001Yeah, I have all of them. >> I told Yeah, I told you. >> I don't think so. >> Um, you're still with me on the Paris. You know, we're not just watch. While the public uh funnels in here, I'm going to take a roll call to open the public session. Okay. Could I get Mr. Bender? >> Yes. >> Here. Mr. Rodriguez >> here. >> Mr. Chase >> here. Miss Gonzalez is not here. Mr. Greenwall is not here. Mr. Grunhunt >> is here. Mr. Climman is not here. Mr. Stern, >> he's here. And Miss Goldberg is not here. >> Did I get a motion to go back into public session? >> Motion. Motion was first was Mr. Bender. Second was Mr. Rodriguez. >> Correct. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Thank you.
002You don't have to. I passed out a lot. >> They need to go. >> Stop. Kevin, you can start Kevin. >> Okay, excuse me. We're we're in a meeting here. Okay, at this time we're we're back into the open public session. Okay, Dr. Winters, we have some recognition or presentations. Yes. At this ch time, please join me in welcoming Yuriel Rivera and Melanie Flores, board of education student representatives for the 26 2526 school year. I apologize. Good evening, Dr. Winters and all member of the board. Thank you for having us tonight. As the school year starts to come to an end, we have a lot of upcoming events taking place. On Thursday, May 21st, 100 students were honored as the top student leaders of the school. Students had the opportunity to attend an afterchool event
003where families were invited to celebrate. During the event, a panel of three LHS alumni spoke to students about leadership, growth, and future success. On May 14th, Battle of the Classes took place in the gymnasium. The event was a success and a true display of Piner pride. It showcased outstanding school spirit, teamwork, and student talent. There was an exciting competition that came down to a final danceoff between class adviserss. Junior Prom was also a success with over 100 students attending, making it the largest turnout in more than four years. The night fully embraced the elegant masquerade ball theme as students arrived in style and brought tremendous energy throughout the evening. The junior class represented Lakewood High School with pride, demonstrating maturity, school spirit, and enthusiasm that helped make the event a success. The Lakewood High School
004Army Gerotc program recently participated in the Commander Cup competition held in the joint phase. Meguire Dicks Lake Lakers cadets represented Lakewood High School with professionalism, discipline, and determination throughout the competition. We would also like to give a big congratulations to our drama club on their fantastic performance on the Once Upon a One More Time. Oh, the sophomore social was a successful fundraiser for the class that invited students from all grade levels to come together and enjoy freshly served ice cream while raising funds for future class activities. This Thursday, college sports signing will take place. The event will recognize Chris Rosario for Ken University, Jose Vital for Udica University, and Gra Gabrielle Maldonado Luna for William Padum University for all the hard work and dedication they have put into the sport. The Lakewood High School baseball
005team played in the state tournament today, marking the first time in over 12 years that the team has qualified for states. The volleyball team also competed in the state tournament today. Congratulations to Abel Martinez for being selected to participate in the Carpenter Cup, one of the top high school baseball showcase tournaments in the Northeast. The [applause] chorus, band, and orchestra will hold their spring concert on June 3rd in the Lakewood High School auditorium. We hope to see you there. Yearbooks have officially arrived, allowing students to cherish their special moments shared throughout the yearbook um through SC the school year, sorry. The yearbook includes memorable photographs from school events and athletics that students will be able to look back on for years to come. >> Senior prom will take place on June 11th, 2026 at the
006waterfront in Forkid River. This night will surely be special as it allows for the senior class to come together, celebrate themselves, and create everlasting memories with their classmates. We hope to see seniors and all who were invited there have a great time. The district art show will be held on June 18, showcasing artwork from students all across the district. This event will allow families to support their children's artwork while also inviting student entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses. AP pre-calculus students from Lakewood High School recently participated in a mathematics competition hosted by Mammoth University that consisted of 10 highly rigorous problems. We are especially excited to recognize David Roas Candelas who earned second place out of 549 students from across ocean and Mammoth counties. [applause] Thank you everyone. That is all we have to present to
007you tonight. We look forward to seeing you at next month's meeting. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Melanie. Thank you, Yuriel. Thank you. Okay. Does the state monitor have anything to report this evening? >> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Winters. Um, welcome to our big uh crowd tonight for attendance. I want to update the board and the public that is attending tonight that the uh fiscal year 2627 budget has been placed under advisement since the April 29th uh proposed revised budget was presented at the public hearing. That still is ongoing. And so tonight I have nothing to report other than we are working diligently to try and get a budget starting July 1. Thank you, >> Mr. Campbell. >> Oh, okay. At this time, we have the approval of the minutes. Um, that's approving the
008public and executive minutes uh meeting minutes of April 29th, 2026. Could I get a motion to approve those? Motion, Mr. Rodriguez. >> Second. Mr. Bender. >> Mr. Bender. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chase. Mr. Chase, >> I'll come back to him. >> We'll go back to him. >> Mr. Grunt, >> you're muted. He's here. >> Okay. Mr. Chase is Yes. Mr. Grunt Hut. >> Yes. >> Ming [clears throat] the minutes from last meeting. >> Yes. Yes. Mr. Stern. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, at this time we have no correspondence or no committee reports. So we're to the p public comment right now for agendum items only. Again, I just want to remind everybody it's limited four minutes per board policy and then I'll let you know 30 seconds remain. We
009have one person that signed up. Uh, Dante Clark. [applause] Good evening, board members, superintendent, administrators, and members of the community. My name is Dante Clark, and I am a student athlete here at Lakewood High School. I'm here tonight to speak about the change that was made for the head football coach position. I understand that some people may say I'm only speaking because LJ Clark is my father. I am proud that he is my father, but I am also speaking as a Lakewood football player, as a student, and as someone who has seen the impact he has had on this program, this school, and this community. My concern is not that is not meant to be disrespectful towards the new coach. I do not know everything about him and I am not here to attack him
010personally. But I do I do believe it is fair to ask why a head coach who has led this program for over a decade who knows the students, knows the families, knows the school, and knows the short conference was replaced by someone who is new to the district and does not yet have the same relationship with Lakewood football. This decision has a real impact on the players. Therefore, some players may transfer, some player may lose trust in the dis in the direct of the program. Many of us are uncertain about whether the new coach understands what Lakewood football players need, not just on the field, but outside the field, too. Coach Clark did more than just coach football. He understood our home situations. He knew when players had to work and family responsibilities or babysitter
011duties. He knew not he knew how to communicate with the players and family. He cared enough to help students athletes find summer employment which allowed players to stay involved summer workout in summer workouts and work around the real challenges that many students face. He also helped players reach the next level. Many students were guided by him not only towards opportunities in football, but towards education, programming, and college opportunities. He's helped kids eat, helped make sure they've had places to sleep. Stepped in when students had problems and acted as a role model, not for only football players, but for students throughout the building. He always tries to bring the program through the community. He made us feel like Lakewood football was bigger than wins and losses. He made us feel that the players mattered as people
012and not just athletes. Most importantly, he never gave up on us. Even when things seemed hopeless, he continued to adapt, continue to push the team forward and continue to believe in the players. Every year, he tried to make the program better. So, my question is why is this change being made and how does this decision help the students athlete of Lakewood? Again, this is not personal towards a new the new coach, but football in Lakewood is not just about the plays, wins, and losses. It's about the relationships, trust, understanding the students, belonging in the community, and as coach Clark always says, becoming fine young men, which K Clark has proven in his commitment over the past decade. I respectfully ask the board and the district leadership to review this decision, listen to the players, listen
013to the families, and consider the impact the change has on the football program and Lakewood community. Please do not reduce this decision to the recent wins or losses. Please look at the students, families, and community members who will be impacted by it. Thank you for your time. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> That ends the public comments section. Next, we move on to the business the business administrator section that's in the agenda. I do have one change. We're administer administratively removing. It's letter D under operations number one, transportation items. It's letter F on page 27, which is the approval to award public contracts. That is administratively removed. Does the board have any questions on the business admin business administrators agenda? It's pages 6 through 31. >> No. Seeing none, can I get a motion to approve
014the business manager? Motion, Mr. Rodriguez. Second. >> Second, Mr. Bender. >> Okay, I'm going to take all in favor. Mr. Bender, >> I Yes. I >> Yes. Yes. Mr. Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chase. >> Yes. [snorts] >> Mr. Grunt Hut. >> And Mr. Stern. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Next we move to the superintendence. >> You want me to act now on your own? >> Oh, you certainly can if you >> Thank you. on the uh business administrator section of the agenda that was just voted on the PL being the monitor physical monitors placing under advisement the following items. Number four under procurement. Number three, >> what page is that? What page is the four? You said number four. These are the items that are placed under advisement. I have a list. I will
015be I will provide them to the secretary. >> It's on page six. >> Um I left off at procurement number three, number four, number five, number six, number seven under operations and transportation 1 through 10 as relates to 2627. It's a mixed agenda item uh for several years. So whatever relates to the Somerset County ESC for 2627 is under advisement D E and of course F was removed administratively and I find that the food service because I am assuming it's fund 60. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Uh that is all I have under advisement under the business administrators report. >> So you're saying fund 60 is >> okay. Thank you. Now we're going to move on to the superintendence agenda. It's pages s 32 through 69. I do have a readend. It's going to
016be marked superintendent agenda item number 82. It says whereas pursuant to New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act NJ NJSA18A 37-15E the board of education is required to review and issue a written decision to affirm reject or modify the superintendent's decision regarding allegations of harassment, intimidation or bullying. Hib and whereas the board of educations duly coveted and conducted said hearings in executive session on May 27th, 2026 to protect the confidentially of the student involved during the board received presentations, evidence, and testimony [clears throat] concerning the incident. And whereas the board of education requires additional time to thoroughly review and record and evaluate the evidence presented in the hearing prior to issuing its final written determination. And whereas NJSA18A37-15E directs the board of education shall issue its written written decision to affirm, reject, or modify the
017superintendent's decision at the next regularly scheduled board meeting of education in the following hearing. Be it resolved that the board of education of the Lakewood School District as follows. Number one, the board hereby acknowledges and places it on the record that the statutory hearing for student ID number 946079 [snorts] was successfully held and concluded on May 27th, 2026. Number two, that the board hereby defers rending a final decision to affirm, reject, or modify the superintendent's decision in this matter in order to facilitate further deliberate deliberations to review the case record. And number three, the board shall issue its final written decision regarding student number 946079 at its next regularly scheduled public meeting currently calendar scheduled for June 24th, 2026. That's going to be marked superintendent agenda item number 82. So I suspect that's probably going
018to be on the next page. So you'll be voting on pages 32 through 70. >> Motion, Mr. Rodriguez. Second. >> Second, Mr. Bender. Okay, we're going to take a roll call vote now. Mr. Bender. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rodriguez. [clears throat] >> Yes. I'm abstaining on page 52, number 52 and 53. >> Thank you. We have Mr. Chase. >> Yes. >> We have Mr. Grunhut. >> Yes. >> We have Mr. Stern. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Would the monitor like to comment on anything? >> Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Under the report of the superintendent, I place under advisement the following items. Under personnel, three appointments certified. Under B, non-personnel, three out of district placements, PN C tuition for fiscal year 2627. Also noted that there's a correction on the rate for Kier school. It should
019be $46.24 to put in the certified minutes. D. Related services for under curriculum. C. Other four breakfast aids. 5 7 8 10 12 14 15 16 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 38 39 40 41 51 52 53 54 >> 55 56 57 58 59 60 63 64 69 71 72 if it relates to the 2627 school year was unclear on the agenda item for cats and back school. 73, 75, 76, and 77. And to be clear, there are numbers in between that relate to the current year, and they have all passed. >> Thank you. >> I have a question. >> Do we have any teachers for next year? >> Do we have teachers? >> I'm saying you basically said no. You have your
020a budget under advisement. >> So that's why this is under advisement. >> Yes. >> Okay. Does the board have any old business they would like to discuss? Any new business they would like to discuss? Next, we've come to the public comment section. I wanted to remind everybody it's limited to four minutes per board policy and you will be notified when 30 seconds remain. We have some people requesting to speak. Kim Shaw. [applause] Thank you. >> Good evening. Kimberly Shaw, president of the Lakewood Education Association. At the April board meeting, I spoke about the value of the power professionals and the misguided decision to fire all 165 of them on June 30th. You also heard from other staff members and students from the Lakewood School District about the critical role these employees play every single day.
021At that board meeting, many of you seemed surprised that our power professionals were being rifted. You spoke passionately about the importance of keeping them employed. When it came time to vote, the board voted no on the overall budget, but yes to firing of the power professionals, which led to a big misunderstanding. It also caused the state monitor to say she was taking this vote under advisement. In the days since that meeting, I have met multiple times with my members to address the misunderstanding about the board's votes because many par professionals left believing that the board had voted no to firing them when in fact the opposite was true. So I ask you plainly, what have you done since then to fix it? Have you revised the budget to reflect those statements? Have you identified alternative
022reductions? Have you taken any concrete steps to ensure these 165 individuals keep their jobs? The LEA does not create the district's budget. You do. It is your responsibility to develop a budget that ensures every student receives a thorough and efficient education. That responsibility includes maintaining a wellsupported compensated staff. Yet the budget you approved results in the loss of 165 power professionals due to the cost of health insurance. So again I ask what other options did you seriously consider before deciding that eliminating these essential employees was the answer? Because as of today, unless something changes, 165 par professionals will lose their jobs on June 30th, unless the LEA is able to negotiate a solution to prevent it. My members should not be in this position, they should not be they should be able to come to
023work, focus on students, and do their jobs with the resources, stability, and support they deserve. Instead, they are forced to live with uncertainty about their livelihoods. Unfortunately, the uncertainty reflects a larger reality in this district, a culture of confusion, chaos, and instability. The fact that this board appeared unaware of a plan to eliminate 165 paraprofessional positions or unclear on what exactly was being voted on only reinforces that concern. To add to this confusion, we still have approximately 39 items under advisement from the April 29th meeting. So am I so I am asking if there are 39 items under advisement, including the budget and the firing of ESPs, where do we go from here? The state of New Jersey has been raising alarms for years. Since 2009, the district has been warned repeatedly about issues related
024to finance, leadership, transportation, and special education. That is why state monitors are in place. That is why the district has accumulated millions in loans that will take years to repay. That is why there is now an effort to move towards state intervention. The Lakewood School District did not arrive at this point overnight. The board just chose not to listen. But let me be clear, my members should not be the ones who pay the price for years of mismanagement and inaction. Power professionals are not expendable. They are essential and this board has a both authority and responsibility to act before it is too late. Thank you. >> Okay, hold on, hold on, hold on. [applause] Kim Kim sure just put up something very good. Last meeting, we voted no. I'm not sure if you understood. We
025voted no for the whole thing. We said vote no on that page and the next page which had the firing of them. I'm almost positive that we vote we we just said it just now. So I don't know if we could go back but we we never intended >> to hold to old >> you can go back to tape >> one time talking one at a time. We'll get to you momentarily. I remember clearly when we discussed it at the last meeting during the meeting when everyone was running back and forth we all discussed we're not voting yes on this. So we all voted no for firing. Why would we vote to not fire them but not hire them? That makes no sense. And the day of my surgery I when I had quadruple surgery
026last week, two weeks ago, I emailed Dr. Winters and the entire board that the entire board wants the power professionals for next year. Dr. Winters. Did I not email that? [cheering] [applause] >> Mr. Chase. Mr. Chase. >> Mr. Chase, are you there? >> Yes. >> Come in. >> Do you remember voting on this? >> Mr. Chase. >> Kevin. What was your question? >> I was questioning if we could if the board could make a motion to undo. >> Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. >> Agenda from last from last meeting. >> Want to be more specific? >> I know what he's asking. Josh, can we resurrect it? >> Okay. Uh, general counsel, you didn't see the question. >> I mean, she'll override anyways, but that's not our problem. But we still have to do >> claring
027his question. Um, not sure at >> at this point it would be a moot point as it's still under advisement as there's been no determination one way or another in regards to those provisions. >> Yes, but it still looks like we voted no when we didn't. So that's a wrong >> herb. Go ahead. I think there was two agenda there the business agenda that we voted no on and superintendent agenda also had firing. I would like to know if the court could undo that with the vote >> or did we vote no and then she override it and she put it under >> I think one time her ask a question. >> The question is why would we vote no on the budget and approve the firing of the over the par professional? That makes
028no sense whatsoever. >> Right. >> The whole purpose of not approving the budget is because we didn't want the power of professionals to be fired. Exactly. >> And that makes no sense. >> Mr. Fman, I think the question is regardless of what happened at the last meeting, if at the last meeting the board did indeed vote to give the rift notices, does the board have the legal right to rever to make a vote right now and reverse that vote? If that vote, >> we can make a motion to that effect. >> Okay, Mr. Chase answer is yes, Mr. >> I am making a motion to go back. >> I second it. >> Thank you, Kim. Thank you very much for bringing that up. >> Okay, Kevin. Shh. Hold on. Kevin, could you do a poll?
029[applause] >> And to answer your question, what we did since then, let me just quickly do the the vote. >> Oh, okay. Fine. >> I'll do a reading first. I'll read exactly what the vote says. I just full clarity and then >> you can then read the reading. Well, I think what you're trying to do is make a motion to reinstate the power of professionals inside the 2026 27 budget >> and to reverse whatever. Hold on. Hold on, please. Hold on. Would you see clarity? You're trying to avoid any confusion. And to reverse, are we reversing the vote that allegedly did or didn't take place by the last meeting? >> Well, I think you're superseding it. Okay. >> We just want to make sure that's all legal. We don't want any problem. >> Mr. Forceman,
030is that legal? You can make a motion, but once again, it's still under advice. Understood. Understood. Okay. Impact. >> Please go ahead with the motion. What happens is a motion to reinstate the power professionals in the 2026 budget. Okay, that's the motion that's on the table. Could I get a >> second a mo >> motion? >> Okay. Who was the motion? Was Mr. >> My motion? His second. >> Okay. Was Mr. Stern Mr. Stern made the motion? >> And who second it? Herb second it. >> Herb second it. Yes. Okay. Second. >> Okay. So, uh, Mr. Bender, we're going to vote. >> Yes. Yes. I vote yes. >> Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chase. >> Yes. >> Mr. Grunhot. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Stern? >> Yes. >> Go ahead. >> No.
031>> Mr. Hamill. The monitor is placing number 83 under advisement as it relates to the 2627 budget. Thank you. And um Mr. Shaw, we definitely have been in contact the ent while I was in the hospital. I have emails back and forth with Dr. Winters and the board. We've been trying to figure it out. We still are. We did not give up. We won't give up. Um, we definitely didn't give up at all. The day of my surgery, about an hour before I went in, when I was still in a loopy, I was still emailing Dr. Winters. I'm not sure if it made sense or not to email, but it definitely said something among the lines. These are my dying wishes. Please make it happen. You can ask her. I I did say those words,
032dying wishes. You can ask her. [applause] >> I did get a message to that effect. So, >> okay. >> See, it's true. >> Confirm that. >> And your email was not under advisement. >> My email what >> is not under adisement. Recept. >> My email is not under. >> Next. Kevin. Next. >> All right. Next. Can we have Joseph Driscoll? >> Good evening. Thank you. Not exactly sure what's going on here tonight. Uh my name is Joe Driscoll. Uh, I run a public relations firm in Philadelphia. I drove here tonight in support of my mom, Donna Samariski. She's a 23-y year veteran of the school district. She's a pair professional. [cheering] [applause] That's her. [applause] Um, she served for nearly 23 and a half years. She's a year and a half from retirement eligibility. uh
033for many years she's worked from anywhere from 15 to $30,000. So you can imagine that she is relying on meeting that 25 year mark uh and retiring with dis dignity. Um she has nearly 200 accumulated sick days. I've never heard of that. Um and and it's not cuz she didn't get sick and it's not that she couldn't use the days off and it's not that I didn't try to get her to go to the beach a lot. Uh it's cuz she felt like she couldn't let anyone down. not the students, not the community, not the board, not the teachers, not her fellow pair of professionals. >> Um, YEAH, [applause] I understand difficult budget situations being made. Um, and I understand the importance of pair professionals. Uh, they they they do a a tremendous service to
034this community and the children. Um, and I understand the devastating impacts that layoffs have in general. Uh but as I just drove from Philadelphia, um I'm here for my mom. Um who deserves a unique look at her situation. Uh she has acrewed a year of sick leave. A year of sick leave. I tried to get her to take off. I had three children. She she was back at work the next day. She wouldn't take a single other day off. My children need me. My teachers need me. Uh I'm I'm asking you to stand up for everybody. I'm asking you to take a look at my mom. Um, she believed that if you worked hard and stayed loyal, that loyalty would be returned. Um, I hope you'll help her finish her career with dignity. Thank you
035for taking the time to listen to me today. [applause] >> Thank you. [cheering] [applause] >> [applause] >> Eileen Romano. >> Good evening. My name is Eileen Romano and I am a proud paraprofessional in the Spruce Street School. I have worked in Lakewood District for 16 years and nine months. I have witnessed some exceedingly difficult times, but also some very wonderful times in this district and I generally love my job. Working with my students and helping them learn new material is deeply meaningful to me. Over the years, I have built strong trusting relationships with them and I've made a real difference in their school experience. Since learning along with the other 164 par profofessionals that our positions will be eliminated by the end of June, I've struggled to put words how heartbreaking this is. It is
036incredibly disheartening to feel that the district places so little value in the work we do that they are willing to cut our roles entirely. We are not just positions on a budget line. We are trusted employees whose students rely on. Eliminating us is not just a loss for us. It's a loss for our students. This decision feels deeply disrespectful like a slap in the face to those of us who have dedicated ourselves to supporting students and helping them succeed. Our work matters. And I want you to know that the decisions [applause] and I want you to know that the decisions that this board makes will have lasting consequences on our students, our staff, and my 164 colleagues and their families. These are real people whose livelihoods and futures are being affected. Remember, your role as
037a board of of education member is to represent students, parents, the community, and the staff who serve them every day. Your job is to make sure that the Lakewood Public School District has the resources and the staff our students need to succeed. We are counting on you to remember the essential role power professionals bring to this district. We are not optional. We are integral to the student support and success. When you look at into the audience tonight, see the faces of the people who have dedicated themselves to this community. They are counting on you to do the right thing. My name is Eileen Romano and I'm a proud 16-year PAR professionals. Please do not eliminate my job. [applause] [applause] >> [applause] >> Mike Manion. [applause] Hi, I'm Mike Manion. I am the NJA representative for
038the Lakewood Education Association. And fortunately, uh, you you cut out a bunch of my speech by the board members standing up and reversing the vote that was taken last month. I do have a question about that. So, the board of education last meeting it was a five nothing vote and you believed that you were undoing the you were voting against the reduction in force of the par profofessionals. I saw that it seemed clear. you asked clear questions and then when you voted that didn't happen. So the question I have is who on the administrative side either weren't paying attention to the board of education when these when they asked these important questions or who was deceptive because your questions were clear. You said if we don't vote on these pages then will the power professionals
039keep your job? The answer was yes. And yet when you took that vote where the answer was yes, the opposite happened. So as a board, I think you should get to the bottom of that because I would not be happy if the people I'm trusting to give me honest answers are lying to me or they just don't know what the hell they're doing. Uh at the same meeting, the budget presentation stated that the paraprofessional situation was quote pending negotiations with the LEA. Let's be honest about that. The LEA does not decide whether positions are eliminated. The board does. The LEA did not propose these cuts. The LEA does not have the authority to make them. You do. The board cannot deflect responsibility. And when I say the board, I also mean the administration cannot deflect
040responsibility for this decision onto contract negotiations. If the paraprofessionals are eliminated, it's because the board chose to eliminate them. But that also means the opposite is true. I don't think I was that tall. But on the other hand, if the paraprofessionals are brought back, it will be because the board chose to stand with them. Because it's not just about having any paraprofessional, it's about having quality paraprofessionals in these classrooms. [applause] A good paraprofessional is not easily replaced by a rotating substitute or an outside provider who is new to the student, the classroom and the building. That consistently consistency, those relationships are essential for the students who need the most support. The other idea that was floated out at the last boarding was outsourcing. When you outsource, you don't have control over who is hired. You
041don't have control over professional development. You don't have control over the consistent assignment of staff. And you hand over daily access to your students to an outside vendor. This is not just a financial financial situation. You would be surrendering control of your own schools. >> 30 seconds left. >> Well, the the clapping I'm going to ignore. Um, if your vote was no, then let that vote mean something. Do not hide behind the process. Do not defer to negotiations. Own that decision in front of you because this is your authority and this is your responsibility. And I also want to address the elephant in the room, something that has clearly been weighing on the board, the role of the state. I think everyone in this room understands that having a state monitor changes things. The presence
042of a state monitor can complicate what would otherwise be straightforward local decisionmaking. But even with those constraints, the board still has a vote. You can adopt a resolution formally opposing these reductions, citing their impact on student services and support. Place that position on the record so the community, your staff, and the state hear where you stand. Before I close, I want to ask for a favor. There are many par professionals here tonight. I'll look at this. So, I'm going to ask the board and everyone present here tonight to stand and give these par professionals the recognition they deserve. They deserve a round of applause for those who show up every day for our students. So come on. [applause] [applause] I'm almost done. Uh to close I want to call attention to the banner in front
043of you that bottom there. Piner pride keep it going. Pride is not just a slogan. Pride is how you treat people. If you are truly going to keep piner pride going then that commitment must extend to your par profofessionals. The people in your classroom every day doing work that cannot be replaced by a contract. Let that banner mean something not just as words but as action. Because this decision is not about contract negotiations. It's about students. It's about staff. And it is about the kind of district that you choose to be. Stand with your par profofessionals. Stand with your students. And stand by the vote that you have already cast or you thought you cast and you cast again today. Thank you. >> Thank you. Muses Kalypto. Good evening everybody. Thank you so much Mrs.
044Lur for you give me your space. My name is Alejandra Morales. I'm living in Lake Mora 30 years ago. My address is 949A East County Live Road just in case we want somebody taking my address. So um thank God the representative of the stage is here tonight. Thank you lady. And hopefully like right now we doing something because I remember more uh 11 years ago we come to Trenton and we need to bring a lot of concerns about what's going on in Lakewood district there's unfortunately nobody listen so it's very very sad to see tonight like all these teachers in Paris woring from the future woring for the job for the contract It's it's very very upset because all these teachers they need to work right now to prepare the curricula for the next years.
045But it's absolutely we can see right now tonight nobody care including yes including like Mrs. Winter Mr. Rodriguez and sure Mrs. say is not here but I understand your hands it's tied because everybody knows whose control and whose manipulations everything but I'm telling to you something nothing is forever believe me nothing is forever and I hopefully you have a h you you have a grandchildren and you remember somebody's coming be behind with And also I would like to let you know Lakewood Street is not a culture district. It's not a caution district. This is something also you need to look and need to open the eyes because it's not acceptable to the principal from the school to say in the moment you cannot bring anything when it's not kosher this street is not kosher because
046it's not provided with schools I'll be back here because I concerned about all the kids outside because it's not for everybody's surprise to see how everything in the schools and absolutely is not acceptable. What else you have? What else you have? They prepared the school. The renovation, the renovation to the school. Beautiful. How beautiful the library from the Laker High School. It's beautiful, right? Who use the library school? I pass every single day minimum four times back and forth because my house is over there. I can see who use the school mostly time in the nights. My question is what is the process to use? I can see how much correct corruption happened here. This is not surprise. But you know what happened? A lot of people afraid to talk. But I'm not afraid. I'm
047not afraid. [applause and cheering] Mrs. Winter is no surprise to for everybody knows you do it like the rest of the people say you need to do, but you are the mother and you are the employment and you know exactly what is the problem over here. Just playing games. Just playing games all the time. Just playing games. And yes, sir, you don't want to see me. And it's very suspect when the lady talk. >> I'm sorry. I >> No, I'm sorry. I had heart surgery. So if I'm not looking you, I'm in pain. I'm sorry. I had heart surgery two weeks ago. >> Oh, and you know how much painful the families, the teachers, the paras >> feeling. Did I not stand up just five minutes ago >> to every single power professional? >> 30
048seconds. >> Don't yell at me like >> Thank you so much lady for you account the time and hopefully you account to how much they happen over here because again this is this is very ridiculous. Absolutely very ridiculous to spend time and spend more money just for playing games. And again I hopefully the state to doing something else today different and also something I want and forgotta they check into the other school right because make sure to miss this winter to check in the other schools the people living in Leo correct I hopefully check in everything the schools no matter what is provided or not because one of the thing that I don't forget to that provides a school to use the transportations And a lot of people they don't even know in Lakewood and
049it's not only the Spanish Latino families but I can call the things the names because this is calling racist anti-semitis. Thank you so much. >> Hello. Can you can you please explain yourself? Your nose, man. Can you please explain yourself? >> No, no, no, no, no, no. We're going to have it explained by by >> What do you mean by kosher? What do you mean by kosher? That everything has to be kosher. What does that mean? When I say kosher, last year my son, he's in HAR. >> Okay. For what? >> My son last year he closed the HAR school year. One day I bring to something to the school and the teacher say to me she cannot receive the food because they only coming inside to the classroom as kosher. >> Is that true
050Mrs. Win? >> Yes it is sir and I can give you yes it is. I have a emails and I have a everything. >> Dr. is this true? We only have kosher in school. >> Yes, it is. That's the truth. Absolutely. Is the truth. >> I believe there was a mistake and you were told that you could you're >> I'm sorry, Mrs. Pter. Can you speak to more loud because I can hear you? >> I believe that was in one instance that that there was a mistake with someone who just started at the at the campus and then you were told after that that your child can bring the any food. Is that not correct? >> No. Mrs. Mrs. Winter, not only happened in the head start over here in the trias, >> that's the
051only answer that I know. >> Well, if you have proof >> that happened to in Piners and they happened to with couple more people, but the point is people afraid. >> But I'm not afraid. >> Nobody should be afraid if someone did something. >> Okay. So, sir, can I say I have the copies for the the emails when I send them? >> So, bring them over. Send them to Dr. >> Winters. All right. And I can say to you the name. I don't say it public because I will respect to the principal and the woman to do it. >> But 100%. >> So send >> they can say to my son you cannot open your lunch too and the and the and the same table with the rest of the kids is over there. >>
052Yeah. >> This is the simulations >> that makes the scoop. >> She attacked me. Big difference. >> Big difference. >> I know. Just okay. >> Sure. Absolutely. Over here back and forth. Is not the true. It's just the true. It's not the true. Absolutely. Because I know exactly what is the plane gain. >> Absolutely. This is calling discrimination. And again, Lakewood Street is not kosher. It's not kosher district. just I want to clearly very clearly and >> I can bring to the the emails because we have a copy about to the emails. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Morales. We have a lot of other speakers that we would like to get to tonight. Uh next is Bianca Daniel. [applause] Ladies and gentlemen, evening. When I stood here last time, I spoke about what
053could happen if you remove the frontline staff who provide daily unwavering consistency for our students. Your educational mission is destined for failure. I am relatively new to this career, three years this past December, but I stand here tonight for everyone, especially those who have given decades to this district. We give every ounce of ourselves to other people's children, often at the heavy expense of our own health. For a long time, I too procrastinated on my medical needs to stay in the classroom. I'm sure you're thinking, "What could a 31-year-old be procrastinating on her health?" Without going into detail, a lot. The reason I am speaking so passionately about this is because I was recently finally able to address what I had been procrastinating on. Imagine what a medical crisis like that would have cost my
054family if I hadn't been covered. By deleting us, you are telling us that our family's security is unsustainable. You are asking us to protect these students every single day while you strip away the very shield that protects our own children, our families, our livelihoods, and our health. As I said at the previous board meeting, before I became a par professional, I served nearly nine years in the United States Marine Corps. If there is one thing the military hounds [applause] If there is one thing the military hounds into you, it is accountability. I know what a failure and accountability looks like. And this district's lack of it has somehow become a problem that they are putting on the backs of us pair professionals. We must now carry the weight of the misuse or lack of funds.
055We are being forced to pay the price for a budgeting error we did not create. It's confusing that the people furthest from the magic of the classrooms are the only ones deciding what happens inside them. [cheering] [applause] When was the when was the last time anyone seated at this table visited a classroom unannounced? Just showed up, saw it raw and unfiltered. >> Just middle school during a fight. >> Not a dog and pony show how we say in the Marine Corps where you only see the pretty things prepared for your arrival. I mean the actual trenches like a morning routine where if you don't have a specific cereal for a student, the milk cap loosened just enough where you help foster independence, but also don't want a four-year-old screaming at the top of their lungs
056while saying open in a language you've somehow mastered. deciphering in only a few months at the exact right moment. It is absolute mayhem before 9:00 a.m. setting the tone for their entire day. When you delete us, our students will suffer, especially our special education preschoolers. These are children who cannot always advocate for themselves. They rely on the predictability of our faces, the safety of our routines, and the specialized intuitive care we provide. We are the ones who know how to deescalate a sensory meltdown and provide the physical and emotional safety net they need just to get through a school day. When you cut a pair professional, you aren't balancing a budget. You are actively stripping away the safety, consistency, and stability of the most vulnerable children in this district. You can delete files, you can
057delete typos, but you do not delete the human beings who are the heart and soul of these classrooms. You see us as an easy target because we're at the bottom of the district totem pole. But as someone who has served, been at the bottom, and been in a position that could alter the lives of others. I am going to say it again. Without the booth on the ground in the trenches of the classroom, there is no mission completion. We are not a SAB story trot out to beg for extra funds from the state. We are professionals, veterans, parents, and dedicated educators. Together, we are the consistency and the safety net for our students. You can delete our positions, but you will never delete the lives we have changed. Accountability starts at the top, and real
058leaders eat last. If the district is facing financial crisis, you should be considering deleting a digit off your own high salaries, [cheering] not eliminating the frontline support staff who hold our classrooms together. I hope all the pair professionals and staff members truly supporting us sleep well tonight. That's all. [applause and cheering] >> Thank you for your service. >> Ashley Began. I'm sorry if I mispronounce any of these names. Good evening. My name is Ashley Began and my child is in third grade. I felt very driven to come tonight uh before an overnight shift. Um, because I wanted to say so strongly, oh, sorry, I wanted to say how strongly I feel about how incredible the educators are in Lakewood. Lakewood often gets [applause] such a bad rep in Ocean County and New Jersey. And I
059just wanted to say to the parents that I see you and I see all that you do for our children. Um, With with that being said, um a welloiled machine is compromised of many parts. Without quality pair of professionals, the [clears throat] standards that we hold our teachers to would not would have to shift. While I would love to believe the district has some superhero teachers, it would be impossible to give all the attention needed to the students. Parap para profofessionals mend the gap to in many large classrooms. It also allows children that may have once been placed in an isolated classroom to be integrated with their peers which is not only important for those individuals but important for able-bodied and neurotypical children because disability visibility is so important. I would like to share a
060quick antidote as a mother that has seen the direct impact of a paraprofessional being in a classroom. My daughter in the second grade was punched by another student that was awaiting getting a parap profofessional at the time. There was a shortage in the district. She had a very hard time understanding why this had happened to her. She's a very emotionally driven child, much like her mom. >> [gasps] >> Uh and I would like to share that that student once he was able to pro once he was able to receive the support that he needed to be able to interact with his peers um that student became one of my children's best friend. Um that student deserves support and not just any support but a parah's support whose heart was in this work. I would also
061like to give a quick shout out to Miss Donna and Miss Karen who run the alphabets program. [applause] Let me tell you, they have taught my daughter more in two hours after school than I could probably teach her in a year. Um, they love those children like their own. I hope this gives you a gl a glimpse into just how much this decision affects the district as a whole. I do understand that there is a budgeting issue, but is it is my duty as a mother of two children to fight for my children and her friends because they are future. Education for all is our future. >> [applause] >> Rachel Klein. Good evening. I stood before you a month ago going on and on and on for my full four minutes of valuable reasons why
062we really need our power professionals in the schools as I've seen for over two decades. Um, I'm not going to repeat what I said. you could watch it, but I'm going to add to it a little bit. I really wanted to stand in front of you with an attitude of gratitude expressing my thanks and appreciation because I was praying and hoping for a different outcome and I understand that it's still in review. I'm not understanding that at all. It's clear crystal clear to me. Um, but I want to point out three additional things that I didn't point out last month. One is loss of valuable learning time. the routines that we have in place, whether it's in the library, in the classroom, or in any situation, whether it's lunchtime, arrival, dismissal, fire drills, anything, anything
063throughout the day from when school starts till school ends. If we don't have proper support staff that's consistent, reliable, familiar to the kids, we are spending times getting the crayons, getting the diapers and the wipes, getting the lunch, the breakfast, whatever it is. There is no way for us to fulfill our obligation as stellar leaders in the educational field and giving our students, it's all about the kids, a top-notch education. And I think the teachers in Lakewood are phenomenal. And there is so much there's amazing things going on. We're going to have to decrease our expectations when we don't have the support especially for our youngest and most needy students because how are they going to progress if we don't again I mentioned this last month the powers were running this new youly program in
064reading they were the ones doing the small groups and getting the kids up and up. If we don't have that kind of support then our expectations in the education our goals and objectives are just going to have to be lowered. Our standards are going to be lowered. So, we're failing our students with their educational outcomes. And when they get to high school, which I don't work at, and when they're applying to college and they're applying to places like Ruckers and Monontlair and Mammoth and they they're on a, you know, not just Ocean County College, but Georgian Court, when they're on a platform with other kids from other districts and their education's up here, but we've dumbed it down because we don't have the support to make it happen. That again, we're failing our students. So,
065that's one thing I wanted to put. out there, the loss of valuable instructional time because we're doing housekeeping and other things. All right. The second thing I wanted to talk about besides for being an educator, I'm also a proud mother and grandmother, is stranger danger. You know, we teach our kids, most people, about not just going off with anyone. If I put my kid on a school bus when they're three, four, five years old and there's someone else on the other end trying to take them off every day, it doesn't add up. Like, why would my kid get off the bus if they don't know who that is? And just because they have a tag around their neck, that's not reliable. That's not safe whatsoever. So, I think we have to look at the stranger
066danger situation and think about the accountability um it was mentioned just giving over the authority from the district to some outside that's very scary again as a m forget about the educator as a mother and grandmother and a mother stood up here talking about her child and another mother as a mother I'd be petrified to send my kid to a school and I don't know who's going to be responsible and watching my kid that day that's very very very very scary and the last thing I want to bring up that occurred to me since last month is lawsuits I'm going to put it out there. We have a very good lawyer in town who's very proficient and knows a lot about education. when we do not meet the needs of the students in our district,
067when parents uh or organizations or representatives from different churches and >> when they demand an out of district placement for their student because their child is not getting what they need in Lakewood, do you not think that that lawyer and all those out of district placements are not going to cost you more than $7 million? So when we're reviewing the budget again, we're failing our students and our kids in Lakewood are our future. The future of our community, the future of our state, our country. We We want them to succeed. If they don't succeed, we're failing. We're failing ourselves. Thank you, [applause] >> Miguel Alonzo. [applause] Good evening uh board of uh education. Good evening parents. Good evening par profofessionals. I'm a parent of two students uh of the Lakewood uh schools and I'm very
068concerned about the situation with uh with the education. Let's talk about the future next year. I'm here also to support the par profofessionals that I I've know I know some of them and they have been here for so many years and it's a little bit concern to have para profofessionals to just to go just to let them go with no benefits at So that's frustrating. Me as a parent, I'm also very very concerned about my daughter because I have two kids. One is in high school. She's going to be a senior next year. But my little one is just in fifth grade. So what is going to happen with her? What is going to happen with her from next year on? if this budget doesn't work. So it's not just is it is not just
069a situation about the budget par professionals is also a situation of the education of our kids. So myself when I knew about that when I learned about it the first thing I thought was I got to move out of lakehood if they go if this goes like that because this is something that is ridiculous this is something that does not work and I'm very concerned about my kids education and I know that these teachers they are experienced experienced teachers that they they they work hard and I can tell you that they work hard so that the kids can learn and then just like that have substitutes come to the schools to teach our kids. That's something that doesn't really work. That's something that is not going to work. And I hope that you as parents,
070as grandparents, you have kids, you have cousins, you have nephews. Think about it. Are not your kids. Are this community kids, but think about it. We're all human and we deserve a good education. Thank you. [applause] Karen Nielson. [snorts] [applause] Hello all my power professionals. [applause] [sighs] I've only been in Lakewood for three years now as a paraprofessional, as a one-on-one paraprofessional for the first time in my life. I come here with 30 years experience from New York as a paraprofessional for an alternative high school and middle school. And I have to tell you when I started hearing about all the cuts with the par profofessionals, I was really really sad because the first thing that came to my mind was my one-on-one that I work with and all the other gentle needs children that
071are here in Lakewood. It's bad that it took a it took a while for my one-on-one to have faith in me and trust in me and to believe in me. I can only imagine what they're going to feel when every day they could be seeing a new face, someone who they have to trust, someone who they're going to have to believe in again. All I know is that the par profofessionals, ever since we heard what was going on, we feel like we've been like puppets on a string, just somebody putting us from corner to corner saying different things. And I'm glad that everyone mentioned about how we thought that it wasn't agreed upon and then it was agreed upon and we still have a job or we don't have a job. I have a lot
072of paraprofessional friends here who have 23 plus years as paraprofessionals. They have so much to lose. And I really really hope that you listen to us not only with your ears but with your heart and know how important we are to a child's life. Thank you. [applause] Thank you, >> Warren. And I'm sorry, I'm not sure what the last name is. >> What is it? >> Thank you, Warren. Sherard. Okay. >> Good evening, Dr. Winters, uh, board of education. I'm here on a completely different mission. Um, but I will take a moment to say that as someone who attended elementary school here in Lakewood, as a parent of kids who attended elementary schools here in Lakewood, I stand with all of you. I support you and I'm glad to see that you all are supporting
073one another and supporting these children. Uh having said that, I just want to take a minute to talk about uh why I'm here. So I'm here just to to mention Ocean Health Initiatives, OI, which some of you may have heard of. It's a federally qualified health center here in Lakewood. Um we have a site in Lakewood at the corner of Second and uh Lexington on Mammoth. Uh we also have an office in Tom's River. We have offices in Little Egg Harbor Brick. Uh and we have an office in Freehold. Um in addition to all of those sites, we have an office right here in the Lakewood High School. And that's really what I want to highlight today. Um OI provides primary health care. We do pediatrics, OBGYn, internal medicine for adults. We do dental. Um,
074we have some specialty services, chiropractic, podiatry. Um, and this year we actually added optometry, which we're very excited about. Um, and so what we want to do is we want to just make everyone aware that we provide these services right here in your in your high school. We've had a partnership with the Lakewood School District for many, many years. Um, and so we have a 1600 square foot space here in the high school with five exam rooms. Um, and so we have hired staff. we've been staffed up because since the pandemic, things have been very difficult in terms of hiring doctors and and clinical staff, but we have uh mustered the resources. So, we have somebody in that clinic every Wednesday in the high school um so that students can come there, be seen. We
075see students um at this time, but we're also we've hired a full-time provider for next year for September. So, we plan to be in that suite every day Monday through Friday next year. So, we just want to make everyone aware of that um so that students can come to see us. We'll also it'll be a a provider either a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant. So, they'll be able to see children as well as adults. So, we can see staff members, we can see members from the general public. So, we really just want to highlight that service. Um I have some brochures and information here I'd like to drop off to you. Um, and we'd like to make sure that we have a good close partnership with the high school starting for next year. We'd
076like to get some consent forms into the hands of parents. The idea being that if parents sign a consent form at back to school night, we can keep that on file and then if their child is ever sick or needs to see a provider during the school year, they can go right into the office. We already have the parental consent and that child can be seen seamlessly right there in the office. So, that's something that we'd like to see if we could get going. Um, and like I said, we're we're really committed to having that office staffed every day starting in the fall of next year, but we are there currently every Wednesday and we'll be there every Wednesday through June and July as well. So, with that, I'll leave these uh brochures with you
077and I just want to thank you for your time and your attention. Jenna DeMarco I'm so short. [laughter] Hi everybody. Good evening. My name is Jenna Demarco and um while I'm new to the district, I've been in special education. I'm sorry. I teach special education at Spruce Street and um while I'm new to the district, I've been in special education about 15 years. I started as a parah. I went to a um substitute teacher, a behavioral therapist, an on-site director for a learning facility for children with disabilities in Belle and um surely worked my way back to uh teaching the classroom that I love. Um, I'm also a broker realtor, a um in school for my masters, a wife, a mom of four very athletic boys, it's a good thing that uh youth sports are
078free. Um, and uh, with all of that being said, I can honestly say that everything that I do, uh, one of my most challenging moments was in a classroom. Um, I had just started backtracking about 15 years ago and I was seven months pregnant with our now 13-year-old son. And I remember calling my husband and saying, "Oh, I accepted a position as a special ed teacher for the U special education students, young developmental, and he said to me, "Oh, Jen, that's wonderful. You're going to get to get paid to pet to play every day in school." Well, he ate a lot of burnt dinners that week. Don't don't worry. I took care of that. Um, but his perspective changed when he got a phone call that I was being rushed to the hospital, seven months
079pregnant for a student knocking me onto my stomach flat. And uh, I almost lost him. I took a toll off from the classroom for several years and with a lot of good inspiration behind me, I started I covered a maternity leave last year and at the end I applied for this position this year. And I will say that because of my paras, I have yet to suffer a trauma relapse since that day all year long. Um, at any given moment, these men and women will stop in the middle of a 90°ree muggy, sweaty, soiled bathroom public floor with me and a student until their behavior deescalates with not thinking twice about it. They will sit in the middle of soggy mulch outside on a playground while a child's behavior deescalates also singing Five Little Ducks
080went out to play and pulling stickers and treats out from their pockets. And even in days like today when it's pouring rain, they'll stand out there waving a student on a bus as it arrives at Spruce Street just so they know that there's someone there consistent that loves them that's waiting for them. When these behaviors happen, um, especially students, I'm not exactly very tall, so some of my students and I share eye to eye, they will drop their body weight in the hallway and they will hit and kick and scream and punch and scream and cry. And you pray that people walk by and don't judge you. And not only do they not judge me, every single one of these paras that I work with, whether they're my own personal to my class or not,
081will stop and lend a helping hand and ask if I'm okay for me and for the child's sake. And that means more to me than I can ever say. We're more than just employees and staff. We've become a family. We don't check out 9 to5. We go home. We laugh about our day. We cry about our day. We think about how we can upgrade our sticker charts tomorrow or what reinforcers we can bring in the next day. This job is more than just a job and I'm so grateful for every single one of them. I'm a little nervous. I'm obviously not tenured so I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve. I was afraid to speak today, but you know what I said to my parents? You've never been afraid to keep showing up for me.
082So I owe it to you and I just hope that you make the right decision. Thank you for your time. >> [cheering and applause] >> Wanda Vasquez. [applause] Good evening, superintendent. Good evening, board members. everyone. Um, every everything was said, everything was well said, much was said and everything basically that I wanted to say and you all listen carefully, but please listen with your heart. Like the other Paris said, "Yes, listen with your heart." We look at our flag every day. We say the pledge of allegiance because we believe in it. We believe in the values in the foundations of our fathers that created the constitution. We believe in it with our hearts. We're hardworking. I don't only speak for myself, but for the 164 other Paris, you had surgery. You said a heart surgery.
083I'm more than sure you have great insurance. God bless you. I'm glad you're sitting here with us and listening because we are all human and we all need that insurance because as humans, we get sick. Things do happen suddenly and things can change suddenly because if you listen with your hearts, you know, things overnight can switch and make a shift and with that sw shift will be that change that we will come back and we will be there consistently like we have been. those paras that have worked for years committed. My name is Wanda Vasquez. I moved to Lakewood in 2014. I worked at in the Head Start program in New York. I'm originally from New York. I worked as a teacher in New York for 19 years as an early child educator. I love
084my job. I came to Lakewood because there was a need. My mother needed me. It was a sacrifice. I didn't want to leave New York. But you know what? I'm here for a reason. And that reason was the children. The children that were waiting for me to work with. I served nine years in the Head Start program here on Princeton Street and I loved it. But and then I wanted to come to the district and I've been here for the past three years and each and every day when I show up I show up with a smile. I show up for them because I truly do love them. Because when you do what you love, it doesn't matter the 25 or $30,000 salary that we receive because we give much more than that. We give
085much more than that. We give everything and it doesn't matter. We are there. But before I end this, I think all of us believe in a higher power. I believe that we all believe in the Lord. And there is a proverb that I would like to share with you. And this proverb says on life and conduct, a good name is to be more desired than great wealth. Favor is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have a common bond. The Lord is the meek of them all. The prudent sees the evil and hides hides himself. But the naive go on and are punished for it. The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life. Thorns and smears are in the way of the perverse. He who
086guards himself will be far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old, he will not depart from it. He will not depart from it. We are there to guide them, to teach them, to nurture them, to love them, and we're there consistently, and we show that with so much dedication. Just remember that we are united and we will not be divided. Thank you. [applause] Siobhan Murray. >> Okay. Uh Rachel Jazinski. >> [screaming] >> Good evening board, Dr. Winters and everybody who came out tonight to support all of the 165 PAR professionals that have been cut from our district. I am here to tell you my name is Rachel Jazinski. I am a special education teacher at Spruce Elementary and I have been a special education teacher
087for the past 20 plus years. I am duly certified. I am highly qualified. I am intelligent. I am compassionate. I am loving. I am all these things but I am nothing without my par profofessionals. [applause] I stand here respectfully in solidarity with all of you. I not only see you, I feel you, I hear you, I bleed with you. We are Lakewood, we are proud. We are so proud that we come here every day sick, um, sad, happy together. We stand together and I'm here with you together to let you know that we are going to fight this till the end. I am nothing without the paraprofessional who's sitting over there, my beautiful Amy Kramer. I came back from medical leave on April 16th after having rotator cuff surgery to a new position to open
088up a classroom for our most delicate learners in preschool. And Amy came back a week later. And I can tell you that we only have four students in my classroom, but those four students need one-on ones, and we don't have it. It's just me and Amy every single day. We are educating them. We are loving them. We are creating safe environments together and when she is absent I am alone. Um source they're great. The the people come in the power professionals the subs they come in they help the best that they can but they can't change diapers. They're not supposed to touch the children. They get down and they do whatever they can do but they are not our 165 power professionals that come with compassion. They come with love. They come with commitment. And
089I can tell you that from teaching the youngest, the most delicate of the population, we need them. Our children, especially in preschool, we need to set the foundation for learning, for love, for commitment, for consistency, for structure. And without having our par professionals, we are going to have a very difficult time doing that. I've never been in the military, but I can tell you for the last 20 plus years, I have been on the front line, and it is not fun. I cannot stand here alone without the support of our power professionals. So, I am urging you with the compassion in your hearts, with the love in your souls, understanding our delicate, most impressionable children, our learners, please rethink cutting our power professionals. please come to the table and think to yourselves, you know, I
090I need to do something to make sure that this works for us to make sure that our most delicate of learners can feel safe every day coming to school and that they're happy and they're well cared for. I'm a single mother, so I understand cuts. I have three teenage children, two who are here with me tonight and who came with me the last 20 board meetings of the last 10 years. I understand cutting, but when it comes to our children, I don't understand it. I cannot understand it. And I'm pleading with you, please do something. Figure this out. Please figure out how we can keep our power professionals. Respectfully, I stand with you in solidarity. I bleed blue and white. Thank you, [applause] Tara Defalco. Hello, my name is Tara Defalco and I am one
091of the preschool instructional coach over at Spruce Street um as well as Oak and also the provider sites as well. Um, I wanted to come um before you today and I come for you to join us. Join us. Spend a day of what these powers do in the classroom because they are helping with scheduling, they're helping with reducing anxiety, they are pitching in in and out. So when we are seeing the values right now, what they're doing in the classroom, but we're also seeing when ESS or another outsource is coming in where they can't change a diaper and they're having someone else come in to take care of that child. Um, so with that, I'm like, please reconsider these PAR professionals and come to the table like Rachel just said, and come spend a day
092with us. Spend a day when we celebrate when when a child zippers a jacket. Come spend a day with us when they need help. opening up something. They are a crucial part to this role and having someone else come in that's not consistent is not the best fit for our children. So, I just hope that you would truly reconsider and come spend a day with us 8:30 to 3:00. Thank you, [applause] Shantel. And Shantel, I'm sorry I can't read your last name. Is Shantel still here? >> She was the last name on the list. >> Oh, >> do you want me to ask? Is there anyone else wants to speak? >> No. >> Can I go instead of her? >> Is there anyone else who I did not call up? It's the last name on
093the list. I just want to make sure we don't miss anybody. >> Okay. So, then I'm going to speak instead of her. Um, I was told I'm not going to go up there. I wanted to actually go up there as a parent of this um wonderful town and a a person that's a part of the community. Um we all unanimously voted to keep um the power professionals mantra if you heard what happened about 30 seconds after we um voted for it. It was overturned or or under advisement actually sorry changed the words under advisement by the state monitor. So, we can't do anything right now. It's all up to her or her boss or whatever. So, if you want to express who should listen with their heart, which I'm sure she did cuz she sat
094there very intently, um I'm pleading with you to your heart with this on your advisement. Right now, we have no teachers for next year. We have no um powers for next year. We have no school for next year. And it's in about 3 months that it starts. And people need jobs for next year. So I know that if I was in their position, which I'm trying to put myself in, I'd be going crazy that I don't have a job for next year. Especially if I have children, I need a support. And especially these children that are there, I know for a fact I have my own children who get powers. And I know what it means to change powers every year or even every day because if we get an outsourced, they don't care who
095they send as long as they get their job done. So, they're going to send somebody every day, somebody different. One day it's going to be Maggie, the next day it's going to be Matt, the next day it's going to be Mike or whoever. And the kid is not children in general are not going to change, especially the children that need cars. So, we might be saving 7 million, but we're killing every single kid in the in the district. So, I think we're making a big mistake. So, [applause] >> [applause] >> So I'm asking you to hear with your heart like everybody is saying and don't keep this on doors blind for another 7 months so that we could start the new year and we could actually have teachers and staff and people who we need
096to provide a TME that we were all voted to give and all board members let's please stand up to be with the power professionals. >> [applause] [applause] >> Okay, that concludes the public comment at this time. Next, we have good and welfare. Do we have anything for good and welfare? Okay. At this time, I think the board is going to exit to executive session. Is that true, Mr. Does the board want to go into executive session, too? >> Yes, we want to go executive session again. >> Okay. So, we're going to go into executive session. When the board comes back, they're going to be adjourning. So, the meeting's pretty much over. Uh the board won't be coming out and making any things at that time. So, I'm going to read the executive session resolution. That's
097all. >> Maybe we should take like a two-minute break so everyone gets out so >> What's that? >> Maybe we should take like a two-minute break to get everybody out. I know. >> I can still read the resolution. >> Okay, fine. >> Okay. At this time, I'm going to read the executive session resolution. Okay. Since we're going to get second session resolution for the second time, whereas the public law of 1975 chapter 231 known open open public meetings act provides that a public body must exclude from the public any meeting to discuss a matter described herein under the public body has first adopted a resolution. And whereas the board of education, the township of Lakewood has determined the following items must be discussed in closed session and the public must be excluded from said deliberations.
098And whereas the board of education township of Lakewood has determined that the subject matter in closed discussion falls within those subject matters described in subsection 7B of the open public meetings act. Now it therefore we resolved that the board of education of township of Lakewood the county of Ocean State of New Jersey that the board of education in close session may discuss one or more of the following subject matters. Number one confidential under federal or state law or rule of court. Number two, uh that would would impair the right to receive government funds. Number three, unwarranted invasion of public's privacy. Number seven, collective bargaining agreement. Number five, purchase, lease, or acquisition of real property or investment. Number six, any tech tactics or techniques utilizing protection of the safety of the property of the public >>
099the public. And number seven, any pendant, anticipated litigation or contract negotiations other than stated in number four. And number eight, involving employment, appointment, or termination of employment. Number nine, any deliberation occurring after a public hearing. Which subject matter constitutes a subject matter described in subsection 7B of the Open Public Meetings Act? Be it further resolved that the board of education of the township of Lakewood will disclose to the public the subject matter of said closed discussions as soon as the matters have been resolved and the determination can be made. Could I get a motion to go into executive session? Motion Mr. Stern Stern Mr. >> Mr. Stern motion Mr. Bender second >> second Mr. Stern. >> Okay, everybody. Everybody in favor? >> I um you guys session >> you guys were in executive session. You
100need to step outside, please. Yeah.