001I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, and liberty and justice for all. >> Jeff, I'm sorry. I don't have the meeting of the agenda in front of me. Do we need to swear um James in before we go to exec? So, we're going to go to exec because he's already been approved and then we'll do the official swearing in in public just as a formality. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Okay. Um, so the opening statement is written according to the agenda. Can I please have a motion to move into executive session? >> I'll move it. >> I'll make it. >> Okay. Please call the role. >> Dr. Capella. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davia. >> Yes. >> Miss
002ShraMM. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chaffy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Warren. >> Yes. >> Miss Paulina is absent this evening. Mr. Citri. >> Yes. >> Miss Gulan. >> Yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert. >> Yes. >> All right. At this time, we will go ahead and move over to executive session. I'd ask the board members again just to check your email. you'll have a separate link for the executive session. And to the public, we will return at 700 p.m. this evening for the rest of our public meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. want to go ahead and put us back live. Let me know when we're good and we'll restart the meeting here. >> All right. At this time, if I can have a motion to reconvene, please. >> I'll make it. >> I'll second it.
003>> Okay. Natalia and Jana. And on the roll call, Dr. Capelloa >> here. >> Mr. Davia >> here. >> Miss ShraMM >> here. >> Mr. Chaffy, >> I'm here. >> Mr. Warren >> here. >> Miss Paulina is absent. Mr. Citri >> here. >> Miss Gulan >> here. and Miss Falcone Schubert is absent as well. Item number six on our agenda this evening is approval of the minutes of the January 5th special reorganization meeting, the January 26 regular meeting and the January 26 executive session meeting. Can I get a motion on those, please? >> I'll make it. >> I'll second. Dr. Dabella, your vote. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davio, >> yes. >> Miss ShraMM, >> yes. >> Mr. Chaffy, >> yes. >> Mr. Warren, you are not here yet. Uh, so I'm going to guess your
004votes going to be to abstain. >> Good. Abstain. >> Thank you, sir. Mr. Miss Palena is absent. Mr. Citri. >> Yes. >> Miss Gulan. >> Yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert is absent. Item number seven is the superintendent and HIP report. Um in exec session this evening, the board of education uh affirmed our second reading of our January Hibs. Um, from my superintendence report, we are going to remove the approval of the February 1st reading HI report uh as that report was not received in time uh due to the weather conditions to allow it to be on this evening's agenda. Uh the only other item and an important item on my uh superintendent's report this evening is an opportunity to officially swear in uh our newest member of the board of education, Mr. James Warren.
005Mr. Warren is joining us for the remainder of uh an unfilled one-year vacancy on the board, which is uh February through December 31st of 2026. So, Mr. Warren, I want to welcome you to the board of education. Um, you have an oath of office in front of you, and I'd ask that at this time, uh, you read that oath of office so that we can swear you in officially. >> All right. Thank you. I, James Warren, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. And I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States in this state under the authority of the people. So help me God. I, James Warren, do solemnly
006swear that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office office of member of a board of education and I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS 194-1, nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJS 18A 12-1 and that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly perform all the duties of that office according to the best of my ability. So help me God. >> Thank you, Mr. Warren, and congratulations to you. Welcome officially to the board of education this evening. >> Thanks so much. >> With that, can I have a motion to accept the superintendence report, please, for February? >> I'll make it. >> I'll second. >> And who had my second? >> Veronica. Thank you. And on the roll call vote, Dr. Capello. It looks like I
007may have just lost her. Mr. Davia, >> yes. >> Miss ShraMM, >> yes. >> Mr. Chaffy, >> yes. >> Mr. Warren, >> yes. >> Miss Paulina is absent. Miss Gulan, >> yes. >> Mr. Citri, >> yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert is absent. Item number eight on our agenda this evening is our acknowledgements and correspondence. Uh congratulations to those students who have been chosen as Hopakong High School student of the marking period for their outstanding performance. In grade eight, Logan Brown, honorable mention goes to Bin Tracy. Grade nine, Yadhira Martinez. Honorable mention goes to Sebastian Baliviveres. Grade 10, Allessie May. Honorable mention to Asher Erenss. Grade 11, Matteline Bryant. Honorable mention to Ariana Espino and Ysef Hayek. And in grade 12, Sabrina Nuranho Herado. Honorable mention to Ryan Kovatch and Jeremiah B. Congratulations to those
008students. Congratulations also to students chosen as Hopakong High School scholar athletes of the season for their outstanding performance throughout the winter sports season. Boys basketball, Colin Ali. Colin is a sophomore. Girls basketball, Reagan Gravat. Reagan is also a sophomore. In bowling, Jeremiah B, a senior competition chair, Maddie Asmus, a senior. And in ice hockey, Ryan Pukco, also a senior. Congratulations to our student scholar athletes for the winter season. Congratulations to high school students who have made honor role in high honor role for the second marking period. Also, congratulations to middle school students who've made honor role in high honor role for the second marking period. A special congratulations to Amanda Malazooi on being selected as our school's honore for the Lake Pakong Elks 2026 Leap in the Lake for our special kids event. And congratulations
009to the following staff who've been nominated for Governor's Educator of the Year and Educational Service Professionals of the Year. We hope to have these staff members at our April board meeting uh when we can uh congratulate them in person. Durban Avenue is Kelly Rodic and the ESP of the year is Melanie Purith. Uh Tulsa Trail educator of the year is Amanda Malazooi and the educational services professional is Dawn Hirsch. At the middle school, teacher of the year is Hillary Wolf. And educational services professional is Jackie Drienza Sikovic. And at the high school, educator of the year is James Macauen. And educational services professional of the year is Melissa Stein. Also, a special congratulations to our uh Hopakong Association, HOPA ESP of the year, Andora Liz Maliso. Congratulations to all of those staff members on their
010outstanding achievements uh during their time in Hop Pakong schools and congratulations to each of them. Anyone uh here on the board have any parent teacher organization information that we wanted to make sure we we share? I did not get any updates this evening to pass along at this time. While I'm not part of those organizations um just yet, I do want to remind everybody that the Tricky Tray is on March 21st. I know Nicole and Jen are both involved, but neither of them could be here tonight. So, March 21st and the pre-sale tickets are already on sale. >> Yes, they are. Yes, they are. Please uh have a chance, take a look at that. uh that tricky tray event goes to support so many wonderful endeavors in our school district uh and our project graduation
011and graduating classes. So uh if you have a chance to uh partake in the event uh we strongly encourage you to uh reach out to project graduation and to our PTO uh for tricky tray information. Uh just checking my email here for uh this evening's meeting. I did get an email uh from a member of the public uh but unfortunately there's nothing attached to this email for me to be able to share. Um so at this time it does not appear that there's any public information or questions or comments that I can share at this time. So um we will move on from public comment and we will move to uh item number 11 finance. Uh item number 11 finance is our general bills and operational list for the month. Uh in addition uh I
012want to point out um some uh some wonderful donors who have donated to our gym floor and and gym restoration project at the high school. Um, thank you to Rotary Club of Lake Paccom for their generous $2,000 donation to our project. Uh, also, uh, Jennifer and Kyle Johnson for their $2,000 donation to our project. Kevin Deine, thank you so much for your $200 donation to our project. and to Hopakhong Youth Wrestling, thank you for your $1,000 donation uh to our project. Congratulations um to each of those organizations. Uh one for for stepping up for being such a a wonderful partner for our school district and for our community. Uh this is a project that as we all continue to call it the new gym. Uh right, built in 1995. We're we're 30 years into the
013new gym. and uh some some largecale uh restoration uh items are are necessary for us to continue to use this facility and and make it available to our community. So again, I just want to thank all of those organizations and individuals for your generous donation. If there are members of the community, organizations or businesses um that want to donate to the project, um please feel free to reach out to um the business office here at Hope Pakong Schools. Reach out to me directly um and we will put you in the uh in touch with the right individuals. If you work for a corporation that handles matching gifts um and uh you'd like your corporation to be part of that matching gift um we can certainly talk with your organization to see how we can partner
014in that endeavor as well. So thank you so much for those. Um can I any discussion on finance from the board members here this evening? Questions or or items of concern from the board? All right. Hearing none. Then uh can I get a motion on item number 11, finance, please? >> I'll make it >> and Mr. Dabio. >> All right. On the roll call vote. Dr. Capello. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davio. >> Yes. >> Miss ShraMM. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chaffy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Warren? >> Yes. Miss Paulina is absent. Mr. Citri, >> yes. >> Mommy, >> Miss Gulan, >> yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert is absent. Item number 12 is personnel. um some employee uh leaves of absence, uh some medical leaves, um some additional uh a volunteer for our track and
015field uh position and uh an employee uh approval for our drama program as well as some tuition reimbursements uh for uh contractual reimbursements for staff members. and then uh approval of some additional substitute paraprofessionals and substitute teachers within the district. There any questions on item 12 A through 12G? >> Hearing none. Can I get a motion, please? >> I'll make it. I'll second it. >> And on the roll call vote, Dr. Capella. Yes, >> Mr. Davio. >> Yes, >> Miss Shan. >> Yes, >> Mr. Dappy. >> Yes, >> Mr. Warren. >> Yes, >> Miss Paulina is absent. Mr. Citri, >> yes. >> And Miss Falcon Schubert is absent. Item number 13 is travel and professional development. We have some staff that will be attending some training courses, a transition partnership, and a meeting for our
016Sussex County uh school counselors association. Any questions? And item 13 for travel and professional development hearing. None. Can I have a motion, please? >> I'll make it. >> Natalia and Mr. Davia with the second. >> Yes. Roll call vote. Dr. Capella, >> yes. >> Mr. Davio, >> yes. >> Miss ShraMM, >> yes. >> Mr. Chaffy, >> yes. >> Mr. Warren, >> yes. >> Miss Paulina is absent. Mr. Citri, >> yes. >> Miss Gulan, >> yes. >> And Miss Felony Schubert is absent this evening. Item number 14 is policy and regulations. Uh first reading for an update and uh to our policy and regulation for use of school facilities and a second uh reading this evening for some policies mandated by the uh state of New Jersey with regard to harassment, nepotism, and employment of chief
017school administrator. Any questions on items 14A or 14B? Hearing none. Can I have a motion, please? [snorts] >> I'll make it. >> I'll second. [laughter] >> Kevin and Mr. Jaffy. >> And on the roll call vote. Dr. Capella. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davia. >> Yes. Miss Shram. Mr. >> Chaffy. Right there. Mr. Warren. >> Yes. Miss Paulina is absent. Mr. Citri, >> yes. >> Miss Gulan, >> yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert is absent. Uh number item number 15, student services, is some home instruction services uh for students. Uh any questions on 15A or B? >> All right, I need a motion, please. >> I'll make it. >> I'll second. on the motion by Miss ShraMM, seconded by Dr. Capelloa. Roll call vote. Dr. Capella, >> yes. >> Mr. Davio, >> yes. >> Miss Shrimp,
018>> yes. >> Thank you. Mr. Chappie, >> yes. >> Mr. Warren, >> yes. >> Miss Pauline is absent. Mr. Citri, >> yes. >> Miss Gulan, >> yes. and Miss Falcone Schubert is absent. Item 16 is uh resolutions. Uh one of the items on here this evening is a uh uh for us to post an RFP for uh fiber optic cabling uh as part of our roof restoration process at the high school. We're going to be relocating some of our fiber optic cables. Um they have to be moved one to redo the roof. Uh, and it's a perfect opportunity for us to do that. Looking to take advantage of some federal rate funding to help us through that process. So, item number 16, resolutions. Any questions on that? All right. Hearing none, can I have a
019motion, please? >> I'll motion it. >> Motion by Mr. in a second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Natalia. >> Roll call vote. Dr. Capello, >> yes. >> Mr. Davio, >> yes. >> Miss ShraMM, >> yes. >> Mr. Chappie, >> yes. >> Mr. Warren, >> yes. >> Paulina is absent. Mr. Citri, >> yes. >> Miss Gulan, >> yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert is absent. Item number 17 is the Sussex County Regional Cooperative. Uh there are items for approval there, including some uh routes, acceptance of quotes for special education, field trips, and class trips, as well as new member districts for this school year, Unity Charter, and new member school districts for next school year, the Morris School District. Can I have a motion on item 17, please? I'll make it. >> I'll second. >>
020And a second. Uh Dr. Capello. >> On the roll call vote. Uh Dr. Capello. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davio. >> Yes. >> Miss Shramm. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chaffy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Warren? >> Yes. >> Miss Paulina is absent. Miss uh Mr. Citridge. >> Yes. >> Miss Gulan. >> Yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert is absent. Uh at this time, item 18 is board member comments. I'm going to go round robin on my screen as I see each of you this evening. Uh Dr. Capello, any comments from you this evening? >> Um I just wanted to do an extra congratulations to our educators of the year and um another thank you to the donations for the gym floor. So Kevin Deavine, the HPACKON Youth Wrestling, the Rotary Club, and Ken and Kyle Johnson. We
021really appreciate um always getting support from our community. >> Absolutely. Thank you, >> Mr. Citri. Any comments from you this evening? >> Uh not this evening, sir. >> Thank you, Miss Gulan. ANY COMMENTS THIS EVENING? >> CONGRATS to the STUDENTS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS [crying] again on the uh donations. Absolutely. Mr. Warren, any uh any comments this evening? >> Uh well, first thank you for welcoming me. Uh congratulations to the students, the educators for uh your their contributions and um thank you to the donors. And lastly, thank you to Hepto for putting on a great winter dance. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Chaffy. Any comments this evening? Uh yeah, welcome James. Um nice to have another gym on the board. Uh thank you to uh all of our donors for the gym and congratulations to
022all our students and teachers. >> Thank you, sir. Miss ShraMM, any comments this evening? >> I just echo what everyone's already been saying. Thank you so much and congratulations to our students and to all of the staff and teachers and faculty. Um you guys make HPACKON special. So, thank you for all you do. Thank you, Mr. Davia. Anything from you this evening? >> I'm okay this evening. Thank you, sir. >> Absolutely. And I think that is everybody round robin here this evening. I do need a motion for adjournment, please. >> I'll make it. >> And how about a second? >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> All right. Just as a reminder to the public, uh we will be delayed two hours this morning. We will be operating on a delayed opening schedule.
023Uh that's to give our maintenance staff a little bit of extra time to make sure that our roadways and sidewalks are in good shape as well as the town. Um so uh we will see everybody in the morning. Please be safe. Thank you for joining us this evening. Thank you to the members of the board of education. I wish you all well. Have a great evening. >> Thanks everyone. >> Good night. Thank you. >> Thank you.