001Good evening everyone. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided sending such notice to the Asbury Park Press, the Middletown patch, and the Middletown Township public school district website and the posting of such notice at the August T minor administrative offices in each elementary, middle, and secondary school in the district. Roll call. >> Mrs. Camdi >> here. >> Mr. Fitzgerald >> here. >> Mrs. Minuise >> here. >> Mrs. Scholaski here. >> Mr. Sarasi >> here. >> Mr. Tull, Mrs. Wright >> here. >> Mrs. Tobacco, Mr. Capone >> here. I now need a motion for executive session to speak about HIPP and personnel matters. >> So move discussion. All in favor? I oppose. Abstensions. See you in a little bit. Good evening everyone. Please stand for the pledge. And we're all going to have a moment of
002silence. The district had learned of the recent passing of a former district employee, Pauline Niaz. Paula taught in the district for over 18 years before retiring from her position at Thorne Middle School in 2017. We extend our deepest sympathy to the Niaz's family. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. We're going to start our meeting off with a Mrs. already for to open our board workshop. >> We're going to use the workshop as an opportunity to discuss the items that are on the voting agenda uh for this month's meeting. Uh starting with the uh business office agenda. The agenda consists of our monthly financial
003reports and we also have a transportation bid award. So are there any questions or discussion on that? The award is for athletic routes and for an additional route for communications high school. >> Any questions for anyone? >> Not on those topics. >> Okay. Uh the next section is on the superintendent of schools consent agenda. We have our uh monthly HI report, our student safety data system summary report, suspension report, home instructions, special education contracted service providers, uh also a field experience agreement with Eastern Washington University. Uh we have our monthly list of professional development, additional field trip locations and personnel. >> I have any question? >> Question. Yeah, I have a question. I just who came up with the agenda for the workshop. We just went through the there's just a list of topics that
004are driven by the voting items on the agenda. >> Jess, you were here when we used to have >> No, I wasn't. You weren't here? >> No, I was not. You weren't working in the district at all. >> I was not a part of board meetings at the time. >> Okay. >> Workshop meetings normally were workshop. It was committee meetings learning what's going on. It's really it's a sin because I asked to have these meetings and you know just to do do it in name and say you did it and not really do it. That's what we're doing because this is not what a workshop meeting is about. A committee of the whole workshop meeting. It's about the people that are running those departments being here and telling us like when we have our committee
005meetings at four, normally it's everybody having the same kind of a committee meeting. >> There there are districts that do workshop in the whole and do not have assistant superintendent president. >> This is just listen I'm gone. I'm advocating for this. So it's over. But this is just stroking us to get it done and saying I did it for the next two meetings. And it's a sin because those are the people that want they want to know what's going on and this is a disgrace. Could you please speak into the microphones? Dr. I'm having a hard time hearing. Just please everyone the microphones are there. So please speak into them because we cannot hear you. Sorry, you can continue. >> Well, those were all the agenda items we went through. >> Did anybody have anything
006to speak about? Any specifications? >> I would like to start with facilities. >> Good. >> Okay. I think we need to start going through the committees and asking questions. We don't have a list of things on here for facilities. Tell us how are our buildings? Are there leaks in the roofs? Are there any major issues that we're working on? >> Are there any projects? Are the heating systems up? >> You know what? Yeah, the Linkraftoft annex. What's going on with that? Are we almost done? What's the final cost on that? >> Let's get into service annex. >> Sure. The Loftraftoft annex is uh in its final phases of completion. We're actually working uh Sodance, our contractor for the electric upgrade, is working directly with JCPNL to get the final uh upgrade and that service completed
007so that we can uh fully utilize both HVAC systems or that were put into the building. One of them we actually have running right now on the existing system just to have heat in the building while they're finishing up. Uh but we have to get the other ones set. Uh we also were waiting for countertops. You know, the cabinets are in, but we're just, you know, the countertops are ordered. Uh they'll be in uh I think in a couple of weeks. You know, they they did the uh they have to do the final template and get it ordered. Uh the furniture has been ordered. So, we're we're expecting that I think mid December. Uh that'll be coming in. That'll go directly into the annex. Uh we are working on you know some just detail finishing
008work. They're doing some more things on the outside um like with the shutters and um trim work and things of that nature. So, it's it's in its final phases at this point. >> Is it is it ready for the furniture to be delivered or >> Yeah, the furniture can come. Yeah. >> Yeah. The floors are all done. >> The walls are all painted and video. >> Yep. It was in my update two weeks ago. Well, >> that's fine. But it's still good to have that discussion. >> Um Do you have a projected date as to when you think the students might be able to go in? >> We're hoping a soft opening in January. >> Yeah. I mean, formal classes, we didn't anticipate starting until um you know, like moving the full program over there,
009probably until next year to give students half a year to acclimate. Um but we will take them over there numerous times during the second half of the school year. That's our goal. One of the other things that we have to also address is the um parking lot just configuring it. We're going to be working with the architect to uh you know make sure that there's room for the bus and room for all the staff parking but >> because it is a shared shared parking lot with the bus >> like there's a shared driveway. >> Yeah. It seems like everybody around the annex so has gotten the message like that that we're using it now. So we hope. >> Yeah. >> No, it's coming along really well. >> Are there any projects going on in our
010buildings? Any issues, >> leaks in the roofs? >> I mean, there's there's always work orders, uh, you know, that we address. Um, you know, there's, you know, I don't have a list of things in front of me, but, you know, there's constant maintenance going on and things that need to be repaired. So, I, you know, I will say there there's not any big project going on. basically besides the annex, but there's constant constant maintenance. >> Yeah, I get the constant maintenance, but sometimes there's issues that we're not aware of. You know, the heating is the heating working. >> Well, I mean, there there's always issues with some I mean, we have all of our systems are aging. There's always some issue in some building that's being addressed. I don't have the specific list in front
011of me. >> Um, last week, I guess, and it was up and back and running. >> It was the boilers. Yeah. So, it was a quick fix, whatever it was. >> I know I reached out to Dr. Alone with rumors about mold in the buildings and she confirmed that there absolutely was not. >> Thank you. >> I want to make sure that >> that's the kind of things I need to get out there because those rumors, >> you know, are >> no fault. Yes. >> No, what you're saying is like there's no major project that's coming out of our budget. >> Well, there's there were a few things that I mean, I guess you could call it major. You know, we had the bleacher work that's ongoing uh at the two at the two high
012schools. You know, that's already started and that's continuing. Uh we are I know we've discussed here that we will be uh doing some repair work on the high school south turf field in January to uh try to get that base smoothed out uh you know so to we can get that resolved before the next season comes along. >> What was the cost that we were projecting on that? >> 41,000. Yeah, it's good memory. >> Yeah, it was Yeah. 41,000. I >> But I mean, I'm not I'm not trying to say that they're not busy. I mean, there there's a lot >> we know they're busy, but we're looking at things that are going to hit us when it comes to budget time that we spent money on that was not planned for this year. >>
013As of now, that's come up that's been new. We're doing some floors over the winter break. You know that we're in the budget uh at I think Tom Thompson's cafeteria and high school North. Um that's either the winter break or the spring break. You know, I don't have the schedule in front of me, but I know those were in the budget. Uh just, you know, nothing huge, but you know, a few things that were in the budget we are continuing to work on. >> So, we're maintaining the buildings. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. We're actually, you know, starting to work on next year's budget already. So, >> putting together projects for that. >> Anything else by facilities? >> Um, about facilities. Anything else? >> No. >> You can move on to finance. >> Um, I
014mean, I didn't prepare a report. You know, I mean, one thing I will say is we're um you know, we we will have our odd sum for our audit filed by December 5th. That's the deadline. So, uh we're actually it's already we're already done with most of it. We're just doing our some of our allocations. Um so, all that work is done. You know, we have already distributed the budget manual and opened up the budget module for the district and everybody is working on putting starting to put that together already. Um, those are probably the two main things that we're working on as far as finances. >> Do we have an update on strategic planning yet? >> I can't hear you. >> Strategic planning. >> We're um Ross Habber said after Thanksgiving. That is what
015his uh last message to the district was when we reached out to him. So, we're just waiting for that report and then uh from there certainly we're going to re-engage with strategic planning. We have our um steering committee who I will reach out to once we have that information. >> And I think last month, I'm pretty sure last month we voted to go out for RFP for a new auditor. Have we um done that? >> We haven't done that yet. I wouldn't do that until the spring because you'll appoint the auditor at the reorganization meeting in May um to do the audit for the 2526 year because that work won't get done until at the earliest next August September. So I would I would recommend doing it in that time frame and then you can
016just put it on with your annual appointments when you do it in May because after after we finish this which is virtually done we won't do anything with the auditor until >> next year. So >> uh I have a question regards to the budget for next year. When is the contract for the class three officers expire? The current contract >> this coming soon >> I believe we are I'd have to take a look at that. I think we're in the first year of a two-year extension. Um, I'd have to take a look >> cuz if we are not, I think we should put that out to bid. You know, if there are private uh security companies and see if there are other bids that come in and if there are lower bids that come in,
017we should present that to the town and see if they would like to match it. I'm you know that would be something that the board would >> and I just think if if it's coming up this year we would want to get on that sooner than later since the security aspect of it everybody cares about >> safety. Anything else for finance? Uh we want to turn to student services. Anybody speak student services? >> Nothing the major is the annex. Um that's the big project right now. Um, so we are anticipating, as I said, a soft opening in January. Um, obviously things are delayed. You know, construction never goes exactly as planned, but the space looks fantastic. Um, as if you hadn't seen them, I sent you some pictures in my update, um, some video that
018I went over and took, but um, it's going to be a great space, not only for our transition program, but certainly a space we can utilize as a district for other things. we configured it that way purposely so that way it can get you know multiple types of uses. Um so really that is um the biggest thing that's happening in the special ed department right now. >> Do we have a a cost of what it what we've spent on it so far? >> We have I don't have the you know all the figures in front of me. I know we had $200,000 um allocated out of uh our budget to work on that and as I I know that we are in that in that range. You know, I can get more exact figures once
019we finish everything up. >> Um but we stayed it was like a project on a dime like you know we did a lot of work internally and you know really tried to be as um costefficient as possible. Well, when the architect met with us and went over the plans back when we were first starting this, you know, >> we we didn't do everything that was in the scope that they were proposing, but you they were, you know, really talking more in the million-doll range, you know, to do all this work. And, you know, there's some things that we we didn't do. They were talking about bumping out part of it for a more enhanced entryway and so forth. But, you know, we've accomplished, you know, virtually, you know, everything that was in that scope except
020for actually bumping the building out a little bit and, you know, at, like we said, at a lower cost. It's been a lot of internal work and that does take resources, you know, that we have in the district and we're dedicating it toward that and then we're trying to catch up on other things as well. But, you know, if you like if you put this out to bid, it would have been a lot more expensive to have a contractor come in to do it. >> Well, that's my point. I think we owe a big thank you to our staff because from what I understand, they've done jobs that are not in their job descriptions and they're able to use their talents that they have to produce a great building. >> I'm telling you, that ceiling
021looks amazing and the floor looks the floor. >> Yeah, the floor and the ceiling are just phenomenal. >> But I'd like to thank them for that because I heard they did a really good job. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> I still would like to go and see it one day. >> Well, we everybody can go over and see it, you know, when pretty soon. So, >> we got new appliances for it, too. They They came in. They're all installed. >> Didn't we have something like a sensory expert or something that came in that was making sure it was very like they had painting? And >> we did talk the architect and and actually Adam knows, you know, a lot about that, too. And, you know, for example, the lighting was programmed, you know, to be favorable
022to that type of environment. >> Yeah, you're right. Yeah. >> Anything else on this? >> I can also say from the um perspective of Middletown Friends of Diverse Learners, the meetings with Jennifer Granger have been going really well. Um addressing issues and coming up with some really good programming for the new year in 2026. So there will be more to come on that. >> Yeah. And I think them too um as people are reaching out to us I think it has helped that we have directed them to the chain of command and just try to address it ourselves because >> what the parents are finding out that things are getting done a lot quicker if they get directed right to the right source. >> Yes. >> Yeah. We've been able to remedy some things very
023quickly. >> Exactly. >> Before it takes a life of its own. Mhm. >> Um any co-curricular or technology to speak of or >> nothing going on? >> Nope. >> No curriculum. Um I have two things that I can share. Um the homework committee met again on our recent professional development day because we are looking at restructuring our homework policy in the district to create consistency um and expectation across the board um at the varying levels K to2, 3 to five, middle school and high school. um they have a draft that they just shared um with me and we'll be reviewing that and taking a look at that and putting together some um policy amendments for the board to consider. Um so that will be um a really good thing because we've heard over time uh
024most often the inconsistency with the homework and also particularly in regards to the length of time um at each grade level. So we're hoping that this will help provide some parameters and expectations across the district. Um the other thing that we are looking at is um it's time for us to just do um an evaluation of our middle school and high school schedules. Um that does not mean anything is changing. It's just typical um practice in um taking a look at do our time parameters still serve our students um serve the best interests of our students based on the courses we offer um and the dynamics of what a student today needs. um you know evaluating the advisory blocks at both the middle school and the high school um the alternation of the AB schedule
025which we know students love because it helps them offset their workload. But all of those will come into conversation. Um, and certainly we're going to be engaging with our principles and our supervisors and also teaching staff members and students at both of those levels um to get some information and feedback on the current schedules to see if there's any slight adjustments that we should be considering. So just every five to six years you'll have to take a look at that. >> And theoretically this would be to go in place for September of 2026 >> potentially. It depends on it depends on what it would be. Um, obviously smaller things are more doable in a shortterm turnaround um versus something that's like a major over overhaul. I don't anticipate there being a need for a major
026overhaul. Um, you know, most middle schools tend to run at a 60ish minute um because it's developmentally appropriate period. Um, our high schools are at 80 minutes. There is debate on their whether on whether that's too long of a time period um because there is a an art to teaching in that 80 minute block so that you're maximizing instructional time. Um we did get some feedback that some of our high schoolers believe that the 80 minutes is too long. Um but then there are others in some of our higher level courses such such as our AP courses or our science really science labs um where they feel like the 80 minutes is appropriate. So, you know, really just depends on what the recommendations for changes, if any, and how, you know, quickly we can turn
027those around. >> Could it be just also that like they want the more time for the labs that they might be able to reduce the the 80 minutes in some classes, but in labs, keep it at 80? >> Yeah. Yeah, you might be able to. Um, you know, I know also office hours and advisory has been open block has been a a a subject a topic of conversation over the last several years. Um, and are we getting the value out of it for what it was put in the schedule for particularly at the middle school level um where advisory becomes more of a challenge um because it is very studentdirected and you know middle schoolers um need more guidance than than our high schoolers would. So things like that we'll start to think about. But
028you know there is the possibility of having some of those lab-based classes maybe having an extended time block or buddying them up to a piece of another period. It just depends because we're also bound by the contract minutes. So it becomes a big puzzle to to really have to solve and then meet the instructional minutes that are mandated in some of our courses like health and physical education. >> Okay, good. Anybody else have any more questions? >> I just um in terms of uh curriculum, I think we should send a survey out to the parents about I Ready and see what the parents feedback on it is because I know personally I get a lot of feedback about it saying what can you do to get rid of I Ready? Um I recently had a
029meeting uh with uh one of my child's teachers and it was expressed to me that in their child's in their district that they're in, she doesn't want her own child to use. So, I just think it would be interesting to hear what the parents feedback is because we hear a lot from this side that says it's great. Everybody loves it. And then I hear from parents. I don't want my kindergarters spending time. >> Just an idea. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'll discuss it with Mr. Cullen, but I think there's value in getting that feedback. We are um you know, obviously I Ready is one of the more costlier platforms that we pay for. there are potential other alternatives where we might be able to mitigate some of that cost and maybe minimize the amount of time
030that kids are spending. Um we do I will say we do need a benchmarking system. So whatever route we choose to go in the future, there will still be a need for us to do some kind of benchmarking. >> Even just getting kindergarteners back to doing it on a piece of paper because I can say my own child >> never used the computer. Then he was thrown in front of the computer and told to do I Ready and >> Right. stare at it. >> Yeah. And developmentally >> give it to him on a on a handout or a duo and >> Right. >> Yeah. Those things could come into into into play. So yeah, >> I think we heard a lot of that feedback too at the superintendent thing that you >> and that really
031prompted us to say like all right well maybe this isn't the maybe this isn't as engaging of a platform for students as you know staff gets a lot of benefit out of it in the sense of the data that it produces but you know we have to start to take that feedback that our kids are giving us. >> Do we pay extra for the at home use of it too? you pay for the path the my pathway which is like the actual like lessons that are aligned to the students abilities and um a separate cost for the benchmarking. So you can split those um and there are other programs that do that as well. So >> is there any kind of feedback on how many people are actually using it at home or statistics on
032>> well it's >> or the the usage is driven by what the teachers are really requiring students to do because there is research that backs the amount of time required to spend in order to see benefits. So it's not that kids are going home and just doing it open-endedly like on their own. They're being assigned that either through their um their school day or as an extension of the school day. >> Okay, good. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions before we move on? >> Yes. I want to talk about uh let's say something with co-curricular that came across to me. Uh Jess, are we thinking or is anything going on as far as having two athletic directors? Because that's the word out there. No, we we don't even have we have one athletic director
033right now who has not resigned as far as I know or retired. Um in the future if he does resign or retire um we would look to refill his position but not with two people hopefully. Not that I'm aware of >> because I because the way you didn't know about like our committee uh meetings as a whole like this we had two athletic directors going back around 16 years ago maybe 18 years I don't know but it doesn't work out the equity in the town what it does to this town it's a it really will put a division between the town it doesn't work out >> okay just >> yeah no I There's there's we've really had no discussions on the topic at all. >> So, there's no plan in place. >> Somebody put something
034out there because the community there it is a buzz out there. >> But, okay. I'm glad it's being discussed now because hopefully that puts it away. >> Yeah. >> Anything else to discuss? >> All right. Now, I'm going to open the microphone up for public comment on the gender. >> Wait, what about policy? We have don't have any update. >> Well, could we get an update on the last policy meeting? Because when I asked, I was told I would find out the next month. It's been two months. What was discussed at the last policy? >> Really, we just reviewed the suggestions that were put forth by a community member and weighed it against the current policy, but no decisions were made. Nothing went further than that. So, this the current policy still remains in place
035regarding school. >> So, there was no direction given on what? Okay. Now opening the microphone up for public comment on agender items only. If you'd like to take if you'd like to make a statement, please come to the microphone. State your name and address for the record. >> Hi everybody. Kristen Rooney Middletown. Um, agenda items only. What does that mean for this meeting? >> On the regular agenda, >> it's the same thing. We always have agenda item before the voting meeting and then we have another session at the end of any. >> Okay. So, what about anything related to anything that you said as far as the workshop meeting went? When does that happen? >> At the end >> because it's not a voting item. >> Okay. I >> unless unless it was something that
036was discussed at the workshop meeting that's going to be voted correct. >> Okay, I'll come back. I didn't I didn't understand. Thank you. >> Would anyone else wish to make a public comment? >> Scott Mcerson, uh Middletown resident. Uh so I just want to speak to the uh workshop meeting that was held. Thank you so much for for having it. We we do appreciate it. I know it was a little bit of a push from some of us to get this to happen and I know at the beginning there was some tension. We could feel it. We some of us were discussing it back here. But once there was conversation, once you started speaking, the tension just eased and we actually learned some valuable information about what's going on in the district. So I would
037encourage everyone to have an open mind to keeping this format and like let's get a date for December so we can do this again. Maybe we could do it at a separate meeting and that way there's time for, you know, thought and reflection on what's discussed at the workshop meeting if it comes up for a vote at the voting meeting. But just thank you for for actually, you know, engaging with us following the vote that you took last month to do this. And again, I know it's it's it's tight. Like I get it. There's 30 days. You got to figure out a date. There's at least at least 11 people that have to be here, if not more. And I just want to, you know, encourage more communication amongst yourselves to come up with a
038date in December. And I'll help you do it. I did it this time finding a date. I I'll do it again if you want to reach out to me and I'll help coordinate a date. I don't mind doing that. Just my point is that it really is helpful and it's beneficial to all of us to know what's going on within the community. That's all we really want to know. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Would anyone else like to make a comment on agender items only? Seeing you know we're moving forward, I'm going to close the public comment and move on. >> We're now going to go into our report for the Dr. Alone superintendent report. >> So I just have two brief things. >> I'm sorry. One second. We are now going into our
039regular scheduled voting meeting. Dr. >> Okay, just two things. The first thing I just want to remind everybody that we have our Thanksgiving game this coming Thursday. Big event in town, North versus South. It will be here at High School North. um we announce all of the seniors that are involved in the football and um band programs and the cheerleading programs in both high schools. So um please come out and support. That usually kicks off about 9:15 9:20ish with the game beginning um a little bit after 10:30. So it is a good event. It's supposed to be cold. Um it will also be streamed. There is a link on the website if anybody wishes to watch it from the comfort of their home. Um that is Thursday. Um and I just want to take this
040opportunity to wish everybody a wonderful um Thanksgiving um with family and friends. We have an early early release tomorrow um and then we return to school on Monday. Um and then it's a a short bit until we get to the winter break. So thank you for all of the support and certainly um have a wonderful holiday. >> Thank you, Dr. Alone. Now moving on, I need a motion to approve the meeting minutes from executive session minutes from October 28th, 2025 and the workshop regular voting meeting minutes from October 28, 2025 8A and B. >> So move discussion. All in favor? I >> oppose absentions. Need a motion to approve nine business office consent agenda 9 A through E. So move >> second >> discussion. >> All in favor? >> I we'd like to vote no
041on take them off. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. >> I oppose on uh the bills for the wiener law group. >> I'm sorry. >> Do you know what number that is or it's uh D >> 1, two, three, four? >> Five, I guess. >> I'm sorry. Sorry, I I didn't catch all that. >> Um, he's opposing the wina groups >> list D5. >> Okay. On the opposing, but I am also opposing the doulas. >> So, four five for Leonora. >> And I'm going to abstain. >> And I'm going to vote no on the doula and no on >> I'm sorry, Mr. Fistel. You're abstaining on what exactly? >> Okay. >> Let me make sure we get this. Okay. Okay, >> I'm voting no oner. >> Okay, abstensions with Joe. >> Joe obser only.
042>> Yep. >> Need a motion to approve recommendation of superintendent of schools consent agenda 10 A. So >> through I hold on 10 A through >> What are you doing? Mark Leonora >> and Jones, did you vote on wiener, too? >> Yep. >> Yeah. So, three notes on Wii and Jos. >> Yep. >> Amy, did you get that? >> Yeah. Leonor was a no on both. >> Right. Yep. >> And I got the rest. Yeah. >> Great. I need a motion to approve consent agenda 10 A through H. A through H only. >> Move. >> Second. Discussion. All in favor? >> I oppose. >> State. Oh, okay. >> Absentious >> on A. I am voting no on um fountains and yes on unfounded >> for letter A. >> Correct. >> Okay. I need a motion
043to approve 10 I 1 through 11 and 13 through 17. This is excluding 12. So move excluding what? 12 seconds. Did someone make that motion? >> Second. >> Discussion mark. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Abstensions. In a motion to approve 10 I12. >> So >> second discussion. Amy roll call. >> Okay. Mrs. Camoniti. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Minuise. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scholaski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sapparowski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tull. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wright. >> Yes. >> Mr. Capone. >> Yes. Congratulations, Mr. BERGEN. >> OKAY. NOW, moving on to old business. Does anybody have any old business? >> Um, yes. Can we come up with a date for the workshop meeting? >> We have >> for for December. December 16th. >> No, that is that's
044the board. That's the actual meeting. >> That's the actual meeting. >> Have to go on that thing before. >> The week of the 9th, >> December 9th, >> would have to be late in that week because we have to, >> you know, the only thing to keep in mind, Amy's not going to have all the bills that meeting, but we can still have some >> committee. So, we didn't have the bills. There's um >> I'm good on the ninth. >> The ninth is good. I'm good on >> the nth. >> D is good for me. >> I can do the >> I can't really do the nine, unfortunately. 10. >> Can't do the 10. >> 10 to 10. >> I can't do the 10. Well, we can't do the 10th because we have something for
045attorney. >> 11. >> I can do the Sorry, I can do the 11. >> I can do the 11th. I'm not available. >> Okay. We didn't I We did the 11th earlier. >> Yeah. I can't do the 11th in the evening either. How many people can't do the nine? >> One. >> Can anybody do the eight? I can be I'll be late. >> I won't be late. >> So then why don't we start the 9th at 6:30 at 7? >> Is that good? >> 6:30 on the night. >> Yeah, I'll be a little sunshine. >> So we can start at 7:00. I mean, if we could >> 6:30 now. >> I if I we could start at 7 that I can definitely do. >> Okay. So, do it for seven. >> I thought it was
046a problem for 5:30. So, obviously >> Yeah, I thought you were going to. Uh, any more old business? Hope we go to new business. >> I have new business. >> Okay. Being the um North South football game is Thursday, I would like to make a motion to let Leonora do the coin toss because she has been on co-curricular for 18 years and I think it would be an honor to let her do it this year. So that's my motion. Got it. Second. Okay. >> Uh, who seconded it? >> Uh, De second. >> Okay. >> You want a roll call >> or >> um discussion? >> The only thing I can say is Leonor, you're probably going to be there with the mayor also because I believe Rich Carol already reached out to him. So, I
047have no problems with the city being there. >> You know what I have to say to that? I'm sure the mayor won't mind letting Leonora do this being it is a board of ed function and he knows he's very big on volunteerism. Leonor has dedicated 18 years so there's no reason >> and all I just said was just understand that Rich already reached out to him so obviously two of them will be there. >> I'm sure he'll understand that Leonora could do that. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Well, we have to vote on it. I don't think anybody's going to vote no for Leonor being there. No, not at all. All in favor? >> I oppose. >> Obsensions. >> Thank you. >> How big of a coin should we get? >> Big one. >>
048Real big. >> Any more? Uh, >> yes. I do. I would um like to thank Tara Mahoney from High School North. She has um dedicated 32 years to the north plays and she stepped down this year and um I wasn't really aware of that until the other night, but I really would like to thank her because she was a big part of making the productions here at North successful, engaging our senior citizens to come into our buildings, watch our student plays, and I don't think we would be where we are today without her. So, I'd just like to send out a big thank you for HER >> and and I'd like to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving and I hope to see everybody at the game. >> All righty. >> Does anybody else have any
049new business? All >> righty. Moving on to public comment. If you wish to make a comment, please step forward and state your name and address for the record. Hi, Kristen Rooney Middletown. Um, I guess I think I just wanted to get it on the record um what had to happen for us to get here. Um, we know that you all voted in the last meeting to have a meeting like this. Um, and when we all followed up to find out when it was going to happen, eventually we heard it's not going to happen because there's no quorum. We can't find a date. Um, so that led a bunch of parents to over emails to find out, well, what actually happened because we know you were all going to leave here and communicate via email about
050what dates you were available. Um, and after reading all of those emails, it appeared that there were multiple dates that were possible where a quorum was available. So, we wrote a letter and asked for this to happen. And then, by the way, never got a response to the letter that was addressed to Mr. Capone, but we learned that there would be a meeting tonight. So, we we appreciate while we appreciate there is a meeting tonight, we don't appreciate having to do all this extra work to get what you all committed yourselves to do. and you ran for this position to do this job. So, we're tired of having to do that. Um, then we get here and I don't know if you saw the agenda before tonight, but it appears that it did feel tense
051at the beginning and that no one knew what to talk about or what to do. And I think we all thought that a workshop meeting and a committee of the whole means that you're going to discuss here the things that normally would be discussed in your small private committee meetings. So while maybe this is the first one and you weren't going to discuss every committee tonight and I'm guessing you don't come up discuss every committee on an ongoing basis. Um it's kind of surprising that that wasn't what was happening. It's also kind of surprising that Amy had to make every committee update when the finance committee, the facil facilities committee, at least have a president of the committee who's also Mr. Capone. So, I'm confused about why Amy appears to be making every update and
052everyone's asking her for all the information when your committees are supposed to be running this. I mean this is a huge school district and we are coming up upon the budget meeting and there was little to no update from the finance or facilities committee at a time when all we hear is that the buildings are crumbling and um you know what are we going to do about the budget? So, it's concerning that there wasn't more discussion or that there isn't more. And I don't know if you talked before you got here about those things in smaller groups because I know you're allowed to do that, but in a school district this size to have a meeting like that where you were supposed to discuss everything be that short. I I continue to be concerned and
053I continue to see a lack of leadership here because >> that's three minutes, Miss Rooney. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Capone. >> Would anyone else wish to make a public comment? >> Emily Donahue, Middletown resident. I'll follow up. There continues to be a lack of leadership here at the board, which is extremely disappointing. Um, I want to piggyback on what she said. Um, one of the biggest disappointments is the fact that you all came here tonight to have committee meetings. It was kind of a show. It was really embarrassing. I was really hopeful to come here tonight and actually see some progress. Um I've actually seen the committee meetings minutes so I'm not surprised the fact that it was like this tonight because they're not true meetings. Um so I hope moving forward the fact
054that we start to see that the public needs it. We deserve it. Um I also just want to point out the fact that you all know open public meetings acts actually requires you guys to have these discussions in the public um when it's not supposed to be an executive session. So things like the hab study that has been told the fact that you guys are going to see it first. That's a problem. And so I hope you guys know the fact that things like that the public absolutely has to be a part of. So it has to stop now. We all have been through a lot this past year. Um I want to thank the people that are standing up and doing the right thing. Um I'm sad to see some of them go, but
055I hope the fact that you guys can come together as a um as a board um with our admin support and actually make some progress because this has to stop. So just remember you guys actually have to follow the rules. Um and open public meetings need to start happening immediately. wish to make a public comment. >> Hi, Katie Little Page Middletown. Um, just following up with what Emily said. Uh, we're trying to be more engaged. I think you've heard all year that we're trying to be more engaged. Um, as the public who pays for this school district, we're all here because we all pay our hardworking dollars toward this school district. And so it is frustrating when we do make time in our day to be here. Um, that we are listening to very vague
056responses. I I don't know if it's necessarily one person's fault for these vague responses. Um, but it's just really frustrating when we're here to learn the answers and we get these answers that are I'm not sure. I don't have it in front of me. And um, I also I agree. I don't think that it should all fall on Miss Dy. It is confusing and concerning that that she's the only one that speaks for all of the committees when we have nine board members. Um, and so in an effort to stay engaged and be transparent because I've been here pretty much month after month and I hear some really great questions that are raised by people up here on the board and really great questions raised by people out here. Um, and then I come back
057next month and I feel like they don't come up again. For example, um, Mr. Saparoski, I remember you raised that we need to do a superintendence review and I don't know what happened to that. And so I that's just one example, but I'm wondering um just as a member of the public, as a taxpayer here, um is it possible that when a question is raised on the board or by the public that somebody would be able to put that question up on the screen here because I know we've done like PowerPoint presentations, right? And then the answer could also be typed underneath because I feel like that would help especially you know if we have people here who might be like hard of hearing they could see it up there. Um and then also could
058those questions and answers be posted then to the website so that the public is able to see the information clearly and not rely on the poor audio quality of the microphones. And then also if the answer is we don't know to write we don't know and then to write the date that we're going to know and whether that's going to be in two weeks and then post on the website or whether that's going to be at the next board meeting. Is that something that could happen? >> Seems possible. I think the administration would have to set that up and figure logistics out but that seems possible. >> Okay. >> Is that something aren't we now? >> Yeah. Yeah. We're actually um recording the meeting. I sent if you looked at my last month's If you
059looked at my last month's um community update, there was a set of notes from last board meeting, which was actually a recording um of the meeting annotated through um an artificial intelligence app, which is great. Obviously, we review it before it goes out to the public to make sure it's accurate. Um but we plan on doing that monthly so that people have a transcript of the meeting at their fingertips. Okay, that's great. Would it be possible my suggestion so people can see it in real time and for it to be posted so it's a little bit easier? I mean, the transcript I think is a wonderful start. I think the idea of having a question answer very clearly in real time, somebody with the laptop putting it up there and then posting it that night
060just so people can see what was raised and then we can have a document to refer to for the next meeting. Is that something that somebody could motion right now or is it something? >> We would have to logistically try to figure that out. I It's not as simple as it sounds because we would have to have somebody recording that stuff and we would have to have somebody outside of the meeting probably taking that which means we'd have to bring another employee back at night to do that. So, give us some time. We'll we'll investigate it. I definitely think there's value and we could probably post the questions on the website, but we might need some time to get that up um after the meeting because we will have it from the transcript >> and
061we usually have it out on on that Friday. So if we do it on Tuesday, usually by Friday the report, right, >> it's out. >> Jess, another thing we did in the past was if there was questions asked and not answered, they were put on the next month's agenda to be answered at the workshop. If I can make a suggestion maybe at the end of the meeting just like submit your questions to us on paper that way we can make sure that it's followed up and posted on the next agenda or personally directed to you at the next meeting. >> I think that's always a good idea if you ask a question that we haven't given an answer to to follow up with an email. Um so that way we have a written record of
062it and that way we don't you know nothing gets lost in the shuffle. Um I think that's probably a good strategy. Um, if you are going to ask a question that you didn't get a direct answer to, so it doesn't appear on the transcript, you could just follow up with an email. That would be helpful as well. So, we're double-checking on both ends. >> It would be great on the old business agenda for the next month. >> Yeah, that's my point. It's not my questions. It's I I want to keep all of the great questions that are raised by the board and also by the public in conversation so they're not dropped monthto month. >> Right. Well, what we could do is just pull them out of the transcript and put them into old business
063because we have a transcript which will record which is recording all the questions from the public and the board. >> Okay. >> So, you just drop them into old business. >> That'll that'll we'll be able to see that in December. >> Yes. So, I plan on getting my update for November out the first week in December only because of the holiday week. So, um it will be out um in the beginning of the week, Monday, December 1st. We'll get it out ASAP for you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello. Uh Rebecca Lara, Middletown resident. Um so I understand that the strategic planning report will not be made public. Do we have a time frame on when we can expect that? >> We said um Mr. Haber has told us that after Thanksgiving
064um he will have that report back to the district. He has not given us a definitive date. Um we check in with him weekly. Um and that was the latest update that we received. But the public will be getting a presentation on that report. Oh, >> okay. So do you do you know once you have it? You're expecting a couple weeks. >> I don't know because I don't know when we're getting it. It just and we're coming up on another holiday. We're hoping before the winter break, but I can't guarantee that. >> Okay. I'm just I'm hopeful that it won't turn into what it seemed like last year where it was very last minute and everyone was very surprised. So I'm hopeful that that won't repeat. We are uh hoping it doesn't either and we
065have um this man thinks I'm hounding him at this point for the report. Um so you know our goal is to get this done in a timely manner and we engaged with him um last year at the end of the year. So um it has taken this long because we are we do have a lot of complexities in the district but um I think we're nearing the time where we're going to get something back as he has as he has expressed to me. >> Okay, fair. Um, forgive me if I'm if I just don't know exactly how some things work, but my next question is I' I've noticed that some bills are voted no. Um, and I'm wondering why it can we have explanations for why some board members decide to vote no. >> Could
066you be specific on what you mean by tonight or anytime? >> Yeah, tonight. So, there were a handful of bills. I think it was Weiner Law and um >> I can't I can't speak to that. Some board members feel opposed to it actually and don't want to vote yes for it. >> Okay. >> Interesting. Okay. Um so that's it's just individual preferences. >> Every every there's nine people who are on this board. Nine people have their own individual vote. Yes or no or they can abstain. >> Okay. Just interesting that there's no discussion. Okay. Um, and then I'm wondering for January there's usually an L RI. I think I'm getting the acronym right. Um, >> it's a LRIG. It's um for recreational grants from the state of New Jersey for >> The playground grant. Correct.
067>> Um I I haven't seen it be released yet, but I'm I understand that's usually due at the end of January, early February. I'm wondering who works on that um in the district and if like I could help work on that with them. Um so it goes typically through the facilities committee because it is a facilities component. Um and our business office and Mrs. Doerty um with the facilities committee will work on that. >> Okay. All right. So then I could if I questions and everything I can email. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Okay. Perfect. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, Erin Torres, Middletown. I just have a question going back to the questions. Um, would it be possible rather than worrying about email and transcripts and back and forth, could we have a
068running list that is of the questions not answered, kept by someone up here, the secretary of some sort, and that if people have a question that wasn't answered, they can confirm at the end of the meeting rather than going back and forth and worrying about emails, transcripts, and just making it more confused. We just have a more direct list of questions that were raised and not answered. >> We we could do that. It's I guess maybe >> we'll figure it out. We we'll figure it out logistically, but we'll bullet point that and we'll take it down and we'll get back to that question. >> Okay. Would we be able to put that in the beginning of the next meeting's agenda or before public comments? So, >> like we were saying, we'll put that into next
069meeting's old business. >> So, that's where it's going to go. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Great. Thank you. >> Hi, Kristen Bolam, Middletown resident. Do you know when the calendar for next year is going to be available? >> That doesn't >> calendar committee does not convene typically till January. >> January. >> Yeah. And then we usually try to get it onto the February agenda. >> Okay. >> Uh second question, how many lawsuits are we entangled with currently? >> At least one month. >> Two. Just two. And then how many for the year do we know to date? three. >> And is that like typical on average year-over-year >> for our size district? >> It's very low. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Would anyone else wish to make a public comment? See want to step in
070forward. I wish to What was the public comment? >> Not related to my last one. Hi Kristen, Rudy Middletown. Just um I guess I want to get an idea for all of us since the first preliminary budgets presented in March. When does that if we're doing committee of the whole or will there be any special meetings that are related to the budget ahead of that? >> We'll do budget presentations leading up to the March meeting. We're going to go back to the public presentations, >> okay? >> As we used to do in the past. >> Okay. So when does that >> Well, we have started the budget process. So I'm thinking what do you January and February, Amy? >> Usually. >> Yeah, we we Amy. >> Yeah. Later in January though, like the second half
071of January, >> like at our at our voting meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So at the So not the next meeting, at the January meeting. >> The end of the month. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Okay. See no one else wish to adjourn the meeting. Motion to approve. >> Discussion. All in favor? I oppose. Abstensions. have