001Good evening everyone. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided by sending such notice to the Adbury public press, the Middletown patch and Middletown public school district website and the posting of such notice to minor administrative offices and each elementary, middle and secondary school in the district. >> Mrs. Camiti >> here, >> Mr. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Mini is here. Mrs. Gillesi >> here. Mr. Sarowski >> here. >> Mr. Tull >> here. >> Mrs. Ray, Mrs. Tobacco >> here. >> Mr. >> Here. I now need a motion for executive sessions to discuss personnel remediation. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Seoted. Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
002We start this evening with curriculum and instruction. Mr. Thank you, sir. Uh, yes, we met last week in the 2080. Um, a bit of a light agenda. We met in August, but a few good highlights. Um, I'll hit um just a couple things on the agenda tonight. We're voting on a um what I think is a really cool field trip opportunity for High School North. um students going to Boston and Salem, Massachusetts for um a mix of freedom trail uh items as well as obviously sale trails and all that stuff. So that just was very cool. Excited about that. Um we're also we have a revised curriculum guide for algebra 2 with data applications. This was a designed by our curriculum team to um align better with the NJGPA requirements and get away from what
003what seemed to be an overemphasis on pre-calculus concepts for students who maybe needed to focus more on skills to get them ready for graduation. Um couple announcements. College admissions counselor visits will be starting September 16th. Um so keep an eye out for that and the students can see in the Navian um platform uh the opportunity to register for those meetings. Um the couple presentations for students and parents regarding college selection. Um on October 8th will be the finding your best fit presentation with Rob Franic who's been here before. He's from Princeton Review. He gives a great presentation on different factors to take into account when you're um preparing to to apply to colleges. Um, and also another important one on September 18th is a presentation on how financial aid and scholarships work uh, you know,
004when you're preparing for college. So that'll be September 18th. That'll be virtual and that'll be available um, by email sending out a link to parent services for that. Moving on to student services. I'm going to take Mr. You want to take that or Miss Wright's absence or >> take it? >> Sure, I'll take we also met the special services committee. Mr. Wright's not here, so I'll I'll touch on the highlights for that. We got an update on the link annex project for our our transition program. Um construction moving along. JCPNL had uh some work to do in volume transformer installation. that's causing a bit of a delay, but they still anticipate that uh process being done by midepptember. Um but the the ongoing plan is still already in effect to continue the program at High
005School South um as it's been because it wasn't sure if the annex would be open for day one, the start of the school year, but uh things are moving ahead and that JCPL project should be done by mid September. Um the schedule for Middletown Friends of Diverse Learners has been set. They have meetings on Wednesday, September 24th, Wednesday, January 21st, and Wednesday, April 22nd. Um those meetings are always virtual and uh a great opportunity for anybody with special needs students or who's entering the district and is curious about special education offerings that we have here. Um and uh I guess that >> Thank you, Mr. H. I'm going to turn to M Dy for finance and facilities. Finance Committee met on August 20th. Uh the committee talked about the responses that we received on our
006recent special education attorney RFP. Uh we have uh not consensus on setting up interviews and moving forward, but the board will do that uh in the near future. Uh we also talked about the voting agenda items for the tonight's agenda. We have a two transportation bids that are being awarded for uh special education routes and athletics. So that would complete the bids that we need to start the school year covered. Uh we also have our ESA allocation that we received approval of our program plan and budget on tonight's agenda. The district share of the allocation is $559,000. Uh there's $32,000 of nonpublic money involved there. The level of funding we received is comparable last year. So we were happy to see non significant change in that. And that was all for the finance committee. The
007highlights there. We also met with the facilities committee on August 20th. Um after the finance committee we talked about the summer projects that we have going. Mr. Tus mentioned Lar annex. That was one of them. So we do agree with that report. Anticipated timeline to take CTCL's mid December. Other improvements are still progressing. September not I'm sorry. Um other improvements are still progressing. Um we have an update. We updated the committee on the scoreboards and I have a further update today. The high school staff scoreboard is actually on operational. Um I was over there today. You saw the scoreboard display graphics sound system. So there'll be training on that tomorrow. Uh it will be operational for the game on Thursday. They are still working on the High School North scoreboard and that will also be
008ready for North's first home game which is September 12th. Uh we also talked about uh some of the other uh repairs that would need to be done on the high school track under the warranty. those are being scheduled and handled on with the manufacturer and we also talked about the ongoing future repairs that the board approved for both stadiums outside. Um we have parts on order and work will be taking place when parts come in and will continue um when the school year starts we can do them during the day when the school is in session. Uh we also talked about the voting agenda items. We have to tonight a donation, a generous donation from the new mom PTA playground uh committee. Uh they are graciously donating playground equipment which is valued at almost $30,000.
009Uh consists of a climber, a four seat teeter to picnic table, a chessboard, drums, and a block and steel. Uh so the district is also working with them and we've uh recently submitted an application to a kaboom which is a national nonprofit organization that grants funds to adjust placebased inequities. So we're hoping to get some funds to supplement their fundraising efforts there. So we thank the new mom of PTA. We also have an Airdale replacement for River Plaza for a classroom uh in that school. Uh that's on the agenda for tonight at a replacement cost uh for the equipment and installation of approximately $60,000. That's all we have here for that. >> Thank you, M. policy. M. >> Hi. Uh policy committee met actually this evening before the board event meeting. Uh there's nothing on
010this agenda for first read, but we did discuss policy 7113. Uh just closings. We've discussed a new policy for artificial intelligence um a policy for sportsmanship um and a regulation for a way for the day and the cell phone policy that would just extend social media um consequences to the elementary. And so those will be talked about. Um our superintendent is going to work on the official public policy of our curriculum committee and uh get back to it. Jackie, when will we hear about the school closing policy and what you're talking about changing it? >> Tonight. >> She's going to talk about it tonight. >> No, that's all. We just talked about it tonight, but there's nothing. >> But can we know what was discussed at the board? >> All it was was presented. Policy
011was presented. We discussed it and Jessica said that she's going to, I guess, address it for the next meeting. >> Yeah. Well, we're going to look at we're going to take suggestions from the public, look at the policy we currently have, and then create a draft version to share with the full board. >> So, no recommendations were made. >> The committee did not make any >> No, not as of today. And this is not on the agenda. None of this policies on the agenda. >> No, I understand that, but being had a committee meeting, I was just curious about the conversation. >> Do you need a copy of the policy? No, I just wanted to know what the discussion was. >> Thank you. Moving on to public comment on agenda items for me. Please come
012to the microphone. [Music] Scott, Middletown res. Uh just one thing in the agenda that I noticed uh that I want to commend the uh the school district on is the memorandum of understanding between uh Middletown Board of Education and Kingsburg regarding the arts program here at Middletown and the uh criminal justice program. great collaboration between uh the school districts and uh if we can do that you know move forward moving forward you know with uh various school districts and also collaboration with our cash as well would be you know helpful to our students. Thank you. Thank you. Would anyone else wish to make public comments? No further comments. I wish we comment and move on to our superintendent report. >> Great. Thank you. Um, I want to take this time to officially welcome everybody back
013to the 202526 school year. Um, we're excited for our staff and students to return. Our staff will be back in our buildings tomorrow and they have professional development um, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. And then our students return um, on September 2nd, which is Tuesday. Uh, just a reminder to all parents to please make sure that the back to school forms are completed in the Genesis parent portal. that's important and certainly provides access to class placements and schedules for our secondary students. Um a strategic planning update. Um our last strategic planning session with New Jersey school boards is on Thursday from 6:00 to 7:30 at the high school north cafeteria. Um as with the last two sessions, the information will be posted on the website for access to the community following the session. Um we are
014also still awaiting the results of our building utilization and boundary analysis. Once we have that information, it will be presented to the school community. Um, our steering committee will meet sometime after we have those results back to work in those um, subcommittees that they volunteered for and create the action plans for the 5-year strategic plan. Um, our goal is to have this board approved in early 2026, January, February area. Um the New Jersey Department of Education has informed us that there will be a new version of both of our both the high school NJ GPA which is graduation assessment and our NJSLA for the spring of this upcoming school year. The assessments will now be adaptive in nature which means that the question difficulty will adjust based on a student's previous responses. Um, we're hoping
015that this will provide us more granular information about students performance level and better align with our I Ready platform. Um, and that will also give us better indication of a student's performance relative to grade level standards. Um, there is a um pilot that will be taking place with field tested questions in the fall that we are awaiting more information on, but it won't count. We won't see results. It's really just um so that the state behind the scenes can work with the vendor to um ensure that that test can be conducted with fidelity in the spring. So are they saying that the test is not going to be consistent for every student? Correct. >> It's going to adapt. >> It adapts based on previous responses. So have you have any kind of comparative? They have
016not shown us any metrics yet. Um there is going to be what is considered like with our I Ready what is considered grade level and everything will be benchmarked towards there. Um right now when we have students particularly those that are overperforming or underperforming grade level um it becomes really hard to get exact information because it only um that is a static set of questions that are always at grade level. This will give us adjusted questions above and below grade level. So we'll be able to get a more exact pinpoint um read on where the student's performance is relative to what is considered real. So that would be the standard. Um so you know we we have very very limited information. If you've been following the news cycle at all, this was definitely um not
017something on anybody in the state's radar. The state sent out a broadcast quite to the shock of you know school districts across the state. So that's the only information we have right now is that it's happening. So hopefully we'll get more very soon. Um we are partnering with Witton's to bring universal free breakfast to the school district. All students in the district will be entitled to free breakfast upon arrival at school each morning. We're working with each building's leadership team to iron out the logistics. Students will be able to get breakfast and have adequate time to eat at the start of the school day. Um having a nutritious breakfast obviously has a tremendous impact on learning. So we're excited to have this opportunity with Witson's. Um the school district in partnership with the Middletown Alliance
018is hosting a youth wellness event on October 16th here at High School North from 5:00 to 7:00 in this room. Families will be able to connect with support for their children and overall wellness vendors within the community. Uh congratulations to both High School North and High School South. They were hold name to the US News and World Report best in high school list both at the national and statewide level. Um this is certainly a credit to all the hard work that our students and staff um put forward and you know we any opportunity we get to celebrate um we do. So congratulations to those two buildings. Hopefully our middle school and elementary school information will be out soon. Um, we are excited to announce that we've been able to make some significant gains in support
019of our fine fine and performing arts program over the last few months. First, we have been able to purchase new sound equipment for each of the two high school marching bands, something that has been a long time needed. We have also in the works new uniforms for the high school south marching band, which they will receive in the fall of 2026. It takes a year to get those. Um, their uniforms have not been replaced since 2012. Um, High School North did receive it back in 2021. So, um, it's time for South to have an update. Um, additionally, we've been able to dedicate funds for materials and supplies to art and music at each level, elementary, middle, and high school instead of solely using building budgets to support these areas. And then finally, we have carved
020out financial support for our secondary schools theatrical performances for sets, costumes, and security. We're hoping these efforts create a greater degree of equity in all of our educational areas. Um, in our counseling world, we have filled our head counselor positions in each of the high schools to help offset the elimination of an assistant principles in each of our high schools. And we have also added back a guidance counselor at Beayshore using a piece of our federal funding that we will is on the agenda tonight, but we just received word that our federal funding is intact. So, that was a a good um something that came late in the summer, but certainly were um happy that it did because we were able to do things like that. Um and lastly, instead of facilitating our parent information
021sessions that we held in the evening virtually, we're going to continue to evolve our model, which was springboarded from our former PIT committee. And I'm going to be establishing with my cabinet team three superintendent council teams, an elementary, a middle, and a high school team. These teams will consist of parent representation, staff representation, and student representation, and will be think tanks for district initiatives and improve improvements. In the near future, I'll be sending out an interest form to all parents. If you're interested, please complete the form, and we'll be collaborating with our principles in forming these councils, and we're looking forward to having representatives from each building. Um, lastly, I just want to wish everyone a successful school year, and we are certainly excited um to welcome our students back next Tuesday. So, thank you.
022[Music] >> Uh, thank you. Um, this evening I would ask the board for a motion to approve meeting minutes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, and L. >> So, Mrs. Camin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Min. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gillesi. Oh, no one. >> Mr. Sarowski. >> Yes. >> Mr. T. >> Yes. On all the no on J. Yeah, that's not part of the that's not for >> No, we didn't do that. >> I'm guess on the motion. >> Mrs. Tobacco. >> Yes, >> Mr. Motion passes. Now, pursuant to the discussion in executive session, we need a motion to amend um item J to extract action item 7J, item 10P 11C. >> So, roll call on a motion to amend. >> Mrs. Camdi, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ming, >> yes. >>
023Mrs. Silasi. >> No. >> Mr. Sarowski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tull. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> So, the motion to amend to extract action item 7J, 10P, 111 C, and J is granted. Now, we need a motion to approve item J as amended. seven rolling. >> Mrs. Camini, >> yes. >> Mrs. Min, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scholaski, no. >> Mr. Sarowski, >> yes. >> Mr. Tol, >> yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Now finally further discussion in executive session motion for reconsideration on action item from the June 24th meeting 7J item 10P 11C motion >> second Mrs. How many? >> You're reoting on? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Minions? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gasi? >> No. >> Mr. Sabarowski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Tol? >>
024Yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco? >> Yes. >> Mr. Capone? >> Yes. >> Motion to reconsider passes. Now we need a motion to approve or disapprove action item 7J 10P 11C previously voted on up to 6. >> No wait hang on we have we got on time. So I'll just go this way to this. It's a new vote. The motion to reconsider passes. So, it's an entirely new vote on item 7J10P 111C from the June 2014 meeting. >> I'm sorry. What was your question? >> You answered it. >> Oh, hold. >> Mrs. Camdi, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ming, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scholaski, >> no. Mr. Sombra, >> yes. >> Mr. Toe, >> yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco, >> yes. >> Mr. Capone, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Okay. I need a motion to approve 8 A which
025is acceptance of a donation from New Mama Elementary School PTA. >> So second roll calling. >> Can we have discussion for one minute? Sure. >> Say one thing. Um, I was fortunate enough to attend the pneumonic PTA fundraiser for this great line improvement. These parents did a phenomenal job. This donation is exceptional. So, I do hope we get some funds to help match it up, but they did a terrific job. So, thank you. Thank you. [Applause] >> Mrs. Cami. Yes, >> Mrs. Minley. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Gilleski. >> Yes, >> Mr. Saras. >> Yes, >> Mr. T. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Tobacco. >> Yes, >> Mr. K. >> Yes. And I need a motion to approve 8 B. Whereas on August 18th, 2025, council is directed to and did file a verified complaint in order
026to show against JJF document number- C-0000146-25. Now therefore be resolved, the board hereby ratifies and affirms the filing of the lawsuit and directs council continue to pursue relief. So moved second. >> Mrs. Camidi, >> yes. >> Mrs. Min, >> yes. Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sarowski, >> yes. >> Mr. Tol, >> yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> And now we have a motion to approve AC, a resolution to approve the settlement and general release in ODL, docket number EDU13011-2025s. So >> second [Music] everybody's okay with that. >> Mrs. Pami, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mes, >> uh, yeah. >> Mrs. Gasi? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sarowski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Tull? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tobago? Yes. Mr. >> Yes. And I have a motion to approve business office consent agenda
02798 through I >> second roll discussion roll a >> Mrs. Camiti >> yes >> Mrs. M. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gasi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sarasi. >> Yes. >> Mr. T. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco. >> Yes. >> Mr. Capella. >> Yes. I need a motion to approve recommendation of the superintendent of schools consent agenda 10 A through H. >> Second roll. >> Mrs. Camini, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mingley, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gaski, >> yes. >> Mrs. Saski, >> yes. >> Mr. T, >> Mrs. Tobacco, Mr. >> Yes. >> All right, moving on to old business. Anybody have any? >> I actually I have a question about around town talking to people trying to get people involved in the strategic planning. There are many schools that feel that their school is not affected as
028of this point. It's my understanding that we don't know if any schools could be affected but no schools are left out of being affected. Is that true? >> Correct. So part of what information we're gathering at this point is the um residencies of all the students that live in the district um where those lines are drawn now for those sending zones. Um and certainly one of the goals of getting that study back is to see where um populations can be shifted to alleviate some of the higher class sizes um and populated buildings in areas of town um and to create more equity in how those populations are spread out. Um we have no predeterminations over number of buildings um locations of students. Um, so we we ask the associates that we're working with to take
029everything with a blank slate um and create the best case scenario based on what currently exists and where students reside now which means that every single person in the district um is um a part of this process in a sense and that's what I think is important to be said because I keep trying to engage people to join strategic planning because once a decision's made and people feel that their schools fallen apart, it's too late to come back and start over again. So, it's better to have everybody involved now than to try to say people say, "Well, I didn't know it was my school." Whatever. Right. >> So, I I think clarifying that is good thinking. >> Thank you. Moving on to new business. Does anyone have new business? >> No new business. Okay. We're
030going to open the microphone up for public comment on non-aggenda items. If you have comment, please set the microphone. State your name and address. see the microphone. >> No, no, I really are. I'll go first. >> Hi, I'm Katie Little Page. I'm very tired. Um because I woke up at 4:30 this morning. I live in Middletown. I woke up at 4:30 this morning. I worked a 12-hour shift in the hospital. I wanted to come to this meeting because I care about my children. one whom is entering the district this year as a kindergartener and one who will be entering in a couple of years. This is the third meeting in a row that I've attended this summer. I've been attending all pretty much all the meetings since March, but third meeting in a row I've
031attended this summer that has not begun at 7:30 as is the approximation on the website. Now approximation to me they're going to start at 7:30 maybe okay you're a little late 7:45 but on June on June 24th I arrived at 7:30 along with many people who are sitting here people who are not here tonight and we were waiting outside for 1 hour we came in at 8:30 for the public portion on July 29th at the board of education meeting we were waiting outside for 2 hours we did not get to come into the building for the public portion until 9:30 p.m. to start the public portion. And tonight on August 26th, we were waiting outside for 75 minutes and we did not get to come inside until 8:45 to start the public portion. So I
032along with many other residents of Middletown are extremely tired and I know that many people have given up and they've stopped coming and just like Miss Minuise is saying she's trying to engage members of the public to be engaged with the board of ed as we all should be and I commend you and I thank you Miss Anyways for doing that but this board is making it awfully difficult to achieve that I ask you to please quit disrespecting the public. If you say the meeting is going to be open to the public at 7:30, we need to find a way for the meeting to start at 7:30. This is unacceptable. And I've heard on the in the June meeting, Miss Minuise brought it to the attention that her solution would be for you all to
033meet as committee of the whole. I believe is the phrase, committee of the whole. To me, that sounded efficient because what's been happening with these subcommittees and we don't know what's going on and we're taking up all this time and trying to piece things together, slapshot last minute. It's wasting everybody's time and it's disengaging the public. And so I thank Miss Muse for bringing that up. It came to a vote. It was ultimately voted down. I thank Miss Camoni in July, the July 29th meeting. She brought it up again. We'd like to go to a committee of a whole. At this point, we only had eight members of the board in July, the July 29th meeting. His sister Fitzgerald is no longer here. And four members voted for committee of the whole and four members
034voted against it. and then it just went away. So is that the policy when something is brought up there's no tiebreaker? I'm not sure what the solution is here. >> Okay. Can we can we explain like so in close session the reason we're going over is because we have confidential stuff that we need to explain to the whole board because that's the one time that we meet. I >> pretty much said how usual time consuming >> sometimes we have a lot sometimes we haven't >> meetings we never know what's happening in that exact session. >> So what is the solution to respect the public because the public has been disrespected for three meetings in a row. So what is the solution? >> We started running at 8:00 >> when we put the 8:00 the public
035session is at 8:00. That's when it used to be if we go over a little. >> I don't know if that's the solution because in June the public came in at 8:30. In July we came in at 9:30 and tonight we came in at 8:45. So I don't think starting in at 8 is going to be the solution. I >> don't think it's anything new. It's been like this for years. >> Yeah. It doesn't matter that it's been like this for years. >> It all depends. >> The public needs to be respected. The public's time needs to be respected. Imagine if people said they wanted to be involved and so they hired a babysitter to to come so they could be here from 7:30 to 8:30 and then they're just waiting outside for that whole
036hour that they paid the babysitter for. This is unacceptable. >> We're not looking to disrespect. We're really not. Bottom line is when we discuss, we can't discuss in front of everybody. Even if we were a committee of the whole, what we had to discuss was advice and legal stuff that was brought to our attention. And that's why if you notice our agenda, there was so many changes and stuff. That's what we'll be discussing. We couldn't help it. It had to be done and that's what's happening. I don't know how it would pretail more, but there's nothing we could do about that if we don't have >> I have a suggestion. Go ahead. If you say the public meeting starts at 7:30 and you have your private session before that and it comes upon 7:30, is
037it possible to then pause your private session, have your public session, and then reconvene your private session afterward? >> It only might have to vote on something in the private session. >> We like what we discussed tonight, they ended up voting on in the meeting. So that sounds reasonable, but it's not always doable because of what's being discussed in executive session. >> And your points are valid 100%. I will say for 90% of the time, minus the three past meetings, we are on time at 8:00. But >> 100% of the meetings for the last 3 months have not been on time and have been grossly over. >> Like I just said, the last three meetings, you are correct. But prior to that, that's why the meeting was on 7:30. We're probably done exact session on
0387:30. Yes, different months have different things that we're voting on. Different situations, different issues will arise in the exact session. That's why we need to speak more right out here and do our business. >> Okay, that's not a solution. What is the solution to honoring the public's time? >> Man, I'm sorry there. I I can't answer your question right now, but we'll talk about as a board and we'll let you know. But we want to be respectful of your time as well as all of our time here that we're doing this as well for the Middletown community. So, um, unfortunately, we're over our time limit, but we will definitely take your advice and understand that we do our best to try and hit those target. >> I'm deeply dissatisfied with this answer. >> I'm sorry.
039>> And I will be raising it again at the next. >> Thank you. [Music] >> The safety drive. Um, I have to admit I didn't know it said it started at 7:30. I was just showing at 8. So, um, I might have missed a few. Um, just a real quick clarification that annex is is the plan to be itself for the whole year once the annex is hoping by October 1st. >> Okay. So, it's just a temporary. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Waiting on JC delay with the power. Um just a a a recommendation. I don't know if it's got it's already in the works, but um might be useful um to have an email go out about cell phones and dress code. Um I know people don't like to address the dress code at
040high school, but it is really bad. So um I I think it might be worthwhile to reemphasize what you know what the rules are surrounding those. Um, and also once everybody kind of gets in place, it'd be really nice, um, I know I talked to you, should you call them, um, about the roles. Um, you know, everything just says assistant principal or, um, you know, even looking at at at the assistant superintendent, I realized I don't even know who has athletics under them anymore. Is that you, Mr. Oh, okay. So yeah, but I mean it just as human resources it it's hard to understand who to turn to. Um and the high schools the same way the assistant principles just assistant principles be like where do I where do I go? um as well as
041the current folks. You don't know what >> if you look at the chain of communication that's helpful because it does give you the who do you go to for what from building level up >> for science for >> Yeah. Okay. All right. I just kind of looked at the picture. >> Um also, would it be obnoxious for me to ask who this gentleman is that's at our meeting? We don't know who he is. >> We have no idea. He showed up here said it. >> I mean, I just thought at the beginning of the meeting, which I didn't understand half of the things you were voting on, so >> he was the problem. >> I'm I'm special counsel to the board of education. >> Okay. I thought that was >> He's our regular general counsel.
042>> Got it. Thank you so much. >> I'm regular. special. >> Now, um, I looked at the agenda a few times. You voted on something tonight that I don't think was in the agenda. Can you clarify? I could be wrong. 1311 25 JF. What did you vote on tonight? legal. >> Sorry. Uh that was a resolution to ratify pending legal action um in the superior court. >> Not particular because it is pending litigation. It's not common on active page. >> So I was voting on client but we had was not wasn't accurate. Now it was discussed in executive session and because it's litigation was vote on the seat. >> So the public has we ask a question about whether it's on the agenda. >> Well if there is a public comment period um you just
043asked a question whether is it involved active litigation with respect to this district. This board does not comment on active impending. >> I don't want to comment on the active investigation. >> No litigate >> litigation. litigation, but we have a portion of public comment where we can ask questions about what the board is going to vote on. So now you voted on that, which makes it final, but we had no information on what you guys are going to ask questions or comment before that vote was made. >> Well, there are two public comment sections. ones for on for agenda items only and then there was another public comment section for any concern that the public may have including any agenda items that I'm not. >> Okay. So, how did I know to talk about an
044agenda item if it wasn't in the agenda >> for voted on? >> That's what the second public comment period >> you voted on it. >> Correct. So, is that correct for the public not to know what's on the agenda before you guys vote on it? So, now I can talk about it after the fact that it's already voted on >> the public notice and public comment periods concord with the open public meetings. Yes. >> But it's not the agenda and it was an agenda item tonight. >> I I I know you don't appreciate my answer. >> Appreciate it, sir. All due respect, Mr. Burns, but if you're going to have something agenda, where's the agenda? Where is it the fact that you guys are voting on? So, how would we know to talk and ask
045a question about what this was about? >> Even if it was on the agenda prior, it would be we wouldn't be at liberty to expose what the topic was as far as I know. Is that correct? Which is why we had such a discussion. >> I believe the resolution that was presented details both the initials as well as the adopted number. Okay. So what you say is tonight all appropriate procedural procedures were followed where the public shouldn't have had comment or notice in the agenda that you guys are voting on something tonight. >> All actions tonight conform with the open. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. >> My name is Aaron. I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Joan and Gary for your support for our fundraising and Amy and Adam. Um,
046thank you so much for everything you've done so far up to this point. Hoping to get the grant that we've applied for, but obviously I just want to put on record that it's not. I'm expecting us to reapply for LI grant for us for next year. I'm hoping that's still planned if we don't get the money from this because whereas $30,000 has helped, it really isn't bringing a ton to the playground and we still need more. So, I just wanted to put that on record. But thank you so much for everything. as of this >> point [Music] just to talk about that and it not being on the agenda. Sorry. Um you know also an attorney certified civil trial attorney. I'm looking at e courts. It was filed on August 18th. So why was it
047on the agenda? I understand that you're talking about executive session. I'm sure there's things that have been on the agenda before that have been discussed in executive session. So again, this is just another example of the board talking about things and voting, you know, discussing things that public doesn't know about until after it happened. So this is another example of that. So alls we're asking for is transparency. We want to know what's going on. You could have put it in the agenda and said, "Hey, this is something we're voting on tonight. we wouldn't be privy to your discussions during executive session, right? So, I mean, you clearly filed the verified complaint and I don't have an opinion on it one way or the other. It's a good thing, maybe it's a bad thing. I didn't
048really get a chance to read it because I didn't know it would even be brought up tonight at Gordon, right? So, I didn't even think to look for it until we started talking about it and said it was litigation. So, then I I went in on e courts and and typed in a name and sure enough, there it is. So there's no reason why it wasn't on the agenda. So again, I know I'm repeating myself, but it's just another example of the public not being informed about what's going on. We just want to know what's going on. That's all we're asking for. Thank you. Hope everybody had a good summer. Uh Eric Dow, also a Middletown resident. Uh I'm also an attorney, but I'm not going to ask about the same subject matter, which might
049be a relief. Uh I want to re revisit briefly some like to talk about anymore, which was uh something known as plan A, where now that we're back here around the end of election season, I'm going to nail down a few details. Uh first, with respect to timing, uh we heard at the June meeting that uh Mrs. I believe it was Mrs. tobacco who said this uh that she and Mr. Capone had been meeting with superintendent alone for approximately one year um uh to discuss quote what to do with this district. I presume that means the work that eventually led to plan A. Uh so the first question is whether it was approximately one year with work starting in June of 2024 or whether it was was even longer. Just an approximation from folks who
050were involved on work when work started with respect to what eventually became plan. Was it a year? Was it year and a half? Was it >> I never said it. >> I've never said that. >> It was right at the end of meeting. >> Never said that. I I'm I'm paraphrasing meeting for the past year with respect to what to do with this district. Me and Mr. Capone meeting, we've got the clip, but >> put put the clip put the clip aside. The question is how long this was in discussion before the public was noted. >> What's your question? I'm not following you because I don't >> We all remember plan A. Uh, it was released to the public in I believe March or April. How long was the work taking place that preceded the
051public finding out about you question? >> We've said this over again. The board was informed as a whole as a whole. >> As a whole as a whole >> and the folks who were working on it were in depth. >> Working on what? >> But plan A didn't come out of nowhere. It it it had data. It it had the administration's job that is not and is it I guess I can ask the question differently Mr. Mrs. tobacco. Is it your representation that you found out about a month before as well because it was just the administration working on or were you two in connection with >> this [Music] you're well please here I'm just >> it could be one or the other >> was sheriff were you all working with the administration in advance
052of the rest of the board finding out >> it's it's a yes or no answer and I I don't know what the answer is but it's interesting what the answer just totally low based where your comment is. That's what I'm thinking. >> And you're 10 more seconds for your comments. >> Now you're concerned about time. >> Okay. Next question. >> Your comment. Your time's up. Thank you. [Music] >> Eron. I give my time. >> Anybody else? >> This is my time. I'll stand here. >> What is >> I don't want to weigh in here, but I think we have a little bit of a misconception. Um, and I I think both from the board side and the public side about what public comment is. Public comment is an opportunity for the public to voice their
053comments to the board and for the board to consider the comments that the public provides both before allow the public comments on agenda items as well as after and the second comment period. The open public meetings act only requires one public comment session at every public meeting. The Middletown Board of Education has two public comment sessions. Very clearly in the Open Public Meetings Act, public comment is not a public question and answer. It's not public debate. It is now public cross for us examination. It's the opportunity for the public to express their concerns to the board of education on matters that they believe are important. Whether they infect the district, whether they infect the schools, or whether they infect the town, it's your opportunity to comment on anything that you believe is important. That's what
054public comment is. So, however the board wishes to address those comments, however the board wishes to interact with the public, it is up to the board. But that is under the open public meeting act. What is required and what public comments? >> I defer. >> Thank you, Mr. Burns. I believe the board's own rules expressly contemplate the ability to ask questions and receive answers at board event meetings. It certainly happens all the time. Uh we get answers from the administration. Sometimes we get answers from individual board members. Um and if you'd like us to send you that rule, I could be wrong. I don't have in my pocket, but I'll frame the rest of this as comment rather than question and answer. What we have come to believe based on talking to people uh both
055publicly and privately reviewing documents from all over the place is that work on plan A began at least one year in advance of when it was disclosed to the public. We know that seven members of the board of education were informed it one month before it was released to the public. We have documents uh that show or at least lead us to believe that the following individuals were involved with that work. Um members of the shared services committee which include Mr. Mrs. uh we're not sure about members of the township committee who are on that uh shared services committee that being the mayor and deputy mayor. come on in that they knew. Uh there's also a community member uh assigned to the shared services committee. We believe she was appointed by the mayor. Um that's
056not publicly disclosed anywhere. That community member is Sarah Weinstein. Uh if she is still on the shared services committee, again, we can't see it. That is a wild conflict of interest because she is running for board of ed against sitting board members who are excluded from the shared services committee. If that's something you all don't control and we need to raise the township, we will raise the township. Again, if she is still on that committee, that is a wild conflict event. That's all I have to say. Thank you. comment. Anyone else wishes you don't res um we've gone back and forth about public comment a few times, Mr. Burns. I don't think you're here for this, but I don't know what those rules are, but in your agenda, it does make comment twice about what
057public comment is supposed to be. Number four and five clearly state all statements, questions or inquiries shall be directed to the board president. Um and any questions or inquiries directed by to another board member shall be redirected and it shall be addressed on behalf of the board or by the individual individual. And then five says questions require investigation shall be referred to by the board by the superintendent's office for consideration and later response. As you can see, the public is confused maybe because it's mentioning the fact that only questions that need further clarification may be taken away. So, I'm not quite sure if that's just the way that policy based off the way that the agenda is written, but am I wrong in thinking and is the public wrong in thinking that four and five
058don't give us the right to ask questions? It's got the responses that can't be answered in taken away and then we get a follow-up email. I again as I indicated before it is up to how the board wishes to address public comment but there seems to be a little bit of a mis application by both the board and the public with respect is not public interrogation. It's it's not a question and answer period. If the public has questions that can be summarily answered by the board andor the administration. It is the administration's right to answer those questions or not as indicated in paragraph 4 where it says if such statement question or inquiry shall be addressed. The if does not incline or mandate that the board answer every specific question and the board and the
059administration try to provide as much information as possible. Clearly you don't believe that this um Mr. Burns. It's it's simply just altering respect. It's just the way that we are. We come here to ask questions and we don't get the answers. So, we come back asking the same questions and I know you've only been here for a few months and all due respect, but this has been going on for quite some time now. So, I would just expect that you don't want to answer the question, you can just say we're not answering that question. We're not engaging with that conversation instead of like Sarah and dismissal. Um, and then I would ask that or now we'll just get into practice if you can't answer it during public comment. We'll just send emails um if we
060don't get the answers that we need. But moving forward, I mean, it doesn't really say that we can ask questions. If you don't like the way that they are, I just ask that you guys say, "Uh, we're not answering that or we're not engaging in that, we'll have to take it away." It's just, um, I think it would be a little bit more productive of the meeting if we had responses other than anyone else wish to make comments. >> Excuse me. Uh Deborah Leonardo um with regard to the the survey right um on >> which survey are you referencing? >> I would like to have formal name uh for redistricting and uh for our for what our plan will be moving forward for overhauling. What would the official name of that? >> Official name of
061>> So you know plan A is out right. Okay. So we're going to be doing a survey. It involves our existing facilities business. >> We have a No, we have a utilization facilities utilization and boundary study. >> Okay. >> That's that's what the associate is producing for us. >> Okay, that's what I was curious about. Okay. So within the confines the parameters of that study right we're taking the only considerations are going to be existing facilities and the existing neighborhoods and where people live. Are we going to be forecasting it forward at all? >> Yeah, we have a demographic study that definitely shows enrollments um projected out by years. >> Okay. And it's existing facilities. Yeah, but that doesn't like all of our facilities are being evaluated. So, >> everything's fair game lines, populations, buildings.
062It's uh it's kind of a we have no preconceived plans. We're going to look at the data and make the best decisions and recommend that to the board um based on that information. >> Yeah. Was not accusing anybody of having any frequency plans. I wanted to understand >> Well, that rumors out there that's why I said that. >> Understood. Good stuff. >> Uh I just wanted to understand the parameters within and so it's existing facilities. Is there any potential within there for new facilities >> potentially? So we don't have the details. Um and we won't have any details until we get that information. >> Okay. And that would be released to that the report itself is going to be released to the public. >> Ross will come and present it at a board meeting to
063the public. >> Okay. >> Would it sort of be the same? >> Yes. Right. >> Um there's going to be a lot of linear algebra in that thing. So that be >> I'm not a mathematician so I can speak to that. >> Um is it trying to phrase it as a statement rather than a question? I would find it odd if board members have communication with the consulting group doing that while the consulting group is out right while they're working on their own reports while they're doing this on their own time. I suppose that a reasonable person wouldn't think there would be communication between a board of education or its administration and that consulting group. I'm sorry. >> Would you think that's a fair assumption? Does that seem to be something that we are going
064to weigh in on that? >> All right. I had a second thing. Mr. Cullen, you are in charge of curriculum. Does that also include learning mediums? Learning mediums. The medium of the modalities. Maybe you could talk afterwards. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Hi Chris Middletown. Um I just had a question about um I think it's 7113. Um you mentioned the policy. You just started the conversation and then Dr. You said you were going to involve the community in that. >> Well, we're going to look at the information the community sent us and consider it in conjunction with our current policy. Um that there's no guarantees that those will be encumbered. Um we are just beginning those discussions. >> Okay. Yeah, that was my question. How is that going to happen? But
065you need what we've already got. >> Yep. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Anyone else wish to make public comment? Anyone wish to close the comment second discussion all in favor. Have a great night everyone.