001We would like to call the meeting to order and welcome everyone. >> This meeting is being held in accordance with schedule of meetings adopted at the organizational meeting held on January 6, 2025. Adequate notice of this regular meeting of the Kennorth Board of Education has been provided to the Home News Tribune, the Star Ledger, the local source on January 16th, 2025. A copy has been filed with the Kennorth Burough Clerk, posted in the board office, the Kennaworth Burough Hall, Breley, and Harding Schools as is provided by the Open Public Meetings Act. >> Thank you, Mr. Canal. Please rise and join us in the salute to the flag. I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for
002all. >> I don't know >> Mr. Mr. Gello, when you're ready, can you please have roll call? >> Yes. Um, Biner >> here. >> Crinkolei >> here. >> David >> here. >> Ferrara. Haber >> here. >> Perina >> here. >> Lead >> here. >> Ponichi >> here. >> Zimmerman >> here. >> We have quorum. >> Okay. >> Thank you. We will now have receiving of the minutes of the secretary from August 11, 2025, the regular monthly meeting, and from August 25th, 2025 from the special meeting. Can I please have a motion to receive the minutes from those seats? >> Motion second. >> Okay. >> Motion made by Dr. Conley, seconded by Mr. Biner. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Eyes have it. Motion carry. Mr. Ganell, do we have any
003monthly correspondence? >> Uh, we do not. >> Okay, perfect. We will now move on to superintendent reports and presentations. Superintendent Davies. >> Thank you, Dr. Penichi. Good evening, everyone. Uh, starting off tonight will be Mr. uh report on the referendum projects as an update. Change this Good evening everyone. >> Evening. >> Uh tonight I'd like to shift the focus and focus on how we got where we are with our referendum projects. Begin uh we began sharing uh these monthly construction updates with the public back in January of 2024. So 18 months ago. Uh and since then we've accomplished a tremendous amount of work investing uh more than $27 million. I'm pleased to report that the overall project came in on time and under budget. While a few finishing touches remain, our goal of having students
004in the new addition by September 2025 was achieved. Uh these uh uh these completed projects are already transforming the student experience and strengthening our community. Sixth graders are now learning in a true middle school uh setting with access to high uh high school level uh science labs, dedicated art rooms and music rooms, and expanded classroom space. Our prek and special education programs now have room to grow, keeping more Kennorth students in the district. Upgraded athletic facilities uh and fields and auditoriums are enriching both sports and arts while new HVA systems uh uh have improved air quality, comfort, and energy efficiency throughout our district. Uh together, these investments are enhancing academic opportunities, student well-being, and the long-term reputation of the Kennaworth public schools. Okay, why isn't this working? I just need a backup plan. Uh so
005I'd like to go over some of the referendum the planning milestones. Uh we started this process, believe it or not, back in July of 2019. Then COVID hit. So we took a pause on our discussions and we picked it up right as soon as we possibly could after COVID in March of 2021 uh when the board uh restarted those discussions. By August of 23, the finance committee uh was already taking a look at the projects. By September 21, uh we were uh the board approved the goals of a referendum project. Uh in April of of 22, the board uh passed a resolution to pursue the referendum uh and then uh voted on a uh resolution that would uh allow us to pursue that with the Department of Education. Um in May of 22 uh the
006board uh presented be uh before the Kennaworth Planning Board. We went up to the planning board and laid out our plan u uh with the burough officials up there. Uh then in August of of 23 we submitted our uh plans to the Department of Education um who approved the not only the educational specifications but the actual plans themselves. Uh and in August 8th, on August 8th, we had a uh board vote to authorize the submission of a bond uh uh proposal question to the the voters. Um and then uh October 6th uh we voted and the community approved the referendum. So that was the planning process. Then we got into the construction phase. Uh August uh 14th of 23. Uh the phase one which was the HVAC uh projects was awarded to our contractor unit.
007Uh phase one of the athletic fields was awarded on September 11th. On October uh 10th uh the phase three additions uh was awarded to Shorelands. Uh and on uh June 13th um boy that say phase two the unit ventilators. So by June 13th, uh, thanks to the KA and the teachers, they were fantastic. We were able to do that while school was in session, which was fantastic. I know it was an inconvenience. We basically got five classrooms done a week uh inconveniencing those teachers, but they were uh supportive of that and we do really appreciate that. Otherwise, it was that would have pushed this whole process probably a whole another year. Uh, so that was phase uh two, which was completed by June. Um, and then, uh, phase one of the track was we had
008our grand opening, our ribbon cutting ceremony on August 8th where the teams were out there and the cheerleers were out there and we had a great night opening up the the the new complex for that. And then finally, the the new addition um, which includes multiple phases um, was uh, complete by September 8th of this year. So, this is consistent with our plan all along. Um, that uh back back in December of 2023, we had the groundbreaking for the David Bley Middle School and the high school science wing edition. So, there you can see some of the same characters are there um uh uh uh that were involved in the process back then. Uh this is the phase one. As I said, this was a renovation of Ward Field, which included uh a a synthetic
009turf field as well as a new uh synthetic track. Uh so this was uh the project ongoing. And this was the is the completed project. Phase two was HVAC upgrades. You can see uh each one of those unit validators was removed from every classroom and installed with a new uh new unit with uh HEPA 13 filters which are routinely replaced. Um so we get really good air quality in those classrooms. This is the phase three of the addition and the renovations. Um you can see there it's got the elevator uh shaft in there and the slab down. um thought this would be more interesting than just a empty field. Uh so I picked this one for the start of the project and here is the uh almost completed project as of a couple weeks ago.
010So some other phases of this project included the full renovation of both uh the Harding and the Brley auditoriums. Harding seats were over 100 years old and Brley's were close to 60 uh if not plus 60 plus. So they both needed uh some some redoing. If you go in there now and uh you uh could you really notice the difference in not only the aesthetics but the the uh improved uh sound quality. Um uh really has been improved in there. Um and Harding is really a cute little space uh for for that uh uh building. In fact, our first day of school back with the teachers, we used that. Mr. Davies decided to use that as the venue for his opening uh ceremony or his uh uh update to the staff and we were able
011to get the entire um faculty which is was close to 250 people down on the first floor of the auditorium. So it was very nice to be able to do that. So the another part of this the the renovation was the new lobby out front. Brley never really had a great uh entrance. Uh so this entrance is not only used for students during the day but would be used for athletics uh uh as well as the auditorium. Uh so it's a nice very nice space um um an inviting space I think um for for not only our students and our staff but as visitors as well. And uh also part of the uh middle school was renovations of the old back gym into the middle school multi-purpose room which included new uh sanding of the
012floors, new paint, uh uh air conditioning, installation of windows, um and a place for the cafeteria and storage for the cafeteria tables in the back there. Uh, also included in the renovation, as you know, was uh because we took the science rooms away from the high school on the second floor, they were without science rooms. So, this gave us an opportunity to really upgrade our science rooms to really state-of-the-art uh science rooms and labs for our high school students. And that's the first floor of the addition. Uh, and that's an overall picture of the uh facility as you see it now. Um this was taken the other day um with the new fields, the new addition. Um it's even got the new Harding playgrounds in there which were also um not really part of the
013referendum them but they were done and they're very nice and I think kids are enjoying that. Um I think oh so the next step is um phase four which is our early childhood education project which will be converting two classrooms two existing Harding classrooms into um prek um space for either three or four year olds. This will uh allow us this will project will put bathrooms within the facility. So we don't have to go for uh a waiver with the county office to use aids or uh some other uh way to provide uh toilet uh access to students. Um so that will hopefully start in June of 2026. So as a wrapup um um I'd like to just talk about the benefits of the referendum project. Um, unified middle school experience. Sixth graders um, now
014learn in a unified middle school with high school labs, music rooms, art rooms, and expanded classrooms. State-of-the-art art high school science labs for our high school students. expanded to early uh learning and special education for over at Harding. Upgraded athletic and arts facilities, uh healthier and more efficient building due to the HVAC systems, and then enhance uh community value investments, uh strengthening student opportunities, district reputation, and uh property appeal. Um, I want to recognize uh some people um since this is going to be my last formal presentation on the referendum. Uh whose efforts uh to support the this made this whole process uh possible. Of course, our superintendent, Mr. Davies, uh finance chair Lady and the full finance committee, you won't believe how many hours we spent reviewing these plans and going through the the
015finances of that. Uh the full board of education for your support. It's been tremendous. uh the teachers uh and staff who all played a key role in the planning of the implementation of this uh improvements, the voters and the burough officials provided the backing needed to move forward. I also want to thank Justin Connelly, our supervisor of buildings and grounds. Uh my secretary, Angel Sandal, who has this really nice knack for picking colors that I don't have. um uh my staff uh our uh professional partners, our architects and engineers and our construction management team um uh for their expertise and persistence in keeping the work on time and under budget. Um this was truly a collective effort uh and has uh delivered I believe uh lasting benefits for the Kenoworth students and the community. So
016if there aren't any questions >> I have a quick comment. Um you did say uh Superintendent Davies, but there was um multiple superintendents, multiple board members, but there was one constant and that was you, the business administration. And um you really knocked this out of the park and behalf of the community, way to go. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Canilla. Uh moving on with the superintendent report. I'm going to be presenting from up there uh two uh one very brief thing, the dynamic learning maps uh results and then I want to talk about the opening of our school year as well as the upcoming strategic planning uh which I hope is a nice community participant event. Uh good evening again everyone. Uh before I provide my presentation
017on the launch of this exciting school year, I want to provide you with some information on dynamic learning maps test results, which is something that I must do by state statute. Um dynamic learning maps, otherwise known as DLM, uh assesses our students who are the most significantly cognitively disabled children. We test students in grades 8 and 11. Um in the 2425 school year, we tested four students. Uh the DM helps teachers and support staff identify student strength and weaknesses to guide instruction and foster academic growth towards post-secondary goals. Of the four students tested districtwide, two attend David Brley. The other two are out of district students. Um as a result of the very low numbers, I am not permitted to display information about those two students as you can imagine. Um but please know that
018students are scored in a range of skill levels. They are either emerging, approaching the target, at target or advanced. And our students are doing well along that continuum and we are using those test results to better uh provide instruction for those two individuals. Um so that is the dynamic learning maps uh test results. Uh moving into um my main presentation. Uh as superintendent, I'm really pleased to report that we've had a truly amazing start to the 2526 school year. And I want to attempt to relay to the board and to the public uh the energy, the positivity, and the momentum that exists within the halls of Harding, within the halls of David Burley Middle School, and within the halls of David Burley High School. Tonight, I'm really proud of what we've accomplished in the last
019few years with the referendum, as you saw from Mr. Ganella. I'm also really proud over the past few months as we've dealt with significant loss of state aid. And I'm also really proud of the last few weeks as our teachers, staff members, and administrators really came together to produce a successful back- toschool experience for our students. So when I think about all of those factors um and we had such a smooth opening to the school year, it's really fantastic and a testament to this community and to our staff um for what a what a smooth transition into the school year that it was. We began by welcoming back our Kenneler school district staff on September 3rd. Um, and they were met by the Harding and really PTO's with a beautiful welcome back breakfast in all
020three schools. Uh, specifically Harding's PTO kicked it up a notch this year by making eggs and hash browns on a griddle. Um, and it was really impressive. So, kudos to the Harding PTO for that. Um, it was really um really wonderful. We provided a significant amount of time for teachers this year to be in their classrooms during these days. That was really important um because um you know at every level the staff rolled up their sleeves and got it done. so we could welcome back our students on time. A specific shout out to our middle school staff as well as our high school science teachers. They bore the brunt of the inevitable construction delays that that kept us from allowing them into their classrooms during the summer. Um they were only able to enter their
021classrooms on September 2nd. So they had to turn around a completely blank classroom into the dynamic learning spaces that they are now to welcome our students back on September 8th. So hats off to to those folks. Um really fantastic job. Thank you. Um on the first day, our first day of professional development ended with my superintendent's welcome. As Mr. Canella said, I did that in the Harding uh auditorium and that's where I try to frame the school year with some words of motivation. Uh this year's theme was chalk. I went old school. Uh, my message attempted to propel us into the future as we embrace all the new around our campus while simultaneously anchoring us in the school traditions of the past like old school chalk and blackboards. Um, on their way into the Harden
022auditorium on that first day, at the end of that first day, each staff member was prompted to pick up a piece of chalk and they settled in for a little Davey's inspiration. In addition to some district updates and an overview of our district priorities, I shared the following with the staff, saying, "You hold the chalk now. You, Kennallorth School District staff, have such an opportunity in your hands to write the story of your classrooms, your hallways, your buildings, your playgrounds. This district, this is your district just as much as it is the communities. The 2526 school year marks a beautiful opportunity to move forward into the future while honoring the academic traditions of the past. We have new shiny, clean, beautiful spaces. Of course, not everything is perfect right now. Your room might be missing
023something today. But let's not let perfection get in the way of greatness. Great teaching can come in the form of a lowly piece of chalk. It's not the Prometheian board that makes great teaching. It's not the bookshelf. It's not the arrangement of the desks. It's not the size of the room. It's the person holding the chalk. It's you. As we launch the 2526 school year, I challenge you to educate in such a way that we prepare our students for the future by honoring the traditions of the past. By being that teacher who can seize opportunities to connect the outside world to the curriculum. By being that educator who capitalizes on aha moments and goes down a curricular rabbit hole. I want you to teach them lots of things. I want you to help them discover
024meaning and connections. In addition to the ABCs and the three Rs, I want you to keep them minding their P's and their Q's while also dotting their eyes and crossing their tees. I expect a lot and so should you of yourselves because you're the ones holding the chalk and that's where the greatness lies. From there uh all of us went outside of Harding to the playground blacktop and we collaboratively as a full district staff. Um we displayed our Kennallorth pride for the entire school community to see. And so that's some of the results there in images. Um each staff member with their piece of chalk came out and colored in a little piece of the Kennallorth Pride 2526 on the blacktop. And I I personally thought it was a special moment uh trying to rally
025our community together around the success of our school district uh and to celebrate all the wonderful things that are going on in our school district. And I think it was a nice kickoff to um the school year. You can see some of our teachers who are here tonight um pictured in the images there as well as the entire district staff at that bottom picture on the right. Um that's the whole district staff engaged in coloring that piece of um black top there. So that was a nice day September 3rd. Um as the staff were busy preparing their classrooms, Michigan help you go to the next slide. We began welcoming students into their new and improved spaces through various orientation programs at Harding. The annual preschool and kindergarten ice cream social brought out many families with
026their young ones. Not that any child needs more than free ice cream from a truck, but this year's ice cream social was enhanced by the upgraded playground equipment over at Harden. So, that was a nice added feature to our ice cream social this year. Also, at the middle school, Principal Pavlech held not just one orientation program this year, but two. Uh, one for the incoming seventh graders, of course, as we've always done, but also another one for the sixth graders. the first time our district has had a three grade level middle school. Meanwhile, Mr. Pillo held his ninth grade orientation at the high school where students received their new schoolisssued Chromebooks and took a tour of their first floor high school classrooms. After the orientation day on September 4th, uh we then move into our
027first day of school which was September 8th. Um so on September 8th, uh it was a wonderful day for Kennorth School District. Just to give you some numbers, uh we welcomed 539 students to Harding. That Harding is grades preschool through grade five. Uh we had 347 middle schoolers, grades 6 through through 8. And then at the high school, we have 527 high school students. That's of course grades 9 through 12. The total district enrollment is 1,413 as of September 8th. Also, just in terms of student enrollment, know that we have about 30 preschool students waiting in the wings to enter Harding Elementary School in January. As Mr. Ganella said, thanks to the referendum and the movement of sixth grade from Harding to Brley and all the space that was created through the thanks to the
028referendum, uh we're able to open up those additional pre-K classrooms coming in January. Uh and then we'll be refurbishing them um soon thereafter. This is important to remember. Um, when you look at that new construction, it wasn't just about new high school science labs and additional middle school classrooms. That work freed up classroom space at Harding for us to expand our preschool services. And I have to imagine the community of Kennworth um is appreciative of that. Our next slide um takes us into the new wing grand opening. Again, this was just a fantastic opening to our school year. Same day, September 8th at in the evening, we held a grand opening ceremony for the David Burley new wing. Those same students that you saw in Mr. Ganella's picture just a few moments ago, those ones
029who dug the first shovels of soil at the groundbreaking ceremony two years ago, they joined us for a full circle ribbon cutting moment. Uh this past Monday, a week ago, we had Brillley Middle School student council as well as cheerleaders. In addition to the students in attendance, there were many people to thank for getting us to this successfully meet the goals of the referendum. I won't rethank people, but um thank you all uh for everything you're up there on that board. It was wonderful to hear the inspirational words from Miss Pavlechek and our middle school student speaker Dylan Jakane. We also heard inspirational words from Dr. Panichi who said the following. This new facility is more than just a building. It's a fresh start in a new chapter. It's an invitation to learn from the
030past, live fully in the present, and build an incredible future right here together in these very hallways. So, let the learning begin. Let the friendships begin. Let the memories begin. Those were wonderful words. Dr. Panichi, thank you so much. Uh, I appreciate you being there as part of the ceremony. In order for that learning to happen, as Dr. Ponichi said, and enable each child to reach his or her potential, the district has committed itself to three district priorities this school year. I emailed these priorities out to the community over the past several days. I just want to reiterate them now for the board and for the public. Um, these district priorities take us from student growth to district growth. The first is attendance. We want to make sure that we are getting our students to
031school on time so that they can be present and ready to learn. Can't learn if you're not here. We want our kids to be here. Um, so we want to make sure that our attendance is topnotch. As you know, we are on a corrective action plan due to chronic absenteeism. We want to reverse that and we're taking steps as a district to do that and we're working to partner with parents to make sure that we get our attendance on the right footing. The second goal or the second priority I should say is the interpersonal behaviors of our students. We want to make sure that we're fostering a positive place, a positive school environment. You can't learn if you can't if you're not here. You also can't learn if you don't feel safe in your school
032building or if people are bullying you or whatnot. We want to make sure and we target that this school year more so than we have in the past. Um we want to make sure that this is an area of growth for us. So again, I want to partner with our parents. I've told our administrative team and our teachers that we're taking a harder stance towards any misbehaviors uh because we have to have a zero tolerance approach to that type of um learning environment that causes students to not want to come to school. Our third goal, our third priority for the school year is homework. uh we are recommitting ourselves to making sure that homework is meaningful, that it is assigned, and that we follow through with our students to make sure that they can be
033reinforcing concepts that were taught in the classroom and those concepts can be reinforced at home through independent work. Um so those are our three priorities. Parents again receive those email notifications about each one of these priorities from me. They'll also be hearing more details from their building principles and upcoming communications as well as via teachers at back to school nights. We believe that shining the light on these priorities will complement the hard work our teachers are tackling with instruction. And when students can grow because their attendance is strong. When students can grow because they feel safe and welcome. When students can grow because meaningful homework is enhancing the lessons in the classroom. When all three of these district priorities are working, student achievement will grow and our district will grow. So I'm excited for that.
034My final slide for the night is simply about our strategic planning. This is such an opportunity for our district. We have the construction now under our belts. We have these brand new spaces. We have such opportunity ahead of us. Our teachers have the chalk in their hands to be those great teachers. Now, we want the community to take part in our next steps. That's called strategic planning. Um, so we set our sights on big picture thinking. That's another name for strategic planning. And I just want to make sure that the community is aware that on October 8th, we have our first strategic planning night. The community is invited to come to this. We want your voices. We want your input into how the next phase of Kennallorth School District is is going. Uh we're going
035to be creating a five-year plan. Uh so your voice is important. Um it'll be at 6:30 p.m. on October 8th. I'll start the meeting with a state of the schools address where I kind of do an overview of what I see, what we see as our concerns, as our issues, as our areas of focus. Then we'll be opening up the meeting to parent uh and community member involvement. So that'll be at 6:30 on October 8th at Brillley Middle School's new STEM lab. Um and then there's additional dates after that. So that's our first meeting for strategic planning. Uh the next meeting is November 12th where we're going to take those ideas and start formulating goals. And then the final meeting for strategic planning will be December 3rd where we're going to finalize our strategic plan.
036And then after that, I'll be communicating out our strategic plan to the board and to the public. So again, this is an opportunity for the public to come and get involved and have their voices heard in their school district. Um again, this is such an opportunity for our school district as we now have the facilities. I mean, our students are so proud uh to be going and walking these halls. Our teachers are embracing this. It's been a great start to the school year, and I'm looking forward to strategic planning. Thank you. Any questions? >> I just have one question. On the October 8th evening, are you going to address like, you know, you mentioned homework, the absenteeism, is that not the night for that or you know, we have an issue with with homework you
037mentioned, right? We have an issue with absenteeism or tardiness, whatever you want, whichever one you want, category you want. >> So, is that something you want to do on the ETH? Touch on that a little bit. >> I will be touching up on that. Yeah. The the the idea of the state of the schools is to celebrate things, but also shine a light on areas of that may not be the night for it, but I think it should be done with the parents. >> Absolutely. Yeah. No, that that's perfect opportunity for it. Okay. Um hopefully people are reading my emails. Um I send a lot of them. I was told the other day that I'm overcommunicating. I've never heard that before. Um, I guess that's a good thing maybe. Um, but yeah, so I think
038that's that's Yeah, other questions. >> Okay. Um, also in your packet is there's no HIV report um because it was the summer uh so we didn't have any HIVs. Um, and I gave you the enrollment report already in my presentation. So that concludes my superintendent's report. Thank you, Dr. Penichi. >> Thank you. That is ask questions about it. >> Okay. Thank you, Superintendent Davies. At this time, we will have report of committees, review of resolutions, and board discussion. Up first is finance, facilities, and negotiations. Mr. L. >> Hi. Good evening, everybody. Um, as you can tell, the buildings are open to the students. I just want to give a special thanks to the maintenance and custodial staff for getting everything ready. Transportation has started off smoothly with all routes secured. The cafeteria operation is up
039and running. We are working out some kinks in the new middle school multi-purpose room. Um, as you may or may not know, we received $750,000 restricted state aid grant for site improvements. The only we could use that money for is for site improvements. The funding was um secured through discussions with Senator Cryan and Assemblyman um Assemblywoman Kuano. Um, and this evening the committee met, um, the finance committee met with Mr. Canel and Mr. Davies. Um, we went over a bunch of things that we need to get done or can get done. Um, we're going to come up with a formal plan and we'll present that next meeting. Um, just a little special shout out to Dr. Piji, Mr. Ganella, and some of the members on this, Mr. Davies, and some of the members on this
040finance committee. You know, several calls to Senator Cryan. We met with Senator Cry. We pleaded our case and in the end it worked out. Hoping for more, but we got something. I know it was a little restrictive, but again, just a lot of effort to get the some of this money and try to get some of our finances um finances back. So, I think it's all good. Um Mr. Ganella already reviewed the referendum project this evening. Um I know I don't want to get into it, but Joe mentioned the job Mr. Ganella did. But the committee also met um countless hours, countless meetings, lots of emails, going over plan, change orders, um reducing the the initial budget. I mean, this all started with the concept in 2019. So that's how long we've been kind of
041going through this whole project from concept to the referendum getting passed to construction to review going through the building making sure everything was right. So a lot of effort was put in by the finance committee. So just thanks guys. Um, going to resolutions. Um, I reviewed all the financial resolutions. They're all proper. I found no outliers. Um, for resolution number four, line item transfers, there were none that exceeded our cap. Um, moving on to resolution number five is um conferences and workshops. Um, just want to special thanks if you read that, Mr. Gagliardi, our board of attorneys, doing a um an employment law um seminar forum for nothing. Not no charge. So that's good. Thank you for that. Um >> and we feed you breakfast and lunch. >> Yeah, I'm not I'm not invited though.
042>> I can get you anything. >> So um resolution um six is field trips. U Mr. Davis is actually going on this one. >> All right. >> Are you? I thought that's what I read. >> Some of our teachers >> Oh, okay. I thought I thought I read that you were going on. I'd love to. I want to >> but I just want to say it's a great thing. It's the um it's for the 250th anniversary of the American re revolution. So I think that's a really a great field trip for the kids. Um seven are payments to the contractors. I reviewed all of them. The services performed with association in association for the 2022 referendum. All four payments were reviewed and the payments were appropriate. Um 8, nine, and 10 are annual confirmation statements
043of assurance to make sure that we are aligned with the state requirements. Um that's the safety and security plan, power professional staff, and chemical hygiene plan. Um if you have I don't know if you got to read it all, but it's like 70 pages, all that information. So it's fun reading if you didn't read it. Um 11 is the PTO donation of $30,000. Um and finally it is the um >> Can I ask a question about 11? >> Um sure. >> Why are we giving them back to >> um so we >> Okay. >> No, no, you can go ahead. >> So So they gave it to us with the intention of doing this out outdoor space as we were working with contractors. It was continually exceeding the budget. Forget we're a school district. We
044have certain >> restrictions on how we do things. I mean, if I if I wanted to build that building, I got done a lot cheaper, but because there are a lot of restrictions and regulations. Um, so, uh, we felt that the contractors would be better off working directly with the PTO. So, we have a contractor in mind and that person wants to work with the PTO, >> but um, they can do it. >> But orig the PTO is on board with us as far as I know. But the PTO originally gave the the money because of they wanted to make sure that there wasn't anything that the school board had to >> we re we're review we're we're still reviewing the project we're still okay >> we're still in you know we're we're we're providing
045how it's supposed to look how it's supposed to be Mr. Bnowski is reviewing that going back with the PTO. It's it's it's their project. It's it's I don't it's it's not >> it's their project but they are we do help them meeting. >> Yeah, we have to. >> Yeah. It's it's Yes. Yes. >> Okay. So, um the applied behavioral analysis as you can see that's the afterare program at Harding School. All the costs for that are through parent insurance. It's none of the responsibility of the board edifica education. Sorry. Um, we have no responsibility for compensation, benefits, liability. Um, you saw in the package there's hold harmless agreements for the parents to sign and for the ABA group to sign. Um, and that's on 70 pages 72 and 73 of your package packets. Um, and
04613 is tuition reimbursement for Mr. Davies. And that's all I have. Oh, and there's nothing on negotiations. >> That's it. Any other questions for Mr. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Our next person on the line is Mr. H. >> Thank you. There are 10 resolutions tonight. Number 14 uh is acceptance of a resignation. 15 is uh hiring a business teacher in Brley. 16 is 2526 paraprofessional and lunch aids. Uh resolution 17 is an adjustment in salary. Resolution 18 is a staff transfer. Uh resolution N yes sorry resolution 19 is a maternity leave of absence request approval. Resolution 20 are additional teaching sections for the 2526 school year. Resolution 21 are uh co-curricular stipend positions for the 2526 school year. Resolution 22 is the approval of student teachers and resolution 23 is the approval of substitute staff.
047And that is it. Any questions for Mr. Davidson? >> Nope. >> Seeing none, under curriculum instruction, Mr. Davies already mentioned it. Resolution 24 was to accept a recommendation superintendent made on July 1st, 2025 to July 31st, 2025 for the HIV incident report. Are there any questions about that? Okay, we'll now move on to old business. Does anyone have any old business? I will say as usual for the old business that we have information on our websites. The Friday folder started up again. For parents and community members, please look at those correspondents. There's hours and hours that the superintendent works to put them together to give you the information. It's on the website. It's accessible on the folder. There's contact information for anyone to reach out. Please continue to look at those things and reach out
048to your building principles or the superintendent if they cannot answer your questions. anyone of any new business? >> I just like to remind everybody out there um that the schools have started again and you know kids are going to drop stuff in the in the street. They're going to run when they're not supposed to. Um parents are mommies and daddies are going to give their kids hugs and uh middle schoolers are going to drive looking at their phone. But there is a one group of people that throw themselves into the traffic every single day and all they have is a thin piece of sheet metal and I personally witnessed two in the last week almost get hit by a car. So please tell your friends and family, anybody listening to this, they protect our most
049precious asset. So let's protect them. So please just be careful of the crossing guards and and tell your friends and families to protect those crossing guards because they're protecting our kids. Thank you, Mr. Regina. >> Maybe one question for Jeremy with this AI stuff going on now. Um, how are we monitoring what students are doing with AI? I mean, we're getting even at work, we're getting people just writing whatever corporate reports up on AI. We're getting resumes that, you know, I know there was always b people that wrote your resume for you and all that, but it just seems to be like getting larger and larger. So, I don't know how you tackle that. I mean is >> yeah it's very difficult. Um our teachers are on the front lines of that especially our ELA
050English teachers, social studies teachers. Um oftent times um what teachers are now resorting to is you're writing your essay in the classroom. Um and you don't have access to the internet um so that we can get a true sense of your writing skills. Um but at the same time we we have a responsibility to teach students appropriate use of AI. No one thinks it's going anywhere. Um so we're working with um Miss Riftitz who is our technology facilitator on at the upper levels at least how to make sure that if you're utilizing AI for as a brainstorming partner that could be a good thing but then you how do you then transition from a brainstorming partner to now this is my own original work and my own original thinking that's sometimes tough um kids >>
051to to navigate that when am I cheating and when am I not cheating when I'm just asking AI to spit back something to me so it is difficult. Um, our teachers are struggling with it. As an administrative team, we're we're on it. Um, and basically every workshop that I go to. Um, any conference, there's always an AI, >> okay, >> piece of it. And so, we're on it. >> Okay. >> There is also an NJSBA student panel. I saw in our emails on October 8th, if a student wants to go with the administration, they have a panel asking students questions about AI and that's something we want to explore. >> I would have used it every second when I was a student. Anthony, there is no doubt that the coolest thing. >> Anyone else? Any
052comments under new business? We want to just reiterate what Mr. Davies already said, thanking all the community partners, the PTO, the parents. You know, there's too many people to name, but everyone knows who they are. We had a very successful roll out of school. It really takes a village, not one group of people to commit to the ongoing um success of the school. No, thank you. Um, if no one has anything else, we'll now open up the meeting to the public. Is there a motion to open up the meeting to the public? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. Houdina, seconded by Mr. David. All those in favor of opening the meeting to the public, please say I. >> Opposed. Eyes have it. Motion carried. Mr. Ganella. >> Yes. Uh, public comment will
053now be accepted. The board of education sets a limit for the public to speak at the board meeting to 5 minutes per person unless prior permission has been granted by the board of education for extended time pursuant to KBOE bylaw 0167. Please be reminded that while members of the public may speak on personnel uh personnel matters during public uh comment, the board is legal legally prohibited from discussing individual personnel issues in public session unless employee at issue has requested a public discussion. The board's role is set is to set policy and ensure the effective operation of our schools. While personnel recommendations are exclusively are the exclusive responsibility of the school superintendent uh superintendent of schools, the board reviews and acts on these recommendations in accordance with state law and district policy but does not initiate
054manage uh individual staffing decisions. >> Thank you. There is any public that would like to comment at this time, please step up, state your name for the record, address Any public that would like to comment? >> Yeah. Hi, uh Joey Grimmaldi, 34 North 14th Street, right across from the Super Stadium. Um it it really looks beautiful. And last time I was here, I um asked about uh getting um rifle and pistol shooting teams in um in David Brerley and through many enjoyable um conversations with Superintendent Davies and um be be proud of what I'm saying. Don't Don't get embarrassed. He is a He is an educator at heart. He listened to all of my my um conversations. We had great conversations together. Um he I learned about um co-op programs where um school A doesn't
055have this program but school B does have this program. So they could join their their uh forces together and become a co-op and the the the school that has everything and the school that doesn't have everything they'll combine. Um, I had uh mentioned to uh Superintendent Davies that um Satan Hall Prep has a uh already established um rifle team and um I I tried to connect him with with the program director up there. I don't know if he ever got around to it with his busy schedule and all. Um, and I gave um, Superintendent Davies good reading material that he could educate himself on um, firearms and and such. And I hope he has read it over over the summer. Um, it wasn't any anything deep or heavy like Toltoy or or anything like that,
056but um I'm looking forward to working with you again trying to put to put this together. And yes, I I am well aware of all of the budgetary uh constraints and all of the societal pressures and and parent angst and all of this. But I believe if not 25, 26, maybe 27, 28, I would love to see a David Breley rifle and pistol team because the shooting sports are good discipline, good training. It it gives you a little bit of focus and you will not see a rifle or pistol team member go out and shoot up his school because he'll know he'll know the uh capabilities of the rifle and pistol and he will he will know that it's not something just to use like that. he'll have respect for it and he'll have respect
057for for shooting sports and um that's it. I could go on and on and on but I won't. Thank you very much and I I hope to continue our conversations. Thank you. >> Thank you sir. >> And I did it under time. >> Yes, you did. Thank you. >> Anyone else like to comment at this time? Any public like to comment? >> Sure. I I I yield my >> I'm not a senator. Um good evening. Uh my name is John Hammond. I live on North 14th Street as well. Uh 100 North 14th Street, right across from Third Base on the baseball field. Uh I got to witness the uh referendum in full effect throughout the past couple years. Uh it was managed very well, contained pretty well except for some contractors at 4:00 or 5
058in the morning. occasionally, but other than that, it went great. Uh, one of the things I've spoken I've spoken with two past superintendents, I know we've emailed yourself, Mr. Davies. Uh, you have a meeting this week with one of our other neighbors. Um, we've asked for some additional safety measures put at the baseball field. Now, when my wife and I bought the house 12, 14 years ago, um, there was no wall. There was no wall that made it seem like it would be a competitive field. Okay. I grew up in Old Bridge. I lived in Union for 10 years. We loved Kennallorth. Um, loved the town, loved the downtown. Didn't realize it was a competitive baseball field. We've gotten pelted by baseballs over the years. Uh, broken windows, damaged vehicles. The answer has always been,
059"Well, you have to go through your homeowners insurance. The insurance company says you file additional claims, we're going to drop you." Right? So, um, in a pickle. We're starting to find baseballs now with the players getting bigger, faster, stronger. We're finding baseballs in our backyard, next to our deck and swimming pool, next to the shed, on the grass where the kids play. We don't let our kids play in the front. We don't let them ride their bikes in the driveway when there's games. I also respect the school by not cutting the grass and doing other things that will interfere with their enjoyment of the field. Um, this year was especially worse, I guess, with the construction of the gymnasium. Um, they lost their batting cages. There was times where the police had to be called
060because there was some confrontations going on between the neighbors and the coaching staff. Asked them to move over to softball field using a pitching machine. He said it didn't simulate real game activity because there's no grass on the infield, right? So, um, didn't seem reasonable. What I'm asking for here from the board and what I was hoping to be included in the budget referendum that there's some money left over. Maybe this is a reality that we could put up some safety nets to keep baseballs from not only traveling hitting my house, my neighbors houses, but from traveling on the street and hitting cars going down the street, causing cars to break, be deer, etc. There's a lot of accidents on 14th Street already. We've seen enough damage and risk. Um, I was the one who
061called 911 when the minivan flipped over about a month or so ago and ran out there to help them. Um, but I don't know of a baseball field that's on a road like that on a residential street that doesn't have some kind of safety net to prevent the baseballs from going into the residence or into the street. The little league has one for players that are this big. Why don't we have one for the high school? And why is it been ignored all these years? Right? So that's it's it's growing frustration. It's growing safety concerns. Um and I'm the last person who wants to try to stop baseball in Kennorth. I grew up playing baseball. I love baseball. Um we often sit on our front porch to watch the football games and sometimes the baseball
062games, but also to see that nothing hits our house or our cars so we can stop it if possible. Um but I'm asking for your help to to provide that safety. I've done some research, connected with some folks. There are some legal precedent out there that says the burden of providing that safety belongs with the the construction that came second. So, if homeowners were homes were built after a baseball field, the burden would be on the homeowner and the builder. Clearly, the school system was built after these houses. We're asking for the support of the board to do this. I'm hoping this could be done before the next baseball season so we can avoid any kind of legal matters, filing injunctions, etc. Um, but we're we're kind of at our wit's end, myself and the
063neighbors. Not all were vocal. I know you're meeting with one who is. Um, I I respect everything you guys have done. I know it's not an easy task to do the things you do, 1500 students, uh, and the amount of schools that you have. Um, but I'm asking for some help on this. So, is there anybody who can give me some guidance as to how we might be able to proceed and peacefully coexist on 14th Street? >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Hammond. Sorry for the early morning beeping of the trucks and such throughout the construction. I know. Um, >> no, no worries. The the classroom changes are actually worse, but we'll let it go. >> Okay. >> Sorry about that. Um, yeah. So, I have I have that meeting scheduled, and I I had spoken
064to um I think your wife earlier in June. Y >> um and you know there there were you're correct this past spring was a particularly um tough season because the back gym where the team typically takes their batting practice uh was off limits the entire season. So all batting practice was happening on the baseball field. So probably quadruple the amount of pitches were thrown and >> and then some. Yes. >> Yeah. Probably. Um, so, um, yeah. So, I guess what what we have, let me meet with, uh, the folks that I'm meeting with this week. Let me talk through some of the suggestions that I have ahead. Um, the finance facilities committee just met today. But, you know, we can always take a look at um, you know, the cost of things. Uh, that's just
065where we are at all times with school district, like how much money do we devote to a net? Um, so you know, we want to make sure that you're you feel safe. We want to make sure your kids are safe. That of course is a priority. Your kids go to our school system. Um, you know, so but we also want to make sure that our baseball team can can play and um I agree with you. I think there can be a happy medium that we find. Um, I don't know exactly what that is right now to be honest with you, but I I think we can move forward. So let me have my meeting. Um, you're welcome to attend that meeting as well. >> Yeah. And and happy medium. I don't know that we're going
066to reach um short of a um sufficient. When I first moved here and started getting pelted by baseballs, um I asked for um remediation and they essentially doubled the sixoot fence in front of the um that doesn't stop popups and fly balls from going into my house, breaking my windows, damaging vehicles, and threatening safety of my kids. So there there won't be a happy medium without some type of safety measure that is sufficient and hopefully agreed upon maybe by a third party or an engineering firm in terms of what would be sufficient. >> Yeah. >> To keep the balls from going out of play and into the neighborhood, right? >> Because I'm thinking the nets would have to be depending where your house is, the nets would have to be and the poles for nets
067would have to be extremely high. I mean not just 10 feet or they probably have to be like 50 50 feet high. >> Higher. Yes. or more. >> We've done some research on this. Yeah. >> So, several hundred. >> Thank you. Time is exceeded. Mr. Davies will reach out to you and then we'll continue this conversation. Thank you for your comments. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else that would like to step up and make any comments at this time? We appreciate everyone's comments. Thank you. If not, we'll now move on to close the meeting to the public. Is there a motion? >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. David, seconded by Mr. Biner. All those in favor of closing the meeting to the public, please say I. opposed. Eyes have it. Motion's carried.
068The meeting is now closed to the public. Mr. Ganeller, are we ready to vote on roll call of resolutions, please? >> Yes. Uh there are 24 resolutions on this evening's agenda. Do any of those need to be voted on separately? >> Okay. Biner, >> yes. >> Crinki, >> yes. >> David, >> yes. >> Ather? >> Yes. >> Herd? >> Yes. >> Zimmerman? >> Yes. >> Penichi? >> Yes. >> Motions carry unanimously. >> Okay. Thank you. Do we have a need to go into close executive session? >> No. >> Okay. Can I please have a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. Habith, seconded by Mr. David. All those in favor of adjourning, please say I. >> Opposed? Eyes have it. Motion carried. The meeting is now open to the
069public. We'll take a quick fivem minute break and we have a personnel committee meeting.