001May I please call to order the May 26, 20 uh 2026 meeting of the High Point Regional High School Board of Education. I ask that we all please stand for the flag. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Open Public Meetings Act statement. New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law is a matter to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meeting of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of the act, the board of education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof
002posted on the district's official website on the public notices web page as well as posting at the Augusta, Branchville, and Sussex post offices and the clerk of the buroughs of Branchville and Sussex and Township of Frankfurt, Lafayette, and Wage. Mission statement. High Point Regional High School in partnership with staff, family, and community is dedicated to the quest for individual excellence. By fostering high standards of achievement, we prepare students to become responsible and productive members of a diverse society. Got this for a roll call for attendance, please. >> Mr. Anderson, >> here. >> Miss Longford here. >> Miss Diaz >> here. Miss Dakis >> here. >> Miss G here. Mr. Mr. Manstone >> here. >> Miss Weise >> here. >> Miss Hill. >> Mr. Dunn >> here. >> Dr. Rick >> here. >> We do have
003a qu. >> Uh, okay. A motion will now be made that the High Point Regional High School Board of Education enter executive session to conduct interviews to fill the vacated seat for Wanage Township and to provide an update on legal, personnel, and negotiations items which are exempt from exempt from public participation pursuant to New Jersey public law. uh 1975 chapter 231 open public meetings act. Any discussions held by the board which need not remain confidential will be made public when appropriate. Minutes of the executive session will not be disclosed until the need for confidentiality no longer exists. The board will reconvene in public session in person and virtually at the conclusion of the executive session. It is not anticipated that any action will be taken. And I have to apologize if there's anybody here in
004the public uh that may want to be part of the public comment section. We are likely to go till about 7:30 before returning um because of the interviews as we have them scheduled. Normally we have nobody that comes out for public comments. So uh and I apologize for the extra weight, but we'll probably be back at around 7:30. Uh so I'll make that motion. May I have you second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Okay. Okay. Uh, may I have a motion to return to public session, please? >> Have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. We will return to public session. Uh first up we have approval of minutes. Our regular meeting minutes from April 28, 2026 and executive session minutes from
005April 28, 2026 as well. Um may I have a motion to move in a second? >> I'll second. >> Uh and any discussion, comments, corrections on need to amend Alice was not at the last meeting. She's in the regular meeting. >> Uh she's listed as a just [clears throat] a typo. >> Correct. Okay. >> Yes. Yes. >> Executive meeting. >> Okay. Do you have that? >> I do. >> Okay. Um All right. Can I have a roll call with that correction to executive session, Miss Dis? >> Executive session. Good. >> Regular. >> I'm sorry. Regular session as amended. Correct. Executive session is fine. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> So, with that, um that roll open. >> Mr. Van Stone. >> Yes. As amended. Miss Mr. Anderson, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Miss
006Diaz, >> yes. >> Miss Bakus, >> yes. >> Miss G, >> yes. >> Miss Hill. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Mr. Dun, >> yes. >> Passes. >> Okay. Uh, so our agenda has first of all, let me apologize. Normally, we return at [clears throat] 7 o'clock, but we had an important uh uh interviewing session for an open board seat uh that happened in executive session earlier tonight. Um, we are also going to allow our student representative from student council to speak so that we can let him go before what might be a lengthy public comment session just in respect for Mr. Oriana. So, Mr. George Oriana, speaker of the house, we're going to ask that if you give us an up your final update on uh activities of the student council. >> [clears throat]
007>> So uh for this last meeting uh there isn't much to say really. Um the executive student council the general word of the month uh for the month of May was compassion. Um there was a presentation at the beginning of the month if you can remember. Um the student council also sponsored a 26 on 26 event today for unit one just to celebrate the class of 2026 on May 26th. Uh candy and senior merchandise was given out and there will be another event next week with more senior merchandise. Uh the seniors will also have a dinner cruise tomorrow on May 27th. The juniors also had their prom last Friday night at the mansion in Mountain Lakes. There are no updates for the sophomores and the freshman enjoyed an outdoor activity today with the student council
008providing ice cream. Like I said, it was um very short this month, but that's all I have today. Any questions for Mr. So we have a resolution if you want to choose to stand or you can sit for this. But we have a resolution um that we'd like to read. We have resolved that the High Point Regional High School Board of Education honor student representative George Oriana for the service on the High Point Regional High School Board of Education. Whereas George Oriana has served with distinction on the HPHS board of education. And whereas through their leadership, the HBRHS board of education has gained fresh insights into student concerns, student priorities, and what is on the mind of young people in the community. And whereas they have further contributed to the community by serving as a
009valuable spokesperson, sharing the student perspective at board meetings. And whereas George's exemplary commitment to fellow students in the school district has promoted clear communication between the board district administration and the student body. And whereas George has maintained a professional decorum at board meetings, shown respect to board members, and strived to learn the proper etiquette of serving on a school board. And whereas they have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the education of all students without neglecting their own responsibility to strive for success in the classroom. Now therefore, be it resolved that HPHS Board of Education recognizes George Oriano's dedication and commitment to advancing educational opportunity and open communication between the board, district administrators, and the student body. And be it further resolved that the members of the HBRHS board of education extend their sincere appreciation to
010George Aana for their dedicated service under our board of education. extend the best wishes to George and all her for future activities. [applause] Thank you very much. >> You can choose to stay if you'd like for the rest of the evening, but it's up to you. [laughter] >> Thank you for having me. >> Yes. And uh we do have another um presentation here. I believe Mr. Brian Derell, STEM supervisor, will update the board on matters related to our business department, including a digital digital marketing marketing project and the development of several partnerships with local businesses. Thank you. I'm not Mr. Drell for the record. Uh but thank you for your flexibility and allowing our students that are here tonight to present at this time. Uh I would like to mention one thing before I introduce
011my colleague, Mr. Drell. I wanted to publicly extend gratitude on behalf of the district um to the incredible generosity that was exhibited last Wednesday night at the Red Tail Lodge. This community, which is a hardworking community and is not always flush with money to to give away year after year after year, supports our students um with incredible scholarships. And our students received more than $175,000 in scholarships. It was a beautiful night. And so thank you to all who contributed and all who attended. Uh it was a great event. Um now this evening we are uh fortunate to have some outstanding students that are here. Um led by some great teachers um from the business department. Mrs. Terresa Emma. Um Mrs. Faith Card and Mrs. Dia Aloo are led by Mr. Brian Drellick who is their
012supervisor. I try not to let Mr. drug out in public often because people hear him speak and then uh they try and steal him to their district and their school. Um he's built an unbelievable program in our STEM field. Um Mr. Wallace, his predecessor, um did incredible things with that program and when Mr. J took over uh a decade ago, it's just gotten bigger and better. Tonight you will hear from marketing students and through his leadership and the teachers leadership they're doing just incredible things building partnerships with community. So it's a pleasure to introduce uh Mr. Brian. [clears throat] [applause] [clears throat] >> Thank you everybody. Thank you Sheamus. Um, thanks for giving us a couple minutes tonight to talk about this department and uh, make sure to turn this on and give a little
013background to the department as a whole. But really, I wanted to give the students here tonight uh, a chance to share with you the experience that they've had over the past year, notably with Penn Networks because of an opportunity that were provided to them by our teachers back there and Mr. Levante in our media program. So, some quick information about the it's it's our small department actually. Um, but we're really proud of the the opportunities and access students have in our classes to uh earn concurrent enrollment credit, which is something that we've really pressed heavily on here over the past several years. Uh, students in our business classes can earn credit through three different institutions in up to six different classes. And just last week, Shamus mentioned the uh the scholarship there. Last week, we
014we counted up I I hope I remember this correctly. We counted up the number of students in our senior class who um who earned concurrent enrollment this year. Uh it was about 40% of the graduating seniors uh earned at least one class of concurrent enrollment and that exceeded over 215 different classes that they earn credit for here at High Point. So that's a tremendous growth in that area. We recognize the financial hardship uh that college presents and the fact that so many of our students are able to earn that credit by virtue of the classes that they take here. We're really proud of. The second thing, and this is something I often talk about at our at our eighth and nth grade events, is that we realize that students in our in our community have
015options and choices in high school and uh one of the things that we really try to um press forward not only in business but also in the tech department is access to industry certifications. Uh we were doing that a little bit before CO and honestly it was even though that was six years ago for whatever reason it's it's kind of been the slowest thing that has come back. I am so pleased and I'm very grateful to Kathy in the business office because it's been quote after quote after quote after quote for for industry certifications over the past couple of weeks but I'm really grateful for the for the teachers for their leadership and um and motivating encouraging students to pursue this at the end of the year. Uh Mr. Cart and I were just talking
016about her students are going to take their practice test tomorrow for intuit bookkeeping. Mrs. Emma students are going to take it. Microsoft technology associate. We have somebody doing QuickBooks. We have a video game design students doing this in CAD. And I'm really proud of the fact and we were I was in classes the other day and uh the questions the students ask are great. you know, they keep this with them forever where it's the sort of thing where you encourage them to use their personal email address and not their high point email address because it's something that they can put as a digital badge in their resume and they can carry with them whether they're going to four-year college, trade school, two-year, it it's theirs. So, we're we're really proud of the growth that we
017have or the return of those opportunities for industry certification. So speaking of that outside the building experience, I am so proud over all these years at high point of the support that our students have for outside the building experiences and we go all over the place uh across all the departments for remarkable trips. Uh what has been interesting over the past couple years, notably with business, is although we we've gone to American Dream and Big Snow and to Metife and Tanke Stadium, uh we started to circle back to some really impressive um and eye opening trips for our students right here in the county. Uh Teresa Faith took an amazing field trip to Mount Creek just a couple of weeks ago. Many of our students work at Mount Creek, but to see the inside of
018a four-season operation like that 15 minutes away and kind of the inner workings of it is very eye opening. Uh two other places which I'll speak more about detail tonight. Uh Crystal Springs which is amazing and a nationally recognized resort very very close to here um is one of the places and Teresa and Faith will talk a little bit more about that and then um connection to a really popular and booming local business planning networks that our students will uh will speak about in a section as well. So we'll start with Crystal Springs. So that picture in the top right corner, I made it purposely small because that's actually me in a pool there with I don't know how my one of my sons I had four sons probably three or four years ago. A
019very this or how organic this whole relationship started. A good friend of ours is the house photographer there. So on occasion she'll ask my wife and I, my kids, I have four kids to go and essentially like model different things at Crystal Springs. Often times they'll show up on social media which I don't really have and somebody will say, "Well, what were you doing at the pool at Crystal Springs last night?" like I wasn't at that that picture was probably 4 years ago. Or it'll look like my wife and I are on this romantic date and my four kids will be like, "Mom, what's for dinner? Where are we going? What are we what are we doing here?" Um, but that relationship of being there uh during one of those events, I don't remember if
020it was that one or another one, uh, I asked the director of marketing and I introduced myself and I said, "You know, I work with the business students at my school. is there any possible way for us to bring some students over here to see how this resort operates and works. So in essence kind of invited ourselves over. Uh thankfully she said yes and that was 2 or 3 years ago and uh that started what has become a really nice strong partnership with with Crystal Springs and the amazing resort that they have there. So, um, at this time, I'd like to introduce Teresa and Faith to talk to you a little bit more about what we've done there over the past couple years and the great opportunity our students had this year to, uh, to
021present something and to even earn a couple good parts. So, ladies, [applause] >> um, I just want to start by saying thank you so much for providing the opportunity for our students. When I started here, this will be my fourth year. um first class I'm seeing out and um to be able to grow our marketing department and have um you know the support that we've had from Mr. Dellic and the board and everyone else to be able to give these field trips um the first field trip that we went on to Springs um to have our students say compared to even the other bigger field trips that we have taken outside of the county um to have our students say that that was a really great field trip I'm very surprised Mrs. Um I know
022that you probably heard that too from many of our students. They're shocked at how much they've gotten out of just going to Vernon and hearing some of the executives talk. Um some of the real talk, some of also um Michelle has been amazing. She actually came um and gave uh a gift card to one of our students the first year. She asked us to um she asked the students when we got back from the field trip um the next day in class, we actually had to go through um some marketing objectives that they would recommend for Crystal Springs. Um one of our students who at the time um really took it upon himself to um provide in great detail what he would do. Um was amazing to see what he came up with and Michelle
023was highly impressed and I think that that started the whole competition phase of our um of our time with Crystal Springs. So, do we have >> the clicker? >> Yes. >> So, if you want to kind of describe what we did this time. >> Yeah. So, um it's really important that our students get into our businesses. I had eight years in the business industry and you don't know what's happening in a business or what jobs are available and to really get to see what's happening. Um, so it's really awesome for our students to get inside and meet these professionals who are doing fun jobs and they didn't realize existed. Um, for this specific competition, um, Michelle asked the students to pick any brand and to create a new product that is totally different than what
024they actually do. Um, so our top winner was McDonald's. So they took McDonald's and they created a sneaker brand. Um they had to go through the target market who would buy it. Um they had >> everything all um a mockup and they had about a lunch time so about 2530 minutes to come up with this with their teams and then they actually presented it on the stage um at Crystal Springs which was really awesome. Um so first prize which came with a $200 gift card um for the team was McDonald's. Second prize we had um Disney's magic spark. So it was an energy drink for Disney goers for their parents. Um which I thought was really really fun. Um and they obviously can see what's happening to their parents at Disney. Um and then third
025prize we had the Apple eye scooter. Um so Apple creating an electric scooter that comes with Air Tag that connects to Bluetooth. Um so again just showing their creativity and their strength um that they learn through marketing and then really get to foster in these places like this. It's been great forming their relationships with everyone and everywhere we've gone we've been welcome back. So we've also gone to when we just got back from Mountain Creek they actually had a bike race. Um a gentleman who had graduated worked at Mountain Creek from Katini. He was um running the bike race. He says he would come back every year. He took us around to all the tents. Um introduced us to um all of his I mean we went to head we went to another gentleman who
026started his own um his own line of bikes. It was it was really cool. It was really awesome to be able to do that in a day. >> Yeah. So I'm going to pass it back to Mr. >> Thank you very much. I was actually over there today thinking cards from Michelle. Michelle's the director of marketing and she says to us every year and this is another reason it's great to to lean into these local trips. When I went to go pick them up, she's like, "Please." Actually, she wrote something. I'll read this first. Congratulations to the students at High Point Regional for their incredible performance in the brand swap exercise. Tasked with rapid fire brainstorming session, students had to promote a well-known brand and completely unexpected product category. Thank you for joining us at
027Crystal Springs Resort this past March and so looking forward to you having the next group of students come through our doors next year. Best of luck to you all and have a wonderful summer. Uh when I was over there picking it up though, she said and she said this to us every year. Please encourage them to come here and work. Uh it's a it's a huge employer in the county and uh she I was unable to go this year. Uh she was so very impressed with with what the students did this year and even in the prior years when we've been over there. So it's a it's a great local partnership that we're lucky to have. The second one very organic as well. Um, one of the tech teachers at Frankfurt Township School reached out
028to me two years ago. Uh, he conducts like a Shark Tank exercise there and he said during the Shark Tank exercise that one of the judges of Shark Tank was Planet Networks and they were really for you know we see the trucks everywhere and uh, you know, they they're a very appealing company to many of us in the county based on whatever internet provider we may have. uh they were really looking for some help with their social marketing campaign and as impressive as the team of people uh were who came here, I really appreciated their humility with how impressive this business growth has been so recently to say we're good at a lot of things. We're good at fiber optics. We're good at pricing. We're good at installation community service, but we're not very good
029at marketing. And they reached out to our marketing teachers and our and our media teacher for some help last year with how to grow and brand their marketing campaign. So last year they came with a pitch to our for our students uh for a 30 secondond you know but the way um different generations consume information different than the way I the way the way I do. So they uh they asked our students to come they came here and they pitched the idea to our students to put together a brief 30 second social media campaign on how they could better promote what planet Networks does. So I am very pleased coming on up guys. I am very pleased to introduce uh John Turner and Kaia who were our three winners last year. Some remarkable things about
030them. They were all freshman. So there's something about 60 students last year. And the three winners, there's actually four winners who was also a freshman. Uh Trevor can't be here tonight. They were all nth graders. So, I'm going to introduce them to talk a little bit about not only what they did last year, but the remarkable journey that they've been on over the past year actually working at Planet Networks by virtue of the uh competition that they won last year here. So, you guys, >> my name is Turner. Um, I just want to start off by saying it was a great opportunity to, you know, have this chance and uh do my social media competition. Uh me and Trevor Unex worked together and uh we we ended up coming first place in the competition and
031uh we decided to take the uh the internship to get some sales uh some sales work in instead of taking the 500 bucks and uh it's been really really great for me. Um, I'm I'm a working entrepreneur and he's really teaching me a lot about, you know, the real world real world business. Um, how everything goes on. You know, the things you don't see online. Um, all the hard work that everyone really does put into all this work and, uh, it really just takes time. You just got to take action, but it's a pretty good experience for me. I'm thankful for it. >> Uh, yeah. Good evening everybody. My name is Sean McCarthy. Um, like I said, next week, part-time sales representative for Planet Networks. I'll leave by saying if you're interested in switching, reach
032me directly. [laughter] Um, no, but seriously, it was a great opportunity. I give credit to the business department for setting this up. Um, it kind of gave us a real taste of like what a real corporation, you know, how it runs, the ins and out. Um, I think in terms of the job, we we do a lot of traditional sales stuff. Um, but also, you know, cold calling, door knockocking, receiving inbound calls, customer relations events. Um, it's really an intricate job and, uh, I enjoy myself there. >> Hi, I'm Ka. Um, I'm also a sales and marketing associate at Networks. Um, on the competition last year, I originally got third, which is not offer an internship originally, but they reached out to me directly and offered to me. It was amazing and super surprising. And
033honestly, this whole experience and opportunity has been beyond amazing. I learned so many things and I think this whole opportunity will benefit me in the future in more ways than one. And I'm just really grateful that I get to work with such amazing amazing people and get to have experience at such an age. [applause] All right. So, uh, like last year, we did it again this year. Um, similar thing, pretty much the exact same thing. Um, I recently play the top three place winners. Um, like some of the previous slide. Um, there was awards. Third, I think got merchandise. Second was a $100. And then first place was an internship or a $500 gift card. This is our third place. >> Life tends to move fast. [music] >> Sometimes slow and steady just won't cut
034it. >> [applause] >> Yes, we're kind of looking for creative um folks to help us out with marketing, especially social media marketing. That's kind of huge right now. Um next is a second place winner, Grace. >> Oh, I did take a video of Kit Kat. Oh my god, this is so good. I did a video. >> Oh no, I have no Wi-Fi. >> You're right, bud. If you have no Wi-Fi and you want to give it to your dad, hopefully it works today. [applause] And then the uh first place winner is Sandra W. >> Good evening. Do you want to see when you're posting or not? Get Planet Network's fasting clever internet because you worry again. [applause] >> Thank you everybody and thank you department and business department for letting us participate in these events.
035[applause] AND LASTLY, they were very humbled. Uh, of all the different speakers that I've had been here over the years, uh, what was so incredibly impressive this year with Planet Networks coming back, another organization that employs a ton of High Point graduates, uh, and also has offered to employ even more High Point graduates. And as you can tell, even current students, is that when they did the presentation this year, their current staff set aside, and it was really the four of them that ran the presentation in the competition for our current students participating and for our current student body to see their peers uh, in these roles. uh while they're still in high school uh was really impressive. You guys should be very proud of yourselves for what you've done and again credit to the
036teachers, the three teachers in the business department and Mr. Lubansky for uh giving our students opportunity to do this. So again, thank you everybody for your time and uh again and for your support of of the business department and the tech department. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Trump. Uh thank you everyone here for your patience and letting us get through that first. Uh so we're going to return to our agenda public comments. Agenda items only in accordance with the open public meetings act. We will open for public comments for agenda items only. At this time each speaker should state his or her name and address. You will have three minutes to address the board which will be timed by myself. We will limit this section to no longer
037than 45 minutes. We may be lenient there. Uh please be respectful and mindful that your comments are being recorded and as typical we have two methods for addressing the board. One is here at our uh podium. Uh the other is to our email address that we have posted on our virtual platform and I know we have received comments already or at least one comment there already. Um so we'll start in the room. However, whoever wants to go first please welcome to the podium. Uh, and I will say just please understand that we really want to hear your comments, but we will not necessarily engage you with any back and forth dialogue. That does not mean that we are not interested in your comments. It's just uh this is your opportunity to speak in public and
038have your comments heard. Um but if you request some certain response from us and you may not necessarily get it at this time. Okay. >> Welcome please. >> Um good afternoon. Sorry. [cough] My name is Bernie Ken. Um did you need my address? >> Please if you would. >> Um 673 County Road 519 uh Sussex 1, New Jersey 07461. Um, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak here today. Um, I'm here because I'm asking for reconsideration of a decision preventing me from attending my senior dinner cruise tomorrow evening. Um, I want to begin by making one thing clear. I fully understand the importance of accountability, attendance, academics, and behavior. I know that earlier in the school year, I struggled in several of those areas, and I am not here to deny that. However,
039I'm here because I was explicitly told that if my grades and attendance improved, the possibility of attending the cruise would be revisited. Based on my progress, I believe I had met those expectations. Earlier this spring, after meetings with administration, it was communicated to both me and my family, including through written email documentation from Mr. Gladiier that if my attendance and grades significantly improved, I could potentially attend the cruise. From that point forward, I made an extremely serious effort to improve my grades and attendance. When comparing my attendance from earlier in the year to now, there's a clear difference. In January, I missed 15 days. In February, I missed 16 days. In March, I missed 9 days. But after the meeting or the after my attendance meeting, my my attendance improved substantially. In April, I was
040absent only twice. In May, I was only absent three times. And two of those three absences involved ER visits with medical documentation submitted. Even on days when I was medically able to stay or when I was medically able to stay home with an excused absence, I still came to school because I believe my effort mattered towards my school work. On May 21st, after an ER visit, I still attended school late rather than remain remain absent. I did that because I genuinely believed I was working towards earning back that privilege of attending this event. My grades also improved significantly. I went from failing multiple classes to passing the majority of them while actively working with my teachers to make up missing assignments. I am continuing to work towards graduation which the administration has repeatedly said is
041the priority. I also want to acknowledge that earlier in the year I had disciplinary issues. However, I completed the disciplinary actions and consequences that were assigned to me. I accepted responsibility for those mistakes and worked to improve my behavior moving forward. Since then, I have been focusing on correcting my actions academically, behaviorally, and personally. That that is why I believed this process was or was about showing improvement and growth. What has been most difficult throughout this process is not simply the decision itself, but the lack of consistency and clarity behind it. >> [snorts] >> One example of this is that I was told I would be permitted to attend the Six Flag senior trip even though that even though that senior trip requires missing an entire day of school. In contrast, the senior dinner cruise
042takes place after school hours and I had already arranged to remain at the school even though other people were leaving early for um getting ready and stuff. Um I was going to stay there for the full academic day before attending. I was also unable to attend Six Flags regardless because the payment deadlines have already been passed and while my payment for the CL the cruise has already been submitted and accepted already to reserve my spot for the cruise. Um, additionally, I was recently informed that my driving privileges would be reinstated. Those privileges had originally been revoked due to disciplinary actions, but were held and I was repeatedly told that I needed to improve regarding I had to improve my attendance and grades. The same concerns now being used to deny me access to the dinner
043cruise. If enough improvement has been shown to restore one privilege tied to attendance and academics, I respectfully do not understand why the same improvement is not being recognized for this one night senior activity. I also want to acknowledge that many of my attendance issues were connected to documented medical concerns. I provided doctor's notes and explanations regarding symptoms that are related to a chronic illness that I developed that sometimes make it difficult for me to arrive at school on time. Despite those challenges, I still made notice I still made noticeable progress once expectations were clearly laid out for me. Most importantly, I feel this decision became especially unfair because my parents and I remained under the impression that I could still earn the opportunity to attend it up until about a week ago before the cruise.
044Had I been clearly told months ago that attendance on the cruise would never be re reconsidered, regardless of improvement, this situation would be much different. But instead, I was encouraged to continue improving and submit my payment with the understanding that the possibility remained open. The payment was never returned and is still yet to be refunded. I'm not asking anyone to ignore the mistakes I made earlier in this year. I'm simply asking that the improvement I demonstrate I demonstrated be recognized fairly and consistently. The senior dinner cruise is one final opportunity to participate in a senior experience with my classmates before graduation. I worked hard academically and personally under the belief that my efforts could change the outcome. I respectfully ask the board to reconsider this decision and allow me a opportunity to attend. Thank you
045for your time and consideration. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Debbie Boris Chevis and I am a special education teacher at the Sussex Wantage School District. This is going to be my 19th year teaching in the school district. During my time here, I've seen educational programs, mandates, students growth change [clears throat] significantly. But I can honestly say I am deeply concerned about the proposal to combine the sus special education director position between Sussex Wondage and High Point Regional. According to the New Jersey special education reports, both both districts have seen increasing numbers of students requiring this service. Sussex Wantage alone has grown from 243 students receiving special education in 20 year 21-22 to 36 special education students in the year 24 and 25. So this means more than one out of every
046four students at Sussex Wantage is special education. Combine that with High Point, this would place an oversight of more than 440 special education students under one director. These are not just numbers. These are students with academic, behavioral, emotional, developmental, communication needs who require individualized support, specialized programming, and strong leadership. Our district currently oversees multiple specialed programs, including two preschool disabled classes, four autistic classes, three emotional regulation programs, five LLD classes, multiple resource classes, and numerous in-class support classes, not to mention over 90 teacher assistants, and three child study teams. Managing these programs requires constant communication, staffing support, compliance, oversight, problem solving, and crisis management. Our teachers and paraprofessionals and child study teams are already stretched thin. Students needs particularly in autism, emotional regulation, behavior, and mental health are becoming increasingly complex. Strong special education programs
047require visible, responsible leadership. Staff and families need administrators who are available when crisis arise, difficult meetings occur or when students needs immediate support. So I ask, can one person truly be effective in that position which requires supervision of more than 440 special education students along with their families and specialists, teachers, par professionals, and support staff? is combining two districts under one special education director truly in the best interest of the school, the students, our community that we decide we dedicate our lives to every single day. After 19 years in Sussex Wondage, I have never been more concerned about the direction we are heading. I respectfully ask the board to carefully consider the long-term impact this decision is going to have on our students, our families, and staff in both districts. Thank you. [applause] Hi, I'm
048like I have three children in this district. I live at 8 right away in one. Um I'm a mother of two children in the district who both have IEPs. My one son is classified as autistic. He was in an autistic classroom just recently moved up into a LLT classroom. I have always found that the district has been super helpful in getting the information across when I was trying to push and get my son. It was difficult to get Miss Hen at times. I can't imagine how difficult it would be her Mrs. Delaney who's slated to take this position on with all the other children coming in from the sending districts as well as the districts that she's that she's responsible for. I looked it up. Almost 20% of the children at High Point Regional High
049School have IEPs. And that's not including the children that have 504 plans. And who's going to take over the CPAC, the homeless liaison? Um there's just so much that it I I don't know her personally. I don't know how qualified she is, but it just seems like a lot. And I understand that there has to be cuts. I work in healthcare myself. I see it. But these children are such at a disadvantage to begin with that they need these services and it's very personal to me as I have two children that need these. My one son has come so far in the five years that we've been in the district. He's won two awards. He's come out of his shell. it I it's very important these kids are at disadvantage and to to put somebody
050to be spread so much thinner that maybe that they can't meet all the parents needs and it was hard enough to get a meeting for things I just feel I don't want to over talk but I just feel that it just please think about children and the families every child deserves an education but these kids are at disadvantaged thank >> [applause] >> Good evening, board. I've been wait I've been waiting here for about 3 hours. I thought I was getting a break to eat, but didn't happen. It's obviously not your fault, but we'll start there on a couple of smiles. Who am I? I am uh command service mate command to retired uh Dan Ox here. I just retired after 28 years of active service. I am a homeowner uh in one white one and
051uh I give you guys well not you guys but the county about 14 grand uh every year. Isn't that nice? That being said uh we have three kids. Two of them are currently in the schools and uh we're working on our third working their way into the school and my middle son uh is is disabled uh badly crippled I think is the word that we don't use anymore but that is exactly what's going on. My experience when I was uh stationed uh both in Europe and then again when I was reassigned as the operations s major uh at uh at West Point um was that the school system was not responsive to any of my of my family's needs. I literally had to make it a side project and a hobby uh to get after
052these guys. Uh Mr. Gil, especially Miss Henman. Uh I'm going to say this on the record. She is trash. I don't say that lightly. Uh she is unresponsive, unable to answer emails, and you guys made the right choice having her gone. That being said, uh having mature people >> I just >> I'm sorry. Can I >> be my fool? Your comments are being recorded in >> Absolutely. I proud stand by that. If you'd like the evidence and the receipts and the emails, I can forward them to >> you. And it wasn't our decision to terminate somebody. >> Well, I mean, regardless, it still gets said on the on the public record. Can I use my half minute back? Sir, can you >> I haven't started time. >> Perfect. [clears throat] >> Where was I? >>
053See my point? Yes. >> Okay. That being said, um my attitude is on it is that I think that term termination was a great idea. I don't know where it came from and I don't care. I'm happy she's gone and I don't say that lightly to lamb back to to uh it's not important. The bit is it was a job. It is still a job. Put out an application. you can hire someone. Uh we've had some great com we've had some great people tonight talk about their comments about how uh what is there 400 and it's like what one one in four kids require help and we're going to what split this between two different schools and one one person. I can't imagine this would be helpful to any extent. That being said, after retiring
054after 28 years and seven combat tours, uh there is not there is absolutely nothing I can do if I decide that it is worth doing. So that being said, I have a lot of time on my hands now that I'm retired. Uh those two seats interest me and when those become available, those can too. I would rather not turn this board or the admin or my son into a hobby here. I would prefer that we rehired someone who is capable, competent and committed to get to getting the job done because ultimately if you try to save some cash and you will and that's fine. I like that. I also as I mentioned earlier spent 14k K on you guys. Saving cash is good, but in the end, if you do not hire someone else to
055take that position who again is capable, competent, and commit and commit commit committed, the problem you're going to have is that you'll be sued. You'll have lawyers up your butt. There'll be all kinds of ad string crap from any number of parents who are going to retaliate against that. And that's not a threat. That's just the reality of it. So, we save 73K over here. And then we spend what 2 three 400k trying to resolve disputes and arguments that could be handled by a person who is sitting there handling the issue. So I would argue that it's uh kind of um shortsight it's it's it's short short it's short short shortsighted and ineffective to leave this job empty. And if you have an application process, I would just recommend that you guys just throw out
056the C application, hire someone, and let's be on with this. I'm also super hungry, so I apologize. Uh that's that's all I really have. Thank you. Thank you very much. [applause] >> Hi, my name is James Drew, 25 road, Lafayette, New Jersey. I'm here um to let you know that both High Point and Lafayette have done an incredible job in the past dealing with kids with disabilities. We have a granddaughter that went through a year and I forget what year she graduated. She ended up being a super senior and was under the toutelage of Mrs. Smith. Abigail when she walked with her graduating class, her normal class, [snorts] was given a perseverance award that brought tears to our eyes. She was known throughout the school. um students loved her and we were here at a
057program at a meeting many years ago, several years ago where this was a similar subject at the board meeting and we heard testimonies from students who were impacted by those kids that they were dealing with here in school and changed educational goals. became impacted by those students they're dealing with. You can't see it from here this far away, but I have a picture on my phone. My the picture there is Abigail sitting on the front of the stage in the auditorium with two students on either side of her. The program that year, it was a program that was done uh jointly with High Point and Katini. The program that that year was Who's Your Superhero? These two boys designed t-shirts with Superman logos on the front and walked down the aisle of the auditorium and
058presented them to Abby sitting on the stage. We have we can't tell you how much we've enjoyed the education that the tile that she got here. We have another granddaughter in currently in Lafayette. They're doing a super job over there and we can't encourage you enough to keep this program going. Um, it impacts not only these kids with a disability. Ellie, our in fourth grade right now, is nonverbal, but she's got a communication board and she can tell you what she wants, but she's got to have help. And she's impacted the students in fourth grade at Lafayette and the rest of that school. I can't tell you enough. Please keep this program going. These kids need it. And not only these kids, but the rest of the student population is impacted by what what they're
059going to see and what they deal with. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Are there any other public comments in the room? I have one that was submitted. I'm going to if there are no other public comments in the room, I have one to read. >> Hopefully I have it. Uh this was emailed into our virtual board meeting at highpointregional.org email address uh earlier today. Uh Nick Dagustinino 121 Water Street, Newton, New Jersey. Uh, dear esteemed experts in special education, please direct your attention to finance number eight on your agenda this evening. My name is Nick Fagastino. I was born and raised in Wanage, lived there for 34 years and served on the Sussex Wage Board of Education for eight years. I also happen to be a member of the special needs community. I
060wish that I could be there tonight to share with you in person how deeply disappointed I am that you are voting to cut services for the most vulnerable population in our community. Let us be clear, you are not voting to share services. you are voting to take away services. In my time on the board, the special education department was consistently the most stressed and overworked group who were constantly embroiled in lawsuits from angry parents who battled with the realities of their newly diagnosed son or daughter. Are you sure you want to take all of that on? I promise you that this will end up costing more money than it saves. You could have shared the IT department, but by voting yes tonight, you will be providing proving that you care more about your Wi-Fi than
061children. You could have shared the business administrator, but by voting yes tonight, you would be proving that you value money more than students. You could have shared buildings and grounds director, but by voting yes tonight, you would be proving that your value you value your grass more than your special needs community. You could even have shared your superintendent with Sussex Wanage, which now seems like a great idea. Sussex Wanage Regional School District's board of education has already proven this all to us. They do not care. They knew this would be unpopular, which is why they deceptively and dishonestly snuck the vote in on their addendum mere hours before their public meeting. We implore you, do not be like Sussex Wantage, where board members literally voted against the well-being of their own sons and daughters. The
062thing about the special needs community is that they literally need more, not less. Expecting one individual to oversee four schools from PK through 12th grade is [clears throat] not only infeasible, it is downright irresponsible. Please vote no tonight and do the right thing. We still have hope in your board even if we have lost our faith in Sussex Wage. Thank you all so much and God bless you all. [applause] Uh there was there was another set of comments. Is there somebody in the room that maybe had distributed some comments? >> That was me, but that's not for >> Okay. Cuz I was going to say we can't read this as a public comment because there are students names listed and >> that is fine. >> Okay. So that is for our own >> that has
063to do with the high school. >> Um if there are no other public comments, I would like to speak action. Is it an agenda item? >> It's on the same issue as that. Um, my name is Austin Caldwell. I live by 89 Sherman. Um, my background is in special education. I worked uh at the New Jersey Education Disability Agency in Clifton after leaving High Point. I work with non disabled students, students in wheelchairs, and I truly believe that you need to vote no to this. There is no way that these families have to deal with that. to deal with talking to somebody. I work currently in a behavioral setting where I am talking to my director every single day and there is no way and I worked in this school and worked with Abigail um
064and with many students that I still see out in the public. It is the best thing that happens in the school is having those kids here, having a program that runs correctly and there is no way that you can do that by splitting a job up between two districts. I I really highly advise you guys doing that. I really really hope that you don't do that. Um these parents go through enough. I don't know if you could ever imagine what it takes to be a parent with kids with special needs, but it is a challenge and it is they are superheroes. I truly believe that parents, you know, they're gifted this because they truly can take it because it is a challenge every single day. And to do and split this with Mrs. would be
065more and more challenging for these kids than you possibly imagine and the parents. So, please vote no tonight. That's all I have to say. [applause] >> Back up my husband. Uh my name is Michelle Oxer 110 Road in Wage. Um I graduated here from High Point in 2006. And uh after living all over the country with my husband, we decided to come back home. And I did that because in 2021 my son had a birth injury. He has cerebal palsy. He is hearing better, visually impaired. Med resistant epilepsy and underwent brain surgery at 18 months old to remove part of his brain. Um he is wheelchair bound and he is the happiest child you will ever meet and he brings so much joy. I worked in special education at the Clifton Warren School. I was
066a teacher's assistant for two years before we moved to North Carolina and I continued to do that down there. I know what it's like to work in special education. I have one year left on my degree for teaching and that was my goal until I had him and now I am his caregiver. I want you to know that where we are now was a struggle to get him the things that he did, things he needs to function in life, an activity chair at school, a standard that was safe at school because he cannot do those things on his own. They were a fight because they wanted to deny him these things and by law he has booed them. So with that being said, let Sussex Wage do what they need to do to continue to
067provide for him and all the other children in their program. That is their job, not your guys's job, to share your resources with them. And that's all I have to say. Please. Thank you. [applause] Seeing no more public comments, can I have a motion to close public comments? Do we second? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Um, so we have a couple of more presentations to do. I am going to uh ask that we adjust our agenda. and one item that it sounds like most people are interested in hearing about. We will move up so that um those members that have come out in the public can witness our discussion and debate on that and our vote on that motion and then we'll return to our agenda normal agenda after
068that. But first, please if we may uh we're going to finish up our presentations. So, uh we had Mr. U. Unfortunately, our principal is not here but you you were going to speak. Oh, some sorry. Did I miss that? >> It's okay. >> Miss Sunda is going to speak to us an update about important uh HPA items. >> Sorry. >> No, that's okay. Good evening. >> Good evening, members of the board of education. Um, last week was one of the most difficult weeks that many of us experience in our professional careers. It began with tremendous loss and grief um and somehow ended with the joy of doing them wrong. In between we navigated a significant heatwave, state testing and the emotional weight that accompanied us each day. For many faculty and staff members that we
069felt like the longest years of our career, our entire school community was shaken to its core by the untimely passing of one of our students. During our faculty meeting in the morning, Mr. John Talman, who's not here, expressed his gratitude for the way that the faculty and staff came together for our children during such a painful time. As representatives of the faculty and staff, we would like to echo that sentiment and also extend our sincere appreciation to the administration for its leadership throughout its crisis. We were grateful, deeply grateful for the clear and compassionate communication, the constant availability and presence of our administrators, the kind words that were shared with both staff and students, the accessibility of mental health support personnel during an extraordinarily difficult time. Those efforts mattered. Um they help create stability and
070reassurance during a moment um when many struggling to process profound grief. I had counselors in and out personally speaking in my 35 class that this student was in. Um I had counselors with um with dogs to come in to support my students to support me. this dog laid down where this student once sat. Um, no school community ever wants to endure an experience like this. But if another community should ever face such a tragedy, we hope that their faculty and staff and students feel the same level of care, support, and compassion that our staff and our students have received from this administration. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Dr. >> Yeah, I had planned on speaking about this in Mr. Talame. I just want to say that our crisis management team demonstrated
071not just a textbook response of implementing the policy and procedures that have been long in place and on which they work diligently so that when an event were to occur, they were hyperprepared. When you marry that with compassion and love that was shown by the staff, the administration, the students, High Point community came together in a way that each individual who was feeling a suffering of loss, felt as though they were loved and cared for. We had clinicians from around the county. We had the dog and we had multiple people offer assistance, but it was really the efforts of the administration, the crisis management uh team. Uh Mr. Rice, Mr. Tal is at his best when he presents to the community a unified system of love and caring for each other. And with a staff
072partners with the administration in such a capacity, we experience a week that although it was tragic and heart-wrenching, people came together in a way that demonstrated the strength of the community, the strength of the district, and the strength of the people who are in positions to help each other and to love each other through moments of great grief and great pain. The staff was phenomenal. They worked together with the administration, with the crisis management team, with outside clinicians and other districts from the around the county that sent people to assist that team. I cannot imagine that anyone that it could be done any better than those people tasked with that responsibility which is every educator in this building could have done a more thorough caring and substantive job that was done by our administration, our
073crisis management team, our educators, our staff and all those who engage with children and each other. We talk about love all the time and the evidence of love last week was overwhelming in the face of great suffering and I want to laud the crisis management team the administration led by Mr. Talamay and the educators in this district led by Miss Sunday. It was truly edifying and something about which I believe the district and community can be exceedingly proud and I am very very proud to have been able to watch the exceptional methods and manner in which that love was poured out to a hurting community. Thank you. >> Thank you Dr. Thank you. [snorts] Um Mr. Sheamus Campbell is going to follow that up with a presentation on curriculum instruction. >> That actually actually was
074my presentation before. So I'm going to yield my time to Mr. Drell. So [laughter] >> thank you. >> Excellent. >> So that is the presentation. >> Um >> All right. Before we get to action, there's just one item in other business. Just a note here. for the retirement and service recognition awards are scheduled for Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Okay. So, normally we follow through our action items in the order that we're presented. We are going to pick uh under finance number eight that is page 14 of 35 um and then we'll return to our action items as they are listed. So, uh, under finance, I would like to, um, move number eight is a recommendation that the High Point Regional Board of Education approves the shared services agreement between
075High Point Regional Board of Education and the Sussex Wantage Regional Board of Education or the Director of Special Education effective July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 in accordance with NJSA statute 4A 165-1 at C. Uh, I will make that motion. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Uh, any discussions, comments, or whatever? This is actually where I'm going to uh ask Dr. Ripley if he would please present maybe an understanding of what this agreement means. uh how we um believe it is going to be implemented uh and hopefully address some of the concerns of the public. >> When speaking about special education, I can provide a rationale which I will >> but nothing that I say can assuage the the challenges with which parents contend every day. I don't presume to nor will
076I attempt to. you experience things that I can't possibly imagine. I am tasked with a broadbased sensitive uh spectrum of responsibilities, one of which is managing scarce resources, whether they be financial resources, material resources, or human resources. For very many years, High Point, many school districts in the county have been reduced by state aid reductions that have crippled many districts that are struggling to stay afloat. They have gutted staff and one area of which is um aids, paraprofessional aids. High Point, I believe, may be the only district in the county that still employs full-time aids. Um and that is a commitment to the well-being of children. I don't know how long that that stays in place, but I wanted to bring it up because it matters. Again, I want to reiterate nothing that I say
077am I attempting to convince someone of something. I'm merely going to present to you and the board in particular why we are here and I'm making a recommendation upon which the board will vote. Those fiscal constraints have been exceedingly acute. We have been tasked for a decade with sharing services whether they be material or human. We have attempted to do so for beyond 10 years even back before our superintendent. We have shared um resources with our municipal um with our town with Wantage for various reasons. We share a uh supervisory position with Frankfurt and this is a an attempt to share resources. Now, I will say this that High Point is likely the most invested in child study team and guidance services than any other district in the county. The number of personnel that we
078have in those areas is likely greater than most if not all in the county. We are overstaffed in that reason. And here's why. We are suffering a mental health crisis in our country, in our community that is acute. And so we have invested resources which demand we invest not we we defer them from other areas that are acute needs. But because of that mental health crisis we invest in the human resources to attend to the needs of children for their mental health concerns. This is something that few people talk about. We don't talk about this in the community. We talk about test scores. We talk about um state aid cuts. Well, let me tell you those are no longer our priority. Our priority is student mental health. And I will say that and declared I
079have said it in in conferences at which I've spoken. when you have a a an issue in postcoid world where the increase of student mental health issues is so profound that it is not championed we will lose kids at a greater rate than we may lose them currently. And so I say this not to convince anyone but I want people to be aware of how we've allocated our resources in an area that we recognize as an acute need. And so each year I reach out to the uh sending districts and say if anybody has anything to share, please let me know so that we can pull our resources so as to um manage those scarce resources to ease the burden on our taxpayers. And so this is what we've done. And I will tell you
080it is infrequent that we're able to share those. I tell them I will share a paper clip anywhere from a paper clip up to superintendent. you just let me know and we will do it. And so that informed how we proceeded this year in particular. I received a response from one of our districts saying would you be interested in chairing director of special ed. It is my again I want to reiterate I am not trying to convince the board. I am merely presenting to you why the decision was made to present this recommendation to you. I believe that Mr. Delaney is as a talent and an administrator as I have met in my 30 years. I think she is exceptional and we are blessed to have her. I believe she has a future in education
081that transcends her current station. When speaking with the sending district to possibly share, I made it clear that that she could not cover um preschool. That would be have to be something done by the other district. It would it would be an overreach on both parties to task that position with covering preschool. This is an individual who has been an administrator for special education in New York City long before she came to us. I believe it can be done. It is up to the board whether you believe that it should be done. It is my belief that it can be and should be. Otherwise, I would not make the recommendation. If I removed that recommendation in the face of honest and sincere concern among the community, then I would have not vetted the matter sufficiently
082enough to stand here sit here confidently to say that I believe this is the correct course. It does not mean that I might not be wrong. We make decisions in our lives frequently and I say this to our staff. I make decisions frequently that are 50/50. Not 5149 but 50/50. And in those decisions I have to lead and make the best possible decision, the most informed decision possible so as to manage the full paniply of needs of a school district and children. And I assure those of you in attendance and the board that children are number one in every single decision that I make. Everything that I present to the board places children as our priority. It does not mean that this will be seamless should it proceed. It does not mean that there won't
083be challenges should it proceed. But I do believe that given the full context of the matter that it is something that I believe is in the best interest of of of both districts. Again, I could be wrong and we would have to reassess. No decision that I make or anyone makes in life is sacrosanct perhaps other than marriage. Nevertheless, I want you all to know that I believe in the recommendation I've made to you. I believe that it can be done and can be reassessed uh at a on a yearly basis. I believe that once Miss Delaney engages with the child study teams in that district, they will recognize what I recognize that she is a brilliant administrator in who who in whom h someone in who has my complete trust and faith that this
084is not an attempt to convince you. I'm not saying it is seamless and without concern. But I do believe that it is by and large a recommendation with which I am confident to make. >> Any board members have any questions for Dr. Ripley or comments of their own or >> how kids does she know? >> I don't believe our percentage is as high as 20. I believe that high points percentage is approximately 16.5 to 17%. Uh, I don't believe it's as high as 20%. >> So, we're talking about 100 kids, 200 kids. >> Oh, no. Um, 17% would approximately be I'm a bad math person, but that would be uh 130, 129, 130 approximately. >> Then she would go to 440, I think. >> I do not know the number. I was told recently by
085someone and this is not this is not um I was I worked in conjunction with the superintendent from the sending district. I do know that their percentage of special education students is higher than ours, but they are they send a high point. So, um they are rather significantly higher than us. >> What is the cost savings? >> The cost savings should it be affirmed is approximately give or take $85 to $95,000 >> in in a in highway district to High Point. What's the leadership structure right now for her? Like how does the leadership structure work where she's head and >> she's the head of the child study team. She's the head of the guidance office and she's the head of special education at High Point. she functions under the directive of the superintendent and in
086in the teamwork with the principal >> and that she would take the same role in one with the same structures underneath it >> um to some degree but as I stated it would be it would not include overseeing preschool um because we I just decided and we discussed it uh mutually that it would be too much to expect to be efficient in any capacity. she would report to the superintendent. I have communicated to her that I care about her and her success. While she has my every faith, I do uh believe that [clears throat] should it not be successful, we have the opportunity to reassess as we proceed. I don't want to say that in a way that I have any expectation of it not succeeding because with any decision there will be bumps and
087challenges. But I believe that her profession was and her expertise that will quickly become apparent to the other seven district that uh they will recognize that >> at this point is there any part of the program that's shutting down or being cut? >> There is no programs that are being shut down. I don't know where that um was communicated but it was not communicated from my point. We are not shutting down any uh of our current programs whatsoever. It is merely sharing an administrator with another district. So, one of >> you can go first. >> Oh, I'm sorry. You sure? >> Go ahead. >> Okay. So, one of the things that I heard from people from the public is the concern obviously that it's spread between different buildings. I mean, is it uncommon this this
088as an administrative position in other districts or in other areas? you normally see that there is um one person that oversees multiple schools in a district or so so would it be uncommon for for this position in other districts to to deal with students in multiple buildings as opposed to >> it is not uncommon as a matter of fact it's common something with which we had cons people had concerns prior to us sharing the supervisor of buildings and grounds how can that individual be tasked with two buildings and my response was well in Sparta do they need to cover the alpine school while also being needed at the high meta high school. And so understandably we we tend to be concerned about can the individual cover our needs and that's why the individuals who are
089chosen for these responsibilities are vetted and determined to be capable of that. And uh certainly covering four schools is uh I'm not I'm not mitigating the job in any capacity. I do believe it is a robust position but it is uh consistently done in other districts >> and and this this person the question do they do they is there thought that they can handle the workload because that's important too. >> Yeah I believe so I would not have uh recommended this or gotten to this point had I not first spoken with her to uh get her consent. uh she enthusiastically uh agreed and believes that we can be successful as a team doing this. Um I should there be any slack or things that need to be picked up on our end, I will make
090sure to oversee that. But I believe that uh the other district will be getting someone that they can place their trust in who will be successful. But again, those are my beliefs based upon my knowledge of the situation and my knowledge of education. doesn't mean that it is absolute, but I do believe in what I've recommended. >> So, obviously Sussex One is ascending district to High Point. Does allowing this position to serve that district as well as High Point, does that allow for better continuation of services for students that will move up that that require service, you know, extra services down Sussex Wage? Will that, you know, provide for better continuation of care when they come? That is our hope. Uh I do believe that that is a uh um while anticipated on our part
091might be an ancillary benefit that I believe will be a significant benefit um that I'm hopeful will bless and benefit the children who will be transitioning to High Point. And uh again we do have an exceptional child study team and an exceptional guidance and uh special aid department who are staff sufficiently robustly such that they are also capable of functioning without daily direct supervision. >> And so this this position is more of an administrative role, right? They're not as as hands-on or or would you say it's a very hands-on position? there will be some adjustments going from what is sometimes hands-on to administrative more administrative. Admittedly, that's the case. When you spread resources across multiple responsibilities, one must absolutely acknowledge that. So, I do believe there will be a bit of an adjustment moving from
092what is currently more of a hands-on administrative role to more of a administrative role from a larger 30,000 ft perspective, if you will. >> And and you feel that the people that are in this district now under this administrator can handle that increase in load of being more hands-on? I mean, you know, right? Because obviously someone's going to have to shoulder that burden if she becomes less hands-on. >> Yes. Uh I I I don't want to you you run the risk in answering quickly of being seeming as though you're being cavalier. Uh I am certainly not being cavalier. something about which we've spent months considering vetting evaluating to the degree where um we would be at this point if I did not believe that the people in place were able to manage that and thrive
093and I believe that it will in the end uh enable it will be in my opinion be a blessing to uh all the students involved >> and one last question I'm sorry to not only question. So I mean obviously you can speak on behalf of the you know the other faculty here at High Point but I mean have you had the opportunity to talk to faculty in Sussex wanted or does that fall just to that superintendent there right because it's one thing to say well you know we know the people here can you know under this administrator can can take on added responsibilities but do we feel I mean do we can we speak with any you know you seem very certain about the faculty here can you speak the same for the the faculty
094at Sussex wanted >> I would not presume >> they do have a board of education of their own. >> Sure. And obviously they they passed it but I just was curious as to your thoughts on that. >> Um Miss Disus I just wanted to share some research that I had done earlier today um looking for um examples in Sussex County. So Vernon Township has six schools K through 12 with one director of special services. Sparta has five schools, K through 12, one director, special services. Uh, and I didn't go any further than that. Just >> and and I just have uh two questions. Uh, so the uh Mr. Delaney will remain a high point contracting employee that is being outsourced. Okay. And then um is there a transition plan in place or has it been
095discussed that would introduce the director to the sending district and um to answer or the concerns of that district? >> Excellent question. They have met uh on several occasions to discuss that process. Um I believe that they will should the board affirm this recommendation. I believe that they will uh meet in earnest so as to facilitate that process. >> And just to uh be sure, Mrs. Delaney is a 12-month position. >> It is. Yes. >> Sir, >> um will the sharing of Mr. Delaney free up funds for the Sussex Wantage so they may be able to get more Paris to help. >> Sharing of services would certainly um free up monies for them to do as they are so inclined to allocate. That's up to them. And then will Sussex W still be even though
096we're sharing, will they still be looking or are they kind of looking for that position or do you think they're just kind of we're going to be sharing? And I you brought up a good point that they that it's happened before. >> It's a year a year contract and I believe there's an out there's out clauses. Okay. um >> if it doesn't work termination if it isn't um we can't control what another board does, right? We wouldn't want somebody trying to do that to >> but there is ways to get out if it doesn't if it's not working. >> I did not emphasize that because I did not want it to be undermined by someone who was disinccllined to support it. But certainly there are contractual stipulations to uh protect both districts and the staff
097involved. One more question knowing that how how do you weigh in your mind? How would you weigh the success or failure of this? Like what do you what do you see as you know obviously if if we vote for it you want it to be successful but what what would you say as some you know red flags you know what red flags would you look for in this >> I would be in constant communication with Miss Delaney um and we had talked about this and I've told her that if this goes ary you need to be becomunicating again I hesitate to say that because I don't want anyone to feel as Well, we're planning to fail. We're planning to succeed. And I believe it will. But if you are not prepared for all eventualities, you're
098not doing your job. Um, how will it look? I believe that what you do is when you function in a concept of change, you initiate change, you implement change, and then if that change becomes fully institutionalized, you know that you followed a proper change plan. Um an example for us was moving from a nine period day to uh a uh block schedule. We spent several years vetting it right until such time is and there were bumps along the way considerable bumps to where at this point we are fully institutionalized that no one any longer is looking to change that. So I know that that's a long-term uh viewpoint, but in the near term it would be uh the success of the the implementation process of of establishing relationships between the various parties. Look, education is
099about relationships. So what we're really trying to do is establish relationships between all parties so that the staff can feel comfortable with someone coming into a new district. so that the children can feel and get to know and feel comfortable. Uh those are the short-term relationship oriented success indicators. Um mid-range I would think that it's uh um reconsideration of IEPs and the efficacy of the number of students who are classified and if if necessary to reassess that. I mean we're always doing that as child study team. I'm not saying that it needs to be done. I'm just um so there's a lot of midterm goals and the long-term goal is to examine whether it's become fully institutionalized such that is an accepted paradigm with which the majority of the staff and community and students are
100comfortable. >> I just want to say like a comment. Um I have a unique perspective because I don't know if everybody knows but I uh have 22 years of child safety experience. Um, I worked at Sussex One previously, so I have intimate knowledge of the transition process between the students coming to High Point. Um, I have worked very closely with Miss Delaney on the end of transferring my students to High Point. Um, she is currently, I'm still in the county. She is currently one of the most experienced directors of child study team in the county. Um, there's been a lot of retirements and a lot of turnover and a lot of very inexperienced directors throughout the county. Miss Delaney is confident in what she does. Um, I enjoyed working with her. I felt she did
101everything she could on her end to make those transitions as smooth as possible. So, um, if anybody can do it, I feel like she's the administrator to do it. And on the other side of things of fiscal responsibility, uh, I was in Sussex Wanage when they were doing budget cuts. They're still doing budget cuts. Every school in this county is hurting. Um, we're looking for ways to be responsible and, uh, I personally have always thought that a lot of schools in Sussex County are administrativeheavy. So, if I see a shared opportunity that involves administration and not cutting direct staff and teachers, um, I think that every opportunity should be made because I feel like that uh has a a less impactful uh, hit on our children. So, I'm I'm a parent in this community. Um
102I feel strongly that, you know, cuts have to be made and I do feel like um administration and sharing of services is a way to do that without losing direct staff. So, um for whatever it's worth, those are my two other comments. Um I just wanted to present some numbers. I mean, so there's a lot of information if people are interested on the Department of Education website um about the school districts and how they're funded by the state. Um both Sussex Wanage and High Point. I mean, I'm intimately familiar with High Point because I've lived as a board member here for 11 years of state aid cuts and what we have had to continually tighten belts and look for ways to save money. Um, there the way state aid works is there's one lump that
103goes out called equalization aid and then there's another other couple of buckets. Transportation is one, special education aid is another. As of this current fiscal year, High Point receives 1.1 million special education aid. Sussex Wanage receives 1.9 with a little bit uh educ special education aid. If there are 420 students, special education students in Sussex Wanage, that's $4,600 per student extra. That's nothing. That just seems almost ludicrous. Um, [clears throat] if I do the same calculation for High Point, it's maybe double that. We all know what student, you know, what special education really costs. Um, I guess my point is like school boards have for a at least a decade now been been forced to find ways to make better use of the resources that they have. And listen, there's only so many things that
104can be shared um before you have to start, you know, cutting away the the meat. There's no fat left to take. Um, we at H High Point have been very diligent in trying to use every method possible before we attempt to before we have to resort to that last cutting of services. We have shared our um buildings and ground supervisor with uh with Frankfurt Township. Um I forgot that we were sharing some resources with the 1in township. We have an agreement to share nurses. Yes. >> Right. Um in the local >> Montigue, uh Lafayette, Frankfurt, High Point have an interlocal agreement to share nursing services. We have had discussions I can't disclose any of this, but we have had discussions of sharing superintendent and business administrator in the past. like we look at all of
105the options of what what we can do before we have to take away teachers um or or programs. It's not an easy choice. I'm confident that every single one of the board members up here are dedicated, conscientious decision makers. They're they're not here to punish anybody that we we are presented with information and we have to make the best decisions that we feel um for our community for the students for every student. We take that as part of our oath. It's in our ethics that we have to uh treat every student. Um so we're not the enemy here. We we're actually the second board that will be voting on this me on this uh uh shared service agreement. I hope and you may not may not actually come to an agreement with us on it,
106but I hope that you get the impression that at least we have done our homework on this, that we at least have considered the options uh and and been transparent to the public about it before we come to a decision about it. And it's not it like we mentioned if it doesn't work we adapt or go back to the way it was. I mean it's not we have to try we have to try things. Um and I guess I ask for the public's trust that the people that you vote to put up here sometimes really do take some of these things into account and maybe the end result could be better for your for your children. It's possible. So, if nothing else, uh we'll proceed to a roll call vote. >> Mr. Van Stone. >>
107Yes. >> Mise. >> Yes. >> Miss Diaz. >> Yes. >> M >> Sakis. >> Yes. Miss Longberg. >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dunn. >> Yes. >> Miss G. >> Abstate. Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh just for the public, there is another public comment section available later on, but we are going to follow our agenda until we get to that. Uh you're certainly welcome to stay. Um, thank you for your patience and your time. Returning to our agenda. >> We are curriculum instruction and technology. >> All righty. Moving eight items together um one through eight. So um first three are justformational faculty tendencies 94.2 student attendance is 9.9 uh accepting the suspension report attached and four is the approving of the harassment intimidation and bullying report. Uh five is
108uh approval of field trips list the roster. Six is professional develop activities as listed. Seven is um moving of the um um money for the Perkins grant around getting an industrial standard 3D printer as listed there for the architectural CAD program. and eight is the uh revised school calendar which reflects the addition of an inservice on August 31st which will replace the MLK day inservice on January 18th. So I am moving those but I have a second >> second. >> Does anybody have any questions on this >> comments? I just want to comment that um item number eight was done only in conjunction with the HPEA leadership with which we are very pleased that they were able to come together with us as a team and come to this resolution because I believe that it
109is on our collective best interest and us working together as a team is incredibly affirming and I'm very pleased and thankful that uh Miss Sunda has been uh such a powerfully posit positive presence and partner with us to be able to do what's best for our staff and our students. Thank you. >> Yes. In committee, I also recognize that and I thank you and I thanked him for reaching out. I think it is uh I'm glad that lots of these things that uh superintendent has been working with the association as obviously a past association president. I think it's very important and I thank both. Sorry. Is there a particular reason? Is there like a particular speaker or do we just feel the winter is just a bad time to have uh PD plan? >> It's
110a great question. As a matter of fact, many schools have gone away from the MLK day. uh it has had diminishing returns, diminishing interest and so it's something about which we've talked for many years and actually the opportunity presented itself this year and knowing that we had um such um [cough] teamwork [clears throat] vision among our HPA leadership. We believe that this was the year to make this happen. But it is also because we found someone who is going to provide us with AI training for our staff that we believe is go is is going to be an absolute blessing to our staff. Fits right into our uh our 18month um implementation plan. Our task force is um is is involved. And this was something that we met with the individual, a young man who
111is clearly brilliant and uh we believe very strongly will be a tremendous asset to us as a district and we believe that this is the perfect opportunity to be able to make that transition. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? >> All right. Uh >> we have a second >> I thought we did before I Before I do comments, I talked to you. >> My apologies. >> That's okay. I got forget. >> All right. Mr. Van Stone. >> Yes. >> Miss Longberg. >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson. >> Yes. >> Miss Bakus. >> Yes. >> Miss Diaz. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise. >> Yes. >> Mr. D. >> Yes. >> Passes. >> Um, >> wait. I'm sorry. >> Yes. >> Apologies. Should we have everybody? Um, >> anybody care to take personnel so I
112can stand by my book? >> Um, is it better to move the uh >> uh just go all the way all the way through? >> All right. So, I'm going to move items 1 through 12 under personnel together. Um, the first item is uh approving Ryan Menzac as a student teacher um from William Patterson University from September 1st to May 12th. Um, Mr. Rupert and Mr. D. Carlo will serve as cooperative teachers. Uh, second is approving Jordan Green as a music teacher uh for the 2627 school year under uh master step 8 on salary guide. Um, third is approving Justin Peckerero as a substitute teacher effective May 14th for the remainder of the school year. Um number four is uh approving the list of individuals for the 2026 summer custodial work as uh noted here
113for their hourly rates. Some of them are students, returning students. Um number five is uh recommending the approval of summer work days for guidance and child study team as listed um the coordination of their program rates. Number six uh is approving the uh bus drivers as listed for the 26 ESY program and summer athletic trips as needed uh at their regular hourly rate. Time sheets. Number seven is the uh approval of Enrique Aguilar as a parent volunteer chaperon nurse on the whale watch trip um pending the required background check and the director of security. Number eight is the recommendation for the superintendent um board of education approved Joel as an LPN one to1 power professional aid at an hourly rate of $37 for the 2627 school year. Number nine is approving um Jacqueline Carolo as
114uh to observe business classes three days a week through the end of the 2526 school year um in order to complete her pre-ervice workshop at Kane um number 10 is uh approving Robert >> Olson >> um as a full-time PAR professional aid for the 2627 school year. Uh step nine on the power professional salary guide number 11 is recommended um to approve uh the individuals as listed to work during the ESY program beginning July 6th through August 6th be paid at their hourly um base of their 26 27 premium rates as listed. And uh number 12 uh on the addendum for personnel is to approve Matthew Lebar as a technology education teacher for the 26 27th school year. um bachelor's step one on the teacher salary guide and you receive the paperwork questions or discussion
115>> Matt Lubar was a former graduate >> yes 2022 >> 2022 sorry >> all right call >> yes Mr. Good. Still, >> yes, >> Miss Wise. >> Yes, >> Miss Gaul. >> Yes, >> Miss Diaz. >> Yes, >> Miss Sus. >> Yes, >> Mr. Anderson. >> Yes, >> Mr. D. >> Yes. >> All right, I'll move uh items 1 through five under extracurricular. One is a recommendation accept a resignation notification from Natalie O'Grady as girls assistant basketball coach effective immediately. Number two is a res uh recommendation to accept a resignation qualification from William Percy as winter weight room advisor effective immediately. And three is a recommendation to approve Natalie O. Grady as the unified track coach for the 2025 2026 school year effective March 15th, 2026 after grant funded statement of $1,500. And four is
116a recommendation to approve the extracurricular appointments for the 2026 2027 school year as listed in packet C1. And item five is a recommendation to accept a resignation notification from Gary Rubin as head girls basketball coach effective immediately. >> I will make that motion. I have a second. Please >> second. >> Any discussion? >> Mr. Van Stone. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise. >> Yes. >> Miss Ball. >> Yes. >> Miss Diaz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson. >> Yes. >> Miss Long. >> Yes. >> Sack. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Passes. >> Okay. Now on to finance. I will move uh one through 12 with the exception of eight which we have already moved on. Uh one is recommendation to accept the report of the board secretary business administrator for April 2026. And two is a
117recommendation accept the report of the treasurer for April 2026. And three is a recommendation to approve the report transfers and minimum expense transfer report for April 2026. And four is a recommendation to approve for payment the attached schedule of audited bills dated May 26, 2026. Item five is a recommendation to accept the adult education agency account, athletic account, cafeteria accounts, construction account, principal petty cash account, scholarship account, school store, and student activities reconciliations for April 2026. Item six is a recommendation to approve and authorize the execution of school school food authority vendor contract with Monu Township School effective July 20 uh July 1st 2026 through June 30th 2027. Um item seven is a recommendation to gratefully accept a donation of one yard of top soil from Marge Paris of Farmside Gardens for plain vegetables by
118students in our workbased learning program. Item nine is a recommendation to approve the purchased services agreement between High Point Regional Board of Education and Frankfurt Board of Education for the buildings and ground supervisor effective July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. Item 10 is a recommendation to grant permission to host a non-affiliated co-ed camp uh hoops HP hoops camp uh grades three to nine uh as listed. Item 11 is a recommendation to grant permission to the HB tennis camp to host a non-affiliated co-ed camp grades three to nine as listed which will run as listed. And finally, item 12 is a recommendation to approve and authorize the execution of the following tuition contracts between High Point as a semi-d district and the following districts and related information as listed. So I will make that motion.
119May I have a second? >> Second. Um just noticed going through that list that uh school food authority vendor contract is actually a type of shared service uh that we that I failed to mention earlier. >> I just also want to point out we usually do them separately but I guess thank you to Farite. >> Oh yes yes good jerk. Um, take the comments. Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson. >> Yes. >> Miss Sakus. >> Yes. >> Miss B. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise. >> Yes. >> Mr. Vanel. >> Yes. >> M. Long. >> Yes. >> Mr. D. >> Yes. >> Like to turn it over to Mise for transportation. >> Take a deep breath. How many you got? >> I'd like to move one through 24 >> together. >> I don't even have to
120read. I mean there their tuition contracts either sending receiving, right? Um or um Are some of them modifications? >> Mo, >> some of them are. I mean, I can name the >> All right, there you go. >> I number one is with Harvard Transport. Um, number two is with Baron Bus. Number three is with DW Clark and Suns. Number four is with Stalker Bus Company. Number five also with Stalker Bus Company. Number six, the host is High Point and the joiner is Vernon. Number seven, DW Clark and Sun. Number eight, host is High Point, Jer Vernon. Number nine, DW Clark and Suns. Number 10, Stocker Bus Company. Number 11, DW Clark and Suns. Number 12, also DW Dark Sons. Number 13, also DW Clark and Sun. 14 Stocker Bus Company. 15 Stocker Bus Company. 16
121also Stocker Bus Company. [laughter] Number 17 is crafted school bus. Number 18 is also craps school bus number 19. The same crap school bus number 20. The same crap school bus number 21. Also the same crap school bus number 22 crap school bus number 23 the same craft school bus. And number 24 the same craft school bus. >> Okay. Um, >> second. >> I'm going to make a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any questions or discussion? >> Nobody wants to probe any items. Actually I just want to say one thing like the reason we have so many of these things having done transportation the reason we have so many things is that one of the things that has been set up in this district is that we have a an
122amazing person on staff who uh sets up contracts for a lot of the districts all around the county. And so many of these contracts aren't us paying for buses. It's us making money because our staff member does the scheduling for other schools. And so, uh, it makes for long meetings, but it's another way that the district has gone out of their way to bring money into High Point through the use of creative use of our, uh, staff, excellent staff here. When when one speaks about unsung heroes who are not necessarily on the front line, Miss Williams is a exceedingly influential and positive figure in our ability to um efficiently and effectively fund and run the district. She is a profoundly positive player in what we do. >> Roll call. >> Miss Wise. Yes, >> Miss
123>> MS. >> Yes, >> Mr. St. >> Yes, >> Miss G. >> Yes, >> Miss Longberg. >> Yes, but I abstained 12, 15, and 21. >> Mr. Anderson, >> yes. >> Mr. Duck, >> yes. >> Pass. >> Okay, that concludes our action items. We have no correspondence. Um, nothing under miscellaneous other than what's noted. So, that brings us to our second public comment section of the evening. Same rules apply, although we're not limited to agenda items. Please state your name and address. Um, and anybody in the room is welcome to come either to the podium or no comments virtual. Okay. Anyone? >> My name is Chris Walsh. I live at 105 North Shore Drive in W. I have a granddaughter who comes here. I gave you all a copy of the email that I'm going
124to send to the school. Mr. Don, Dr. [snorts] Ripley. Uh there are some serious concerns for safety in the school. There are serious concerns of tormenting going on by freshman and senior. Staff is not doing their job in the library media center. I would like this to be brought to your attention. I'd like to know what I can do with the staff other than the office of civil rights. [snorts] I have contacted them. I did go to the police station nation. I have done information on the senior student that is getting all of the freshmen to do the tormenting. This bullying has been going on now since March. The school is very well aware. The kids are being unfounded. By the time I can get your letter, they probably are going to be sending saying
125you unfounded it. it will be too late to have anything done on the June 22nd meeting with the senior. So I am addressing you now, but I would like to know what the board would like me to do with the staff that is not protecting a childhood who is involved with the child study team. Mr. Delaney has been attached to every single email that has been sent. I actually have video footage that was sent all over social media by students of the tormenting if you would like to see it. It's also on the schools recordings of what happened in the media center on our >> I have not been made aware of this. >> The email was sent to you. I I understand the context that you're providing is not necessarily evident to me. I
126have not had the opportunity to it has been a rather tumultuous busy time. I will uh tell you that personally I'm very sorry that I have not um personally addressed this. I assure you that I will begin to look into this immediately to ensure the safety of all the children including your own. And I want to personally apologize for any ne negative experience you or your child has experienced in any way. And I will immerse myself into this matter immediately beginning tomorrow morning and I am very sorry for any negative experience that you have had. >> I would appreciate that. I sent you six emails. I attached you to multiple. Now, will you be dealing with the staff or I know I can't file a case against the staff, but something needs to be done
127with every staff member that has been involved. Well, yes. What needs to be done is to ensure that your child and every child is safe from any form of bullying or any form of intimidation or whatever it might be. Children need to be able to come to school and know that they are safe and cared for. And parents need to know when they send their child here that their child will be cared for and loved. And if you've not experienced that, it is my responsibility and I will address it tomorrow immediately. >> Would you like to see the video? >> I can request to see it uh tomorrow. If you feel as though there's something that you'd like to show me, then I'll certainly I will certainly look at Will I have what was passed
128through social media? I don't know if you're going to see what's in the center. >> If you'd like me to see it, then I will see. >> You might want to shut off to the camera. >> No, you can't wait until the meeting is about to end and then you can show it to me. >> That would be >> Thank you. >> Any other public comments? Okay, seeing none, I'll ask for a motion to close public comments. So, in a second. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Uh, okay. Any um non-committee board member reports or comments at this? Um, I would uh I know it's late, um, but we did decide earlier that we would like to, uh, return to executive session. um to uh possibly make a decision on our open board key. So
129uh rather than adjourn here, uh we will executive session for the public. Um there's no need necessarily to stay to stay around. We will return to public session where we're at and immediately adjourn. So um I don't believe we report that typically. just just let everybody know what's happening. There's no nothing behind the curtains. Um so I will uh make a motion to uh enter executive session. >> All in favor? I >> any opposed?