implications of allowing non-resident students at the moment would appear to be insignificant to begin with. It's it's it's not going to turn into some huge alternative revenue stream. But at it creates logistical problems and lots of investigating and following up and all these things. And uh part of what triggered the conversation was had to do with staff members who want to bring their kids to school. And one of the points made during the conversation was that if we were permitting non-resident students to attend, it would just make sense to extend that invitation to children and staff members. And that's when it was clarified that well, we don't do it anyway. We don't allow the public that privilege of attending
078the school unless they're residents here in Hillsboro. And because the benefits to the budget would be insignificant, the impact to logistics and administration might be significant. It just didn't doesn't seem as though the the cost is worth it. Thank you. I just want to Yeah, go ahead. you can speak. It's your Well, then I I was trying to look it up, but I think it's further down. There was an option for allowing a a student who's in their senior year and then is moving to allow them to uh remain but pay a tuition. Correct. So, we might are we going to still cons include that if they pay tuition? Yes. Correct. Okay. So, I I don't know if we'd have to worry about continuation versus a enrollment. Right. But I'm just just to just to
079protect it. I don't know if the wording might need to change to acknowledge that it's an exception to this one to to the one that's highlighted there. Yeah, it is stipulated in here for what it's worth that a student who's moving out of the district uh in their graduating year. So, if they're in 12th grade, they're graduating in June, that we will allow them to finish up their semester. But I think you might need this in there to then have the county superintendent approve the tuition rate for that student. So you may actually need that in there for that purpose. Ah, so so let's I have a recommendation. This is first reading. We can approve it at committee next month. We can discuss if we're even allowed to remove that because if if if they
080have to approve it, that's statute, then we may have to keep that in there. Well, that would make sense and then I would withdraw my motion. So are you okay approving as is given that we can amend it before the second reading? Yep. We have a a shot at the second reading. Yep. We can make the amendments. So I withdraw my motion. Appreciate it. Okay, there's no other comments. We will then move to roll on this. Mr. Davis, yes. Miss Jackson, yes. Miss Lanning Beater, yes. Mr. Lee, yes. Miss Stats, yes. Mr. Ho, yes. Except no for 14.3. And Mr. Marine? Yes. Motion passes. Is that the last one? Yeah, public com open at once here. Okay, I'm back. I have the document open. Um, the second public comment period, we very much welcome in
081from the public. During board meetings, there are two 30 minute periods of time that the meeting will be open for public comment where members of the public are invited to comment which may do if they attending in person. During the second public comment period, members of the public may comment on the school or school district issue. The member of the public may be of concern to the residents of the school district as pilot 0167. Before you state your comment, you'll be asked to provide your name and address. There's nothing limit on public comment. Please understand there are public forms and not structured as question sessions, but rather offers opportunities to share your thoughts with the board. In say where the board pleasing or the board president or superintendent will address the comment times a member
082of the public makes a comment or ask question about personal hiring decisions. Kindly note the public meetings act and the privacy rights of public employees encompass their do not permit the board to discuss personal issues in public session. Hello, Leicia Gabber Bis live in Hillsboro. I just wanted to give a congrats to all the wonderful students who came, all the staff who came, who retired, the ones who are still here. We just finished up a great staff appreciation week. I saw lots of posts on Facebook about all the wonderful things that the HSAs are doing for our staff, uh, from breakfastes to, uh, supplies. It's just really nice. And I just wanted to point out um some of the things that some of the HSAs have done. Um that's Home and School Association, not PTO
083or PTA, but it's basically the same kind of thing. Um you know, we raise money and I think that our budgets can be between 30 and $60,000 that we raise for the schools. We've paid for um you know different schools have different needs but water filling stations a pavilion I think at least one school has done another one is considering doing um playgrounds sound systems assemblies financial aid for uh for trips we're working on digital sign is also looking into putting up a new sign for their school uh we do things for the school for the students we have movie nights uh STEM nights again staff appreciation we also have things um where we ask the public, you know, if you'd like to help support us with dine outs. And our middle school is having
084one at Chipotle this Wednesday. I believe it's from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. You can look on Facebook um under Hillsboro Middle School HSA. That's our page. And you can see the the code if you want to order online. We also have a this is our old uh flyer, but it's pretty much the same. We're having a raffle fundraiser and we're doing it in combination with the basketball competition uh with Jump Shot Gym. So, parents can come and go to the raffle and kids can go to the basketball or you could do, you know, all in the allin-one. Um but it's $20 for pre-registration, $25 at the door. You can buy extra tickets. Uh the choir just had an amazing one at the high school. So many people came. They had the the apron, um the
08550/50. It was it was great. So tell your friends, grab a table and um hope to see you there. Thank you for your support. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Do we have any others for public comment? All right. Seeing none, we will close public comment. We will open it up to board members if they want to Oh, Sra. Um, pretty much everything within the student comm uh community was accounted for in the student recognition section. Um, but I also just wanted to congratulate the girls track and field team for winning the taking first place at the Skyland Conference this past Tuesday for the fifth year in a row. Um, with Isabella Rufa getting first and Natalyia Simcat getting third in javelin, Angela Vulova getting first place in shotput and disc. Sra Palra placing in high
086jump, Cella Martinez placing in 100 hurdles, Emma Cibbitz and Khloe Montgomery placing in the 100 and 200 race. And then Ava Lucariello placing in the 1600s. Um and then I'd also like to congratulate the boys volleyball team for ranking I think currently first place in the Delaware Division of Skyland rankings. Awesome. Thank you. Any other board members? The stats? I'll make it quick. Um, a couple Fridays ago, uh, Mr. Ho and I went to, uh, Amsterdam to, uh, get some coffee and treats at their community coffee cart, which was, uh, um, work by the, uh, some students there. And it was very enjoyable, very tasty treats there. Um, and they're considering doing it again, um, I think maybe in June. And, uh, also that Friday, I went to a play at Hillsboro High School called
087Everybody. very unique play. Um, very thoughtprovoking and of course lots of talent. Thank you, Mr. Hugh. Um, last week there was a Somerset County um, school boards association and I wanted to let everyone know that our own Miss Stats achieved the level of master board member as well as certified board leader. So, she was honored along with many other board members at that meeting. And on Saturday, the delegate assembly met and I just wanted to share that they approved um hang on, I'm going to read it. um they approved substitute language for their manual policy and positions. But basically the idea is it was about esports that esports is a valuable interscolastic competition and um NJSBA believes that they should be awarded varsity letters for esports high school participants. And so I wanted to share
088that with this board because um I don't think we have esports at the high school and perhaps that is something that the school can consider because and I think Miss Stats I don't know if you want to share. Okay, go ahead. Yeah, I thought I had said my last thing. Sorry. But hearing about the esports um at uh the New Jersey school board's workshop in the fall, one of the sessions was about esports and and I think they also had one the previous year. I know I've gone to a couple uh about esports and um what can be what's really great about it. It appeals to um students that might not otherwise be engaged in any other extracurricular or athletic activity. And um that's something we we talked about a lot when we did strategic
089planning. We want to make sure we reach every student and try to get every student involved in some kind of you know extracurricular or athletic activity. And um and they said they often reach those kinds of students. And it's um and they they try to be very uh uh you know try to make sure they they reach and accommodate uh students with any kind of disability. And so, um, it'd be great if we could, uh, somehow get that to go. Yeah, it's it's certainly something that we can look into over time. In fact, I know a graduating senior from last year who's in college on a partial scholarship for esports, somebody right here from from Hillsboro, and they did it, you know, on their own. Um, but we could certainly look at what we can
090do within the schools, too, because it's it's real. It's out there, and it students are into it. And and I said that with some schools, one one of the people who spoke, I think they they were an adviser and it just started as club and the adviser admitted that they knew very little about it. The students themselves know a lot about video games. So, and so you don't have to be super knowledgeable about it. Just, you know, make sure you are supportive and provide what they need. Yeah. Thanks. And congratulations Um, back to the last meeting's discussion uh about the budget. um not to rehash, but uh one of the guests that spoke at the podium uh had an unfortunate line in what they said and the line was um essentially that the um the
091board should pass the tax levy and that the Hillsboro residents had to understand that it's a small increase. Whether or not a tax increase is is small or large is really a subjective um determination. And I think it is unfortunate that it comes across as dismissive. And so I think um what we have to do as a community is um try to walk in someone else's shoes uh not make um judgmental comments like that because I I really do feel it's unfortunate that there was a passage of a tax increase without having public ability to vote on it. And again I think it sets a bad precedent that um people pass judgment on how large or how small the tax levy is. It is a sliding scale based on the value of your home which
092again you can keep unraveling this whole um screwy formula but um I think it would be good to uh for the community to understand we should avoid passing judgment on the size of a tax increase. Thank you. All right, seeing no other comments, I will take a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Second. All in favor? I All right. We'll see you in a couple weeks. Thank you.