Sayreville Board of Education Meeting - 02/17/2026

00126 cable board of education meeting. In accordance with chapter 231 public law 1975, this public meeting of the serable board of education has been established by sending a copy of the public meeting notice to the home news and tribune and to the star ledger. In addition, copies of the announcement of this meeting have been sent to the burough clerk and a copy of this notice of the meeting has also been posted on the bulletin board outside the office of the secretary. Please rise for the pledge of >> 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. >> I ask that we all remain standing for a moment of silence. I'd like to take this moment

002of silence in memory of a former board of education member of Sarable, Frederick P. Fingerlind who passed away January 19th, 2026 at the age of 86. Fred was a proud veteran of the United States Army, a dedicated public servant, and a man who truly loved being part of a community. He served Saraveville not only as a member of this board of education, but also as a president of his neighborhood civic association and as an active member of the Knights of Columbus and JC's. Service was not just something he did, it was something he lived. He loved Sarah deeply. He believed in this town, in its people, and especially in its schools. His children, Robert, Michael, Cynthia, and Richie, proudly graduated from Seville school systems, and he often spoke with great pride about their experiences here.

003Supporting our schools, and ensuring strong opportunities for local families meant a great deal to him. Fred leaves behind his loving children, 15 grandchildren, six great grandchildren, extended family, and countless friends whose lives he touched. His legacy of humor, generosity, and devotion to family and community will continue to live on in Saril. I would also like to honor the memory of John T. Forano, a dedicated custodian in our school system for over 37 years. John was an important part of our school community. Our custodians are truly the backbone of our building, often the first to arrive and last to leave, ensuring that our schools are safe, clean, and ready each day for our students and staff. Their work is essential, even if not always visible. John took pride in his role in supporting the daily operations

004of our school. Through his work, he helped create the environment where our students could learn, grow, and succeed. That contribution is meaningful and lasting. John took John was also a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Victories in Saraveville and an avid fisherman, but he especially enjoyed time spending time with his family, his nieces and nephews. On behalf of the board of education, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Fingerland and Foresto families, their friends and colleagues. They will be remembered as valued members of Saraveville. To my friend Richie, the Fingerland family, and the Forest family, I'd like to share with you words from Hel Helen Keller. What we have once enjoyed deeply, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. May those words bring some measure of comfort to

005the families. At this time, I ask that we remain silent in their honor. Thank you. Roll call. Mr. Sha. >> Okay. Mrs. Bloom is absent. Mr. Callahan >> here. >> Mrs. Jacowski >> here. >> Mrs. Hernandez >> here. >> Mrs. Maldonado >> here. >> Mrs. Npalitano >> here. >> Mrs. Pabone >> here. >> Mr. Smith >> here. >> Mr. Fernandez >> here. Any correspondence of note? >> Yes. In your folders this evening, you have an invitation uh regarding the Saraveville War Memorial High School Hall of Fame uh which will be held on Saturday, April 25th. That's in your folder. >> And can you summarize executive session? board met in executive session to discuss personnel matters, student matters, negotiation with the SC, SCA, and matters regarding attorney client privilege. >> Now, I'll entertain a motion to

006approve the minutes of both the regular and executive session of February 3rd, 2026. >> So move. >> Second. >> Sorry. >> Roll call. Yes. >> Yes. Now for the best part of the evening, our student council representatives. Good evening, Board of Education members and administrators. My name is Morgan Coun, SWMHs student council board of education representative. I would like to begin with clubs and activities. Students from advanced placement art history classes visited the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City on Saturday for a tour. Led by a guide, students had access to a narrow spiral staircase that brought them up to each level of the church. Lessons on the history of the cathedral, including architectural elements, were discussed at each stop. Mrs. Sakola, director of school counseling services, the curriculum supervisors, and

007high school administrators, discussed with eighth grade parents the different systems and processes of the high school, including the scheduling process, course offerings, graduation requirements, programs, and more. Later in the week, the high school counselors visited all eighth grade social studies classes at the middle school to share the same information with the students. Senior Kate Burns in Mr. Taylor's filmmaking class shared her short documentary film about the Bombers Beyond Cafe, and it was selected to be screened at the upcoming Garden State Film Festival. The media center hosted a specialized online safety event designed for high school students and their families to learn more about being safe and responsible on the internet. Sponsored by connectsafely.org. The evening focused on bridging the gap between digital convenience and personal security. Congratulations to Mrs. Vanderhahoof and Mr. Sakari for earning

008January and February teachers of the month. Moving on to sports, the wrestling team beat Montgomery High School to earn their 12th victory of the season. The girls basketball team improved their season record to 185 with victories over Perth Amboy and Rawway high schools. The boys basketball team defeated Perth Amboy and Homedale high schools to improve their record to 1510. Congratul Congratulations to track and field athletes Dion Oay, Angelia Lri, Mlord Mia, and Will Norris Jimenez for meddling last week at the Armory Varsity Classic in New York City. Dion won gold in the 55 meter hurdles. Angelia won silver in the 3200 meter. Mord took fifth place in the 55 meter hurdles and Will Norris won silver in the triple jump and took fifth in the long jump. Congratulations to girls soccer player Emma Helmo who

009competed in the ECNL Continental Selection All-Star game in Sanford, Florida last month. It was a West versus East game and the West, which was Emma's team, won 3 to one. Congratulations to student athlete Karina Cardardoso who was recently selected selected and honored as the cereble recipient of the New Jersey State Interscolastic Athletic Association at Outstanding Female High School Student Athlete of the Year during the recent NJSIAA and Ruckers University 2026 National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Thank you for your time and support. [applause] I have questions. >> Did you go to the online safety night? >> I did not. >> Oh, >> I heard so many cool things about it. Uh particularly the interactive um phase of it, Miss Bird. >> Yes, I was able to attend and Miss Swanson and Mr. Thomas Makowski

010did a wonderful job. Uh Miss Bloom was there. Um and they got to do six different interactive stations focused on internet safety and they had some giveaways for the students and refreshments all sponsored by the grant. So the one activity that I heard was >> frightening um but that everybody liked it the most was the fake or real >> activity >> where people had to discern the difference between what was AI generated and what was not >> and I heard that people didn't do a very good job of that. >> Yes, Joshua came with me. He got one out of two. >> Um but they were hard to figure out. It is so scary how a AI has evolved where you really can't tell the difference. >> Yes, for sure. >> And my second question,

011did you compete the Armory? >> No, because I'm on a club track team because I swam in the winter. >> How did you do in your club? >> Good. I've been pring every single race. >> Nice. [laughter] And what races are you running? >> I run the 800 and the 400. >> And you're going to be running that in the spring? >> Yes. >> Fantastic. Excellent job. Great presentation as always. I have a question. >> Um, [clears throat] what did Karina win for? She was the best athlete. >> Oh, yeah. She won NJSIA student athlete award [clears throat] of the year. >> What kind of sport was she in though? >> Soccer. >> Girls soccer. >> She was Seville's recipient. >> No, I know, but I didn't know what sport she was playing. >> She's

012really good. Thank you. >> Thank you, Morgan. Great job as always. Great job. Now, Miss Callahan. >> Good evening, Board of Education members and administrators. My name is Samantha Callahan, Serville Middle School student council board of education representative. Going into the sixth month of the 2025 to 2026 school year. We have many events going on throughout Serville Middle School. The PTO will be hosting a family funday on Friday, February 27th. Please join us for pizza and prizes. The student council sold carnations during lunch to support the NJASC state charity crisis response kines. All carnations were delivered on Friday, February 13th. The community service club and student council members attended the pathway to leadership conference in February in Long Branch. They collaborated with other middle school students. Students are decorating coffee sleeves for random act of

013kindness week in February which will be given to the Bummers Beyond Cafe and kindness week pencil grants. They are making Valentine's cards for veterans and the elderly. The community service club will be hosting Chipotle and Dave and Busters fundraisers in February and March. SMS peer leaders presented an anti-bullying lesson to fourth graders on February 13th. The SMS wellness fair took place for students during their advisory periods on February 11th. This fair included coping skills demonstrations and mental health resources. SMS FBLA is currently collecting pet items to donate to Sami's Hope as part of their community service initiative. They also donated over 100 kindness cards to the guidance and ESS department for students who may be having a rough day. The students are preparing for their competitive events next month at King University for the state

014leadership conference. Now onto the Serville Middle School winter athletics. The Serville Middle School boys blue basketball team entered their season undefeated. They finished with a record of 14 to zero. The boys grade team had a balanced season with both wins and losses. Each team showed strong effort throughout the season. The serville middle school blue girls basketball team ended their season with a record of 1 to 13. The Grey girls team ended with a record of 3 to nine. Both teams displayed great teamwork throughout the season. Sarah Middle School wrestler Anderson Campos Jr. won the GMC Big School Championship at 100 pounds, pinning all of his opponents. This advanced him to the to compete in the GMC big verse small school allstar duel which he also won by pin. Following that duel he wrestled in the

015middle sex vers ocean counties duel where he again won by pin. He then represented cereble in the tri county championship. He won this by pinfall in the second period. Anderson along with Shane Walsh, Drew Smith and Noel Landon have also all qualified for the state championships in March. The middle school cheer teams will be hosting a showcase tomorrow evening at 6:45 p.m. at SWMHs. This also includes the eighth grade sendoff. The all music team will be competing on February 22nd at the NJCAA Saint Championship at Brookdale. Game day will be performing at the unified basketball game in March. Any boy or girl interested in trying out for middle school track should join the Google Classroom for more information. Any questions, see Coach Joya, Coach Slavic, or Coach Anderson in the gym. The classroom code is

016TLP5D OZW. Starting up in the spring is a new girls lacrosse team. Tryyouts will take place on March 9th, 10th, and 11th. The SMS softball team is looking forward to their season starting in early March. They're looking forward to getting new uniforms and new helmets. Additionally, they're doing a fundraiser with Bagel Boys. It is a $30 delivery on Sunday, February 22nd. Each order includes one dozen bagels and more. Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak on behalf of the students at Serville Middle School. >> Yay. [applause] >> Excellent job. All right, Sam, are you in the showcase tomorrow? >> H >> you going to you're in showcase tomorrow? >> Yeah. >> Very cool. You excited? >> And the competitions after that are also very exciting. And I I don't know if you know,

017but I heard that the girls um or the competition the high school competition cheer team did really well in Florida. >> Um >> they had a great experience. >> Yeah, they had a good experience. >> Excellent. And did I walk by you guys today when you were in the >> You did. >> So I had to go I had to do an observation of an administrator and I walked straight through their chair. [laughter] >> We were waiting. >> How rude of me. >> We were waiting for our bus. Did you guys yell at him? >> Rude. >> What? >> Did you guys yell at him? [laughter] >> They were like, "What are you doing, Labby? >> I should have I could have [laughter] um the coffee sleeves. That is so awesome." You know, when I

018go to the Bombers Beyond Cafe, I love the coffee sleeves. And if you go there, that's part of the charm of the cafe is you get a coffee sleeve. And I can't wait to see what our middle school students produce uh in terms of those sleeves. And then did you come over here for the peer leadership um discussion with the the fifth graders? >> Um >> I went to the UEES for the fourth graders and taught them the last >> the one just last week, right? >> Uh yeah. >> Yeah. I've heard the kids are raving about it. You guys did such a great job. >> Yeah. They get excited. >> Good for you. Thank you very much. We need that type of peer leadership from our middle schoolers and our high schoolers for our

019most impressionable um children here at the at the upper elementary school and and in the elementary school. So, we can't thank you enough for doing that. >> Thank you. >> Great presentation, Sam. >> Thank you. >> Great job, guys. As always, thank you for an amazing presentation and thank you to your parents for raising two incredible young ladies. >> Thank you. And Morgan, spring track cannot come soon enough. >> I know. >> Although Although I've heard the sword is in the forecast for Sunday going into Monday. >> I'm hoping it's a big fib. Jimmy texts me every 20 seconds about this thing. He's giving me the American model. The European model. >> European model is saying no snow. Well, we're going for the European model, right? Our fingers are crossed. >> I'm hoping you guys

020don't get a phone call from me Sunday night. >> Goodbye, ladies. >> Now, how is anyone supposed to follow that up? Why is my part always right after them? You know, can I go a little later? Maybe I think next time you should go right after them. You know, it's always hard to to follow that up. So, I'd like to remind everyone that on April 14th at the Bombers Beyond Cafe, they're going to be holding a transition fair. This is there'll be lots of valuable information and resources to help family plan a plan for the future. Anyone who may be affected by this, I encourage you to go. I also want to recognize the special academic achievement of Richard Mishkoff from Saraveville Middle School. He was named the District 8 VFW Patriots Pen Award for

0212026. The Patriots Pen Contest is a nationwide essay competition for students in grades six to eight on the theme, how are you showing patriotism and support of our country? Congratulation, Richard. As we heard earlier, the Hall of Fame has selected its its inductees and these alumni continue to reflect the spirit and excellence of Saraveville, serving their communities and prof and professions with distin Nobody wants to hear me. Anyway, I I think [snorts] that was Eric who shut it off on me. Finally, I want to acknowledge a recent event at the SE cereable Bombers Beyond Cafe, an art fair. On display was artwork from from our students. If anyone had a chance to stop by there, it was absolutely amazing artwork. And I want to thank all all the teachers and parents who helped foster this

022talent in in our students. Um, and I also want to thank all the staff, the security, and the brew crew at Bombers for making events like this happen and for making the Bombers Cafe such an a hub of our of our community. And if anyone hasn't had a chance to see that artwork, go on Facebook and see it. We have some really really amazing students. >> Is it still on display in the apparel shop and hub? >> My >> No. Okay. Yeah. because I know last week it was still on display in the uh I had a chance to walk through. >> Oh, you walked it. It was >> um you know, obviously no one was there, but I it was amazing the artwork that was there in the apparel shop and hub. >> I

023got to tell you, it was so amazing that I think even Miss Bloom would be happy. Um so, seriously. And uh one last thing I'd like to uh mention there's a very special anniversary today, the anniversary of the 21st birthday of Miss Bloom. Um so just want to say happy birthday to her. And I know she's not here with us today, but wishing her all all the best on her special day. >> Happy birthday. >> Sing her happy birthday. >> She comes back. I can't sing it for her without her here. Now, Madam Vice President. >> All right. So, u my highlights are a little lengthy today, so bear with me. Um Morgan did mention some of the ones I had on there, so I'll spare you those. Um but congratulations to those students. Um

024so, I'll start with congratulations to the Saraveville War Memorial High School DECA students who were winners at the regional conference earlier this month and [snorts] will will advance to the New Jersey DECA state conference in March. Congratulations to the Saraveville War Memorial High School Air Force Junior ROTC program, which recently completed its second successful unit inspection. The program earned an eight-point improvement over last year while also maintaining a record enrollment of 121 cadetses. Congratulations to Saraveville War Memorial High School boys basketball players Sam Jones and Chitty Chukura. I apologize if I mis mispronounced your name. for breaking the all-time Saraveville War Memorial High School scoring record. Congratulations as well to the middle uh Sarraville Middle School competition cheer team for winning first place and being crowned the grand champions of the East Jersey Elite Battle

025on the Mat Championship. [snorts] Congratulations to the Sarville War Memorial High School boys swim team for winning the Greater Middle Sex Conference GMC White Division Championship. And lastly, I would also like to congratulate the following bombers who recently finalized their college commitments. These student athletes exemplify Serville's tradition of excellence through their dedication, discipline, and pride in representing our school and community. Sam [snorts] Jones, um for basketball, Drew University. Dimmitri Dario, football, Miss Kodiat University. Shawn Jackson, football, University of New Haven. Connor McKvitt, football, Eastern University. Julian Perez, football, Rowan University. Shawn Lawrence, lacrosse, Kain University. Karina [snorts] Cordardo, soccer, William Patterson University. Jada Ro, soccer, Lacawana College. Giana Falto and Mayan Fonte, both softball at Delaware State University. Sophia Matula, softball at St. Elizabeth University. Josie Venor, softball at University of Lynchburg. Sarah Williamson, softball

026at Brookdale Commun Community College, and Angelia Leper, cross country track at Talson University. Congratulations to all these outstanding students on their exciting achievements. Um, the other district highlight I have, well, this is not district highlight, this is more for the board members. Um, just a couple of um reminders, NJSBA events that are upcoming for our continued development. Friday, [snorts] March 20th, there's a women's leadership conference at the College of New Jersey. If you ladies are interested in um signing up for that, it has to be um uh approved by the BA. So you need to go to Arlene for that. Then there's some upcoming governance um that are happening online. March 24th, governance 2. March 24th, also governance 4 and Thursday, March 26, governance 3 for whoever needs to have the governance requirement. And that's

027it for me, Mr. President. >> Thank you. Now we have some presentations, right? >> We certainly do. Uh we are going to resume publicly presenting and discussing our 2026 2027 budget. This evening you're going to hear presentations um from Mr. Sadiglia about transportation, Mr. Kleman'sburgger about buildings and grounds and capital projects and Mr. Sadino Citadino regarding food services. And we all know food services are not part of the operating budget, but Nick does have a budget from our enterprise accounts that he's going to talk to you about that and um the steps we've taken in our food services program. Don't forget that our final presentation workshop or board of education meeting will be March 3rd and at that uh board of education meeting Dr. Agile and Miss Bert will present to you on personnel as

028well as professional development and my good friend here Mr. Glock Malloy is going to give another riveting presentation on the technology budget. [snorts] Speaking of riveting, let's begin with Mr. Coleman'sburgger and his facilities uh as well as capital projects budget presentation. And no, I have not seen the European model as of late or the American model. >> Well, I'm going to start with our achievements for this year is snow. definitely snow every weekend for the last 10 weeks. So, we hope it ends now. Um, first off, I'd like to thank all my custodians and maintenance staff because this year during the summer months when we did the referendum was incredible. Every building was completely ripped apart and they got it back together in the start of school and they they did an amazing job. Every

029single one of them. The other person I'd like to thank is Ken Saddowski. He's been by my side for 25 to 30 years, always there for me. And unfortunately, come July one, he won't be there. So, I'd like to congratulate him and thank him for all his hard work. Most importantly, just deal with my my moods. >> Takes a lot. >> It does. Rick's going to have to take over that role of dealing with my moods. Now, >> Candace has been coaching me. >> Yeah. [snorts] All right. So on to the achievements is uh we started off this uh this this year with SLover classroom floors. We finished out all the floors at Sllover. So all the asbesus floors have been removed [snorts] and we put in all the new non-wax easier to maintain floors

030in that whole building. That whole building really has turned around completely since we left it when we were administration there. Referendum we're pretty much all done. Uh we have a lot of uh punchless items. We have a lot of units that unfortunately have quirks that we're working through it. The biggest hold up right now with the completion of the referendum is our BMS system, which is our building management system. That is so we can control it to save energy and keep each classroom at a certain temperature. Um we're finding out that a lot of people do not like 70 degrees in the winter. Um so talking with Dr. Labby, I raised it to 72. But part of this is we do have to save energy. We really do. And we're going to try 74 for

031the summer to see if that works out. I believe 74 is a comfortable zone to be at for air conditioning. And it'll keep the humidity down low and keep the learning environment well. The next thing is the solar canopy. We we're kind of like in mids with that, but uh we're supposed to start very shortly. Um, snow held us up. Imagine that. Um, I have a meeting come tomorrow with them to see if they're going to move forward and clear off the side of the bus garage to start clearing out a landing area. Then we're going to talk with the high school and their first thing is to start with each canopy completion, get the lights underneath installed. Then once everything's powered to the buildings, they'll you'll have lights and everything else. And that's important

032to most because that seems to be the biggest complaint we now have at the high school is the lack of lighting in the parking lot. Unfortunately, when we put the canopies up now, the lights that come off the back of the parking lot are covered because of the canopies. Can't really see. Um, but for that part of the solar and everything else is hopefully they say six to eight weeks, weather permitting, of course, will be completed. Let's just hope because uh there's going to be a lot of offset probably students and staff because we're gonna have to move parking spots around. >> Well, we're gonna have to trench the parking lot, too. So, it's >> unless we might have a solution. >> Oh, wow. >> Um we might not have to trench the whole thing

033all the way down the back end. Um or come back with an RFI to see if we can come up by the auto shop, just cut across there and run the length of the building. >> Wow. with pipe. As long as it's not a extra cost like I extreme cost, we might do it. >> Once I get the numbers, they'll be passed on. >> Uh Eisenhower bathrooms are now complete. They came out beautiful. >> They look spectacular. >> Um all of them were done, but not inside the classrooms. We didn't We just did the main bathrooms for the staff and the students. The electric signs [snorts] are starting to You can see the sign right now outside here. Um, unfortunately it's not lit. And until we get rid of the snow, we really won't have

034it lit until we can run the electric through all that ground. Um, I held off on the middle school. They wanted to do that one, but with all the snow, they got to put a lift through the front lawn. Same thing with Arlith. I don't want to sink a truck in the middle of the school lawn. So, we're going to hold off until the snow melts and we we're able to get up there because they got to lift it out. It doesn't take long to get the sign in and out, but I don't want to destroy the lawn either. And then they're going to take a look this week to see if um they can do Eisenhower if the bucket will the lift will reach without tearing up the lawn. Um we do have a

035new sign at the uh high school for in the front. It's all lit up. It's it gets lit from 5 to uh 5:00 p p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Um there was a little problem there for a while. They were told to put 7:00 p.m. to 7 a.m. and it gets dark earlier in the winter. Um, we're still waiting for numbers on the generations to put generators in the high school, middle school, and here. Um, once we have all them numbers, I'll be able to reach out to the vendor that's on state contract to start moving forward. >> And I believe we're going to get those numbers on Thursday. >> That's what we're hoping for. And then I'll get in touch with the people and then they got to get electrician and we got to get

036the numbers. It's been like almost a year now that we started this, so I hope the cost didn't go up too great where we'll have to figure something out. Uh, the high school, I mean, the Eisenhower parking is complete. Um, I don't know if anybody's tried it out. It's pretty unique. Um, but it was something that really needed to be done. It seems to be flowing very well. Um, I stopped in the beginning. I was hanging out there to make sure everything was flowing real well. Everybody's paying attention. We do have some stragglers that drop their kids off in the inner parking lot, but it doesn't seem to affect with anything. Um, but when we did that, we lost the other interior parking in where they used to play. So, we did later on I

037got funds and we did uh we extended the black top in the back of the school and we removed the light pole and made an area for the kids to play in the back. So, it's nice there now, too. Um, esports lab is pretty much complete. Um, I think everything's ready to go. I don't know if Eric can confirm that. >> We're all set and say for the air conditioning, but everything else >> air conditioned for late March, early April. >> Can can I go in there and play Space Invaders or anything like that? >> I think Space Invaders is gone. I was looking for package. >> What about Missile Command? >> If there's Missile Command, we're playing. >> Okay. And last for this year's achievements is our greenhouse. We have a delivery date >>

038for Thursday. >> Yes, Thursday. >> There's a good [clears throat] chance we might snow on Thursday. >> Yeah. Well, we got bad weather coming. >> Oh, he's sending us pictures. I don't know what he sent us pictures of. He sent us pictures. >> You know what I'm waiting for, though? >> I'll believe that one when I see it. >> Conor stepped in a little bit to start getting to the guy that she originally communicated this with. I have a feeling we're gonna end up with two for some reason. [laughter] >> Well, if it's for the price of one, I'll take two. >> Yeah. >> Uh, now moving to our goals for next year. As always, one of my goals is survival. Um, to get through everything that we do. Um, so far so good. Um,

039we're hoping that a transportation complex is completed. >> So isn't Patrick. >> Yeah, I think he's hoping for that, too. I'm not sure. Um, so we'll see with that. We're still in the legal battles with the town and we'll see how we make out with that. I can't really talk much about that one. Um, of course we're going to finish all the punch list items for the referendum. I have a feeling the way JCPNO has been doing our startups and shutdowns, um, we might have to wait for Slower to finally finish all the, uh, electric there. It looks they're hoping for spring break of this year, but I have a feeling we're gonna have to wait till the summer. Um, we're going to finish the solar canopies going into the next summer. Uh, the generators

040is going to take a while. That might last a majority of next year because there's a lot of work with that. Each school is going to take a lot to put [clears throat] the generator in, then get it, you know, everything underground to run all the wiring and stuff to get it up and running. But that'll be great once it's done. At least three schools will have power everywhere. That's will help a lot with It seems like we get a lot of power outages anymore. As someone texted me over the weekend, people love telephone calls in this town. Um, another thing I would like to do is once we get that garage, um, I'd like to convert the current bus garage into our central receiving instead of having it here and would have to refurbish

041it to make it into a receiving area. Redo some stuff that got damaged through the years and just make it nice for the people coming in. And the back end will still be for our grounds department because we need somewhere to have our snow equipment and the stuff we use for the baseball uh fields and maintaining our grounds. Uh playground at uh Arlith in the back by that white fence. They want to expand that so the kids have a secondary area to play instead of just in like the parking lot area as I used to call back in the day the map area which is by species. They want another location to have for inclement weather to be able to move out that way too. >> Well, and part of the issue there and I

042think Mr. Preston would have talked about it more is the fact that currently parking for staff is becoming a greater and greater issue over at Arlith. Um so some staff are are forced to park in that playground area. Um, but then when the kids have inclement weather and they can't go out in the back in the grass, you know, they can't also go out on the in that parking area. So, the key would be to expand the blacktop in the back so that the kids can have their recess always out there. They would just stay on the black top during inclement weather. And then he can use that area in front of the main office. It's currently being used as a recess area during inclement weather as parking. And plus during the day sometimes the

043garbage gets picked up and they have to stop playgrounds to get the garbage trucks in there. Um Truman bathrooms I like to redo. Um they need it just like all the other schools. It's their turn basically. um playground uh fence at Wilson School. Um we now have preschool there. So the kids are tending to run down that big hill. If anybody's been ever been there or slayigh rod down, they know what I'm talking about. And with the little kids, they don't want them rolling down that hill. And to keep them out of the uh [laughter] the wood area, too. You could all picture it, right? Oh yeah. >> And and you know that we we we you know Elijah Young um a a high school student last year did an incredible job of constructing that

044incredible playground. >> But we do need a fence around it to keep all the kids from rolling down the hill um if they're playing there. And moreover to to keep them safe from you know and also to protect to lock and protect the equipment uh once you know we close the school. I know if I was a kid, I'd be rolling down that hill. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> And then if funding's there and available after we do the bus garage and everything else, um we would like to turf the baseball and the softball fields area to get rid of the grass and make it more playable and which would be an extreme cost of course be. And then lastly, what we've been trying to do is at our stadium, upgrade the entire facade of it

045to make it look better, say update the uh concession stand, ticket booth area, make it more secure, have some um metal detectors so it's easier get the people in, more of them, and it's a bigger flow and less congestion because the state playoff game was definitely interesting when we had that many people show up. Um we did the best we can. uh people were not happy but everybody was safe. >> Yeah. >> And of course those last two items are dependent upon the amount of of funds we still have in capital reserve after um the transportation complex. So a lot of it is dependent on that. >> And that's pretty much all I got. Um I'm hoping everything goes well. We get most of the stuff that I put in my budget. Not too many

046cuts I'm hoping. [clears throat] But I usually get a big slash. I don't know what happens there. That's all I got. Anybody got any questions? >> I just want to say an amazing job by you, Kenny, your custodians, and your maintenance staff in keeping our buildings running through the snow and through the referendum. Your profession is one that doesn't get noticed until something goes wrong. And the fact that we haven't noticed you is a testament to you and your entire team. So, thank you for Thank you, Kenny, all the other custodians and maintenance staff for all for all that you do. >> Thank you. >> Good job. >> Thank you, guys. >> [applause] >> Okay, for our next presentation on transportation, I'm going to ask Mr. CI uh Mr. Siniglia to trans. Sorry, Nick. Hold

047the fast one on you. Transportation, Mr. Siglia. Um, now you're looking at the cover of his First of all, the guy driving the bus is incredibly handsome. >> He's a good-look guy. >> But but Patrick, that guy in the back seat looks like he's going to break his neck in between those windows. Yeah. Well, >> I think he needs to learn proper safety while riding on a bus. >> He doesn't have a seatelt on. I don't >> He I guarantee he doesn't have a seatelt on, >> but he looks really intense, too. Do you notice that? That's an intense look on that kid in the back seat. >> By the way, I'm sure that all of my Wi-Fi access is discontinued right now because of this. >> Well, I mean, my AI work, you know,

048>> talk about fake and real. I can't tell the difference. You can't tell the difference, right? It's pretty good. >> I can concave. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> I got two hands on the wheel. That's the most important thing. >> Yeah. I don't see a seat belt on you either. >> Oh, ouch. That could be five demerits. Um, >> all right. So, let's see if I remember. Um, Jayen said, "Always push the top button." >> Oh. So, um, by the way, Jimmy breaks my chops every time, every year about how long my presentations make take and how many slides I got. And Jimmy got two slides, but you go up here like 45 minutes. Come on. So, uh I'm going to start uh this meeting with a safety message like I do all my meetings

049with the drivers. Um and uh tonight's message is a uh public safety message to the board members, all the attendees here tonight and the millions of viewers that are home watching us on the internet because not too many people in the showroom here. So, I'm sure they're watching on uh online. So, I'd like to briefly outline New Jersey's laws uh reg requiring motorists to um stop for all school buses while displaying their flashing red lights. These laws are designated to protect children and they and they b as they board and exit the bus. Under New Jersey state law, when a school bus has its red lights flashing and the stop arm extended, drivers from both directions must stop at least 25 ft from the bus. This ensures a safe area for students crossing the roadway.

050Drivers must remain stopped until all children are safely on or off the bus and the bus has deactivated the lights and pulled the stop arm in. There's only two very limited exceptions to this and is on a divided highway with a physical median opposing traffic. the opposing traffic. It has to be a a concrete or a guard rail preventing anybody from crossing over. On the opposite side, they can continue to go, but no faster than 10 miles per hour or when a bus is direct stopped directly in front of a school, uh the vehicles may pass at 10 miles per hour. And while the bus is parked in front of the school, they shouldn't have their red lights on anyway. Um so they, you know, they're allowed to pass. They just have to go very

051slow. Uh the yellow or amber flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop and the motorist must slow down and get ready. The penalties are significant. The first offense carries a minimum of $100 up to $250 fine and possible 15 days in jail or community service and five motor vehicle part uh points. Repeat offenders carry a minimum of 250 up to $500 fine plus mandatory jail or community service and a license suspension of 15 days. These laws exist for one reason, to keep the children safe. Stopping for school buses is not only a legal requirement, it is a shared responsibility that protects lives. And Patrick, this got rave reviews when we we bomber blasted it. Um, just looking at the number of people that liked um and commented about this on on social media

052was great. >> Yep. So, this is the ad that we ran on social media. Um, hopefully it caught enough people's attention. I I did see some comments on it. Um, you know, on on the different social media sites. Um, so what are we doing about it? So, I'm not going to push the top button. So, starting back in about November, um we were able to partner up with the Saraveville Police Department and their traffic and safety division, [snorts] and uh they set up a a um special link for us where we can send them footage that we're able to capture off our buses when vehicles are running through our red lights and stop signs. Um, since we've been doing that, we um have we've been able to capture 21 incidents uh in that three-month period.

053There are way way many more. Way many more. We can't even keep up with them. They come in and we don't have the proper equipment on all the buses to capture. So, on the 10 buses that we do have, when these cars go through, we're able to capture this and we sent them over to the police department and they've issued out violations for 21 of them. Um, these people got tickets and court orders in the mail and they're being prosecuted through the court system. I don't have the results that came in from them yet. We tried to get them, but um they weren't made available to us yet. So, uh, hopefully they're getting violations and hopefully that'll get broadcast, people will see it, and maybe that will wake them up. But, as you can see

054on on the prior slides, the penalties are stiff. So, hopefully um, you know, unfortunately, some people are going to have to get hit with these fines and and fix it. Um, we're doing everything we can. So, all that being said and done, we go on to the uh presentation for my budget proposals. >> Look at that handsome guy. Is that AI generated too? >> 27. >> Um I actually >> Stephanie looks spectacular. So, so that that is me and that's the my assistant transportation director, Stephanie. Uh, the original picture I took had me looking really mean. I had to say I had to think, you know, don't make me look so mean. That's what we came up with. Um, so just an overview uh first of last year's requests and what came of them. So

055last year we asked for u four 54 passenger buses. Out of those four we um we received two into that budget year. Um we requested one mini bus and we did receive that one mini bus. We uh requested some shop equipment. We received that and we received um enough funds to sustain our existing uniform and training programs and all of our software. Um what we did not and we asked uh was for an additional secretary from my department and that was cut. Um I'm going to ask for that again this year. Um and I later on in the deck I just want to go into a little detail and why I'm asking for that and hopes that that gets put back into the budget if that money is available um after we get our state

056funding. So this year uh I am requesting the two 54 passenger buses that we did not get last year uh to give us with an adequate number of spares um so we can continue to service our fleet when they go down. Um we take the buses off the road to service it. We need to have backup buses to put back on the road and we'll have extra buses for athletic and field trips. Um, we're asking for four replacement minibuses. We lost four, actually five minibuses after the start of school this year due to undercarriage body rot. And it was very specific to a brand that we had. Um the way that the buses were designed the on the underc carriage there was uh the way that the the the struts came across they were hollowed

057up on the top. So over the years salt buildup and grime corroded out all of the struts that were supporting the bus body above the chassis. Uh we went out to several um companies to go out and fix them for us. The prices were astonishing. um and even at the point where it was just cheaper for us to buy new buses. So, we did um come up with a guy that was giving us a uh a fix. We were able to get a few of them back on the road. Um actually, we got one actually past inspection to get back on the road so far. The other ones are going through a cycle now. We're going to try and get them on, but they're not a long-term fix. Um, again, you know, the inspectors are

058going to come in and they're going to pick on it and they're going to put them out of service again. So, um, I asked for four replacements. Um, in the budget, we do have, uh, three of them approved. So, I mean, that's better than nothing, but if there is money for it when we come back around, we could use that extra one. Um, and then I have a replacement wheelchair bus uh in the request, and that has been approved. Uh, I have in there the video systems for these new buses I put in for um an added service truck. Uh, we have the one service truck that we got about two years ago now. Um, and it's great. It's doing a great job. Um, it supports an old van that we have. That van was

059uh recycled from uh the grounds department before we even had a regular service truck. That's on its last leg. And it's very difficult for us, especially when our buses are so spread out when we have an issue at a school, uh whether it be a hard start or an issue with doors not opening or whatever it is that requires uh any service that we need to get a truck over there. And the same thing may happen at another school or one of the other lots or one of the other schools. We have no way to get in service both of them at the same time. So, two would would give us a significant amount of help to, you know, stay the keep the buses moving and stop delays and and have our guys out there

060getting to work them. So, um that's why that request was put in there. I have in u the request for an added secretary. I'm going to go into that in more detail and justify that. You know, this is probably the third year um that I'm asking for it. So, uh, I just want to put a little color behind it as to why I'm asking for that and maybe something can happen there. Um, and I put in, um, in the budget for a AI cameras. Um, that's been removed as well, but I'll just go in detail about it. Um, just so refresh memory. I I did present them about two years ago. And, um, just put out there, it's an option for us if we want to go down that route. Um, I have a couple

061slides as we get into this and what they're about. Uh, and then just the the just uh regular run-of-the-mill sustaining everything that we have the the things in place which um they all have been approved. So, we're okay with that. That's [snorts] for the uh keeping the uniforms, the training programs, and all of our routing software and video management systems. So, [snorts] how we did last year, plan versus actual, we had um 74 buses in our fleet, 56 um and 18 minis. That's how we started out. We're down to 13 minis right now. Um we are leasing one uh from another bus company down in South Jersey to help pick up the slack because of those that went out. Uh we have that under contract until the end of the school year. uh and hopefully

062we won't need that anymore. We'll get those new buses in and uh be able to give that back uh and and save that money because that's an extreme cost as well. Um we we plan to run 67 uh in-house routes and um you know we lost the four we we were not able to run the 16. We had to combine routes and we end up running 14 minibus routes out of that. uh with no less students. So, the buses are really packed up. Um the routes are running longer than we want them to and um we actually even have some many students um put onto large buses u that we were able to get close enough to their houses where um they weren't these students weren't, you know, in that need of actual stops in

063front of their houses. So if there were communities where we were able to get the bus close enough to their house, we spoke with the parents, we spoke with the special services team and we identified who it was that we would be able to put on a larger buses and that's what we did. We have them on the larger buses and we have a bus aid on with them. So that's been working out for us. Uh but it's tough. It's it's tough getting down those smaller streets with the big buses. It's not ideal. Uh for the subscription busing, [snorts] we uh we planned on uh 436 with uh 236 of them being free. We actually have 448 um students with 237 of them getting free or reduced lunch. Uh we planned on transporting uh 5,365

064students. That's based on the previous year and we actually are transporting at the time that we ran the report 5,206 students uh 322 A and Lou uh was what we planned on. We actually have 301 this year. Um the audit district sped students uh we planned on 56 with 35 routes. We wound up running 51 with uh 38 routes. So 51 students, 38 routes. Uh we planned on uh we got the four office staff and we actually were started out with three mechanics uh finally and then we lost them and we're back down to two and we're going to be down to one uh very shortly. So that's an area of uh great concern for me. Um, and we uh we ran 67 drivers with two subs and 35 bus aids, six short from where

065we need to be. This year's plan is based off of our actuals. Next year's plan is based off our actuals this year. So, we're basically looking to maintain everything that we have and hopefully we can facilitate a little bit more of these um the subscription students. So, that's going to stand out, right? So, um, 470, that's how many applicants we had last year. We're not transporting 470. We can't fit 470 in our buses. So, hopefully we'll be able to work something out with the routes and try and squeeze in some more space for these kids. Um, there are more kids out there that are requesting transportation that we can't provide. Uh, we're not legally mandated to provide that transportation. And those are students that live within the two miles uh from the middle school, two

066and a half miles from the high school. Um so, um that's basically, you know, what we're trying to accomplish everything we did last year. Um and a little bit better going forward into the next into the following year. Just a quick slide on what that say sustaining and maintaining is. It's our training. This is our team, our uniform. These are our buses that we keep on the road and the um the where's [clears throat] the bus app that we're running. So, uh real quick just to introduce the AI cameras to you guys once again. Um they're what's different here than what we don't is these are cameras that are set up um directly facing the driver and the [snorts] road in front of them and it's a coach. So, it's not it's not a >>

067[snorts] >> um meant to be a a reprimanding type event. It's designed for to improve driver compliance. Knowing that the cameras are recording, encourages safe driver behavior among motorists. Um and u it's it's actually coaching, not surveillance. Take the growing adoption of AI power dash cameras. When framed solely as surveillance tools, these systems can uh alienate [snorts] drivers. Not no one wants to feel like they're being watched without uh contact or support. However, when implemented with a focus on coaching rather than punishment, these become our allies. Um people don't want the camera on them. The drivers don't want it. They're against it until they actually learn what good it does. We went through this. Everybody, every school district, every private contractor when we started putting cameras on the bus, everybody swore that it was big

068brother watching. We don't want them watching us. The, you know, the shops that had unions went to the unions, they complained about it. And you know what? Today, it is their best friend. Um, they realize that those cameras are there. They're helping them, not hurting them. And, uh, we lost the slides. So, if we move towards these, I think it's a great thing. It's going to enable us to coach drivers in a real life, real world, real time. Um, they get alerts. Hey, put your cell phone down. It sees the cell phone go up. Um, the driver doesn't have their seatelt on. Hey, put your seatelt on. Uh, hey, you're driving too fast. These are all audible tones that will come out and they and they tell the driver that this needs correction. We in

069turn get those reports sent back to us. Hey, this driver did this, this driver did that. You know, um and then we can set them up for coaching and say, hey, you know, it's this is not safe. This is why we tell you to do this. Uh there's a million videos out there drivers that don't want to wear their seat belts. Just Google it. School bus drivers not wearing their seat belts. They They bounce out of the seat, fall out, grab the steering wheel, crash into cars, crash into houses. We had a driver a couple years ago that that actually happened to him. Um, and he was uh he he he wasn't paying attention for one reason or another. He didn't have a seatelt on. He made the turn, he caught a car and bounced

070right out of his seat. And thank God that it was he was going so slow that he was able to stop right there. But, you know, they could have been way worse. So, seat belts are important. They're very important in school buses. So, that's uh that's just a little bit of what the AI cameras do. They're in the budget. If we get it approved, it's great. If not, you know, I'll reintroduce it again next year. Um, >> and I get it. You know, it's um it's a lot of money. It's not working anymore here. So, So my next slides, you guys have copies of it um if it's not going to come up on air. So this is >> staff overview. >> What's that? >> Staff staff overview. >> So the office staff overview, >>

071right? So this is this is going to go into a little bit of detail that um why I'm asking for this extra office staff person. So, the facts are that our trans our transportation uh department transports approximately 5,300 students every day. We oversee 112 employees, 74 school buses, and more than 15 additional maintenance and facility vehicles. In addition to daily routes, we manage athletic trips, field trips, extra extracurricular transportation, and weekend travel. Our operation days begin at 6:00 a.m. and they regularly extend beyond 5:00 p.m. with after hours and weekend coverage required when buses are on the road. Uh we have two secretaries. Our two our two secretary function is dual roles, administrative coordinators and dispatchers. They're not really secretaries. They're titled as secretaries. um amongst I think I guess a lot of not a

072lot of thing but other parts of our contract is geared primarily towards education teachers uh kind of vague on the transportation side of it and maintenance so they are labeled as secretaries but they're really way more than a secretary um and dispatchers they handle real time driver communication route [clears throat] changes payroll verifications parent concerns uh field trip scheduling, fleet documentation, regulatory reporting tied to New Jersey Department of Education. The aid and lose is a big big job for us in that department. And um the New Jersey Department of Transportation, this is a live logistics and compliance driven operation. [clears throat] The reality is in our office we have myself, an assistant director and two administrative dispatch staffs and they must [clears throat] we we must cover an 11-hour plus day plus weekends and afterhour

073responsibilities and there's very little built in for redundancy. >> [clears throat] >> When one person is in out the workload immediately concentrates during peak routing times dispatch demands alone dispatch dispatch demands alone and requires full attention while payroll verification documentation and parent communication comm continues simultaneously. This creates operational strain and risk. dispatch overload, payroll inaccuracies, delayed parent responses, documentation backlog, reduction in segregation of duties, and increased audit exposure. Uh, audit exposure. Supervisorial staff are frequently pulled into clerical and dispatch uh functions, reducing our focus on safety and operational insight. That would be Stephanie and myself. Um, our goal, my goal is to have a properly aligned staff with the scale and hours of this department. I am recommending the additional one full-time administrative dispatch secretary. And this position would provide full operational coverage, help to

074[clears throat] provide full operations coverage, help to strengthen dispatch capacity, improve our payroll accuracy. When I say payroll, we don't actually do the payroll. We do have a payroll department. Uh but we do need to verify everybody's time every day. Um and that is a is a is a job in itself. Um you know we do split shifts verifying who did work, who didn't work, you know, who did extra trips. Um that in itself is a huge huge job. And um that Stephanie does that. Um it takes up almost most of her day every day. It's a couple hours every day that she spends on that. and she gets has to get pulled away and do other duties that that we would have that extra person do. So, the extra person we're asking is not

075going to be doing that stuff. That stuff is done by Stephanie and myself um because it is so sensitive. Um we we will be able to enhance the parent responsiveness, strengthen internal controls, and improve our compliance readiness. This is not an expansion of services. It's a structural adjustment to match administrative capacity with size, complexity, and regularity obligations of a 5,300 student transportation system. This adjustes support staff compliance and operational stability. Part of when I mention here about uh compliance is also geared towards what happens in our maintenance facility for maintaining the buses. Everything that we do on a bus has to be documented. Uh and it has to be stored and ready for an audit. Um we don't want to be on the wrong side of those audits and we don't want to be on

076the wrong side of non-compliance with that because then that creates a safety hazard. So that is something that we've never had. Um and that's part of the operation that didn't grow with us. Um Barry, who is our lead tech, um he handles all that while he's turning wrenches. Um and it's just him and another guy right now. So um this this role would also take a large burden off of Barry as well. Guy should have put the threeminut timer on me. [clears throat] >> So my 26 >> the 30 minute timer. >> Yeah, I know. I know. I try to get it short but so the [clears throat] 262 27 goals is to sustain uh and improving our safety culture maintaining 100% indistrict routes in uh in our in-house continue driver safety through training and

077monitoring eliminate reduce red light violators and to complete our mechanic staff and implement a continuous education training and advancement program. Uh the challenges don't change every year. They're always the same. Uh there is a time time is our our our biggest challenge out of everything overall. Uh and the biggest one is with the um between the middle school and the elementary tiers. Um it's still very tight. Uh we're getting by. Uh I haven't had that many complaints this year. Uh but I think people have come almost to accept it. But um it's just it's just a very short time period with the increasing amount of people moving in the town, the traffic and everything. There's just not enough time to complete routes to get there on time every day. Uh lack of space to maintain

078our staff and service fleet, transportation complex, um and occasionally not having enough bus to cover routes. That's where our spares come in and our u maintenance facility and uh keeping up with our day-to-day data entries for fleet maintenance records, route changes, entries, payroll verications, etc., etc. Um, that's what the extra staff person would be for. And that's the slide we've all been waiting for. >> The end. How long was it? >> You don't want to know questions. >> So, let me ask a question. The AI cameras, how much is the cost of that to do >> the AI cameras? They are 40 bucks a bus per month. >> Per month. Per bus. And unfortunately, we can't go on a 10-month year. So, it's 12 when we were paying. We have to pay a full 12

079months, >> right? Okay. >> Now, that doesn't cover the camera outside the bus to catch violators. Correct. >> It will catch certain violators. Um, it would catch violators provided they have a front license plate. Um, then it would catch those violators as well. >> Okay. and it would notify us that that happened. Um, and we wouldn't have to go looking for it. Um, a lot of the problem is a lot of these cars don't have front license plates. >> Okay. >> So, on some of the on the side camera buses, we catch them coming and going. >> And those and those are the 10 buses that you mentioned in three months captured 21 incidents. That was just three months and 10 buses, correct? >> Yep. >> And and I know that's not a statistically valid

080sample. So extrapolation isn't an exact science, but >> it is not because those buses are in random spots. U you know, so there's 40 probably more a week that are in areas where those buses aren't coverage, >> right? So if we have 74 buses and let's say nine months a year, again, it's not statistically valid, so we extrapolation isn't exact, but roughly we're talking about 4,500 by violations a year. Correct. >> It wouldn't surprise me. Yeah, that's a that's a really high risk for for >> it wouldn't surprise me if you look very large number Woodbridge for example um ran a a statistic study on it uh and they were in the double digit >> thousands 20,000 plus um red light red light violators in Woodbridge. >> But just to clarify again as Patrick said

081the AI cameras that he's referencing while they can do it in certain cases they're not made for that purpose. Right. Right. It's not the same ones that that >> the same ones that we that we have on those 10 buses. >> They're those are different cases. >> Those are different. Those are designed to catch these. >> Yeah. So, the ones that are caching them, they were uh extra cameras that we added on the bus to the existing interior cameras that we use for student management. >> Okay. >> Those cameras, they're a onetime cost. whatever we pay for them, you know, a couple hundred bucks or whatever it is that there's no ongoing fee for those. The the AI cameras have an ongoing fee because they're monitoring everything for us. They're they're they're picking out what

082the drivers are doing wrong. They're picking out if they're speeding. They're picking out if they're not going through a stop sign, they go through a red light. Um, you know, it's continuously being monitored and that's why there's an ongoing fee for that. Well, being that we're not currently I mean I don't know where we're at with the AI cameras, what the appetite is for that, but is there then any appetite to then purchase that same camera that you have on those other 10 buses to add to the the rest of the fleet? >> So, what we've been doing um it was [snorts] brought up in the past and it was a large expense to take on uh not knowing if it would produce anything. Um, so what we did was when we bought new buses,

083as we bought the brand new school buses for the past two years or so, when we ordered those cameras, we were ordering that extra camera on those buses. >> So, um, you know, to answer your question, we haven't added any to any of the existing fleet. Um, we could, you know, I could put a proposal on the cost of that. Um, and I think it's a great idea, but that also takes somebody to manage that. >> Um, like we we know, you know, somebody [snorts] ran those red lights, then we have to go physically pull that, review that footage, uh, make sure it's uh, something that the police department could use and then forward that over. All time consuming. Um, but could be done. >> Okay. Yeah, I think it's worth entertaining. I mean, to

084your point, I mean, the amount of I mean, just with my children and what I see on Main Street, it's ridiculous the [clears throat] amount of people that that blow it. So, whatever we can do, I think from a safety perspective is worth the cost to me. >> Yeah. I I mean, you should see some of the stuff we see. It's The one that gets me the most is the buses stop loading kids and they pass the bus on the right. I mean, on the right. >> That's crazy. >> Kids steps off the bus and they get hit by a car. It's It's insane. >> Yeah. Yeah. I would be agreeable to getting those cameras, especially if we got thousands of violators. It's only a couple hundred bucks. How we got 74? Maybe we don't

085have to do every one of them, but a lot of them. So, in in full transparency, there is a an organization out there and it's at the Senate level pushing for this to be mandatory. Right now, we can't issue tickets for people running our red lights. Um the police department is working with us with their prosecutor and doing this and seeing how far we can get with it. If this law gets passed where this becomes an enforcable violation from our video cameras. There are companies out there that are already in other states and they're trying to get in New Jersey and they're pushing for this to get approved where they put the cameras on the bus for free. Um, and when that when somebody violates it, they grab that footage, they set it up in

086a presentable format, send it to the the judge, to the local judge or whatever, and they prosecute it, and they get a percentage of that ticket u that gets issued, the fine that gets issued, that pays for their system. Um, when that gets done, they'll put it on all of our buses for free. So, it might be something, you know, maybe we wait another year or so on that. >> So, >> and I'm I'm not an attorney. Jonathan is not here to weigh in on this, but and Eric, you can jump in if you'd like. I think part of the problem is a matter of um due process um and probable cause for the police. Um, as you as you recall, sever about 10 years ago, they tried to do that with >> red light

087red light cameras. >> And the problem that they ran into for legal purposes was driver said, "That wasn't me driving the car." >> Yeah. >> It's my car. How do you know it was me driving the car? >> Yeah. Because you can catch the license plate. >> Wasn't pulled over by the police officer. you're getting a ticket later and later to say um it was very difficult for municipalities to prosecute these people because of the fact that drivers would say that I wasn't driving. >> But how do you know that was me driving that vehicle? Well, just because you own the car. >> I got a ticket from Seville. They don't have any proof that I parked that. >> Well, that's a different park. But that's personal. That's different. That's different. >> It's different. >>

088But that's the way it should go. I'm just trying to say that what Patrick is saying it is it may not be ripe for this because first we have to see how successful the police were in prosecuting >> what those 21 alcohol >> those 21 you know violators were. I I mean, listen, I'm I'm right on board with everybody in terms of wanting to do this, but what I don't want to do is spend an exorbitant amount of money for cameras that don't give us the opportunity to yield any result from it. And that's well like like Patrick said sometimes >> I mean we all have the best interest in safety of the kids in mind and hope that videos sent to the police department turn into 21 moving violations. But until the law in

089the state of New Jersey catches up with the technology >> exactly >> why waste the money on the technology >> right now. I know that's why the whole red light thing failed >> and they stopped putting cameras on the >> red light cameras >> they it stopped because people would say yeah that's my car but I wasn't driving >> but in New Jersey it was both red light cameras and speeding cameras that they had to take down in New Jersey >> right because that's what when people would go to court they go yeah it's my car but I wasn't driving >> exactly >> I'm pretty sure that in New Jersey it wasn't the courts that shot it down it was the legislature got too many complaints and they turned it down New York still uses

090the the the the uh cameras. >> Um and but I do know that they have problems prosecuting people. >> No, no, I get it and you're right. We are prudent waiting to see the outcome of these and seeing how it's going forward. I just I remember we had this discussion a couple years ago. Um and I did research [snorts] it and it it was it was a legislative if you Google it's a it was a legislative issue and the legislature for v for various complaints went and turned it. It wasn't that the court said cameras aren't aren't valid. Um, New York still still uses the uh cameras and it stood up in in in their court system as well. So, but you're right, we should wait to see how how these come out and let's,

091you know, let's not rush into this, but it's something to think about in the future, but let's see. But you're absolutely right. Let's see how it turns out. >> Yeah. When are we going to get the results? >> Do we have any idea >> beyond my control? >> All right. So, we should work on that president. Um, the report. It's >> something to think about. >> Has been communicating with Sergeant Braille um and trying to get us those results and when they're made available to us, they will. Uh so those 21 violations that we got, they were we we painstakingly went through those. Those are videos that we're send where as clear as I'm looking at your face right now behind that wheel, we're seeing that in that car. >> There's no denying who was

092driving that car. >> Um and I mean it's it's clear. It's it's clear like >> it's it's you. There's no disputing it. And those are the ones that the the prosecutor chose that he could he could actually issue a summon on. >> I think it also would act like a deterrent. Okay. People, if I'm going to go out tonight and I'm going on Facebook and I'm going to say that these bus cameras caught 21 violators and they went to the police department. I'm going to scare everybody into thinking that you dare pass the school bus, our school bus is going to catch you on camera. People, unless they're listening to this meeting, which is highly unlikely, they're not going to know that it was only 10 buses and 21 violations out of 20,000, but I'm

093going to make it seem like a big deal and I'm going to scare people into not doing it. That's what the camera does. We should be promoting it even though it's a limited amount. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but there's 45,000 people that live in Saraveville, >> but they don't >> I'm not sure they're all on your Facebook. >> Listen. Oh, I'm well connected, but >> but they'll all be on my email. >> I'm famous. I'm famous [laughter] on Facebook. Okay, trust me. I'm not liked. I'm liked and I have 20 million people who really don't care. However, 20 million people, the 45,000 people who live in Seville aren't listening to this meeting. And I'm going to scare the crap out of them when I get off and I go home. and and everybody on the

094board should do the same. >> And and another factor to factor in with the cost as you're saying is you're monitoring these. So I think there's far more cost in monitoring this than the actual physical c cameras themselves. So there is a lot to think about here and there's a lot to consider before we move forward. It's not just the cost. Listen, there was a time there was a time when we didn't have >> there was a time when we didn't have these cameras and Patrick was talking about getting these cameras. Now we have >> 10 buses. Patrick's talking about more buses. So that's newer buses that we can potentially put that in. Right. >> We're going to incrementally get there, but I think we just have to >> just be a little bit cautious.

095>> Yeah. >> Uh in terms of um you know getting an exorbitant amount of them until we see what the outcome is in Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Know you're right. There's a lot to factor in. It's not just the cost of cameras, but monitoring it. You're saying that you spent a lot of time going through 10 of them. If we had 74 of them, >> it would be >> the cost to monitor them would also be a significant factor. >> If this legislation does get passed, all that monitoring, the cameras, everything is at no cost to us, right? >> We can sign a contract with them where they'll get paid >> directly from violations that are met. >> And and we love free. Yeah. And >> I wonder even when you look at um you

096know homes that have you know the security signs on the front that say this home is protected by security company you know signage maybe on the buses would be a great deterrent. Like you're on camera stop for the stop sign. >> I mean like you're on camera do not pass this bus when it stops. Something like that on the buses might be a form of deterrent in itself if they >> I think it's a great idea but unfortunately the state governs every sticker or anything that gets put onto a school. >> You would be able to put that on there. >> We would it would have to be approved through the Department of Education and Transportation. >> We they're very specific, >> right? >> The size of a sticker, the color, >> they're more about

097distracting drivers >> than they are about. I would be surprised if they if they if they limited that so much that they that we would not be able to do something like that when we're talking about children the safety and this violation that is just, you know, so predominant, you know, in the community. >> Yeah, I that's probably all of that is part of what's going through legislation now and hopefully it gets passed. Um I think it's going to get passed to be honest with you. >> Um and that that's >> I mean that'll be great for us. still the AI cameras if you if you want to go back down that road. Um we could sample a handful. Um and as far as the coaching goes and everything like that, I think I'm going

098to need a little bit of cooperation from the union on that though if I'm only putting it on a couple rather than everybody. Like who am I singling out? Um there, you know, I I mean the argument would be made that we're not going to discipline from it. Um it's purely coaching. >> Um I'm sure there are some drivers that would agree to it. Yeah. Put it on my bus. >> But >> so that would be technically like a pilot, right? Just to see if it works or not. >> Yeah. >> Um worth considering. >> Can I ask you a question, Patrick? Um what was my question? Oh, for the naysayers, because we have uh 20,000 people in this town who think that we shouldn't have buses, that it's just Dr. Labby's dream to be

099a bus transportation king. Okay, which is not true. >> I had a dream. >> So, if we if we had uh rented the buses like, you know, we used to we'd pay all these. How many how much of these advancements would we have if we did not own our own buses? Would we have all this technology and knowing where the bus is, all that stuff? How much would we get if we were still in the stone age of renting buses? >> We could get as much as we wanted to pay for. It would have to be built into the specs that they'd have to do it. But, um, you know, mismatching contractors, you know, you know, 10 buses with this contractor, 15 with the other, um, you know, five or six with another one, 10

100with us. We're never going to have the control, ever have the control that we have right now. We are in control of everything that moves. every one of our students in district. >> We have complete control. You're not going to get that. >> To your point, I mean, I know that you and I have both fielded um complaints from parents that are on one of those buses that we're leasing right now. And it doesn't it won't they won't cooperate with with us with the where's the bus app. So the kids on that bus, those parents don't >> get the same service that every other parent gets because that's a bus that we're leasing from somebody else and we don't we can't have that app. So I I think we'd be in some similar situations. >>

101Yeah. It would have to be built into our specs and they're going to bang us over the head for it and then we're still not going to get unless we guarantee one contractor. It's not going to happen. We'll never [snorts] have the control that we have now. We have full control. It is great. the way it is now. Uh we one radio channel. All the drivers are on the same channel. We all have the same goal. This is all we're doing. We're not hurrying up here, run over to Old Bridge, pick up two kids over there, get them to school, and come back here, you know, drop off the kids and say, "On the way to East Brunswick." We're not doing that. >> I I remember when you first joined us and when you came

102up and Dr. Lavy spoke so highly of you, oh, how you going to help us and do all this stuff and I said, "Wow, I hope this guy don't quit after I met, you know, spoke with you." So from the first day that you joined till now, have you fe do you feel that our kids are in much better safe situations going on that school bus? >> 100%. >> Well, thank you for all your hard work. >> Always always looking to make it better, too. So >> Well, thank you and thank you for staying. >> Thanks for having me. >> Any more questions? He's been an hour. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Next. >> Ding, ding, ding. >> All right. Great job, Patrick. Seriously. [applause] Very informative. >> Nick, you're up. >> All right, Nick. Going

103to be a hard act to follow. >> What was that, Dr. Lobby? This was a very brief one you said. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Well, Nick has pictures. He doesn't have a lot of content on slides. Um, and as I said before, just to again make sure everybody understands that Nick's budget is separate from the school district budget. He operates on his enterprise account budget um free of the operational budget. Go ahead, Nick. There we go. All right. Now, we get to talk about mango meatballs and stainless steel kitchen appliances. So, we're working. We're getting better here. We're getting slowly. All righty. We will also be talking about the current reimbursement breakdown. Uh meal totals for the first three months of the school year, a few new menu items that just might be selling a

104little quicker than crumb cake on Main Street, as well as some fun new and exciting updates at the middle school. The federal reimbursement breakdown for the current school year is as follows. Free lunches were getting reimbursed at $4.60. Reduced prices are getting reimbured at $4.40 and the paid lunches are at 44. Free breakfast are reimbured at $2.94. The reduced rate is $2.64 and the paid breakfast are at 40. What does that mean? >> So, every student are my students are in three different categories. They're paid, reduced, or free. So, every free meal we sell, we will or for every free student that purchases a meal, we'll get reimbured at that 400 4 $4.60 rate. If it's a reduced price and if it's paid, it's that much less. Yes. Yes. They all It all adds up

105though. >> Federal government reimbures us 44 cents. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> No, Brad. >> The monthly comparisons are showing some strong numbers to start the school year off. September, we sold 67,775 meals. That averaged out to be 3,764 per day. In October, we hit the 90,000 mark, which was pretty good. 90,528 to be exact. That averaged out to 4,310 per day. And in November, we did 60,734 meals with our highest average per day at 4,338 meals. The meals per day versus last year show excellent growth. The Sarville War Memorial High School has been up 7.5%. Sarville Middle School up two and a quarter and the UEES is up just shy of 3%. These great participation numbers are in part because of the wonderful people at Rich Chicks and their amazing chicken products.

106Uh we're running five of them on the menu right now. They are all with minimal ingredients, clean labels. They all are compliant with the National School Lunch Program guidelines with low sodium and low saturated fat. Here's two of the favorites. The Artisan whole grain breaded whole muscle boneless wings as well as the artisan whole grain breaded tenders. Did anybody try any of those boneless wings? There we go. They were pretty good at the school food. >> Yeah, they're they are they're they're excellent. >> They were very whole muscle. >> You don't have to qualify for school food. They were delicious. >> It's It's true. >> I would not expect to come to the cafeteria and get nuggets that were comparable to an outside restaurant. >> Yeah. There's no fillers in them. You can pull them

107apart just like a chicken breast. >> I would eat them at home. And the honey mustard went delicious with them. >> Is Isn't honey mustard great and everything? >> Yeah. But but it those w them little wings, they were pretty good, I would have to say. For school food. Yeah. >> Shut up. I let you talk. >> So, in [snorts] addition to those two awesome new items, we're also doing the Rich Chicks crispy chicken fillet, which is a close second to a Chick-fil-A sandwich. I'm sure everyone's probably had one of them. Uh Rich Chick also has amazing popcorn chicken. We're doing two different concepts at the bigger schools with the popcorn chicken. One of them is an Asian inspired idea. It's a bowl with General Chow sauce and uh vegetable fried rice in that same

108bowl. Uh we're also doing more of an American take on it with mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn. How bad can that be? When we have either of those two at the high school, we will easily do a thousand meals per day, which at the high school, that's what we're trying to shoot for. >> KFC. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Chick-fil-A sandwich. >> Okay. We could we could figure out how to do that. served chicken. >> In December, I attended the USDA food show up the road in Edison. Um, naturally, the fine folks at Richsticks were there. I got to sample a bunch of their new stuff that they're rolling out for next year. Uh, two things that we're super excited about are the roasted garlic basil chicken meatballs and something that they're calling the kicking chicken

109meatball with mango and jalapeno. So, I hope they're pulling through with this. They said that it is their plan to actually get these into production. Um, I hope they're on the menu for next year. Moving right along, we are currently halfway through the great middle school transformation. Uh when I started here a short four years ago, uh the middle school kitchen needed some love and we are finally showing some love to the middle school kitchen. Um so my good friend Mr. Coleman'sburgger helped me out removing the old uh serving line that was in there. Um, it was one of the most stressful 48 hours I've had to deal with because I really wanted this to be done during the summer. So, if you know any accidents happen, couple missing parts, we got all August to

110figure it out. But, it was ended up being a little bit late and I think we had school on Monday. We had an off day on Tuesday and we got rid of the old serving line Tuesday after school. and I came in on the off day and met the truck and it actually worked way better than I was expecting. So, we got it all in on that uh holiday in September. So, my vision for this was kind of like a sports arena concept. Um I'm sure everyone's been to uh a hockey game at a bigger arena, maybe a a baseball field. Um lots of choices in a small area. So, that's kind of what we had to work with in our small middle school servery area. Um, so I've kind of got some good sequential

111photos coming up here. So, let's go take a walk through that together. Um, it's a mirrored concept that we have here. So, the both sides are identical. Uh, not too indifferent than the shape that we have the desks in here. The students would come through the middle. So, here we're looking at the right side of the serving line. This would be the very middle here. Um, we call this the main bite section as the entree of the day. That's where you'll find the rich chicks tenders, wings, nuggets. Uh, we've been running some chicken tinga, which the kids have been liking. Uh, meatball subs, and also tacos. If you haven't found what you're looking for for lunch at the first station, all you got to do is move on down the line. Uh, the next concept

112we have here is the pizza station. The fun and exciting pizzas so far this year are the Buffalo chicken, the meatlovers pizza, pepperoni pizza, and we're actually even able to utilize this for breakfast. We have a bacon scramble pizza that has been selling really well. I think that's on every other week. So, um, the pizza station is officially open for breakfast. If you still haven't found what you're looking for for lunch, more options are definitely on the way. Uh quick stop at the fresh milk and fresh fruit station. We had this um piece of equipment built custom made. It perfectly holds those three milk crates that you see in the picture there. And it actually has a cold plate on the bottom to keep that milk cold throughout the whole day. Moving on down the

113line. This is our open air refrigerator. This is going to be the last stop before you hit the register. Um this you probably seen one of these in an airport or uh maybe even a 7-Eleven. They have the smaller ones in the middle. Just quick open air grab and go, get through the line. Um, on the bottom level, we're able to keep our juices, apple, orange, and fruit punch. One shelf up from that, you can see the grab-and-row bagel meals. Uh, one shelf above that one, it's the garden salads with or without fresh diced chicken. And on the top shelf, you'll find the tuna salad sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, and a variety ham and cheese, Italian turkey and cheese sandwiches. Uh right after that, it's a quick stop at the register. Students will scan their

114ID and then they can go down and enjoy lunch. >> There we have it. Any questions? >> Quick question for you. >> Yeah. Have we ever explored with like bringing in we brought in rich rich chicks we're bringing in all these outside things. Have we with the diversity of the schools have we ever explored halal or kosher options for kids? >> I have reached out to so we go out to bid um every five years with the garden state co-op um they just to get the buying power because just like transportation food services is a sell pop. So, in order to get that good buying power, we are in the Garden State co-op. So, every 5 years they go out to bid. Um, what I've learned from the short time I've been here is that

115we currently have US Foods. Um, they are one of the only larger companies able to service ourselves and the 33, I believe, other school districts. I've reached out to our rep about the halal food and the the short answer is uh there's not enough demand at US Foods for them to stock it. >> Okay. >> I' I've I've asked and I was kind of surprised by that. >> I'm kind of I'm kind of surprised because >> it might just be I don't I'm sure you've heard of Cisco. Yeah. >> Another big company. They do like Jersey Mike's and colleges. Huge company. they might have the area uh just cordoned off for all Cisco products. >> I'm not really sure why >> because Yeah, I completely agree. >> It's unfortunate because we have quite a bit

116of diversity in the schools and I think that would be appreciated >> because of that. We do have lots of vegetarian options on the menu to uh make up for the lack of not having the hal >> and having kids that have gone through the schools. The my freshman in high school right now definitely notices the improvement in the food service in the past several years. So good job the rich takes is fabulous. >> They that that product sells themselves. >> I have a question. >> Yeah. How many tuna fish sandwiches do we sell? >> Um, >> I wouldn't think that would be a popular choice. Or egg salad even. >> Yeah, I mean, it's not the most popular. Uh, the the turkey is probably the most popular. The Italian sandwiches sell really well. Um,

117students do still go for them. >> You ever do peanut butter and jelly? >> Uh, no. No. No. And the peanut butter. We do have a great sun butter and jelly. Um, it's kind of You ever heard of an Uncrustable? >> Yeah. So, we have a Sun Butter and Jelly Uncrustable. I believe that's at the elementary schools every Friday for this this uh menu cycle. >> I will thank you. >> Yeah, Nick is always great job. I mean, you know, what Mr. Smith said is is is very, you know, real in terms of how much you've transformed our food services department. A lot of it has to do with your enthusiasm and your creativity. And you could see that in the slides there. You know, several years ago, I was the interim principal at the

118middle school. And what a transformation from then to now. Not only in terms of aesthetics, um, but the choices. I mean, that that what I'm astonished most about the presentation was that was middle school guys. It's not high school. That's middle school. Wait. I mean, you got to see the choices at the high school for goodness sakes. Um, but also the efficiency I'm very impressed with because there there were times specifically when, you know, you had um better selling lunches that it was really difficult to get the kids through their lunches and, you know, so that they had time to eat. They have a 20-minute lunch. Um, but with the system that you created, um, and the ergonomics in there that you've gone ahead and reshaped, it's so much more efficient. Kids are getting getting

119up there, making a choice, and that can be hard, too, guys. So, you've really got to set it up ergonomically where >> that is the that is what >> they'll they'll delay the line just figuring out. But when you have it on display right in front of them, they can see that as they're approaching what they're going to go with. and it it really does speed it up, but then to have the the cashiers in a place um that is ergonomically fit to just go in and and and and go ahead and purchase their lunches and sit down and spend at least 15 um minutes to to eat their lunch is huge. >> It it was incredible to see what October you served 90 over 90,000. You talk about efficiency that we 90,000 meals >>

120and and we we sometimes diminish the importance of lunch, but it's huge. It's it's huge for all of our kids because obviously they need to recharge and and and and re-energize and then they do that through lunch. But but but we have to remember we have a significant number of students in this district that are food insecure at home and this might be their only you know their breakfast and that lunch might be the only true meal that they have that day that is at least um you know has the the the nutritional requirements that they need but it's also tasty. Um so kudos to you. I don't want to go to the negative things, but I do want to talk about them in public for for the board's sake. We do have two pressing

121problems that we've had for a while. Um, in the food services department, so where are we first of all in terms of um meal debt? >> Uh, meal debt. Yeah, I believe we're hovering around $100,000 on meal debt. >> It it's one of our continuing problems. It's a problem that that many districts face. Um, but the problem between our district and other districts is they have vendors that do their food service. We do our own and we are probably one of I'm going to say we're in the 5% club in terms of there there's only about 5% of school districts now that continue to do their own lunch programs. Um, but and we are working on it. Nick works incredibly close with all of our principles to get notice out to parents on a repeated

122basis that um you know you you do have meal debt and we need to pay that down. Um sometimes the problem is that parents are unaware that every year they have to renew their free and reduced lunch application. They think it's just a one time and they don't have to do it anymore and that leads to meal debt because we are not allowed to turn a child away for obvious reasons. So if you don't have money, you get the food, but then it acrus as debt uh and so forth. But Nick and the principles do a very admirable job of of bringing that down. And every year we get to about 100,000 and then in the summer um through our scheduling and in classes and and so forth, we bring it back down to what

123about 80? >> Oh, no. We were we were closer to 65, I think. >> 65. So, we're we're do we're battling with it, but it's sometimes a battle that I don't know if we're ever going to win that battle, but we at least keep bringing it back down to something sensible. If you were with us before the pandemic, it was only like $20,000. I I remember the liquid church came in and paid it all off >> and and and people were upset. So, it was only like $20,000, but it's just a snapshot of the food insecurity that we have in this in this country, this state, and even in our local community right now. Uh, in terms of that, bringing that along though, our our food service, you would think that if you have a

124$100,000 in in a rears debt that, you know, it's going to harm our food services program, but because of your work and the work of your entire staff, which is amazing. Um, we're still in the black >> when it comes to our revenues, which is amazing. Now, the Department of Ed and the Department of Agriculture continues to slap us for that because we're not supposed to be in the black. Um, we're supposed to um, you know, be right right flat or, you know, hovering just above the red. >> three months of surplus, >> which which is hard. Um, you've got a program where you're selling 90,000 lunches in a month, you know, in despite the meal debt. What is our current surplus right now? I think it but again we're making so much money month

125after month it I I kind of lose track of it because it's it it could be $500,000 and the equipment that I just talked about took off over $100,000 of that. >> So it's it there it's not like we our auditor said to us during our finance committee meeting it's not a bad problem to have. Um, but it's one of the challenges that I think that our food services department faces. Um, and and we're we're kind of our own worst enemy uh in the sense that we continue to provide um great and nutritional um and tasty opportunities um for our kids to have a great lunch. Um and despite the meal debt, we're we're still proving that um you know, we can go ahead and sell a lot of lunches and and and you know,

126far exceed um the the costs that we need. The tricky part is to try to find enough equipment that needs be to be replaced. >> That's getting to be a little difficult. >> We've bought we've bought two vans. Uh we've hired more personnel, but um it's >> Can we buy a food truck that also serves as a bus maintenance truck? actually well you know we might be able to that's it's very creative M [laughter] but it's a it's a good problem to have but one that we're going to continue to work on and you'll notice during the course of the year we're always asking you to buy more equipment and so forth so we can bring that number down so we can get the department of agriculture off our backs. >> Yeah, we're trying like

127I that's why I said this was the first half of the great middle school transformation. Hopefully a year from now I can come back and we can talk about the second half >> which you're doing a fantastic job. So, thank you very much. Quick comment just uh just to close the the thought about the halal meals. Um on the table for Rich Chicks, they do have a sign on their table in this image that says halal certified meals. >> Yeah, sure. >> Maybe we could we could work it out through them to bring some of that to the menu for the students. >> I can definitely reach out to them. The way that it works is I actually paired up with another uh school district that also has a selfop in Franklin Township. And I

128do believe if it wasn't for them to get on board, that's what makes us foods want to stock the rich ticks products is because now Serville as well as Franklin Township are drawing all those down. So if if the numbers are there, then the products get in stock. And if the numbers aren't there, then they won't be able to stock the items that we want, unfortunately. >> Yeah. But also, you should ask them if that chicken is already halal because I learned a lot about the whole halal and chicken with my daughter's best friend. Like, they could they could eat Dave's hot chicken in East Brunswick because it's halal. So, this might already be halal. >> I don't I don't believe it is because I do know that there are some special things on that

129do actually specify on their order sheet. >> I would just I would just ask them. >> Yeah. No, I definitely will if those chicken things are because it's possible. >> They also have a dill flavored chicken tender that when I saw that I was like, "Oh, we're totally getting this." And the the my colleague over at Franco Town goes, I don't think I want to do that. Okay. >> And also the selling of the lunches every month. Again, November is such a small month and they still sell a lot of that's why more months are higher than the other. >> Yeah. September. So, so December, >> if you look at the daily, that's what I like to look at is the daily. November, but we only had 14 school days. >> 14 days and we

130still sold 60 something thousand. >> 21 school days in October, >> right? But >> if I can get like 25 one of these months, I don't know. >> January is the longest month in history, right? It's the longest month we fil. So there should be a lot of >> Yeah. Well, this January felt like it last. >> January is the longest month ever. >> Yeah, >> feels like it. >> So, but Nick, like Dr. Labby was talking about before with food insecurity in this town and the people misconstring what you need to do for free or reduced lunch forms. I know in the beginning of the school year teachers pass preach it in the classroom and pass out form tell people how to fill out the forms. What can we do better >> to get

131people to just fill out the form? Because I don't think people realize >> that those limits are actually a lot higher than people think to get >> free and reduced. We've been trying to get the work hard, but even on course when you every every year when we've started for the kids, >> the principal is promoted, they push it, but Nick sends out a ton of correspondence to all the parents, but they also contact previous parents that had free and reduced lunch to remind them to do it. And >> we're we tried a big push starting from the youngest students and sometimes the youngest parents that aren't familiar with how it works. And I feel like if we can educate those parents that have the babies in in the uh my preschools, teach them that

132we need to do this every year and they won't get because again we have some older ones that are like, "Oh, I thought I was good on this." But if we can push it in with the younger students and the younger parents, I know they're in the registration packets. We've put the um the lunch applications in with the registration packets. >> And remember, we're close to 40%. >> Over 40% now. >> Yeah. What is the income limit? >> It changes every year, doesn't it? >> What's that? >> What is the income limit that allows you to get a free lunch? >> Um, it's on the It's on the school website. >> It depends on how many people. >> It depends on household as well. >> It's like a 70,000 bet limit for four people. >>

133So, people need to know that. people probably think it's for, you know, if you don't have any money >> since it's blasted, I guess, on the um on the different venues or what have you. Um possibly maybe on the back to school night also just at the teachers. >> We do. They cover it. Yeah. >> I never heard them. >> You haven't heard it? >> We want them to get >> Oh, they're supposed to. >> Yeah. So, I would just reiterate that. >> Yeah, we will. Yeah. >> Yeah. We get I think we print out maybe a thousand different copies in August and DV them out to all the different schools. >> But I'll remind our principles to make sure that they know. the registration packet you mentioned when cuz I remember online when I

134register my kids at the very end there's a link there that takes you to it >> to sign up >> yeah is there a way that we can we we have to make it like a a mandatory thing that they can't submit the form until they fill out >> they they have to >> No because it's a it's a link >> so it is a link but because it has to go through um the lunch program they when they click the link they leave the registration software to go to the lunch program to fill out the applic >> force to click the link but then we can't force what they're doing in the other platform. >> That makes sense. >> And nobody knows that you have aid, right? Like it's on the card. So it's

135not like I remember when I was young people that got free lunches, right? They would be like embarrassed to give it was like a >> Yeah. Because nobody pays cash for lunch anymore. >> Everybody Everybody just uses their ID. >> Everybody has their ID number. >> Yeah. swipe their card free reduced or you have a balance in your account. >> Yeah, but I think some people don't like to do it because they think like they're embarrassed. You know what I mean? >> No, it's been years that >> regarding how you how you lower the the cost in the summertime. Is it because I think you mentioned before you have like a consequence framework, right? You can't get your degree if you owe a balance or something. >> We're so we have constraint. We're talking about

136the meal debt now. >> Yeah. >> So, we have constraints. Um there's we have to follow what's called the the bill of rights um with the what is it the nutrition or food something bill of rights. So there are certain things that we can't withhold when it comes to meal debt. But what we can do is we can stop people from getting their schedules and things like that. But what we cannot do is we cannot withhold a child um transcripts or or or report cards. Cannot do that. The law does not permit us to do it. And you cannot prohibit a child from participating in a school sponsored activity that would be free to all students. However, um kids going on the Disney trip, which is a voluntary paid, we can use it for that.

137Kids going to proms, >> um we can use it for that. um and those types of things. But when it comes to other things like graduations, transcripts, and things like that, food services wise, uh if you're if you had meal meal debt, we can't stop you from doing that. Gotcha. >> Do you also use that for the um you know, when they go on the buses? You know how like the kids that have free and reduced, can they not be put on the bus? >> So, children that have free and reduced lunch with regard to subscription busing. Yeah. It's it's it's free, >> right? Right. So that we can't stop them from getting that bus until they pay their lunch debt, can we? >> No, no, no. It's two totally different things. >> Let's do

138it that way. >> Yeah. Oh, yes. Well, we we do use that if if you have meal debt, we can use it for those purposes. But but what I what I thought you were asking is if you if you're eligible for free and reduced lunch, and this is one one of the carrots that we dangle for people to go ahead and fill out your application. If you're if you if you're getting subscription busing, it's free, >> right? if you're eligible for free and reduced lunch, which means you have to fill out your lunch application. >> Dr. Labby, and I if I can add to that, I think that's one of the things that Nick has been working with the schools on that has also been really successful is there are many other benefits that come

139along with if you qualify for free and reduced lunch. There are test vouchers through College Board. We have summer programming. There are all these other things that would encourage families to submit the paperwork that they can benefit from those services as well. >> Our steam program with Leading Edge that we we we we comp we pay for all those kids that are free and reduced lunch. >> Is that advertised to the parents? >> I didn't know that either. >> It's in that flyer for Leading Edge. Yeah. >> No, no, but is that advertised when you're asking the parents to fill out the application? I think maybe if we if we incentivize that and we make it more more prominent, more visual, I think that's a great incentive. >> I know for that particular flyer when

140it goes out, it does say kids free and reduced are free. >> No, no, but what I'm saying what she just mentioned, I think adding adding that as an incentive to say they also benefit from this, you know, these added benefits. I think it would be great to do that. >> We mention it. Yeah. when we when we promote the programs, we do send it out and say, you know, students that are free and reduced lunch there, you know, it's a discounted price. The testing vouchers are usually high school. So, we communicate that to the students as well. But I just ran a report myself um that was for grades 6 through 12 and 46% were economically disadvantaged. And I when I started here 10 years ago, um the high school didn't qualify for title

141one programming because they never had enough students that were reported as free and reduced lunch. And I think it's we're in our second year of the high school actually qualifying for services. So we have m many more families that >> demographics have changed. When I started in 2014, it was 19%. >> Wow. listening to all the facets of this, it really does sound like uh the best solution for us to to do on our end is to uh you know have it where they cannot complete their their registration paperwork for school uh unless they fill out, you know, the lunch form and check off which category that they're in. Even though now it's like, well, there's a link there. It just really sounds like the answer is instead of doing the link is to have

142that section where they have to check off it, you know, is it is it uh you know, regular lunch? Is it partial or is it free? >> I don't I don't think we can require them to submit it. It's the same thing as the FAFSA. Parents do have the right to say no. >> Which one? You know what I mean? Like they don't have to. >> Well, but it's not discuss it or they can be maybe >> I think I know what Carrie's asking. I think Carrie's asking that you can't submit your application >> until you say select or that's what you >> unless you do something with that section so we can disc but I I will say from from my experience on the parent side it's not an immediate um decision. Sometimes they

143evaluate your application and come back and send you a note or whatever to let you know and it could be weeks down the line. So that that's holding up the registration too. So that's also >> you know something to consider. Riveting presentation, Nick. Riveting >> mango meatballs. >> Any final questions for Nick? >> Thank you, Nick. Great job. [applause] >> And thanks again to Patrick and Jimmy. Fantastic jobs, Mr. Fernandez. That concludes my presentations. >> Great. >> That only three hours. >> You Nobody has to drive home to Jackson like me. [laughter] Eileen's close. >> All right. So, now we move on to finance and infrastructure. Miss Bone. [snorts] >> I'm gonna be as quick as I can. Last Tuesday, the BOE finance and infrastructure committee met. During the meeting, um Dr. Labby informed the

144committee that we expect to receive our state aid figures from the New Jersey Department of Education on or about March 12th. And that's from historical uh information. While it is never an exact science since we are still operating well below adequacy in funding, we are hoping for an increase. Mr. Jimmy then provided an update on the referendum projects. He informed the committee that he and our architecture are now completing individual punch lists for each school. He also reported that the burough building inspectors are requiring us to chalk and fill all the holes in the ceilings at the middle school and will most likely mandate the same at the high school. And I do want to explain that we don't have a bunch of holes in the ceilings all over the school. What happens is is

145the ceiling actually has a level, okay? Like it goes like the ceiling tile. Take it out and there's a little more ceiling that has to be closed in >> for a fire hazard. But we don't have all hole. I don't want anybody thinking we have holes all over the schools and we have to close our holes. That's not the case. It's just fire protection. Um the inspectors are recon. All right. I already said that um for the middle school and most likely mandate the same at the high school. We are hoping we can include this as a change order in the referendum, but if not, we'll have to find funds about 60 grand in this year's operation budget to pay a vendor to do it. On other projects, um Mr. Jimmy reported on the plans

146that we are making with the shorelands to start the solar canopy completion project at the high school, which will begin once the weather warms up. Additionally, he noted that the bathroom renovations at Eisenhower are finished. He also reported that during the spring, Miller Electric will install AC unit and system in the esports lab in the high school media center. Conversely, he noted that the high school greenhouse is scheduled to be delivered this week. Yay. Um, and furthermore, he informed the committee that the installation of the electronic signs at Eisenhouse, Samell, and the middle school should commence once the snow melts. Finally, he reported that we are we had to replace one of two boilers at Truman that broke down and now are and are now inoperable. Since the cost of the boiler was about 265

147um $26,500 to replace, we will install the other new boiler later in the spring or next year. That's it. >> Great job, Mavone. Thank you, Mr. Callahan. >> Good evening. Ear earlier this evening, the personnel committee met to discuss the current open positions across the district. I believe we said this is probably the lowest it's been in at least since 2018 since I've been here. So, >> yeah, >> Great job, Dr. >> Yay. >> Uh we also reviewed the fill rates which are again at all-time highs I believe um as we continue our efforts to recruit and retain high quality staff. As part of these efforts, Dr. will be visiting colleges all around New Jersey to begin recruiting the upcoming graduates. Um in addition, he's planning with his team uh the district career fair which

148is tenatively scheduled for late April or early May that will support our future hiring needs and our next personnel meeting will be held on I think March 17th. >> Excellent. Thank you, Mr. Callahan. Now open up to the public for questions on agenda items only. Hi, Mickey Fisher. Um, Kier Street. Uh, I had a question for Kenny Coleman'sburgger. Um, the stadium refurbishment. Isn't there the Bombers um, you know, the Bombers booster club? Is there any way they like because they have a lot of money. Can they defay the cost for the re uh you know can we ask can they have some money so defay the cost to the pool to the taxpayers? >> Um we could probably ask them that but the the amount of money we're talking about to do these changes are

149we're talking you know north of a million dollars and so forth. So we can't ask them to do those things. >> Never mind. [laughter] >> That's a lot of fundraising. Okay. Okay. >> Got it. >> And um Patrick Si sign Signiglia. Um on the one slide it said 25 to 26 plan versus actual. And then he had um a note. There were 67 in-house routes. And then in red it said some of their solutions to the problem because they were short mini buses. and he said they might have to overload two minis. That sounded like a safety hazard to me. >> Um, it's not really a safety hazard. So, to to understand how the minis work, minis can take probably about 18 kids. >> Okay. >> However, if you were to put the the >>

150the problems with that is that those those go to 18 individual residences. It's not like they go to a bus stop. Oh. >> So, you really can't put more than nine kids on a mini because they're making nine stops. >> Oh, >> and it would take far too long for for them to do more. So, it's not a matter of um capacity on the bus, it's a matter of capacity within the route. >> I see. So, when they say overload, that just means more stops. >> And that means And that means those buses are going to take that much longer to get all the kids home. >> Oh, I understand. Okay. Got it. Okay, that's it. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Mrs. Fischer. >> Good question. >> Anyone else? >> All right, seeing

151no one, I will close public. >> Dr. Lavyby, we're all waiting riveting on your uh excellent >> and I do have a retirement. >> All right, just one I I thought I heard a groan there, but probably wasn't. >> I have coffee for this. >> Um I knew it was you. All right. So, finance, let's uh there's only one. It's on page four that I'm going to highlight. We're asking to approve the purchase of cabling termination and testing from turnkey technologies in the total amount of $53,82 for cabling and installation of network equipment cabinets and security hardware. This is actually very important. Uh it's one of Mr. Glac Malloyy's technology infrastructure goals for us to secure our MDF rooms. Correct, Mr. Glock Malloy? And this is going to that I don't know if you want

152to expand upon that a little bit more. >> I mean, this is truly just the the behind the scenes um ceiling and walls of of running the cabling between these rooms so that we can relocate equipment to um secure locations and or put in secure cabinry so that places where we can't move the equipment, we can still secure it. >> Thank you very much for that, sir. If I can bring Oh, any questions on that or anything else on finance and infrastructure? Seeing none, uh, let's move to student achievement. We have two I want to highlight there. Number one, which you can find on page nine, we're asking to, and believe it or not, this is the ray of sunshine we've been looking for in the dead of winter. We're asking you to approve the

153camp XL extended school year program >> and integrated summer programs at Samill uh Slover and the Bombers Beyond Cafe from July 6, 2026 obviously through August 6. And this will actually be Mr. Nasser and I were talking about it the other day. This will actually be the first time we don't start the first week of July, which I think our staff and our parents are going to appreciate. >> And by July, I think the piles of snow in the parking lot might be melted. I believe so. I cannot wait for that. Number two, uh which we're it's on page nine as well. We're asking to approve these, uh War Memorial High School delayed opening schedule um from April 27th um through May 1st. And that of course is to accommodate us for um the exorbitant

154number of students that are going to go through NGSLA regular testing as well of adaptive testing. Um, so we every year we ask you to approve delayed opening uh for those students. Um, otherwise I mean I was here years ago. I was here years ago. Of course I was here years ago. Um, but years ago what we would do is we would take the kids that weren't testing and put them in the cafeteria and they would go out of their minds because they're sitting in the cafeteria all that time. Um, and and not, you know, being able to do anything. This way they're home. They get to school after testing and we get, you know, everybody gets back to work. You mean adolescence aren't the most patient person in the world who can sit there

155without being entertained? >> I've heard the rumor is just the adolescence in the Fernandez household [laughter] >> and the adults in the Fernandez household. By the way, >> any questions on student achievement? All right, on to governance. No, you can find the both on page 11. Number one, we're asking you to approve those same uh bylaws, policies, and regulations that we asked you to approve for a first reading during the last meeting. Well, now we're obviously asking you to approve them for a second reading and adoption. Likewise, um one of those policies actually replaces what's on number three. So there is, if you remember, uh those new pol there's a new policy on sexual harassment. So that is actually going to replace policies and regulations 3362 as well as 4352 and that's why we're asking

156you to abolish those. Okay. Any questions on governance? All right. So then personnel I'm going to skip number one. Um 8 and nine which as well as 28 which you can find on pages 14 and 15 and the addendum. uh we're asking you to appoint new certificated and non-certificated staff for this school year. And numbers 10 and 11, which you can find on page 15, we're asking you to prove the transfer of non-certificated staff for this school year. And then uh 14 and 17, which you can find on pages 16 and 17, we're asking you to uh approve paid advisors and coaches with their stipens as well as volunteer coaches for this school year. And by the way, the paid, we do have some paid coaches for the next school year that we're asking you

157to approve as well. And then finally, um, number one, we are asking you to accept, graciously accept the retirement of a beloved staff member, um, Miss Dorothy Fr, who is a full-time paraprofessional at the middle school, and that would be effective July 1st. Dorothy Fr has dedicated the past 25 years to the Sville school community. During this time, she has provided the highest quality of service [snorts] at an individual student and program paraprofessional basis and has served as a colleague and friend to many many not only at the middle school but throughout the district. As a program paraprofessional, Miss Fr has been to put it bluntly in demand. Her knowledge of students needs and knowledge of district and school procedures has made her a tremendous resource for our special education teachers, child study team members,

158and the go-to for many, many more at the schools she's worked at, especially the middle school. As a onetoone paraprofessional, no one can dispute her wellestablished reputation as a loving caretaker for those who need her assistance. In fact, Mrs. Brish has often been matched with students who need the most complex level of care and support and there is no doubt that she has been the emotional catalyst for many students as they adjust to the middle school and prepare to move on to the high school. As a colleague, Miss Fry beyond the consmate professional. She is collegial, supportive, helpful, and truly caring. So much so, in fact, that Mr. Nester and Dr. Defina has specifically selected and relied upon her as a stabilizing presence for both new teachers and new students alike. Equally adept at supporting

159students with developmental developmental, behavioral, and medical needs. She also demonstrates a rare versatility that illustrates her importance to the school community. It goes without saying that Mrs. Brish has offered the highest level of care through her patience, compassion, and above all her commitment. These outstanding qualities have surely left a lasting impression on the students she has served and the colleagues she has worked with. When you think of someone that is going to be hard to replace, think of Mrs. Fr. when you think of someone that is selfless, think of Miss FR. When you think of someone that deserves our heartfelt gratitude, think of Miss Fr. We wish her a long and happy retirement. And on a personal level, I actually got the I had the privilege of working very closely with her during the pandemic.

160Um, I was serving as a as a replacement special education teacher at the middle school and she was in um, as always working with our students with disabilities both in person as well as virtually which was truly amazing. Um, and I got to see firsthand how extraordinary this educator is and how meaningful she has been on so many young people and old people. So, um, on behalf of the Sville Board of Education, the administration, and the staff, uh, of the Sville Public Schools, we wish her nothing but the very best in her retirement, and we thank her for the impeccable manner she has served our school district and community. [applause] >> And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Dr. Lby. Any questions for Dr. Ly? Nope. All right. So, I take entertain a motion

161to approve the Dr. Livy's report. >> Second. >> So moved. >> Second. >> We'll say so move first. >> All right. Roll call. Mr. Pashada. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Hernandez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Maldonado. >> Yes. Mrs. Naholano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Pabone. >> Yes. >> Mr. Smith. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Now I open up the floor to any comments from the public on any matters. >> Welcome coach. >> Hello. Uh Steve Fischer Kier Street as well. Uh I would like to begin by uh seconding Dr. Labby's uh congratulations to Die. I I I had the privilege of working with her and the description was spoton. Forgive [clears throat] me if uh you've already know this, but in New Jersey there are currently two bills A673 and

162S856 which were initially introduced in 2001 21 under different coded numbers and again in every year leading up to this year. So 22 23 24 all the way through and it's back in uh in even though it has a different coded number. Uh this is called the Fairness and Women's Sports Act and it's being held in committee. So people are voting not to bring it up to a general vote. Now the obvious reason for them to do that is because if it comes to a general vote and someone votes for this uh act, this act actually allows only biological women to play in girls sports. So, a certain party in our government is keeping it in in the in the committee so it can't be voted on because then they would be exposed and everyone

163would know what they're thinking. In light of the board's record of supporting separate but equal sports opportunities for our males and females. Uh in fact, last week we had the girls wrestling come up and all the appropriate questions were asked and interest was uh uh seen. So, I would like to request that the board either individually or collectively uh contact our district 19 legislators, Senator Senator Joseph Vitali, Assemblyman who is the speaker Chris Coughlin and Assemblywoman ironically women's affair committee and Yavon Lopez and let them know that we support this rule and we want this to be brought to a vote so that we will know where all the our legislators stand as far as women in sports and the protection of these women. And this bill just went out January 13th, so it hasn't

164been brought up yet in the committee. So there's still time to contact those people. I have 35 seconds. So So I'm asking you to do that and I'm asking all those that are watching or know that they should do the same thing and let them know we want our girls protected. So, I'll end quickly. Uh, in regards to 5756, I am still opposed because of the nullification of parental notification and the direct assault on the original intent of Title 9, which this these two bills are trying to enforce to make it back to the way it was supposed to be. The girls play against the girls and the boys play against the boys. I uh I thank you for [music] your time and efforts. Thank you, coach. [laughter] >> Hi, uh, Mickey Fischer, Care Street.

165Um, I have a question for Mrs. Gman. um when you did the your budget uh maybe it was two meetings ago um about the supervisors you had all the supervisors here I was wondering um I didn't have a chance to actually look at your budget online but I was wondering if you do have any anything in the budget for another added supervisors because our supervisors are really taxed they're very stretched as you know and um Lucy Bloom mentioned at the meeting you know that if you had something in your budget for another >> supervisor, >> that actually wouldn't be in her budget. That would be in the personnel budget >> and that would be coming up during our next meeting on March 3rd. >> Oh, okay. Okay. Great. All right. Thanks. >> Thank you, Mrs.

166Fischer. Anyone else from the public? Seeing none, we're closing public session. Any comments from the board? >> I'd like to thank the Fisers for coming every week um and being very nice to the board. Even though we don't always agree on everything, you still treat us very with a lot of respect and I appreciate that very much and I just want to say thank you. >> Thank you. So yeah, just thank you and thank you for everything and coach, thank you for years of coaching and everything you did for me growing up. So those lessons I I I still carry with me in life. >> I got with you lessons. >> One one thing as you as you say coach, it reminds me because Lady mentioned them in her her remarks earlier. all our students

167that have committed to collegiate sports and uh it it's pretty incredible and so proud of those kids because I think it's only something like six or seven% of all high school students play in college on a scholarship or commitment kind of level. So it it really is exceptional what those those students have achieved and just congratulations to all of them. >> Y >> absolutely we have incredible coaches and incredible ed educators. So, thank you to each and every one of them along with all of our staff, our security, our technology department, our custodians, our maintenance, our administrators. All of you do such an amazing job for for our kids each and every day. So, thank you all for everything you do. Any other comments? So, our next meeting I'm sorry, no. All right. So our

168our our next meeting is going to be March 3rd, 2026, followed by March 17th, 2026. At this time, we're going to adjourn. >> We got to take a vote on that. >> All right. So moved. >> So moved. >> Second. >> There we go. >> Second. >> All in favor? A >> All right.