001I'd like to call this meeting to order. Mr. Delg Greco, would you lead us in the flag salute? One nation under God, liberty and justice for all. >> Sunshine Law statement. All requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act have been met for this meeting of the board of education of the Bureau of Ordell. Notice of this meeting was filed with a record and all persons requesting such notice. Mr. Darien, would you read the mission statement? >> The Ordell public school district is dedicated to the ongoing pursuit of educational excellence through comprehensive innovative curriculum and instruction. The district is committed to providing opportunities for social, emotional, and academic discovery to foster curiosity, courage, and character. Our goal is to prepare our students to become lifelong learners who are self-directed, resilient, productive, responsible citizens. >> Thank you.
002Roll call. >> On the role, Mr. Delgreo >> here. >> Mrs. Downey >> here. >> Mrs. Genchi >> here. >> Mrs. Moran >> here. >> Mrs. Norian not there. Mr. Nutland is not here. Mrs. Walker will definitely not be here. Mr. Dariion >> here. >> Mrs. Nichols >> here. Open to the public. >> Not seeing any. We'll move to the superintendent. Oh, no. I just have this one thing. The OEA sent us a thank you note for our back to school ice cream treat. So, happy to see that. Uh, superintendent's report. >> Good evening. Things have been buzzing around OPS the past two weeks as evidenced by numerous items on tonight's agenda. For example, under administrative items, approval of the school nursing plan is there, which is document that Dr. Roth, nurse Gina, and our
003school doctor complete. It identifies how we are meeting state regula regulations, how many students have medical needs, results of past screenings, etc. You will also notice the cardiac respiratory plan, which identifies who in the building is certified in CPR and AED usage. Each building is required to have five individuals certified. We currently have nine staff with full Red Cross certification. We also periodically do a short course CPR training with all instructional aids which does not result in certification. On the personnel agenda, you will see two additional hires. This fills the final open tag positions. While not fully staffed in our gifted education department, we have begun to administer Kogat screenings to our third graders to keep to the timelines we have used in the past. With regards to district goals, the link parent portal was
004opened on Friday. We have a drop-in parent academy scheduled next week to assist parents with accessing their child's information prior to October parent conferences. Fall assessment data will be pushed out to the parent accounts. Parents will also soon have access to the NJSLAa results both in the link parent portal and within Cambian's parent portal. Test scores were received in district. However, they are secured until we are given the green light from the state to share additional information. The NJSLA does have a completely different scoring system than the previous assessment with different cutoff scores at each grade level, which is going to make both teacher and parent education important. That being said, my early interaction with the central reporting portal has been positive as I find it easier to see areas of strength and areas of
005improvement for each grade level and testing area. Miss Cummings and I have also started to make notes of talking points for staff. While testing is summitative and tells us how we did, it is also part of a continuous improvement cycle and informs how we can be better, which is always our goal. It's working today. This is one of the many things that were spoken about over the past two days of CUSAC training which I attended where we reviewed the different items that need to be submitted as part of the evidence collection process. We were encouraged to see QAC not just as a hurdle to overcome but also as an opportunity to reflect on where we are as a district, what we have accomplished since our last review three years ago and where we want to
006continue to grow. Growth is what we are all about for our students, our staff and for ourselves as a district. And that concludes my report. Thank you, Mr. Ayelli. >> Yes, I too attended the QAC training for the fiscal side. So, I get the luck of uh preparing for QAC and the audit simultaneously. Our audit is to begin uh midocctober this year. uh because we are being being part of the QAC uh cohort, they want to make sure that our audit's done so the state could look at it because it's a one-year look back and they start with the uh 63026 uh audit. Um then that concludes my report. That's the preparation going on. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh we'll move to minutes. We have review of September 9th. Any questions or comments, please
007email Mr. Aelli. We have approval of August 19th. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion. I'll second. >> Second by Mr. Delg Greco. Any questions? >> Call the question. >> On the roll. Mr. Delg Greco. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Downey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Genie. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moran. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Norian. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nutland is not here. Mr. Mr. Darian. >> Yes. [clears throat] Mrs. Nichols. >> Yes. Administrative items. Mr. Daren, would you take that? >> Uh, yes. I'd like to introduce administrative items A1 through A4. >> I'll second. >> Second by Mrs. Genchi. Any questions? >> Call the question. >> On the role. Mr. Delg Greco. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Downey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gi? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moran? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Norian?
008>> Yes. Mr. Nutland, not here. Mr. Dariion, >> yes. >> Mrs. Nichols, >> yes. Buildings and grounds. Mr. Delg Greco. >> Um, yeah, I'd like to bring up B1 use of school facilities. I'm actually glad to see that uh intramural oops is coming back. That's wonderful to keep that tradition going. And then looks like we have a PTA usage outside. >> I'll second. Second by Miss Moran. Any questions? >> I just wanted to add one thing that the Eastern Data Comm for our new cameras, they started today. Uh was remiss in the installation of the new cameras that were part of the budget. So that work started today. Uh they're doing outside work uh in the afternoon and then inside work when the students aren't here. But it kicked off today. Um, speaking of work,
009real quick, do do you want to vote on this and then keep going? All right. Um, the AC work, I guess that's still on track for November. >> Yes. Yeah. They didn't get the unit for this past weekend. Um, so it's just now for November. >> Okay. >> Any other questions for B&G? Call the question >> on the role. Mr. Delgreco. >> Yes. Mrs. Downey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Genchi. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moran. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Norian. >> Yes. >> Mrs. D. Mr. Dariion. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Nichols. >> Yes. Curriculum. Mrs. Norian. >> Uh, yes. Uh, I have no report. So, I would just like to present item C1, approval of field trips. >> I'll second. >> Second by Mrs. Gi. Any questions? Call the question >> on the role. Mr. Mr.
010Delg Greco. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Downey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Genie. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moran. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Norian. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dariion. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Nichols. >> Yes. Finance. Mr. Dariion. >> Yes. Uh, before I introduce these items, I have um we've been trying to schedule a finance and technology subcommittee meeting, but we're waiting on our experience uh on our health insurance. We have the the data for health but not for prescription drugs. And until we get the prescription drugs, you know, we can't get a decent rate from a healthc care provider. It's kind of like a car insurance company not having your driving record. You want to see that before they commit. So, uh we're we uh will hopefully have a subcommittee meeting as soon as we get those
011that data. Um, and with that, I'd like to introduce items D1 through D7. >> I'll second. >> Second by Mr. Delg Greco. Any questions? >> I have a question, Mr. Pelli. >> Yes. >> Um, is it me or have we not been approving the financial and treasurer's reports for the last few months? >> No, just we didn't do it July. We didn't do July because we needed to roll over the system, close out everything from June. So, >> when did we do June? >> We did June and July. >> Did we? >> Mhm. Yes. >> Okay. So, when are we going to do July and August? Because you've been setting >> July and August are right here. >> Where am I staring at them? >> Yes. Transfer the board secretary. I don't think >> No,
012that should have been >> I don't think we've done June, July, or August. >> No, we have done them all. This is not on there. >> I I couldn't I can't find >> No, we did June and July. And July and August were supposed to be here because this is the certification, the transfer. I don't know where that is. Uh because I did send those reports. >> You sent them to us, >> right? >> Can you just make sure that we did June somewhere also? >> We definitely did June. >> I get it's in the it's in the minutes. Um if if it's possible to walk on. >> That's right. We could do it next time. Any other questions? >> We could just be out of the the July could be out of the 60
013days. So we have to do it by when? >> Within 60 days of the end of the month. [clears throat] >> Okay. So we Okay, hold on. Look at something. [snorts] I have the June I have the July minutes. I don't see them either. So, do we want to do them all now? So, since we're Unless I'm staring at them, are they in there? I see the treasur's report for August. >> That's Yeah, but we have to approve it. >> Yeah. >> Which one are you looking at? >> D5 today is the monthly budgetary line. We have to do a separate thing for the treasurer's report. I always have been. I don't know. That's really just for your budget line items that there. So, so we're we're running into a time issue on July. Is
014that it? >> Well, June also if we haven't done it. >> So, do we walk them on? >> If you could. >> Do you want to um walk them on? >> I don't have the dates. >> Hold on. It would just be June and July. Hold on. Let me see what it's supposed to look like. Here it is. It says, okay, the um the wording is approval of the financial reports of the board secretary and treasurer. The last ones were May 31st. You would want to do it for June 30th and July. You don't want to do August. So, >> we can do August. >> Yeah. Because I sent you August and August is done. >> So, you want to walk on um >> I'd like to amend my motion. >> Yeah. >> To include
015um I'm going to call this uh D8, which would be titled uh Ordell Public Schools Treasurer's Report. And this would be for uh June, July and August >> and board secretary report. >> Okay. Um treasurers and board secret board secretaries report because you had actually sent us for approval. You sent us an email in >> Yeah. September saying it was for approval on September 23rd for the July one July treasures reports. >> What is that one? Do we do it? >> Let's see. All right, let's see. So D7. >> No, that's the budgetary line. That's not the It's a different one. That's different. That's the monthly budgetary line. Insert. >> That's what we're doing tonight for D5. Yeah, that's our D5 tonight. >> Okay. So, you amended your um motion. >> I did. >> Mr.
016Delg Garer, do you want to second that? >> Yes, I'll second. >> Any questions? Call the question. >> On the role, Mr. Delgreco? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Downey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Genchi? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moran? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Norian? >> Yes. Mr. Dariion. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Nichols. >> Yes. Delegate report. Mrs. Norian. >> Uh, there is no report. >> Is there a meeting coming up at all or no? >> It's November. >> It's in November. >> Yeah, I reported that I think last month. >> Uh, personnel not here. Mr. Darian, you want to take the personnel report? >> Uh, yes. Uh, tonight, as in every other night, we have a board meeting. We have a personnel report dated at September 23rd, 2026. I'd like to introduce items uh on the agenda
017as it uh F1. >> I'll second it. >> Second by Mrs. Norian. Any questions? >> I have a question. So, as far as tag goes, we moved one of our teachers into a full-time position and then we were supposed to be hiring like a half timer with the budget >> and she is on the agenda as A2. >> So we're taking her in as 08 as opposed to.5. >> Yeah, we just said part-time and I'd look based on the budget what we could do and 8 is 28 hours which worked well with what we were trying to accomplish. >> And is that the amount we budgeted? >> It is within the within the total salaries. Yes. So it's over this line. Yes. So this salary is higher than what we said in the budget. >>
018But in total salaries we're good. >> Yes. Because >> and we need a point8. >> The way our master schedule is right now if we are going to provide academic enrichment for all grades. It's very difficult to create a schedule when fourth grade has win period first period and first grade has win period eighth period. So it was difficult to try to put a schedule together. So the 28 hours knowing that where we are bringing some other staff in there was money in the budget looked like a good idea. >> What was the amount that was put in for this position in the budget? >> No. >> Do you remember? I wasn't at that finance meeting. Do any of you remember? >> If you give me a second, I think I was at that meeting.
019>> Yeah. I was feeling generous, but I don't remember what the amount was. second. >> So, little backstory on on what we're talking about here for members of the audience um or anyone listening. Um this year during the the budgeting process, you know, we looked at the the TAG program and we were having turnover and we thought that we could make some changes financially and add some money to the program and bring in another additional person who would work part-time in addition to our full-time person. And uh we did appropriate additional funds for that. And that's basically what we're discussing tonight. Uh, no one can recall the exact amount. Um, but we're being told that when you add up the full-time and the part-time, it's pretty much the same as what we were paying in
020um what we anticipated paying. So, uh that's the backstory. >> Correct. We budgeted um $88,275 for the full-time and $48,270 for the part-time. >> 48,270. Yes. Um, the individual also though has more experience than we budgeted the person in. [snorts] >> Any questions? Call the question >> on the roll. Mr. Delg Greco. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Downey. Mrs. Genchi. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moran. >> Yes. Mrs. Norian. >> Yes. >> Mr. Darian. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Nichols. >> Yes. Policy. Mr. Nutland is not here. Mrs. Downey, you want to take that? >> Sure. I think we need to schedule a meeting, but I'd like to introduce G1. >> Second by Mr. Delg Greco. Any questions? >> Call the question. >> Honor roll. Mr. Delg Greco. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Downey. >> Mrs. Genie. >> Yes.
021>> Mrs. Moran. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Norian. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dariion. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Nichols. >> Yes. Public relations. Miss Moran. >> Um, Miss Bosios provided the raw data from the technology survey. So, we need to look at that and schedule a meeting for public relations. >> Special ed. Mrs. Downey. >> Next Wednesday. Is anyone available for meetings? Because you two are on two committees together. Oh, never mind. Not next Wednesday. >> I can do next Wednesday. It is our parent academy and I would like to be up here to assist with link it. So, if we can schedule around that, I would appreciate it. >> What time is the academy? >> Uh 7 o'lock, I think. It's either 7 or 7:30 and I don't need to be up here the whole time.
022I do want to make sure that as this is a district goal that things are going well. >> All right. So, we'll email as a committees and we'll figure it out. Um, open to the public, old or new business? [clears throat] >> I have some old business. >> Go ahead. >> Or new business. It's old and it's new. Uh it's old because it's ongoing since last year. I had said last year our rate increase of 29 roughly percent is unsustainable and it turns out it is unsustainable. So this year um there's a board that sets rates you know it's shared by eight individuals for are from the New Jersey Education Association and the uh Anti-Defamation League. No, no, no. It's the um ACL CIO, right? I can't remember. But uh any at any rate, they
023can't agree on a rate increase for this year. Uh the last number they were kicking around was 34.4%. So, you know, 29 wasn't high enough last year. They're just going to make it worse this year. But the problem is in 2024, the uh New Jersey Employees Health Benefits Program or SEBP lost $126 million in 2024. And then in 2025, they lost $333 million. So, um even though that we have these huge rate increases, we're still losing money. So the commission right now uh in July they got together and they were supposed to agree on a percent increase for this year and they were they postponed the decision August 19th they voted in a deadlock September 3rd they voted in a deadlock. They have another meeting coming up on the 28th. Now, if they can't agree
024to this 34% increase or any increase, um it looks like we're not going to have insurance next year, um they've been basically saying that the program will be defunct and uh starting January of next year, they won't be offering health insurance. And I guess you don't uh in terms of the employees don't have to worry about deductibles or co-pays because you won't have coverage. So um you know we are trying to be as proactive as we can to switch out of the state plan. Looks like everyone is doing the same thing. That's probably one of the reasons that the increases are so high. Um but in order to do so you have to have your experience and you know we've requested our experience or in other words how much we we are paying out versus
025what we pay in premiums and uh that goes into our effective insurance rates and um the state has been slow in getting us our our experience. We finally got the the medical portion. We're still waiting on the prescription drugs and until we get that, we can't have a serious conversation with any of our adviserss in terms of switching to another insurance company. So, not only is this looking pretty grim, um, you know, we're trying to all go for the same lifeboat at the same time. So, um, you know, we will do everything we in our power to expedite this as quickly as possible. you know, I've already started the, you know, the pestering campaign and um on my side and as soon as we, you know, we get word um that, you know, from our
026insurance advisors that uh we can move forward, I'm sure we'll take action. Mr. there in your research and I didn't have an opportunity to research. Let's say the 28th they don't come to an agreement and our experience score we're not on the right side of the experience score. Do you know what happens? >> Yeah. They just basically say starting January of next year they're not going to offer insurance if they can't agree to um a rate. Now that's what they're saying now. I'm sure they may come out with uh another decision after the 28th. you know, let's say for instance, they'll say, "Well, we we're almost in agreement." Uh, so we'll postpone that until another two weeks or something. But right now, they're advising all the districts to get ready to jump ship because, uh,
027we're about to sink the u this, not UPS, I mean, or public school, but the the state health insurance plan. >> Um, with the burrow, are they in the are they in the same situation? What are they doing? >> They have the exact same problem. they went into a death spiral. Uh the state health benefits program for local governments, as far as I know, is um not being continued. So, I I don't really know what's going on personally on the municipality side. Um they keep the population separate from the school, but it's it's is it's basically a mirrored program. And um I know that they uh I think last year could be two years ago um they scaled back a lot of the the coverages. So you know the employees of the towns and municipalities
028had to contribute a lot more. Um but I don't think that that solved anything in in the long run. I think it just uh you know so I I don't know what they're doing. But because they're separate, there's no efficiencies of talking to them, see who they're talking to and who they're working with since they're in a similar situation. >> Uh yeah, I mean there's a possibility. There's, you know, there's a lot of things. Uh last time we we spoke with our adviserss, you know, there's self- insurance, there's um you know, group plans. So for instance, uh in the West Coast, you have Kaiser Permanente, right? It's a privatized healthcare network and they offer their own insurance programs and you as long as you stay within the Kaiser program, you've got a very competitive uh
029system, but the problem is if you need a specialty provider and the person they have in Kaiser is inadequate, then you're kind of stuck. So, we have something similar here in New Jersey. you know, we can go with like Hackinack uh University Medical Center or you know, some other you know, healthc care provider and and and go with uh their health insurance. But the the issue that we're dealing with mostly is um by contractual language uh that's the agreement between uh the district district and the teachers union is that we have to offer the same level insurance regardless of who we provide um the insurance company with. So, um it's very difficult to to match what we currently have in those types of programs. It's not impossible, but it's not easy. So, um you know,
030our best bet is just to to switch from the statebacked plan to a private plan that mirrors the coverage. and and you know, we used to be on a private plan years ago and um you know, it made a lot of sense to go on to the state plan, but you know, like all things, you know, they change as they're the funding switches around and um you know, right now everyone's jumping ship. So on the from the state plan, >> thank you for uh doing that research. I just wanted to share one thing. This school employee health benefit plan is separate from all the other state plans. So the there's a state health benefit plan that covers the all the state employees other than school employees for that plan. So this one is right now
031the rate issue with a vote is just with the school employee health benefit plan. So they make it a little more confusing because they just throw an E into it. But that acronym is that that E is a big deal because we're school employees are in a completely separate plan than municipal employees, you know, fire, uh, police. So I just wanted to share that >> I can't see the state shutting down the health plan. That's they're not going to leave thousands of state employees without insurance January 1st. something will happen before then. I >> you know look last year we had a 29% increase. I don't even know. Let's just run this scenario. Um we're going to stay and absorb 34% of more than a third increase. I mean it it varies because you know
032we we throw out these numbers like it's it's a set number. It's really not. It's based on the the the demographics of our people, the plan that they have, whether it's the old grandfathered plan or the new plan. You know, each plan costs differently. So, the the net the bottom increase to us, the district of Ordell, may be slightly less or maybe slightly more. It really all depends on on our particular characteristics. But let's just say, for instance, we we go with this 34%. Everyone who has a decent um factor, health health care um experience factor is is going to leave. And the only people who are going to stay, you know, are the ones who, you know, for whatever reason are just blowing through money left and right and we're going to be stuck
033with that. and and and this the state may decide, okay, we'll keep it going, but we're only going to throw in $400 million and the rest of it is going to get stuck on the districts that are participating. >> For clarification, I wasn't saying that we should go with the state, but I'm just saying I don't see the state >> being like, oh, hello, thousands of insurance. So, I think they're going to come through with something. I'm not saying we should stay with it. >> Yes. And and you're you're absolutely right. I didn't mean to say that, but what I what I am saying is if they keep it going, it's not something we want to be associated with. It's going to be super bad. >> Any other old or new business? >> I just
034want to say um you know, I was here with Miss Norian uh for both of the back to school nights. Uh it was very well attended event. Miss Holly did a wonderful job with the students and helpers. and Miss Boseios is here with the lower grades and that was a wonderful night as well. Also, just as a parent, you know, just being thankful for the building being ready, right? Seems like everything is running smoothly as it can other than some of the um I would say buzzing issues in the back, but from what I understand from my daughter, it's pretty well under control at this point. But just wanted to say, you know, thank you. I noticed the fence was fixed in the back um by challenger that was great. Um, basketball court looks good.
035>> Have we seen any bees today? >> Are we still seeing them? >> We have identified an additional nest that will be eradicated tomorrow at 4:00. And the one we took down is already being rebuilt. It's actually fascinating if you go outside. So, that one will also be taken down again. >> Where's the one the not the one that's being rebuilt, the other one that we found? >> It's in the parking lot. >> The So, that explains how it I guess >> yes, it's the Church Street parking lot. So, kind of like where the dumpster is, >> which is why we didn't see it on the playground, >> but easy to come into the playground from there. Mrs. Paulie and our custodial crew have actually were outside today because what was really fascinating about the
036bees is that we have multiple grades at every recess outside same playground. Not one kindergarten or second grader was stung and so first grade is the first ones out there. So I think they were startled. >> Exactly. So today we went outside and startled them first. But as I said, Mr. Ill has arranged for the uh >> Can we see video footage of Miss Holly startling? >> I have some photos actually. Yes. And there's a stick involved. >> Don't we have footage of Mr. Hagopian getting bit out there? >> No, he swallowed the He swallowed it. >> That's right. Outside. [laughter] >> So, are these bees, hornets, wasps? >> Yellow jackets, says my nature expert. So it's not like honey bees that we have to move them somewhere to preserve them. >> No. And what's
037really been interesting and it I did read that because I I was very concerned why we hadn't seen the large nest that we took down on Church Street. But now we took that down last week. And if you walk outside and see what has already developed in the past week, clearly we are going to have to do daily walks for a while. Um, I have spoken not just to the Riverdale superintendent, but also to some other Burn County superintendent. They're seeing the same thing. I don't know what in the environment created the perfect storm of bees and wasps, but it seems to be here. >> Any other older new business any need for a close session? A second. >> Second by Mr. Delco. All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. Hi.