001Good evening. The Long Hill Township Board of Education reorganizational regular meeting will now come to order. That please um what do we do first? Let's see. Adequate notice of this meeting of the Long Hill Township Board of Education was given as required by the Open Public's meeting act as follows. Notice was sent to the Echo Sentinel and daily record on October 14th, 2024, November 5th, 2025. Notices were posted on the Bolton board in the first floor entrance of the school district administrative building in Gillette, New Jersey. Notices were filed with the township clerk and notices were mailed to all persons who have requested individual notice pursuant to the open public meetings act. Please stand for the pledge. >> I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which
002it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. In the annual election held on November 4th, 2025, the following individuals were elected to serve on the board of education for three-year terms. Crystal Maher with 2,226 votes. Karen Nyquist with 244 votes. Anne Butler with 2585 votes. And there were 61 votes written in total. In the annual election held on November 4th, 2025, the following individual was elected to serve on the board of education for a two-year unexpired term. Alex de Jamos with 2517 votes and 31 writing votes. We'll now swear in the new members. If we can come down to the bottom and we'll take the pledge. Bring your pledges with you so you can read them. Oh, is this not for me? >> No, no, that was for Alex, but
003we'll fill in one. >> I have extras. >> I'm so sorry. I thought it was one of those annual. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Sworn at or sworn in? Sworn in. Yeah, that's it. >> I'm used to the >> [snorts] >> I, Karen, I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the government established in the United States in this state under the authority of the people. So help me God. I solemnly swear that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of member of board of education and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1 or disqualified due to criminal conviction of
004a crime or offense listed in NJS 1812-1 and that I will faithfully and partially and justly perform all the duties of that office according to the best of my ability. So help me God. Congratulations. [applause] >> You want me to grab my microphone? >> Right here. Here we go. Okay. Let's go this way. >> Okay. Uh the other way. This one here. >> Oh, sorry. Thank you. I am Butler do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and that 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 am Butler do solemnly swear that I possess the qualifications
005prescribed by law for the office of member of a board of education and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1 nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJS18A12-1 and that I will faithfully and partially and justly perform all the duties of that office according to the best of my ability. So help me God. >> Congratulations. [applause] I, Crystal Mah, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, and that I will bear true faith [clears throat] and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States and this state under the authority of the people. So help me God. I, Crystal Maher, do solemnly swear that I possess the qualifications
006prescribed by law for the office of member of a board of education and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1, nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJS18A12-1, and that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly perform all of the duties of that office according to the best of my ability. So, help me God. >> Congratulations, >> [snorts] >> I, Alexander D. Jamus, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States and this state under the authority of the people. So, help me God. I, Alexander D. Jamus, do solemnly swear that I possess
007the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of a member of the board of education, and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1, nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJS 18A12-1. 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. >> CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] >> Nicely done, sir. Okay, we'll now proceed to roll call. Mrs. Butler, here. Mrs. Casease here. Mrs. Daily >> here. >> Mr. Dejamos >> here. >> Mr. Foster >> here. >> Mr. Groskoff >> here. >> Dr. Maher >> here. >> Miss McClennon >> here. >> Miss Nyquist >> here. >> Great. We're going to move on to the election of the board president. Pat, can I have
008nominations for election for the board president? >> I nominate uh Kim Casease. >> I'll second that nomination. >> Kim, do you accept the nomination? I do. >> Are there any other nominations? >> Can I have a motion to close nominations? >> So move. >> Second. >> I'm going to do roll call for the nominations. >> Mrs. Butler? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Daly? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dejamos? >> Yes. Mr. Foster, >> yes. >> Mr. Groskoff, >> yes. >> Dr. Maher, >> yes. >> Mrs. McClennon, >> yes. >> Mrs. Nyquist, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Case, >> yes. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> Thank you very much. We are going to move to the election of the board vice president. Um, do I have any nominations? >> I move to nominate Ann Butler as board vice president.
009>> I second. >> Any other nominations? And do you accept? >> Sure. >> Can I have a motion to close nominations? >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Roll call. >> This is weird. >> Mrs. Butler? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dailyaly? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dejamos? >> Yes. >> Mr. Foster? >> Yes. >> Mr. Groskoff? >> Yes. >> Dr. Maher? >> Yes. >> Mrs. McClennon? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Nyquist? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Casease? >> Yes. >> Congratulations. Okay, we have a lot on the agenda, so I'm just going to keep chugging along. We're going to go to communications, Mr. Alexis. >> Nothing to report. >> Okay, board committee and leison on reports. We'll start with Karen. >> Okay. Uh, governance did not meet in December. However, uh, I want to just note, you know, I
010mentioned about the transition reports. So, there's one or two that we're still missing. You have till Friday. It sounds, you know, immaterial, but really they are important. Important also would be feedback on whether you like the format. You know, what we try to do is make it as easy as possible. And it sounds strange to if you're just doing cut and paste and it's all there, but what it does for the chair, it just puts it right there in front of them and it's easier for them to pick up the ball as they move forward. Um, in terms of finance, we didn't have a meeting, but their bills were approved this afternoon, so everything is fine on the agenda. And with respect to Morris County Ed services, the biggest thing is, and I had mentioned
011this before, the their school is closing in June and they have been approached by a school district to actually take over the school equipment and by the end of the year all the remaining supplies, etc. Uh it seems like a very favorable arrangement. Uh what's being talked about now or being looked into and and worked with the architect is the more clearer division between the school section and the section that they want to leave open as offices. And there's just a minor parking lot space thing in terms of all the um adjustments that had to be made to handle disabled students. Everything it's there already because that's who they worked with. So it looks to be very favorable but um that it was just like I said proposed and in discussion but it it does
012look very favorable and that's it. >> Okay. Any questions for Karen? >> Okay Crystal. >> Nothing to report this month. >> Okay Daniel. >> Um community relations did not meet in the month of December. We decided um from our November 24th meeting that we held that we would just use that time to do the transition report. Um but I can report on our November 24th meeting. It was myself, um Ann, Tom, and George and Kim and Lorie Jones. And we did discuss um a couple items aside from the transition report. Um basically the communi communication analytics. Um Miss Jones was a or Dr. Jones was able to share the data analytics. Nothing surprising there. Um but we will continue to analyze um the guardians or parents who open up the most recent NJSLA reports or
013report cards. Um just to see what you know what the community involvement is. Um and we'll just continue to to you know assess. Um and then the central middle school second floor bathrooms would be opening up after winter break. Um, our next I think our next meeting is January 22nd, I believe. >> But I'll double back and email everybody and make sure that works for everybody still. >> That's it. >> Okay. Any questions for Danielle? >> No. Okay. >> Um, student achievement met on uh December 16th. Um we discussed uh and we had an update on the um MTSS uh goals in progress uh as well as the math programs and the visits with the consultants who are helping with the transition to the uh new math ready program. Um we spoke about um some
014use of uh instructional time in Millington in the fifth grade with the work block that they have there and plans for that time period. Um as well as an update on some parent information webinars online. Uh the most recent one was uh anformational for parents with the technology um and the [clears throat] various websites and um ways parents can access online grades etc and information for the kid uh for the kids and that communication with the school. It is posted on the website. Um, we also spoke about uh some assignment guidelines at central that were implemented this year. Uh, and uh talking about uh follow-ups with the um the math sequence change at Wong Hills uh does not seem to affect our programming. Just keep in touch with what Wong Hills is doing. Um that
015looks like everything. Oh, we had the uh steam tank challenge which was an opportunity for our students to participate in a program um this year. So maybe George you can update more on that for us. Uh and we had 12 students who are uh participating in the FISER future techies program. These are outside the school but opportunities that our students applied for. [snorts] >> Okay. Any questions for Ann? Okay. Thank you. Tom, >> nothing to report at this time. >> Okay. Justin, >> nothing to report. >> All right. Alex, >> nothing to report. >> Okay, Katie. Um, I'm just The uh buildings and grounds committee met on December 17th. It was myself, Danielle, Kim, George, Robin, and Charles Frank. Um, I'm just looking over it and I just really briefly um some upgrades were made
016to um HVAC issues. Nothing major. [clears throat] It was just making sure everything's working and keeping temperatures right. Um the electrician finished installing outlets at Central Middle School for the uh learning center. Um uh the bathrooms um on the second floor will be open starting this month um at uh at Central. So uh the second floor bathrooms are now unlocked. And um districtwide, you know, they just did a lot of cold weather preparation with salt ordered, the salt truck repaired, um the right to know and aera inspections for the district were updated. Um training of new cleaning solutions for custodial class, shredding of documents approved for disposal was completed on um December 4th. And um additionally um they are precautionarily sanitizing school rooms. uh during flu season, flu season, especially rooms with a spike um
017in flu will will be extra sanitized that you know sanitiz and then extra sanitized if if you're considering I had two kids with flu before Christmas. I'm glad they're doing that. >> Um and according to a uh and for the Long Hill Ed Foundation, the um the new cycle of uh winter force classes began this week. Nice. And that is all. Okay. Any questions for Katie? Okay. Thank you. I'm just going to mention that um personnel met on uh December 18th. Um our only agenda item was the negotiations with the LHA. Um we are having our first negotiations meeting with the LHA in the board office on February 10th. Um, and the next meeting for personnel negotiations is going to be January 14th, uh, at noon. Any questions on that? No. Okay. Think we could
018go to superintendent. >> Okay. Thank you. First, congratulations to Crystal, Karen, Ann, and Alex. And thank you for continuing your service to the district. Just building on what Ann mentioned about the Fiser Future Techies program. We had 12 central students, nine eighth graders and three sixth graders who will begin the program later this month. All of them were accepted. This is really an exceptional opportunity for our students to explore and inquire as they seek solutions to real world problems in a technology-rich environment. They'll collaborate with like-minded peers and ferve technologists exploring financial technology, AI, app development, and cyber security among other areas. We're just really excited for our students and pleased that they're taking advantage of this opportunity. Um, we had our delayed opening on December 15th. Uh, Alphabest, our uh, before and afterare provider
019cancelled the before care. Um, not only was this a departure from past practice, uh, it it also um, the communication with the families was also a bit inconsistent. Not everyone received notice and we had we had some upset parents uh understandably so. Robin and I met with the senior leadership team of Alphabast and they quickly took full responsibility for the error. They apologized directly to the families who currently use before care and offered them a $25 credit. We also have a new regional manager who's in charge of our account and Alphabest has assured us going forward the prior practice of delaying before care by two hours to coincide with our delayed opening will be put back in practice. Uh last month the board approved the district's 2026 27 uh calendar and I just want to
020remind everyone that the calendar is posted on the district website. I'd also like to remind everyone that recordings of this fall's parent information webinars remain available on the official Longill Township School District YouTube channel, which you can find in the upper leftand corner of our website. You'll find webinars on MTSS, the new math program, and technology tips, as an mentioned for managing academic platforms used in our schools. And that's it for me. Thank you. >> Great. Just uh do you have an idea, George, what attendance was like today? >> Attendance was not terrific at Millington. >> Uh but Central was surprisingly good and and Gillette was also was good. It was like back to normal, but we did have a higher number of kids out at Millington >> if I could recall. Like it it
021lasted through January last year. >> The Yes, the flu epidemic did last through January. I think we're a little bit in a little better shape, but but we'll see. >> Okay. Don't want to jinx it. Okay. Um, any questions? Okay. Uh, business administrators report. >> Thank you. On tonight's agenda, the board is asked to approve the tuition rate for the full day preschool program for the 2026 2027 school year as $9,500 per year, same as the current year. Also included on the agenda is approval for the district to participate in the Morris Union Joiner Commission cooperative purchasing uh purchasing system which will provide access to cooperative purchasing opportunities for goods and services. Um the one we're most excited about is they're looking to do some technology services which will serve all of us which will
022be really really good. Um finally the agenda it includes approval of John Gruer as assistant business administrator. John is in the audience today and we look forward to welcoming him to the Long Hill School District and to our business office team. >> Thank you. >> Great. Any questions? >> Maybe uh and I should have said this as a preface. Maybe you could just give a little update on the budget status, timeline status, whatever. >> Sure. The budget is um I'm working on it. It's, you know, a little bit every day. Um I've got all salaries kind of in there. I've got about I would say threequarters of it in um I can't tell you where we stand yet because I haven't included health care yet. Um I haven't um gotten the insurance rates yet. So
023insurance always goes up quite a bit. Um that but all the administrators have spoken with me. I've during the holidays, hate to say it, but I did write a bunch of emails asking them questions about their budget, questioning things that they put in. Um I am meeting with buildings and grounds next week early in the week. We're going to go over what projects and maintenance items um that we're going to look to do during the summer and during the next year. So, we have I have some really interesting thoughts on that as does Charlie Frank. And I also asked Mark Pine is going to come in as well and talk to us about things that he saw and so that we can put him in a good prior uh prioritization as for what needs to
024be done. >> Okay. >> I I do have a question for you. You were talking about the uh the tuition >> rates and you're saying we're holding it steady from last year, >> but didn't our budget go up? >> Our budget did go up, but you know what? When you look at the neighboring districts, we're pretty much right in there. We don't want to be the most expensive district. We want to be right around there. We did um have the new program last year which brought us a lot more tuition in because we were able to take more tuition students. So, I think overall it's it's pretty good. I don't think that's where we want to want to charge our our families um for extra budget. >> Understood. Thank you. >> I think there's someone
025outside talking [laughter] >> about someone having a conversation >> right outside the door. >> Oh, there we [laughter] go. >> Is there supposed to be a blinking like mute sign on this? >> Yes. >> Okay. Never saw it, but All right. Okay. >> Yes. [snorts] Yeah. I just never saw before. Okay. Uh any comments from the public on agenda items? >> Okay. We are going to start with then uh the first resolution which is on the school board uh recognition month. January every year is uh schoolboard recognition month. Uh NJSBA does a good job providing a lot of resources um highlighting um what school boards do. And then also I know that Governor Murphy proclaimed it school board uh recognition month. So I thought we could go ahead and read through that resolution um so
026that all of our viewers at home could hear it. So why don't we start with um uh the first whereas Karen can you go ahead and read that? >> Sure. Whereas the New Jersey School Boards Association has declared January 2026 to be school board recognition month, a time when all residents can acknowledge the contributions made by our local school board members. And >> whereas the Long Hill Township Board of Education is one of 581 local school boards in New Jersey, which sets policies and oversees operations for public school districts. And >> whereas the Longheld Township Board of Education embraces the goal of highquality education for all New Jersey public school students. And >> whereas New Jerseys local school boards helps determine the educational goals for approximately 1.4 million children in pre kindergarten through 12th grade.
027And >> whereas New Jersey's 5,000 local school board members who receive no remuneration for their [clears throat] services act as advocates for public school students as they work with administrators, teachers, and parents for the betterment of public education. And >> whereas school boards strive to provide the resources necessary to meet the needs of all students, including those with special needs. And >> whereas boards of education provide accountability to the public, they communicate the needs of the school district to the public and they convey to school administrators the public's expectations for the schools. And whereas New Jersey can take pride in its schools which rank among the nation's best in key achievement indicators such as the National Assessment of Education Progress scores and the preparation for college through advanced placement offerings and SAT assessments. Now, therefore,
028be it >> I'll bring it home. Resolve that the Long Hill Township Board of Education does hereby recognize the services of local schoolboard members throughout New Jersey as we join communities statewide in observing January 2026 as school board recognition month. And be it further resolved that the Longill Township Board of Education urges all New Jersey citizens to work with their local boards of education and public school staff toward the advancement of our children's education. So, thank you. So, we just need to Karen, will you uh make a motion? >> So, moved. >> Okay. >> Second. >> All right. Any questions? >> Which is great. [snorts] >> Robin, will you do a roll call for this? >> I'm sorry. >> Will you do a roll call for us? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Uh, Mrs. Butler?
029>> Yes. >> Mrs. Dailyaly? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dejamos? >> Yes. >> Mr. Foster? >> Yes. >> Mr. Groskov? Yes. >> Dr. Maher? Yes. >> Mrs. McClennon? >> Yes. >> M. Nyquist? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Casease? Yes. Um, okay. Moving to resolutions regarding the reorganization. There are a lot of them. Um, uh, Crystal, will you move those in? Numbers 2 through 27. >> So moved. >> Second. Any questions? >> Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Butler? >> Yes. Mrs. Daly? Yes. Mr. Dejamos? Yes. >> Mr. Foster? Yes. Mr. Grossoff? >> Yes. To all but uh, no. On number three. Dr. Maher, >> yes. >> Mrs. McClennon, >> yes. >> Miss Nyquist, >> yes. >> Mrs. Casease, >> yes. >> Okay. Um, adoption of the New Jersey School Boards Association Board Member Code of Ethics. Um, number
03028. I think that's also something that we are going to read through. Um, I'll start off. Uh, resolve that the Long Hill Township Board of Education adopts and agrees to [clears throat] abide by the New Jersey School Boards Association Board Member Code of Ethics as set forth in NJSA 18A12-24.1. We'll start with a Karen. >> I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of the state board of education and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall be brought [clears throat] about only through legal and ethical procedures. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing. >> I will confine my board action
031to policym, planning, and appraisal. And I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them. >> I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools, but together with my fellow board members to see that they are well-run. I will I will recognize the authority rests with the board of education. I will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board. >> I will refuse to s surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends. >> I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which if disclosed would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide
032accurate information and in concert with my fellow board members interpret uh interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its schools. >> I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the treat chief administrative officer. >> I will support and protect school personnel and proper performance of their duties. I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution. Thank you. Um Daniel, will you move that in number 28? >> Sure. So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions? Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Butler? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dailyaly? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dejamos? >> Yes. >> Mr. Foster? >> Yes. >> Mr. Grosoff? >> Yes. >> Dr. Maher? >> Yes. >>
033Miss McClennon? >> Yes. >> Miss Nyquist? >> Yes. >> Mrs. case. >> Yes. >> If I could ask that everybody sign their code of ethics and then pass it over to me. >> We should give her a pledge, too, I guess. >> Oh, wait. >> Oh, sorry. >> What? >> You need to muscle these two guys over here. >> The alarm going to go off when you open it. I'm not going back there for two months. >> We going to do that uh that one next. >> Does anybody need you need it? >> No, thank you. >> Want to pass it down? >> Do you want to pass the >> Okay. And then next, could I ask everybody to sign the code of governance and pass that over to? >> Oh, I think we just
034all >> Okay, that's fine. As long as they all came here. >> Okay. Oh, I forgot to send it down here. >> If we had listened to you, Robin, it would have worked out. But it's >> there's many codes down here. >> Okay. >> I don't know how somehow every year I go home, I go back and then I'm missing one. >> Okay. Karen, you're still sending. >> Mhm. Okay. >> You got it. >> Yeah. >> There's the missing. >> Here it is. >> Okay. this one. All right, we're going to move to uh resolutions regular order of business. Um so um Ann, will you move in minutes number number 29? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any question? >> Okay. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Butler, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dailyaly, >> yes. But
035abstain from 29. >> No. >> Oh, yeah. >> There's only one. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. >> Abstain 29. >> 29. Okay. Um, Mr. Jamos, >> yes. >> Mr. Foster, >> yes. >> Mr. Groskoff, >> yes. >> Dr. Maher, >> yes. >> Mrs. McClennon, >> yes. >> Mr. Nyquist, >> yes. >> Mrs. Casease, >> yes. Um, Tom, will you move into financials numbers 30 through 42? >> So moved. Second. >> Any questions? >> Okay. Roll call, please. Mrs. Butler, >> yes. >> Mrs. Daly, >> yes. >> Mr. Dejamos, >> yes. >> Mr. Foster, >> yes. >> Mr. Groskoff, >> yes. >> Dr. Maher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clinton. >> Yes. >> Miss Nikist. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Casease. >> Yes. Justin, will we move in special services number 43 to 44? >> So moved. >> Second.
036Any >> questions? Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Butler? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dailyaly? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dejamos? >> Yes. >> Mr. Foster? >> Yes. >> Mr. Groskoff? >> Yes. >> Dr. Maher? >> Yes. >> Mrs. McClennon? >> Yes. >> Miss Nyquist? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Casease? >> Yes. Um, Alex, we move in personnel numbers 45 through 54. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> I don't I don't know if anybody else I and maybe they were already thought about or we were given a hit. It seemed like there were a lot of uh resignations. I mean, were they anticipated or did I miss something that came out previously? >> No, that's just the cumulative uh list of the ones that I shared already. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> Mrs. Butler, >> yes.
037>> Mrs. Daly, >> yes. >> Mr. Dejamos, >> yes. >> Mr. Foster, >> yes. >> Mr. Groskoff, >> yes. >> Dr. Maher, >> yes. >> Mrs. McClennon, >> yes. >> Miss Nyquist, >> yes. >> Miss Case, >> yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Any items for discussion? [clears throat] Unfinished business. [cough] New business. [clears throat] Any comments from the public? Okay, just want to thank everybody for um we had a great 2025, excited for 2026. Welcome back to everybody and looking forward to working together with everybody this year. So, can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Abstensions. Okay. Thank you. You're going to send out