Board of Education Meeting - Public Session - 6/26/25

001Board member Dearra Brown here. Board member Elizabeth Callahan. Board President Nia Wilson here. Board member Regina Eert here. Board member Bill Gford. Board member Deal Kapatia here. Board member Will Meyer here. Board member Shaina Saka Gable here. All right, we have a call. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Oh man, it's going to be a fun night. I know. We're like, wait, what? Um, please take notice that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner. That written notice was sent from the office of the secretary of the board at 2:30 p.m. on January 3rd, 2025. Thus, the notice was sent via email to Maplewood and South Orange Township clerks and the editors of the news record, Star Ledger, Tap into Soma, and the Village Green. And now we will have

002a presentation on the Seth Bdon stepping program. Good luck here tonight. Meen took time out of her busy schedule uh to share uh the work that her school has been doing. And to be very honest with you, I didn't think somebody else owned those ears because I have the same one. That's amazing. This is Grace. Grace is here to support me. Grace is a third grader at Seth Bdon. Go Bulldogs, right, Grace? Okay. I'm incredibly proud to introduce Seth Bdon's fifth consecutive residency in African-American stepping. This by far our biggest residency yet. In addition to our usual 20 days of workshops and PD days which were again co-funded by New Jersey Council on the Arts and by Young audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania, Seth Bdon added extra rehearsal days with our beloved resident

003stepping artist Maxine Lyall which were funded by Seth Bdon PTA, the Achieve Foundation and the South Orange Mapwood School District. Thank you. Shannon and I would also like to take this moment to thank Dr. Allison Poe whose support for this residency has been exceptional. The end products were two world premiere per performances of Maxine's original and we hope Broadwaybound theater piece step show the musical in junior review version featuring our whole fourth grade and self- selecting fifth graders. At the second show, Seth Bdon received the tremendous honor of a Governor's Award in Arts Education from Governor Phil Murphy, presented in person by the executive director of Arts Ed New Jersey. This award honors Seth Bdon's achievements over the course of half a decade in teaching our student body about African-American stepping and its rich cultural

004history. I would also like to note that Seth Bdon recently received a second governor's award this past weekend for our students efforts in volunteerism centered around our composting adventures um our composting at lunchtime. We are so proud of our community. I'm delighted now to introduce the short film about this year's residency created by cinematography professor and Seth Bdon alumni parent Anthony Artist. Please enjoy this fantastic reflection on Seth Bdon's preparations for and performances of Step Show the Musical Junior Review. Thank you. [Applause] Make a decal the musical is a junior adaptation, if you will, of a larger project that has been my life's work. Um, it's a musical that incorporates step as the primary form of movement. [Applause] It's a relatively new part of our culture around here, but it feels like it's just become

005part of who we are. It's part of the fabric of Seth Bdon at this point that somewhere in the third, fourth, and fifth grade, we do stepping. We wanted something that was more culturally competent. We wanted something that brought some diversity. We wanted something um that was different and and engaging for the children. And so, you know, with the tremendous help of the PTA and and uh Dr. Poe, um this program came to be. I like how stepping it like it helps me express myself and I can perform to to help other people enjoy it. Five, six, seven, eight. They are just so like joyful to be part of it and to do it. And you know, I think also just to see like a variety of students up on the stage just makes it,

006you know, that stepping's not just one type of way. It's multiple ways and that anybody can do it and can grow from it. But you can turn your head to them and say, "My name is Avery." Okay, sure. Go ahead. My name is Avery. So, at the beginning of stepping, I was really interested in it cuz in past years of going to school, I had seen other kids do it and I was really excited to learn. I would say in third grade when I first heard about stepping, I was like, "What is this? I don't really know what this is. Um, but once I started doing it, I remember there was so much joy in me. It's more than just just dancing. It's kind of like It's kind of like power. It makes me feel

007like you're powerful cuz like when we like make beats together and like synchronize or in unison, it like sounds really good and I enjoy it a lot. I think it's going to be very fun and I'm excited for more people to see our steps and I think that um M Miss Maxine is very proud of us going into it. Miss Maxine is really kind and she like helps all of us a lot with step. Like if we mess up, she just like keeps helping us. She makes us brave and confident to keep going. Miss Maxine is my step teacher. She is very awesome, amazing. Absolutely. 10 out of 10. A minute. Give him a minute. With a breakdown that goes. All right. Do it again. Do it again. We begin with a breakdown that goes

008with a So, I'm going to try now. We begin with a breakdown that goes right again. One more time. We begin with a breakdown that goes will a lot of them the ones that were even shy in the classroom and you see them on stage performing and that that confidence is carried into the classroom is carried into even the ones that didn't think that they would do well at the beginning or who struggled at the beginning and by the end oh my god they have really owned that step and they feel good about it they enjoy it. I'm most proud of how far we've come in like stepping at the beginning of the year. We We weren't We were like just learning the steps and now we're like basically experts at the steps. Wow. We

009can be professionals. Five, six, seven, eight. Other cultures need to learn about other cultures as well. There can't not be a single cultured school or a single cultured community. And I think the more you learn about others, the more you understand others. And with that understanding comes tolerance. They wanted to express their feelings through body movements. Very good. Tell me more. There are nine major Africanamean fraternities and sororities and they're called the divine nine. students have been so inspiring to watch as they've taken on this work because it's a tall order to ask students this age to step sing and have lines all at the same time. So to watch these young people rise to the occasion has just moved my heart truly. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] That was amazing. Thank you. It's so inspiring

010to see that every year. Yeah, you're welcome. Um, okay, great. So, next we I'm going to motion to go to exec session. Uh, so I'd like to make a motion to enter exec session at 6:44 p.m. to discuss attorney client matters, personnel, and hip reporting. The length of the executive session is estimated to be anywhere from 30 to sorry, my phone's going off. No. um 30 to 75 minutes and uh after which the public meeting of the board shall reconvene. May I have a second? Thank you. Board member Eert. All in favor? Great. Let's go. Stand. Okay. Hi everyone. We are now back in regular session. Good evening. Thanks everyone for joining tonight. Um it looks like we don't have any student public speaks. Our first VP was just checking. Um we are being mindful

011of our amount of public speaks tonight. There's a lot over 20 and um just as a as a heads up because we are over 20. We will um have public speaks be two minutes not three minutes tonight um just to be mindful of time per our bylaws. And we have some presentations coming up first. So, I'm going to hand it over to our superintendent. Bing. Oh, perfect timing. Dr. Gilbert can't run away. Dr. Gilbert, Carrie's right here. Uh, I want to welcome up Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Carrie WBO. uh going to go over some data with everyone. Appreciate them taking the time. [Music] Good evening everyone. I'm Dr. Kevin Gilbert and I am joined here by Dr. Carrie Wable and we're going to briefly bring before you all the HIV self assessment as well as

012our SSDs uh report on period one. Uh and so next slide. All right. No. What am I doing? So, while they're fig figuring out the technology piece of this, so as a reminder, each year we have to do our HIB presentation to you twice. Once is to give you uh the the grading that we did on our self assessment piece. That's what this portion is. And it was submitted for final uh grading uh this spring. And so, we'll come back to you once those final grades come out to go over our HIVs. Then we also like to go through and kind of show you, you know, where how we've met our goals and things of that nature. And then our SSDs report is typically surrounding around the reports of uh harassment, intimidation, bullying, vandalism, those

013kind of things. More of the safety reports that we do, our annual report. Uh and typically we do that in two periods. Period one covers everything from uh I believe September to December. And then period 2 covers everything from January to uh August. And so with that being said, I'm going to get out of the way and turn it over to uh Dr. Waver. Thank you. Okay. Hold on. All right. I'm just going to say next slide. There it is. Uh, next slide. One more. I did all of that already. You can go to the next slide. Yeah. Okay. So, the self. So, this always is confusing because we're going to this is basically the same presentation you saw already in October. We just do it again. So these are all of the criteria that

014we self assess on in October. There are 26 um subcategories. Next slide. And so basically we assess in in September of 2024. In October we submit and then we work on our goals from 24 to 25. And then by May June we they bring back the grades and they say yes we agree with you and so that's what these are that the state has agreed with our self assessment. Next slide. Uh and next slide. So for each indicator the school can say whether if it does not meet it gets a zero partially meets one meets all the requirements is two and exceeds requirements three. What we've been working on the last few years is getting from two to three in as many categories as we can. And really it's not to get the points but

015to continue to provide best practices for anti-bullying in our schools. Next slide. So these are the self- assessment grades that we submitted. Uh just a caveat on the October uh I had superimposed Marshall and and CHS opposite. So this is just showing you that that's what happened. But these are all of our um grades. And if you go to the next slide, you can see that we've had a drastic improvement in our scores over the last several years. Um and that's really a um attributed to all the work that our schools are doing, our anti-bullying specialists are doing. Um the school climate teams are doing so much, our administrators and our teachers. Um so we're really proud of that work. Um the highest you can go is 78. So it gets harder and harder to

016increase that overall number over time. Um, so we'll see that go up more slowly next year than uh than in years past. Um, next slide. Okay. So, and next slide. So, we had four goals this year. Um, the first one, sorry Keith, you can just go through all of them. So the first one was really protecting some learning opportunity time for anti-bullying and school climate measures. So we introduced school districtwide um the HIB New Jersey Bar Foundation anti-bullying curriculum um and that went districtwide this year and so every student got received lessons on the same topics for the entire district of course grade level appropriate. Um the middle school students also received additional lessons um about interrupting bullying. Um we're adding that to the elementary and the high school over the next year. Um and

017specific time was being set aside for middle school lessons. They've always had advisory, but uh we introduced the Wayfinder curriculum um fully in six through eight this year. And then we piloted some anti-ell phone use in the middle schools and that's ongoing but we did do the pilot. Next slide. Um the other the next goal was really about introducing social emotional learning um more fully to our teachers. And social emotional learning really helps anti-bullying because you're teaching not only self-awareness and how you see yourself and how you regulate your own emotions, but also how you interact with others which can decrease bullying. Um, and so we provided HIV training specifically for teachers a little differently this year because we identified areas um and students who are at risk for bullying in our school in particular.

018um grades 3 to five we did or pre-K to 5 and 6 to8 we did restorative justice uh professional learning um we did in 68 we did that with students and teachers it was an intergenerational model that we used which is really exciting um and our lead teachers and counselors received some new support on our resources for wayfinder we also provided professional learning over last summer for parent collaboration with the HIV and an anti-bullying proc investigation process. Next slide. And you can go through all of them. Oh, sorry. Ongoing. Um, and teachers will be getting more supports uh for K5 next year incl. Um, the next goal was around climate teams. So, and really supporting our families. So, we continued to provide parent learning sessions around bullying um and positive relationships. We created communication. So,

019there were several letters created for the week of respect. So, after every lesson, a letter should have gotten home about the lesson your child uh children received. Um we provided some parent learning session around dig digital citizenship in our anti-bullying night. Um and the book study around the anxious generation definitely was part of that learning for parents. Um as we see the rise in cell phones also increases the rise in cyber bullying. Next slide. Uh and then we did more training for anti-bullying specialists. They have several train full day trainings each year. So we provided training around supporting students with disabilities during the investigation process um vulnerable vulnerable populations. We did calibration. What we want to see is that um an investigation in for example uh any of our elementary schools is conducted in the

020same way. Um that's really important. So we did calibration and professional learning around family collaboration. Next slide. So we don't actually set our goals until September, but these are some of the things that we're thinking about. So more resources for social emotional learning in K5 and the high school. Uh more professional learning around our one school, one response. So a district-wide response to bullying. So if someone's being bullied, what does that student say? And then if someone is uh bullying someone and they receive that message, they should learn what to do also. So that's what we're working on now. um additional support for families on digital citizenship. We are seeing an increase in concerns in our younger students, fifth grade, uh with the cell phones and and some uh concerning cell phone behavior. So, we

021want to really address that starting at the elementary level. Um school-based targeted lessons on vulnerable populations, we want to expand that and expand our support for restorative justice uh right now in prek through 8 next year. Next slide. And social emotional supports for teachers and students. So um some support from our lead teachers in SEAL and K5 curriculum resources and professional development. Next slide. Okay, that was um HIB. Do I we can keep going with SSDS unless you want to pause for questions. Oh, we're keeping going. Okay. So, the SSDS is a system in the state database where you have to report removals and certain uh disciplinary infractions um and disciplinary in incidents. So, this is only going to cover December uh sorry September through December all of the items. Then next slide. So these

022are all of the incidents that we would have to um submit into the state. So everything from violence, vandalism, and substance abuse to uh thank goodness we didn't have anything like this, but um kidnapping. So there's lots of things on this list. Next slide. Okay. And next slide. So this is our incidences. is we do expect more incidences at the high school across the state that exists. Um and that's our incidences for period 1 from September to December. Next slide. So total incidences are on the dark gray column per school, but you can see it also broken down per category for each school. the HIV alleged are not in those uh totals because they are alleged and they were unfounded. Next slide. Just a few graphs. So this is total incidences by type. Um violence

023and HIV confirmed being our two largest categories. Um and then uh other incidences and substances and vandalism less. Uh, I do want to remind everyone that vandalism is only inputed in here if we have the offender. If we do not have the offender, it is still reported um to central office. Of course, if it's biased, it's reported to the police, but only if we have uh identified the person that did it does it go in this system. Okay, next slide. Um, this is the total by gradeband. Um, and next slide. And this is what the difference is in types over the grade band. CHS on the left, middle school in the middle, and elementary on the right. And, you know, you would expect that the elementary would not have substance abuse and that that would

024possibly be there for uh for the middle school andor high school. Um, of course, our goal is to get all of these down over time always. Um, things that we're going to watch in period 2, there was a slight increase in removals due to violence at the middle school and high school, but still significantly down over the last few years. Um, an increase in founded HIVs at the high school, uh, slightly a decrease in substance abuse, and 36% of all of our HIVs were founded. um possible area uh areas of of success. Now, I say possible because this is only period one, so we want to see what the full year looks like, but looks like there was a decrease in confirmed HIVs. Um decrease in incidents with weapons. And just a reminder that cell

025phones account for a large number of alleged and confirmed HIVs. Um so, additional support would be beneficial. That's what we're looking for. And as I mentioned, especially uh as we're seeing it in elementary school. Next slide. So our just areas of success and how we're supporting this. Um restorative justice uh professional learning provides stronger community building in the classrooms and in the schools. We have additional social emotional learning opportunities for our students. uh 6 through8 really took part in a lot of wayf finder lessons. Um our K through 12 used the New Jersey bar curriculum um and professional learning was provided in the area of data analysis for our anti-bullying specialists. I do want to point out that we integrated uh collaborative proactive solutions this year which is a um support system for students who

026are having some struggles in school. We're we're looking uh we implemented it and we're looking at more support and professional learning in that. Um and it really does help when students are having trouble either self-regulating or not able to um have pro-social behavior. So that's been really effective uh just in the very early stages of supporting kids. Um next slide. So this is our continued planning. So we're going to continue to support digital literacy, expand our restorative justice professional learning, increase social emotional learning curriculum at the high school, and provide resources for social emotional learning in K5. The curriculum department is supporting uh additional uh a reconfiguration slightly of some kindergarten experiences. So, increased uh play-based learning and hands-on opportunities. Uh that should help with self-regulation, decision-making, and social skills. And we're looking at freshman

027academy increase in students understanding of supports, social emotional learning, community building, and lessons in school expectations. All of these items on this page are we are hoping we will see a difference in our SSDs numbers because they help our students not only understand their expectations but also really support that pro-social behavior. Next slide. Okay, I think that's it. Well, before you all go to questions, just a couple of things. I just want to say that from my arrival here in 20 in in the spring of 22, one of the things the board was concerned with was a couple of things. One, our reporting mechanisms, making sure that our reporting was coming in to give us an accurate picture. Number two, our HIV situation. Making sure that we were monitoring and putting things in pro in

028process to help us achieve higher grading when it came to our HIVs. I will say that with the uh inflection of Dr. wayable into the the mix of helping us kind of stay on course with a lot of this stuff. You can see some of the results that we we're seeing. You know, we're not where we want to be, but we are definitely way better than off than we used to be. And that's all we can ever count for. And so, we're going to continue to move the needle. We're going to continue to put in the inputs that's necessary and we're going to continue to build this community and our schools uh into the uh utopian of welcoming become belonging and spaces that I know our families you the board and our community desire for

029all of their students. Now with that we'll stand for questions. It's a little mic drop there. Okay. Thank you so much. That was great. Um, well, I mean, topic isn't always great, but you know what I mean. You guys did a great job. Um, questions. Oh, Liz, go on ahead. Thanks. Thanks. Um, one always want to start just by thanking you. Um, it was really nice to see the trends over time. Um, as you said, there's definitely a noted um, difference in the data that we are seeing over time and that does speak to the efforts um, not just of your team, but at the school level. Um, I wanted to ask two questions. So the first is do is there data available or can you talk us through the impact of what you've seen

030with the pilot program um at the middle school level with cell phones um given that that does account for a significant number of the alleged and confirmed HIVs that we see. So, one of the things that we're looking to do in now that the year is over is in September really gather some focus groups to understand that um at this point what we're doing over the summer is really looking at our numbers for HIVs over the full year because this information is only till December. So, I don't think we have that information yet. But over the summer, what I normally do is an analysis of all our HIV data and I look at how many were invest how many were from cell phones, how many were for different groups and and what our target um

031really uh our target populations were. So I'll have more information probably at the end of August um to do that. But we are and then in September we want to really look at how did the kids feel because everyone I ever hear is like they hate the idea and then the kids love it a few days later when they realize that the cell phone is is so much. Um so that's what we'll we'll plan on doing in September. Yeah. No, I think that makes sense. I you know and I agree. I've I've experienced that same um thought process um of kids kind of processing what it means to have your phone and then give it up and and how much better you you can feel. Um and I think that as we're moving towards the

032full implementation of that K through8 cell phone ban and then thinking through how we kind of pilot or use it within the freshman academy as well. Um, I think it'll be important to figure out like what does the date like what data do we have to kind of drive that decision-m and look at that over time so that we are capturing that data not just as it relates to the HIVs but really about the impact of that specific move. Um, and then I guess like kind of connected to that, could you speak a little bit more about how you're planning to integrate the digital literacy efforts to reinforce that shift as we implement that policy a little bit more diligently next school year? Yeah. So, our digital literacy, a lot of that curriculum goes through

033our media specialists. Um, and so we use a a variety of sources, whether it's Common Sense um Common Sense Media has wonderful lessons. I know that our uh head librarian has uh put through a lot of that in our in our media uh specialist program in in K5. What we've also had to do and now we're looking at next year adding curriculum into our week of respect um is done some targeted lessons after the fact, right? And so now we want to turn this a little bit more proactively. Um, so looking at specifically, we noticed this year, last year we noticed fifth grade and this year we noticed fourth grade where there's some definitely some hiccups in kids like getting a supercomputer in their hand and then um knowing how to use that, right? And

034so, um, we're looking at doing some more proactive lessons in September and October on digital literacy schoolwide or probably four through eight. Um, in order to really hammer home those those lessons um, and make it more specific to what we're seeing, right? A lot of the lessons generically are um I love them, but they're they're um a little nicer, not nicer, softer. And we want really want to be explicit with kids and be like this is what's happening in a very developmentally appropriate way, but saying like this is this is great that you can use it this way and this is what you can't do, right? So really explicitly instead of walking around the topic, I think is really important. So, that's some of the the work that we're going to be doing um and

035hoping to add to that New Jersey bar curriculum um specifically around cyber bullying for for those specific grades. Um and and we have um for HIB, not necessarily for um HI, our system actually targets which HIVs are using cell phones and which aren't. So, that is one data point that we can use. But I also think our New Jersey sky data um just over in overall culture can we can look at and identify if things are getting better between students also. So that's probably a slower shift but definitely something we can look at. Thank you so much. Thanks. Okay, great. Looks like no one else has any questions. So, you're done. Thank you. Thank you. And yeah, I don't know. Do we? I don't know. It's weird. Um, Mr. Bing, you're gonna Yep. Okay, great.

036He's up. Thank you. Um we quickly want to do a quick introduction. Uh these goals were developed uh in collaboration with the board and myself and senior leadership team. uh first go around. Um we're going to now look at these goals and make some decisions of which goals we want to move forward, which goals have been completed uh and make some uh decisions about the development of new 2526 goals moving forward. And again, we'll do that collaboratively. [Music] Keith, are you doing that or am I doing that? I'm doing that. All right, gotcha. Um, we're now down to four. So, I'm going to go right to wins. uh for those of folks who uh aren't part of the committee that we where really all the I would say 99% of the work that the board

037and senior leadership team does is through a committee system. Um though we move through these public meetings quite quickly, the majority of the work is done via committee. Uh one of the things we did try to start this year were really uh trying to end every meeting with committee wins so we can discuss some of the highlights that uh we accomplished throughout the year. Now for the office of assistant superintendent for their wins uh and some of those were noted as uh in the HIP data. Um student attendance improve improved family communication updated codes and tiered responses for chronic absenteeism. Freshman academy development that'll be launched as uh Carrie noted uh in 2526 a triple eye kindergarten placement uh increased placement at first or second closest school from 67% that was in 2023 24 to

03871% in 2425 implemented a weight list process um SCES tier balance uh five out of our six elementary schools and both middle schools maintained a plus or minus 5% % SCES tier variance. Reduced long-term travel for low SCES students decreased from 6% to 2% in 2425 and also improved proximity for our black elementary students increased less than one mile travel from 34% to 52% and decreased over three mile travel from 10% uh to 4%. Office of Curriculum and Instruction wins. Uh enhanced assessment and data tools. Uh this was our first year of our data platform link. Um which really enabled us to take a new look uh at our achievement of our students which really will be a priority moving into next school year. You'll see that reflected in our 2526 goals. we will have

039a focus on student achievement. Uh so uh enhanced assessment and data tools successfully rolled out linkit for administration uh providing robust data analytics. Digital learning platforms like Il for grades 3 through 12 and I ready for grades K to2 offer personalized and adaptive learning and also the nagleary general abilities test helps identify giftedness uh which is all part of our multi-tered system of support. uh advancing mathematics education uh successfully supported year two implementation of Eureka math K to 5 with ongoing professional development initiated a comprehensive revamp for grades 6 through 8 math for 25 26 imple implementation we will have a new math series at our middle school level for 25 and 26 foundational literacy successfully rolled out the new K to2 phonics program magnetic reading districtwide with ongoing professional training and uh demonstrated student

040growth in a mathematics achieved significant improvements in math proficiency, 60 62% for our black students, up from 43% last year, 63% for Hispanic students, 55% for 9th grade special ed students, up from 33% last year, and 50% overall for grades 6 through 8. Uh business office wins uh unanimously passed the budget 90. Big thanks to our community. Uh transparent communication engaged all stakeholder and groups in a variety of ways. Uh budget advisory committee, town halls, etc. Successful contract settlements for SAO and ASCA. New requisition model, increased visibility and control over expenditures. Clean audit opinion received for the 2324 fiscal year. And the yield arbitrage restriction liability successfully navigated and handled that issue. Um we are moving as uh I believe Mr. Moody has mentioned also to uh upgrade to the 21st century and upgrading our

041purchase electronic system uh for next year. I know Mr. Moody has started that work. Um we'll be moving in that direction in the 2526 school year. Facilities and grounds repairs and maintenance completed extensive repairs across multiple schools. Uh, maintenance shop organization clean and organized for safety. Plaster wall repair repaired at Seth Bdon. S's gym lights rebuilt all lights. CHS picnic tables, power wash repainted and developed a whole lunch uh setting out there on on Ritzer. Concrete work completed concrete replacement and repair throughout the district via grant and co capital project. Completing capital project this summer. Uh, South Orange Middle School is our last school to get the HVAC and air uh, upgrade. That work has already started. They've been starting that work on weekends in regards to wiring and now they are moving the heavy

042equipment in as we speak. Office of Communication Wins, a new district website launched an overhauled website to be completed uh, summer 2025. Class intercom activation activated in three schools. District Flickr launched a media repository. Google search utility achieved 18,800 website clicks. Uh strategic communication goals strengthen internal communication elevated district narrative enhanced digital presence. Town halls facilitated town halls around budget and book study. Additionally, uh starting in 2526, we'll be moving towards an internship system utilizing local university students and local high school students to help our communications department in regards to uh website development in resides to uh newsworthy events and things of that nature. Human resources department wins. Staff wellness education conducted engaging sessions around staff well uh staff wellness upbeat staff survey insights identified opportunities for growth and engagement. Retirement recognition recognized dedicated service.

043Monontlair State University partnership which is a big one secured tuition discounts and in district classes for staff staffing. Another big one no reduction in forces for the 2526 school year. uh and personnel audit engaged in right sizing activity around certifications, placements and positions and office of student services wins process and procedure training. The child study teams received comprehensive training on uh correct processes and procedures utilizing actually NJOE personnel uh for the first time. Also CPAC collaboration since September CPAC has been an active participant in every special education committee meeting. Uh speech referral form a new speech referral form was created to ensure the educational impact is clear. Least restrictive environment meaning the multi-tered system of support. This is done handinhand with our curriculum and instruction uh department. uh graduation notice and summary ensured that parents

044uh or adult students received written notice of graduation with all required components and written summary of academic achievement and functional performance and addition of a new child study team for 25 and 26 school year and I can say uh almost the they're at about a 99% completion rate for uh SOPs for 504 uh and also just general processes for the special services department. I know a lot of work has been spent around developing standard operating procedures. And finally, technology department wins. Uh construction infrastructure wired 50 plus classrooms and non-instructional spaces. New firewall successfully deployed districtwide. K2 single sign on deployed QR codes for Chromebooks. This was a big ask from our K to2 teachers at the start of the year which enabled us uh to digitally assess our students in a lot quicker fashion. Uh

045for I Ready uh attendance swipe systems retoled and relaunched at uh Columbia High School. an online fee collection set up for the school year which will dramatically uh help uh us uh recouping funds and also taking funds as simple as prom payments, athletics, things of that nature electronically. Uh we've had some significant progress. We also uh have a lot of work to do moving forward. Um I want to give a big thanks to the board and also our senior leadership team in addition to our building level folks, our teachers especially and our administrators uh who uh have helped me go through this first year transition but also have been uh amazing with our students and to me that's what it all comes down to. Uh as noted, a lot of work still to do uh

046in regards to finalizing our website, getting our standard operating procedures done, developing regs and exploring cost savings, fully implemented fully implementing uh multi-tered system of support, and uh increasing our focus on student achievement. Uh so a lot more to go as we move forward. Questions? I'm at six minutes right now. Not too shabby. One more slide, Keith. This is I think there's one more on there. There we go. So, we do want to give a special adios and goodbye. Ariva Aria Dery uh to our director of facilities uh Tom Jigalo Jigalo. Um I can tell you he has been a wonderful asset to our team. Um and I am gonna speak for our board. uh just a wonderful person who interact with on a regular basis and has done wonders in his time in this

047district. Uh and we wish him all the success in the world. He will be missed. Um we will stay in contact with him, but we did want to do a shout out. And that was a handpicked picture from Tom, so please do not blame the superintendent around the photo. Uh big thanks to Tom for everything he's done. Uh just quick update, summer uh is upon us. We have exactly three buildings open districtwide. Um down from our usual five to six. Uh that's a big thanks to Tom and also Stanley. We're trying to be a lot more energy efficient. Uh we looked at our programming uh very strategically this year. We have three buildings that are currently or will be open. Tuscin Clinton and Columbia High School. Uh we've got various summer programs being run whether

048it it stems from Columbia High School prep classes to multilingual summer programs to our summer jubilee to summer music enrichment to our PS and MS summer experiences also to our summer bridge programs and camp invention. One shout out program that I I do want to mention uh is our new aviation program that is launching uh this summer. So I did uh want to mention uh it is with uh Castanzo Air Flight School. Um it's pretty exciting. They we we uh one of our well two of our Essex County school districts ran the program a couple years ago. Uh we got in contact with Constanzo uh because we had a couple kids interested in aviation throughout the year and uh we're emailing myself and Miss Bodner around resources. So we reached out to Castanzo and they

049will be running a immersive 3-day 12-hour program designed for our high school students fostering an interactive introduction to aviation. We are scheduling that from June 30th to July 2nd between 8:30 and 1 p.m. Uh program will be held at Columbia High School. Uh cost for this is $325 with financial assistance readily available for eligible students. So we're excited about that STEMbased program. Uh we did want to note a letter went out to our public around uh our smartphone policy. I think uh Liz mentioned it earlier. uh K to9 we will be enforcing our cell phone policy in regards to banning smartphones. So when students come in if they have a smartphone that smartphone needs to be locked away and then they will be able to pick up that cell phone uh at the end of

050the day. uh district budget approval. Again, uh we want to point out the budget was all about strategic allocation of resources uh really designed to bolster our academic programming, enhance essential student services, and ensure the continued maintenance of our facilities. Uh we will remain steadfast in our fiscal responsibility to taxpayers. We are extending our budget advisory council for another year uh and adding quarterly meetings during the school year to make sure uh we are adhering to our goals in our 2526 budget and also to get some feedback and input. Uh currently uh we are completing a transfer process. We had over around 50 plus vacancies due to retirement resignation and also special service needs. Uh our past practices have been around hiring for vacancies without looking internally first. This practice would have cost the district

051over $5 million this year, which we did not have. And that would have resulted in major riffing similar to what we're seeing across Essex County and across the state, uh, including some of our neighbors such as, uh, West Orange and Montlair. Obviously, this is not a great or optimal situation. Uh we have been pretty transparent around the fact that this will not get better unless the state changes their funding formula uh and unless the federal government also uh changes uh the way they fund schools. Uh we will continue to advocate down in Trenton and also federally to make sure that uh South Orange Matewood School District voices are heard on a regular basis. We'll also continue to collaborate with our municipalities around advocacy. Um, next board meeting in July, we'll be presenting our results of

052our partnership with Satan Hall University and their marketing uh program. We asked their students to really do some work around a central question for us. That central question was what are the current perceptions of South Orange Middle School district likes, dislikes, suggestions for improvements and how can the district improve things for families and caregivers and students? That was the key question we presented to them. They did a lot of leg work around market research, surveying, phone call interviews. We will present the results of that data in July. Big thanks to uh Mr. Draper who really head that headed that initiative and all that work. So, we'll be hearing more about that at our July meeting. Uh quick shout out in regards to uh our graduation. Columbia High School had a seamless and wonderful graduation. I

053want to thank all of our board members. I want to really do a quick shout out uh to Tracy Morrison, assistant principal over at Columbia High School for all the work she did around Columbia High School graduation and also uh Frank Sanchez and his teachers and his team uh for just a well-run event. Uh to say it was joyful. Uh I think that's the word I want to use. Uh I had a smile on my face throughout. So, uh, big thanks for our students, their parents, but especially Columbia High School. Do want to do some shoutouts. Columbia High School, uh, Governor STEM Scholars, Year-long Research and Development Council, uh, of New Jersey program sponsored by Bristol, Mir Squib, Johnson and Johnson, Innovative Medicine, Merc, Novartis, and PSG. Uh, we had one of our students accepted

054into that program. Only 111 kids accepted uh, statewide uh, who completed that program. So, big shout out to her. Uh, six Columbia students got a head start on college by successfully completing dual enrollment courses through Kane University's Kain Scholars Academy. Uh, they've been in that program since their freshman year. Uh, I was lucky enough to be at that graduation at Kane University. It was wonderful to see our students uh, walk across that stage uh, with a large amount of college credits uh, as they move on uh, to the collegiate and university level. Also want to shout out and Keith I think you have a quick slide on that. Uh some of the universities and colleges our students will be attending. NJIT, Georgetown, NYU, John's Hopkins, University of Oregon, Rowan, Georgetown, UMass Amherst. Yay. I'm an

055alumni. uh Penn State, Michigan, Yukon, Satan Hall, University of Maryland, University of South Carolina, Indiana, Spelman, Loya, Princeton, Howard, Brown, Northeastern, University of Colorado, Yale, College of New Jersey, Trinity College, and Dublin. Um, McGill and Canada, and many, many, many more that we couldn't list. Uh, big shout out uh to Lyanna and Keith for the slideshow behind us. Also want to shout out those students that are uh going into the service. US Navy, West Point, US Air Force, and US Army as well. Thank you for your dedication uh to our country. Uh for our rising ninth graders, congratulations completing middle school and embarking on the exciting journal journey to high school. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you to your new academic home through the newly revamped and revised freshman academy. Uh do want to shout out

056our middle schools uh who in September will be competing in the New Jersey School Boards Association Steam Tank finals uh in Atlantic City. So big shout out to SAMS and MMS and of course um our our um teachers who supported that program and Achieve Foundation who also funded that. Also to our rising sixth graders, congratulations on your transition to middle school. Uh this next chapter promises new experiences, growth, and countless opportunities. Uh we just had one of many examples of the great things going on at our elementary levels, our STEP program being recognized on a state and national level. So big thanks uh to Seth Bdon uh and Miss Davenport for her presentation earlier tonight. That is all I have President. Thank you, Superintendent Bing. Um Mr. Moody, did you have an update for us

057from the Sure I do. I do. um continue on some of the themes that Superintendent Bing touched on. Um you know, I'm going to give a bit of a a short form construction update uh to folks, but um I also just want to talk about um the wins. The business office wins that, uh Superintendent Bing talked about were really uh broadspectctrum districtwide and board of education wins. I mean, we're called upon to facilitate the uh access of funding, the sources of funding and directing them towards their intended use and to be um you know, good fiscal stewards along that process and then here adhere to the goals set forth by the board. So, it's definitely a collaborative process and um uh I'm happy that we we were able to actually get through the end of

058the year and get through the budget process uh and with an eye towards the future. Um, as Superintendent Bing mentioned, it was a collaborative process. Uh, it uh was definitely engaged in a tremendous amount of increased transparent communication. Um, the he touched on the requisition module that uh we're putting in place, but you know, enough can't be said about that. We're shifting towards having the visibility and the accountability that it takes to manage a budget over the course of the year. And that's we're rolling that out now. um that's going to enhance our ability tremendously to uh to distribute the responsibility for budget management and and to make it even more collaborative process over the course of the year. So, um that said, the brief construction update um Seth Bdon School final payments were approved.

059Uh we're waiting for one of our vendors, APS, to uh repair the stairs before payment is released. Tuskcen School final payments were approved because work is done there. Uh Marshall School final punch list 99% completed. Uh we closed out closeout documents 98% completed. A sprinkler flow switch will be wired and programmed into the alarm panel next week. The work has been coordinated with buildings and grounds and uh that's to be completed and training will be scheduled. Um our work continues over the summer. Uh the change order for the roof work is scheduled for July. Montro school uh final punch list 99% completed. Close out documents completed uh 90% 99%. In terms of the high school, our PA system, it it's underway as well as the uh emergency responder system. The media center as everyone knows

060completed, furniture delivered, installed, bookshelves uh delivered and installed, IT connections underway. Our commons area uh is in use by the school. Roof coatings are completed. Renovation of existence guidance area is also completed. Uh fire alarm and awing is underway pending change order around the areas to be abated for asbestous. Door hardware replacement is is continuing and it's also underway. The D-wing new doors are added. Um and that was an additional scope of work. We're also installation installing uh permanent cores which is 99% I mean 90% completed at Maplewood Middle School. Final payment is approved and payment has been released. That work is done as the superintendent mentioned. Uh work is beginning on the South Orange Middle School electrical service. Um and uh you know final payment for the electrical service has been completed but we're

061working on uh air conditioning over the summer. So, one of the final things that we're doing as these uh construction projects are coming to fruition also is I'm working with the auditors and our accounting staff here to look at the final balances uh to see if that which we actually achieved in the way of resources through bond referendum uh can be brought back into the district. um that is either return to fund balance, return to debt service, or return to capital or maintenance reserve. And that's the prudent thing to do is for us to really do the accounting entries and the the final overhaul and overview to make certain that we're appropriately using all the funds that we've uh we've brought in for the district. And also uh given our continuing needs to be hyperfocused

062on fund balance over the course of this next year, uh we we we would be remiss if we did not do that process. So we are actively involved in in close out and uh bringing back whatever balances we can to their um original funding source. Um that's that's about it from my my end. Are there any questions? Ecker. Thank you, Mr. Moody. Um, not necessarily a question per se, um, but just more of a reminder. I was going to wait until Bill did his FFT readout, but since you talked a lot about construction, um, and of course we are sad to see Tom leave. Um, the girls locker room at CHS. The last update I believe we got was that forecasting that it would be completed by the end of December um with the with

063it being ready for use January of 2026 just given you know I know that interviews are starting um you know if there's any change in timeline if you could just keep all of us apprised of that. Oh, sure. Absolutely. And you know, when our building building and grounds director Tom said that he was resigning, I told him to forget about it, but he he he he still is going to proceed, but we're we're losing a great person there. But in fact, uh that work will continue. We have Epic. We have our construction teams. That work will continue, and we're actively uh uh looking for someone to uh to come in and become our new buildings and grounds directors. at work. We'll begin uh the interview work around that uh in the coming week or so,

064but we'll keep keep you updated and ab breast. Thank you. Okay, great. Thank you so much. Feel like I'm far away. All right, so I will do the president update and then we will have public speaks. So, the board had a very busy June and I'm just going to give some highlights. This month, the board attended the annual Lavender Graduation for our LGBTQIA+ students. Thank you again to former BOE member Shannon Cuddle for their unwavering work to support and recognize our LGBTQ plus students. Cuddle and former Maplewood Mayor Township Committee member Dean Daffis did a great job co-hosting this very important event. In addition, as Superintendent Bing just did, we want to recognize and congratulate all our star students who had their moving up ceremonies and graduated from CHS. Thank you to First VP Will

065Meer and second VP Regina Eckert for representing our board so well during their speeches at SAMS and MMS. Um, tonight the board is pleased to pass a proclamation in honor of Pride Month that reaffirms our unwavering commitment to our LGBTQ plus students, staff, and community. The proclamation recognizes the historical significance of Pride Month, celebrates the contributions of LGBTQ plus individuals in our schools, and underscores the board and district's responsibility to maintain safe, inclusive, equitable, and affirming learning environments. Although advancements have been made with respect to equitable treatment of LGBTQ plus people, they still face discrimination, especially the transgender community, thus making it essential for school districts and communities to stand up and show support for all who are affected. On Monday, June 16, we had our first of two board of school estimate Bose meetings

066to discuss the request for funds to complete key items from our long range facility plan that require urgent attention. upgrades to Ritzerfield and the auditoriums at our secondary schools. The board will vote on the resolation on the resolution requesting funds at the July 24th meeting after which a second Bose meeting will take place in August to approve the funding in order to avoid disruption to students. Work on Ritzerfield can only take place over the summer. So, we are working within a tight timeline to make sure we are shovel ready by summer 2026. Although not mandatory, the district has offered a courtesy review by Maplewood Township Committee and a community-based committee for the Ritzer project, which will further extend the timeline. Therefore, making swift making swift action this summer is essential. We thank our town leaders

067for their support of these projects, which will continue to bring our facilities to the 21st century. Lastly, in June, the board traditionally gives a board goals update. I gave an update back in March, as we had made progress on most by then. Additional items to add to that progress include um our quarterly retreats. The board is currently working on its self-evaluation which per NGSBA is a best practice to analyze training needs and goals which will be reviewed at our next retreat on July 23rd here in the district meeting and maintaining our NJSBA board certification. We're still waiting for our policy checkup evaluation to be completed by NJSBA. I confirmed it is in process and once completed we will have our certification. Now I'll read the board president's statement. The schoolboard meeting is a business meeting

068in public and not a meeting with the public. Oftentimes it may appear to members of our audience that the board of education takes action with very little comment and in many cases a unanimous vote. Before a matter is placed on the agenda at a public meeting, it has thoroughly been reviewed by the administration, the superintendent of schools, and the board of education, after which it is placed on the agenda for board discussion and action at a public meeting. How we doing? Okay. So, hearing a delegation. Thank you for coming in person and joining us online this evening. The South Orange Maplewood Board of Education values public involvement and respects you've taken time to address the board at tonight's meeting. As this is the board's business meeting, a friendly reminder to please be respectful as we

069take into consideration your valuable input which will inform future deliberations and work by the board of education and its committees. The board does have time limits by policy and it will be enforcing those to enable as many people to speak as possible this evening. Um so as we uh pursuant to our policy 0167 public participation in board meetings when it appears the first public comment period may exceed an hour the time limit for statements may be limited to two minutes down from the standard three and because we have more than 20 people signed up this evening in line excuse me in person and online we will use the two minute limits. Um I will also um cater to any items that are on our our agenda for tonight. Um, and so that's how I'll be

070calling names first. And so that first person will be Donna Friedrich. Is she here? Thank you. And um sorry to interrupt. Just want to say please uh remember to say your full name in town when you come up. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Donna Friedrich. I'm a Maplewood resident, SOMD graduate, and parent to three. I have been an educator in our school district for the last 26 years, most recently in the role of academic intervention at Seth Bdon. I am proud of the intervention work that's been provided over the years that has helped reach struggling readers. Some needed targeted instruction to overcome obstacles. Others needed a different type of instruction in order to reach their potential. We are a talented group of teachers, many reading specialists committed to our craft. In the final

071days of this school year, the academic intervention department was essentially eliminated at our elementary schools. In the coming school year, struggling students across our school district will no longer be supported by interventionists. This is not best practice and I have questions. What consideration was given when making this decision? How will classroom teachers reach the needs of students who fall far outside realistic differentiation of grade level content? How will NJTSS teams build action plans that address severe academic needs with any level of success without interventionists? Relationships with students and families are at the forefront of supporting struggling learners. At the end of each year, as a part of my summit of evaluation, my relationships are evaluated. Communicating with families, showing professionalism to name a few. I believe in all of these responsibilities deeply. My question to

072you is around what responsibility administration has to a relationship with the staff of this school district. Shouldn't the same professionalism and communication be a reciprocal expectation? The last two weeks of this school year were filled with misinformation, speculation, and rumors. While the fate of the intervention department was being decided in conversations that never even considered including any of us as educators, we understand what it means to be flexible. We are flexible daily. This is about the professional courtesy we deserve as dedicated educators, many of whom have spent our entire careers in this school district. Thank you so much. One last question. Okay. Sure. I don't have the answers to a lot of these questions that I posed tonight, but for the sake of our students, I certainly hope that there is a thoughtful plan. Thank

073you for your time. Thank you. Um, next we have Dallas Duffy. Sorry. Oops. Hello. My name is Dallas Duffy and I'm the secretary of SMA. I am also a mathematics teacher for the South Orange Mapwood School District currently and for the last 19 years at Maplewood Middle School, but soon Columbia High School. I'm here tonight to speak on behalf of everyone who's being involuntarily transferred. The majority of the transfers that are on the agenda tonight. Less than two weeks ago on Friday, June 13th, people were told by a representative from HR that they were being transferred. During these meetings, people were handed a letter which informed them of the transfer and then suggested they reach out to the administrators of their new building for any additional details. There was the opportunity to ask questions during

074these meetings, but this was the first time many of us heard about these transfers and therefore were completely blindsided and needless to say devastated. These transfers may be a way to eliminate services, echoing what happened last year. Perhaps on paper, these positions may seem expendable, just like those eliminated last year seemed. The complexity of how a school runs is not evident on a list of certifications, class lists, or current assignments. People held stipen positions, which they have now lost, which has led to a loss of income. People were in positions, which allowed flexibility, therefore filling numerous leave replacement positions, which saved the district money. People had deeprooted relationships with the school communities, administrators, colleagues, caregivers, and students. To add insult to injury, in the most recent vacancy posting from the district, some of the positions

075that people were transferred out of were posted. It is unclear as to who made these decisions. The common theme is that the affected teachers were not included in the discussion. These transfers are reminiscent of those that happened two years ago. I sat in the audience of one of these meetings and listened to teachers discuss their transfers. It was asked why they weren't part of the conversation. Nothing has changed. These transfers blindsided and devastated not only those who were transferred but also their school communities. News of these transfers destroyed the little morale that was left and the rest of the staff. Many thinking that these transfers were personal or nefarious. There's a complete loss of trust because yet again teachers were not part of the conversation. So on behalf of everyone who was transferred in this

076way, for everyone who is suffering a loss because they have to leave a building, staff and students that they love, for anyone who is now has to figure out something brand new yet again, I ask you to please stop doing this to people. We are not just names on a list. We are the heart of the district. Please treat us like we matter. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Rosemary. Rosemary Connell. Good evening. Uh, my name is Rosemary Connell. I am the Sumea PRRC rep at Seth Bdon and a resident of Maplewood and proud parent of two SOMD graduates. I'm here to speak in my role as a Sumea rep about the recent staff transfers within our district and the pressing need to find a better, more humane way to trans uh to handle these

077difficult and impactful changes. Please take a moment and consider what a relocation or department transfer might feel like in your own profession. You would likely need time to process why you're being moved, how the decision was made, how it would affect your daily interactions at work, how to share it with your family. It's a lot to take in. How would that affect the rest of your day at work? Now, imagine receiving this kind of news without conversation, without clarity on the how or the why, and being expected to return to your responsibilities immediately. Imagine your office or place of employment is a classroom community filled with 20 students. While absorbing this change and continuing to teach, you are also expected to now pack up three, five, 10, or even 20 plus years worth of materials

078and tools. While you navigate one of the busiest, most emotionally charged times in the school year. That is what SMA members experienced in the final two weeks of the 2425 school year. Again, avoidable uncertainty, destruction, and distress. The impact reached far beyond individuals transferred. It rippled through entire school communities, and it could have been significantly mitigated by one-on-one conversations at the building level. While we understand and appreciate that we're not facing widespread layoffs or riffs, gratitude for employment does not excuse or justify the impersonal and unprofessional way these transfers were handled. Thank you. The educators in this district go above and beyond every single day. You owe them more. So members do not feel respected or valued. You need to do better. Thank you. David Huer. Uh, good evening. David Huer, 26 Nelson Place, Maplewood.

079And let me start by thanking you all for your service to our communities. I'm here tonight to urge you to abandon your plans as part of muchneeded upgrades at Ritzerfield to cover Ritzerfield with plastic. And there are three reasons why you shouldn't do this. First, your constituents are against it. Secondly, plastic is bad and has negative consequences. And third, you're not going to solve the problem you want to solve. Your constituents are against it. Not just from the comments tonight, but in 2021, the voters of Maplewood rejected 5545 the plan of the township committee at the time to cover the hardfield with plastic. So there is nothing more principled than a public official voting against what their constituents want on the basic of principle. I'd like to hear what those principles are tonight if you're

080going to vote to move it forward. Secondly, plastic is bad. Okay, the best thing you can say about plastics is that they haven't been studied enough. The worst thing you can say is that they're carcinogens. You're going to do serious damage to the drainage. And it's absurd, frankly, that in a time when towns are spending, both our towns are spending millions of dollars to improve drainage, you're going to spend millions of dollars to make drainage worse. Third, um you're not going to solve the problem. The problem we have is we don't have enough field space. We have not added any public field space for recreation since Title 9. There are at least two pieces of private property adjacent to public property in Maplewood. Both have seriously suboptimal uses. You have an improving relationship with the

081governing bodies of South Orange and Maplewood. They are working very well together and doing heavy lifting like merging the fire department. You should be working with them to buy public land. You cannot solve this problem by just covering a fuel with plastic. So please, please abandon these plans. I could speak for far longer on the what how bad plastic is for our kids and for our students and to cover this field with plastic is a mistake. Please don't spend millions of dollars to do it. Thank you, David. Next, we have Jessica Miller. Good evening. Um Jessica Miller, mom to two kids in the district. Um, thank you all for your service. Um, with a single high school, I often say that Columbia High School has to be many things to many students, and the same

082holds true for the school's field. As a neighbor, we certainly see the spring and field sports, but we also see the kids exploring Project Adventure. We see and hear them zip along the zipline, and we see kids lunching and studying in the shade, blowing off some steam between classes. Did you know that recently our kids held a full-on music festival on Ritzer? It was amazing. The talent here is always so impressive. And so when I view plans to cover substantial parts of the field with plastic plastic athletic playing surface with 6 to 8 foot fencing to protect it, I ask how do these plans serve our student body? The high fences do not allow the necessary clearance for Project Adventure zip lines. The plans seem to eliminate the lower ropes courses of Project Adventure. Is

083this an equitable use of space? In a day and age where we have conversations about getting kids off their screens, how are we taking away the lion share of their green space at their high school? How do we teach them about the warming planet and then install a heat island outside their classroom windows and tell them to squeeze next to it for lunch? And PS, we chop down your trees. Many of us know that currently the only care the field gets is mowing. We know this field could be much better for our student athletes with a managed care plan. This field could have two softball fields, a soccer lacrosse field, full use of pro project adventure, green space for students, all while m maintaining space for music festivals and the like. A plan E that

084invests in overhauling and smoothing the existing surface, lays sod, installs softball infrastructure and access points for irrigation would cost a fraction of the others. It would not require taking on new debt. This plan does not require pricey 8 to 10year replacements. It doesn't require storm water holding tanks. It doesn't chop down trees and it doesn't create a heat island. If we collaborate, we can design a plan to make Ritzerfield the perfect complement to Columbia High School and its amazingly diverse student population. Thank you. Next is Rich Rich Winner. Thank you. Uh Rich Wer, I live in Maplewood. Um you've just heard and some other people are going to talk some more about a number of the points about uh the uh field at Ritzer and the problems with putting in the artificial turf. Rather than

085m repeating a long list of concerns, I just want to make three quick points. One of the arguments given for turf for artificial turf is that it increases the number of playing days available for teams. But as this past few days has shown, extreme heat changes that calculus. This past Monday and Tuesday, grass was playable. Turf was not. Extreme heat days, uh, which are days lost to teams because of unplayably hot surfaces, will only become more frequent in the future. planning for climate change suggests uh that uh putting plastic on our field is a bad idea. Second, as a professor of environmental psychology, I studied and taught about the value of natural landscapes for people known by the shorthand of biofilia. There's a large number of studies that show that connecting to nature significantly improves

086cognitive performance, recovery from intentionally fatiguing tasks, and stress. Given the frequently discussed concern for the stress felt by students in high school, reducing or eliminating their ability to walk, sit on real grass during the school day that which would help restore their mental abilities and reduce stress seems to me like a a step backward. Lastly, I just have to say I am confused by the ease with which people who clearly love their ch children deeply and seek to pro protect them from harm in many ways are able so easily to dismiss potential health hazards of turf. people who I am sure seek to limit the presence of these same kinds of substances such as micro plastics and PFAS that they encounter in their home. Um it seems to me that we have the same obligation

087to take that same level of care here within the district. Thank you very much. Thank you Jane Conrad. [Music] I guess I can. Yeah. [Music] Okay. Um tonight's theme for me speaking about Ritzerfield of course is consider what you have before you throw it all away. And uh part one in this I want to talk to you about soil. And um there are two reasons not to discard the soil out there in that field. Um one thing is that and I see that in all the plants you're considering that's part of it. One reason is there's a lot of bad soil out there in northern New Jersey. Look at Ridgewood. They're having to spend a million and a half to do something with some bad soil that was delivered to them. We know the history

088of this field back several hundred years. There was a farm with fruit trees and a meadow. This is the sort of place we should wish our drinking water were being filtered through. if you let it be hauled away, don't count on getting anything back that is better than this. The other thing, the other um thing is that although Ritzer has been neglected, at least it hasn't been nuked with chemical treatments. It still has a functional soil ecosystem and really there's nothing wrong with this soil that compost can't fix. What parent volunteers did this this spring and last fall was to attempt with hand tools what a good maintenance program would do with an airator and a top dresser. And I'm going to going to leave you some um photos to show you this process and

089the results so far which you should also go out and look at. You know realize that soil is storm water infrastructure. Um each 1% increase in organic matter compost lets soil hold 20,000 gallons more per acre. So that at 5% organic matter, Ritzerfield could hold 400,000 gallons of rain. That's 100% of the 100red-year 2-hour rainstorm. Consider what you have. Consider with what little money and effort you could have a great grass field that would satisfy everybody. Thank you. Thank you, Jean. I'm gonna bring you [Applause] uh Mr. Carrick, could you you want to leave something for us? He could grab it or you know I'm going to stay to the second comment period. Okay. Oh, okay. No worries. Thanks. Okay. Jonathan Jonathan. Thanks. Hello. Hello. Uh Jonathan Poor Maplewood. Um there's lots to say but

090you know not a lot of time to to say it. So, okay. I for years I've been hearing that the problem was we need more fields. Currently, Ritzer can fit two full high school-sized soccer fields running east west side by side, but all four of the proposed plans actually reduce the number of available playing fields. Adding a softball field to Ritzer limits the flexibility that we have with the large grassy square. Currently, there are three soccer teams that practice and play games on Ritzer in the fall. Under these plans, this would not be possible. Where will they go? We are told that Title N suit has led to the addition of a softball field to the project. However, I think there's a better solution. My version of a plan E, if you will. Let's keep

091Ritzer as a versatile, flexible natural grass field with an intelligent maintenance schedule. At the same time, let's convert the JV baseball field at Underh Hill into a top-notch varsity softball field that would achieve total parody with the boys baseball program. JV and varsity for both sports can schedule so that they swap home and away games, an approach already suggested by the district athletic director as a way to handle plan C and D with a single softball field. Okay, let's model the rejuvenation and care of an all grass ritzer field after the program in place in Glenn Ridge, which has excellent grass fields that support usage equal to that of Ritzer and at quite a reasonable cost. They spend uh $50,000 to maintain, I believe it's eight acres of grass playing fields. Um so this plan

092E of mine here would achieve equity with the boys program, maintains access to playing fields for soccer and lacrosse, is affordable, and avoids all the environmental and social negatives associated with artificial turf. So I think we can do this. It's just a matter of information and knowledge uh and the willingness to to put in the uh the effort. Thank you very much. Thank you, Jonathan. Is Ben here? Ben Vital. Okay. Good evening. Hi, Ben Vitali. South Orange. uh two daughters, one graduated from the district and one still a junior at uh the high school. Thanks to the board and the superintendent for doing a good job running our district. Um we I'm here to talk about Ritzerfield and artificial turf. I spoke earlier about this uh at the board of school estimate meeting, so I

093won't repeat my remarks there, but I do support all the things that my colleagues are saying tonight about trying to choose a plan that um you know you uses grass. Uh but if you if I from what happened at the previous meeting and the looks on your faces tonight, I have a feeling that your minds may already be made up. If that is the case, I want to leave you with uh four ideas. The first idea is please choose a plan with a minimum amount of synthetic turf possible. Um the second idea is please use artificial sorry alternative infill. Um the architect forel architecture uh talked about this and I think you should seriously consider it. Um organic infill uh addresses about half the problems with the serious environmental consequences of artificial turf. It's been

094tried in Europe. works great. I'll send you some links if you're interested. I was uh shocked to learn recently that artificial pl turf playing fields are the second largest source of microplastics in our rivers. Um yeah, that's a big deal. Uh third, I would like to suggest that you budget now for responsible disposal of the turf field when its life is over. That means recycling. Uh it's not cheap. Um, but that's the responsible thing to do. If you're going to commit to doing this, you got to figure out how you're going to clean it up and you got to tell the community what it's going to cost to pay for that and not just dump this on the environment in a landfill in 8 10 12 years time. Um, you're talking about one or two

095acres of plastic that's going to weigh 200 to 400 tons. Got to have a plan for that. Finally, very briefly, fix the Title M problem by remaking your schedule tomorrow morning to share the existing field time 50/50. Please do it right away. Then we don't have a lawsuit on our hands. Thank you. Thank you, Ben. Paul Stefan. Good evening. Paul Stefen, I'm a Maplewood resident. Um, I'm sad to say I don't think turf is going to solve the the problems that we have. uh ritzerfield is not wellmaintained. That's absolutely true, but you can't turf your way out of maintenance obligations. Turf has to be maintained as well, and turf has to be replaced uh at least once every 12 years, probably every 8 to 10 years. Uh and the costs that were shared at the

096board of school estimate contemplate just one replacement in a 24-year period. So that I mean that's just simply, you know, mistaken. Uh Title 9's been talked about a good bit. Uh Title 9 does not require turf. It doesn't require grass. It doesn't require any kind of facility or or sports at all. What it requires is uh equity. Uh and whatever sports or whatever programming you have, you have to provide the same kind of opportunities to boys and girls. Absolutely. Uh and if we're going to talk about parody between boys baseball and girls softball, we should absolutely have that conversation. But boys baseball plays on grass. um you know and and there's been some uh sense of urgency expressed by some of you and this feeling that well we've got to you know pass the turf

097on ritzer right now. Um I'm not exactly sure why that is. Uh is it because we can say we've made a good faith effort at maintaining the grass as is? No. Uh is it because we have something better than an IOU on the storm water plan? No. Uh, is it because we have low material costs because trade wars are over? No. Uh, is it because there's low interest rates, so it's a good time to borrow money? No. Is it because we don't have a lot of debt right now such that we should be comfortable foisting upon taxpayers an additional $400 per household? No. I know a lot of you probably already have your mind made up. Um, but I I'd ask you to consider what's been called plan E. Not Ritzerfield as it currently is,

098but Ritzerfield if we actually put the money into maintaining it the way we ought to. Thank you. Thanks, Paul. Um, Anna Gman, Anna here. Thank you. Hi, good evening. Um, I'm Anna Gman. I am a resident of Monontlair. I've come here tonight to speak to you as a mom of a kid who was a student athlete and as someone who lives now 50 feet from what was a beautiful grass field and has now become a heat island per NJP thanks to artificial turf and it's brutal. I've had to buy more air conditioners. My emissions are going up and plants have been scorched. I understand the desire to have great facilities for student athletes, but I don't understand why you don't follow the advice of Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center. There there they are clear

099on the reasons not to install artificial turf. Don't you follow pediatric expert medical advice for everything else? What gives you the right to ignore them? You were not elected to ignore pediatric medical advice. How about science? Do you follow science or not when it's not convenient? Do you believe that that turf is pas free? Because let me tell you, I tested the turf that they put in front of my house. It is not pas free. $1,400 gave me that answer. The answer that the BOE didn't want to give me. Recycling. It's a a lie. It does not get recycled. Soil, Jane has told you. Heat. You saw what had happened in Patterson, right? That was pretty um obvious. You cannot have people on artificial turf when the temperature is over a certain amount. That's the

100argument people make is that artificial turf is not good for rain. What about when it's hot? Yesterday was 97°. So, I took an egg and I put it on a piece of artificial turf. It baked the yolk. Baked the albamin. Not so much because it needs 180 degrees. So, you know the old commercial, right? This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. This is your kids. This is your kids on artificial turf. Why do you think you have the right to do that? Thank you. Now, we will go to online speech. And we're going to start with uh what's on the agenda and that will be uh TC member Dean Daffis. Is Dean Daffis available? Okay. Can you can you hear me? Yes, we can. Hi. Thank you, board president Dval Wilson, and

101good evening. Good evening to all the fellow fellow board members and to the district. My name is Dean Davis. I live in Maplewood, New Jersey. Like you, I'm a public servant. As you noted, I serve on the governing body of Maplewood, the township committee. Served previously as mayor. I'm a current member of the board of school estimate committee. I peer before you this evening to lend my support for and express my deep gratitude to the board and the district for continuing to honor pride again this year with your proclamation this evening. These gestures serve to continue fostering an inclusive school climate and inclusive welcoming community. I applaud you for continuing to lean into this, especially right now in the climate that we're in. Cultural and legal attacks against the LGBTQ community, especially against our trans

102youth. It would be easier to retract and shy away from pride as some districts are doing, but you truly recognize the critical need to send a strong message to our LGBTQ students that they are seen, supported, and that they belong. This is what they need to live openly, authentically, to realize their fullest potential in life, to thrive, to be healthy in body and mind. We truly are very proud of them. And it's very fitting for your proclamation to be adopted on the same night of your reporting the district's progress in anti-bullying and on this day the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Oberfeld decision ending marriage discrimination. A monumental step forward in the LGBTQ plus civil rights movement legalizing and accepting LGBTQ marriages and households across the nation. Legitimizing our families because love is love.

103Thank you very much. Thank you so much. [Applause] Next next we will have uh online Sedartha Deca. Hi. Um I just wanted to kind of uh comment really quickly about um the situation in Ritzerfield. Um I think you've heard all the facts and um this is just more a plea to the board. Um I I live on Hixon Place right by um Ritzer and I just implore you to think about quality of life. Um the quality of life of the students um the quality of life of the Academy Heights neighborhood who have been good stewards and neighbors to um to the high school and you know to the w the wider community. Um just today we saw some preschool children playing um on the field from Tow Tree. Um just having a wonderful time. Will

104they will they get to enjoy that when they when the turf is on there? Um I don't believe so. Um so just wanted to kind of plug the plan E plan. Um and just really think about the quality of life and make sure um whatever you're considering that there's harmony between you know the needs of the students but also the environment and the wider community. Thank you. Next we have um Paul Sorovville. Can you hear me? Yes. Okay. I'm urging the board to exercise due diligence on the potential health and environmental risks from covering Ritzer's grass with artificial turf, plastic that is riddled with known chemical toxins and carcinogens. I think the health and environmental impacts of artificial turf deserve at least as much consideration as comparing playing time and wear and tear. Above all,

105I urge you to consider the warnings against artificial turf by the experts at the preeminent organization dedicated to protecting children's health and the environment, the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center at the Icon School of Medicine. I've emailed all of you the link to the cent's position paper on the risks of artificial turf. Here's an excerpt. quote, "We strongly discourage the installation of artificial turf playing surfaces and fields due to the uncertainty surrounding the safety of these products and the potential for dangerous heat and chemical exposures. In addition, recent studies demonstrating the presence of POS and microplastics in these products raise significant concerns for both human health and environmental contamination." End quote. Please exercise your due diligence and invite the center to address these questions. It's a sad irony to see our community removing toxic

106lead pipes and asbestous while at the same time this body considers removing Colombia's green space and replacing it with known toxic materials. Please consider the clean, green, and least expensive choice. Option E, an all grass multi-purpose field that will address the inequities of girls softball and serve the needs of athletes and non-athletes alike as well as members of the community, including the local preschools that rely on Ritzer's grass. Thank you. Thank you, Paul. Next, we will have Kate McCaffrey. Hi, can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. Um, artificial turf is a carpet of synthetic fibers that imitates the appearance of a grass field. Um, as we know for decades concerns have swirled around the toxicity of its components. polyilic aromatic hydrocarbon carbons, phthalates, and

107metals that leech from it into our bodies and continue to contaminate the environment when it ends up in landfill at the end of its lifespan. There it leeches more chemicals and emits dangerous greenhouse gases for generations. The board is considering a proposal to spend upwards of 5 million public dollars to eliminate a vital public green space to install instead a semi-private toxic heartscape at Ritzerfield. Turf fields gated and monitored do not serve the public interest. Raising a grass field to replace it with turf is similar to pouring concrete over a yard, although concrete gets less hot. Nor are turf fields good for our our athletes. The hard surfaces are associated with ACL and Achilles tendons injuries and increased stress on joints. On a scorching day, artificial turf can get hot enough to melt shoes and

108blister hands and feet and as we saw this evening, cook an egg. It is extremely irresponsible to ignore mounting evidence about the health and and climate impacts of these toxic cement fields and to invest public funds to destroy a community green space. Moreover, it strikes me as extremely undemocratic to schedule an August vote on this proposal, presumably to limit public participation and input. Maplewood twice has voted down turf fields in public referenda. The community's voice has been clear and the science is on our side. I respectfully request that our public leaders ask as act as responsible stewards of our tax money and invest in sustainable turf management. Thank you. Thank you, Kate. Next, we have Rebecca Schaw. Good evening. I'm a resident of South Orange, a mother of two elementary age children, and a teacher.

109Mine has been one of the many voices pleading with the BOE and BOC over the past few years to retain the natural grass at Richerfield. My children are both involved in team sports, and the health and safety of children is very important to me. This board is filled with impressive individuals who, I'm guessing, follow health science and make healthy choices for their own families. Why are you all feigning ignorance about the very real dangers of artificial turf? Why are you morally comfortable with exposing our children to cancer-causing chemicals? While SOMD elementary students are learning about conservation, climate change, and recycling in science class, the adults in charge are removing natural landscape in favor of ecologically disastrous plastic waste. It's inexcusable that there are Title 9 issues in our town. Why haven't the current facilities been

110shared equitably between boys and girls teams? Why are the girls being forced to wait and then someday settle for cancer-causing plastic fields? Why can't this district first attempt to at least water and provide basic care to the natural grass you currently have and equitably share all athletic facilities starting immediately? I urge you to consider presenting plan E to the BE. Not only is it the healthiest option, it's also the least expensive. Please consider the transportation issues, facility issues, and staff vacancies throughout the district. Superintendent Bing has held town halls warning of fiscal cliffs, and impending cuts to special education, which would devastate our IEP student outcomes. The proposal to spend millions on synthetic turf is surreal given the district's bleak financial outlook. Just because you can legally request infinite facilities funding from the BOE, does

111not mean you should. Please ask yourselves what kind of legacy you want to leave. How do you think CHS students will react when they can no longer eat lunch on Ritz or Field or participate in Project Adventure because a relatively small number of field athletes have been catered to above the rest of the student body? How will the taxpayers of our town feel when they're forced to pay for plastic grass maintenance in perpetuity? Please consider the cautionary tales provided by the towns of Westfield, Ridgewood, Montlair, and Thank you. Next we have Devana Guha. Can you please repeat that name? Devani and then Gha is the last name. That community member is not online. Okay. Julie Burstein. Hi there. I hope you can hear me. My name is Julie Burstein and I am a neighbor in

112Maplewood, New Jersey. And I have had two children who went through the school system here. I just want to thank everyone in the room there and online who have made such beautiful cases against artificial turf in our community. I don't have anything to add to this. I think it is all so convincing. I just want to raise my voice with them to say this does not feel like the Maplewood and South Orange that I've lived in for 28 years to destroy a green space and cover it in plastic. So, please, I I really plead with you to reconsider and consider what people have put together with plan E to be able to save green space, not just for our sports teams, but also for all the other students and community members who need that forest

113bathing, that opportunity to be in a green space, to reset their heads in the middle of a hectic school day. This is so important. and I really expect that you will all do the right thing and find another way to address all of these issues. Thank you so much. Thank you, Julie. um is WY Borg. Hello. Uh are you able to hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Thanks. Great. All right. Uh my name is Wy Borg. I am a rising ninth grader and I have a lot to say about the astroturf field. First off, they are needlessly expensive. They require much more maintenance than a traditional grass field. Not only that, but traditional grass fields are cheaper over time. The money proposed for turf installation could be better spent on improving the existing field

114or invested in other projects such as refurbishing classrooms or other amenities in the school. Next, health and safety risks. It absorbs and radiates heat, making it dangerously hot in the warmer months. It's been seen that it can reach temperatures of 120 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, which normal grass cannot. It also prevents water absorption, which is highly negative for environmental health. Uh, and it contributes to storm water runoff and local flooding risks. It's also dangerous to people. It releases democ dangerous chemicals such as benzene, arsenic, poly polyelic acromic hydrocarbons or phases, latex which may flare up certain person's allergies and releases microplastics into the environment. Not only that, but it can release pases or herr and polyor alcohol substances better known as forever chemicals, those of which are specifically and scientifically linked to medical complications such

115as cancer and other debilitating diseases. These dangers are further supported by the National Institute of Health, the New York Times, the Center for Disease Control or the CDC, the Environmental Protection or the EPA, and numerous other environmentally focused organizations. Uh furthermore, they are hard surfaces and are much more dangerous than traditional grass fields. It increases the risk of ACL tears, abrasions, cuts, uh paired with the hot temperatures, that is an extremely poor condition for people to play in. Um, it also may result in the demolition of Project Adventure, which would devastate a lot of the students actually going to the school, which is the main people this would affect. Um, it would bar the field from recreational uses. I personally use the field a lot, and if it were barred off, that would remove a

116large space for me to do recreational things with my friends. So, I hope you take this into consideration. Hear out what everybody else has said. It would be greatly negative to the greater community and is just not a smart idea in general. Thank you very much. Thank you, Wy. Next, we have Township Committee member De Engel. That committee member is not online. Okay. Next, we have Josh Sturman. Good evening. My name is Joshua Sturman. Can you hear me? Sorry. Yes, we can hear you. Thanks. My name is Joshua Sturman. I also live on um Hixon Place. Uh, I want to continue the conversation about how there has been no proposal for an option E except for the members of the community. It's been stated multiple times in many ways that it would be cheaper to

117maintain the grass field that is currently there. All of these options are terrible for the students who don't play sports on that field. They're also terrible for the students who would be playing sports on the field. It's been cited many times today how awful it would be for anyone to play in temperatures similar to what we've experienced this week. We keep talking about allowing students to get out and be out in the world instead of being inside on their phones when we are now removing an option for them to do that. The astroturf the artificial turf will not allow anyone to be able to enjoy themselves outside. Thank you. Oh, sorry. I thought you were done. No, ma'am. I am done. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Um, next we have Howard Fischer. Community member Fisher,

118you need to unmute your microphone. Sorry, you said he's not on. Uh, Mr. Fisher, you need to unmute your microphone. Should we come back to to the Okay. So then next we have uh William Graves. That committee member is not online. Okay. Next is Jerry Hall. Good evening. Um, I hope you can hear me. I'm very proud to say that I am the mother of a very articulate rising ninth grader. Um, and I'm also here to express my concerns and opposition to the proposed planned turf fields at Columbia High School in Mercerfield. As we have just experienced a heat wave in June, not even the height of summer, the proposed plans for turf are short-sighted and a disservice to the Maplewood and South Orange communities. In our area of New Jersey, we are only going

119to experience more days over 90° plus flooding during storms. The removal of a grass field, which helps mitigate both flooding and heat islands, would be an environmental disaster with negative repercussions irreversible for years to come. There were several proposals put forth, yet not one included maintenance for a full grass field. Why was there such an omission? I cannot believe it. We deserve another plan, a proposal for an all grass playing field that more can enjoy. A properly maintained grass field provides green space to all students and the community and allows for flexible usage throughout the year. Additionally, the loss of the tree canopy and shade in the area will only exacerbate heat issues for the surrounding neighborhoods. Tree cover in a city block can provide up to 10° of cooling. The removal of mature trees

120negative negatively impacts the entire community immediately. The Trump administration's current efforts to eliminate environmental protections and funds that reduce pollution in communities across the country threaten public health, our health, and the health of our young people especially. We cannot afford as a community to be part of the problem. Given the funding shortfalls in so many areas that the school district faces in the next several years, this multi-million dollar expenditure should not be a priority. The costs, both monetarily and environmentally, are too much for our community to bear. I expect our two towns and the board to be more creative in finding ways for our sports teams to have equitable playtime while also maintaining proper environmental stewardship of the land in our community, especially for our Colombia high school students. Thank you very much. Thank you,

121Jerry. Next, we have two more left. Uh, Cynthia O'Keefe, you hear me? Hi. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes. Okay. Hi, Cynthia O'Keefe. I'm a resident of Ridgewood, New Jersey. Um, interestingly enough, just being an outside observer, um, but I have attended earlier meetings where this field uh, turf was presented earlier, um, with an Excel spreadsheet talking to the community about turf being a cheaper option. We know that's not true. Um, but listening to all of these intelligent people speak about all of the negative impacts that turf will have on children's health, on the climate, on, you know, many other things that go on in the community. Just with Heat Islands, um, I'm not sure if you're aware, there were articles on Hinchfliff Stadium. It was graduation that needed to be cancelled. Um it wasn't

122even a sports activity that was being played there and they had to take almost 150 people for some kind of medical care. Um it was a very you know dire situation. People were taken out in stretchers. I mean I don't know that you really are realizing what's going on and you know you're exacerbating the problem here. Um, and and by gaslighting the community, and I'm not saying the public officials have done that, but whoever was giving that Excel spreadsheet presentation, I believe it was last year, I was shocked because artificial turf is not cheaper. You also need to sanitize the turf from blood, from sweat, from spit, from all kinds of bodily fluids. Do you know that artificial turf vendors will not contractually guarantee the absence of chemicals in their products? And they will also

123uh caution against children drinking water while playing on a turf field. Now, what does a kid do right after they run off the field? They open a bottle of water and they drink it. So, you know, it's very dangerous what's happening. Um it seems like a smart group of people making some really, you know, haphazard and and stupid decisions in my opinion. Thank you. Next we have uh final is Aaron Bullan. Hi there. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Hi. Um I I I won't um echo to exactly what Cynthia has so articulately shared. Um, but other than I live across the street from 5 acres, I think, or 4 acres of synthetic turf. Um, there's a building separating me which would actually make it 7 acres of artificial turf across the

124street from my home. Um, as Cynthia said, there was just a heat casualty in Patterson. Um, I spent my day yesterday going from field to field measuring temperatures. I did this three different times. At 8:45, around noon, and again around 6. Um, at 8:45 in the morning, it was 122 degrees on one field, an older field. On a newer field that was um maybe one year old, it was 117 degrees, which says to me some chemical has shed off of the older field into our water system. Uh keeping the heat down on the newer one and raising it on the o older one. Um at at 6:00, these fields were up to 134 degrees. I believe there is no safe way in which these fields can be used in our communities. They they they create

125heat islands. My neighborhood is now been warned officially warned by the NJP that we are a designated heat island and we should be caution uh to I guess for our own well-being just because we live next to it. So, please don't do this in your community. We are you're an intelligent community. Uh I live in Montlair. I don't think I said that. Um and thank you, Erin. Your time is up. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Now, we are going to move on to committee reports. We'll hear from the chairs of each of our committees with uh highlights from this month's meetings. Um wanted to draw up the captions for the mic. You can accommodate We'll have a second public speaks. He can sign up for that. We've got to move on to Well, we Yeah.

126So, let's see. We'll start on this side because we have Ruters this this month. Thanks. All right. The Ruters The Rucker implementation committee met on June 17th. Those attending from the board were President Dval Wilson, second vice president Eert, board member Sacket Gable, and myself. Those attending from the administration were Mr. Bing, Dr. Gilbert, and Dr. Wayel. Among the issues discussed in committee were the following suggested revisions to the to policies 5124, student internal transfer, and 5120, assignment of students. Discussions centered around the dis that what the district may consider as hardship when granting transfer requests. Policies were sent back to the policy committee with revisions discussed in the meeting. The district will be working on transfer policy rubric so that it can be publicly posted. It was triple eye placements for the 2526 school

127year were also discussed. The district informed us that it revised that a revised methodology methodology was used in placing kindergarten students for the 2526 school year. Instead of using a random number for determining a student's school assignment order in algorithm, the district use a student's distance to school as recommended by the ALS group. This means that if a student is closer to their home school, so for example, one block, they are assigned ahead of a student further away, so a student one mile from their home school. The last item discussed was the upcoming triple eye evaluation. The district is working with Alves Group and will be running data and beta testing scenarios taking into account some of the recommendations made by the Alves group in the maid bore meeting. For example, they will be beta

128testing variance options to see how change in variance changes in variance affect racial demographics at elementary schools and the percentage of students that get their first or second school choice. On this topic, there was discussion around balancing transportation costs and students time on buses with the need to demographically rebalance our schools, concern about isolated placements in neighborhoods and also isolated placements in individual classrooms and the need to provide transportation with triple I if students are not assigned to their closest school. Because there were a number of items on the agenda that we didn't have time to discuss, as well as the district's continued near-term plans to work through the triple eye evaluation, we added a meeting for July. That meeting will be on July 8th. Please go to the district website for a full recap

129of the meeting in the board committee section. Any questions? Thank you. And yeah, there was there was so much to discuss in that meeting. So, it's good that we're having um another one in July. And I just had two uh quick thoughts and requests about a couple of the pieces you mentioned. Um Deedra, can the Ruckers committee take a look at any um existing transfer request data like if there are any categories of um types of requests so we can just talk about any patterns or trends? um that can help perhaps develop the hardship categories uh and kind of flesh those out a bit more based on the data. And then secondly, regarding the rubric, just wondering if we can ensure um some consensus through the committee process before the rubric is is designed. I

130know it's going back to policy, but then I just want to make sure there's time built in to um just to develop the policy language before the rubric is then um put into place. Yeah, it's my understanding that the it'll go back to policy with the revisions made in the committee and then in the meantime, the district will be will be developing the rubric. Okay. So, they're going to Okay. Okay. I thought maybe they were developing it before the policy language was solidified. Sorry. Yeah, we've been working on it since I would say it's in draft form, but they're still working on it. Yeah. So, it just will help to sync up policy languages. I agree. Thanks. Uh, hi Liz. Go ahead. Hi, thank you. Well, I know I'm about to be like the looming

13130-foot figure behind your heads. Um, I just wanted to cosign. Yeah, I guess I was also curious about um part of what Shaina had flagged here. Just the the development of the rubric. It seems as though that should be responsive to when policy language is solidified and there's consensus around it. So, I just wanted to make sure that that was in fact what was happening. um so that we're not putting the cart before the hearse and developing um a rubric that may in fact not be responsive to then the the language that is developed in Norm done and and we have consensus on um that aside I also just wanted to ask um could you share uh board member Brown a little bit more of when you say the the triple eye evaluation there was

132a document that was shared alongside it and so I think we've been using that language but I think I'd just like some more clarity for myself and for the community about what that evaluation is that we're referencing what it's intended to convey and then who is responsible for generating that document especially as it becomes part of this broader discussion from recorders. Sure. The the I mean basically when we're referring to triple eye evaluation it's just the district taking a look at what's working, what's not working and how it can be improved. And so the district is thinking about options for um potential improvements so that it can be more it can meet the goals of rebalancing the school which uh we discussed in committee as a goal but also be more uh student and family

133friendly and meet some of the the hardship and concerns that the community is feeling. And I think also um another topic discussed was uh also being sensitive to our transportation costs and you know are there ways that we can be more efficient there with with at the same time rebalancing our schools. Got it. That makes sense. And then the last part of my question was just um you said the district, but was the district responsible for creating that document? Are you talking about the document that was put together for the agenda for the discussion? Yeah, because it's labeled triple eye evaluation and then that's how it's so I'm just curious. That was not an evaluation. That was a discussion guide just to to you're saying okay so what that is that is not the triple

134eye evaluation. Okay. So then I guess could you just provide more clarity then is the triple then what do you mean when you're saying the triple eye evaluation? Are there specific criteria that you're looking at or is that just responsive to like what is that specifically responsive to when we're saying that community concern? Okay. So in the agenda the agenda says triple eye evaluation that is just a discussion item to there's no formal document of an evaluation if that's what you're asking. There was a document in the agenda that helped guide the discussion, but that is not there is that is not an evaluation of itself. The district is is doing an evaluation and that's what they're going to continue to present information to us on. Okay. I think it might just be helpful to

135have some more clarity in the notes on that because it it's not abundantly clear reading through that exactly how that document is different or standalone from something else that might be considered. So just for clarity for fellow board members, it might be helpful just to figure figure that out from a notes perspective. Noted. Any other questions? Oh, Jeff. I was we'll just utilize different terminology instead of evaluation tuneup and call it a tuneup. Um okay, Jeff, sorry you had something. I would have a lot of things to say about the triple eye and placement change. Um, so for the 2526 school year, it sounds like we made a change to how kids are placed. Um, instead of using a random number to determine precedents for, you know, when kids are assigned to their closest school,

136which more or less determines who goes to their closest school and who goes to a more distant school like we're now using distance to the closest school and like I think there are a lot of advantages to that like the two major ones that it does create a true proximity weight. Uh now kids who live very close to a school will almost always be assigned there and the kids who are assigned to more distant schools will be kids who don't live that close to a closest school. Not everyone is a winner but I think that a lot of the people who don't go to close schools will be more neutral about it than people who live very close to it. Um this when we were told about the triple eye in 2020 2021 like we

137were told there'd be a proximity weight like for instance I have a quote we believe that our algorithm should weigh proximity to schools greatly. This will assist in minimizing the escalation of transportation costs and like the words like proximity and weight were frequently juxtaposed. So a lot of people like including me like we thought the closer you live to a school the more likely you were to be assigned there but that's not how the first four years of the triple I worked. So it does create a proximity way. Um, I think another advantage is in the long run it would be better for transportation because like you know we would have zones of South Orange Irish Maplewood that no gened kid is being bust in and like you know you would have like concentrated zones

138of kids being bust who are kind of like on the borderlands between schools. Um, but it would take a long time for that advantage to materialize. In the short run though I think it does create like micro neighborhoods. Like it turns out that micro neighborhoods were really tools of soioeconomic classification. Like it determines like who's like SCES high, SCES middle, SCEs low, but they weren't cluster grouping. Like you know, three kids on the same block could be assigned to three different schools because their random numbers would likely be different. But now if three kids live on the same block, like their distance to the closest school would be very close. It could be like 150, 152, 153, something like that. So it does create what I think people thought micro neighborhoods were really going to

139be. Um so I just want to say that for like anybody following this. Um my question is like will the district become out be coming out with like a explanation of you know how the triple eye worked for because like you know it's a it's a third big change to the triple I since it was created along with transportation and the transfer system both being in 2023. So I would hope that we explain it to the public. Yeah, and I think uh Mr. Alves touched upon it at was that last meeting? Last meeting. So, we we requested uh a beta test and this that proxim that proximity measure is part of the beta testing uh and that that's what they utilized when they did the 2526 algorithm. So, we can get more information on that

140for you from uh Mr. Alves. Yes, for the public. I'm sorry. I hope I'm not saying too much, but I thought the triple eye in the first four years should have been really referred to as a lottery. Like we usually called it an algorithm, but like other districts that also used random numbers, they were candid and they would use the word lottery. But now since we don't use random numbers, actually I don't think lottery would be the right word for it at all. That's what I thought for the first four years, but not this coming school year. Like I think now we could call it like really fairly an algorithm. So that's a compliment. Uh, I'm just going to I'll I'll jump on to board member Bennett's comment for a second because I also uh

141through the information from the Ruckers meeting uh learned about that we uh changed the way the algorithm uh quote unquote was working for uh kindergarten assignment this year. Um I and it's looking like our our text thread here we're going to show to the public. I have concerns about unintended possible consequences from moving to the full proximity model and away from some of the randomization that was used before, but I think it's um it's important that we make sure I'm not sure that there had been conversations in committees regarding that shift and just making sure that as we go through this and exploring possible changes for efficiency and and addressing all the constituent needs that we uh are looking at this and discussing it in advance. Um I also had made mention I think maybe

142a year ago I think this would be a best practice for us that we try to actually boil down the actual description of what the placement process is for i. Uh right now it's scattered among powerpoints over the course of 5 years of triple i planning and implementation. I think we ought to have that as a regulation that actually is implementing policy 5120 and or 5124 as we're looking at them so that the public can look and see this is exactly how this process is working. Um so as one piece of that as we go forward and I'll just add um no that was that was new information. We hadn't discussed that change till uh the committee meeting two weeks ago. Um, and for July, the the plan is for July the district to put

143forth kind of their initial thoughts on what they're going to beta test and what they're thinking and then that would be presented to the full board for continued discussion and then obviously the public too at some point. Um, but I think I it was my understanding and Mr. You can correct me if I'm wrong, but part of that rubric that we discussed would be not only kind of explaining the train the what what is a hardship, but what is what is the triple eye process in general, you know, how do you get on the weight list, how do you request a transfer, all of that because I I do agree a lot of that information is not clear on the website, even sometimes hard to find. Yeah, I I'll echo what Will said. I think

144that we need to do a better job in regards to public access to that information and and what it what it is. Madame President, I think board member Callahan has a question. Thank you. I would just Oh, thank you. I appreciate it. Um, so I would just build on what board member Meyer just said, and I know um I' this has come up in in other spaces before. I think to add to that additional clarity, I think it would also be really helpful um as we're, you know, a couple years into this, as board member Bennett has noted, there have been, you know, different changes over the last couple of years. And I think it would also be really helpful to incorporate into our new um communication strategy having evergreen town halls about this so

145that new families who are new to the district can get a sense of the history, why this is important to our community, why this um why prior integration efforts were not successful, why this is unique, why this is exciting, why we are being responsive as a board district to making sure that we can maintain it in a functional way. um and why integration is good for our kids and what are the nuts and bolts and and how does this work here I think will be really important in just filling in the blanks for especially new community members so that they have the the information coming directly from us as the source being the district um would be really helpful to incorporate into our cadence of community communication. Um with that I wanted to just ask

146one more question. Um I know uh board member Renie you were just saying that some of uh Mr. Al's recommendations are being considered. Um they will be discussed in this upcoming meeting including the possibility of increasing the variance. So can you clarify specifically what that means for the community just so that there is shared understanding and then specifically because there were some suggestions that he did just make in our May meeting um that would pertain to 5124 which is currently under review. Is there any conversation in committee about incorporating a choice-based transfer policy as he recommended? And if not, could that potentially be something that district includes for conversation when he is running some of those beta tests and having conversations about um how we can make some changes moving forward? All of those things

147are going to be discussed in the future my from based on what we heard in our meeting. Superintendent Bing, you were so the future like specifically like in this upcoming meeting with Mr. Mr. Als where he's beta testing things like varants or like so we asked Mr. valves um all the above was um to really frame a scenario of choice based transfer also to look at a 7% and 10% variance uh as well also um member Callahan we've already discussed with uh superintendent Bing about having an annual township uh annual town hall on on the triple I we asked for it since 2023 to happen annually I believe we'll actually make it happen this time um because our superintendent on the same page about yeah he's done such a great job of having town halls

148but it's something that we had been discussing since the early on this year um and we could actually talk about it more at our retreat and can try to like schedule think about some more themes for the rest of the school year. So thank you. Sure. Um, I'll just add I because I want to set expectations for the July meeting because it's my understanding that there's a meeting with Al's group where some information will be presented, but I'm not sure the district will have all the information ready to present. Like I'm not sure they'll be ready to present um the control choice transfer policy quite yet or anything like that. So that's why we'll have we'll meet in July, see what new information they have, if they've been able to run any beta tests, etc.

149And then we'll have another meeting in August. So, it's just going to be an iterative process. Okay, that's great. I just want to make sure like from an information perspective as we're making considerations around policy that you know have really um you know policy once it's in it's really important that we're taking into account all these considerations. So, I just want to make sure we have the best information and all the information we need to make um really thorough policy considerations. So, I appreciate that. Thank you. policy. Absolutely. The policy committee met on Tuesday, June 3rd. Uh and uh I'm going to try to go through this pretty quickly because of the time. I'm going to note uh most importantly here that we have uh a number of policies that are up for second read

150and for first read. Uh second read tonight, we are uh putting through regulation 2418 uh implementing uh section 504. Uh we're putting through policy 1331, evaluation of the board secretary, just to clarify that that role in a district like ours rest with the superintendent. policy 3217 and 4217 regarding use of corporal punishment by teachers and staff to note that that policy is read in concert with the protections for students uh regarding physical restraint. First read policies. We've got a few uh that well first we have a regulation 1570 on internal controls. This is a very boring policy just we didn't have it there for a long time. We're finally putting that in place. Along that same vein, uh the board the district has issued uh regulation 1613 on disclosure and review of applicants employment history.

151Again, it's a pretty boring policy, but we just didn't have it in there. This is part of the board's the district's ongoing uh project to fix all of our missing regulations. Uh we have three policies coming through that were part of the policy alert. These are updated policies based upon new statutes. policy 2365 on the acceptable use of generative AI regarding student use. Uh policy 5533 on student smoking and policy 5701 on academic integrity. Uh note that the uh generative AI policy is a brand new policy regarding uh regulating that student use. Uh we also have a policy 23 uh 2314 on academic placement. This clarifies that the district uh will not limit the number of AP or honors classes that a student can take at one time and it's being adopted at the same

152time as the expectation the administration would be adopting a regulation that would put in place academic counseling for students who are taking over a certain number of those courses to ensure their overall well-being. Also up for first street is policy 8600 transportation. This was a pretty spicy one from a couple years ago. This change is actually just uh memorializing the policy that is presently in place, which is to say uh courtesy transportation that is provided for students from preK through 5ifth grade of 1.25 miles and greater. Uh so no change is being made to transportation policy. It's just actually being written down tonight. Uh there were a number of additional policies that were reviewed in the policy meeting and may come forward on a future date. Uh, and as always, you can review the minutes

153for those. I stand for questions. Jeff, yes. Um, I had a question about policy 8600 on transportation, as you might have anticipated. Um, you know, right now the policy says that it'll be 1.25 miles and up for preK to 5, but is that subject to like further review and revision in the next month between the second read? because like you know as we know and like the public might have gotten some inkling of that like you know there is a we I don't think that we can sustain like in 2627 like prek courtesy busing. Um I think we all know we have a very bad budget situation. We all know that our transportation system hasn't worked so well. We all know we have like probably a net gain of 200 riders for 25 26 and

154then another 200 for 26 27. So you've got budget pressure, you've got a lot of transportation pressure, and I think it not, it might not be a unanimous decision. Reasonable people can disagree, but like I don't think we can sustain prek busing. Like is that like going to be subject to more discussion? Uh well, so definitely as you know, there have been conversations in committee about that. Uh and I think it was also referred to be considered uh in the broader sense in the Ruckers implementation committee. uh as we look at triple I overall and there's been discussion about having discussion uh I think maybe an FFT with the director of preschool services regarding uh looking at what preschool is uh right now how assignment may change in the next uh the upcoming school year

155transportation trends etc. Uh obvious with regard to our bylaw uh 0131 on on policies, uh if we were to look at this again for second read, it would revert back to a new first read. So the policy as is going to be approved tonight or go up to a vote tonight for approval as a first read, come back around for approval next month as a second read, and at that point would be adopted as our current policy. Uh and our policies of course are always open to continual review. Yeah, and my suggestion is to continue to have those conversations because the data isn't clear and a lot of board members have a lot of questions and um we'll be discussing all of our first read policies again next month. Look how long it took us

156to get this to get the AI policy to where we are. I feel like if we had just used AI, maybe it could have gone a little bit faster. Um but no, it's just it's you know, it's a process. So, um I I don't know what our FFT chair um um I'm assuming he has it on the agenda for July, but the um but also I I want to use this opportunity Thank you. Um FFT chair. I want to use this opportunity to remind the community that every year they need to apply for transportation. Just because you got it last year doesn't mean you just automatically get a pass again. And that's because you just need to apply every year. doesn't mean you're not you don't qualify. And so it's good to have this mile

157mark um memorialized in our policy because people do believe it or not look at our policies and try to find information. And I do think it's important for the district to do their due diligence and and and send reminders to um to parents as I'm sure you sure you and our comm's director will do throughout the summer. But but uh a lot of new residents come and they just don't know what they're supposed to do to get transportation. And then we get emails saying, "Wait, I'm 1.25 miles, but where's my bus pass?" Um, so we want to make sure that that parents and caregivers have that information. Just a quick reminder, we are onboarding a new director of transportation as well, starting July 1st. That's great. Great. Thanks. Okay. Can we move on to personnel

158and then it will be FFT? Sorry, I didn't mean to just pass up my report. I thought you were asking if I had any follow-ups to deer. I was like, "No, I'm ready for bed." But uh uh the personnel committee met on Monday, June 23rd at 6:30 p.m. In attendance were board members Capadia, Sack Gable, and myself along with Mr. Bing, Dr. Gilbert, and Mr. Adoyan. Um as usual, much of what was discussed is confidential. However, you can read the public facing minutes on the district website. Um I'm just going to keep mine really brief. We've we've had a long evening. Um the first thing I want to call out on the personnel resolution is that we have a new director of guidance starting I believe it's July 1st, which would be next week already.

159Wow, that's amazing. I know that um you know since last year a lot of the community, a lot of the students have come out and spoken out about it. And for those that have sat on personnel with me for um over the past year, you know, it's we've had a lot of discussions around it. So, I'm happy to see that the position has been filled. Um as of Monday's meeting, all nurse and science vacancies are filled and there's only one math opening at CHS. Highlighting these because these have typically been hard to fill positions in recent years. Um I was going to talk a little bit about the over an overview of the transfer process. Mr. Bang reviewed a lot of that in his update. Um these are fluid and you know I know that

160HR uh during the course of the summer uh there may be more uh resignations that come in, retirements that come in and so just noting that these are all fluid. Um, I do want to thank the teachers that have shown up tonight and just acknowledge that the transfers before us are difficult for for you, for all of the staff, for your school communities, families, and students. Um, you know, it's not easy decisions for for anyone to be making. Um, that's it. Everything else is on the website. Any questions? Thank you, chair. Next FFT. Oh, do you have a question or a comment? I just wanted to recognize Chair Eert because you have been continuously advocating for this uh director of guidance. So, thank you. Flowed perfectly. Um the FFT committee met on June 11th. Um

161before I cover some of my notes, I did just want to recognize uh Thomas Jigglio, our director of facilities, who will be stepping down. Um in my time with Tom, his sincere dedication has always been evident, especially in relation to student health and safety. Every decision Tom made, his first consideration uh was for the welfare of our students. Um, you know, when I first met Tom, uh, I had I had just been elected and put on FFT, and I was super hot to get solar all over our facilities, and Tom said, "Hold up. We're in the middle of a long range uh, facilities plan." Uh, and we have a lot of considerations. And you know um as uh an elected you know as an elected official it was a good lesson because uh when we're

162when we're elected many of us feel that we have a mandate that we have to fulfill the moment uh we get sworn in but when the rubber meets the road you know individual initiative does not get things done on this board consensus and community does. Um, many people don't see that, but there's a lot that goes behind the scenes. Uh, and and Tom, uh, when I got back on FFT as FFT chair, the first thing we did was pick up, uh, solar because at this time, it is the right thing to do to save money. Uh, but Tom showed me the way and, uh, there's a right way to do things and Tom always did things the right way. So, Tom, you know, say Lavie. Uh I know he's going to serve some other school

163very well. Uh as for our meeting, the committee covered the hot topic, no pun intended. Rutzer, the Ritzerfield revitalization. Uh four development options are under review as we seek to balance athletic needs, fiscal constraints, and community feedback. For those interested in the scope and cost of those options, please go to the district's website where you can locate FFT's meeting minutes. We also covered the proposed auditorium upgrades for the middle schools and the high school. Details regarding the scope and cost of those improvements can similarly be found in the meeting minutes. Currently, the combined cost of Ritzer revitalization in the auditorium is being estimated to land between 9 and 10 million. I also wanted to mention we continue to explore the purchase of the marching band transportation vehicle. Initial lowcost options were unsuitable. current focus is

164on reliable vehicles between 25,000 and 30,000. We look to raise these funds from a range of sources such as anticipated summer facility rental revenue, district matching funds for booster raised amounts, and community fundraising. We of course spoke about several other items, but for those interested, uh please refer to the district's website where you can find meeting minutes mentioned earlier. Um, the next FFT meeting will be on July 16th. Um, any questions? Okay, thank you. Great. Thank you. Okay, municipal partnerships, you have a quick update. All right. Well, happy to say that uh with the municipal partners meeting that we had on Monday, we could have done eight of those meetings and during this board event meeting. So, uh, it's, uh, it's one of the benefits of working with a very snappy crew there. Uh, but

165no, all to the good. It was a very pointed agenda, uh, to, uh, to to ride along with what, uh, what Bill's been talking about here. It was around the scheduling of the meetings for the board of SMED projects that I all have to go into consideration. Scheduling, the logistics, um, and also formerly the what we're trying to schedule in is the town hall that Mr. Bing will lead as well of a way to face the public in terms of what every all the considerations for Ritzer. Um all with the goal of getting ourselves to a to a vote uh and then to a the board of school estimate meeting that also includes Ritzer and the auditorium projects. Um all with the goal of maximum transparency. So when as we get these dates formalized, we

166will make sure they're communicated to the public so everyone can attend and know all the sequences of or order of the operations in terms to get to where we need to get to. Uh nothing wants to be rushed, but we do want to do it expeditially since it's been talked about for a while. Um the other secondary point that we talked about uh was improving and upgrading the crosswalk and the safety at the Valley Parker uh intersection by uh Columbia High School uh which can include a number of ideas of flashing signs with lights uh or part of the bike lane improvement plan that's in coordination with the county. Uh unfortunately we've had a few too many accidents with students trying to cross that area. So that's one of the the topic areas that we

167covered. But the the flavor of the uh of the meeting was around the scheduling of the Bose projects. Any questions? No, no questions. Okay, great. Thank you, Zack Gable. All right, so the curriculum and instruction committee met on June 9th at 6:30 p.m. with all members present. We discussed progress and updates related to the district goals, including the following highlights. Underneath goal one, uh Dr. Gilbert shared a presentation on the work of the Uplift team to encourage more middle uh school student participation in higher level math uh classes. We also heard about the supports uh for students in middle school math classes next year. Dr. Gilbert also presented CHS data on opportunity gaps, course failures, and risk ratios um and and their review process of that data. And um the district PD committee has been

168meeting and has narrowed the focus and structure structure for next year based on teacher feedback. Within goal 2, we heard about the work that continues around freshman academy. Um and we were updated on the how the final absenteeism data will be available by August, but progress is evident so far across schools. We discussed policy 2314 as mentioned by board member Meyer and we received key updates to the CHS scheduling process which remains on track with schedules 90% complete. Um I want to echo board member Eert's acknowledgement that we are voting to approve the hiring of a new director of guidance tonight and extend gratitude to our lead counselors and staff who have stepped up to keep things moving during this vacancy. Um, we discussed the district's plans to support students during the transition from preK

169to kindergarten. And that's about it. All the other notes are available online. Any questions? Thank you. Okay, we are now to the Sorry, what? Oh, action portion of the meeting. Um, are there any severs? No. Yeah. [Music] Can I Services? That's okay. I'm just working behind. Go on ahead. All right. Thank you. Okay. So, the special services committee met on June 12th from 6:30 to 8 with all members present. We began as we always do as acknowledged earlier with our CPAC meeting with President Beth Costentino. And this month we discussed communication structures, chain of command, training and accountability measures that are in place for ensuring accommodations happen in general education settings and par profofessionals including concerns and new assignment invading structures as we move into next year. Um we also in support of our goal

170around community and family engagement discussed how to share findings from the special education experience survey. Thank you to all of the parents and caregivers who took that survey. Um, we want to also combine it with other data that has been collected throughout the year to create a presentation for the public and the board to highlight the key actions that have been taken, the lessons they have learned, and how this information will guide planning for next school year. In support of our committee goal um 1.4 around funds and educational resources, we discussed the district's ongoing efforts to fill vacancies internally when possible while continuing to recruit for key roles. Um, we talked specifically about the two BCBA roles. one is seems to be hired and moving forward. Um, and then the additional CST member, we also

171talked about maintaining our ICS sections at all elementary schools, which was emphasized to avoid transferring students. Additionally, the expanded effective school solutions contract um will include sums for the 2526 school year. Um, and this was noted as a fiscal win that freed up resources for other needs. We also did an endofear data review where the committee reviewed data that was compiled by the department that included classifications, placements, par profofessional usage, and out of district trends. And this is being cross-referenced with Dr. Gilbert's wonderful risk ratio analysis so that we can better understand racial disparities in classifications and placements. And these efforts are part of a broader ongoing effort to analyze programming needs and inform planning and decision-making so we can best support all students. Our next meeting is scheduled for July 10th. And a full

172recap of this meeting is available on the website. Um and the floor is open to any colleagues with questions. Thank you so much. Any questions? No. Okay. Thank you, chair. Appreciate your patience. Um Okay. So, next is action portion and our first VP is Oh, yes. Thank you. I'm gonna ask to sever uh 4827. Well, I was just gonna ask whether or not you would ask for any severs. So yeah, action items 4815 through 4827. You'd like 482 27 severed. Um, yes. Thank you. And and then we have the hand carries 4828 A through E. Yes. So do we want to do the other ones first before the sub or? Yeah. So we'll do the all the others now. Sure. Okay. So all of the action items minus 4827 are now up for board member

173vote. I'll do a roll call. Board member Bennett. Yes. just board member Brown. Yes. Board member Callahan, yes. Board President Duval Wilson, yes. Board member Eert, yes. Board member Gford, yes. Board member Kapadia, yes. Board member Meyer, yes. Board member Saki Gable, yes. All right, we have the eyes have it. Okay, great. So, um, will there be discussion about uh action item 4027? He's going to read. Yes, please. Do you want a a second and such or are we are we up? Are we good? We're good to go. We're good. Yeah. Great. Uh, so I uh uh as uh board president Duval Wilson mentioned, we're very pleased uh to be uh having a resolution this year recognizing uh Pride Month. And we have a great resolution. It's a big beautiful resolution. We're not we're not

174going to read the whole thing in, but I wanted to read a an a bridged version uh for the record and for the community tonight. Uh resolution 4827. Whereas the South Orange Maplewood School District has a diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, interex, and asexual community along with allies. The SOSD district is committed to supporting dignity, equity, and visibility for all people in the community. And whereas the SOMSD community reaffirms enforcing anti-discrimination policies that protect students and staff regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We are committed to ensuring that LGBTQIA plus identities and histories are accurately and meaningfully reflected in our curriculum, school libraries, and classroom discussions in accordance with the New Jersey LGBTQ plus inclusive curriculum law. And whereas the district will continue to support LGBTQIA+ students through studentled affinity

175groups, professional development for staff, and visible affirmations of support. Therefore, be it resolved, the South Orange Maplewood School District does hereby declare and invite the members of our community to continue to celebrate Pride Month and reflect on ways we all can live and work together throughout the year with a commitment to mutual respect and understanding. Thank you. We all ready to vote? Okay, great. All right, I'll proceed with the vote then. Uh, board member Saki Gable, yes. Board member Meyer, yes. Board member Kapadia, yes. Board member Gford, yes. Board member Eert, yes. Board President Duval Wilson, yes. Board member Callahan, yes. Board member Brown, yes. Board member Bennett, yes. All right. Great. Thank you everyone. And next we have hand carries. So we want to decorate the hand carries as well. I thought the hand

176carries were in the first round. Yeah, they were in the first round. Yes. Oh, okay. Great. Go ahead. Cut that over. All right, great. Um, so now it's just uh the second public speaks. Do we have any things signed up? Um, so the is uh Howard Fiser on? Keith, the other person ended up just emailing. So, uh, Howard Fischer is no longer on. No longer on. Okay. Um, [Music] If it's if it's just you, then yeah, we we got you. We got you. So, uh Jane, come on up. Miss Conrad and Jonathan. Right. All right. Ah, there it is. Okay. So, um, thank you for letting me, uh, address you again. Um, this will be short, um, in all pictures pretty much. Um, it's just part two. And consider what you have before you throw

177it away. And this, the first one was soil. This is trees. And I do want to leave you all these pictures because I have them because I've been spending a lot of time weeding and doing things like that on the field. You may have your own pictures, but this is, you know, it's a it's a panorama of Ritzer. And I would say, you know, this is a view that money can't buy because of the mature trees in it. And if you move just a little to the side, this is the lunch tree, one of the few that are remaining along the side of the building. Very important to a lot of kids. and also holding back a certain amount of storm water there. Um, since 2019, uh, we lost a tree the same size, you

178know, up this side. And if anything, you need more on this side, and that would help, I think, with some of the huge amount of water that comes down there. Moving around, uh, this is facing Valley Street. There's a line of trees, about eight or 10. And I took these pictures because I noticed how important the shade is on them, especially in the summer. And that also affects soil quality and the comfort of anybody, you know, playing on those fields. And I was alarmed to see actually that both that what I call the picnic tree and these Valley Street trees don't seem to be preserved in the plans that I've seen. um at least there's construction so close to their roots or they're within the zone of disturbance that I don't think they would survive.

179And I just I urge you to really look at that and you know consider this is this huge tree over on Hixon Street. This is the pole with the um Project Adventure zipline arriving to it. again. Um, plans C and D pass within 2 ft of the trunk of this tree. It won't make it. This is, uh, looking down paralleling Hixon. This is a winding path. Right now, the plan, as I understand it, for C and D anyway, is to straighten it and move it more into the trees down here. the project adventure low ropes that plan C and D would take over that space which you got to have some kind of plan if you want people to use the high ropes they got to practice first on the low ropes um this is

180also some visitors to the field close up on the low ropes there deer um you would lose this big tree right here I just want to let you know you're at time but I want to let you finish showing us the pre I'm sorry I'll I'll wind it up quickly. I just included um this is West Orange. West Orange has a field that is exactly the same size as Ritzerfield. It's like 3.38 or 58 or something acres. No trees. I urge you just to go look at it. It's got a soccer field on it and also a ball field. And you know, I think the oldest high school in New Jersey deserves a setting like that first picture that I showed you with the mature trees around it. Please try to preserve that. Thank you.

181Thank you so much. [Applause] Okay. Yes. You would be the final one since no one else has officially signed up. You need to sign up in order to Yes. Too late. Good evening. I'll be really quick. Um I just I received an email from Mr. Bower this week saying that next year band is going to be the largest that it's ever been. Um, and I in hearing the FFT update this evening, I hear that we can't find 25 to $30,000 for a band vehicle for a very large program, but we can spend $6 million on plastic for Ritzer. I just wanted to point out that ju just juxaposition. And um in relation to Parker and Valley, Mr. Kapadia, um don't forget to check the crash map for Hixon and Valley. The data gets split in

182half because half the intersection is in Maplewood and half of it is in South Orange. So, whoever responds is who takes the data. Um but it's it's constant. Um, and unfortunately it happens a lot as school is letting out. Um, and it scares me to death. So, thank you. Thank you so much. Sorry, I have to I have to let him speak now. I'm sorry. We're not supposed to don't want to get in trouble. Um, please state your name again and and town. And this is the final public speaks of the evening. Just want to let everyone know. Thank you. Ben Vitali, South Orange. Um, glad to see the board working efficiently um and courteously together. Um, just two quick things. Uh, three quick things. wanted to respond earlier to the comment that we're going

183to move Ritzerfield and our facilities into the 21st century. I want you to consider the idea that you're actually moving them into the 20th century from the 19th century. You know, the 20th century is a time when um we push nature out of the way with engineering and um only in the last couple of years since the district has decided to uh build more turf have we learned so much about microplastics and so on. I think in the 21st century we're realizing that we can't always just push nature out of the way and sometimes we have to work with nature. Um just briefly then also more generally about the environmental um commitments of the district uh you know I think our school district may in some ways pro probably because state uh policies haven't caught

184up uh may be behind on its commitments to the environment. You know climate change is a is a massive issue. Um, the district has what, $190 million budget, far larger than the county or um, sorry, the municipal budgets in town. Um, we've got a $10 million plus transportation budget. We've got a $3 million facilities budget. Glad to hear we're going to work on solar or sorry, utilities. Um, how many in facilities? You know, it's a big deal. Um so you know we're talking about transportation for example and we hear about how it's important to optimize the number the time spent on the bus and the number of miles and that's absolutely true but I think a first class um part of those decisions needs to be you know the amount of carbon that those buses

185are emitting and the amount of miles that that they're driving and I I think the district needs maybe to pay attention a little bit more to that. Um, and then very quickly on the other side of uh refining the um strategy, I'm sitting over here by this noisy air conditioner, so it's hard to hear, but when you're talking about beta testing, will the consultant back test these new ideas about this variable, which sound like a very good idea to me, by the way, to just see what the consequences are. I I I hope they can do that. Thank you. That concludes public speaks. Um, we're now moving to the new business portion of the meeting. Are there any new business items and reminder that they are new business items are things that require immediate attention

186and a vote tonight? No. Great. Okay. So, I will now announce our future meetings. The board of education will meet again in public session on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. for our retreat. Action will not be taken. And then again on Thursday, the next night, July 24th, at 6:30 p.m. in public session for our regular board meeting, action will be taken. Mr. Moody, I would now like to make a motion to adjourn this meeting on Thursday, June 26 at 10:46 p.m. May I have a second? Thank you, board member Eer. All in favor? Okay, meeting is adjourned. Thank you.