001Good evening everyone. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided by 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 and each elementary, middle, and secondary school in the district. Roll call. >> Mrs. Hamiti >> here. >> Mr. Fisceral >> here. >> Mrs. Minuise here, >> Mrs. Scowski >> here, Mr. Sarowski >> here, >> Mr. Tul here, >> Mrs. Wright >> here, >> Mrs. Tobacco, Mr. Capone >> here. >> And now you have a motion for exact session to discuss PID and personnel matters. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Absention. See you in a little bit. one. >> Good evening everyone. Please stand for the pledge. >> Pledge allegiance >> to the
002flag 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. Okay, we're going to start this evening with our high school North student speaker, which is I believe Jason Woods is not in today, right? Who is >> Oh, you're doing your >> Thank you, Ryan. >> Hi, my name is Rashim Hopser. I'm the student from Middletown High School North serving on the board, but today I'm filling in for Jason Woods, who's our student liazison. Um, so I'm going to talk a little bit about um what happened in October at North. Uh, we hosted a special freshman frontiers presentation on October 9th honoring Middletown's legacy and role in America 250. 10th and 11th grade students took the PSAT on October 16th.
003Next week, we will administer the NJGPA/ NJSLA field tests for math and ELA. Praise referrals this month were submitted for Charlene Armeda, grade 12. Alyssa Cherachella, grade 12. Maddie DeFranco, grade 12. Michael Domen, grade 11. Josie Sho, grade 10. Colin Carroll, grade 12. Isabella Churny, grade 12. Olivia Saparo, grade nine. Ava Panzino, grade 12. Sophia Alvo, grade 10. Bayou Louie, grade 11. Riley Luma, grade 11. Fiona Quinn, grade 10. Ava Reed, grade 12. Benjamin Divine, grade nine. Audrey Grim, grade 11. Bella Roseri, grade 11. North's 30th annual Haunted Woods event on October 18th was a huge success. This tradition is always a favorite among our community. Earlier that afternoon, Junior Council hosted our second annual trunk or treat. Admission was free with the donation of a non-p perishable food item for Middletown Helps its own.
004The MHS and choirs have been busy during the month of October with performances and fundraisers. The students participated in the annual fall plant sale fundraiser with the Latin honor society and sold mums, aers, cabbages, and pumpkins. Choir members also painted pumpkins for friends and family members. The MHS and choirs held open choir night at the October 17th Pinkout home football game against Madawan. Middle school music students from all three middle schools were invited to the MHS and choir room for pizza rehearsal and to get some pink fling for the game. The MHS and choir members joined some South choir members to sing at Middletown Day on October 19th. Following vocal placements throughout September, AC cappella began rehearsing for upcoming concert and holiday events. The choirs also began selling MHSN music magnets and stickers to advertise
005the MHSN music program and encourage student participation in music in the performing arts. Our Pinkout football game garnered a tremendous crowd. We honored our beloved teacher, Mrs. Mahoney, who recently battled breast cancer and is doing amazing. Congratulations to Jason Woods for being voted in as North Student Government President and Carly Christristiani as VP. Commendations go to the pairs of Gary Albero and Thomas Greenwald and Austin Mayor and Kim McCarthy for running fantastic campaigns. Relay for Life has been selling pink breast cancer awareness pins this October raising $5 per pen. Our eighth grade open house will take place on November 19th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. as well as the homecoming bonfire which also features the recognition of all fall athletes in the stadium. is scheduled for Tuesday, November 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Rehearsals
006for the Diary of Anne Frank are highly anticipated fall play are ongoing. Performances will take place on November 21st and 22nd. MHSN's Gay Street Alliance GSA celebrated National Coming Out Day with an invite in celebration to build community and learn more about the mission. Students officially launched a line dancing club under the guidance of Miss Elfsprey to learn popular line dances to country, pop, rock, and Latin songs. MHSN's National Honor Society hosted a food drive for the Red Bank cropwalk, collecting food and other non-p perishable items for the local families. Senior Rashi Mobsicker took charge as the team leader for this amazing cause and personally collected thousands of pounds of food as well as hundreds of dollars in online donations from local schools all over the town. Congratulations to our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Cruise
007Battles esports team for for defeating Barnett High School two sets to zero. The team also defeated previously undefeated Ocean Township for Ocean Township High School two sets to one. Congratulations to the cross country team on their performances at the Shore Coaches meet at Hongdale Park. The team had five medal winners placing in the top 30 in their races which included about 200 racers in each race. Helena Zep in fourth place and Isabelle Courtney in 23rd place took home varsity medals while freshman medals came from Emily Trong in ninth place, Katherine Z in 18th place and Aiden Wall in 24th place. Helena Zep ran the second fastest time in school history at Hondo Park in 19 minutes and 23 seconds. The girls team had a great day with 11 girls racing and nine having a having
008personal best times at the Mammoth County Championships. Helena Zap led the way improving her second alltime mark at Homedale Park and Isabella Courtney now adding her name to the list at number eight. Brian Feelely took home a top 20 medal in the boys freshman race and Juliet Mullen in the girls JV race. And congratulations to the girls cross country team again on their seventh place finish at the short conference championships. The team was led by senior Helena Zap, breaking the school record, running 1809 for the 5k course and placing ninth overall. The team had almost every girl run personal bests. The top five finishers for the team were Helena, Isabella Courtney, Mia Zwisnney, Emily Trong, and Morgan Bixby. A big congrats to the varsity girls volleyball team for their win against Middletown South at our
009spike out cancer event at Brookdale. The girls won in two sets to defeat the Eagles. It was a spectacular show of support for coach Owen. Middletown High School North's girls volleyball team were division champs for the first time in school history. Carly Christiani, Bella Erzeri, and Mia Mson were selected to the short conference C North all division team. Junior Bella Erzuri won division player of the year and coach Michelle Diamore won division coach of the year. Our football team has earned the number three seed in the state playoffs and will host cross town rival Middletown South this Friday night at 700 p.m. in the first round. The theme for the game is orange out in support of leukemia awareness. Let's pack the stands, wear orange, and show our pride for North while we support an
010important cause. Thank you. >> Thank you, Rashi. [applause] from High School South, Jessica Cerillo. >> Hi everyone, I'm Jessica Cerillo. I a senior at Middletown High School South and tonight I'm going to give you some updates on what's going on at our school. The PSAT took place on October 17th for our 10th and 11th grader students. activities were planned for our freshmen and a big thank you goes out to our civic leaders and Mr. Lightbody for presenting engaging activities for our underassment during this time. Congratulations to our Lady Eagles cross country team for winning the Mammoth Mammoth County Championship. A well-deserved victory. The boys soccer team achieved a historic milestone this past weekend. This season has brought two incredible accomplishments. The first being defeating CBA, the number one seed in the Shore Conference tournament. They
011were able to defeat CBA and they earned the a spot in the championship game for the first time since 2003. This was a major feat as it marked the first time since 2018 that CBA did not appear in the finals. Winning the Shore Conference tournament championship for the first time in school history. After six rounds of the penalty kick shootout, our Eagles defended the number two seed Colts neck, senior goalkeeper Carson Perry saved the final shot and senior Luke Strada sealed the victory with the game-winning kick, giving us a 5 to4 win and penalties. In October, the Middletown High School South Spectrum GSA celebrated the LGBTQ plus history month by hosting anformational table outside the media center to educate the community and welcome new members. The club hopes to continue fostering an inclusive and supportive
012school environment through initiatives like this. Congratulations to Olivia Jükis, a College Board National Merit semi-finalist who scored in the top 1% of the 2026 class. Olivia was also nominated for the Daughters of American Revolution Good Citizen Award and will compete in the D good Citizen Scholarship Contest. The freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior executive boards along with student council are working together to host a battle of the classes which will start this November. We are looking for forward to an exciting and spirited event. The Middletown High School South Environmental Club participated in a beach cleanup on Saturday, October 18th in partnership with Clean Ocean Action at Ideal Beach. They will be hosting another cleanup at Leonardo Beach on November 23rd. The Middletown High School South film students Hunter Denberg and Kiara Burns participated in a screenwriting
013workshop at Count Basy Center on Saturday, October 25th. The event includes a hands-on lab with professional screenwriters, a roundt discussion, and networking with other film students and industry professionals. Middletown High School South will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Saturday, October 10th in 2026. This event will feature food trucks, live music, school tours, and alumni art shows and more. Save the date. >> Thank you, JESSICA. [applause] >> I'm now going to turn to our district director of student support services, Mrs. Dr. Young for a student safety data system HIPP self assessment scores the 2425 school year. >> Thank you. Hi everyone. I'm Meg Young. I am the district director of student support services. I will be presenting briefly tonight on our student safety data system and our HIV self- assessment scores. So the student safety
014data system or SSDs are um reports that we are required to give to the state and then report out and present to the board of education and the community twice a year. In the fall presentation, we report out on the entirety of the year before. So you see the far right column represents the numbers for each infraction category for the 2425 school year. Um to the far left you see the incident types and then that middle column is the 23 24 totals just for a point of comparison. The second to last two rows although they are reported out on are not calculated in the uh column totals in terms of the HIV self- assessment scores. Those are scores that are put together at the building level. Um there is a meeting to review a rubric
015with the school safety and climate team. These scores are decided upon once the rubric is scored. They're reported to central office by the principal and the anti-bullying specialist for the building and then they are certified to the NJ DOE by the superintendent. There are core elements on the rubric that are graded. You can see some of them listed here. So each building's team goes through the rubric and assigns a score for each of these core elements. The scoring can be on a zero to three scale with a score of three meaning the building exceeded the requirements on that core element. Should be noted that the highest maximum score that any building can receive is a 78. Here you can see the um self- assessment scores for the 2425 school year by building. These scores are
016now reported to the department of ed and they will help inform the HIV grade that's issued by the department of ed in the spring. So in the spring presentation, I'll be back to report out on the SSDs numbers for the first half of this school year. And at that time we'll also have the official HIV grades as issued by the state. Thank you. >> Thank you Dr. Y. Now bring up Mr. Colin to quickly speak about our spring 25 NJSLA results. >> Thank you Mr. Capone. Thanks Rashi and Jessica for sharing all those outstanding accomplishments at our two high schools and thanks Dr. Young for your presentation. So tonight I get to piggyback off of our conversation from last month where we talked about the three assessment pathways for graduation. Tonight we're going to discuss
017our spring NJSLA and NJ GPA results. The purpose of tonight's presentation is to give you a highlevel overview. I want to be certain that I let you know that each building will have its own NJSLA presentation at an upcoming PTA, PTO or PFA meeting. So tonight is going to be very generalized and high level. We are going to there are seven goals in this brief in this brief conversation tonight. Number one, we're going to highlight NJSLA performance levels for ELA, math, and science. Number two, we are going to report the percentage of our students who met or exceeded expectations on each assessment. Tonight, we're going to dive into 20 different assessments. Number three, we're going to compare these percentages with state averages for levels four and five. Number four, we're going to note growth, consistency,
018or decline as it relates to our district's performance from 2024. Number five, we're going to describe strategies for using NJSLA data to support continuous improvement across our district. Number six, we're going to discuss how we foster readiness for NJSLA on a regular basis. And number seven, we're going to identify where you can find assessment information for our district um as well as all curriculum related information. And once again, there will be a more descriptive presentation in each of your buildings um over the months ahead. So, we're going to begin by looking at NJSLA's performance levels for ELA, math, and science. NJLA NJSLA uses five different per performance levels for each of these assessments. Level one, the student did not yet meet expectations. Level two, the student partially met expectations. Level three, the student approached expectations.
019Level four, the student met expectations. And when we talk about NJ GPA, which is our high school proficiency test, we'll use the terminology graduation ready for level four and also for level five, which is exceeded expectations. This presentation is going to feature the percentage of students that met levels four and five, achieved uh met or exceeded expectations. NJSLA uses four categories for science. These include level one below proficient, level two near proficient, level three proficient, and level four advanced proficient. So now we're going to look at each of the tests um and how we perform. So, we'll begin with the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations for ELA in grades 3 through 5. So, for grade three ELA, the state average was 44.9%. Again, we're looking at the number of students that met level
020four and five. They either met or exceeded expectations. Our district performance was 53.7%. We outperformed the state average by 8.8%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased 5.7% from 2024. We're always looking in the mirror. We always want to know how we are progressing year-over-year. And so with each of these tests, we'll identify that grade four ELA. The state average was 53.6%. Our district performance was 65.7%. We outperformed the state average by 12.1%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased 4.7% from 2024. Grade 5 ELA, the state average was 52.7%. Our district performance was 64.9%. We outperformed the state average by 12.2%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations remained consistent from 2024 on this assessment. Grade three math. The state average was 49.8%. Our district performance was 63%. We outperformed the state
021average by 13.2%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased 5% from 2024. Grade four math, the state average was 46.7%. Our district performance was 61.6%. We outperformed the state average by 14.9%. While this reflects a 1.4% decline from 2024, we still remain well above the state average. Two standards aligned growth areas for this assessment include complex modeling and reasoning tasks [snorts] and fractional operations. If there is ever a decline, even if it's a small decline, we do want to make sure that we know exactly what that is so that we can support that with solid instruction. Grade five math, our state a the state average was 44.2%. Our district performance was 58.7%. We outperformed the state average by 14.5%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased by 3.7% from 2024. Grade 6 ELA
022the state average was 56.1%. Our district performance was 68.6%. We outperformed the state average by 12.5%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased 8.6% 6% from 2024. Grade seven ELN. The state average was 57%. Our district performance was 72.3%. We outperform the state average by 15.3%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased 9.3% from 2024. Grade 8 ELA. The state average was 57.1%. Our district performance was 73.3%. We outperformed the state by 16.2%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased 7.3% from 2024. Grade six math. The state average was 39.8%. Our district performance was 51.6%. We outperformed the state average by 11.8%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased 8.6% from 2024. Grade seven math. The state average was 38.8%. Our district performance was 51.3%. We outperform the state average by
02312.5%. While this reflects a 1.7% decline from 24, we remain well above the state average. Two particular standard standards aligned growth areas for this assessment include geometric problem solving and complex reasoning. Grade 8 math for those students enrolled in pre-alggebra not algebra 1 honors. The state average was 20.7%. Our district performance was 34.9%. We outperformed the state average by 14.2. 2% are students who met or exceeded expectations remained consistent from 2024 on this assessment. [clears throat] Grade 9 ELA the state average was 49.9%. Our district performance was 64%. We outperformed the state average by 14.1%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations remained consistent from 24 on this particular assessment. Grade 11 NJ GPA. We'll use the terminology graduation ready because this is the graduation proficiency assessment. The average was 80.7. District performance was 90.8.
024We outperform the state by 10.1% and our students who are graduation ready did increase by 10.1% from last year. Algebra 1, the state average was 37.9%. Our district performance 57.9% we outperformed the state by 20%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations remained consistent from 2024 and has been the case in the past. Our middle school 8th grade algebra 1 honor students continue to truly excel on this assessment. Each of our three uh middle schools, Beayshore, Thornne, and Thompson, um they had 97 to 99% proficiency rates for our students. In geometry, the state average was 56%. Our district performance 78.4%. We outperformed the state by the state average by 22.4%. Our students who met or exceeded expectations increased 9.4% from 2024. and NJ GPA for math, the state average was 58%, our district performance 70%,
025we outperformed the state average by 12% and our students who are graduation ready increased 12% from 2024. And our final three tests are in science, in grade five science. And again, it's important to note that this is three years worth of standards that our students are being tested on. They're being tested in fifth. They're being tested in eighth. And they're being tested in 11th. State average 31.1%. 30.1%. I apologize. District performance 37.6%. We outperform the state average by 7.5%. Our students achieved achieving proficiency or advanced proficiency increased 4.6% from 2024. Grade 8 science the state average was 19%. Our district performance 27.8%. 8%. We outperformed the state average by 8.8%. This does reflect a 1.2% decline from last year. Yet, we still remain well above the state average. One standards aligned growth area for this
026assess assessment was applying scientific concepts to complex multi-step scenarios. And our last test, grade 11 science, the state average was 31.3%. Our district performance 31.9%. We performed very slightly above the state average on this assessment. Our students who met or exceeded expectations remained consistent from 2024. So what do we do with NJSLA data? I mean data is simply a part of good teaching. It's it's really it's it's what we use in order to inform our daily practice. So it is a valuable mirror to evaluate our own instructional effectiveness. Results are used to inform targeted instruction that is responsive and differentiated to all of our students diverse needs. That includes remediation, retaching, enrichment. We use NJSLA data to design and facilitate meaningful and purposeful professional development that helps our teachers become ready to deliver that high
027level instruction that we're so accustomed to here in Middletown. We use it to guide curriculum audits and of course examine the educational programs that we're using. We use NJS data to identify achievement gaps and inform improvement practices. Moreover, we use it to monitor individualized and collective growth on a very regular basis. So how do we get our students ready for NJSLA? It's just embedded in what we do on a very regular basis in our classrooms. So we can begin by talking about the I Ready benchmark assessments that we administer in the fall, in the winter, and the spring. And these are great for informing us how our students are progressing and learning uh at three points throughout the year. It does enable us to identify their their strengths. It enables us to identify their growth
028areas and of course we want to always continue to strengthen their strengths and build up their growth areas. Um we do utilize MTSS which a multi-tered system of support which varies in intensity based upon what it is that our students need. Um we typically provide spiral review which means that we are reviewing material that we had done in the past on a more regular basis because if we don't revisit it we will easily forget it. Um I would recommend anyone to please look at the curriculum guides that we have on our district website. You can see that they are comprehensive. You can see that they are standards aligned. Um, and you can see the different types of assessments that we use throughout the year to monitor our students growth. We always facilitate small groupoup instruction
029which is really designed to make sure that we're addressing all students needs within the class. And again, that involves enrichment and it also involves remediation and retaching. Um, we encourage our teachers to always offer actionable feedback so that our students can respond to how they're performing. And perhaps most importantly, we're always cultivating an inspiring and a caring environment where our students can grow and be comfortable and confident. To that end, we always want to thank our teachers, our administrators, and of course, our families. It is a collective effort um you know that supports our success here on a very regular basis. And these scores do demonstrate success. So based on tonight's presentation, we analyzed on a high level 20 assessments. And of those 20 assessments, we saw growth in 14. And the truth is the
030principal is always competing against yourself, self-improvement, being better today than you were yesterday. And that's evident. In three cases, we remained consistent. And in three cases, there was a slight decline. And of course, we want to use those opportunities to to strengthen our own strengths here. So again, I do recommend that you visit our curriculum instruction website. You can have a look at all the assessments that we administer throughout the year. And of course, any of our curriculum guides are available for you there as well. We are also in the process of developing a comprehensive data locker in the Genesis parent portal so parents can see their students NJSLA scores year-over-year. So parents can see their students dibble scores. So parents can see their students Coat scores. We want it all in one place, a
031one-stop shop for you to see it. And you're very familiar with the Genesis portal. So we do recommend that you go in there and see that data locker that is continuing to be built as we speak. Um and of course we look forward to continuing the growth and the success from 2025 as uh we prepare for 2026. So thank you for the opportunity to present. Have a great night. [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Helen. >> Okay, moving on to our committee reports. We're going to start with Mr. Tul with curriculum and instruction. >> Thank you, Mr. Capone. Yes, the curriculum committee met on October 27th. Uh, Mr. Colin gave us a lot of updates including much of what you saw in the presentation just now. Um just a few other highlights that I'll hit. Um
032I know um our student speakers mentioned the PSATs recently, but just a nice shout out that we had um a total of 12 students in the district who achieved national merit scholar status based on their PSAT score. So that was great to hear and we're uh you know congratulations to those students. Um, another nice piece of news we got was that Harmony Elementary had uh converted what was their old library room into a m a music room. So, um, they, you know, it's now a dedicated area for band, for chorus, for musical instrument storage um, and anything in the music world. All those books are repurposed into the various classroom libraries. So, it's not like they don't have uh library resources anymore, but they now have a dedicated room, which and I understand that's a
033school with a large number of elementary uh uh participants in band and chorus. So, that was really cool news. Um what else? Um the there's been an ongoing uh committee that Mr. Colin heads up, the homework committee. Um, so it's it's comprised of a number of um staff administrators and folks to have an ongoing dialogue to try to build a consistent district-wide approach to how each of our buildings classrooms attack homework um in a more consistent way, purposeful way uh with some uniform expectations going forward. So that's that's an ongoing discussion. Um but hopefully fairly soon there's going to be some um you know word product or I don't want to call it policy but kind of an expectation on paper districtwide building a classroomwide across the district for some consistency with those expectations. Um
034and then also uh we're continuing uh the work on the developing the K to5 math programs that are being piloted. As we've mentioned the last several months there's a couple different programs being piloted. um the math specialist and interventionists, uh the update we got was that they're they're immersed in it. They're nowhere near at a point where they want to tell us which one they like better or best. Um but I I personally was encouraged to hear that there is a recognition early on that these platforms can be very techheavy and our specialists are recognizing that that isn't necessarily a good thing. Um, and so while they might have nice digital tools and online tools, I'm glad to hear that they're recognizing that that doesn't necessarily translate to the growth in math that we want
035to see um on next year's presentation of those scores and other um data that we get. So glad to hear that's ongoing that that was a recognition. So um that's the curriculum highlights. >> Thank you, Mr. Sel. Moving on to student services, Miss Wright. >> Yes, we also met last night. We had a little bit of a shorter agenda uh this month, but uh one thing that I will share um and it's on tonight's agenda for approval by the board is after an extensive interview process, um we do have a candidate to fill an open special education supervisor position. This is not a new position. Um the candidate who is on the agenda tonight is someone who I'm very excited actually uh to be starting here because this person actually has ICR and LLD teacher
036experience in the past along with being in administrative role for several years. So we're excited to hopefully welcome uh this candidate to our district soon. Uh we also talked obviously about the Angelsa performance results that we just had a presentation about. We got a brief update on the Linkraftoft annex uh which furniture has now been purchased. Um it looks like construction on the annex is almost complete and we are hoping that we are going to have a official opening date to share with the community very soon. But uh from what I heard from the facilities committee, this is very exciting um and looks completely different and I think all of us are very uh excited about welcoming the students to that new site very soon. And the last thing that we discussed, and this is
037something that I'm extremely happy to see, is that we finally had no litigation matters uh for special ed to discuss last night. And I think that is a great progress for the district. >> Thank you, M. Right. Moving on to facilities and authority. >> The facilities committee met on October 15th. The highlights of what was discussed at our committee. Uh we also did talk about the annex that Mrs. Wright just filled everybody in on. Uh we also talked about >> [snorts] >> uh the high school south turpp field and uh the work that we have scheduled uh for January to uh do some repairs to the base of that field to smooth out some areas that are um that need to be smoothed out along the sidelines. Uh we also talked about an operations update.
038Mr. Nasser shared that uh we've been able to upgrade the air filters used in our HVAC units uh to a higher MV rating uh for minimal additional costs and we are actually seeing the benefit of this and improved air quality testing results around the district which was a positive. Uh we're also in the process of uh getting a new program going for facilities use called operations hero. Uh we use this program already for work orders but we are also looking to get the module online for facilities use. Uh this platform will make it possible for facilities user to request permits online and get more information about our facilities [clears throat] that we have available to permit. Uh the plan is to roll this out for our elementary schools first and add the middle and high
039schools later. Uh it will streamline the arrangements that need to be made internally as well. custodial security equipment, uh, etc. So, I look forward to getting that up and running. We have a couple of items on the agenda this evening for approval. Uh, our annual comprehensive maintenance plan and form M1. These are documents that must be submitted annually to the NJDOE County Office. Uh the M1 reflects our projected maintenance expenses for the district and our comprehensive maintenance plan includes projected costs for maintenance and details the activities that are included in those budgeting costs. Uh we also talked about a meeting that the uh district administration uh actually Mr. Nasser and I and uh we met with a company called DCO Energy. We're looking uh at some different uh ways to potentially save some more uh
040money on our energy costs. Uh they're an energy savings consultant. Uh we talked about the concept of a program that is uh called community solar. It's a New Jersey clean energy program that was recently opened up. So, we're exploring uh to see whether this program could potentially uh bring some revenue into the district by installing some solar canopies in some of our parking lots. Uh we did review a preliminary analysis with them and we will be sharing that with the facilities committee in an upcoming meeting. Uh we also talked about the Bay View fields. We've been talking about those for a while. We will be having a meeting with the township actually tomorrow uh to discuss the phasing of the planned improvements to the field. They're going to they're getting close to putting that project
041out to bid. Uh so they are planning on installing irrigation and other improvements. Uh so we're going to meeting with meeting with them tomorrow and that's all I have to report. >> Thank you Mr. Thory. Moving on co-curricular. Mr. Ferro I defer to Mr. >> I'll take care of that. Mr. Sure. Good evening everyone. Our most recent co-curricular meeting took place on October 16th. During that meeting, a thorough discussion related to the operation of co-curricular activities in the district took place. Among the topics addressed included, but were not limited to, the review of clubs and club adviserss for the 2025 school year, stipened amounts, the role that the mtea contract plays with co-curriculars, the club meeting and attendance monitoring process, and how new clubs get started. The district's announcement recognition calendar was reviewed. The list
042of club events or recognition days and weeks was created by building administration, central office and feedback from CLA uh club adviserss. These recognitions and the related procedures were implemented in order to ensure consistency and equity related to school celebrations related to champions morning and afterare. The champions morning and afterare waiting lists in each elementary school were reviewed. The waiting lists that exist are a result of recent registrations and need to hire additional employees in order to meet state required studentto adult ratios. Students on a current waiting list are expected to be cleared within the next two weeks. For liability and insurance reasons, when students who participate in Champions Afterare program are using the school's playground equipment, other students and community members are not permitted to utilize that area of the property at that time. Champions
043typically uses the equipment at 3:45 daily. Other people on the school grounds at that point can use the fields or any other area of the fields aside from the actual playground itself. We also addressed athletics. The district will be utilizing a weather safety platform named Perry Weather that will be monitoring real-time weather conditions, will receive instant alerts, and access both historical data and future forecasts in order to ensure the safety of our school community during school-based events. A discussion related to the dedication of athletic playing fields and courts took place. It was decided that this practice should not be adopted moving forward. And finally, short conference updates for the fall season were provided. And that's it. Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Grap. I >> I think you forgot to mention that um Mr. Renella is
044in charge of the Perry weather. >> He didn't have anything to add, Miss. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. This is already number six on your um committee meeting notes. Um I'm sorry I did you skip over that or [clears throat] did you speak about that? >> Uh sure. We did um talk about a proposal that we uh had received from advocate. They currently do food service uh consulting for us, but they also do facilities analysis and we are looking at having them come in to evaluate uh our facilities department. We have a very comprehensive in-depth uh report uh probably about six years ago or so. I think around 2019. Uh so we're looking to update that. You know, it's a good practice to do uh every so often to take a look at our staffing
045levels uh and looking you know, anything that we could, you know, compare to private sector to see how we, you know, how our department performs or or how it's operating compared to that. So, we're looking to have them come in just to take us a look and give us some feedback. >> Is Envy the only company that we're looking at? >> They do a lot of school facilities work here in New Jersey. So, and we again we worked with them already. they have our prior more comprehensive report to work off of. So, it made sense to have them updated. >> How did that how did that come about like them doing this this work for us? looking for cost savings in how we operate our facilities management and you know how we utilize our personnel
046in the most effective manner to ensure that our buildings and grounds are maintained and our are our you know um those things are in order given the staff that we have >> are they so when we're talking about this company you mentioned food service are they only looking at outsourcing facilities m people or also >> they're I mean they're just looking at how we operate and comparing it to um you know other districts of our size, private sector metrics. I mean the the idea is just to see if there's any improvements we can make operationally for cost savings like Dr. Al. >> It's not it's not necessarily with the goal of outsourcing anything. It's more for efficiency sake. Do we have the adequate level of staffing that we need? Are we deploying people in an
047efficient manner to get work done? is our workflow appropriate so that way we get things um accomplished in a timely manner. >> We've done this with other areas. I know we had uh somebody come come in and look at our transportation department uh a number of years ago. Like I said, we've done facilities before. We've had people come in and look at our special ed department as well. It's, you know, it's good practice sometimes to have a consultant who deals with a lot of different entities take a look and give us some ideas. >> And it does say potential savings from outsourcing. So we'll go out of the district to get some potential. >> I mean, that's one of the things that they they could look at. >> Are we going to have a conversation
048about that before that goes to >> Well, this is only a report. So in order in order for anything to take place, you would have to put out an RFP for a company to give you a price to outsource anything. This is just feedback at this point. And part of that feedback could be a recommendation for outsourcing, a part of it, all of it, none of it. Um that is where the once we have that information, that's when the conversation with the board will start. And in the sense of here's the data that they've given us. What are our next steps? Is it a reconfiguration of what we already have? Is it, you know, is it looking at an outsourcing potential for certain areas? >> Yeah. My my personal opinion of this being done years
049back is it didn't work for us. >> Yeah, >> it really didn't. It was a mess. >> Can I ask what's the cost for this just to have this report done for us? I don't have the amount in the proposal in front of me, but it was less than um I mean I have to get back to it. The exact amount it's between six and 7,000 under 10,000. >> Yeah. >> I just have to go back to that again. We have, you know, great people working in our schools with our kids and, you know, I saw what happened the last time that happened and I definitely wouldn't want to see that happen again. >> Well, again, this is just a this is just a review of our operations. We don't know what the recommendations are
050going to be at this point. It's just doing our due diligence knowing, you know, that we are always looking at everything we can to try to do things more efficiently. >> I was under the assumption that it was more for efficiency reasons. It wasn't completely out. >> Yeah, >> we don't know. Again, we don't know what the recommendations are going to be. That's we're just bringing somebody in to take a look. They could, you know, be just looking at our staffing levels. They could be looking at our organizational. They could be looking at, you know, how how things are divided up. I mean, it it's it's a comprehensive look at everything. It's not geared toward a certain thing. >> I just had questions because I never heard I've never heard this discussed before. So, it
051was something new that you just said. So, >> yes. >> Okay. Anything else with it? >> Well, we have technology. >> Technology, Mr. Kurpatre. >> So, the technology committee meeting uh took place on October 16th. Uh we talked about some initiatives going on in the area of technology. Uh actually one of them is a live in front of you. We talked about the concerns about the audio and video with the board meetings and our uh director of IT uh did do some research and you know a couple of things we're doing uh right now to address that is one uh effective with this meeting what was happening is our fee was being funneled through Zoom before it actually went to YouTube and that was really a leftover from the pandemic. So we're removing that routing
052and just going directly to YouTube. So hopefully we'll see what the feedback is uh tonight that would uh give some uh in improvement to the pixelation and and what we've seen in the video that isn't uh making it clear. Uh we also are ordering more microphones because we we have increased the amount of uh people that are around the table with our student representatives and so forth. So, we're going to get a few more microphones and uh related to that, we'll have to get a a new soundboard to accommodate a few more microphones, but we're [clears throat] also looking at some other things. I know Mr. Mr. Sapparowski referred us to a firm he saw down at the schoolboard's workshop and you know, we'll meet with them and see if there's anything they can do.
053I think they were u maybe focused more on the video portion of it. I know they can also do sound, but we're going to meet with them and see if they have any ideas for us also. So we're working on improving that for everybody. Uh we also talked about custodio which is a nocost application that allows parents greater visibility and control of their child's schoolisssued device at home. Uh we this is tied into our uh program that we have here in the district as well. Uh, it also includes access to the MP MTPS online safety hub which includes tools for parents to help navigate online resources. If the email hasn't gone out already, I'm not sure if it has, it will be going out shortly with registration information to all parents. Uh, we also talked
054about our cyber security training uh that we're doing in district. We are doing uh short cyber security training videos that are now included in our annual mandated training. Uh we are also doing ongoing smart fishing campaigns uh with our staff sending out emails with uh certain scenarios seeing if they'll actually click on it or not. Uh if they are clicking on it you know we will go back to them and and advise them that that you know that was something that they shouldn't have done. Uh so we are looking to enhance everybody's awareness of cyber security threats. >> [clears throat] >> Uh we also have now an MTPS technology services status page uh called status gator. Uh it's a real time cloud monitoring service that aggregates the status of all our thirdparty applications we have
055here in the district uh into a single page. Uh it's publicly facing and it provides all students and staff realtime updates of our applications, outages and maintenance. So if something isn't working quite right on your machine, you can go and take a look and see if there's an actual outage with that application. And that was our technology. >> Thank you, Miss Dy. I'm now going to open the microphone up for public comment on agenda. >> Can I have a minute before we do that? Um, we sat here last month and we listened to our attorney tell us about public comment and I totally disagree with the interpretation that we have. So, I would like to make a motion to change the name from public comment to public session and put in all questions that can
056be answered will be answered. that including budget questions and school operations because we are committed to transparency and working with our community. I would like TO [applause] have to be a policy written. >> I would like to make the motion to do that and do it effectively ASAP. >> Is there a second? Second. >> I just have one question. Um because public comment says 30 minutes. Is there going to be a time frame or is it going to be >> You can you can keep the 30 minutes. I'm looking to add the extra words to the public comment because the board has the right to extend that 30 minutes if we choose to. So that wouldn't be affected. The words that I want to add makes us give the answers to the questions that we
057know because there is so much misinformation out in this community that parents are asking us and we're sitting here not answering. We need to be upfront and honest and get the truth out and stop the nonsense going around the town. [applause] Can you just repeat for me? You wanted to change rename public comment to public what >> change the name to public session >> public session >> because public comment seems to mean that we can't talk back but that's not what it means but public session >> okay and who seconded that was that you Mr. Okay. >> Okay. >> All in favor? >> Well, I just want to clarify. It's not just changing the name. >> I believe that Miss Inuace is also saying that we should be answering questions that can be answered in
058real time. >> Yes. Here. >> Yeah. >> Right here at the board meeting. >> So, that I'm sorry. Is that just up to the break? >> No, that's up to the administration to what? No, all qu all comments go through the chair. >> So, the chair would be the one answering the comments. >> Well, but if the chair can't answer it, then someone else that can should be answering it. >> Well, I don't know if that could be done. >> Yeah. Why can't that be done? Everybody's sitting at the table. [applause] [cheering] >> You have all the answers. >> What >> do you have all the answers? You can answer every question. >> No, I don't have the answers. >> That's what I'm saying. I think I think what we're saying is whoever whoever can
059answer the question just answers it if it's a quick answer. Right. I think that we'll just move on to public comments. >> People want to know about budget issues. >> Our administration, we passed a budget. Those questions is public knowledge. They should be able to be answered. >> It's also in public documents. Yes. >> Yeah. But they should still be able to be answered. >> I'm just saying it's also in public documents. You're correct. >> Well, so yes. So there's no reason why we can't we sit here and say I can't answer that or we say nothing. We should be saying yes, you're right. This is this is it or explaining what the real >> Even if we don't have an answer. Just say we'll get the answer and get back to whoever it was.
060>> That's usually what we do. >> But Joe, that's not giving the public the answers to their questions. >> We're now we're end this discussion. We want to public comment. Would anybody like to come and make a public motion? There was a motion and a second. >> I think Amy, >> Mrs. Ham, >> Mr. Fitzgerald, >> it's changing the name and putting the words in. >> I just want to make sure it's not just changing the name. >> There's an actual back. >> Hold on one second, please. There's actual a back and forth. It's not just a comment, >> right? We're putting in that all questions that can be answered will be answered. includes budget questions, school operations, and I want to put in that we're committed to transparency and working with the community because
061that's the importance of answering these questions and getting the true information out there and stop making our school district look so bad. >> Because if they [applause] have a great school district, we have great things going on. We need to stop the nonsense and put the truth out on the table. And we all know you Amy, you do the budget. You should have the answers. Jess, if we're changing a program, you have the answers. So, there's no reason why we have to sit here and look down and not say anything. It's embarrassing. [applause] >> We always and lately we're not giving any answers. So, that's why I feel that we need to change this and put it put it in writing on our our public session when you're saying they have 30 minutes. have this
062word answer the question. >> There is a policy that's currently in the district that controls public comment. The attorney's comments last meeting were consistent with that policy. >> No, they weren't. He said people couldn't speak twice and they can. >> He said that we can't comment and we can. And he said it's up to the board to be able to comment. I I understand. But if there's a policy on point, then the way that the policy needs to be amended is to amend the policy, which requires a first and second reading. >> We never even have a policy meeting. >> Okay. >> Like I said before, we need a policy to put this in place. >> The one here, you know, our motion to answer. >> Will the chair of policy bring us back? >>
063I'm happy to bring it to >> Thank you very much. Now moving on to public comment. Would anybody wish to make a public comment? >> You have three minutes. >> I have a public comment on public comment. >> Your policy is address. >> It's Kristen Rooney. I'm from Middletown. >> Thank you. >> This is your policy because I think we're confused. Your policy on public comment which is not consistent with what the lawyer said at the last meeting. Please remember this is a public meeting. Anything you say will be a public record. As a result, pursuant to law, the board of education cannot respond to you publicly concerning certain matters, such as those regarding an individual student. If there is a matter that you wish to remain private concerning personnel or students, please contact the
064superintendent's office. Public comment periods shall also be governed by the following rules. Number one, a participant must be recognized by the board president or presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his or her name, address, or municipality of residence, a group affiliation if applicable. Number two, each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes of duration. Number three, no participant shall speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard. Number four, all statements, questions or inquiries shall be directed to the board president and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another board member shall be redirected to determine if such a statement, question or inquiry shall be addressed on behalf of the board or by
065the individual board member. And number five, questions requiring investigation shall be referred by the board to the superintendent's office for consideration and later response. A participant may be asked to submit each question in written format. So your policy is already to give answers. Regardless of what you want a lawyer to read, regardless of what you want to say on social media, your policy is to give an answer where you have an answer. We are all reasonable adults. We understand that if you can't give us an answer that you'll go away and find one, but we appreciate if you give an answer where it is available. And I appreciate Mrs. Minuies continuing to try to demand the transparency that's already in your policies. So stop wasting our time. [applause] Just your name and address of the
066record, please. >> My name is Ashley. I live in Miltown, New Jersey. Uh bills list item 11D. Uh we once again paid $167,000 for class 3 officers. That's over $1 million since April when the mayor committed to helping us pay for the class 3 officers. Shared services meet committee normally meets every other month per meeting. They have not been on the agenda of meeting since probably before January despite the fact that we know they met in May or April to discuss plan B that was kind of introduced at the meeting. So my question is is shared services planned to meet since I know that they are not listed in the agenda. So I know that means that they have not met. >> Amy, >> why is this I'm directing to the board of president? >>
067I don't set the meeting. I'm sorry. Reach out to you. >> Nobody's reached out to me and I don't set the meeting. >> You're allowed to ask them for a meeting also. >> Cool. Okay, that was good. Um, the other thing I'm wondering about in the bills list is, uh, we paid $27,000 to HFA, who is our audit company. Uh, we learned this week that they are also the treasure of a pack that contributed to a current board of ed candidates. Like, what? That doesn't feel like independent audit to me. I don't know. Seems like a conflict of interest. So, I'd really recommend that maybe we rethink our audit company given the financial issues we're in. >> A little bit of transparency would go a long way. Any uhbody want to comment on that? >>
068Thanks, guys. [applause] >> Hello. I attended some of the strategic planning. >> Name address of the record. I'm sorry. Uh my name is Jacqueline Eder. I live in Middletown, New Jersey. Um I attended some of the strategic planning sessions over the summer where it was noted that the study on the school size and the capacity would be completed by the end of October. It's October 28th. Has that study be completed and when will it be shared publicly with the community? >> We don't have a date yet. We're still waiting. Um we spoke to Ross Haber at the end of last week and he is um projecting potentially another two weeks. he needs to finalize that the administration and the board will get that and then u Mr. Haber will be [clears throat] presenting to the
069school community >> that seems like crucial information and any making any decisions related to redistricting or school closures. Have you discussed a minimum timeline that you would put in place between getting that information making those decisions communicating it communicating it with the community and the actual school closures or redistricting? Do you have any plans? Do I? >> You probably should. Last time didn't. >> We're waiting for the results of the study first. >> Um, and then second on a secondary note to what was already brought up in terms of the accounting firm that's doing all of the financial reporting for this board of ed. It should cause a lot of alarm bells for the current board of ed that's sitting. It should also cause alarm bells for the instit the American Institute of the Certified
070Public Accountants as it violates the code of professional conduct and anyone who's listening can file a complaint directly against that specific accounting firm with that institution about that professional violation of code of conduct. >> Can you repeat the name of that again? >> The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. They hold the licenses for people who are certified public accountants. >> Thank you. Anybody [applause] else make a public comment on agenda items only? >> Dan was on Middletown. Um Amy, you mentioned about the comprehensive maintenance plan form. I don't see that on the agenda. Do you have a copy of it available? Has it been published? >> Um we are I don't know if it was listed as an attachment on the website. If not, >> cuz it says it's on a file attachment, but
071I don't see it attached. So, you're voting on it tonight, but we don't have visibility into it. Does the rest of the board have visibility as well? >> The board the board has it. It might not be a public attachment. Uh, you know, we can certainly make that available to anyone who asks. >> Cool. That would be great. Yeah, if you can post that, that would be great. >> Thank you. Would >> anybody else wish to make a public comment on agenda items only? I have one that's unrelated to my last comment if unless anybody else does. >> So you mentioned that there were two consulting firms DCO Energy Amy is that did I hear that right? DCO Energy Energy >> DCO and was it Evocate for the what was the second one? >> Evocate
072>> advocate. Ed Vocate. >> Edvocate. >> Okay. Is it E D V O C A? >> E D V O C A. >> E V V V O C A T E. >> V O C A T E. >> Okay. And I have to clarify after. Yes. Um, so just a question on how did you choose those consulting firms and how much did it cost for the DCO energy consultant and when do you decide to go out to bid versus not on these types of things? >> Uh, we merely met with the consultant just as an information sharing. We have not engaged them or paid them anything. It was really just to get some information on the concept of the community solar. So that's not something that they're not a firm that we've engaged. >>
073Okay. So when you're going to engage somebody and have to pay them, when do you have to go out to bid for something like this energy consultant? They're not charging you. I'm guessing we would have to see what the scope of work would be, how much it would cost. I mean, we're not we're not at that point yet, >> I guess. But my question is, if you're going to pay a consultant to do a service, do you have to go out to bid to get that consultant? How are you choosing? It depends upon the level of work. if it's a small amount of work and the cost is not a large cost and we don't have to go out to bid or we can just get proposals or um if it's over the bid threshold
074we go out to bid which is now 54,000 um but for professional services you don't have to bid the board can do a request for proposal and make a selection you know based on evaluating those it depends upon the type of service I mean it's not it's not like onesizefits-all answer. The law is different for different types of procurement. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anybody else make a public comment agenda items only? >> Hi. Uh Rebecca, Middletown, New Jersey. Um my question is about the NJLA scores. Um is there a way to see that on a bell curve so that we can see more practically how we relate to other schools. >> We have a series of graphics. We can post question. >> Yeah, I would love that. Okay. Um, thank you. And then for
075I want to just quickly talk about the public comment comments. Um, I have not really attended many board of ed meetings. I'm relatively new to this and I have to say it's been very disappointing. I left feeling very sad like this is what's happening. Um especially after the last meeting. I think that we need to take a step back and realize that parents being involved in the schools is the number one key success for our school districts. We all want to be involved. That's all we want. We just want to make sure that our children are set up for success. I have four. So you're just now seeing the beginning of me. like I'm here for a while. So, I'm just imploring you to please um take a moment, understand that mistakes have been made
076and it's fine. We're all human. We all make mistakes. But if we can stop and adjust right now and set a new course where we're transparent, where we answer questions, where, you know, it's we're not it's not cut pro, it's collaborative. I think that's all we really want. At least I can that's what I want. Thank you. [applause] This is Scott McFersonson [snorts] from Middletown. Going back to the edocade, it's E D V O C A T E. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, how many administrators do we have in the district? Why can't this be done by administration as opposed to outsourcing it? It seems like we love to outsource things in this district that cost money and we're in a situation where we're trying to save money. So, it seems like maybe this task
077could be given to an administrator who then could make a recommendation to administration andor the board. That way, eliminating the need for advocate to come in and make a recommendation. Thank you. ANYONE [applause] else miss wish to make a public comment? >> Eric Dow, Middletown, New Jersey. Just a follow up on uh the audit firm uh because a little extra detail might be helpful to the board. Um the advisory director at HFA is the treasurer for the packing question. uh that pack in question started accepting contributions shortly after it appears plan A was finalized with insurance shared services um something leaked out of shared services. All the contributors to that pack are in the business that you would expect for construction consultants, lawyers, businesses that would profit from uh redevelopment, reconstruction of schools. Um, and
078now that pack, that treasurer with the pack being the advisory director, a HFA where we're about to pay them $27,000 for supposedly independent audit services is donating to candidates in this BOE race. To say that calls the entire audit firm into question is an understatement. To say that we should pay any of their remaining bills, the answer is a clear no. and to question whether they should be our auditor for one more day. Uh the answer is pretty clear. This is an overt conflict of interest the entire township should be aware of. [applause] ANYBODY [applause] else wish to make a public comment? We have one more left. Okay, we're going to move on now to proclamation. We have National Custodial Workers Recognition Day. Whereas be resolved, the Middletown Township Board of Education do hereby proclaim
079October 2nd as National Custodial Workers Day in Middletown Township Public Schools. Another proclamation, National Principal Month. Be it resolved that Middletown Township Board of Education hereby recognize October as National Principal Month, and urge all Middletown students, parents, and teachers, and school district leaders to join them expressing the appreciation for their outstanding work of the elementary, middle, and high school principles throughout the district. We now have a report from Dr. Alone coming up. >> Thank you. Um highlights for the last month. Um today and yesterday we had our first superintendent council meetings. Um they were held this this week and they were extremely successful. We had parents, student teachers, administrators and board of education members involved in the discussion. Um at the elementary meeting the following topics were discussed. We discussed HVAC systems in the district.
080Securing substitute teachers regularly, parent teacher conference structure at the elementary level, the I Ready platform, um our current homework policy and building buildings and grounds concerns. At our secondary meeting which was held today, the following topics were discussed. The budget process and prioritization within the budget. uh potential future infrastructure upgrades, district reszoning and where we are in the process of the study, eighth grade opportunities to visit the high school and become acclimated um to the new environment, possible joint student council andor peer mentoring opportunities with high school and middle school students, and the high school and middle school schedule structure. Um talking points for each of these council meetings will be posted on the district website for the public to access in the next couple of days. Um, congratulations to our high school South boys
081soccer team on earning a hard-fought short conference championship this past weekend. Um, as our student speaker mentioned, the game went through regulation, two overtimes, and penalty kicks. And anyone who has watched competitive soccer knows that that's a pretty nail-biting experience. Um, having been a player in the short conference myself, not soccer, but um, and a coach in an SCT final. Um, and a soccer mom, I know how monumental this victory is, especially um, given that it is the first one in South school history. Um, the short conference is by far one of the most competitive conferences in the state and most importantly, this is a memory that our student athletes, our families, and our coaches will cherish forever. Um, so congratulations to those athletes and all of the fall athletes who have had varying degrees
082of success on the athletic competition field this fall. Um, I want to just provide the community a reminder about the NJSLA and NJGPA field testing that's coming up next week on November 3rd and 5th. These field tests will help prepare for the formal new adaptive test administration that will take place in the spring. Um, also a reminder on the calendar that students are not in session on Tuesday due to election day. Our buildings are polling places. Our staff will be in um and be having some professional development on this day. The district is also closed next Thursday and Friday for teachers convention. Um several of our elementary schools participate in a great program with the American Heart Association called Jump Rope for Heart Challenge. And I'm proud to announce that out of the 954 schools
083in the state of New Jersey that participate, River Plaza um placed 24th in the state and fourth in Mammoth County. And school principal Amanda Mner was also recognized by the American Heart Heart Association as the Heart of Gold principal for Mammoth County for her leadership efforts in creating a program that engaged students and families to prioritize their heart and brain health. and also proud to announce that Nutswamp Elementary School under the leadership of Mrs. Carrie Albanesey's were fifth in Mammoth County and achieved their best year in the history of the program. So congratulations to those school communities for their philanthropic efforts. [applause] Another really important recognition that we found out about today is that several of our schools were named US News and World Report best in elementary and middle schools. These schools were in
084the top 40% of all ranked schools in New Jersey. The rankings are composed of the following factors: math and reading proficiency and math and reading performance. And you can read about those metrics and and how they configure the rankings on US News and World Reports website. Congratulations to the following school communities for receiving this outstanding achievement. Linkraftoft Elementary School, Navasank Elementary School, River Plaza Elementary School, Nutswamp Elementary School, Fairview Elementary School, Ocean Avenue Elementary School, Middletown Village Elementary School, and uh Thompson Middle School was also recognized as one of the best in middle schools in the state. So, congratulations to those schools on that outstanding achievement. [applause] And finally, um, I mentioned it earlier, we're still awaiting the results of our building utilization and boundary analysis. I check in weekly with Mr. Haver just to
085see where we are in the process, but given the size and scope of the work that we've asked him to undertake and the regoding of all the residencies and um, where students exist currently, um, certainly this is is quite the heavy lift. He is hopeful that we will have that report back in a couple of weeks. Then it will be reviewed with the board and the administrative team and a presentation by Mr. Haber and his associates will be made to the school community. So we'll be announcing those dates as soon as we get them. Um this will also kickstart back into action our strategic planning. Um and our next phase of that will be working in subcommittees. So once we have that report back, I'll be reaching out to the members of that strategic planning
086committee to um assign their subgroup so that way we can get underway with using all of that information to craft our strategic plan. So those are next steps. So thank you. >> Thank you Dr. Alone. >> Okay, I need a motion to approve 10 A and B. So >> second >> discussion. All in favor? I >> oppose. Absent. Stadium on A and B. >> Need a motion to approve business office consent agenda 11A through I. >> Second >> discussion. Have a quick question. Um Amy, I have a question on the uh transfers. I saw that there was um 148,500 transferred to the fine and performing arts budget. Um can you just confirm if that was uh those were the funds that were reallocated from the administrative salaries that was was supposed to be 4% in
087the budget we [laughter] approved 3% was that money come did that come from that difference >> the money I don't I don't have the transfer in front of me I don't think that we transfer it out of salaries but there were there was other >> it was out of the I think it was like a child study team budget >> again I' I'd have to look at it you But it the transfer is there all of the ins and outs. So whatever is listed there is the corresponding entry then that's where the money came from. So how study team size were on there then that's where it came from. I know there's several things listed. >> Yeah. No, I [snorts] saw it had it broken out to what what each bubble got and everything. >>
088Yeah. I mean that transfer obviously is self balancing. So wherever that whatever the flip side of entry is, that's where the money came from. >> Thank you. Okay. Motion to approve. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose absentions. >> I'm voting no on item number on the bill list. >> I thought that was said through I >> through. >> Didn't you say through? >> Eight through I. Yes. >> So on voting no on ID number 7811. >> PO number >> on the bills list >> on the bills. >> Okay. PO number 26 00390. >> Yep. >> I'm voting no on that one also. >> I am as well. >> I am also >> So we have Mrs. Camdi, Mr. Saraski, Mrs. Okay. >> Good. >> Okay. Motion to approve 12. Recommendation of
089superintendent of schools consent agenda 12 A through K and 14 through 18, not 13. >> So 8 through 10 >> and 14 through 18. Second >> discussion. >> All in favor? >> I >> oppose. >> I am voting on um harassment intimidation letter A. No on the yeses and yes on the no. >> And Amy um >> let me let me just write that down first. Amy, there's only one this month we're voting on. So, >> it's a no. >> Okay. Mrs. Tiny >> on 12A. I am abstained. >> Good. Got both done. Good. Okay. In a motion to approve 12 K13. >> So second >> roll call. Amy >> Mrs. Camin special. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Minions. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scalasi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sarasi. >> Yes.
090>> Mr. Tul. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ray. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco. >> Mr. Kapone. >> Yes. And congratulations, Mr. Dory. BEFORE [applause] I move to old business, Julian's or Jillian or Rashi, do you have anything to say or you good? All right, moving to old business. Anybody have any old business to discuss? >> I have old business. I'd like to bring up to our board again that I'd like to go back two things. I have two proposals. I want to make a motion for one is I'd like us to go back to having committee of the whole meetings. >> I also the second motion I would like us to have a workshop meeting. >> Let's just if you have one motion if you're making that motion. Yeah, we have to do that motion first
091>> and then we >> Okay, I'll put it together. I'd like to go back to a committee of um a workshop meeting and at the workshop meeting we could have our committee of the whole meeting. That's my motion. >> Second. >> So two separate days today, right? >> No. >> Oh yes, it is two second days. It's two separate days. It's a committee. It's a workshop meeting on one day with the committee of the whole at the workshop and then you come back a week later and you have your regular voting meeting. So you know what you're voting on. >> So what's your motion is that you'd like to make a motion to have workshop meetings monthly and to go to committee of the whole >> for that motion. I do have a question. When
092you say go to committee of the whole, do you mean that for all committees? >> All committees. >> All right. So then we should really do that in two separate motions. >> So there should be one motion to make all committees committee of the whole >> and then the second motion once that's dealt with the second motion would be a motion to have workshop meetings which >> so a workshop meeting would be a duly notice as would committee of the holes. They're duly notice public meeting. >> But didn't I? That's what I said but you want to do it. I I said that the first time, but I gave the two motions at the same time. >> There's a difference though between a workshop meeting and committee of the the whole. I just want to
093make sure that so the board secretary can record it. You want all the committees to be converted to committee of the whole and you want a workshop meeting. >> Okay, let's start this way. >> Can we I have a motion that we go to having a workshop meeting. >> Second. So, just so everybody's aware before we vote on this, it's going to be approximately10 to $20,000 more to have this brief. >> You know what? I think we should not go out and do the guide for $10,000 to evaluate >> that evaluation the the contract >> that will get put off$10,000. >> I'm just telling you this is right. >> Yes, I understand. I but we need some >> I don't think you should put a dollar sign on transparency and public information. I think we
094have to go back to doing this the right way. >> I'm going to ask you I'm just I just made a statement. My only statement was you're you're waiting. You're attorney now workshop meetings. We always have them. They informative to us that we can learn. >> I'm not saying yes or no. I'm just telling you,000. Wait, one more meeting. Why is it $10,000 10 to $20,000 to have one meeting? >> Cuz you have approximately >> share your conversation. >> You have approximately 12 meetings times $200 an hour times four hours in the meeting. 5 hours. That's about 10,000. >> He's talking about a lawyer. >> Correct. >> At a at a workshop meeting, do you have to have a lawyer at >> It's a public. >> We're not voting. We're not voting. We're not having
095We're not talking with the public. We're having a workshop meeting. >> No, a workshop meeting would require public comment. >> Correct. >> It would require public comment public comment. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Well, I think it's money well spent. [applause] >> It was already seconded. I second >> discussion. So >> does this mean that there' be no committee meetings at all? Everything would be at this one. >> No, this motion is just for the workshop >> right now. >> Right. There's there's two different motions. This particular one is just for the workshop. like the schedule will now include two public monthly meetings. Correct. >> Gotcha. >> Where there's no action at the work >> Amy Ro. >> Can I just ask a a clarifying question, please? Um, and this is to uh our attorney.
096I thought you said that we would have to vote on being a community uh a committee of the whole first, not just for a workshop. >> No, they're two completely separate things. No, I understand that. >> No, but you can vote whatever order you want to go in is fine. So, >> okay, >> for instance, if the workshop meeting passes and the committee of the whole fails, then you would still work on the subcommittee structure, but you would have a workshop meeting to discuss everything that was discussed in the subcommittee structure. The other way around, if the workshop motion fails and then the committee of the whole, >> then we're doing it all. >> Yep. And then you're going to have every single committee meeting is going to be a duly advertised. >> Yeah, we
097operated like that in the past when I first got on the board. So I I part of it, but I I just wanted to make sure about the order. >> So this we're voting on the workshop >> establishing a a monthly workshop meeting. >> Mrs. Camiti. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Yes. Mrs. Minuanese. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scholasi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Saparasi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tulp. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wright. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco. >> Yes. >> Mr. Capone. >> Yes. Now I'd like to [applause] Now I'd like to make my second motion that we go to a committee of the whole >> second discussion. >> I have a question. Does that mean we're at this >> Mrs. Tobacco? Can I'm sorry. Can you just speak in >> a workshop meeting
098that is not the committee of the whole meeting? >> That would be one meeting. >> So it's only two meetings a month. It's no subcommittees. >> It's one additional meeting. Correct. >> Right. >> One addition. Well, we always have we always have additional meetings, but we meet separately from the committee meeting. So now you're combining workshop meeting. >> Both public meetings. Yes. the whole committee. >> These committee meetings, are they held during the day or at night? >> No, they're held at night. >> Just like this. >> So, microphones, please. >> I don't have one. >> You could share. >> So, so was is the motion just to clarify you the motion is to include all of the subcommittees that are currently formed to do although it was be a committee of the whole at
099the workshop. >> Yes. So eradicating all the committees >> all the committees are done as a whole >> the public of course we can't do personnel personnel we do as we always did in close session >> well whatever we do >> anybody else discussion >> any >> Mrs. Camiti >> yes >> Mr. Mr. Fitzgerald, >> yes. >> Mrs. Minuinise, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scolasi, >> no. >> Mr. Sapparoski, >> yes. >> Mr. Tull, >> no. >> Mrs. Wright, >> yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco, >> yes. >> Mr. Capone, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Now, moving on to >> one more thing. I just have a question. That will start in November, right? because we started we voted on it. >> I think we have to do a new whole new calendar now because we have
100to add an extra day. >> We just have to add an extra day and take away all the >> motion that we start. >> Yes, we have TO [applause] >> Let's pick a date. >> Love it. >> Next Tuesday. What are you crazy? [laughter] >> Maybe that's a good thing. I take my mom. >> Okay. The board meeting is the 25th. So, you want to do it probably the week of the 18th. >> Tuesday, November 18th. >> Did everybody go with Tuesday, November 18th? I'm not >> I'm not >> as my committee knows I'm I'm traveling that week for work. So, but you guys could be without me if you need to. >> So, there's four people that are >> out. >> So, the 10's going to be a little hard only because I think
101the finance bills have to come in about that second to third week, right? >> I mean, we're right. We wouldn't have all of the financial reports done. >> When are your financial reports done? >> I think it's after like the 15th usually. >> Yeah. I mean, we usually finalize them the week before the board meeting. >> It doesn't have to be a Tuesday. >> So, the Tuesday, >> it could be a Wednesday. It could be a Monday. >> It needs to be a few days before the voting meeting. Could be Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. The 17th, 18th, or 19th. Gary, you're out the whole week for Idaho for work. Dad, you're up the whole week, too. >> Yeah, I'm in Georgia the whole week. >> So, that week's not going to work for anybody. >>
102Then we have to move it up to the week before. >> You guys could do a doodle. >> We need to have >> being that we're just starting this for this meeting. Can we have them come in via Zoom? >> Can we have the board members join us via Zoom? >> If they're on work, how would the night >> at night time? >> I don't know what they're >> I don't know either. I'm just throwing something out there to make it work. We only have two meetings this month >> that says she's on work, so that's why I don't know if it's going to be feasible >> asking a question. >> Well, I've also I mean, listen, I've also and again I'll address this, you know, to our attorney. I've also been told that that
103was only um a consideration during the pandemic to be allowed to do a meeting virtually by the board. It's now back in person. So I don't think that's based on >> it is my understanding that there was this board moved to go back in person because we're all sitting here and then allowing different you would have to allow the public participation the same way in which board members >> correct which the majority of this board has been against. >> Okay. since the pandemic. I have not, but the majority of this board has been against that. >> So, I just wanted to make that clear. >> So, you want to try and start this in December? >> No, not really. >> We may not have enough board members here though. >> Bills that are ready for
104>> We need to wait till after the bills list. >> So, >> right. and the just so we usually try to have our committee meetings the week before the board meeting because that's when we have most of the information that we need that goes on the agenda. If you hold the meeting earlier in the month, it's fine, but there may be things that happen between then and the board meeting that then we would not get a chance to discuss with the committee. So, >> this is what we do. Everybody just email me and Amy the 17th on what what two days you have available and we'll figure out. But it looks like to me that we won't be having committee meetings if Cat's gone the week and Deb's gone the week and Gary's gone the
105week. >> I don't know. >> So, how are we going to even have committee meetings that month? >> Well, just just to be clear, um, last night curriculum and student services moved their meeting to November 24th for that consideration, which is just to be clear. >> So, as I just said, everybody email me and Amy and let us know what dates two days you're available in November and December, >> meaning the third week. from the 17th. >> It sounds like you will have a quorum with five. >> So, we just pick a date then. >> So, it sounds like on the 24th, right? Who's not going to be here on the 24th? >> You can't do the 25th is the board meeting. It's got to be the week. >> I'm just going to say the
106last time and we can just move off this. Just email me and Amy, tell us the two dates you have and we'll we'll figure out a date from there. >> But what month are we talking? >> November and December. >> Let's get ahead of the December curve because we just vote on >> December now and see who's out. So that's the problem is is that when we do this like the appointment, the interviews of the special ed attorney, we haven't even done that and we motioned that two months ago. things never come to fruition. So, if we're not gonna decide things, send in dates, we might not get an answer. >> Why would you announce coming dates? >> I'm just saying, but we we haven't got an answer on the special ed attorney yet. I'm
107afraid we walk away, we're not going to have a November meeting. >> We're not. >> If everybody's giving me two dates for November, we're going to rearrange the dates based upon our Tuesday that we have. Maybe that'll make that into the workshop. That's why I'm saying just send me your two dates. This way we can make it work. >> And we also can have a new >> we can do one the 24th and then the next week >> I can do the whole week of the 17th through the 21st. Amy, please take my notes in November the 17th through the 21st. Any day you not day night. Any night you want I can do. I'm available. That's for November. >> And the rest of the board please like I just asked everybody. >> Okay. Is
108there anybody that has any new business? >> Yes. >> Yeah. I I would just like to make a motion for an RFP for a new audit company. [cheering] [applause] >> Second. Well, the only thing that I'll discuss is we are actually just about completed with our audit for the uh school year that ended June 30th, 2025. So, that work is virtually done at this point. >> Virtually I wouldn't trust it. >> Waste of money. >> I would send it back. >> And that's our money that you wasted. >> I wouldn't pay that bill. Well, the other thing I also want to clarify is the audit firm doesn't do our financial reporting. We do. I mean, we issue our reports every month. We put together the financial statements. You know, they come in and auditors, they
109come in and they take a look at the supporting documentation to make sure that controls are working properly. I'm sorry, I'm trying to explain. I actually was an auditor, so I do know what it is. I am a CPA and I did audit work. Um, it it's they come in, they don't do your financial reporting. They come in and they test controls. They look at supporting documentations for transactions. I just want to make sure everybody's clear about what an audit actually is. It's not >> it's not doing the financial public comment. >> There was a motion for RFP, wasn't there? >> Amy, you done? >> Right. Well, I just want to make clear if we do an RFP, which is fine, it will be for the audit for this current year. It will be for
110the audit. We already have we've already appointed the auditor for this year. We've approved the contract. You know, we're almost done with it. So, the audit would be for the year July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026, which would the audit would take place next summer into the fall. >> Hold on. We already we already paid for 25 to 26. It's not. No, I'm saying that's what you would be putting out an RFP for because we're right now we're auditing uh they're doing the audit of 24 to 25. Correct. Right. And that's almost done. We've already appointed them. We've engaged them. >> So this motion would be taken effect in June 1st, I guess, of 2020. >> It would be when they do the audit of this current fiscal year, which won't conclude until June
11130th, 2026. >> July 1st, >> right? So the work would be done in late summer of 26, fall of 26. I just want to make everybody clear on that. >> So it's impossible to get a second audit regardless of cost. It's impossible, you're saying, to get a second audit. >> Well, I'm not saying it's impossible, but the state does require the audits to be filed by December 5th. It's now going into the beginning of November. That would be, you know, it we wouldn't even be able to appoint an auditor until the November meeting. would not meet our statutory deadline. >> It sounds like there's official records, but if there was suspicion of misappropriation of funds where we might want to hire a second auditor pick for >> Mark, do you want to withdraw your motion
112for later on because we can't do anything? >> No. >> Okay. >> And I'd also like I'd like any [applause] interviews to be done as the group. But then we also need to be clear then what what you're putting I mean like I said you know the the audit for this year is virtually completed. >> I think I I honestly think we table it and just don't pay the bill. We make a motion not pay bill. >> No let's just do >> that's the right thing to do. I don't think it hurts to get a cost estimate, which is what an RSP is for a second look at the same work that's already been contracted for. >> Correct. >> It's just a cost estimate. >> We need your chance to discuss. >> Right. >> An
113RFP usually implies that it's going to more than one bidder. >> I made the motion and the second Amy roll call. >> I just want to be clear. What exactly is the motion? I'm going to say it's for July 1st, 2026 because unless we're going to disrupt everything after 2425 and pay more money out >> disrupt it. I mean I'm concerned I'm concerned about this audit and whether or not it's >> partially I'm concerned whether or not there is going to be a thumb on the scale with this audit. >> Yeah, >> I have that concern. [applause] Based on >> based on what was brought up, >> Mark based on >> Oh, based on the public comment and the information that's been >> been brought to light. >> What would you mean by thumb on
114the scale? >> I I don't know. I don't if there if our auditor is making contributions to political candidates running in our district, that's concerning to me >> and it should be concerning to everybody. It should there should be independence with the people handling our finances and auditing our finances and the people that are approving them. >> Amy, I have a question. Um, uh, process question. So, you just mentioned that the audit is due by December 5th. What happens if we don't have an audit ready by December 5th? >> Well, then the NJ DOE would, you know, take I don't know exactly what action they would take. I'm just saying that is a that is the statutory deadline. >> I mean it could impact whatever the state gives you. I mean I don't think they're
115going to I I don't know. I'd have to get back to them what the >> how long how many years has this auditor been doing our business for >> they've been they've been our auditor for several years. >> I don't remember exactly how long. you like them, you don't like them or >> you know they they've always you know they've always worked fine with us. I mean they contributions from the insurance people but okay >> Mark what would you like to do >> I made my motion and it was >> what's your motion detail stopping now? I would like an RFP for a new audit company for next year. >> Next year. >> For next year 20 for next year 25 26 years starting in June July 1st 2026. >> We're going to keep this
116roll. >> Mrs. Camiti. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Minuise. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scolasi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Sberass, >> yes. >> Mr. Tul, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wright, >> yes. Mrs. Tobacco, >> yes. >> Mr. Capone, >> yes. >> Is there any other new businesses? >> Yes, I do have I do have some. >> Okay. Um, this past week we were at New Jersey school boards and um, while I was there I took a lot of different classes, a lot on ethics, a lot on strategic planning and out of every class that I took and I have have a list of them. It comes out to transparency, public input, including our parents and decision makings. If we ever want to really address the issues of our school district, it's
117going to take a referendum or it's going to take trust and um each one emphasized on how important it is to get the trust of the community. And I think that we have been lacking in that. There were a lot of good suggestions of maybe a lot of people that maybe we need to have school boards come in and start working with us as a board because it starts with us and then it goes to the community. Um the classes were good. I was really impressed with them but um each one just kept coming back to transparency and trust which is something that um we really need to work on. We have such a great district and listening to people at these classes of what goes on in their district. We top them top them
118over the top of them with so many better things. And I hate to see that loss because the only people that lose when this is going on are our kids. So I really would like to see us take a step to start working on this and building trust because no matter what comes down the line, people are going to say, "Oh, you think you want to run for them?" Let me tell you, it's going to take a referendum to fix what's going on in this district, and we're not going to get a dime if we can't regain the trust. So, I think that that's a step we have to work on, and that's why I took on these classes. I also took on one that was really close and I've been talking about this for
119a long time about the trades. It was an exceptional class on how we get our kids into union trade and they really do provide the training and I have information here. There's a class trip that you could take our kids on and they even suggest starting at middle school. Middle school's not as engaged as the high school, but it's a taste of what kids could want to learn and maybe possibly go into. There is a um there's a class trip on May 26th that we get, you know, people to go. They emphasize on how our kids come out with no college bills. It's like almost like a free free education. They come out with a job. The training, it's amazing. And all the people that spoke about it and it was all different traits. It
120just wasn't one. It's an option. So, I really hope that we can really step on this and get this moving because we've been talking about it for years and years and I know we have issues and money, whatever, but this is something that's so important to so many kids in our district that I just hope we step on it. So, I want to make sure I give this to you and um pass it on. Also, um there's been a lot of um different school community events going on that that I enjoy going to. I've been to a few fall fest last night. I went to New Mama's haunted hallway. Oh my god, those elementary kids. What a job. They scared first day I walked through the door. They scared me and I don't like that.
121I kind of jumped. I didn't expect these little kids popping out. Um I also heard Harmony had a good one. I didn't know that that was taking place. I would have loved to gone to see that. But um all these great activities that our parent groups are doing that really help out in our schools and and bring our community together. Um I just want to Oh, I also attended Haunted Woods. Exceptional job this year. Exceptional. It was really good. The line was like it was 10 years ago all the way down the driveway to get in. So I'm sure they they made well on that. the kids. Um, I just want to remind everybody the North Play is coming up like you said earlier, the 21st and the 22nd. Ocean Avenue is having a gift
122auction on the 21st. If anybody's interested, you can contact [email protected]. They always have a great gathering. And if any other schools want to send me their information, I love to go to gift auctions. We have a whole group of us that travel around. So, let us know your information. Um, also the North South game Friday night here for the um, state playoffs. It's going to be a packed house, I'm sure, even though it's Halloween. I just hope everybody can uh, come out and enjoy it. Watch our teams twice this year, Thanksgiving and Friday. >> That's all I have. >> Great. Does anybody else have >> Yeah. So, um, High School South is actually hosting on Tuesday, November 11th, um, exploring skills career clubs instead of going down the college route. So, you can attend that
123on Tuesday, November 11th at 7 p.m. at South Media Center. >> Thank you. Anyone else for new business? >> Yeah, one quick thing, Frank. I don't want to prolong anything, but I think it saves us it'll save us some time. Earlier on the topic of the public comment thing, I think there was a lot of talking past each other and I don't think there's a lot in dispute. And I think if it's at all possible, I would be in favor of like in other words, if we're trying to accomplish something that is already policy, there's no need to send it to policy. And I'd be in favor of if if it would help to clarify on the form of the agenda that public comment >> to the extent that any question is raised that a
124board member administrator is able to answer on the spot, we will endeavor to do so. And to the extent we can't, it'll be investigated and responded to as soon as practicable, which which is the policy. >> So So that's all I'm saying. If that I think is resolves the dispute and if it's a matter of if what Joan wanted was to clarify that on the form of the agenda, I don't have any problem with that. And I I just think if it were to be sent to policy that wouldn't we could talk and pass each other. >> I think I think the issue was it was the understanding of it that that's acceptable, right? I I think that's what you know we we turned away somebody that came up to the uh the speaker last
125time that spoke twice about the same or different you know things. And I think it's the overall understanding of what the actual policy is, right? >> And not only that, it's the facts. All everybody that's getting up and asking the question is, they want facts. We have facts. We passed the budget. We didn't increase. People have curiosity. There are people around the community spreading misinformation. It would only benefit us to give the right information so that we stop this stuff going around. That's all. And and it really does when when the misinformation goes out, it affects our administration because they look like they don't know what they're doing with all this misinformation. And if they can sit here and clarify it, it not only clears them, but it it gives the public the correct information
126to go back with. And we're video, so that correct information is on a video, so anybody who else needs to do it could go back and watch it. It's just the silence is is annoying. We can't [laughter] give people we can't give people the right answers when we know we have them. That's all I just passionate about that. Let's just stop. We have so many good things and we're blowing it by not answering people. >> Okay. I'm now going to open the microphone up to public comment. You like doing public comment? Please step forward. State your name and address for the record. Hi, Katherine, Middletown, New Jersey. This is an easy one, but I just wanted to offer some advice as you're struggling to schedule a meeting that everybody can attend. Number one, I would
127recommend that each of you provides more than two dates only, which would maximize the opportunity for overlap. Number two, there are tools that you can use to do so quite easily without all having to email Mr. Capone. You can look at a Google survey or a tool called Doodle. They're free to the public. That's all. [applause] [cough and clears throat] >> Hi, Kristen Rooney, Middletown, New Jersey. I kind of just have to go back to the word trust. Um, we basically found out that your auditor, who you're about to pay $27,000 to, who audited your books for the year 2425, which we know was a bit of an epic year as far as the budget went, has a financial interest in the election, this election for this board. And a lot of you just kind
128of shrugged and you're like, well, it's done. We do the financials ourselves. I'm sure it's fine. It's done. I know what an auditor is for. An auditor is to check your financials. So, you're saying we should just be like, "Okay, we trust that it's right." I mean, I'm sure I know you know how to write a budget, and I would hope that it's not incorrect, but the auditor is a double check on what you're doing. And what was done here last year, we had no trust in, and we had very good reason for it. So, I'm very, very glad that you made a motion to get a new auditor for next year, but the audit of this past year is a problem. >> And to have nine of you shrug and be like, I don't
129know. Let's just pay for it. Let's just pay $27,000 for something. >> Okay, I appreciate it. Not nine shrubs, but for the administration and some of you to be like, "Oh, I guess we'll just pay for it. It's done. That's very sad. I would ask for you to try harder and be better. [applause] >> On that point, I'd like to emphasize that a RFP is a request for proposal. So getting a request for proposal to redo work that has already been done contracted. >> I'm sorry. Can you please state your name? >> Jacqueline at Middletown, New Jersey. It is a cost estimate so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not that cost is worth having the work done a second time. I think that that's valuable information for the community to
130consider and the board to decide on with the information. At the moment, $27,000 for all we know could be extremely inflated and could be partially inflated because of the collaboration it has with current or future expected board members. We don't know because the public hasn't seen multiple RFPs. So to say the work is done, there's a deadline doesn't mean we're deciding to do the work again. It doesn't mean we're deciding to pay again. It means we're having the information on how much it would cost. So for again for the board to say we can't do that because the work's already been done, I don't think is a good answer. Especially if we do think that there's a chance that we might want to look again at the numbers depending on what that audit comes back
131with. I think it would be super helpful to have some backup estimates on what it might cost to do the work a second time >> for five years. [applause] Eric Dow, Middletown resident. I'm not going to talk about the audit anymore. Uh we're going to talk about the fun topic of bank cap. Um and why it's important for everybody in the town to understand just a little bit about it. Even though it involves math, it works. It'll it allows boards to have some flexibility uh around the 2% tax cap. If you in year one raise taxes 1%, you bank 1% uh for future years, but you must use that 1% within three years, otherwise it expires. Um it's been explained to me that a board should always use bank cap before it expires. that the
132failure to do so was described to me as budget malpractice because it is a failure that continues to compound and compound and compound into eternity. And we're about to see why. Uh because as it turns out, this board at some point between 2011 and 2023 failed to utilize all its banked cap and let some expire. And I'm reading from a presentation that was made to the facilities and finance committee on February 21st, 2023 entitled budget update number two. And uh this was I assume was prepared by the administration. I assume there's a lot of math behind it which I appreciated. It says that the cumulative effect of the failure to use that thing cap including compounded amounted to $63 million in lost revenue for this district. And by contrast, some folks up here were screaming
133financial calamity over a budget gap on our preliminary budget that was one6th of that amount. Um why is it important to focus on something that's done that's in the past? A few reasons. One, because some people uh on this stage, some people out in the community continue to myopically focus on Trenton ruining our budget. Yes, we fully admit that the funding formula is a problem for districts like this, but again, the number $63 million. Two, transparency. I'm reading from an internal version of the budget presentation from February 2023. There was a whole slide on bank cap that had that $63 million number. And then I also have with me the final version of that budget presentation that was presented to the public in April. That slide was removed. that information was not presented to the
134public and I'm sure we all can understand why it was embarrassing. So when we talk about transparency, it's important that everyone understands this concept. It's important that this never happens again. And the final point, um, unless somebody has a very fancy calculator, I assume they would need to go back and check, but that $63 million number continues to grow. It continues to compound. So the mistake of not using that bank cap, I don't know if it's in the 70s or the 80s because we know how compounding works. It's a it's a hockey chart. So for the finance folks, I would ask that we follow up so the entire community understands what that mistake costs and continues to cost as we go forward. And again, it can never happen again. And certainly when we are talking
135about our financial issues, it's not one thing and it's not just trending. It is severe mistakes that were made in the past. [applause] >> Margaret Rizzo, Middletown. Um, I just want to um explain what I read about the audit business and perhaps the uh lawyer can um confirm what I'm going to say. It was someone put out the information of how how much um money was donated to the political candidates and it was published and if you give over a certain amount of money and I'm not sure how much it has to be people have to see what it is. So um even though seems unethical it is legal. It is legal. Not that I'm defending it. and um a mayor has donated money to political candidates. Um someone um on the board, a family
136member has donated, other businesses have donated. And again, although it is legal, the question is, is it ethical? Thank you. [applause] Dan Lazan Middletown. I have another question that was a hotly contested topic over the last few months of some scoreboards and the advertising that was supposed to offset the costs. I believe it was announced last month that there was a contract awarded for $10,000 for five years for the scoreboards. Is that the only advertisement that's going on the scoreboards? >> No. >> Is there more space than that? >> It's digital. >> Digital advertisements >> for the board on the back. >> Yeah. So, there are some static ones that will be there, but most of the ones that we're anticipating using are digital, so they can be filtered through throughout the games and throughout
137events. >> Okay. >> Pretty much unlimited space. >> Okay. Well, that's good. Yeah. My concern was if you look at a $10,000 a year payoff on a million and a half, that's 150 years. >> So, >> yeah, >> it's not going to offset any cost if we stick to 10 grand. >> Thank you, [applause] >> Ashley Stud. I'm a resident of Middletown. Um, we are looking for your leadership here for the financial mess we're in to get us out of this. The trouble with the things that Save Middletown schools is finding is that they keep finding stuff. You're not being transparent about your connections to people that we are in contracting with. Your job is to abstain from votes if you are connected with them. And my understanding is you're not. And that is a
138problem. We have to be cleaner. You have to be transparent. If you have a relationship with someone, if you got a donation from someone, if you're working with a pack that got a donation from someone, you need to be transparent and say, "Hey, I got a connection to this guy. He gave me $10,000 for my campaign. I'm going to abstain from this vote. We would respect you so much if you did that." It is frustrating that we are like putting on our detective glasses to like find this stuff after the fact. It's almost good that came to a head that like these people are so involved now, but it's also so disturbing. I'm asking you be more transparent. Do the right thing. Show up to these meetings with things you want to do. Joan, that
139was fantastic. Trades is a great thing. AI is scary and trades is one of those things that's going to be good for our kids, for our future. Thank you for like legit looking out for us. Mark RP thing, thank you. You guys, people are doing good work. I appreciate it. Some of us need to work a little bit harder. Please do [applause] >> Rebecca Lara Middletown. Um, so after the last meeting, I did go and I did do research on signs on uh at schools for football stadiums and 10K was actually on the upper end of the amount. So, you're welcome. I I did it. Um, I can send you the links if you want to see what our comparables are. Um, going off that, I would expect um from a financial standpoint that when
140contracts are being entered or agreements are being made that there are comps done. Um it's pretty easy to access Google and to find other um schools that are doing something. Um additionally talking about being creative, it's so easy to call other districts. I work in an industry where I often have to call my competitors and ask them what are you doing with this? Um how can can you help me? Can you tell me what methodology you're using? And then maybe I can apply that to what I'm doing. um you know it's not it it's schools it's education we should be able to talk to other schools um okay so that's all that the last thing this is something new it's unrelated to everything we've been talking about um as we're coming up on the holiday
141season I every year this happens where I hear whispers about kids not being able to afford lunch um it breaks my heart a couple years ago I called my elementary school and I asked could I donate money? Could I just go give a couple hundred dollars and if a kid doesn't have lunch, you can um use this money. And they told me no that I had to go through all these different phone numbers. I called all these different people. I honestly don't know where I ended up. But I never got a call back. I left some voicemails, never got anything back. So I told I would send my daughter with some money like if you see anything, you know, just like give the kids some money. Um which isn't the best way to do it,
142right? like it should be in a way that they feel protected and their privacy is maintained. Um so I would like to establish some sort of um lunch donation policy on a district level where the parents or the community can donate if they want to and then lunch accounts can be topped up through the app. Um if that's something that's possible I would gladly participate in that. I believe it may be something that's acceptable. So, we'll look into that. It's a great idea. >> And we we ensure that students that don't have lunch are provided lunch. >> Is it the same lunch though? Because I'm >> Yes. >> It's the same. >> Okay. So, maybe that was something else. Okay. >> And families that can't afford lunch can apply for a program where they get
143free lunch. >> Yeah. >> I understand. But it just in case, you know, I don't know if you know that, but they can apply. But I think it's a great idea. >> Yeah. Just because, you know, with the limits, some people are right at the cost of not getting some people don't feel comfortable doing it. >> I'm sorry. The only thing I would add to that is we have had other people approach us with the same idea. The issue becomes if someone gives a donation for lunch or for lunches the list we have a a very long list of children who have outstanding lunch balances and how to divide that money up becomes an issue. I mean how how would you I mean you know I haven't I haven't looked at it in the last
144month or so but it's a very large number of outstanding lunch balances. So it, you know, trying to if someone says, "Well, here's $500." Well, who who do we give that to? There's many, many, >> many, >> what do we do with the outstanding balance at the end of the year? Let's say they can't. >> Well, you know, that that's a a great point. You know, the state has changed its rules that we really we have very limited ways to be able to, you know, we can send reminders to collect, but, you know, we we don't have a lot of leverage to collect these outstanding balances. And it's a problem all across the state. I mean, there's districts that have hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding homes debt. And I understand what you're saying
145is coming from a good place, but then administratively, if somebody hands us an amount of money, how how do we choose how how do we allocate which students lunch balances are going to be paid off? There's there's a lot of them. >> Well, if we're going to write them off anyway, I wouldn't I mean, just put it together. >> What do you pick? I mean there there's crowd, you know, there's there's hundreds of kids on we're getting money in, right? We're getting money in normally have money in. So wouldn't it make sense to have that money that comes in rather than not? >> Can I just I just want to bring up one idea. Um I know AI is scary, but in situations like this, AI is wonderful because you can just assign a number
146to every student. >> It's randomized. You can just assign the number and then tell AI I have this amount of money pick like fill like use this amount to pay off a certain number and it'll just go through and say 1 7 10 11 and it's random. >> So you're basically suggesting a lottery system >> but it's not lottery it's just random. >> Well that's well random. I'm just suggesting helping versus >> not understand. >> Wait a minute. Can I ask you something? Can I ask a question? Why not get the donation? Cuz you don't know what kind of donations you're talking about. Let's just say we get 5,000 in donations and you have 35,000 worth of bills. >> It's a lot more than 30. >> I know. I understand. But I'm just throwing out
147some numbers. Why wouldn't you just take it? We let's use 10,000 students and 2,000 of them have bills. Just do a percentage. The money you have, a percentage goes to each student. So, it just brings them down. That's it. If somebody has 500, somebody has a 100, it's a >> we would have to go in and manually adjust hundreds of student accounts for a fall of this fund. >> But it's something I understand it's a job, but it's do we not take the money? Somebody wants to give you money. Maybe going to give you a $10,000. >> I'm not saying I'm against donations. I'm just I'm just bringing the reality of how how is that administered >> and I don't know and I would have and I would have to see. I don't know. >>
148Why don't you email me? We can brainstorm something. >> Right. I mean I don't say we need to discuss it more parents account and start making >> email me. We'll brainstorm how we can make it work. >> Chatter Middletown. What we just witnessed is a prime example of the dysfunction. You're saying that basically you have a massive unpaid bill in lunch debt from students and the state has limited your availability to collect on that debt at the end of the year. What happens to that debt currently? it it stays in place and then eventually when the students graduate, you know, to write it at all. Yeah. >> Right. And so you have someone making a recommendation that the community come together to offset that debt and your problem in accepting it is whose imaginary debt
149to relieve, right? I mean, you you were basically saying >> that's not a fair statement because when you're talking about donations and people giving, it was a very specific gift and a reason why. It was to feed underprivileged kids or to feed kids that didn't have any money on the list of pe the students that have outstanding debt. That's not achieving that goal. That's just paying the balances on some people who just didn't pay. >> So, there's two very there's two very different things. Both of them are good, but the initial thing was to make sure that kids that don't have any money can eat. That is what the issue was, which which I think everybody up here can agree with. The other issue has becoming if we get that money, that's not achieving the
150goal of the donor, which is to make sure that the kids that don't have any money eat. It's just paying the balances of some people who just didn't pay. And if that's what she wants to do, that's great and we can work all those things out. But that wasn't the altruistic purpose when she got up and said >> that was a very good distinction. Why did we then have a follow-up conversation for several minutes about how we would divide that donation amongst children? >> I I I can't answer that question. >> Right. So I think my point in coming up here is to point out the dysfunction in the budget conversations that are happening with the people at this table. Period. You also had somebody follow up on her point to say that all of
151the kids that can't afford lunch already get lunch. That is an administrative failure if that is in fact not true. If the kids that are cuspy are going without lunch because they don't meet some threshold. And >> so then you're saying there's not in fact any tangible problem that her altruistic intention could impact because we don't have a problem. >> We have lots of kids with lunchers that they let charge up an account. There's a distinction between kids that are on free and reduced lunch and kids that aren't and just aren't paying their bill and we're are racking up or going by a hundred cookies at lunch. I mean, you know, let's say there's lots of accumulated bills. >> Let's say a child doesn't pay, right? They just go through the line. They they just
152tally that number and then it goes onto a bill and she's saying that that bill just >> So they agreed two two very separate issues on issue number one. All kids are getting lunch. >> Whether they're on the unpaid list or the free lunch list, all kids are getting lunch. So if people in the community have an altruistic feeling that they want to fix that, there's nothing to fix is what you're telling me. Practically speaking, every kid gets lunch. That's what you're telling me. >> We are. Yeah. We're not allowed to not >> Great. >> Now, the kids might not know that. The parents might not know that. Right. >> Right. But you have people talking about putting money towards that. Right. So practically speaking, we go into more debt, which seems to be like
153an acrosstheboard issue, or you have altruistic people in the community that want to make sure hungry kids get food, and we can talk about ways in which we can take that altruistic intent and budget associated with it and figure out how to put it to good use in this district. >> No. >> Yeah. That's why I asked you to email me so that way we can talk further about how to make it work. >> Terrific. There a certain committee that doesn't >> that was not obvious the last comment a half hour is >> you can extend it a choice >> it's a half hour >> you can extend >> yes I'm not extending it this time though >> somebody can make a motion if they wanted to >> you're the last speaker go ahead >>
154John made a motion to extend so >> and there was a second you can speak I'm going to let this sort itself out first. >> Yeah, I think we need a roll call. >> You do. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> What is the motion? >> How How long are stand for? >> 20 more minutes. >> And I need to use the restroom. Sorry. [laughter] >> Is there any more speakers? >> Depends how many speakers. So the motion is to extend public comment for 20 minutes. >> Yeah. If we don't need 20 minutes, we don't need it. But give it to them. >> And Mrs. May, you're making that motion. >> Yes. >> And who is seconding? >> I second it. >> Mr. Dro. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. >> Absent. Go ahead.
155>> Great. Hi, my name is Sarah. I am also new to the school community. I grew up in middle school. >> Sarah, I'm sorry. Did you have a last name? I do. It's Swack and I am from Middletown. Grew up in Middletown, graduated from South. I now have a kindergartener and a four-year-old who's going to be entering the school district next year. So, trying to get more involved in the community. And one thing that I've noticed in coming to these meetings and just a suggestion, I work in corporate America. If someone asks me a question at the meeting, I don't have the answer. The expectation is that that question is answered in the next meeting. So I feel like there should be an opportunity on your agenda at the beginning of every meeting post the
156questions that were asked with the comments that were set in the last meeting with the resolution or where we can find the answer because chances are the people in this room if one person is asking that question all of us have that question and if someone's getting an answer in private that's not they're not answering the question to the public. The second thing is you said something about how there's two different types of students with this lunch program. There are students that are racking up debt because they don't have lunch. I would challenge you guys to look at those students accounts. Are they racking up that debt because they can't afford lunch and they haven't fulfilled these programs or they don't they don't have a parent who knows how to do that? Those students could
157be kids in need that are not forgetting their lunch triply and they just don't have [applause] Good evening. Emily Donahue, Middletown resident. I'm going to read some things, but try to make it quick. Um, my comments and questions tonight are around the expenses regarding the board of education legal expenses. Um, so Amy, just for record, I'm talking about account 1-0000-262-520. Um, I guess I do have a question. Is that where all liability insurance expenses are booked? >> You know, I would have to have what you're looking at in front of me. I mean, I I can't be expected to know. >> No, I'm not saying I should not be I'm sorry. I just want for the record to be referenced. This is the account I'm actually referencing. I do think it's liability. I just want
158to make sure the fact that the >> So, can you repeat the account? >> Sure. 111-0000-262-520. So, just since it's not in front of you, Amy, I'm not being condescending. >> That is where our problem casualty insurance. >> Okay. And so, liability. >> Well, that Yeah, that >> just want to make sure liability, which is where if somebody was to sue you and you go against the liability insurance, that's where it would go. >> Uh, if it's not workers comp, is workers comp is >> correct? I think that's account [snorts] 111-0000-291260. Okay. So over the last 10 months, we've heard from the board leadership both here and out in the public that insurance covers all legal fees for lawsuits. Can you clarify if all attorney fees are paid for by insurance? >> Our insurance has
159deductibles for different lines of coverage. >> What's our deductible? >> It depends upon the line of coverage. I don't have the schedule in front of me. Some of them are 5,000, some of them are 15,000. >> Perfect. So if it's below that, we pay that. So it's not going to insurance until we re reach the premium. I'm sorry, the deductible. >> Yes, we're responsible for deductibles. >> Perfect. And then correct me if I'm wrong though, Amy. I do have the understanding that if we use the insurance, likely we see an increase in our premium. >> If we use the insurance, the rates, you know, it could >> Yeah. Um, so I did take a look at the financials and I just want to make mention that from the 2022 to 23 school year, we did
160pay about 1.4 million on liability insurance. Um, I know that you and I talked and I thank you for I've been asking a lot of questions and you've been great with answering me you as well, Dr. Alone. Um, so I do want to make mention though the fact that from then 2022 to 2023 till now we are at about 1.9 million in liability. Um that's about a 32% increase from 2022 to 23 till now. Um I just want to make mention the fact that this is driven by the use of legal fees. Whether that be about somebody individually, whether that be about a phone call to Bruce Padulla, which there's a lot of um and continues our like our prices are going to continue to rise. We're going to see more of this. We are
161in a position where we really do not have time or money for reckless spending of legal expenses. So, I'm going to encourage our board to start looking at those expenses more thoroughly. Um, because 32% increase on something that we do have control of because we are in control of our legal expenses. Um, should be top of mind for all of you. So, I just encourage you all to continue to look at that. This is the taxpayer money. Um, and it's not all going to the liability insurance. There's actually another account. We'll save that for another day. Um, but if there's additional fe fees as well, um, it's quite hefty. We need money now. uh you're spending our money whether that's through our insurance or through a direct bill. So please just be more considerate with
162the taxpayer money. Thank you. [applause] If I if I can just clarify, you know, since I'm involved in the renewals each year, you know, are a lot of the increase and it's not just for Middletown, it's being driven by the increase in the property insurance rates. I mean, those have I'm sure all of your homeowners insurance have increased. We're seeing the same thing here in the district. There have been large increases in that line, but a lot of it is driven by the increase in the property liability as well. It's up to the that's up to the board. >> I think the conversation No, I appreciate that and absolutely it is could be increased by that as well. I just do I know that when you do get your renewals, you get to look at
163your claims. You get to see maybe where those expenses are coming from. So, I think that's an answer that we can figure out. My only question is and really just to implore you all to continue to look at the legal expenses. I think we're spending a little bit recklessly when it comes to certain legal expenses and um yeah, Amy, no, no fault to you. It's truly not. It's just making sure the fact that there's the community can know that there has been a 32% increase when it comes to legal expenses. Thank you. [applause] Hi everyone, my name is Alice Lzanski, a Middletown resident. I just wanted to comment further on the um school lunch um arers topic. Uh a lot of neighboring districts have education funds that fund raise to support various causes. There's a
164grant application process. Um this could be an option here. Um, we have a lot of people in our community who would like to participate and give back. It's very encouraging. Um, I'm happy to get in on an email with you and you thank you for bringing it up. Um, so I just wanted to bring that everyone's attention. This is my first time speaking in front of you all. A little nervous, but um, I've been to a lot of these meetings before. Um and I echo everybody's with working together and I think establishing a fund um to support our district would be a really wonderful bridge between the board and residents of Middletown. So thank you [applause] >> Dan was on Middletown. Uh just one last addition to my last comment was I wanted to make
165sure that this was publicly noted that the advertising group that was awarded the scoreboard contract also donated $10,000 to a board of ed campaign for three individuals with a lot of close ties to other township members and other members in this community. And that number absolutely overshadows even most other single contrib or total of other candidates. That one contribution is more than probably every other every other candidate combined. [applause] >> Scott Mctown resident. So one thing I want to point out on the agenda that was not discussed tonight number nine under reports number A code of ethics for schoolboard members. There was no discussion by any board member regarding that topic and separately on the topic of paying for students uh school lunches. Imagine if uh HFA had donated that money to pay toward pay
166for school lunches instead of putting it towards certain candidates running for board of education. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Katie Little Page, Middletown. This is a very long meeting. It's 9:54 p.m. Um, meeting started at 7:30 and it doesn't have to be this way. Um, to the new the parents in the room, you said this is like your first meeting or so and that you left you left the September meeting. That was your first meeting, left feeling really sad. I hear you. I've been coming to these meetings. I've been at pretty much every single meeting, I think, since March. Um, and I always leave feeling so stressed and sad. And, um, I remember when we moved to Middletown in 2021, my husband and I and our one-year-old at the time, who's now a kindergartener in
167the district, um, we moved from California and he's always like, "Are you okay that we're in New Jersey?" And I'm like, "You know what? this place is incredible. Like I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop and then it did drop this in March. Um when I realized the terrible leadership of this board and the mismanagement of our tax dollars by the leadership of this board and that you're doing this to our children and the quality of their childhood. I could have been reading my son's a bedtime story tonight, but instead I had to leave right after dinner so that I could be here. Um, we should be involved. Um, but it doesn't have to be this long. Leadership means that you have a choice in how you set the tone for these meetings.
168Mr. Capone, this meeting tonight, every time a suggestion was brought up, whether by one of your peers here on the board or by someone in the community, it seemed that your first reaction was to be negative. It seemed that your first reaction was to say no and find a way not to do it and find a way to stall about it. And that's a choice that you're making. You could make a choice to say that's a great idea. let me let how can we make this happen and be positive and be collaborative because you you're all unpaid volunteers including you Mr. Capone you're an unpaid volunteer you don't have to be here and so it's confusing to me why when there's so many members of the public who have taken time out of their day
169to be here because they care deeply about Middletown and they care deeply about the quality of the childhood that Middletown will be providing their kids paid for by everyone's tax dollars sitting in here. It's deeply disturbing to me that you're rushing us out the door and you're trying to silence us and when other members of the board say let's let them continue to speak and try to be collaborative with us, you are saying you're trying to talk over them say nope less comment last comment. It does. That's a choice. As the leader, you're making a choice. And even the way that this room is set up, all of us facing you, we could be set in a circle. We could be more collaborative and feel equals, as Miss Minuise pointed out at her workshop that
170she went to, it's all about parent involvement. So, I just want to highlight that and just let everyone know that the meetings don't have to be this way. They these meetings could be a lot shorter actually if the board functioned better and communicated better because then we wouldn't have so much to get up here and and and say that we're disturbed by by the mismanagement of our tax dollars that we're paying and by the mismanagement of our children's education. Thank you. [applause] See getting further up. >> Sorry. >> Oh, sure. Come on up. >> Do do we have advertisers for the digital um the digital advertising on the scoreboards? Is that [snorts] >> probably? >> Yeah. >> For digital advertisers. We have a company that a vendor that is that goes out and solicits them
171for us. >> We we've gotten we've gotten a mix of digital and signage >> and signage. So the the the deal that was approved last time was signage on the back, >> but we have had I think it was the US Army. We've had some digital ads. I you know we're we're getting some more. That's more of a newer market. So we're we're working on getting more. We've gotten a mix of both. So, we have a loan for the scoreboards and then we're slowly chipping away at that loan with advertisers. >> We have a 5-year lease, capital lease on the scoreboards that we're paying off. Yes. And the revenue from this has also been anticipated in the budget to offset. >> Okay. But we didn't have those advertisers until recently because we had to approve
172the company that goes out and gets it >> right. But we just this is the first year we budgeted for that revenue. So that so this is obviously >> Okay. I guess my point was that the scoreboards were purchased on a loan last year when we didn't have any money to fund the schools and then we didn't have the advertisers until this year. So I feel like there was a disconnect. >> This was always part of the plan in implementing the scoreboards. It was never absent in that conversation. We were never there was never a time where we considered the scoreboards and not offsetting the cost for them with advertising because our hope is that in the future that that advertising will generate revenue for us. >> I guess. Yeah. My point is that it
173was a hope for the future but we don't know for sure. We didn't have it secured. So we we got a loan but we didn't have the money yet to pay it back. But we hoped we got the money to pay it back. Just the timing seems weird to me. That's all. It also seems like it's a native >> seemed unnecessary at a time where we couldn't approve a budget that would keep schools open. And I'm really sorry. I'm very tired tonight and I'm very really agitated because I would really love I'd love to support schools. I am involved. I've been involved from day one. I would really love to be involved in a positive way that I enjoy, but this is what we need to do right now. And I have to tell you,
174we're very stressed and we really, really need to change this. We need to go back to working together and doing things that are positive for our district. That is amazing. Our teachers are amazing. Our schools are scoring gang busters. is Nava Saint number 13. Have to give a shout out to that. That is a testament to the community and that is a testament to the parent volunteers like myself who go into the schools and pour ourselves into the schools. So, I would love to echo what Katie said. Could we please make this positive because I don't know how much more of this that we are going to be able to handle. Thank you. in publication [applause] because there seems to be some kind of miscommunication out there. The signage on the football fields, that money
175goes to the booster club. They're soliciting that. >> That's not going to the to the digital scoreboards. >> If the if they put up the signs, it's going to them. If it's signage that we have brought in with our um sponsorship activities, then the money goes to us. >> How do you tell the how do we tell the difference? Well, because we we get the deals with these sponsors that are dealing directly with us and so the money related to those deals comes to us through the shore advertising group. The things that come through the shore advertising group, >> but the booster clubs go out and they they banners, >> right? So, are we saying that we also sell banners to hang on those fences? >> No, there's the signage on the back. >> Yes.
176Where are we doing? That's what I said at the beginning. Only the electronic is what we're getting the money for. >> We have one fixed advertisement that's going on the back side of the scoreboard. >> So is there only So the So the $5,000 a year is the only one that's going to go on the back of that scoreboard. >> Yes. [clears throat] It'll be a large it'll be a large banner on the back of the scoreboard. It's not digital. >> But it's 5,000 each school. >> It's not 10,000 each school. It's 5,000. >> Our hope is that that the the majority of advertisement is going to be digital. Like that was the intention of this um this uh company that that offered this um this uh sponsorship with the signage for the back. You
177know, we know that's limited. That's that's a a a one thing a one-time thing because there's not going to be any room left on that, >> right? Because somebody sent me something on Facebook that said that all the money was going to the booster clubs and I said, "No, that's not true. We have to pay off that $1.5 million loan with the money we get for advertising. And that and that's our whole business meeting is it's not it's not 1.5 million. The scoreboards and I don't have the exact number in front of me but they were about 725,000 >> for both boards. >> A little over 300,000. >> So the bond was only 700. >> Okay. That and that's another misinformation that's out there. >> Yeah. They were saying that was for one board. >>
178Jill and Rashi, it's getting too late for you. You guys can leave. It's up to you, but you're welcome to stay. I know you have school tomorrow. [laughter] >> Ashley said, Middletown. Uh, at the next meeting, could you just give us an update where we are financially with advertisers so that we know if we're close to paying back? I think that would help with all of this discussion. We're It's a very large expense for the district. So, we just want to know, are we getting the advertisements we were hoping for? Are we looking good? What's our return on investment? >> I mean, I can I can answer right now that we haven't met, you know, we haven't met the level of the lease payment for this year. You know, we've just we just approved the
179sponsorship firm a couple of months ago that they're starting to bring deals in, but no, we're not we're not at the level yet over the football season's almost over, so we're not going to get a whole lot of Right. But there's some spring, you know, there's events in the spring, too. You know, >> there are spring sports. >> And if we get multiple >> and there's also again this is I'm glad that you said that we didn't mean it, but I think we'd like to know how far away we were. Just some financial matters as like a treasur administrator's report. >> Thank you. How did we come up with the 5,000 for the back of the the souls? >> That's what they that we have the I'm sure everybody has agreement that brokers [clears throat]
180that deal and you know they work with the engineer standard on what that would be. the district has no say. >> We we have I mean obviously in the approval process yes >> but we don't we don't barter on our behalf >> multiple factor but it's only one >> because again the intention of the scoreboards was not to advertise fixed advertise you know signs and posters and things like that. It was it was a digital advertising platform that we were really um really that was the the the bigger ticket we felt because there is the opportunity for for a larger amount of advertising to go on to that because you can scroll through them routinely. So really it is unlimited. [cough] >> Okay. Just curious because we never really had that discussion. >> I'll be
181quick I promise. Emily Donahghue, Middletown resident. Um, how did we lease the scoreboards? Who who did we get the financing from? >> Do you know that answer the scoreboard leasing? >> I don't remember off the top of my head what the name of the bank is, but the financing went out to bid. So, we we issued a bid for the financing and then took in the interest rate proposals and selected the lowest interest rate. >> Awesome. I'll just if I >> Since this is such a uh Rebecca Lara Middletown, Since this is such a um heavily debated topic of conversation, do you think we could get a print out of, you know, packages? What would a digital ad package look like? How many times would it run? Then it can be public. I know that,
182you know, when I came home last month, I asked I told my husband about it and he's like, "I wish I knew that. I would have put my company up [cough] there." Like, there are companies in our in our communities that would love to participate and instead of relying on a third party, we could also just advertise within our own community. Um, I think you would get a surprising amount of support. >> [applause] >> Do we have that information from the ed agency of what the prices are? >> We can get it from >> Yeah, we can get it from them. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> Oppos. Thank you. Have a great night, everyone.