001231. Adequate notice of this evening was provided on January 7, 2025 by sending notification to the Ed Press, Trenton Times, postman at each district school, council clerk, stand for the national anthem. >> [singing] >> We twilight [singing] last and the the mercur of the Beautiful. [singing] Please remain standing for God bless America. God [singing] bless America that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with [singing] the light. From above, from the mountains to the praise to the an Beautiful. Mr. Norris, can we have some of your community solvers come up here? Come on down. Got the microphone. to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible and justice for Mr. Norris, get a recording of him singing because the student that
002sings it graduated. So, we need a new student in the middle. >> Yeah, he's never got [laughter] >> Mr. Carr >> here. Mrs. here. >> Molina >> here [clears throat] >> Jino Vice President Ramos >> here >> and Dr. >> here. Okay. At this time, Mr. Sha, the board secretary of report. >> Thank you, Dr. Siko. You've got two sets of minutes for approval. There is one correction to the [clears throat] November November 18th uh minutes. Um, just as KY was asked that I just got to make that change. So, >> okay. So, just a voice. >> Uh, you need a motion to second. >> A motion to accept the minutes. Christine, seconded by Ron. >> Thank you. All in favor? [clears throat] >> I extensions. >> See none. Motion carried >> at this time.
003Dr. McCartney, administrative report. >> Okay. Good evening, everyone. We're going to begin our uh superintendent report with a presentation from students. [clears throat] One of the things I will say as a a school administrator or actually just a an adult in general, you always want to say to yourself, bring me solutions, not problems only. And so that's one of the the amazing things about the group of students who are going to present tonight is they looked at issues or identified things they would like to improve upon and rather than just say I want this to be better, they made a plan. They they took action to, you know, prepare for that plan to be able to fund that plan and we're going to hear about that tonight. But I'd like to call out Mr. Norris
004and his community problem solvers for their presentation. [applause] >> All right. So, I have it on my computer. Just give me a >> Sure. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. McCarthy. Thank you to the board of education. Thanks for having us here tonight. Uh merry Christmas. Happy holidays to everybody. Thanks for squeezing us in here. Um as Dr. McCartney just said, for those listening at home or here in person, uh these are the community problem solvers at the middle school here. They do a project every year where they try to improve something in their community. They make a plan of action. They study areas of concern. Uh and then they themselves tackle that problem. Last year we came to present about revitalizing areas in the school to try to build more community and belonging with the
005students uh and also trying to make areas in the school more fun and engaging to the students outside of just academics. Um we got a blanket I guess bit of approval from you guys about trying to spruce up the courtyard right outside here in the cafeteria. It's just kind of a blanket in general things. Before I have the kids present and what they've been working on, I just wanted to give the board some updates on what we've been doing since then. Um, by the way, I should also say my partner, Mr. Picio, he led a great pep rally at school today and then went home with the fever. So, he wanted to be here today and is not here, but did a great job today. Um, so the kids have been focusing on two things
006since we last saw you guys last year, and that is revitalizing the courtyard outside, as I mentioned, and then also trying to come up with, uh, positive messages and girls to put inside the boys bathrooms in schools. Uh, a few years ago, uh, Girl Scouts Truth did a really great project at school here where they put up positive messages in the girls' room to try to inspire them during the day. And the boys room unfortunately does not do not have those. We think the boys some positivity and some culture um throughout their day. So, the kids have been working on that. Um some just quick updates. Since we last saw you um last spring, we had kids pulling weeds outside in the courtyard, rolling their sleeves up, and we actually had a few um really
007nice days where kids got to sit outside with some flowers that we put out there and um it was it was really nice. At the beginning of this year, we bought some new equipment to go in the courtyard in the spring. We bought a cornhole game. Um, we bought disc golf, um, and also a spike ball. I don't know if you guys are familiar with spike ball, but it's a good one. Um, for the kids to play. What we hope to do once the weather gets nice again is reward well behaved tables at lunch with an opportunity to go sit outside on nice days and eat their entire lunches have just recessed outside and they can play games while they're while they're eating. So, um, we hope to get that going. We also had a
008fundraiser, Turkey Truck 5K, uh, in November where we raised over $500, which was awesome. Uh, and I know that some of you participated in it, and we thank you guys for that. Um, and then lately, the kids have been working on a more set plan of action for things that they want to do in the courtyard uh, and in these boys bathrooms. Um, the courtyard, what we're presenting on tonight, is an idea for some murals to go outside. Um, I know myself, the kids, we're big on the murals really inspire people and and like I said, uh, create a sense of belonging and community with the kids. So, they're going to talk to you guys about that [clears throat] tonight. Um, as well as presenting some, uh, specified quotes and images that they might want
009to see in boys bathroom. So, um, at this time, I'm going to hand it over to the kids presenting on girls possibly going out in the courtyard. We're going to have Clementine Me too. Um, and then we have some boys uh presenting about the boys bathrooms. That's Anique Patel, Trey Kana, Dylan Davis, and Ryan Gity. And we also have Seni here just as support. She's also a member of our club. So, I'm going to turn it over to the kids. >> Thank you all so much. >> I was going to present for the garden. Hello, my name is YouTube and I'm representing the Canadian problem solvers in a presentation about murals that we want to put in the project. So last year we presented at the water venue about the eagle's nest which is basically
010the courtyard out there with like a protective table where we can so that some like children kids can like uh sit out there and eat during lunch period. And since it's like a little like boring, um, right now we want to add or like paint a few murals on the walls to spruce it up a bit and make it look a little bit bigger. So, um, usually when it comes to projects like these, uh, funds or money is a big problem, but luckily we have an amazing art book in our school that could possibly help us with painting outside. And really, although we would love to have no money, but that's obviously not possible. We could the only few things that we could say for would be paint brushes and maybe a >> and if
011things don't work out to our um we could always use our funds from our fundraisers like the turkey trap that we just did ago to maybe hire like a localist somewhere in Um, these are like areas that outside that we would probably want to paint off. And these like measurements are like the dimensions of where we would probably >> Can I just interject for a second? I'm sorry. If you can go back. Um, the kids did a pretty good job actually going outside there and measuring exactly the size of the murals that they'd want to do. Wall one, that position is right when you walk out here, if you make a right, it's right against that wall, right outside here. And then wall two in the picture there, when you walk out these doors here,
012that'd be like basically you're looking right at that. It's kind of on the side, um, straight ahead out the doors here. Sorry, Clementine, you're doing great. Okay, so these are mirror ideas that some students in community problem solvers made up with. This one, if you can't read it, it says you can grow your own pictures. And this is the weight above the weight that's rising. Well, right now, um, for lack of a better word, the is a little bit boring. What we have is like a few flowers out there on the picnic table. And we wanted to like be like like pretty and like decorated so that kids would enjoy going out there during their lunchtime and eating or just hanging around. [clears throat] So we want to watch the murals on here to enhance
013our learning by inspiring creativity and having pride for our school through our art. Thank you for listening. [applause] >> Okay. And then um so we also have a group of boys who you know they are the ones frequenting these boys bathrooms that came up with some specific quotes and designs of things that they would want to paint on the walls in the bathroom. Um and they're just going to run through what they've been working on with you guys. Make sure you're talking nice and loud guys. Okay. >> All right. Hello everybody. So we are part of the community problem solvers. So first we're going to introduce ourselves. My name is Sha. I'm Anique. >> I'm Dylan Davis. And I'm Ryan Gary. and we're part of the community problem solvers um proposing boys bathrooms. So what's
014our goal? Well, we noticed a big issue with the boys bathroom where we don't see nearly the amount of misuse in the boys bathroom. The boys seem to become more class vandalized bathroom. We think that adding positive quotes to the boys bathroom just like they did in the girls bathroom will impact our choices and what they think about our quotes. In our school there are six hallway bathrooms and one cafeteria bathroom which is including the gym bathroom. We have three ideas for our quotes on the next slide and I'm thinking about one hallway. The cafeteria bathroom will have two quotes of its own because it has more space and most >> the future belong to those who believe in beauty of their dreams that would go in the red and orange hallway. The greatest glory
015in life is not never falling but rising after you fall that go the blue and purple hallway. And you are the master of your fate. You are the captain of your soul that go the green and yellow hallway. So visual. Our favorite quote of these three is the greatest glory in life is not ever falling but rising after you fall. This image is a very rough outline of how it would looked like in the bathroom. >> So the other two we were thinking about and please keep in mind these are rough graphs. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and you are the master of your wonder bathroom say they would be saying be yourself everyone else is taken and do the right thing even this is how those
016people look and this is only >> Thank you for listening if you have any further questions we are all happy to answer And if you forget your question but later remember you can reach us by emailing either Shay Anique get in line auntie Meyers Mr. Kitchio or Mr. Thank you for your time. >> I just wanted to say one thing that the boys uh didn't add but they had mentioned to me that I was very impressed by the sixth grade the quotes they picked for specific reasons. The sixth grade hallways uh I think it was the quote about being like the master of your soul or something like that. Um it's almost like a welcoming kind of quote. The one about rising after you fall is for the seventh grade bathrooms because the seventh graders
017often kind of feel like the middle child here where you know they're maybe getting humbled a lot that year. And then the eighth grade one has is more directed at the future because they're on their way out. And um so I thought they did a good job putting a lot of thought into those quotes and where they wanted to place them. So >> yeah. [applause] Thank you so much. >> So you guys did a tremendous job. takes a lot of uh bravery to come up and present in front of a group of adults that you might not really know. Uh even more bravery to come up and start singing in front of a group you might not even [laughter] know. So I'm very impressed. I'll never forget that. Um I will say also the 5K
018was a great success. So awesome job for all the time and effort to put that in on a Saturday morning. My son did race. He was a a fourth grade. He was a fourth grader and he was keeping track of how many people were in front of him and he finishes. He's like, "Yeah, I finished third." Like, "No, you did. you got fourth. I says one of the teachers finished ahead of you. He's like, "He counts?" I'm like, "Yes, of course. In it to win it." >> That's right. >> Nor was in it to win it. Um, also, one of the things that you might want to keep in mind when you talk about the art club or hiring an artist, you might have parents out there who are are artists as well. So, you
019might even look for parent volunteers as another option for somebody who might help you in projects. Anyone on the board have any questions or anything? I just want to say this country is going to be in good shape with young people like [clears throat] you have in the problem solvers club and all the students at Milstone. Nice job. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh moving on. My next part of the uh report is a strategic planning update. We had uh our second overall strategic plan session uh a few weeks ago. we had in attendance approximately 30 maybe 31 maybe 29 it says on the report uh that was run by New Jersey school boards association uh the focus for the the session was you return to Milstone after being away for 5 years and
020there's a magazine uh called US education news and they wrote a article about schools that succeed and Milstone Township was on the cover of that magazine so what was the headline and then what were the initiatives that the article was about so the the 30 people were split up into six groups random ly and they had to come up with their their catchy titles for the uh articles as well as the initiatives that might be in the article. Uh I can run through real quick. I'm just going to tell you the titles of the article and then I'm going to summarize at the end. Uh we had Milstone back to basics. We had well-rounded students solving tomorrow's problems. It's appropriate for tonight with our our problem community problem solvers. A fresh start. Milson schools take
021the lead with hands-on learning and real world applications, embracing the future, future ready schools, innovation, integrity, and involvement. So those were our six different groups and the titles articles. And at the end, we kind of summarized where the different themes were within those initiatives. And we kind of ended up with five uh common themes. And those common themes were uh student success and achievement, social emotional wellness and mental health, financial planning, safety and security, and community communication and connection. So those are the five areas that our next session in January on January 13, 7 o'clock, feel free to join us. Community problem solvers, you're invited as well. uh where we're going to take those major themes and identify goals and objectives uh to build down further for us then to take forward to the administrator
022uh the admin team to develop the action plan to support those goals and objectives. So um it was a very successful evening. We had had a large turnout and all of you are invited to join us on January 13th to Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. Don't worry the reminders will be in your inbox uh shortly. So uh you'll see it from there. Uh anybody we had several board members there. Anybody want to add anything to that for those who are in attendance? >> Yeah, I would uh the strategic plan is very very very important. The last time it was done in 2013, it expired in 2018. We haven't had one since then. The strategic [clears throat] plan guides the district. It controls the spending. We need the input from the community. The schools belong to
023the community. The schools do not belong to the superintendent. They do not belong to the board. They belong to the community. We need your input. Dr. McCartney, I give him all the accolades that he deserves because he's doing the strategic plan, but we need input from the community residents. We have roughly 31 people there counting Dr. Teen from the Jersey school boards. And if everybody who we ask to bring a person brings that person that'll bring us up to 60 maybe 62. If everybody in this audience including students Dr. McCartney said students are allowed okay your input is valuable to school. You're in the school. So if you can make it please do. As Dr. McCartney said reminders will be sent out. It's January 13. It takes no more than two hours, but that plan
024will be guiding the district and it also will be guiding the school budget. So, please get involved. If you can make it, try your very best. January 13th. Uh we start at 7:00. The last one went to 9. People left around 9:20 because after the meeting was over, people stayed and talk. So, you're more than welcome to attend. Those of you in the audience, please come. And again, all the accolades to Dr. McCo. Yes, it's definitely a team effort in this area. So, uh the more voices the the better. And if you are unable to make it, we will post these uh documents onto our website uh in January as well when we return. So, if you can't make it or you want to prepare in advance, you will see the articles that I I
025was talking about, the headlines, the initiatives uh as well as some other documents that we've created over the course of of the process. Okay, the next item. This past week, we had our elementary school and our middle school concerts for band and chorus. Uh students did an outstanding job and we're going to close this meeting uh with one of their performances, a video of one of their performances, one of their songs. So, I'll save that till the end. Um if you were on here, don't feel bad. We'll put it uh we'll understand. And the last thing for me is uh to share is that it is the final board meeting for us in 2025. And uh I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Chico as we have [snorts] we'd like to recognize one of
026our board members at our last board meeting. >> Thank you Dr. McCart. You know, it's not easy member and everybody on this board deserves accolades. It's a volunteer position. And tonight we're coming to recognize and acknowledge wonderful person by the name of Vanessa. Thank you very much. She stepped up. >> [applause] >> She stepped up to the plate. She ran, was elected, and she did a great job. I want to read what's on the plaque. This plaque is presented to Vanessa in recognition of your service to the children, families, and staff of the Milstone Township School District and the Milstone Township community. We love you and appreciate you. Come on up. [applause] >> Thank you, Vanessa. Uh, as Dr. Seo mentioned, being a board member does not come with a big salary. It comes with
027zero salary. Uh but it does come with a lot of time, commitment, energy, and they're all up here, every single one of them, because they care about our school community and about our students and about uh each other, about everybody that uh is here for the same reason, to make Mos School District the best it can be. So, um thank you, Vanessa, for all your years of service. I only got to spend a year with you, but um I know that you've spent a lot of time and a lot of energy into everything here. So, thank you. >> Okay. for my uh action items. We have the enrollment report for approval. We also have the HIV report for November 2025. Just to highlight, we've had we had zero um incidents for the month of November.
028So, no no accusations and no founding. >> Okay. Why don't we have a vote on the middle school community problem solvers just to make it official? We prepare that everybody. Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the middle school community problem solvers what they want to do regarding murals for the middle school? Okay. We have Vanessa seconded by Ron voice or vote. >> Uh voice. >> All in favor. >> Congratulations young people. [applause] I have a motion to approve action items in the superintendent report. >> That would be 3B. >> 3B. >> Okay, we have James, seconded by Karina. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? >> Seeing none, motion carry. >> Great. At this time, public comments on agenda items only as per board bylaw 0167. Anybody
029from the audience? Public comments on agenda items only. Okay, seeing none, moving forward. We're going to go to human resources. Mrs. Ramos and Mrs. Wine. Mrs. Wine is not here. Mrs. Ramos. >> Yes. I would like to move uh human resources in its entirety. May we have a second? Christine, >> any discussion? This is a roll call. Mr. Carr, >> yes. >> Mr. Sigerella, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kinsey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Molina, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ree, >> yes. >> Vice President Ramos, >> yes. >> President, >> yes. >> Motion carry. >> Mrs. Ramos, back to you. Education. >> I would like to move education in the entire Do we have a second? We have Ron. Any discussion? >> Okay. Uh, Mr. Trace. >> Yes. >> I couldn't hear. I'm sorry. Yes. >> Miss
030Molina. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kinsey. >> Yes. Mr. Cigarella. >> Yes. >> Mr. Carr. >> Yes. >> Vice President Ramos. >> Yes. >> And President, >> yes. >> Motion carried. At >> this time, Mr. Signarella, policy. >> No updates from policy. Back to you. >> Okay. At this time, we have a video presentation from Upper Free Regional School District. And uh I think you're going to like what is going to be shared. and [music and singing] bless you Love [singing] to you. I'll be here. Thank you. I What you [music] bless? Bless [singing] the master of Christmas. [music] All the little children. [music] You are happy. The Upper Free Old Regional community wanted to wish Milstone community happy holidays and a happy new year. And I asked Mark, I said, "When you go to the
031concert, if you can video a song because song sends a powerful message and I think you appreciated that and and want to wish everybody here happy holidays." Okay, moving forward, community engagement. Mrs. Ree. >> Um, nothing right now. Just happy merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy new year to all. >> Okay. Finances with me. Uh, finance committee met. And the directive was [snorts] no stone unturned. Okay. We're going to try to keep taxes down. We can't keep raising taxes, taxes, taxes. Okay. Dr. McCartney and Mr. Pashida got a tough job to do. see how we can keep all our services without spending raising more taxes. So that's why it's very important that you come to the strategic plan. The budget represents you. Okay? You have control. If you're not there, you don't have control. Your
032input is very valuable. We will be having many more uh finance committee meetings and we'll keep the community up to date. But again, very important people at home January 13th strategic planning committee. So at this time I'd like to move all of uh finance. May I have a second? Christine, any discussion? >> Uh Mrs. Ree? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bolina? >> Yes. Mrs. Kinsey, >> yes. >> Mr. Sigella, >> yes. >> Mr. Carr, >> yes. >> Vice President Ramos. >> Yes. >> And President, >> yes. >> At this time, operations, Mrs. Molina, >> uh, we had a meeting last week. We did not have any action items that I'm aware of. Thank you for the opportunity to turn. >> You're most welcome. >> Okay. Nothing to move. So, we can move on. Public comments on
033any item, anything you would like to talk about. Anybody from the audience? Public comments. I thought Mr. Norris doesn't make a comment about the young man getting up and singing the song for us. Okay, >> we'll save that for tomorrow. >> Okay. [laughter] >> You know, it's all in fun. Thank you so much. >> Uh at this time, we're going to go into executive session. Um, no action will be taken. So before we do that, we have a little surprise. As Dr. McCartney said, our choir, >> our choir's a little smaller. [music] Everywhere Ding dong ding dong Christmas. Before [applause] I ask for a motion to go into executive session, privilege of the board. Any board member want to say anything. And this is the last meeting of 2025. Privilege of the board. Okay. Have
034a motion to go into executive session. We have Christine, seconded by James. Paul, thanks for coming. You were wonderful. Community problem solvers, keep up the great work. Happy holidays. [clears throat]