001[Music] Welcome to the July 21st Board of Education meeting. Um, the New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to assure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or agreed upon. In accordance with the provision of this act, the Madawan Avenue mutual school district advertisements meeting on July 17, 2025 in the park press. This notice was sent to the municipal clerks of clerk man and the man public library. The notice was also placed on the website and please stand for the pledge of allegiance [Music] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all [Music] >> here.
002Miss Vis >> here >> Mr. Mr. McGovern, >> Mr. Montonone >> here. >> Miss Pal >> here. >> Miss Scott >> here. >> Miss >> here. >> Miss Martinez >> here. >> Miss Warick >> here. >> Be it resolved that a closed session be convened for the purpose of discussing privacy, personnel matters, and legal advice. The subject matter of these discussions will be disclosed to the public when the reason for confidentiality subsides. Although the board cannot guarantee it, the length of executive session is estimated to be 40 minutes after which the public meeting of the board shall reconvene and proceed with business. Action will take place. Can I have a motion and a second to enter executive session? >> Motion second. Returning to public session, can I have a motion and a second to accept
003the minutes of the committee? >> Oh, of the committee of the whole meeting from June 5th. Executive session 1 and two from June 5th, regular action meeting minutes from June 16th, and executive session one and two meeting minutes from June 16th. Motion. Okay. Um, superintendent report, Mr. Perez. Good evening everyone and happy summer. Um this evening we have u Mr. Joshua Ronovitz our supervisor athletics who's going to be presenting um this evening on athletics and our extracurricular Josh. >> So thanks for having me. Uh superintendent Pres wanted me to present on some of the things that we've done uh this past year and and what's looking forward for the upcoming year. So welcome to Lloyd Road School. um going to talk a little bit about the athletic programs at the high school, the middle school,
004and some of um the co-curricular activities at the high school. So, these are our fall sports offerings. Um you can see we offer a number of things in the fall. Uh marching band, football, girls soccer, boys soccer, cross country, um football, girls tennis, dance, field hockey, and our esports team. And we have multiple levels at all of these um sports interclassic sports depending on the numbers. Sometimes we add a little bit, sometimes we have to take away, but once the teams get in August, we'll see where we're at with the numbers. Um but participation numbers for this past fall were really good. Uh we had 310 athletes in last fall. Um our biggest one was football with 88 participants. Um, so I'm working on two computers here. So, um, cheer was another one that was
005up there with the numbers. Um, our other numbers were a little bit down and that's been the trend with field hockey, boys soccer, girls soccer. Some teams around the area are starting to lose some of the pro uh lower levels, but our varsity programs are all intact. Um, again, we we evaluate how many kids we have, what we can sustain. Um we don't want a schedule out there where um we have nine freshman one day and then seven freshman another day. We want to make sure we have enough numbers to compete consistently in the short conference when we're building out our schedules. Uh but again, football at three levels has the most participation. Um our marching band and color guard uh also had good participation numbers and we expect those numbers to grow after the
006success they had uh last fall. Uh, winter sports, I want to thank you for um, approving the new co-op uh, with swimming. We're excited about that. Uh, we know we had three or four girls that were asking us, emailing me and Mr. Wells about swimming. Um, so we're going to co-op with Mammoth Regional, similar to the program that we have with ice hockey where the parents will pay to play. Uh, they'll get them there. Uh, no cost to the district, but gives an opportunity for um, some people to swim. And I know um some of the younger boys have reached out that dive or swim locally are excited about it as well. So I think that the numbers will grow slowly. I don't think we're going to have 20 30 kids participating in it, but
007you could see, you know, anywhere between 8 and 12. And it gives them an opportunity to swim intercolastically somewhere. Um boys basketball, we still have three levels there. Girls basketball, which I'll talk a little bit more later in the presentation, is growing. Uh we do have two levels there, but we could be looking at possibly uh a freshman team in the very near future. Um our cheerleading program, something we talked me, Mr. Wells, um and our cheerleading coach is basketball cheer um is great. The fans love it, the boys love it, the girls love it, but some of the cheerleaders don't always like going to the basketball games, and they have expressed some interest in competition. So, it's something that we are going to look at. Um, but the thing is is it's hard to
008do both. So, we have to talk about it at a budget meeting this upcoming year. You know, does basketball cheer stay on or do we move to a competition team where they start going locally? We're not sending them all the way down to Orlando right off the bat, but you know, Wayne, um, Atlantic City would be a bigger competition. And I know in town there's there is um a growing cheer program with the AYF and we could see some maybe more interest in competition moving forward. Um like I said, I don't think the basketball cheerleaders themselves would be upset at the program. They would be happy. Maybe some of the parents would want to see cheerleaders at the games, but something we all have to talk about and make a decision uh for the future.
009So I want to make you aware that that that those conversations be could be coming down the line. Uh indoor track, it's very successful. Numbers are growing. Um boys, our bowling team, uh believe it or not, it's probably one of our most successful teams over the years. Um they continually win the division, which I'm going to highlight in a little bit. Uh Winter Guard is still going to some competitions. And our wrestling program, that's one of our uh feature programs on this presentation. Our wrestling program is doing good. I talk a little bit about Matt use and all the things that he's doing, but um you know the way that program is heading, it's it's going to be successful for a very long time. We have our ice hockey uh co-op um short conference uh
010championship game. They fell short a couple goals, but they're doing a really good job um you know, taking our players in. I know it's not easy getting out to Howell, but if you play ice hockey, you're usually used to traveling uh a little bit all over the state country uh to play. um our dance team which does do some competitions and I think that's where the cheerleaders and and dance are kind of looking at it. Well, dance does some competitions. When when can cheer do some competitions as well? So, um they do about two or three. They're not heavily involved in the in all the competitions, but they are out there. And then our unified sports uh just two years ago state championship in bowling. We're looking to expand what they're doing. Um maybe offer
011a couple basketball games this year. Um, and I know people are trying to find different ways to have the unified sports um, kids participate differently than just uh, just bowling. We offer some other sports in the spring. Um, we're going to continue to look at that. Uh, numbers wise, I kind of ran through it already. You kind of got the gist of um, where the numbers are. Um, wrestling largest program followed by a track. You know, track always has good numbers. Um, ice hockey with the cough. We had 12. I think that's we graduated couple of seniors, right? Let's go two or three. Um, I'm not sure of the incoming freshman yet. Um, but you know those numbers again with the co-op will stay around between 8 and 12. Spring, uh, baseball, softball, tennis, outdoor
012track, huge numbers. Rose flag football. Um, you know, the talks of the fast growing sport. Our team did really well this year. Um, it kind of made a turn. They had a positive record. They were winning. Um, and I think we have one more year with the pilot. They extended that. But so 207 though, um, the girls are going to have to make a decision whether they're playing flag football or track. They cannot do both. Um, so they did extend that. Um some schools are um making girls pick this year so they could see where they're at. Um we didn't open up registration. Maybe that's a talk we could have whether we want to look at that. But right now there's only about six or seven girls and they're mostly track girls. None of the
013softball girls are playing. Um they're track and when I asked the track girls what they would pick, all of them said flag football. Um, and so one of them was a really good track athlete, but they just like being part of the team and um, you know, it's a little bit different than just competing for yourself. Uh, girls play football 27 uh, on the roster. So, we did have varsity and JV. Uh, baseball had two levels. Uh, we anticipate possibly having a freshman team this year. They may have to play on off days um, of the JV, but we're going to try and work in a little bit of a freshman schedule. But again, if there's only nine freshman, it's hard to just go freshman only, but we can maybe find them some games. We
014I think this past year, we did find them two games to play, even though we didn't have a freshman team. Um, we were able to get some time in for them. Um, track numbers are through the roof. Our track program here has been successful for years. Um, you know, 120 plus kids and it's, uh, you know, even at the middle school level, those numbers are high. So those numbers are always going to stay um really large. Um this is last year's kickoff. We partnered with the Tigers Stallola Foundation. We're going to do that again um on August 18th. Um I have a phone call actually probably this week to find out who's going to come speak. We're going to get all the athletes in the auditorium at the high school uh on the opening day.
015Football opens up a week earlier, but once all the teams are back, we bring them on. Last year they fed us. um whether they feed us or not. We're going to have them in the gym. And that's a good opportunity for me and Mr. Wells to go over expectations um for the year. You know, you're going to talk about any of the policies that you know, if you're absent from school, uh the vaping policies, smoking, drinking, steroids, um expectations on and off the court. So, it's a good way to kind of get them focused before you get in the building. We did this last year. here. We're going to do this again uh coordination with the AYF cheer um and flag football. We're going to invite the the team out on September 12th. That's our
016first home game uh at Madawan High School. So, they'll be called out to the field. They'll run through the tunnel. Um they'll stay on the field with the national anthem. They'll get to see, you know, the the varsity team run out. And uh it was wellreceived last year and they get to wear their jerseys. You wear your jerseys, you get it free. cheerleaders uh line up with our cheerleaders. It was a really nice thing uh that we set up and we want to continue to do that. Social media uh so we have 877 followers on Instagram and Instagram started uh this past September. Um X for Twitter was started when I first came in the uh two springs ago in May. Now 102 followers. Um, Twitter is not getting as much followers from the I
017guess the kids and the parents. Uh, but Twitter does post a lot of the news articles. So, I'm able to take those from the Twitter and put them on Instagram. And if I post on Instagram, I post it on Twitter. It's the same content. But just so you see how much how many posts we've had, and this isn't even just the stories, we've had 340 I I posted 348 times uh throughout the school year. Um, so you're looking at almost two posts a school day. um and sometimes it's more. So, I'm trying to highlight our athletes, um tell the community about upcoming games, um partnering, you know, special events, all league, all conference, all shore, stuff like that. We get to put all these things on there and I'm able to use graphics. We get
018the collegiate style looking graphics. Um putting the the logos of our schools. Um I can put some of the the players pictures in. Um, and we've be able to really highlight a lot of things on social media and I get really good feedback on it. Um, my I got to turn my phone off actually for how many likes we get on some of these posts. I'm sure most of you follow us. It's a lot of uh a lot of movement on social media. Uh, the short conference has this great program called student ambassadors. Um, this year our student ambassadors are going to be Benjamin Morales. He's a senior. He did it last year as a junior. And our new junior is going to be Riley Kernowski. Um she also applied for the NJIAA student ambassador
019with the state. Um that's something that comes around every June. The state picks about 12 13 kids in entire state. Um not we're we I don't know the last time we've had someone get selected. Uh but she did put her application in. If she gets it, that's awesome. We'll have a voice on the table as a student ambassador down with the NSIAA. Uh if not, she has a voice for the short conference. And um we do a in-person meeting in Howell. That's last year's picture. So two representatives from the short conference go down to Howell. Um there was a former wrestler that spoke. They always have a guest speaker. Um it's it's a pretty cool event. Then they give them some lunch. But then throughout the year there's virtual meetings. Um they're trying to expand
020their social media where kids are sending messages to other teams. It's a pretty cool program and it's that's run by um the athletic director um over at Henry Hudson. So, he is the lead on that. And then, you know, obviously all of us are trying to help promote, you know, student leaders within the short conference. Um, our full recognition games, there's a lot of TVDs on there um cuz it's too early. Some of the teams want to see how they're going to be before they pick who they want to play on senior night or move the time. Uh, but we do know that the football cheer, dance, and marching will be on October 3rd because that schedule's set. Um, and we're going to be doing our homecoming and pep rally after. And the reason this
021the homecoming pep rally is going to be after um October 3rd is the Jewish holiday. And we're doing a dance the night before the the homecoming day. Something new this year. Uh, we're going to have the dance, I believe, in the cafeteria. Um, and we're going to name our homecoming king queen at the dance. Um, I think it's going to get the kids there. Um, we did a winter dance and we had good uh we had a good turnout, but we want to see if we do this in the fall if kids will come out and we're going to announce the homecoming king queen at the dance. I think everyone's going to be there. Um, so our senior student council advisers are on board with it. Mr. Wells, I think it's going to be a
022good night. I don't think we're going to cater it or anything like that. It's not going to be sit down, maybe some pizzas for sale, but a DJ play some music and um, you know, they get they can get dressed up if they want and it'll be in the cafeteria. If you saw the the winter dance, it was really nice. So, I think it could be a new tradition that goes forward for years to come. Um, our senior nights, another night to recogn recognize everyone. You've seen what we do. We announce them. You walk out with your parents um or family members, but we brought senior banners like other schools are doing. Um, so every team got the senior badge this year. Whether um the boosters paid for it, um, or the kids themselves paid
023for it. Um, it wasn't really a big issue that all the teams were represented. I know track was the one that had a lot of seniors. It was like, I don't know if we could afford this every single year. So, they did a group senior picture and we just displayed that at at the end of the year. But, we did it in the gym. We hung them in the gym. Uh, we hung it all around the field. We hung them um at the baseball field, the softball field, and then the softball game got moved over to the Oak Shades. We took the posters with us, and then the kids get to keep them. Um you know, every school does it. So, you know, I want to make sure that those were hanging around the facilities.
024And I think uh everybody loves them. So, we're going to partner with Normandy Studios when they come in to do the team photo packages. Seniors just step to the side, take their picture, and then you get a poster um just like this. They're all the same same layout, just their name, the year, um, and, uh, you know, the sport that they play. They may tweak the the graphics a little bit, but again, it's all the same for consistency. All right, you're not going to be able to read this, but there was just too much to put on one slide. Um, I'm highlighting some things that happened this year with our teams and our individuals. Um, our girls and boys bowling teams were the division champs. Our boys and boys spring track team was the beat
025north division champions. Uh marching band and color guard were our state champions. 17 of our 20A sports um made the state playoffs. Um and our ice hockey team in the co-op was uh made it to the short conference championship game. Um then you have a lot of individual stuff. You have 100 wins wrestling. You have a,000 points uh basketball. Um, you have 100 career hits or two uh athletes on here. You have 100 career uh strikeouts for one for baseball, one for uh softball. Um, Raymond on the tennis team has been a two-time state qualifier. That's the top 64 uh in the state. Um, we have first place district winners in wrestling. Uh, we had three wrestlers go down to Atlantic City uh for the state tournament. Um, we had five, one, two, three, four,
026five, six, seven kids qualify for the group championship meet for track and field in the spring. So, that means they did really good at the sectional meet and they moved on to groups. And a lot of them had tough choices that week. They had to choose prom uh weekend or go to the state meet and all of them figured it out and went to um the state meet. We also had that with softball too where we had to move the game up a little bit. so we can get them to prom. And uh all three girls played the game. They beat Mid North and then they were in their dresses a few hours later. It was it was kind of cool. Yeah. Good. And Mid and just for the record, Midn North seniors did not
027show up at prom as well, but our seniors did. So, it just shows some of the commitment uh from our >> Before you change slides, I think we need to clap for everything. If you want a print out, just email me. I'll send you Um, this is something that I thought was awesome and I think you've seen some of these pictures. Um, tremendous feedback from the kids. These were our we call them media dates. So, not the p not the team pictures that you bought. Um, we had a photographer come in on a specific day, fall, winter, and spring. And um, he took these cool pictures. The kid, we told the kids, "Bring props, do whatever you want." Um, some took it to the next level. Some just took a, you know, quick shot. Some
028of them got with their buddies. Some of the coaches jumped in. Um, there's like hundreds of pictures and galleries that we shared out with the teams. They were free to download. Um, so I know all the kids loved them right away. You can see like all the the hits, you know, downloading right away. Um, if you wanted to purchase a picture, um, you could through the website that it was linked on. Um, but you know, the coaches at first were like, you know, what are we doing here? What do we need to do? I said, just let the kids have fun. Um, and there was a video for each of the the seasons, like a little hike video. Then we posted some music in the background. We flipped through the pictures. The kids were doing
029some action stuff, dancing. Um, you know, the the water vapor machines. Uh, that that racket was not on fire. That's just an edit right there. We didn't we didn't do that in the building. So, um I like to continue the media dates. Uh the the price of it is is is well worth it and it's it's not that expensive to get all these pictures and all these teams done. Um you know, it's it's a long process. It's a day, you know, and you might have to cancel practices, but again, I think it's worth it and and I think the kids really liked it. You can see how they got into some of that really creative um state conference recognition. The short conference does a sportsmanship uh brunch down at the RWJ Arena in Tom's River.
030That's a Sunday in May. Uh those are two uh recipients this past year. Uh we had our NJA scholar athlete lunchon um at the Pines Manor in Edison. And then we also participate in the NSWA National Women's and Sport Day where one athlete, one female athlete gets to go to the Ruckers women's basketball game. Uh their name goes up on the jumbotron. They walk out, they get to go certain spots, get some total ops, and they get to watch a game. Signing day pretty successful this year. Um 15 total athletes. I think two were not pictured here. So the picture on the left um was at the end of the year. We kind of gave the athletes some time to think about where they wanted to go. Um, some schools will do three signing days,
031but when we did our when we were about to do our first one, we only had two kids and we thought it would be a little bit better where we could pack the stands in the in the gym and have all their peers there with multiple people, families, and it becomes a nice event. So, I think we'll continue to do that unless we have a special uh case. And I think you all know we did this year. Um, we had a division one football player at Ruckers. So, there was a date that we were supposed to do the signing by. Um, not that if we didn't do it, he still was going to sign, but um, December 4th, I think that morning he gets his official paper from Ruckers. So, we invited, uh, his whole
032family there. Uh, that we actually we held it in the evening uh, so they can make it. And that was a kind of a special thing cuz that mom bought some pizzas for everybody, desserts, and there's a lot of people there for for that event. Um, and he's doing really well from what I'm hearing. Doing really good. facility upgrades. Um, some of the projects that we've did or were going to do. Um, I'll actually start right to left and and go up. Um, Mr. Wells's dream was to have Avenue banners like a college. Um, so we put them up on the athletic side. So when you come into the parking lot, you'll see the banners hanging on the light post that say Madawan Regional High School and they have the logo. Um, if we had
033more post to put them on, uh, we will. We're going to look around, see if we can hang them anywhere else. Uh, but it looks really nice when you're coming in. Um, our new scoreboards are installed uh in the gym. Uh, we have two in both corn. They're in the same spot, but they're just have a different um a little little wider, not as high. Um, all the bulbs work and nice logo on on top. And then to the left is uh August 1st, Mr. Rolls, I think we're hearing um new gym floor possibly. Um, that's the mockup that we had. Um, talking with the the floor uh company. Um, the gray is is a trend right now and it happens to be our color. So, we're going to go light gray with a dark
034gray key. Keep the room border and it's light wood all around. Um, our logo remain the same in the middle. We changed the the block font to a stripped Huskies and the baseline um also has the right in there. So, at first we were thinking white on the for the logos, but after time the white and yellows, if you look at the cord now, it's it's becoming more yellow and um it was recommended to stay away from the whites if you wanted to stay looking nicer for a little bit longer. So, we decided to go with the grays with uh between uh Mr. Wells, Mr. Carlson, Chris Miller or company. We all had a conversation and this was the the final cut. So, new scoreboards, new court, new coach should be fun. Um, some big
035events that we've had, um, throughout the year, uh, one that was really interesting that we had to put together real quick was the marching band state championship parade. Uh, I want to thank both towns for being on board, but it was kind of like, hey, just call us and we'll get it done. They met at St. Clements and they prayed all the way through Main Street down to the high school. So, um the police departments, ambulance, fire, uh town councils, everyone was on board with that. So, that was a little bit of coordinating, but it was well worth that whole event and those kids and I think everyone in town is going to remember that for a long time. So, now we have the blueprint laid out. So, the next state championship, everyone's ready to
036go. Um, you know, we can do that. We hosted the short conference of middle school wrestling tournament. Um we are going to host that every other year. Um each school hosts an all-star event or or a tournament. So um we hosted it this year. It's a big event. It's 10 different teams coming in. So every other year we'll host that. We're going to switch on off with uh the Hazlet um middle school. We did host the NJ wrestling district tournament. Um it's a great event. Our coaches put a lot of work into that. They're they stay on top of it. They make the They make it really easy for me. They lay everything out. We're there. We We just, you know, supply the support that they need and uh it's a it's a great event
037where we host the districts. I will say that there were no police arrests at our districts, but there were some in South Jersey. Um Husky Relays event that's been going on for a really long time. with almost a thousand participants, coaches, teams come from all over the state to this event. Um that was held uh late March or usually early April. Um Sam Turner again does a lot for that event and the track coaches and a lot of offici officials. Um and it's a it's a good fundraiser for the track team every single year. Uh they also host the Mammoth County Cross Championship and we host one day of the spring track feed north division meet. Um Neptune took the other half so we won that event as well. Um something that I think was
038uh a concern right before I came here was making sure that we're allocating time for our students and our community. Um, we've taken a lot of steps to ensure that our fields are permitted by our groups, priorities given to our programs that are approved by the board of education first, uh, or the PTO or the boosters or our local recreation programs. We've had a lot of outside organizations trying to get on our field, uh, in our facilities. Um, I know it's been an ongoing battle, but I can say that the field, the outside, um, organizations are really no longer there. Occasionally we'll see a couple private lessons uh here and there, but it's pretty easy just to say, "Hey, you know, you need a permit." And they leave. Um, and we've been going back and
039forth with some of our outside organizations uh in our gyms, but I think they finally have the message that our kids and our programs are going to come first. Um, so bridging the gap between the high school and the wreck programs. Um I I talked about them a little bit before and a lot of their successes because they are doing things like this. Uh girls basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, and our cheer programs are the ones I want to highlight right now. Our wrestling program, uh Coach Hughes has done a tremendous job um trying to bridge the gap. He's been hosting um a summer clinic, I guess you can call it, every Wednesday night um for the youth and uh the high school kids. It's the uh the youth put the permits in and coach use
040has been supplying the coaches whether they're um national wrestlers, state level wrestlers, coaches, referees. He's been bringing them in on Wednesday night and um they've been teaching the kids a lot about wrestling and that program like I said is really growing and it's his connection that he has with the wrestling program uh down below. Same thing with our girls basketball uh coach Chrissy uh Suka. She spends a lot of time in this district with the girls basketball teams. Uh the numbers are up. The wins are starting to come. Um I know historically girls basketball struggled uh in the division we're in. They're starting to get the wins. She's growing from the bottom up. Um she partnered with ya for a second annual clinic. Um she now has six travel teams, grades two through eight that
041she's pretty much coaching with her staff um or former players. Uh she's collaborating with colleges like FDU, NGIT, East Straburg, uh with their coaches to come in, talk to the girls. Um they're taking team trips as a whole program from second grade all the way to high school. They were just at the WNBA game uh the other night. So, it's just bridging the whole gap uh between girls basketball and we're really happy the way that program is is headed. Um baseball kind of like you see some of these Catholic schools or private schools promoting uh like ID clinics or find out what it is for to play ratty baseball. Um they offer these these camps or showcases for seventh to eighth graders trying to get them to come in. Well, Coach Kernowski did the same
042thing this year for Matalon. He went over to center court um you know with their their program. He put a flyer out with their boosters and he had all seven to eighth graders come find out what it is to play uh Huskies baseball, meet the coaches, run through some drills um at over at center court and um you know I think that just keeps bridging the gap between the two programs. Um this past year the 9U and 10U um talent teams um asked for some more time in the gym kind of like the softball teams do. So we offered them the lower gym to go for pitchers and catchers and it just so happened that both of those teams uh did win a uh a Cal Ripken district title uh this year. So the extra
043work paid off. Um I won't brag too much about the NU. I'm the head coach of the NU team. Uh, but we did win the district tournament as well. Um, but it was fun, you know, and and I think it shows get them coming to the high school and working out there a little bit and then the ID clinic in a couple years, the middle school program, it all kind of comes together. Um, both baseball and softball were invited to the opening days uh for MABRL and MAA. Our coaches at softball threw out the first pitch. They were announced. They got to shake all the hands. And at MABRL, uh, the boys baseball team makes a tunnel for all the kids to run out, so they're present for those. And I think as when I
044talk to the high school kids, they all remember their days. I had oak shades and tumor, and I think it's just kind of like a passing of the coach thing that's been going on for a little bit. Um, but with the new softball coach, um, doesn't know about these traditions, and he still did it. Um, he he's doing a great job. They had a really successful year. uh a state playoff win his first year, uh county win. Um he's he's growing that program. They we lost our JV program this year, but he thinks that by building from the bottom up, he'll get it back. He offered a 4-day camp uh for ages 10 through 14 at Oak Shades with their boosters to, you know, so the girls get to see who the high school coaches
045and again, it's all from building from the bottom up to feed our feed our programs. Um and cheer recently put um on they helped out with the AYF clinic. So the town needed they're trying to build up their local football cheer used our gym and they asked our cheer coaches and and cheerleaders to come to help out and talking to the AF cheerleader uh head of the cheerleader said that our girls were amazing. They they helped us out. They ran the whole thing. Uh we were really happy with that. They actually added a second clinic a few weeks later said, "Can we do this again?" So, we're just trying to bridge the gap with these programs and we're going to continue to do this with all our sports, but these are the ones I really
046wanted to highlight uh today so you can see all the good things and a lot of the extra work that the coaches are putting in. Middle school athletics. Um we have a number of programs in the fall, the winter, and the spring. Um we're in the short conference middle school. Those are the pen schools that we compete against. So it gives us a built out schedule, but we don't need to find any games. Uh we also offer a bunch of intramural programs at the uh the middle school such as flag football, volleyball, floor hockey, basketball, bowling. So if they don't make the basketball team or um they're interested in flag football, they have that or maybe they don't know what hockey is yet. I know ice hockey and floor hockey are two different things, but
047maybe someone really likes hockey and wants to explore that, right? So, it's it's just a way for them to get involved with some sports if they're not playing the traditional sports that that we offer. Our co-curricular activities, uh, freshman orientation, uh, we do these, um, fairs in the cafeteria. You probably see pictures of this. We did one in the the media center at the high school when the eighth graders came up, um, in in May. Um, we also do it during the Husky experience where our coaches come to that one as well. So, the eighth graders are seeing the adviserss, they're seeing the coaches multiple times that way when they come up to the high school. And then I think like the first few weeks too, we offer them uh time to go sign up
048with the clubs kind of like a a rush. Um, or last year with something new, we did the virtual club fair where Mike, Mr. as well as can put that in his uh weekly email and parents can kind of see all the clubs. There's Google Classroom codes in there. There's advisors uh emails and those are just a couple of samples of over 50 slides that we have in a show that we can we can push out to the parents um you know the first week of school so that the kids know where to go. In closing again, thank you for having me here. There's a lot of information. this job is uh non-stop with all the activities we run at the high school. Um I think that our programs and our coaches and our adviserss
049and the support that we have from everyone uh in town, everything I thought it was a really good year and and I believe that this next year is just going to be even better uh with the facility upgrades and and branding our programs and now the coaches kind of uh a year under my belt too is seeing my vision and talking to them. You know, I think we're just going to continue to grow all our programs, be more competitive, and hopefully keep all our Huskys in town. >> Thanks, everybody. [Applause] >> Any questions? >> Yes. >> Thank you so much for coming um on top of all this other stuff, spending some time with us, and letting us know. It it was really insightful to see all the things that are going on. And congratulations.
050It sounds amazing. >> Um, couple of things. So, you talked about the policies um at that day in the beginning of the I guess when they go back to school at the beginning of the season just having all the athletes together and you did talk about like vaping and homework and grades and all that. So, I think this is true. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the athletes are held to an even higher standard than the rest of the student body um in terms of some of those policies. So I just wanted to reiterate how important it is to relay that to those kids because they are looked at you know as role models as mentor um you know people look up to them as mentors. So knowing that they kind of have to be
051even more um you know give an example of how to be a good student and athlete. Um I we will make sure that we get your um social media handles pro so we can get more followers for you. Um, also in terms of the homecoming, um, I like the idea of having them crown at the dance. I I think a homecoming dance is is nice. We had them growing up. Everybody went, it was a big thing. I know that it's kind of dwindling lately, but um, that would be nice if we could get interest in something like that. Will they still also be honored at the that homecoming football game? >> Yeah. So, the whole court will be walked out at halftime with part of a little ceremony as well. >> Okay, good. And um
052lastly um I want to commend those senior girls who I actually know Maline de Christopher saw the pictures, played the game and then was all dalled up for prom. So >> excellent um show of commitment there for their sport and you know being able to also >> have that milestone. So >> yeah, that's why she was uh probably more player of the year till she got a big step on that. >> Thank you very much. >> No problem. I never have [Music] >> Hello. So, thank you. This was very helpful. Um, and I've learned a lot too, which is great. Um, I just wanted to say the community has noticed, you know, having kids or having multiple last year, one this year. um in the high school I have learned of a lot of um
053parents and family members um talk about um that they've noticed the exposure. So like senior the senior nights for example that matters in the past we used to only do them that senior night kids took them home that night. >> Now the fact that they're lined up throughout for every scene like you see everybody it's just makes such an impression it's it's awesome it's great. Um, so that people have commented on the Instagram as well. And I know the kids like it too because if they want to go to a game and something changes with the game or something, they can find out, you know, that so they know. Um, so that's been fantastic. Um, uh, in terms of co-ops, I love co-ops. You know, I I think it's a great way for kids who
054play sports that typically there's not a large participation here. um they're still able to do it and feel like they're representing their school. So, I love that. And I also thank you because this year I think he was um recognized more like they felt like part of the school which I think is great. So, it's been the same. Fantastic. Because these kids, you know, it's not, you know, they just really like that. They like being able to represent their school. So, that's fantastic. Um when you were talking about the town sports programs and helping us road runners in high school, um I love what you've done with that and then soccer, you know, you were mentioning the link to boys and girls. So, you know, we have AMS in town, but I also know that
055at a certain point it tends to take a major drop like everybody goes out to um so I don't really know the best ways to link the two, but you know, I feel like there might be opportunity. I've talked to both coaches trying to get them in there a little bit. Um I know they've had turnover of the board too and trainers and stuff like that. So um and I I also think that in in town baseball and softball have become so big in this town. Um and it's all year round where and soccer's all year round. >> Kids are starting to choose baseball and softball over soccer. Um there's still that kids that play soccer. Uh but baseball numbers are and softball numbers are like exploding in travel recently and I think that's a
056little bit part of the numbers in town and that that's bundling up to the high school. Uh but our our coaches are going to try and get down there and talk to them a little bit and showcase but it's it's it might take a little bit to bring soccer back up. I I think the other thing um that I wanted to mention is that I feel like the coaches are really good about so sports are so different from when we were all kids like now it's year round in order to progress and potentially playing in college you have to play year round I think what our coaches are good at is helping the challenge and understanding that you know your first club may be this but there still may be a place for you to
057learn from other sports so I think they've been fantastic in high school that just wanted to that um media days fantastic about that. Um and as you he said that I think that would definitely help attendance. Um and then we just wanted to point out with the IC days um kind of similar um how he does a similar thing to where they pull eighth graders like they kind of let them know and invite them to come to a practice. [Music] So thank you. >> Thank you. [Music] Danielle, you you want to go now? Um, thank you so much. I second, third, and fourth. Everything that was said, thank you. I can't This is very help. My kids's been out for a little while now. But, um, this was awesome. Um, I do wanted to ask
058you, well, first of all, being running the policy committee, I thank you so much for really paying attention to those policies that we feel like sometimes we spend days, weeks, months reading, reading, reading, getting them, fixing them, reading, and then they don't always get followed 100% sometimes. So, thank you for making sure that those are being done. Um, and what triggered this question is part of the policy. So, I know you said you're on Instagram and Twitter. Are you are you the only person that is in charge of posting? I know there's been a lot of times like we can't get into this account because there's somebody who owns it and blah. Like, I know we you cleaned all that up. >> So, is that how that works? >> I'm the only one that right
059now. >> Okay. Awesome. What what I do with the coaches though is they'll send me stuff and then sometimes I copy and paste y >> what happened. So I'm not in it by myself but um everything that gets posted goes through me first. >> Okay, good. Yeah, that that I know just over the years, you know, you you want the kids to participate and they help and then somebody owns it and then you can't get in it. So I'm happy that that is that way. Um and I I'm sorry on 10 just remind me 103 is what? Uh 103 is the senior uh for for football game >> uh senior recognition for football cheer dance marching color guard and then 10 10 would be the homecoming. >> Okay, thank you so much. >> Yeah, like
060I said, the only reason we flipped it was because of the Jewish holiday. >> Yep. Okay, perfect. Thank you again. >> Actually, I just would like to say two things as well. Highlighting all the the amazing things that we're doing with um the sports have led the district. So, the tickers the mobile foundation such an amazing amazing foundation and resource that we have here that we use. So, partnering with them on day one with our athletes I think is just full circle and showing them, you know, having Tigers just to back us up and our policies and, you know, where you can go and what you can do, I think is just phenomenal. whatever however we can use them and then we do partner with them on various different but using them for athletics is
061amazing. Um and then I'm excited to see everything is phenomenal. We're doing great things and I'm personally excited to see what we do in cheer. So I can't wait to hear more about that, you know, in the future uh as my daughter is a competitive cheerleader. So I'm excited about that. Um and then I think that's it. This is just phenomenal. I did I did appreciate you and thank you for coming. Um, I guess I want to do best piggybacking on everybody's great praise of all of this and all this wonderful stuff. Something you didn't highlight is that I feel like you've done and I don't know if it's just you or or who else from administration um have done some good work on removing barriers to participation just like little administrative kind of things.
062One of the big ones that I know was a um a sticking point for me year after year after year was having to turn in the physicals four times a year, twohour little blocks, and if you were at work, oh well. And so having that um that that ability to to use the school nurses to be able to just turn those in was just I mean just a like such a load off of so many families. So I really appreciate that. >> Yeah. So that that was something that with uh Donna at the high school and and Sonia um you know we all talked about it and it's been closing every year was an issue. It was an issue people couldn't get there. So we decided to open it up this spread to see how
063it worked. Um and I'm getting good feedback. It worked so we'll continue that way. We are going to do a drop off in the summertime where you can come between 4 and 6. Uh but we have been taking in physical the athletic office and scanning them over Dr. Speasler and uh you know even Nancy in the athletic office said this is the smoothest it's ever went through. Genesis sometimes can be a little quirky uh with some things but um you know handing in the physical there's no reason for physical to sit there for a month. Um and let's just get the kids cleared when we can. >> So thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. See everyone around. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Moving on, president's report. Um, I just
064wanted to let everybody while it's quiet for the students, it's very, very busy time of year here in the district. Um, staff and administrators have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming school year as well as future years. We've been talking about the growth across our communities. Growth across our communities um which has led the district to explore long-term solutions. Two main options the district is looking at redrawing elementary school boundary lines and adjusting which grade levels are housed in each building. So that simply means that we could see elementary schools go K through five or we might see Lloyd B3 [Music] schools or all of the above. So all this will need careful planning because it impacts all kinds of things including transportation, classroom sizes, special services. So this is all will be
065planned carefully and >> everything will be a very long um lead time for parents. We're not springing this on anybody, but it will have to come at some point. >> We also um approved some revisions to administrative staffing. It's more fiscally responsible. It helps directly impact more students. The roles um include consolidation, office location changes, so administrators um supervisor, director levels are on site to support school leadership teams with curriculum programs and some day-to-day operations. Um pleased to report that the fitness court is now fully funded. Aberdine Township has generously agreed to cover the final remaining expense for the fitness court, which was the concrete pad. So, we really appreciate the generosity and the collaboration for this site which will be open to the entire Madawan Aberdeen community. It's funded by two grants um including
066one from the National Fitness Campaign as well as many generous donations from local businesses and our partnerships here at the district. We've already started um purchase orders to get the ball rolling. I think we have some equipment coming in in pieces, right? We have some here. Yay. Um and this is the first of its kind fitness court for the entire county along the county. So this is an outdoor court. It will be used integrated into the curriculum for fizzed, for dance, um as well as for um used for the community as well. So looking forward to that. Now bad news. Um we have some facility improvements that are needed that exceed what we have in our budget. So, as everybody knows, we the board unanimously voted down a state incentivized tax increase last spring and
067instead we will probably have no choice but to go to referendum. I think actually probably is not the right word. We will be looking to seek some funds through a referendum and that puts the decision in the hands of every voting member of the community. So, the goal for that, the district does this um is for November of 2026. So there's a year of planning that's involved with that. Um and the board's role in that is just supporting the um initiatives for what's being sought and how it's spent and so that we can support the district's um decisions in what's really needed, the priorities that are needed for the district that again we are not anticipating having funding for um elsewhere. And that concludes the president's report. Any any questions there? >> Yes, um I'm
068very excited about the fitness court we're calling it. That's absolutely phenomenal. I'm excited. Thank you for helping us out. The community will obviously have be able to access it. That's great. Are we putting hours on that access? is what we do with the program. >> Oh, so okay. So, full hours. >> Okay, great. I think I didn't hear that answer. >> So, just like the playgrounds, we we put signage up on when you can and can't use the facility. So, we'll do the same thing for the fitness court. >> Thank you. That makes sense. Thank you. >> Okay, moving on. Curriculum and instruction. >> Thank you. Good evening. Curriculum instruction agenda this evening is for action. Item A, we're asking the board to approve the travel agenda which is attached. I do want to point
069out there are board members listed to attend the NJSBA annual workshop in October. So please be aware of that board to approve item B number one which is the 2526 virtual remote instruction plan. Item number two, which is a district organizational chart for school year 2526. Item number three, rest of approve the biology tax for 93, which include professional development. This district will not make it. And item number four, rest of approve the member agreement between the district and l system with the rationale listed at zero cost to the district. That concludes instruction. [Music] I have a motion and a second motion. I'll second. Any questions? Not so much a question, but a comment. I think I make this comment every year. It is not our district's fault that this is a requirement of the
070state. But B1 is a virtual remote instruction plan that only applies to public health emergencies. So we could have a hurricane and we don't have to use this plan and yet somehow we have to have this for a declared public health emergency. The only reason a school would ever close. So I will be abstaining from this once again as I do every year. Thank you. >> Um I do have just one question. I know I sent it in but um I just wanted to ask exactly what is the light speeded grant? It's a little unclear based on um the description in the agenda as well as you know what we've the information we've gotten thus far. So I'm just trying to understand is it PD materials is it across all seven schools? Um like I
071really like the idea. I saw there was the helpline which I think is great. I just want to make sure that obviously you know we need to maintain privacy but um you know is there a connection back to school? I'm just trying to understand putting this in place how it connects with the schools, you know, like how how do they work together? It seems like it's but I'm just trying to understand I'll answer that. So, um, currently the Department of Health have a has a grant um available. It's been in place for the last two years. So the grant um that's on the agenda would be for this current year and then 2627. Currently the district uses light speeded on the students Chromebooks. It's on our computers. Um so if someone is searching something um
072that causes an alert to our principles or to our school counselors. It's currently going directly to them. That happens off hours during the school day 24/7. Currently, right now, when those situations happen, if the principal gets an alert, then he is calling, if it's off hours, he's calling 911. Um, he's calling dispatch where the student lives, and then, um, then the PD picks up from there in terms of doing a well visit and a well check. What has been raised over the last few years um not just here but throughout the 300 I mean 600 districts in the state of New Jersey is that when things are happening off hours because while our administrative team are very good in terms of having checking their emails throughout the throughout the weekend or during the vacation um
073it does cause some you know concern in terms of what if I don't get the email and then something happens to that particular student. Um, so light speeded we currently have but this is is an additional layer to what we currently have meaning that with the grant they added through them with light speed they're together this um stop I have to put my glasses on but it's called um safe they created this grant that they now are utilizing the second um second floor hotline which that is in the state of New Jersey where you can call anyone can call for help Um so it could be myself, adults, children and then they are being screened online and then they do a um through that screening then they're determining the 911. The second um second floor
074hotline is 24/7. So light speed works with them. So when we're getting that then they're getting that alert and they they'll research it like to see if it's curriculum related, you know, they'll do that cuz sometimes that could happen. um if they're looking up something like say from World War II, they can make the connection determining the team is determining what was actually asked in Google or uh as opposed to um how do I you know that's probably but how do I kill myself? So they are looking at a closer they take a deep dive in terms of the questions and how they're being asked. >> Do the principles get so >> correct? Yes. >> So the principles are aware >> they do. >> Yes. So they make the call and then tomorrow I actually
075have the call um with um with um the director of technology in terms of creating the list of contacts like who are your two go-to people first. So it's always going to be building administrator probably myself and cabinet. Um and then you know it kind of goes from there who's the second point of contact as well. So the in terms of confidentiality currently lightseed has access through through our student information system and that's a contract that we do but it's not um it's the names they're not collecting I asked questions like are you collecting data further research you know to ensure that you continue get funding. They're not collecting any of this information to um secure funding. They're just doing it to in terms of decreasing suicide. It's purely prevention. >> I hope that answers
076your question. Make sure the connection happens so that you can protect the child throughout the rest of their day, not just [Music] >> and Mrs. Folley, I just want to add where I work, we use light speed and I was doing a poetry unit and students were doing Sylvia Pla who committed suicide. So when they were writing the biography, it actually got flagged and they got called down to the principal's office to make sure that they were safe. So just know it's really a thorough system. [Music] This agenda is for action Nebraska to approve item number one which is a revision from previous agenda to approve out of district placement 256 school year students listed. We're asking the board to approve item number two which is out of district placement as listed 256 school year.
077We're asking the board to approve item number three the listing of service providers for 256 school year as listed. This is a renewal. It should be reflected in a different color. That's on the bottom of page one on top of page to approve. Item number four, we're asking the district to approve the nursing services for the 2526 school year students cost dates listed. And we're asking the board to approve item number five, which is an agreement for service providers for 2526 school year to provide educational services for students who are blind or visually impaired on the bottom of page 202. That concludes student services. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion and a second to approve the student services agenda? Motion. I'll second. Any questions? I just have a question. I know there's a
078a large discrepancy in the visually impaired services and I we we asked about that cuz it kind of just um raised our flag but I think um you can explain just for the public. >> Yes. So the the difference in cost for the students listed um reflects that that student has a higher need of service which includes all educational resources being transferred to braille. So in that cost you've also the rental of the equipment and the resources to translate into rent. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's also a significant differential in the cost for a nurse and that it's a similar situation where the student has um specific services where the nurse needs to be available throughout the day including on transportation to and from school. So just for the public's knowledge, there's, you
079know, some of these costs seem um exorbitant, but there's a rationale that, you know, and this is something that we're required um to do, and it's, you know, we should we should offer everybody a fair and equal education as as stated by law. Um personnel, Dr. Walls, >> thank you very much. Uh in addition to the regular agenda, uh the board received walk-in items that we are asking the board to take action on this evening. Uh those items include um resignations, leave of absence, and uh several appointments to uh fulfill some of our 2526 school year um job responsibilities uh as well as extracurricular athletic coach. And we also have a stipen for benefits of leave of absences uh on two of two of that walk-in item. Now for the regular agenda that we are
080also asking the board to take action on tonight for the personnel. Uh we have the resignation of the retirement I'm sorry as listed uh on page one of six. Uh we have several leaves of absences as listed in section B which goes on to page two of six. Uh in addition we have some more appointments um readying us for our school year 2526 on two of six. We have on page three of six some extracurricular activities uh athletic and also nonathletic activities. Uh some of these may continue to to roll in uh in the next few months uh to fulfill uh some of these positions. We have uh hourly rate as listed on page three of six as well. We have some curriculum instruction uh summer curriculum writing uh specific to high school math and
081some STEM elementary as listed on page 40 or six. Uh home instruction as listed for those two courses. Uh we have perfect attendance uh item five on page 406 which is al always exciting uh news. Um, we have uh staff array changes, several staff array changes uh preparing us for the upcoming school year. That leads us to page five of six. Uh we have a district anti-bullying coordinator. Uh yours truly, Mr. Leeman will be uh taking over that district level next year. Um and then we also had a few uh changes that we needed to make in the school uh based on staff array changes. Uh we have uh some student observers listed here now. Uh and we have volunteers as listed for board soccer in section ego page 506. We have the from our
082last meeting. We also had two job descriptions for shared the board of education. And on page six of six we have our ESY summer 256. um uh ESY listings there, additional staff. We also have some uh extra hours uh for our nurse listed and we have some salary adjustments and extra responsibility stipen uh listed and um item number eight I want to call extensions in this case uh it should be uh up to 35 hours at that rate of 3750 uh that includes substitute administrative work that will be this year 56. And then uh finally on page 606 we have uh two staff members who work with the unified grant to 145 school year conversations with that concludes. [Music] >> Can I have a uh motion and a second to approve with that one change?
083So item eight substitute administrator correct Dr. Well, it should be 35 an hour, not 30. >> Up to 35 hours. >> Oh, up to 35 hours. Got it. Thank you. >> And we have to add a number nine and take away a number 10. >> We will promise. >> Okay. >> Motion and a second with those updates. >> I'll second >> questions. Um, I just wanted to say uh congratulations and thank you to the staff members with perfect attendance. bike. Um, I think that's phenomenal and I love that there were so many um staff members from the transportation department. Uh, so that was really great. >> Missy, may may I um just a couple things. Um, Miss Riley, congratulations on your retirement. Welld deserved. 25 years. That's amazing. um you taught uh my son in
084kindergarten and you're phenomenal and you will be missed. So, thank you. Um I want to say congratulations to Mr. McCumber. Um I am looking forward to seeing what's done with the basketball team here. Amazing. Um so congratulations to him and yes uh the perfect attendance. Congratulations to everybody cuz that is a big feat. Um, so it's nice to see and a job well done and um yeah, so that's that's amazing. So perfect attendance. Excellent. >> Thank you. >> If I could also piggyback on what you just said, Miss um Mrs. Riley and I did our new pathways to teaching alternate group program together and um we learned together, we taught each other together and she's just a spectacular person. So I just want to wish her if she's watching this well on her new journey.
085>> Um so I too would like to congratulate the retirees. Um and also Mr. McCumber and his new position. Um me and him ran um together 12 13 years ago. So um you know he's been part of this district for a long time. So, and the community and his kids and he coaches in Old Bridge. So, I'm very happy that he's coming to our district. I think it's um a hu he'll be a huge asset. Um and also the perfect attendance. I love that. Um you know, four of them are in transportation, which is huge. And um so I'm glad that we negotiated for that because that was part of our that was part of our dig to get people in the door and it seems to be working. So thank you guys. I think
086that's great because uh I'm sure that it's very difficult to get substitute bus driver or you know at la at the last minute. So that's good that we didn't have to worry about that this year. Okay, moving on. Dr. policy. >> Yes, we have uh several new policies uh that so we are not seeking action on tonight. Um it's important to note that the board does receive summaries of each of these policy changes and regulation changes as well as um they're receiving actual policy regulation uh to review. Uh so up tonight we have the student representative to the board of education which this year we had Lindy um that is nothing new for us but believe it or not there's some 9 through 12 schools not have that. So this legislation pretty much um put
087into place where school district had 9 through 12 uh students had to have access. Uh the next one, the board of education for website accessibility. Uh that one is uh if you go to our website, you'll actually see there's an accessibility tab, the lower part of the screen, left part of the screen. Uh that is for uh individuals with disabilities. You need certain accessibility uh enhancements to the website. So we are in compliance with that. Uh but that is basically that was one of the major changes uh to that policy um that came out of the office of civil rights. Uh the next one we have for student surveys, analysis and evaluation. Um that is for any uh survey that is given out to students especially coming from state or third party or federal for
088that matter. Uh that parents have to have advanced notice. They have to be able to review the survey if they wish to uh for because there's some surveys they ask things like political allegiance and things of that nature. Um even some demographic information that parents should be aware of. That's the major change uh with with that one. Uh the surrogate uh parents and foster parents that was one that uh we had some questions on. Um I did forward questions uh to our legal council the approved for that. So uh we will be prepared. We'll give you some things that I'll be able to share with the board in between now and our next meeting once we take action uh so you're more educated uh on that matter. Uh then we have dress and grooming which
089was a um a pretty outdated policy goes back to 2010 not a mandatory policy. Uh it's one that we did get uh teacher feedback on a committee that included teachers uh included principal administration uh high committee and what we did was uh we put together with you we have uh with the changes that we want to make um consider. Uh so we have about a month to take a look at that and if there's any feedback or anything you find that further discussion uh we'll be able to to make some changes and edits uh revisions based on your feedback. But we have a committee that spans from prek all the way up to high school. Uh so we did have good um participation even a summer after school. um I thank the teachers uh for
090the staff for for their uh commitment to that. The final um policy that we have is actually red regulation that we have is for student attendance. Um Mr. Mr. Re did a lot of work uh this year with student attendance in various committees and so on and so forth. One of the revisions that came out of that was reducing the number of uh secondary absences for credit from 20 to 18. Um making it a more rigorous qualification. Um there uh there there's lots more to that regulation but that would be the only thing that we changed at that time that regulation. Uh that includes the person on the first read, not the policy. [Music] >> Thank you. Can I have a motion and a second to accept the policy agenda? A motion? >> Okay. Any
091questions? Um I I didn't have a question, but I just wanted to thank Dr. calls for the efforts with the uh the staff um dress code um because that that that sounds like a great process working with all the staff and getting that kind of feedback. That's really it's good to hear. Um and also I just was noting I mean I think this is more of the the state and strap says more than it's nice to see standard policies for website accessibility having well for for the public's benefit. it really it removed kind of outs to not be as accessible. Now it is this has to be accessible. That's just how it is and with something like a district website that's absolutely essential. So I really appreciate that. I had a few questions or just
092things to bring up for the board to consider on a few of the policies. So if you'd like me to take a break, I have three that I wanted to talk about. So um the first one was about the student representative and it was so interesting. Thank you to have a policy to read and see what the responsibilities were because I hadn't seen it before. And I saw very specifically that one of the roles was for that student representative to bring student proposals and concerns forward. And I don't know that that those students who do that role know that that's something that they can be a leader in and that because we've never heard anything brought and there has to be some things that students in the district want changed or acknowledgement for or want
093us to be cognizant of. Um the only one that we've really heard is when those students came about the garden and that wasn't through the student representative. So I would very much like to see that message get out to the student representatives so that they can play a more powerful role because it seems like their role right now as well as it does for us. They're simply collecting information from the different principles and this would really empower them to be able to speak for their student body and for their student body then to know that they can come to that person that they have a power role on this board. it just to me it it might have always been there but it elevates the ability of that person to make change and make us
094know because the kids know things that we don't know. So I don't know if I should let anyone else speak to that or whether I should move on to the next comments I have. >> I mean Miss Scott I I agree with you. I think otherwise it is just reporting out what they get directly from the principles. I'm guessing that's who they meet with. Um, but I like that idea because it does give them more of a leadership role, more of a voice. Plus, it helps us understand too because kids aren't always confident enough to come to our meetings and speak. We know it's a scary. It's scary for us sometimes, you know, to talk about certain sensitive topics. So, imagine being a kid um and doing that. So, if they feel like they have
095someone who could, you know, voice their concerns, I I think that's great. Yeah, I agree. I think it's been kind of over the years sort of this like ceremonial position and they get all the information and they write the report and Lindsay did a fabulous job this year. It was very thorough and lots of information, very entertaining. She enjoyed doing it. It was obvious. But yeah, if we just could relay that to whoever is next in that seat that that's part of their role, that would be great. >> I'll discuss it with Mr. Wells in terms of kind of um coming up with process and terms of what's going on in the buildings and maybe the rep asking those questions and also um something that comes to mind is also that we approve a lot
096of the um policies for students but them actually maybe that person taking an active role in terms of giving a little bit of insight what is good and what maybe we don't need. And I think naturally a lot of those things happen at the school. A lot of those schools have students like almost like councils uh that they meet with they get information from. So I think indirectly one of those things our way but it's not formalized through the actual representatives of the representative committee with those individual school councils and their feedback >> because I think sometimes just like well you know the buildings may know or you guys may know >> unless you happen to have a kid in a building. >> Yes. A perfect example is mashups. So when we sent when the
097students were taking the survey and they were, you know, at Mr. Wells's door complaining or whatever, um, so maybe highlighting those sorts of things like even when it's like new, um, new vendors in our schools and things like that. So >> and there may be crossovers in different schools with similar issues and we wouldn't know because it's only at the building level. Well, the second thing I wanted to bring up is dress and grooming. First of all, I was so impressed to see sneakers appear on that. Um, and first there might be like, why are they allowed to wear sneakers? That's not professional. Well, I'd like all of you to know that every school is a concrete floor that we're walking on every single day, standing on every single day. And the truth be told,
098fashion has changed to where we almost can't tell the difference at times between dress shoes and sneakers, especially what I've seen in male fashion these days. So, I'm so glad to see that be a part of it. Um, there's only one part part that was a concern of mine and it talked about the appropriate length of skirts and things of that nature. And when we have language in that talks about appropriate length and we don't know what that appropriate length is, we it can't be enforced. And if we try to enforce it, it's going to be discriminatory. Um, we see this all the time. I hear teen students of in my school talk about the fact that they bought the same exact skirt at the same exact place and the same exact size because one
099body is longer than the other. One is shamed for wearing it and may have implications um disciplinary and the other one won't. So, I'd be very careful with us voting and saying yes to a policy that has language in it that is that amorphous and I don't think it's fair to administrators because then they can't enforce it. I don't know what the solution is. I will be forthright with that. Uh but that's a concern. So, I don't know if anyone else would like to comment or question. I mean, the only thing I can say is we've had to put measurements in, right? like 2 in below the end of your bottom. >> Go back to my Catholic school days. Tell me about how we used to. >> Well, since this is a first read, we'll
100have to talk now. >> I I mean, I know that this gets sticky like where you say like fingertip length and all that stuff. But believe me, the kids do all kinds of things when they're dressed. And so I can I totally can see how it if it felt that you were being picked on for whatever reason. I know the kids sometimes feel that way. So um I I agree. I don't know what the answer is, but maybe um something more uh definitive we can see what we can come up with. >> Yes, we can definitely review that. It's tough. It's because sometimes less is more uh with these types of policies um because if you're too specific it becomes where administrators coming in just to do that role in a policy such as but
101those are really valid points u that speaks to appropriateness because different >> thank you and the last thing I wanted to talk about I believe it occurred in the student attendance women's policy. Um, and we all know when we're doing policy, we want to talk about things being not being subjective and being fair. And I just read one line that quoted saying the students would receive a reasonable amount of time as determined by the teacher to make up the work missed um when they're absent. And I am a teacher. I want to be in charge of my classroom. But I do have to say with both of my children who have gone through this district having so many different teachers have different policies for being absent and my both of my children have had numerous
102experiences with teachers where if they were absent they were still expected to have the work in the next day even if they were sick. Being sick was not an excuse which is ridiculous. You're homesick. Um how can you have the work done? You missed the instruction and you missed getting perhaps the assignment. Maybe it's on Google Classroom but you can't do it because you weren't there for the instruction. Um, so I just wanted to throw out there a suggestion for this one. In my school, it is policy in the student handbook. And I I don't know if it's in the actual policy, but for every day you were out sick, you were allowed two school days to make up the assignment. And I would like to see it codified in more of a way like
103that, more specificity. Not that I don't trust teachers, but I have the personal experience in this district of my students flipping out about being absent and they can't be absent. And then when they are and the assignment is due and they're being penalized and then I have to coach them to write an email to the teacher and like it just shouldn't all it shouldn't be like that. So I'm throwing that out there too and of course it's to whatever the majority thinks. >> So I agree with you on that cuz I've had the exact same experience where my kids have been absent numerous days in a row and still expected to come in with all the work complete it. And I think it's because of technology honestly like it's in Google classroom you should have
104checked Google classroom and but if they weren't there to learn learn then it's very hard to come in and have the work already done. Frankly, I've written probably at least five emails over the years saying explaining that the missing that's now then eventually turns into a zero was because my child was out and they needed the time to actually make up the work because it's however many classes. But I agree 100% um that there should be something and I think it's something that means you're cut off but I think it's something that even if we write the policy it needs to actually happen because I tend to feel like it it could be here >> but unless the staff is aware it won't happen two step >> it's a twostep it doesn't stop with Um,
105I just want to say I agree with that and the what what I like about it is consistency. I can't stand that like every every classroom and every school does a different thing. I know some things of course are catered to the classroom and the time, but following like that's why there's policy. So I really would like it to be consistent so the kids know moving forward where they're at regardless of what seat they're sitting in. So that would be I would be very open to that. >> Yeah, I I would also agree. Um my son who um does not attend Madawan um but is in high school has had a similar experience of being penalized for not completing work when he had 103 fever. Um so uh so yes I our kids deserve to
106some standards and not I mean unfortunately even great teachers can sometimes have unreasonable expectations. I also love that idea unifies um the buildings the classes and doesn't take away from teachers autonomy however it does unify at least you know um the makeup of the homework and student have I mean in my opinion a student if they don't learn the content how can they be responsible for the homework so two days for one day absent I don't think is unrealistic so I think that's a great idea I also agree because it gives clarity to the parents um because if you know you one crying student which I've had many times this one teacher allows this and another teacher allows this and and the parent can't keep track of it all nor can really the students that
107everyone is really on the same page. >> Thank you, Lori. I mean, Miss Anything Anything else? >> I'm good. Thank you. >> Okay, moving on to finance this case. [Music] >> Take action on the following items. uh the board secretar's report for the month of June uh all three payrolls for the month of June as well as acceptance of the board secretar's report treasures report appropriation transfers the approval of the bills list is for the end of June as well as beginning of July as we move on to page two we're doing the allocations for non-publiclix as listed in the chart um six the IDA we are thrilled that we've received all of our money and didn't lose out this year. Um, as well as acceptance of the grant funds for a recovery high school.
108It's in the amount of 200,000 over the next four years. Uh, Perkins secondary consolidation that's utilized for the high school. Number nine is the settlement agreement as listed. 10 is the renewable flood insurance for the school year. 11 through 15 is for the keys program. When we talk about the youth program, there are two separate rates that were board approved during budget process. One is a special ed rate while the other rate is for general. So that is the difference. This is all money coming in and only utilizing fees. Uh the state decided for any qualified purchasing agent that they move the bid threshold up from 44,000 to 53,000. So we have to reapprove it at the new effective rate. We are also growing to accept multiple donations. Uh one is a monomous donor for
109the lunch account. 18 19 20 to 21 is all for the fitness court. And 22 we are girls at the high school PTO. They donated close to $10,000 worth of new furniture for 23 is the routine travel reimbursements as listed in the chart. 24 is the sale and disposal of assets. In order for us to get rid of anything, we have to put it on here. Uh the one great thing about this is that it is for band equipment. So it gets we have the ability to work with our vendors. would be to give us a trade in price. Then that trade in price we can utilize to replace the units that can no longer be repaired or utilize it towards repairs for next year. uh 25 expire evacuation drill for the month of June
110and that um I would like to make a motion to table item nine because I'm not 100% sure that everybody on the board has had a chance to note that um I'll second. [Music] >> Right. So, we'll take a moment to roll just for item number nine to table it. So, we're okay. So we can go into that if you feel comfortable on this particular but right now just table it. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mont. >> Yes. >> Miss Pal. >> Yes. >> Miss [Applause] Martinez. >> Yes. Yes. >> Thank you. Uh can I have a motion and a second to accept the finance agenda um minus the item that was tabled? >> Yes, I'll thank you. Questions, please. >> Yes. I just wanted to um also thank everybody. The uh donations are amazing and
111I really appreciate everything that was sent in for lunch for from the PTO for the fitness pad. I did want to know though, are we able to so I know we're going to do a big thing when we um and I'm sure you already have this I think you do um planned, but like when we do a ribbon cutting, is there going to be a way that we can display who donated? like just something to you know show our appreciation or something. >> Yes, we're discussing what that will all >> Can I ask you a question? Uh the Perkins secondary consolidated application. I just don't know what that is. >> Perkins is a federal grant. So for K through 12 public schools, everybody specifically goes to high schools for our CTE our programs. So we
112had done past school year. Um it went towards some academic tutoring and some curricular writing and some planning on CC program. The plan with this fund would be similar which would be offering some tutoring and mentoring for our students. Thank you. Um and then also I wanted to say that fantastic about getting the money for fees. Um as is noted here, we're helping kids from students from middle pushing money now as well that we're accepting. So all that money really helps us um come out of our budget. So the fact that we're getting the funding to see what these kids is awesome. So I'm very very very happy about that. >> Mrs. Skully, can I just interrupt a minute? Can you hear Can hear us? Cuz I'm really like I'm having an anxiety attack cuz
113I feel like we're doing this for nothing. >> Is that better? >> No, they heard you. Yeah, we we need to know if you if you can cuz I I know I can and she's right there. >> Sorry, I'll talk louder. It goes in and out. Um, so I was saying that it's great that we got some funding um because we're able to accept students from other districts like Bill or Ocean. Um, also thank you for all the donations. Um, and also thank you to the PTO for the high school. That's amazing how they're donating so much money to get us in. I just want to comment on the um the grant that we received and Miss Case if we can note it for the minutes that the grant is actually through the Mammoth County
114Commissioners. Um so we applied this is in addition to the recovery access grant that we receive we've been receiving over the last few years. So, it's an additional. >> So, thank you to all of you then for writing the application for [Music] >> um I also want to say the donations are unbelievable and we've been so concerned about rightfully so about this school lunch debt to have a second person come in and donate hundreds of dollars over $400. Just thank you. This the PTO giving us with the school furniture just and the fitness court just wonderful. Um, so something that I'd very much ask that we be provided with the information soon and very specifically. When my child came home and asked for $85 in cash to pay for graduation gown, I was a gasast
115to pay that much. Then when I see in the bills list cap and gown was only $4,841 in the list and maybe there were other fees. But even if I just said I done it three times to make sure if we only say 200 people graduated times 85 is $17,000 and it was asked for in cash. We were not allowed to bring in checks. I want to know where this money went. It's that's actually broken down into two payments. >> So, >> it's broken down into two payments. So, in order to receive the item up front, we pay half up front and then we pay half at the return. >> That's still only $10,000. Our kids paid over 17,000. Our parents, our families pay $85 in cash. We should not be It should go into
116a school account. It should not be in cash. And I just I and it could be all above board. I just think it's needs to be accounted for and that number for next year needs to come down. That is ridiculous to ask people to pay $85 for a gown that is nylon that is going to be worn um one time. Um I also just wanted to ask about the grad pictures. Taking those pictures was phenomenal. We got to download them was wonderful. But it seems that we were charged $3,200 for those pictures to be taken at graduation. Just seems like a lot of money to have a photographer taking pictures for a few hours and uploading them. So I'm just curious about who negotiated that as well. Miss, I know you had mentioned earlier um
117a company that you guys use some HLET and I know they had noted on here that they were open to the information because we have had Normandy forever and um I'm not sure how that works. Lindsay, is that something like that we would eventually have to bid out or work with the advisor? >> The advisor. >> Yeah, maybe to change it up a little bit to be able to uh lessen it. So that maybe you could forward that information. Thank you. >> Um if I could just piggy back off of that. I know um in some of the um lower buildings like the Void Road Tool and where they do their um lip sync and we take there's professional pictures that are taken there that are sponsored by somebody. I'm assuming the PTO or whoever's
118organizing the event. Um and I personally know the photographer. very reasonable, excellent, can pass along the information already comes into building so maybe clearance wise accepted and um that might be an option too. So >> thank you stuff. I also um I think the gown the caption gowns go up every year. Only two years ago I paid $65. So that's a big increase in a couple of years. Um I know that the quality is not great. We get a lot of um complaints on Facebook about, you know, their kids, they just open it up the morning of and the zipper is broken and things like that. So, yes, I also think it would be great if we could look into um some options. So, just as an idea, when I was in high school, we
119rented them. Well, we the school district purchased them at one point, so it's a big expense out front, but it's a really good quality capac. And when we went to get our diploma after the ceremony, we handed in our cap and gown and if we didn't hand it away to get our diploma. So that's how they made sure they all came back. Um and they were given out, you know, a couple days before or whatnot. So just a thought there or I don't know. But yeah, it's been just a lot of the last 3 4 years a lot of um chatter about the price as well as the quality of those. And I have three maroon caps between 8th grade. So, and no, I was I asked if I could reuse it. No, got to
120buy anyone. So, that's another thing. >> Right. So, anyway, >> and I don't want it to be lost. I'm really concerned about being in cash like why other things we write goes directly into the school fund. We don't bring in cash. So, it just the optics are that something is very wrong and someone's pocketing money. I'm not saying that's what's happening, but we need accounting and it should not be in cash. I don't think it's that someone's popping up. We'll provide a clarification and I'll leave with Mr. Wells in terms of where the folks went to and provide the information back to the board. >> Any other questions? The board recog the the board of education recognizes the value of public comment on matters of interest to the school community. Individuals wishing to speak must
121state their name and address. Comments are limited to 3 minutes duration, but an individual may speak a second time after all others who wish to speak on the topic have been heard. All statements should be directed to the board president, and no participant may address or question board members individually. All speakers are requested to express themselves in a civil manner with due respect for the dignity and privacy of others whose legal rights may be affected. Please note, while it is not the board's intention to stifle comment on matters of legitimate concern, the public should be aware that if their statements violate the rights of others under the law of defamation or invasion of privacy, they may first p face face personal liability to the injured party. If speakers are uncertain of the legal ramifications of
122their comments, the board urges them to seek guidance beforehand from their own legal adviser. [Music] Casey Baroa Farming, New Jersey. Miss Martinez, I can hear you. That's all that it needs. >> I never need a microphone, Mr. Bara. >> You said, you know, we're doing this for nothing. What about us? >> Well, I'm sorry. You mean a lot to me. You, but you're not the only one. Sorry. I apologize. Um just a clarification in the conversation that was had about um student attendance and the duration of time and I know it's supposed to direct to you but is it okay if I actually ask Miss Scott since it is something that happens in our district. Is it a minimum of two days where the teacher could give more time if needed or is it 2
123days hard and fast that it has to be in at that time? >> Oh thank you. That's a really good question. Thank you. Um the minimum it's it's just that we have to give at least 2 days so they get a chance to come back the next day, ask questions, get what they need, and then hand it in the next day. But sure, if the teacher wanted to give longer, right? >> Okay, perfect. Um, and then with the dress code, um, I'm going to beg you to be as specific as you can be so that I just don't have to deal with, you know, like I'm turning into Tim Gun for whatever that show he was on where they >> fashion emergency. >> There you go. Look at that. Uh, yeah. Uh, I mean, I
124do like that there's more flexibility with it, it sounds like, which is great. Um, and you know, I I I agree with the comment you made about what is the appropriate length. Someone is going to go, "Well, my appropriate length is this high, and someone else is going to be here." And and I'm just reminded of um, for example, I'm pretty certain at the middle school and the high school, you are not finding girls that wear shorts that are fingertip length. I don't even think you can buy them. I don't think they exist. So, there's no staff member that's like, "Those shorts, they're too short." you know, I mean, if they're appropriate, they're appropriate, so we kind of know that. So, um, that's all. Thanks. >> Thank you, Mr. Anybody else? Public. Okay. Um, before
125we, um, adjourn from public session, I just want to say that I think board members need to be really careful about um, even theorizing or speculating about funds um, before we have a chance to find out more information. Just wanted to throw that out there. Um, I've heard community comments which I was reiterating, but thank you. >> I'm sorry. Community >> community comments from other people have been sent to me, but thank you. >> But I didn't wasn't sure of that, so just wanted to make sure. Thank you. Um, we're going to vote. >> Um, can I add one more thing before we close? >> Um, Mr. Broas made me remember something. Um, we also have to make sure with dress code as far as students go that like is like because even though um
126like with sports teams, boys do run without tops on. And girls have been literally shamed by their coaches for their sports bras showing underneath their tank tops when they're working out. So, as you're saying, Mr. in terms of fair being fair, we have to enforce it across the board. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I just wanted to note on the walk-in item that there are two employees that are in the Maria that are now being promoted to supervisors. So, I appreciate the board support um with, you know, us embarking on training and mentoring um our current staff because it is great to be able to advance our staff in terms of those leadership positions and they know our community. So, I appreciate that. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Congratulations to them. I know that
127it's important um to the cabinet in the district that we um really cultivate and nurture talent from within our own ranks. So, that's great news. Um I sorry I just want to also say to to I forgot because I had noted that too that um ever since I've been around we've always promoted from within. So I know that was very important to the last superintendent as well as it is to the new superintendent and the same cabinet. Um and so I love that and um that's how Miss Perez got her job. Um, but no, I just love that because it's if if you have to go out and find um somebody brand new that doesn't know the community or I it's just so much better this way. Now, on the flip side is now we
128cover their positions, but yeah, I mean, but other than that, we love it. So, >> thank you, Casey. Thank you. So we'll be taking action on CNI special services personnel plus the walk-in policy finance minus item number nine that was tabled Mrs. Coley. >> Yes and policy will make >> correct. >> Yes Mr. >> Yes. Um, abstaining on curriculum instruction A and B1. Yes. On everything else. >> A and B1. >> Yes. >> Scott. >> Yes. But I am abstaining from the travel piece where I'm listed. I'm not sure what number or section to say about that. So noted Miss >> um I just have one quick question on the travel under transportation. Um I see the registration fee but then there's a transportation fee and I'm just wondering if you could clarify what that
129is for me. >> That's if you put mileage going back and forth every day. Oh, interesting. Okay. I didn't know. Great. I didn't know that existed. I've heard I've never opted for that. So, anyway, um I'm going to vote. Yes. Except for the travel item. A new construction. [Music] Do you guys? >> Yes. Except I'm abstaining from B1. Thank you. >> Yes. search. Yes, I'm also abstaining on V1 for the same reasons stated by Missel earlier and finance travel line 10. Thank you. >> Should I be concerned that I'm travel? >> Got it. Okay. I didn't even know. [Music] >> Thank you. Okay. Be it resolved that a close session be convened for the purpose of discussing privacy, personal matters, and legal advice. The subject matter of these discussions will be disclosed to the public
130when the reason for confidentiality subsides. Although the board cannot guarantee it, the length of executive session is determined to be 45 minutes after which the public meeting of the board shall reconc. And I have a motion and a second. I'll >> motion. I'll second. Thank you. [Music]