001You're next to a gabble. I can I can move everybody down a little. I didn't know Dr. I know spread out. Oh, cuz the students are here. The lawyer's not here. No one cares. I feel so used to on the left side. I don't, you know, I'm like used to having no um question. Oh, there's four. Oh, I thought there were four. What? There's a fourth. Yeah, sure. Still trying to find more 12. You'll learn. Quick learn. Was there the code? Was the road cut off still? Wasn't there a 5K tonight? Yes, but that's that. Yeah, but everywhere you come in this way. That's why I saw Dr. Hind running22. I saw Dr. Hind. That's why I texted you all and said I'm sitting here in traffic because I went the way they told me
002to but so did everybody else. Yeah, I was surprised I didn't get that missing. Oh, no. But you really come from our side. I was like now we have the full house. Oh, to Stephanie's point. Sorry. No meeting. Yeah, I know. One person is [Music] How you doing? Are you going? Yes. Watch the kids get out of their face. teeth when he still is coming. The rolling table is not funny. I didn't even notice that cuz my stomach keeps hitting your So that's not fair. I think it's not not bad. They put a rolling rolling table in front of I just we just had this in the other room. I said the same thing to lock this. You can lock it. Yeah, there's a lock. You can lock it. Oh, that's not fair. Roll on.
003Awesome. [Music] Cool. Thank you. I got it in not for Oh, good. That was so much better. So much better. We don't have any. There we go. All right. It's not going to be there. We could have locked the ones in the other room. We're not live yet, are we? All right. They're hard to see, but they're Oh, I see it. Oh, it's over there. No. When did you start wearing glasses? I've been Where have you been? Senior citizen. We started my life. Say that. I I want to call to order this evening's meeting uh special board meeting for candidacy interviews. Mr. Jones, can you please call the role? First and a second. Oh, do we have a a motion to so moved and a second? Second. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries.
004Mr. Jones, can you please call the role? Yes. Dr. Kolicowski here. Um, Miss Boroff here. Miss Broaddy here. Mr. Murray here. Miss Serriani here. Miss Williams here. Miss Barb here. Miss Bower. If not quir is present, can we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? The flag is ready. Begin. I pledge algiance 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. All right. for president's announcement. The New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. Adequate notice of this special meeting has been provided in accordance with
005the provisions of the open public meeting act NJSA 1046 at SEQ by predominantly posting this notice in the foyer of the Scotch Plains family board of education administrative offices located at 313 South Avenue at sweet 200 F1 New Jersey 0723 published in the star ledger of the Union County Hawk on Thursday May 9 29 2025 and filing it with the Fan1 Scotches municipal clerks on May 28 2025 ensuring 48 hour compliance. The agenda was posted on the Scotch Plains Fanwood district website on Friday, June 13, 2025. Before we get to the candidate introduction and questioning, we have a public comment section um in accordance with the Scotchain's Fanwood public school bylaw 01640165. The meeting will be open for 15 minutes for public comments. Maximum 3 minutes per speaker. Speakers addressing superintendent items, business functions, and
006other board business will be heard first. If time remains, speakers may address other matters. Speakers, please state your full name in the town in which you reside. Please note board use public comment period is an opportunity to listen to citizen concerns but not to debate issues or enter into a question and answer session. Cross-examination between the public and the individual members. Be aware that not all qu issues brought before the board will be resolved that evening. Boards may respond to the public comment by seeking additional information or by delegating the authority to investigate the issue to the superintendent or her designate. With that, I will open up um public comment for 15 minutes. If anybody has anything they'd like to say um specific to this evening, please come to the mic. Gary Morris, Fanwood. Um,
007could you tell us exactly the process of the communication of um this opening as far as where it was posted, when it was first posted, um because I just don't think it was done in a very uh open way in that it was it it made it onto Facebook after the deadline. just seems like a very inappropriate way to do it. If you want as many people to be interested as possible, that would be a way to get more people involved. And I think these days we want as many people as big a choice as possible. So, is there some way you could describe the the timing of the communication where it was communicated? If it's on the in the corner of a website versus putting it out on social media or something like that,
008I think it would be a good thing to uh to review that that process for the future. I think it's a good idea. Open communication, transparency is always a good thing. Thanks, if you want. Um, so there's actual legal language in terms of how I advertised. So we met the legal language advertised into uh newspapers in the appropriate time before the meeting. Um, we also did a press release. Um, and yeah, it was in the tap, correct? Yeah, in the tap. And um, it was announced here. Yeah, announced here at the board meeting, I believe. Yeah, announced here at the board meeting. Um, at a previous board meeting. Um, yeah, you were here. You were here last meeting, but it wasn't announced what the process was to how to apply. So, so, so and what
009the deadline was. That's the important part. Are you Are you saying based on that people should should immediately contact? We're not We we clearly have people who who did apply for it. So, we're not going to debate it, but yes, it was communicated. It was communicated through all the correct proper mechanisms. The state requires us to. It was posted on the board website. It was put on the board social media accounts. It was published in the tap. So, we we do believe it was communicated effectively. Um, you know, so I think that you we'll take the feedback for for potentially next time, but I I don't think it was not communicated to be nefarious. It was definitely communicated out to the public, but thank you, Mr. Morris. Any other public comments? Seeing none, I will
010close the public portion and we will move on to the candidate introduction and questioning. So um obviously we don't do this a lot. We don't do it very often. Um so the the thought here is um you know we will um do the public um questions, interviews, whatever you want to call them, right? So we'll do some introductions. We'll go in orderly. So the thought is we'll start on the left, my left, and work our way for the introductions. Then question one, question two, question three, but I'll read your answer. We'll reconvene after that is concluded into executive session, but we'll come back out into public to make our selection uh or request additional information if needed. And the plan would be that we uh, you know, appoint somebody this evening and swear them in
011this evening for effective tomorrow's board meeting. Um, so However, if you're not available, that is okay as well. Um, but that that's that was that's the the process. I believe the questions have been published. You should should have all had those in advance. Um, so I think without and do you guys have any questions? You know, you can please stop us as we go. We thought introductions two-minute range. Not looking to, you know, you know, don't feel obligated to use the full 2 minutes. Um and then um the board members will each you know we have individual board members that'll ask each of the questions and we'll have each of you respond to those questions um accordingly. I think just note we did get all their background information. Yes, we have your letters of interest.
012We have your resumes. Um we've had them well in advance. We've looked through them. Um so you know like I said if if you have any questions throughout the process feel free to just ask stop us. Um it'll be fine. So, with that being said, um we'll start with introductions. So, we'll start on the end and then work our way over. Good evening. My name is Horge Alexander Chokavier. Um I don't have a lot uh in the town. Uh this is my second year here. My wife grew up here. She went to this high school, graduated from here, and I actually um lived in Utah for a long time. And crazy enough, I actually wanted to live here in New Jersey. So, I was lucky to meet my wife and she was from New Jersey,
013so we made plans and, you know, moved with a with our um with our child. Now, we have two children. I love the town. Um, we, you know, love it. Absolutely love it. Um, and no, I'm just I'm just really really happy to to see my grow my boys grow up here and uh be closer to to family and everything. Um, yeah. Thank you. Good evening everybody. Uh my name is Dr. Nicole Zuber. I am a child and adolescent psychiatrist and adult. Um but I focus on children. I've lived here in Fanwood for the last four years, but I've lived here in Jersey for 25 years. Hard to believe. Um I'm from a family of educators and my my aunts and my sisters are all vice principles in school. So school has been a part
014of my life and education is critical. I have three lovely children who are in middle school and elementary school. So I will be in town for years to come. Um but I love the town. I love all the historic pieces of the town. Um I love that we have two towns that we kind of intermingle with. Um I've always loved working with children and that's why I picked child psychiatry. Um, and I'm happy to help in any way I can to make the schools better for all kids. Great. Thank you. My name is Scott Purse. On the resume in the letter, it says Skyler. That's my first name. Um, since it looks like Schuler. That's why I go by my middle name, Scott. Um, I've lived in Fanwood for 9 years. I'm on the south
015side near Terrell Middle School. I have um a wife, an eight-year-old in Kohl's and a soon to be kindergartener in Kohl's. Um and they just love the school and we love the district and we think it's a great district and I really want to make it the best district and schooling experience that my children and our children can have. And professionally as inside I'm an attorney. I don't practice. I work for the publishing company Thompson Reuters. Thank you. Good evening everybody. My name is Jason Benedict. I'm a 20-year fan resident and a proud father of a rising junior who is a varsity athlete as well as a student leader. Uh professionally, I serve as the associate vice president for IT and a chief information security officer at Forom University. Uh I lead strategic initiatives around
016educational technology, data protection, risk analysis, and student success. With uh 33 years of experience in higher education leadership, I spent my career helping students and teachers and the community adapt to change, navigate risk, and build inclusive communities. As a civic leader, I'm hoping to fill this board seat because I think I can offer both strategic insight, experience and operational excellence, and deep local commitment. my have experience in town in various roles. Uh vice president of the JCC of central New Jersey right down on Martin. Uh was the vice president of the historic preservation commission with Scott. Um at the time I've also I've been serving for a long time on the board of AIT, the Academy for Information Technology on their advisory board. So I have some familiarity with boards and working with uh professional
017staff and students curriculum budgeting etc. I'm here today to help preserve the Scotch Plains Stanwood School District's outstanding reputation um and work with full community input. I'm also looking forward to carrying on the great legacy of Amy Winkler, who is the reason that we're all here today because Amy had stepped down. Interesting fact, I'd like to tell you this. The last time I sat before this board was 15 years ago when I sat next to Amy Winkler applying for the candidacy when Sasha Sulham stepped down and you correctly chose Amy Winkler over me. However, that was 15 years ago and now I believe it's my time to serve. Thank you. Okay, thank you for the introductions. We're going to move over to the the questions now. So, I think the first question, Sali, um, thank
018you all for your introductions. Um, the first question is, how will your experience help you contribute to achieving the board of ed and district goals? So, if we could start with Nicole, please. Okay. So, um, I've had tons of leadership experience throughout my academic and professional training. Um I have worked as a director of a school an alternative school um providing mental health services as well as supports to the school teachers and staff. Um so being inclusive and thinking about you know students has always been on my focus and has always been a part of what I do. Um as a child psychiatrist I actively interact with various school districts. Um, and so thinking about the needs of children is, you know, my top priority and seeing how important a strong school system is to
019the development of a child's and their overall well-being is critical. Um, and so for me, you know, that's mind and body are imperative. Um, and the more we can focus on that and include families and parent support um, to making our schools better, I think will only help our children strive and grow. Thank you, Scott. We'll move over to you. Sure. Um, in terms of the um the goals of the board and the district, um, I want to make sure that we support and have the very best faculty and staff. um and that it's both a diverse faculty and staff and that we help develop those faculty members who may not be diverse so that they can help um all the students um feel welcome and challenged here. Um my two children are very different.
020Um my 8-year-old is a go-getter and likes a good tough teacher. My 5-year-old not so much. He likes his handheld. um he likes encouragement and so I have experience um seeing both sides of the coin um with that different children different students need different types of teachers different types of experiences um one thing that I think has worked very well um that I've seen at Kohl's is how you have a main teacher and then an aid um oftentimes and that that can provide different experiences for different children so that they can have um so they're comfortable um with the learning style in the classroom. Um, I believe that it's important for the district, um, especially this day and age with social media and tight budgets, um, to really engage with the community so that they,
021the community, the taxpayers, the neighbors, and the parents can all really buy into and understand why the district is doing what it's doing and how that truly benefits them. Um, and finally, I am so on board with the referendum that passed last um, winter. I was thrilled that it passed. I was devastated when the first one did not. Um, so I really want to support and help grow that process as a member. Thank you, Mr. Penny. Sure. So, my experience combines the best of two worlds, uh, strategic planning and higher education and active community involvement. As a senior university executive and a lifelong learner, uh, I worked on initiatives ranging from instructional innovation and risk mitigation to student well-being and equity, I know what it takes to align big picture goals with real world implementation.
022And I've led campuswide efforts to modernize infrastructure, secure sensitive data, improve learning outcomes, all through collaborative, transparent processes that engage a multitude of stakeholders. I've been on nonprofit volunteer boards as well as other side professional staff meetings reporting to boards. So, I have a unique perspective about both sides of that relationship. In our community, I've collaborated with diverse members of our towns and contributed to the resolution of complex challenges in various teaching and learning environments from early childhood departments in the JCC to the advisory board at AIT with some of our best and brightest students in the votech school district. For this district, I would bring that same practical solutionoriented approach to my board service. Whether reviewing a budget, overseeing a facilities project, or evaluating student achievement metrics, I'll always ask the same questions. How
023does this help our students succeed? Are we being transparent? And are we using our resources wisely? I have a very strong service ethic that I've communicated to my family uh and to my son. Um I built a life about service for others, including things like developing mentoring programs for the Jesuit Institutes of Higher Education, as well as weekly charity work for the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities. raising money weekly for their seasonal with their seasonal car shows down in Lyndon. My background also includes leading professional development in areas like AI literacy, digital equity, and staff retention. All of which overlap with the district's current strategic priorities. I understand education both as a mission, a passion, and a system, and I'm excited to be able to contribute to all of them. Thank you. Sorry, guys. Thank
024God. And I would order water. Thank you, Mr. Broadman. Mr. Ver. Yes. Um, I've had uh multiple uh leadership opportunities. One of the craziest ones has been coaching three-year-old soccer one season. It's insane. Um, but I've also been a teacher for 12 years. I started teaching in Peru. Um, I've also been uh the educational director in a museum in Utah where we took uh all of our resources and make it accessible to all the children around the state as well. Um, and I mean uh and I one of the reasons why I love it is because this museum is specifically focused on outreach for seventh and eighth graders. Um, working as a middle school teacher for multiple years has shown me the different experiences that seventh graders arrive with as well as u key experiences
025that middle schoolers need to feel they can be successful when they move on to high school. Um, these range from academic experiences such as inclusive curricula, evidence-based learning, critical thinking, interconnected peer-to-peer, uh, discussions, um, all the way to non-academic such as feeling safe in schools, managing and solving conflict, knowing how to access and navigate extracurricular activities, collaborating with your teachers, and building strong relationships with um, at home and with u, the community. I believe that understanding this uh can help stakeholders, administrators, educators and board members collaborate in unity to ensure the best educational experience for the student as a whole. Um one of the things that we focus on, you know, for that one year that I work at the museum was making sure that um our teachers understood what students were coming with. And
026I'm not just talking academic. I'm talking every every experience that they can possibly come with from prek to sixth grade onto seventh grade and kind of transition them to into into into high school. And again that that that has to do with you know not just what what they're being taught which is highly important but also with you know the environment that they that they study in you know the chair desk the teacher they know the AC uh all this all the stuff as well as um you know a system for them to conflict resolution and all uh and also uh an adult that they can try they can go to. I mean there there's just so much that that encompasses that and I just um looking forward to continue those uh those goals from
027the strategic plan as well with the with the board members. Thank you. Thank you um so much for all those answers. And um Scott, we're going to start with you with the second question. What is your vision for equity in the district? What do you believe the district needs to do to achieve greater equity for all students? Sure. Thank you, Amy. Um, in terms of equity, I view it as the curriculum and the teaching and the experience coming to the child rather than the child having to conform and fit into a given curriculum or experience that's been plotted out for them. um so that they can be as I like to describe my goal for my children is that they have the opportunity to do the best to be the best that they can. Um
028that is as everything should be aspirational in my mind. Um and making sure that the way the curriculum and the instruction and the environment are set up um allows every ch child to thrive. Um and um that can be um it it requires a lot more resources. It requires a lot more thought um and it really also requires the buy in of the parents and the communities because we're all in this together age educating our children. Thank you Jason. Sure. So my vision for equity is this. Every student gets what they need to thrive. This means identifying and eliminating barriers, whether academic, emotional, financial, or systemic, and ensuring that opportunity is never limited by background, identity, or circumstance. Equity isn't about lowering standards. It's about removing friction points so that every student has a fair
029shot at success. And I think that to achieve greater equity in Scotch Plains Fanwood School District, I think we need to listen actively to students, families, educators, especially those in underserved or underrepresented populations. Uh you'll hear it a lot in the things I talk about. I think we should use data wisely to track where gaps exist in achievement, access, and engagement, and respond with targeted support. uh talking about what we may see today is I think maybe short-sighted because those will change every day and being able to pivot rapidly and and adjust on the fly to the needs of our community is going to be crucial as we continue to do the great work of the district. Also, I think we need to develop our support staff uh provide the training and the tools that
030teachers need to learn and reach all learners everywhere they are. to Scott's point, uh, not everything can be painted with the same broad brush and I really have to talk about and think about what unique challenges our students face and and how best to address those. I would like to think that we can do everything for everybody. Um, I don't know that we can, but I know that we should endeavor to listen and do what we can to meet the vast majority of our students. Also, I want to broaden opportunity and make sure that AP classes, clubs, arts, athletics, and special education are accessible, inclusive, and most importantly, well resourced. I've spent years helping institutions create inclusive environments where people feel seen, supported, and valued. And I would bring that same commitment to this board,
031ensuring equity is embedded in every policy, program, and plan we consider. Thank you. Thank you, Jorge. Yes. Um, sorry. I did my undergrad um in microbiology. Um, and one of the saddest part of of starting microbiology coming from Peru was knocking door for the door from different uh professors trying to get access to the lab so I can get some experience. Unfortunately, every experience that I got or every every person that you know could give me that experience uh required me to have previous lab experience. Uh I went to college when 17 so it kind of like I didn't have much laboratory experience. Um there was one professor who gave me access to that and he was from Ireland and it was on cancer research. He allowed me to study hard from scratch until I
032was able to not only catch up but you know be at the level of um you know all everybody everybody around me uh in the laboratory and he gave me all the materials that I needed for conducting my own research for for two and a half years and that was one of the best experiences that I've had. Um when I came to this country access was highly limited for me as a multilingual learner. Uh we were put in corner rooms at the end of the high school with a giant poster that said do not join gangs. Um education for multicultural learners has come a long way from from you know from those many years ago. And I know that access to both academic curricular and extracurricular activities does has done a little bit better when
033it goes for uh when it comes to representation and inclusivity for our students. Um yet no program or degree prepared me as a Latin American educator to deal and navigate with microaggressions and other cultural related hardships. Something that had me second guessing many times um about staying in the classroom. I think when we talk about equity, we must remember our educators are also part of this plan and program um to help our our our bipok uh educators succeed as well in the classroom for the betterment of our students. And finally, Nicole. Thank you. So when I think of equity, it's really about creating a learning environment where every student feels valued, supported, empowered, and feels like they can reach any and all potential, no matter what their challenges are, their family systems are, whatever limits
034they have, they can do it with hard work and determination. You know, I've I've worked in alternative schools. I've worked in with traditional school settings. So I've seen an array of settings where access is limited, supports are limited. So children need a lot and I don't think parents fully understand that just how much is required and how much is needed and we we expect a lot from schools. And the challenge is is that you teachers have to educate. So there's kind of a big uh demand on teachers and staff in school that goes beyond just educating books smarts. And I think that's something that has to be considered when we're thinking about all kids because their home environments which translate into school play a large part in how ready them they are to learn, how
035ready they are to engage, how ready they are to participate. And so I think you know equity looks beyond the classroom setting. It looks beyond you know what you see in front of you. you do have to look deeper into a child and their situation to kind of get a full picture of really what they're coming for and what they need. Um, when I look at what needs to be enhanced, you know, I do think the district does a really good job. I went to a recital with my girls in middle school and I saw some kids that were quirky as I call them and it's great to see them included in recital and part, you know, performances because those are the things that you look forward to. Those are the memories that you can
036um I think it's really important to have resources accessible. I think parents want information. They need information. What's normal is not normal to anybody. Um and so I think the more we can encourage parent involvement to support their children from preschool all the way up into high school um is critical. And I also think making resources more accessible um just because I think everything that you do in school has to be reinforced at home and it goes vice versa. So the more we can get parent involvement and support to parents I think will help children be better. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. And the last question and we'll start we're starting with Jason for this one. Okay. Our board consists of several committees. Finance, facilities, curriculum, policy, community relations, wellness and equity, and student activities
037and athletics. Of these committees, which are you most interested in or do you feel can contribute the most to and why? So, I would be happy to serve on any of the committees wherever the board sees that my skills could add value. However, I have a particularly strong affinity towards three of those, which is uh facilities, student activities and athletics, and community relations. For facilities, my background includes overseeing infrastructure and business resilience and planning in large, complex institutions. I understand the importance of safe, modern, and functional learning spaces and how to manage long-term investments with public accountability. Uh, with the district entering into a critical phase of our bond implementation, I'd like to bring a sharp eye for project oversight and a commitment to transparency, especially as a Fanwood resident, I'd also work to ensure
038equity about how the improvements are distributed and communicated across the entire district. Regarding student activities and athletics, my son, I mentioned, plays high school football, and I've seen firsthand how transformative extracurriculars can be for students. They build leadership, resilience, and connection. Um, and that matters just as much as test scores in developing an entire individual. Um, I'd advocate for expanded access to clubs, sports, arts, leadership programs across all grade levels from K12 all the way through high school. And I want to ensure that our coaches, advisers, support staff all have the resources they need to build inclusive, character-driven programs. And finally, community relations. Um, as a family representative on a shared board, I feel a special responsibility to be a connector to those families to make sure that both towns are informed, respected, and engaged.
039And, um, to that end, I'd led substantive communications initiatives and understand how to simplify complex issues for the public at large. I'd love to help strengthen the district's outreach through regular listening sessions, user-friendly updates, and stronger partnerships with other local civic leaders. All three of these committees would allow board members to impact students day-to-day experiences, where they learn, how they grow outside the classrooms, and the families with which they love. That's exactly the kind of service I want to bring the board. Go back to um thank you. Um I know there was a recent issue um with cutting supervisor positions a few months ago specifically social studies. Okay. Although the decision at the time came from a financial need I empathize with many of my neighbors and fellow parents and their concerns because of the
040effects possible effects of the this decision on the social studies curriculum. Um so because of that I am highly interested in serving in the curriculum committee. Um I want to work with the board, parents and teachers to ensure that um what students are learning fulfilled the um district goals um and strategic um plan as well. Um students need facts and evidence-based learning. They also need an inclusive curriculum. They need academic experiences that allow them to bring into the classroom their diverse culture and their diverse identities to maximize their connection with their local and also global communities. Um if you notice part of my a lot of my answers have included um little stories of of of my experiences and that's because I believe that what the students are and who they are um empower and
041can serve as educational capital for their experience in the classroom. Um thank you. Okay. So I agree any committee would be fabulous. Um but obviously given my professional experience the wellness and equity committee would be appropriate. Um wellness and mental health and overall mind body connections are critical. Um student activities and athletics is something that I'm interested in. I was a cheerleader back in high school and that was the best activities I had. Um, and I'm not coordinated, so it was it was fun more than anything else. But experiences are what helps any student become the better sons of themselves by doing other things outside of just the academics. So encouraging student activities, more clubs, more sports, um, things that the kids will actively engage in and kind of help grow are important to me.
042um and curriculum because I think obviously they're in school to learn and so the the base of everything is the curriculum and so it has to be diverse and inclusive and meet all the goals of the state and obviously we want them to be top learners but it has to be approachable relatable and kids have to feel connected to the teachers so supporting them as well as has been said I would be happy with any of them um but um the ones that really jumped out to me were, as I think it's been said multiple times, curriculum. I think that's largely why we're here is because we really want our kids to learn and learn well and learn appropriately and be challenged. Um, and for everyone in the classroom to be able to have that
043experience um whether they're achieving highly or not quite so highly. um and whether they have um other um factors at play that that they need assistance with. Um that those are all very important. Um as an attorney, I'm very intrigued by the policy committee. Um I like those questions that nobody asks and that nobody else wants to deal with. Um but that really serve as the backbone of a lot of what gets done. Um, and that keeps everything running smoothly. Um, and finally, um, community relations. Um, because I, as I've mentioned before, this is a real opportunity for the board and the district to engage more with the community and the many stakeholders who support us and really do want us to succeed. Um, and that's just, I think, at this point a really vital
044um, component of the board that um, that will be important going forward. Thank you very much. A lot of good information. We're good. Okay. So, thank you very much. I know that was a lot. We appreciate all the time you guys spent prepping and and for sharing your answers. So, what we're going to do now is I'm going to we're going to make a motion to reconvene into executive session to discuss um your answers and and you know hopefully come out back into public with a decision. So, we'll try not to be there all night. Um but that's tomorrow. So, we need to make a motion right Chris for to go into Do we have a motion to go to exec Dr. Kicowski? Seconded by Miss Boroff. Uh any comments or questions? All those in
045favor? Any opposed? Okay, we're going to go into exec. Everybody has a break and we will be back out in public hopefully shortly. [Music] Thank you so much for your welcome. Thank you. You all did great. I don't know. It's an evening away from the kids. Thank you. Same to you. Well done, Nicole. Yes, that's right. Yes. Whoever the three adult wins, you have to show up tomorrow at the Planet Board meeting in Fanwood. Please. I was going to, but I'm hoping to be here. I'm on the pling board. Is that me, Gary? I'm on the pling board. I'll be there. Oh gosh. If we can just stop one. Let it be the one next to my house. [Music] I did listen online. Did you? Hopefully you're the only one. Low profile. Good to meet
046you. Scott. Yes. Thank you. Good to meet you. Say Skyler. Skyler is my first name. Okay. I go by my middle name, Scott. Skyler. Scott. Yeah. I I know it sounds too high too highutin for me. Thank you. I'm Jason. Nice to meet you. How are you? Oh, hi. How are you? I've heard the name. I haven't heard you know the name. Yes. One of the council women. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Thank you for being here. This is my mission. Oh, wonderful. Great. Oh, she's the one. She's the one I We said bad things about you in my house. It's my wife. So, whatever she said to you, it's my wife. Don't make it out of me. Well, you guys did a good job. Thank you. Thank you. folks. I'm not Yeah, it's it's even
047I think maybe a more thankless job than being on the council. Maybe it is a lot of Well, it's% of the taxes. So, feedback. Well, people care about the kids. It's to be expected. High intent. Yeah, much room at the end of the day in this town. It's just direction all of the children regardless of where they are, right? And they should educated. Rising tide floats all boats. Yep. people taxation. So you want to impact $350.50 50 cents. The rest of it all goes here. I don't even know what that means to me. No matter what, like I said, 15 years ago, I was like, yeah, I walked away. I came home and I was like, I was like, you know, God, she's so good. Like, I don't know if you're going to do the
048job. which is great. So much because we're going to fight this thing. We're taking it down. We're taking it down. This is going to be the first that we take down. It's just too big. You're going to miss the fire. Trust me when I tell you it's going to be good. It was right. Yeah. 2021 book. Yes. I wanted to return big trees that I took out. uh 13 dead or dying. You can't have the guy that's like asking somebody drunk driving, how many drinks do you have? I'll charge you all that. You can't do that. You know, I think the transition offers properties. Um, okay. And then it's pushing the kid at some point. If you play sports [Music] fear that's important football I did I did I played high school but a joke
049I tell not a joke I and coach. She did a 2hour And it's all because of building I hope they come back soon. [Music] I thought my kid was like the sit down. I feel so much better in here when I go out in the field. We are now ask at the right time, not It isn't actually. Imagine talked about the Well, actually, where are we going next? So frustrating so I don't know. My door last at some point when I'm really energetic see how long it takes to the Everybody exist. nonform garbage. [Music] Oh no. lawyers on the back say I'd love to know his first flight. I don't want to be the one experimenting living in the uh uh you know the collapse zone of a building [Music] needs it in a special
050pillow in a special Ziploc bag. Yeah. talking now. So I still like, you know, [Music] put like a light on your teeth. My son had an accident. He didn't go on that. He like hit the floor. Good news. Bad news is like you'll have to park. of my son's just recently broke these two pictures you could say but Amazon's the worst thing ever during I wanted my only friend. He is really just like Hey, fix it. I guess Logan's done best [Music] guy and a good deal. No, he defin that's that's that was a good uh you can walk the fresh smoke but he can't walk home. I know. So you can see white smoke when third third set lost by two points in the third set. Patrick, they pay you for this or is
051this just like volunteer hours? I do for both. Nice. By hour. I was like, go tell him. You tell him to take their time. Well, if he gets elected, he's going to find out, right? That is not the point. I was more don't know how long he need to be here. He's tracking us down. How's your mother handle on that? Does your mother handle that? Do mother know who driving that? I mean, I hope so. Is it her car? No. Did Logan drive here? Yes. Yep. So, Jason, you you for they won't say so, but I went to I went to Manhattan. Oh, which is University. I I just I can't accept it. It just doesn't sound right. buddy of mine that I worked with for 30 years and we get tuition remission, you know,
052for free for our kids. His so much Matt for engineering. He was very mad. That's the worst thing. It's like you you stay in the job until your kids can go for free and they go someplace else. For God's sakes. Yeah. Yep. He's a Jasper and uh we mocked him incessantly. His father, not the kid. The kid did great. He built the bridges. At least when I went, it was it was a pretty good bargain back in all things considering. Well, when you consider how much the I'll say the the big brand name schools are 40 was $97,000 a year. That's crazy. It's crazy. I mean, I have multiple the region there, but I didn't pay for it. Yeah. So, thank God because who could pay that? It's crazy. And you don't need you don't
053need a the luxury degree. I mean, you don't you'll go to school anywhere, do well apply yourself, and you'll have a career. I preach community college. Every person, every parent that will listen, I'm telling you, community college is the greatest. And I don't know if you guys know, and this is something I talked about before meetings, is um if you finish in the top 15% of your class, it's free in New Jersey to go to community college. I didn't know that. Which is a big it's a big deal. And it's funny because my my daughter when she when she graduated, she was at in her senior year, she was at 15.1%. Right? And I looked at the rule and it said either your junior or senior year. In her junior year, she was at 14.9%.
054I say, "Thank you. Paid for." Which one did she go to? Uh, she landed up going to uh Drew University after that. And then she got her masters from Grand Canyon University. She became a teacher and she teaches, you want to talk about expensive school, she she teaches middle school math in California. at uh at a private school, they charge $72,000 a year if you board there. Wow. But it's it's a it's just a fascinating school. Like all these celebrities and everything send their kids there. Like Dennis Quaid's kid is there. Elvis even has a grandchild that goes there. They have at uh they have paparazzi at the graduations and they have to control it. Harvard. What's that? Harvard. They play they play them a lot, but it's it's Oaks Christian. Um they're they're that's
055one of their arch rival schools out there. And they their their school you're talking about athletics. They have they have more teams than UCLA. They've had some of some of their quarterbacks, Wayne Gretzky's son, Joel Montana's son, and uh right now my high school just had me. Yeah, that's not really much. You were in the offensive line. Yeah, but I'm not really proud of this. You guys gave him a difficult job. I think they went out to eat. Uber eats deliver in this school. I'm sure it would. If it did, my kid would have ordered it. Every year at the beginning of the year, they do an assembly and that's one of the main things they said. You not allowed to order take out for real? Yeah. Oh my god. Because if you do, Have
056you guys been to the panini place? Oh yeah, sure. That was so good. Delicious. Oh my gosh. I I'm addicted to that P1. Like I have to have it at least once a week. Like I'm just like I got to have that. They just they just have a way of like toasting the It's actually better. I mean like everything else. Not to say you probably didn't know this. If you eat it there, it's even better. I mean it's great at home. Yeah. But there it's like even up another notch because it's all fresh and crispy and No, it's great. I really hope they do well. I hope they stick around. Great. They just don't have much seating. But it works. They do. They do pretty good with the Also, when have you been to uh
057Jones? The uh Sure. Oh my goodness. Sure. That that's another diamond. I just wish they could put it in. The reason they Well, not the reason, let's not say that, but one of the stumbling blocks for good restaurants in Fwood is the there's no basements in those stores. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So they would take up very valuable um square footage of of people to run kitchens. That's why you don't see a lot of restaurants because even you know Jessica's the kitchen's in the back on the first floor, right? So there's no storage, no refrigeration, all that stuff in the basement. So you can't have like a a facility that needs extensive refrigeration. The Mediterranean restaurant has a basement. Just just so you know. Not that you're on the one track. I think you're obsessed. All
058right, come back full circle on you. Well, it is I was at the last session. I was at the last um hearing for that. Um and then I was planning because I have a friend that lives on at 423 South. So further than you, but still impactful. And I was there to support them. I'm on the roadside. So I went to support them for their concerns when they were there. Um and it never, you know, you were there. You were there. enough. You're there. So, I was going to go back again tomorrow, but then I told him I may not be able to cuz I'm going to be here. We'll see how it goes. Listen, I'll write you a note. I'm sorry, Jason. You don't even have to say Gary Mars. Just say Gary. Gary.
059No problem. It was it was funny. I posted this on Facebook. The um uh the notification system is so bad with the certified letters and everything like that. But the best was last October. They uh they have to notify people within 200 feet. And the uh they even have to notify the owner of 383 in California. Yeah. Yeah. You saw that? You're okay. Yes, I'm the idiot. Oh, you're Gary Mar. Okay. I'm the one with the stupid post every day. I got you. Thank you. Now, the name of the Facebook. Yeah. So, he the guy the guy actually sent it to like two owners ago and didn't even realize it. I'm sure the town gave him the wrong address by accident and the name, but he's not even looking that this is the owner of
060383. He's like, he owns it, but mailed to somebody in California. It's so embarrassing. So I I was friends with um Brian Walter when he built and he had challenges there were people who I mean how long have you lived in town? I was I was there when I was the mother. So were they giving him you moved here? It was the chipper. the chipper game can't argue. You knew what you live next to. And I really felt that way. I felt that, you know, if you bought the house next to Chipper and you wanted to chip and you want a big oil like that. Yeah. You really couldn't when this was going up, I was like, "Oh, now no." Well, even me, I live so long. And um when they wanted to be a
061library, my wife had the problem with it, you know, but not really because it's set the color. It's just that because they think it's the same color as our house and my wife now all of our friends are like you have peter in the ride get out of turn around go that way um but we we knew we lived in Washington library part of department of public works we knew what we bought so you know it is what it is they put up a beautiful library a little bit on the grass it's a little closer to the house because they you know beef it up a bit but we didn't go in screaming because we live in the library we knew where we lived right y so we'll see I mean depending on what they
062do with DPW ultimately I may want to be listing your services. We'll see how that goes. I can start making videos tomorrow. We'll see how that goes. There's no there's no rumor right now. What's going on? We'll see. You go shake them up. Gina, you go over there and smack them around. Bring them in. What are these people doing? Do you know who I am? Can we just combine all of How about everybody does one meeting and we each one of us only has to work four year. 12 meetings. I do four work. It works. very carefully. Here's the deal. If they take too long, we're going to replace all of them with you. We're going to have a rebellion. We'll be rebellion right here. [Music] Honest. Honestly, in my opinion, I think I think
063the job should be for three to six years done and and like to rotate people into it like like it's meant it's meant to bring people in with fresh ideas who are like, you know, would be good if we had this and you come in and you have your pet idea and and you make it happen and it's always wrong. I mean, you just have to have a community that believes in the ideas that you have versus the community the ideas of or who's currently in company. But you could run every three years. I mean, there's always a seat open in all the boards. So, if you have a great idea, go out there. I I I ran against Amy, so I got stunned. Yep. Amy was great. I mean, she she was very talented.
064That's what I'm saying. But if you had something that was better, that's why I didn't run against I wanted to run. I've always wanted to serve on the board, but I didn't think there was anything I could do better. So, I wasn't going to say, "What would I do? Get on this stump and say, "Vote for me because I'm better than him for these reasons." Cuz I don't think I was. I was actually, you know, how you could have like a you could have a tagline on an election. I was just gonna say I'm not Amy because both were I thought it would been pretty funny and I probably would have got accidentally elected for that. I don't know if I did. Oh, no. I think something like board event board event with a question
065mark I had on it. The other kind of board. [Music] It was a It was a takeoff on Napoleon Dynamite with the vote for Pedro shirt. You can't go wrong with Napoleon Dynamite, right? No, you went wrong. [Music] This is my test of people's sense of humor. Like my wife hates that. So if you then you know but if you like that then you'll like my sense of humor. I I can see I can see my wife threatened me to not have any sense of humor whatsoever. Well here we are. I know you hear you. Oh no I'm over you. Okay. Yeah. Give her a call. She's serious or old. something like that back then. Yeah. No, it's great to be home. You don't feel much here. Let's Let's stay really still and see if
066it'll just uh shut off the lights. You know, we don't need to turn this into breakfast. That's what if we get stuck in here the hallway and banging on the locker. I've been waiting my whole life record. Well, now I know what we're doing with you. To hold Scott down and make a watch breakfast. The same thing with any model. Yeah. But all the songs you hear are like, "What movie is that from?" ugly. I got this little projector. I'll project it on the chippery on South Avenue tonight. I hear that new building is going to be so big if you actually still Yes. historic commission seat. Yeah. I think that they always Yeah, I think I think Jack wanted to go there. Yeah. [Music] Rebels. I don't think there are [Music] Walter who lives
067over by the south side his career in the park service. So he brings very nice perspective. Yeah. Tomorrow it's going to be awesome. Gary's point of not popular will represent your beliefs but a lot of it recog This you don't have to line that. If I ran it years ago, I would probably do it again. I would probably do it as independent because I don't want to get affiliated with any of the parties with my my own perspective and my thoughts. And the problem is you have to align yourself. I mean, they run um nonpartisan [Music] one way or the other. So, one of the rules I wanted political signs, you're only allowed to put the political one. Oh, you're Gary Morris. That's the only place. It's like a It's like a political sign sanctuary.
068Well, if you drive down um all of them, you know, they have the 4x8 signs on those. Their signs are wood. They use metal and ones that hold up signs. They use those metal signs. They're hammered to the ground and they're 4x being that I live on South Avenue. If I had to sign that thing, I would get a car every day backing out of my driveway. No, I I'm right I'm right at the the cusp of it. So, technically on the South Avenue facing south house facing south. Um, yeah. Yeah. Buddy, like I said, buddy of mine lives right down the block. Um, and he was going to buy, you know, that house I'll say. So, there's the chipper house right here facing a from South. It was ranch and he just recently got
069I say the last couple years blew it up and like turned it into something else. Yeah. The guy who lives down he lives in the way he moved around a bunch of years but he was going to buy that house and now the reason he's going to the sessions is he says what would have happened if I would have lived there at that house kind of old South. He said I can see the impact of that. Well I think that becomes a development all those little houses in between the offers that they're going to get from developers going to go to the boat. Sure. Which depending on where they are in life, that could be great for them, but it's not going to be great for everybody. I kind of feel like they need to,
070you know, have a lot of stuff on the books that's coming in. Obviously, we don't know the impact of Soho yet on on that area of South Avenue. We don't know the impact of the the the preschool. Now, um I'm glad uh you know, I think I think that was me personally I think that was the right move. I had said it all along. They just preach and buy that building and take it off the market. That should have been the priority right for the first vote. Just get it off the market and and hold on to it. Turn it into offices for the time being and then grow into it as is. But um I thought the attempt to make make it into 750 person school living on that road was it takes me
071long enough to get out of the driveway in the morning without the school traffic because if you know with preschool obviously everybody's going to be driving their kids there but it's not the same as 750 you know kids. I mean you see what it's like right here on Westfield Road. come up and down Westfield Road during school. You look at you look at Terri. That's I go to the church next door there. If we didn't have to deal with them letting people parking lot there, that would be insane. the drop off in town. There's a lot of folks, you know, the town's grown substantially 15 on the 20 years I've been here, town's grown um, you know, and infrastructure needs to keep up with it or or not. And then there's, you know, the the
072housing situation with with co-op. Yeah. So, there's a lot there's a lot going on. There's a lot going on. Yeah, sure. And there's no easy answer. There's no easy answer. You know, there's pros and cons and everything. Um, you know, everybody has I think it's just a matter of time for the uh We talked about I I know we talked about that for years. He talks about putting a parking structure in two or three level parking structure in the parking lot. We killed it. We killed it. It's our preservation. We heard that pitch. I'm sorry. No, we killed it. Probably years ago. We heard about that. And when you can you guys declare the chipper of this story? We could we could have not anymore. We could have a very long time ago. If I
073dig on the property, I find a turtle. I'm grasping here, but I got to find something. Indian white. You just leave like that. It's like salt. No. Well, them had kids. They were little. everything's evening Saturday morning, you know, got be. So, Jason, if this doesn't work out, are you going to be back in 15 years? I'm sorry. Are you coming back in 15 years? Um, actually, if this doesn't work out, I still may run in November. Um, I don't know. Yeah, we'll see. We will say we will say um these fine votes are going to run also in November position. Um it would be easier decision for me um to run. Um I don't know if it's somebody I respect. I don't know. I don't know how I feel about that. That's that's one
074problem with the timing of it. You're not going to be able to see somebody kind of come into their own. I almost feel like it's not even giving somebody a chance. That's the that's the constitution. That's the way the system is brought up. I mean, it could go so much worse. This could have happened in four weeks and essentially nothing and no matter what the issue is, we've never been in which I said people who get married in under a year. You've never seen that person live through Christmas. How do you feel that they're not a different person at Christmas time? You need to live through an entire arc. You know, see what the spring, summer, fall, see what people are. Wait, I'm counting the months that I was engaged. Now I'm like, I'm in
075trouble. Well, you know, you don't know. I mean, you need to watch fall in love get married in three months. How do you know this person's not nuts in June? You know, you need to just see. Same thing. My wife found out I was nuts. Same thing with serving serving in community service. You don't know what you're doing till you see them through a cycle, you know, and then you don't believe in them. Listen, I'm about turn. Yeah. I wish there was something to read, man. exactly what he was like. It's a passion of mine and it's also knock on defense professional because I have qualifications for any other role that I want to do and as a lever to be on board is a small other people with similar history similar credentials. This is
076like a little bit more now. Am I leaving right [Music] always and clean up? What do you guys think about being a varsity sport? Um, I I honestly I think it's wrong because it's in the Olympics, so I see no reason why it should be fun. It doesn't take away as long as it's a fun correctly. The problem is if it's only got two or three people, it's a waste. It's mega ball. You're going to have millions of people. Exactly. Exactly. I'm not starting on the tennis team. Junior varsity. [Music] I like that. My wife was a senior in high school. She is barely 5. They just all the other athletes were already Yeah, it's a brand new team. And so they I think they lost they lost every single match. They won one game
077the entire season, but they had a lot of fun. That's all that matters. Way more fun on the losing team. A lot of pressure on the winning team. [Music] Hi. So I What's your stance on single use plastics? Um, so I don't have one. If I had to invent one, I probably think they're probably not a good idea, but I use them with my kids to be quite honest. But I didn't inhale. So hard to say. I know they're wrong, but I can't I can't quit them. I feel like I definitely I don't think they kill turtles. That's what I'll tell you. I don't think turtles, but you are announc. It's keeping me from posting on Facebook. apartment complex. I was hoping you guys would feed me some ideas I could post tonight. You're not
078wish every that's the just stop one and then like don't worry honey we got you can't visceral I'm not in the I don't know that that's true. That's what I not heard, but like read I think they're going to be on your side. I want to try to stop this, but I don't know that that's but my my support that feeling. Yeah. So in the last session, I didn't feel like anyone's very good. I don't really tip their hand, but I had this sense that they were like, you know, this is not what we want. You know, they wanted something this person. I believe that they're trying to get every square inch of dollar that they can. And I think that many trying to make sure that but the way that is, it almost requires
079you to use every square inch. You got to have a certain amount of frontage on the front and the back. And so that's why I'm like I don't think that zone was appropriate for that spot. They they should have kept like some wooded area in between and then develop you know away from the the wooded area. I think that not a developer but trunk the facility. I think it's you and others might be more accommodating if it would be small. I I said you don't know you know uh is it station square if you had three tenon homes like that sitting there with that and you make one of them affordable you're done let's move on too much money to that property to allow that to happen that's very easy and and he cannot I
080think and that's the thing here to do is that's exactly what they're here for I doing a fun job. I I give you an opportunity to do a great job. You're doing the right thing. Wish there were more of you in your community. We have some interesting surprises tomorrow. Trust me. Trust me when I tell you we did not show all our cards. I'm trying to create that thing that makes up. It'll be worthwhile getting the the dogs in the park. I remember what happened. That was that was pretty epic when it happened. I remember at the bottom of the park. It was, you know, it took it took one person getting signatures and then calling the news to show up at a council meeting and it changed everything. All right, we'll let the same
081happened when we um with Brookside Park when they wanted to turn fields, you know, rose up competitions did their work and they were able to swing people's minds. I was out. Which one? Well, you need your story. My daughter, I made the news that night, so that was a good thing. I thought not so much [Music] safety for kids. um they make a mess, but I know that they're actually cleaning the leashing up garbage and everything that everybody else is leaving. There's argument that the sidewalk [Music] and another person walked by. So personas got all the the square footage that actually has sidewalks and then gave an example of like that fact that's like four times larger than any sidewalk that's and that would mean that we could have no dogs walking ever anywhere if
082we went with that approach. Well, you know, you know that I've railed on this a number of times during the whole thing that dogs are not allowed to um on public or private property. Oh, really? That's a limitation. Yeah. So I I don't know if you heard what I did. I actually went I went to Scott Plane and I asked them I said I said we have this in Fanwood. Is it okay if we take our dogs into Scotch Lane so they can move cuz my dogs been holding it in for 3 years now. Is there some way we can make this? And the mayor the mayor was like I give you permission as long as you clean it up. And they still won't change that lawn. Well, if you're on Westfield Road, you got
083to cross the yellow line yellow line. Actually, it would be better for them to poop in Westfield. I think that would be better because that's more of an arch rival, right? But it's funny how how a law can be there and nobody ever read it, you know, and it's and it just sits there for years and then because I pointed it out, there's no way they could ever fix it. They'll say I was right. We should throw you one. They should throw you bones. [Music] Oh, yeah. Oh, that was the thing with the the person named Karen. Was it? They were all No, but the the was the worst thing in the in the um NJ.com or or the Star Ledger, they they had a whole report and they interviewed the person and complained about
084it and they and they just it was actually cruel the way they they said it. It was wrong and it was like, oh, the person's name is Karen and it was like, oh my goodness. Oh no. I would have been I would have been so I would have been very upset if they did such a biased piece about me. That's why I don't read newspapers because it's probably out there. Uh oh. They fighting. There's a lot of pro Scott in front of who we think is going to win. What's that? Oh, yeah. Yeah. [Music] Yeah, me too. I'm doing the math. I'm pretty good at math. There's no way. I think there is there seven people. We were not we're not done bonding yet. We were bonding. We're having a very good time. We just
085got back from Derby. So we we had a lot of ideas where you people were lots of thoughts. Lots of things were said. You may not be water. Totally. Just a joke. You put your jacket on here. We'll be all right. [Music] Do we have to do anything to reconvene the public? So, um, we need to make a motion to reconvene into public. Do we have a So, move, Dr. Kolkowski, do we have a second? Second, Mr. Seriani. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. We're in public. So we were in executive session obviously um discussing the appointment of a new board member. So clearly um it was not an easy decision, right? This clearly there was a lot of discussion. You gave us all a lot to think about, but we did um
086make a decision. Um, so I'd like to make a motion um that the Scots Family Board of Education appoints Jason Benedict to fill a vacant portion position on the board until the annual reorg meeting tenderly scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Do we have a second? Second. Okay, change his name to Amy. I'd be honored. All All those in favor? Opposed? Abstensions. Abstain. Motion carries. Congratulations, Jason. Thank you. Um, Mr. Jones, would you do the swearing in the oath? Please stand just like this and just wait till the end. You say uh I will. Okay. I do solemnly swear affirm that you will support the Constitution United States and the Constitution of State of New Jersey. You will bear fruit and allegiance in the same to the governments established in the United States and the
087state under the authority of the people. So help me God. Uh I do. Uh, do you solemnly swear affirm that I that you oppose the qualifications prescribed by law of office member of board of education and not disqualified uh as a voter persuant to RS1941 and that you will faithfully and partially and justly perform duties to office according to the best of your ability. So I'll be back. I do. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. So before we adjourn the so this position as as it was read is through the end of the year. Um so the um election for the remaining term is in November. So you if you're still interested, board petitions are due as July July 6th. July 28th. July 28th to submit your board submissions through the Union County Board of um
088elections. Um which I believe we have information for typically on our Yeah. on our website. And I would just add that they changed it this year that you need 25 signatures instead of 10. Yeah. Um so get started with that. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Dr. second. Second, Miss Williams. All those in favor? Opposed? We are adjourned. Thank you everybody. Congratulations. Thank you so much.