2-10-26 Watchung Borough BOE Meeting

001Uh hello everyone. Good evening. Um I call to order a meeting of the Wong Burough School District Board of Education. This is a working meeting. It is February 10th, 2026 at 7 p.m. Uh let's all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Welcome to a meeting of the board of education of the Wong of the Bureau of Wong. Please be advised that this and all meetings of the board are open to the public and media consistent with the open public meetings act chapter 231 laws of 1975 and that the advanced notice required therein has been provided. This is a regular meeting of the board of

002education of the bureau of watch at which formal action may be taken. >> Not tonight. Tonight is a working meeting. Formal action will not be taken. Um this meeting is being livereamed on the district website where a recording of the meeting also will be posted. The public will have an opportunity to be heard as shown on the agenda at points in the meeting provided for the public to address the board. Recording or photographing other than for private personal use requires the consent of parents and guardians whose children may be included in the image. Can we have a roll call, please? >> Yes. Mrs. Agliero >> here. >> Mrs. Amado >> here. >> Mr. Desaniano >> here. >> Mrs. Harvey here. Mrs. Maddox here, >> Mrs. Marcellis >> here, >> and Mr. Craft, Mrs. Santos, and

003Mr. Tricka are absent. Great. Um, I'd like to now um ask Ms. Kathy Purier of the NJSBA um to come up and talk to us about norms. This presentation is part of a our board goal to develop norms and protocols. Yes. So if you remember back in October when Thornton and I came out and we did the PowerPoint presentation on what board norms are and then you wanted us to come back and have a meeting with you to help develop the norms. So that's what you all will will be doing tonight. But board norms are really just how you are going to decide to treat each other. communicate with each other to help you function together as a board team. So, I have some folders with some information that I'm just gonna pass out to

004each of you. And I know you have some board members that aren't here, so I'll leave those for that. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Thank you. get some pens. >> Okay, thank you. >> And then in there I just have the presentation that we went over in October, which I know you all have, but sometimes I find it helpful to look at something and read it. So um that just goes over again like what they are, why you have them and then there are some examples in here also which I know you already have some norms examples and then I al also brought some boards um norm samples. So what we'll do tonight is split up into groups. So since there are six of you, maybe we'll split up three and three and then I

005have some questions for you that are in your folders. And it's name three norms that you feel are important to the success of this group before a meeting, during the meeting, after the meeting, and for all for all committee meetings. So So we'll have two groups. Maybe typically we'd have each group work on one of these sections, but maybe we'll have we'll split into two groups and each of you can work on two of these if that's okay. And then in your folders also are some sample norms. And these are just samples. So you may have norms that aren't on any of the samples that you think of that you might want to bring up as well. And um also in your folders are parliamentary procedures. So that can also be a norm as well.

006You can follow parliamentary procedures. Some boards have, you know, the specific like we're going to follow Robert's rules in their bylaws, but you can have parliamentary procedures as part of your norms as well. And that's a great little handbook. It has a cheat sheet of motions in the back. That is wonderful. So I always recommend when I hand that out. It's one of my favorite things to hand out. Keep it with you at a board meeting. That way you can reference it if you need to. And then I have my other favorite handout that I give out all the time. I usually give it out with ethics, but I don't think I brought it when I did ethics for all of you, but it's the who does what in public school governance. So that's a

007great one for board, new board members especially, but even seasoned board members as well to look at. Um, so that's what we'll do tonight. Does anybody have any questions about norms or their purpose or anything before we get started? Okay. Okay. And do you want to maybe we'll just split up like three three or do you want me to mix it up or do you want to do you want me to >> Can I ask a quick question? Yeah, go ahead. >> Do so I see this the norms kind of built around a meeting. >> Um >> do we also talk about norms like ongoing norms that are not related to a meeting or is that >> we can talk about communication, email communication that's in the samples as well. um how do you communicate

008with each other? If say if you want something on an agenda or on a committee meeting agenda or you have a question about something that's on the agenda, what are your mechanisms of communication? Like do you call or email the committee chair or who do you talk to? If you have a question for the superintendent, do you address it to the board president and then to the superintendent or can you you know what are what are your ways of communicating? I think it might be helpful to also be able to talk about that and before and you know before during and after committee meetings perhaps as separate from board meeting or do you want both of those to be the meeting that we're talking about here? >> We can do if you want to do

009we can do before a meeting before a committee meeting because that's important too if you're going to a committee meeting you also want to be prepared. Some of them can apply to both like reading through all your materials, being prepared >> for the meeting when you're at the meeting, you know, listening to each other respectfully, talking one at a time, like those are things that can apply to both your board meetings and committee meetings. So, >> well, I ideally what um what we want to do is we want to look at every scenario because when we walk out of here, we want to have an idea of what we want to look at before the meeting, during a meeting, after the meeting, and um for, you know, our committee meetings as well. So, at least

010we have an understanding of what that means to us, especially since we've got, you know, two new board members here. And then um you know we all have we all can walk away feeling like okay I understand what the goals are what we're trying to accomplish and come to a mutual agreement as a whole that you know okay this is what we put together in our separate groups but then we're going to come back together as a unity and all agree on okay these are what what we've come up with split as a split up um split up groups and then when um we come together if there's anything that we're missing as a whole. >> Oh, definitely. Also fill in the >> blank. Yeah, of course. Of course. >> So, we have six people.

011So, maybe we should do three in a group and three in a group and have one group do before and during and one group do after. >> Perfect. >> And the for all. >> I think that's a great idea. And then we'll come back together. Maybe pick one person to speak for your group and get up and talk about what you came up with. I would suggest maybe three to four norms for each one >> and then we'll come back and talk about it. And then what I'll do is I'll write down what we did tonight and then I'll email that >> to you. Okay. >> Tomorrow or the next day. >> Okay. >> All right. >> And just in terms of the public aspect of this, if we're grouping up, do we need to

012have the micro I mean, how are we managing that? >> I don't think Yeah, I think we can split into groups and talk and have a you can have a discussion amongst your groups. I think that's okay. >> And so would we go on break then? You don't need to recess, but we'll we'll stay up at the tables, but you can talk. >> Stay here. We can just split on the opposite side. So, we're still in front and we're still having discussions. >> Yeah. >> And the public can still see us. >> Okay. So, let's do three. >> You're coming back and going over what you discussed. Yeah. >> All right. So, Jen and I will come over to you. Sound good? >> Good. And I have chart paper there, Markers. There's stickers if you

013want to >> mark off your favorite ones. >> Cameras on. >> Yeah. Doesn't matter. >> I don't care. Matters. >> All right. >> Hey, Danielle. >> What kind of gohead so it doesn't get all dried up and stuff. >> Okay. >> It's also okay. You know, we're chatting. If you want to what if you want to cut it now and >> Oh, okay. Up to whatever. heel. >> So, now that we have sad >> Oh, yeah. Changes. >> We probably Jen cuz we're both new. So, it would probably be >> Yeah. Why don't you join us and we'll check for the chair. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Oh, there's one back there. Okay. Do you want to pull it uh where there was chairs? >> Yeah, there's one. >> So, we'll pull before a meeting and

014during a meeting. >> Sure. You want to do you want to or do you want me to >> either one of you want to write? >> Go ahead. >> You're both cashed on December 14. >> You see you feel it. Bye. Goodbye. >> Do you want to >> That's right. >> It's better to look. >> It's better. >> This is what I was going to bring a chair around or matching alliance. >> If you see $320.32 in your bank statement on December 1st, it's which would be better to know. >> Thank you for checking. No, not a problem. You have it. >> All right. Do you guys want a copy or no? >> Yes. >> You guys are our minds are >> sweet. That's it. >> What that looks like? >> We're doing after >>

015that's us. Yeah, I think we're doing after and for all committee meetings. >> We're doing before, >> during >> order and committee. >> Yes. >> Okay, >> that's how I'm thinking about it. >> Okay, >> I'm going to split my >> So, we're just kind of coming up with >> So, if we're looking at after meeting of the things that we kind of do as a group, >> support decisions of the board. Well, I have a easy suggestion for both committee and board. >> Your materials, >> all these are good. Is >> there anything specific that we want? I mean, we could keep them all and then, you know, add. >> Anybody have any issue with that one? >> These were just examples of what other >> I don't have an issue with that. I

016do have >> people had in different districts. >> Um, this one's interesting. >> The second one >> like a end to that >> because that uh >> there's a lot of um >> intentional No, no. Yes. But I mean like is that like uh you know if you start text messages from board members >> anything to me still >> ask you to make decisions on stuff outside of a board meeting and committees. >> I think we should be a little bit more explicit about >> that's a big no no >> to speak. >> Well no respecting time and rules by avoiding individual requests outside of >> all the time. >> Yeah. I mean I >> okay >> that that's >> I would >> I think it's exactly what you're just >> um >> you want

017you want to every possibility of you know how it would impact outside of what we've >> documents what they >> yeah like if somebody brought up >> outside of a committee board meeting >> somebody says something Whether it's through text message, phone call, or whatever, >> you're really supposed to refer it back to let's get the chair committee involved and let's agenda so that we can discuss the viewer in the Google Drive. >> You're not supposed to be like >> discussing. Yes, we should say that. >> So read the agenda and review it. >> Well, you can discuss whatever with each other. You can't say like, "Yeah, I'm going to do this or yeah, I agree. decision, >> right? Because two people drive for that meeting, >> right? Because think of it this way. You

018might have >> a certain amount of information, right? Which is why the board president is supposed to call each one of us that meeting and ask us, hey, this is going to happen. How are you going to be with this? And they give you a certain amount of information. >> That's okay. Well, I mean, they shouldn't ask you how you're going to be about it because if you come to a board meeting and then you hear other board members perspectives, you might change your opinion. >> Yeah. Just in case the board president like a solid yes, I'm going to vote yes on this. You see what I'm saying? >> So, you're not like sometimes that that has happened, right? Where like >> you're given a certain amount of information because it's only two people talking

019about something. The minutes should be in the board packet, >> right? And then when you get into the minutes are enough more people go into the committee >> and then when you come to the board you hear more and then you might go like or if something got minute should be in the kitchen over here. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Here >> that way we can still get it. >> We did. >> Okay. So like sometimes too like some people might set up like a text group or something like that and >> try to like get you to >> oh so not all the minutes >> hey we want to make a decision about this is always a little >> it's not a committee it's having a committee meeting >> everybody's learning and everybody's switching roles

020and >> super smooth it's not the way to do it >> February will be better >> everything through that committee that it's supposed to >> right and it's supposed to be listed on an agenda so that the community like if wants to see the agenda or whatever like they see that this was discussed and then it's read through the minutes and you know what I'm saying it's like >> read the agenda read the attachments board agenda >> board packet in the Google drive for that >> things are done that way sometimes because >> may >> it may cause things to run longer and or cause um there's a difference >> they all go to Dr. to them. >> That's okay. >> It's okay to have a difference of opinion >> and you want that because

021you want those discussions as compared to all individuals >> different >> obviously respectful >> there was a before you guys were on the board there was a discussion as to whether or not we were going to continue to let the kids have off for Martin Luther King Jr. and they were talking about trying to save days to clarify >> and they wanted the kids question day of service. So they wanted them to do to >> I had a very big difference of opinion chair the president or the >> on the matter >> um and other board members but it was handled in a pretty respectful way. >> This can be directed to committee chairs or president >> but my my my opinion was pick a different day >> superintendent we're allowed to talk to everybody.

022Yeah, >> pick a different day. >> Ask her if you want. >> So, >> there's no restrictions on >> you canow handle things that way. It's just like my thing was like the respect for time and stuff like sometimes like >> the chair would be the >> we're all busy and when you're on something that you ask lot >> you try to keep it to a minimum with each other and then like if you're in like a big tax group and stuff like that could take up like a whole afternoon of people going back and forth about stuff. So it's like >> one of them and >> that's why you're not really supposed to do those things. But >> you know and some of these other things that are listed under these other categories don't

023necessarily >> yeah they could also you know fall under any of these other ones. So, you know, we can look at all these different >> areas and then also >> just for I think this our board had issues in the past of that where like a board member potentially doesn't get >> their way or their perspective on something. >> Trying to think of a question you would only ask, >> but the majority of the board decides to go >> a different way. and that board member actively works against every single thing that the board is doing >> shares with us >> because they didn't get what they wanted >> that create that can create issues I think like that first one is >> that's huge >> want to keep it with that same verbiage >>

024um decisions of the board majority recognizing that the board >> has Yes, that sounds good to me. I mean even the respect of human roles by avoiding individual >> ask questions ahead of time for research are even important with like the administration >> being mindful to form the >> because you could have board members like individually calling Julie trying to call Karen or something and like you know just requesting certain things like we've had that too in the past like you just like make so many demands about certain things that it's like, you know, they don't have that many people in the board office to do all this stuff sometimes. So, I think that understanding that there's a small administrative, you know, support team there is important. And that's something that I had to keep

025reminding certain board members of over the years because they treat it sometimes people come in and they treat it like >> it's just like Julie, you know, like you can't drive them crazy like they still have to run a school system, you know? So, I mean, they would make sometimes these just like these outlandish requests of like all this >> I don't want to say data because data is important, but just like like just overwhelming amounts of like materials that they were requiring for things and I mean it really drove >> administration >> really super important to notify the president if you're not going to make it. So >> there are many many times >> that's not that's not only for us also like how we behaved. So I don't know if we want to

026add that into it like into that second one. >> Was it the second one? What was the um second? What do you >> No, we just have to renotice it. >> Um just like who like you know for fellow maybe fellow somewhere in there like fellow board members and administration >> the whole process. I think we're allowed to recess for 30 minutes to see if people can make it. Or maybe we shouldn't say administration, we should say superintendent because if we say administration, they could people could presume that it's uh like we're calling up the principles. >> In emergencies, you can do it right away because we did that when the rainstorm we held them. Nobody could get >> I'll write this down before we're done. We agree that we did an emergency. >> So

027that way we can discuss >> because what's our final product? >> Okay. The first one was >> also fromation there's some more examples for meeting and then there's you're doing also after a board meeting there's also some more examples in here for after a board meeting >> they might overlap with some of the other sample list that was in your folder but on here too just even some verbage that >> Yeah pick and choose and build I mean that first one is nice. That's like the first one that you have here >> talking about. Yeah, that's pretty much the same thing. >> Off the top of my head. >> Yeah. And that right they have it in there to respect the time of >> thing. Yeah. Read the agenda and the time that's in the

028committee folder in the Google Drive for that meeting. >> Um >> so we don't have to you don't have to rewrite it. It's already there. Um, >> but you should also let your chair know if you >> what is it like third to last? >> Third to the last one is the after the board meeting. >> Oh, here we are. >> How many are we trying to take away? >> What about adding >> They're all good. >> Should we put something on down about that? >> You wanted to add something to uh finance committee agenda. You really have an issue that you think should be addressed. >> I mean, normally this one I don't >> adding it to the committee >> agenda. >> It's good to have >> but I've never seen an issue with

029it. So, it's good to have it on there like at a board meeting like sometimes like uh you might say agenda items the chair of a committee like hey I'm interested and can you guys follow up on this topic in your committee and normally the chair of the committee will make a note of it and then we'll make sure that it's on the agenda. So that's part of this one right where that could be an example of it. So you're saying >> Yeah, you have that one too here. follow through on agreed upon cuz it's like if you're being >> I hear things like if you're paying attention to it's usually like a chair of a committee or the board president >> you make sure we follow up on this in >> coming down the

030pipeline >> the committee meeting and then actually doing that like I've never seen an issue with that because usually if it's at a board meeting >> it's like everybody know right it kind of makes it right right >> um so that's I mean it's a good one to just have on there for people who don't necessarily know. But >> so in that scenario, if a board member approaches the policy chair about this >> wanting to add policy agenda, then the chair and the superintendent should have a discussion >> feasible, appropriate, >> need more information first. >> I agree. I don't think because I mean there have been board members who haven't come to anything and it's because they just can't. You know what I'm saying? And it's like some of them travel a lot or

031whatever and it's like >> some right and some of them don't have kids in the schools. It's easier for some board members who have kids cuz you're attending some of those events anyway. >> Um one thing that happens which I don't think happens anymore um because I don't get emails about Bayberry anymore because I don't have kids there but I get all the Valley View ones. In the past, what we would have is the principles um would send all the board members the the information of all the events that were happening. So you guys get that for Bayberry, right? Like where you're like these are some dates you should whatever and I get that for Valley View. We since we had board members who didn't have kids, they didn't get any of those things. So

032they had no idea what was going on in the school district. So we made sure that the principles always emailed every single board member and whether I mean not that I wanted to get that many emails but it helps like because if right if you know there was a spring concert going on or something at Bay Are you don't have kids there it made it nice for you to go like you know what let me go let me go check out you know like maybe we just supported something you know at a board meeting you're like I want to see how this played out. So that I think was good and that doesn't happen anymore. So >> that was because they had us add it to the bottom. >> I remember it was you requested

033all the >> Yeah. But it's not the same as when you get the email from the principles that then because we get them as parents reminding us of things and that helps every >> Yeah. And what if you you know >> I'm not disagreeing with you. Just know that you're just >> I wanted just I wanted to touch >> that's how we went. >> Just because they want it or not doesn't mean they shouldn't get it. They don't have to read it. >> I don't want to I wanted to backtrack a little bit because >> I understand that a lot of board members can't come to things. But if they don't have kids, but there's a bunch of stuff that's even more of a reason to try to >> those events specifically because they're going

034to be voting on things >> that concern them. >> You know what I mean? Yeah. So I kind of think that like >> I don't think that you should come to all like you don't have to come to all the events but definitely like >> show your face to a few events so that you can kind of and also grab the ear of the people >> like you know what I mean like >> some of them don't want to hear what people have to say in the things I mean I agree with you generally I agree with you I don't >> but I have to say that I have experienced extremely supportive, well-informed >> board members who have not attended it and they're very passionate about the kids. It's just >> the what, >> right?

035And like cuz some of the people like on the board, >> they might have, you know, very like highowered positions or whatever where they're like I mean one woman, you know, she worked from home but she traveled Oh wow. >> She was in meetings at all different time like because she was international. >> Okay. So all >> Yeah, it was really tough for her but she was totally supportive of like everything and she loved hearing about stuff that was going on too. >> So we have um so we have to finish this and then we got to do a second. >> So we've got three um three so far, right? We did the >> I'm not asking like only one person can do it anymore. So like who's on the hook or >> Yeah. >>

036I have to rewrite all this. >> I have to, but >> we got to narrow it down. >> So >> A and B. >> I can't think of anything else after meeting that's on here. That's not on here. I mean, yeah, this is nice to like to do your >> she writes up the >> professional development. >> So, >> move on from >> you know, one of the hard >> drinking. Yeah. Well, >> have the drink. That should definitely be >> hard decisions. You have to enjoy each other too. Like have your cake go into >> Yeah, that's huge. Yeah. Yeah. That should be >> that that's definitely that's why that's number one right there. >> Yeah. Because a lot of >> we've already talked about >> actually that was our first >> you have

037to support it. You have to support other things. >> That was our first one that we chose. So that's definitely >> about respect. I >> think you're asking though who writes the agenda >> or who who >> want to keep that >> creates the actual document >> from a norm perspective. I think that's important because there have been there has been definite public talking about prepping to read the material >> but you can only do that they're available. So what is the norm for making sure they're available >> through committee or >> but we just came into this year so >> follow through on agreed upon responsibilities did we agree did we say yay nay or that's just kind of thing or which one agreed >> yeah I think that's yeah I mean I think

038that's that should to me like okay Liz you think it's common sense but you can't assume anybody has common sense so I would leave that one too >> I think the one we were questioning was the fourth one is if we want to put that on there. >> Well, always strive to develop professionally or no >> no support and attend school and district defense when possible. >> I mean, that's not bad. I mean, it's when possible. So, it doesn't mean it's me like >> we don't have to put that on now. I mean, if we get together as a group, then we can always add that back on. >> I like that language better than this one. be dedicated to supporting and attending school functions because I feel like this sounds like a must where

039that one is like >> you know right >> I think the question he's asking me >> who does the job >> commit to ongoing postgend is posted. >> Same thing. >> Same. They're just a little bit different. >> Yeah. I think have a drink afterwards is always a good one to add, but >> we should not do that. >> It's like an unspoken rule. >> Uh well, I mean, they have these. So, do you want me to just put this down, >> but then we'll change this one to that one? >> So, I'm just going to put support, respect, take B, but for B, I'm going to write this >> that Wednesday or whatever day it was when you got when I was in Orlando. That's >> that's a regular thing that wasn't too. >>

040That's why I said >> I mean, I like the idea of that. So, that's probably like I would like to write that down. Just trying to think if there's any scenarios after a reflection agenda like >> um want to put in the >> meeting a review meeting a review meeting prior to You know what? Since you're maybe saying that, um, sometimes you don't say things during a board meeting because you don't think of it at the time. So maybe we should add something that's in there that says like, you know, to contact the chair of the committee if or the board president if there's >> committee members need question about something during the meeting or >> you know if you didn't think of something and you want to want somebody to follow up on it

041or whatever like you would always contact >> like cuz sometimes you don't know what committee if you're like this. So you call the board president. >> If we set a process by what >> I would say like the committee chair or the board president and then >> you know if you want something to be followed up on >> a reminder >> like that you didn't think of during the meeting. >> So like going through the chain of command remember to >> follow the chain of command I guess >> in essence >> mostly >> avoid any >> policy wouldn't have any >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> And then the >> Why don't you guys do that? Hold on. Let me write this down. >> Um, >> you guys figure, but you understand what I'm saying,

042right? Like, you don't think of something during the meeting, but then you think of it after and you're just, you know what, >> this would be a great idea. Hold on. Who do I call for that? >> Or send an email to or whatever. communicating somewhere, right? >> Then you're gonna get a phone call from Danielle. >> Okay. >> You just said something about minute when minutes are due. What was the other thing you said? Meeting or meeting >> before the minutes are due. Uh we're saying >> ideas after meeting >> I I'm not >> stating >> we're going to say that >> chair >> be meeting with the admin >> right >> prior encouraged to share your ideas after >> I don't know the end of that week or the beginning of the calling

043>> not encouraged because of this I would >> like >> right because you want to try and do it during the board But it's just like if something comes up and we've all experienced this has an after right most of it >> right and then the chair can then go this way I don't >> think >> I don't want to review something on a Monday if it's going to change Monday >> also >> I'm saying I don't want to regularly do that >> when it comes to you may want to read what's there and then know okay there's another >> oh the one that I'm on >> I I was going to add on here but you guys want to like we can I can put on here to discuss >> right >> getting >>

044one of my >> like event emails from principles because we used to do that if everybody like to get like to discuss going back to getting that and if everybody wants it that's fine if people like if >> like you know what I'm saying if everybody's like no we don't want to do that How about well the way finances upon is >> most of the material thereby into business >> right >> so you don't everybody knows that >> I'm going to know >> I don't send >> regardless if there's remember at the bottom of committee agendas >> an email is generated to let everybody know there's been an addition to the >> second or is that >> is that what you're trying to get at >> it's not an addition that's it do you want

045me to just for us to just >> No I'm saying We're going to put everything on here that we want >> either me I'm not going to change because this will be what's written here. >> He's taking direction from the chairman. >> I would like to hear from the chairman on that Friday afternoon >> what the state of the agenda is so I'm prepared for. >> So you want an email unless you want to read it >> like hey we're 95% locked in. >> I could read it out loud instead >> just because I'm not going to fiddle. I'm writing too big. >> I listen to you. the ide and that too >> and I think it's important that we >> right I'm not saying >> no I like what you're saying >> it will

046be chair should let the chair should let the committee know when the pack is ready for review >> and the chair >> like on Friday >> that's I would say that's important because if what we're saying is it on Wednesday. It'll be posted by >> Yeah, it's a bit much. I mean, it's usually like >> you call the president when you can't. >> Yeah, like that caveat's always there. >> That's what I'm saying. >> Chair being the most sort of >> you're safe and >> but even still, you could probably call a chair of a committee and be like, "Hey, would this be in your committee? Like, I'm want this to be discussed." Whatever. >> 9 a.m. But >> maybe just leave it as chair of the committee >> unless there's a change, >> right?

047>> Yeah, let's do that. >> And there's a change. Did you all right to the committee chair? >> Oh, exactly what you said. Ideas as an afterthought should committee chair to the committee chairum or board president member at least. >> So I didn't add in the minutes. That's after which isn't us. You don't have to worry about it. >> Wait, are we on to during the meeting? >> Get it all before. You can always come back to us during the meeting. Yeah. >> During the board meeting, >> irrespective. >> Yes. Follow Robert's rules. >> Yeah. Because people will call you and be like, "Hey, you just >> us previous board." Oh, you know, I didn't think of it that way. Oh, okay. >> Yeah. Like, >> oh, >> but you got to make the chair

048of the committee aware that you >> calling people out and trying to embarrass that >> you want that want to move to the next one. >> So, is that a good one? I think so, I guess. Okay. Oh, wait. But I got to add that in. >> Hold on. Strive is going to be the same >> as we agreed about the professional. >> That is actually one that when somebody's speaking at that point, we all need very respect. It's hard to get up to there and speak. Um I don't know what we would wait do you have who has the language for the other one. No, no. Oh, yeah. I like her. >> Even things from our own administr needs to be listening, paying attention, not on their phones, that camera catches the phones. Um,

049I know I'm bad at this, so I'm just curious if there's a way to down on paper. Like don't necessary is the wrong word, but >> Am I spelling that right? >> Yeah. >> No surprises. >> It's more of a no surprises. Maybe >> like so those questions >> I should draw a picture of a chair >> right I would I probably could have fit that in other than the word >> artist here so >> so I think that's good for the because I can't think of anything else like after >> and you guys don't want to add the drink ideas so no fun button >> we should add >> what about the for committee meeting >> should tell them first meeting >> oh research it not So this is just the regular meeting before

050a meeting questions or anything >> for all the norms for all the >> I wonder where we're at. >> So there was another Yeah, there were some committee meeting there too. >> That makes sense. The the part about the asking questions that >> like the purpose of your question shouldn't be for your own comfortable notify the chair for >> other board members and audience. >> Sorry grand standing is where you like >> with say like a feel you're paying >> ask appropriate thoughtful questions. have to be holding >> like the con. It's the conchk that we pass around questions like >> no during the meeting. >> You're going to know surprises somewhere. I think we all kind of know that anyways. >> No, I was saying >> um >> the agenda questions. >> It's like

051in the middle >> and there's more here too. I don'tving >> right but like obviously there's going to be questions that are the answer to but >> some aspect of it >> responsibility to >> and why am I going to have all over me >> towards the responsibility of improving not just yourself but others other board members like >> I'm over anchor charts do them all the time >> she said look at these is to ask a question because you feel the answer >> rules of the road like that type of stuff >> helpful to >> right but I'm not saying >> this one you take that one >> I guess >> here the one that you have on here come prepared >> dialogue in front of everybody >> materials not everybody >> words awkwardly

052to administrative recommendation you know what I have to say the notify the chair in advance of unable to attend >> that's huge Yes. >> I mean, I haven't had an issue with this, but I found it interesting. >> Just kidding. >> In the past, when you notify the chair that you're not going to be able to attend, normally the chair reaches out to >> um >> alternate board members to see if they're able to attend >> questions and dialogue. We we don't we we have been asked as the board member ourselves to then start calling other people to find out if >> I think honestly I feel like that's u >> why should you have >> there's four people in a committee >> one of you doesn't have >> but if one of you is

053going to be gone. You can still conduct business even if it's a few people. >> Yeah. I think something about being respectful, not purposefully stressed out right now. You want to make a change. >> No, no, but mean like we can add that in. No, but >> respectful of everyone's opinions. >> We can add that in. I mean, it doesn't matter to me like I mean you can see like >> So, what are you saying? So, >> like I did already like I'm not able to attend some policy meeting. So I send I think Adam might be the alter. So like I send to Adam I just send him an email and I say like hey listen these are the dates I'm not going to be there. Are you able to attend? If he says

054yes or no okay but like >> got to think back because we had that civility goal. >> If he doesn't I'm not like reaching out to anybody else. I'm like whatever. I don't know if that's necessarily the right thing to do, but >> why don't you put that down as something that we can talk about because >> that's kind of what you were what Rich was saying to >> like do we really have to like you're going to have the committee meeting >> because you have to and have that discussion. >> So hold on. That's uh notify the chair, right? So we like the first one come prepared having reviewed the agenda materials, right? No, >> this is Do you want me to rewrite the whole thing? >> We're doing uh >> we're doing after

055the meeting all >> Okay. >> You didn't say no to me. >> I was like you put in the whole thing and then I realized you were saying no to them. >> I didn't know they were asking us anything. Okay. So, I'm just going to write come here cuz this >> I said purpose. I said noation. >> You said no to this for a meeting. You want me to write this? Come on. I can look at this and cross reference the paper. >> Sorry. >> Yeah, I'm going to write the notes. I know it's not that. >> Okay. So, then you guys keep going and I'll write this out. >> You put that in the committee meeting like to make sure that each person has worth a chance. is a policy that we >> think

056that's kind of a good thing for the chair to do if someone's not said anything. >> Well, that's what we want to talk about. >> Yes. The chair um group. >> Okay. Yeah, often said like >> once you've made your point, >> it's more public. >> Once you've made your point, you can't keep repeating your point until >> you can say your point and then you're done. >> You need to let everybody else >> chime in without keep going back to >> then. Did we put in being respectful to >> presenters? monitoring all individuals with I think that >> I always tell when I was to take yours not that I'm just saying like yes this is great as long as we get materials in enough advanced time to be able to give the chair

057any questions or concerns ahead of When you get things the day of a committee meeting or not even or not even an agenda, then I guess that makes this extremely difficult for us to do. um >> I think should be responsed to committee. >> We're all adults. >> You can put in no surprises. That's great. We could discuss it, right, Julie? >> We are. I'm just I just wanted you to know because >> Yeah, it's fine to clarify what somebody said. >> You don't like >> more blah blah. >> I did not. discuss what materials are provided to committee. >> I have another idea too. I think we're just >> I was going to say for >> I got to do we we were good with the notify. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. And then

058I'll put in >> did we write something about committee chair being responsible for developing a report for the board meeting and if they're not going to be at the board meeting that they need >> an understanding what that looks like for us. >> I'm lost. So >> what we just talked about before the board >> so we have so we agreed on um >> chair is responsible for developing >> it is and it isn't you have a whole bunch like it's like personnel and that whole thing you got to figure out what >> we want to chairs need to have a report ready to share at the meeting and if they're not going to be at the meeting >> need to find somebody to read it for them. somebody. >> So we want more of

059a as a group definition >> I consider the report separate from the minute. So minutes can in there that you can't see >> right in the second one but I'll put down um that we want to discuss >> elaborate >> yeah like who is going to >> because where we haven't everybody wants >> you should write out something easy >> I don't think we've discussed it just was like >> told to us >> it's your responsibility to do this and I was like oh >> actually very hard to do >> I think we just need clarification >> my responsibility Does it tell you I'm not going to be there? But sure, now you want me to tell the chair. >> Understand what I mean? >> No, I do that. I had a question. >> Right.

060>> That used to happen sometimes. I wouldn't I would be in the finance committee and not know the finance chair was there and like minute before the meeting started, I would be told you're reading the fin >> and their bullet point form highlighted and I'm really not yet. We're not if you're not gonna be there, why should >> I'm directing it to you? I'm >> prepared that thing. >> Even if you don't find a minister meeting, >> you're still gonna have a meeting because you got to be able to put things through committee so that can go on an agenda. You know, that's what I'm saying. It's like >> I think it's the same thing. Be respectful. Make sure everybody has a chance to >> So, it's okay. I mean the only I mean the

061only time that you >> have to reschedu probably a committee meeting is if like the president is the only one who's there >> or the chair >> the chair is responsible for >> you got no other board members you know what I'm saying in the committee meeting and then it's just like we can't have this committee meeting like you know and then you're trying to scramble to get everybody to say like okay can we have it on this day or that day you know like but if you have like >> we could add in things like try not to >> board member there and it's a rare that that happen but it just happens that way you have it anyway just >> so you can also do what's best >> yeah anything like something along

062those lines >> your board might not work for >> right in the committee >> contract and then they end up four hours later >> make any decisions anyway you bring it to the whole board and the whole board you can discuss it at the public meeting anyway so you can make the recommendation as the committee like this is what this was the information we were given like you're doing the work, so to speak. So, this is the information we were given. This is the discussion we had. This is the recommendation we're making for the board. This is why this is on the agenda for us to vote on. But then even if a committee makes a recommendation, it doesn't mean that that's what the board is going to vote in favor of. >> You kind

063of hope that that's what's going to happen, but you know that that's not always necessarily the case. Or they might say, "Well, we don't want to make this decision right now." >> We want you the committee to go back and do XYZ and then come back to us again >> and then after we find out this information, then we'll feel more comfortable making a decision. So, it just depends >> who's responsible for >> All right. So, what am I writing? Discuss who >> who finds the alternate. Is that what we're doing? >> Agenda. Julian secretary or anything. >> That's not >> sometimes a lawyer. >> It's an administrator >> unable to attend. >> I just want to make sure everybody is like okay yes if it's the person who's not coming >> the alternate that's

064fine but like I said I don't think it was discussed. This will be the first time we're discussing it, but I think we were just told. >> Yeah, that's >> Oh, yeah. The all time ones. >> Yeah, the resolutions are all >> Yeah. If you want, we can do finish these and then look at the other ones to see if we want to similar. Anyway, >> we can add some more stuff. Big districts have >> members huge >> systems all views like want to add that to this one that says >> I nominate you as our consider thoughtfully all administrative recommendations >> seconded. She's got all the stuff on her computer. >> Okay. >> You in the wrong group used my Wait, which one are you looking at? redirect. >> Okay. Which one are you

065all the time? All the time. >> Examples all the time. >> Right. Right. Which one? >> But I'm looking at the second classelcome. >> Welcome input. >> Uh >> maybe. >> Oh, I guess 210. >> I was hoping to merge it. >> One is specifically the superintendent though. You guys like that these that are on here? Yes. >> Yeah, it is. Okay. Okay. bring it up as part of the discussion. >> Yeah, with these I'm just rewriting that one act as stewards of >> effectively district. >> So you stick to that, >> right? like in the scheme of things like >> also everybody heard me say we should have a drink after the meeting. >> Nobody's >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Not that I'm talking >> and I don't >> What are you saying? >>

066No, I just said this microphone is on and it's on. >> That's supposed to be on. >> Yeah, I know. So I said everybody heard me say we should add in that we should all have a drink. like multiple times. >> They'll be like, "Yeah, that's >> Did you see your even saying >> see my email >> work towards consent?" >> No, we didn't put that one. >> We didn't add that one on here. >> That should be like >> I thought we put some the >> more doc that you sent with the beginnings of the notes in it. >> We know >> is that >> what you want me to add it directly into or meeting. Do you guys have any that you want to >> those minutes will go into the committee forever?

067>> Um Yeah. Yeah. You want I I guess let me rephrase. Do you want me to >> put them in and then put it in the folder or you want to send it back? >> You have to send it to her. >> Okay. >> Final version. >> This one. >> If you want to use >> We have quite a few. >> So are we we're not >> I just want to add on the welcome the input >> things in those folders >> currently. It's students. >> That's where it is right now. She kind of wants to match. >> That's fine. But are we >> and are we not allowed to edit things then either? >> No. No. You like what you have you can edit all right and then you give it to the up.

068>> Is that is that >> okay? >> That's why I was saying you you can do whatever you >> got. Okay. >> There wasn't any. >> No, but we went through everything. What do you mean? When we went through everything got off second, >> but that fine. >> It's okay. >> I don't think >> I didn't please you on the first one, but this one I'm trying to please you. >> Why would I want that? >> Yeah, with the review that with Um, >> now I'm wring a little bit sloppy at the bottom because I can't brace my hair. >> We're making her write it all out. >> It's a lot of writing. >> We should typ agreeing upon Well, thank you for working so hard on those. So, this group over here, you worked

069on the first two, right? Do you want Are you comfortable? You want to share what you came up with? >> Sure. We didn't write it on that big pad. I didn't even It's okay. Um So >> anything you did computer >> before the board meeting. So board members should read the agenda and review relevant attachments in the Google Drive for that meeting. Direct questions to committee chairs, the superintendent or BA. Ask questions prior to the meeting to allow for research of the requested information. Notify the president if you cannot attend a public meeting in advance. Arrive and begin on time. Let the superb and/or board president know if you plan to vote no or ask questions during the public meeting. Chairs must prepare a report for the board meeting that is concise and excludes any

070confidential material from the committee minutes. Prepare an alternate to read that report if necessary. That's before the board meeting. Before the committee meeting, read the materials and attachments in the committee folder. Alert your committee chair and president if you cannot attend. Uh board members should contact committee chairs with ideas for an agenda. Um an agenda review meeting with super and committee chairs takes place a week before the meeting, including any agenda ideas the board may have had. Super or BA will determine feasibility and appropriateness. The committee chair will alert the committee when the meeting packet is available or when new items have been added. That's what I've got. >> Anyone have thoughts or discussion on those? >> Read those again. >> Yes. And then Oh, I also have during and during the board meeting and

071during the committee >> those I'm sorry. Can you just do it again? I'm sorry. >> So, read the materials and attachments in the committee folder. >> Wait, what is this one for? Is >> this for before the board meeting? Committee meeting. >> Yeah, let's go. want to go one at a time. So, we'll do >> we did before board and before committee and then during board and during committee. >> So, you you guys did them all. >> We didn't we didn't do after any of the >> or the all. >> No. What did you guys do? >> You did before. You did before the meeting and during the meeting. >> Yeah. >> You did after the meeting and for all committee meetings. >> Okay. >> Just right. >> Yeah. >> So, like you just did

072double work, but >> they might be similar. That's there might be some overlap. That's okay. We can >> Oh, for all committee meetings. I see. >> Yeah. >> I see. >> It's all right. That's all right. >> All right. Well, we'll we'll have I'm sure we'll have overlap and we can Yeah. Yeah. >> So, what do you have for before You want to re go over again um before the board before a board meeting. >> Before a board meeting. >> Before the board meeting, read the agenda and review relevant attachments in the Google Drive for that meeting. Direct questions to committee chairs. the superintendent or BA. Ask questions prior to the meeting to allow for research of the requested information. Notify the president if you cannot attend a public meeting. Arrive and begin on time.

073Let the superb board president know if you plan to vote no um on an item or ask questions during the public meeting. That's the preparation piece. Chairs must prepare a report. Committee chairs must prepare a report for the board meeting that is concise and excludes any confidential material from the committee minutes. Prepare >> committee I'm sorry you said committee chairs. >> Yeah. Committee chairs prepare a report that's separate from their minutes for the board meeting that is concise and excludes confidential material from the committee minutes and then prepare an alternate to read that report if necessary. So give give an alternate notice if someone needs to read those minutes for you. So that was before the board meeting. So the only thing I would offer an exa a suggestion on is the voting piece only

074because you don't a board member doesn't have to give a reason why they vote a certain way or they abstain or vote no. So you might not want to say oh if you plan to vote no you have to say or say why or tell somebody just because your vote is your own and you can vote your heart during the meeting how you however you want to. So, >> yeah, I was going to say I would remove that. >> Okay. >> You don't have to tell anybody how you're going to vote. >> Okay. But definitely if you have questions about something, that's a good thing to have in there because it's always more efficient to ask questions before the meeting if you're unsure about something that's on the agenda. So, knowing that you can direct

075your questions, >> yeah, >> somebody and have them answer before the meeting if you're unsure about something on the agenda, that's great. But if multiple people are planning to vote no on an item, right, it can be taken off the agenda and reviewed again. It can be that can be addressed if if there's prior no if there's awareness, right? Is that not a common sort of norm? Well, I mean, I don't think typically people, you know, you vote at the meeting. You know, it's on the agenda and then and then you vote at the meeting. You know, certainly if there's a lot of questions about something or if people don't feel they're they have information Okay. Know if you're getting a lot of questions. >> Yeah. You get a sense that way. >> Yeah. >>

076Like if people are asking questions or they're like, "Hey, I didn't get this." And you know, I don't necessarily think that if somebody asks a question about an item and the questions answered sometimes during the board meeting, that sometimes isn't enough time. >> So, >> I mean, the more advanced people could be on things, the better, >> right? You can't always >> don't always have that notice for sure. >> Yeah. So, I guess it can't >> Yeah, I would take out the >> like if somebody says they're going to vote no or because they could say that too and then get to the meeting and vote yes, right? So, it's like >> um >> Okay. The other question I had was to contact the BA because normally I mean I haven't experienced that much because

077the BA isn't really somebody that we directly are involved with that's superintendent. So >> right >> I mean if we're if we have to notify the BA of something it's usually like we notify the board president and the superintendent and then the superintendent notifies the BA. >> Right. That's a good point. I I had written that because knowing that the BA is responsible for the finance committee >> updates. >> Yeah, but >> you're right. It should go through the chair or the super first. >> Yeah. >> Right. And then you did anyone else have any thoughts, questions on those? Okay. So, and then you did during the meeting as well. >> During the board meeting. So, follow Robert's rules for procedural norms. Be respectful to other board members, to the audience, um, and public comment

078speakers, presenters, and the superintendent. Um, ask appropriate, thoughtful questions. Um, do not surprise the board or administration with questions or comments that require research or preparation. Um, set an example for your district students. Um, questions and dialogue should aim to inform the public and be constructive in nature. Uh, articulate content for public understanding is what in your presentation. Um, ensure everyone's voice is heard. Uh, and that's really it. Those are great. >> One thing, um, actually I don't know the answer but uh one of them was don't don't ask was the one about asking questions that require research. What does that one say? >> It was no surprises. >> So it's like it's there's we always say no surprises at the board table and what we mean is like no gotcha s like not that

079you can't ask a question. >> I was the can you read what we what we wrote though? the do not surprise the border administration with questions or comments that require research or preparation. >> We should we instead of saying >> I guess my question is is should that be do not or try not? >> I would say try not because sometimes things come up totally even though research has been done ahead of time. If we get into full discussions during a board meeting and board members come up with other things, we might decide that like I was saying to um the group I was in that we might decide as a board that we might want to vote down whatever the topic is just just for the fact that we want more research to be

080provided on something. So, >> yep. I think Rich has a good point there and like make it try to >> I understand what you're saying though which is like people who purposefully come to the board meeting knowing that they've had questions and all this back research done weeks prior and then not even sharing any of it with the chair or anybody and then coming here as like a got you situation like look at how smart I am. I did all this stuff and and it's like for no real purpose other than that. So to avoid that would be great. >> Yeah. Like supposed to be working together. So >> yeah. Yeah. And you typically you just you want to ask just to be respectful. Like for an example, you know, if there's you get to

081a board meeting and you're like, well, why doesn't this you ask your superintendent, why doesn't this water fountain work in this building? Well, that might not be something that they're going to know right off the bat or know know what the situation is or what's going on. So, that's really what we say like no no gotcha questions to your administration or and no, you know, don't surprise each other either. It's just a be it's a best practice >> and and I just would say and I know thank you for the Robert's rules. After the last board meeting, we also posted a folder. You know that. So, I'm thrilled that you found the pamphlets because I just had it >> copy, >> but um there is an opportunity to table a motion like in that cheat

082sheet so you don't have to vote it down or the instructions for how to pull a motion if you needed more information. So, I just wanted to know we didn't have that before, but we >> Yeah, the last two pages of the Robert's rules booklet that's in your folder has a cheat sheet of motions on it. It's very, very helpful. Like I said, keep it keep it with you. >> Mhm. Because we don't expect you to know, you know, to be a parliamentarian. No one expects your board president to be a parliamentarian or know there's so many rules to Robert's rules. You can really run your meetings with a basic set of them. As long as you have a good idea and a lot of it's in that, that's what it is. It's the basics

083of parliamentary procedure. So, as long as you know the basics, you'll be okay. And we do have um trainings on Robert's rules. And at workshop, we will have um sessions on Robert's rules. And if you want to see it in action, the delegate assembly, which is May 16th, you will see parliamentary. Hopefully, you're sending a voting delegate. Um, but anybody can attend and anybody can also watch it virtually, but you will see there's a parliamentarian there and you will see um parliamentary procedure run very strictly in action. It's really interesting. >> And I did put the PowerPoint, the school board's PowerPoint on parliamentary procedure in the same folder. Oh, I was going to ask uh did you have on there to articulate the content for public understanding? Did you have that in there? >> I

084I did. Yes, I did. >> I was going to say that like ju just from I mean I've I've heard um like committee reports read many different ways over the years. Um, but I found that the community appreciates more detailed reports from us because even though we're in all these meetings and we know what's happening and we know what's been discussed, sometimes when our committee reports come across as very vague, um, the community really doesn't understand what it is that we're working on or what we're discussing. So, um, and we've had community members get up in the past and thank certain board members for getting into more detail during their committee report so that they could fully understand what it was that was being discussed. So, um, if that's part of that too, that that

085would be great, I think. I mean sometimes we can't like you know personnel we can't get into details about things but um for other items especially when we were dealing with like the operations and finance committee and stuff >> we were dealing with more complex issues >> the community appreciated us as board members getting into more detail on explaining it >> a bit more to them. Yeah, I do think they should be concise though and I think it's can sometimes be hard reading an exhaustive minutes report for the audience to follow that. So maybe like a happy medium where it's not so long- winded, but there's enough context in there that is um we're able to share with the audience and in addition to other committees that may just want to hear what that is.

086I just I have a >> Oh, I'm sorry. You're so >> Oh, go ahead. >> I don't know if it's a process thing. Why don't we if we since we have the meeting minutes ahead of time, why don't they just get printed into the agenda so that follow them? I' I've always thought that sitting in the audience like >> yes, it's nice to hear everybody's voices, but like >> I I I stop paying attention for a minute and then I'm lost. >> Well, it would need to be the version that is that is appropriate for public. So it need to be that revised version and it would need to be posted how soon in advance >> public is 48 hours >> because it's going to be read anyway. So >> I you know that's that's

087a separate decision you'd have to make uh as a board but some boards do do that. Um I've also seen some boards do um you know a newsletter where they share it after their board meeting as well. help us have a communications person. >> Yeah, I think >> yeah. What are your thoughts on I think >> so I have I think it's a good idea as long as it's the your version, right? So you have the full minutes, right? >> But you're making you're doing a version to be read, whatever that version is that you're agreeing to to write to read. Sure. We would just need that um When do do you I don't do this part so I don't know the answer. The when you're printing out the agendas for the table. So we

088would need that if it gets posted Tuesday. You print on So we would need it Tuesday either way. If it's an attachment but to print it would be your Wednesday or Thursday. I mean it can >> I don't know again it's your >> if it's ready and there's nothing going on other than printing it's it can be >> I'm asking does it need to be uh posted as an attachment on the committee like each >> for each committee that would have to be by Monday for Tuesday but if it's just being printed to follow along you'd need that just for the Wednesday >> you'd need it for the Tuesday it's got to be online as well if it's going to be available in person. So it might as well the deadline might as well be

089Tuesday. >> So then Tuesday's too late if you want it as an attachment, right? It would have to be Monday. So that means so minutes are due Friday from committee chairs and so that Monday then the report version the public report version would need to be delivered >> or pinky probably the public report >> pinky right pinky >> because she would do the attachment right under the committee reports part of the agenda >> which we have to number it >> yes >> so if it has to be numbered we just have to be careful is >> yeah cuz when we review the agenda with you on Friday the attachments are usually already >> she would just have to leave a placeholder right we know which committees there are >> we just number it with >>

090no but I'm saying you would you know what committees they are so she would she could just build in the attachment >> to be determined >> has to be it has to be delivered and the chairs can't be laid on that one right because it has to get posted with everything else. Is that something all chairs are comfortable with? >> No. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And getting back to your norms, I think saying thing you you'll articulate clearly is a good one. You want your norms to be a little bit general. So >> there was um um Rich since you're the chair of policy um it's probably like that committee and the operations finance where like if we're working on a policy and we've gone through it I don't know how many times or whatever

091you could have like board members asking questions but um I've seen a lot of the chairs of that committee sometimes get into more of an explanation of the policy for the for the public so that they understood, you know, what changes were made or like what we were voting on. So, especially if it was a policy that might be more considered like a hot topic, >> so to speak, >> as a as opposed to, you know, other one >> as opposed to just policy 1298, >> right? Like nobody's going to know like a short description, >> not just reading the policy, but having either like a layman's description of it or or >> Right. Especially if it was like something that was the community was very interesting, >> right? Good. >> And all of those

092are usually put as attachments too for the community to see so they can see what policy. And those are the the first reading and second reading folders that are part of the >> agenda, >> right? Other policies could come up in minutes in the report that aren't up for first or second reading though. So those might not be attached. >> No, those are the ones that like you talk like Dory was saying, you detail in the minute. >> Yeah. So it's not everyone, you know, it's just >> Okay. What do we think that is? Oh, sorry. I have to go. >> Everyone okay with those? So far so good. All right, great. So, your group did after the meeting. So, do you want to maybe if you want to get up here since you have

093the big chart? >> Yeah. >> Oh, I'll just hold it. I don't know if they'll be able to see it. Okay. So, some of them Well, I want you guys to see it, too. So, yes. um some of them for this one I didn't write. I'm sorry. Uh but I'll read it off of a paper because we like the language that was on it that um New Jersey school boards gave us. So after the meeting um we definitely like the support one which was support the outcomes determined by the board majority in recognition that we deliberate in nine voices but govern in one and students are always at the center of our decisions. So we thought that was definitely um extremely important for our board. Um respect respect the time of our board team and

094administration uh by setting clear expectations of board member time commitments and not making individual requests for information or visits to the administration. Uh the next one is take take responsibility for the work of the team and follow through as agreed upon the strategic focus to plan toward the future. Um B, we changed uh we like support and attend school and district events when possible and then um discuss if we want to go back to having the administration send out um the event emails that we get. So in the past I was telling them we um got emails from the principles whether because some board members don't have kids in any schools so they don't get anything that we get and then some like even if you had kids in Valley View but you didn't in

095Bayberry you'd still get the Bayberry emails from the principles that told you about the events that were happening then. Um, Julie said that there are like upcoming events on the committee like agendas. >> Sometime I said there are sometimes that's not enough. >> Um, I know as a parent when I see the email from the principal, I'm paying attention to that to see whatever it is. Um, so I didn't know if that's something you guys wanted to go back to or if you liked just having >> correct >> the upcoming dates on the committee agendas. So that would really be like an administrative decision. So like the norms that would be your like be dedicated to supporting it supporting and attending school functions. And then the second piece really would be you know administrative. >>

096Right. But I don't know what the board members want. >> That's spec you mean specifically for us to receive them or >> Yes. So in the past because we would have board members who don't have any kids in the schools. So we were always like, "Oh, come to this event. Come." And they had no idea what events were going on. So because they didn't have any kids. >> Are you saying So they like board members added like all board members were added to the email list serve or something? >> So it was like just like they go out to all parents. The only thing the principles did was just add on all board members so that >> every single one of us got the emails for both schools so that you knew when things were

097coming up. And if you had the time to attend any of it, you could. That is that different from though like the when we get our committee agendas and they h it has the coming upcoming like list. That's what I said that Julie said it's at the bottom of that but I didn't know if that was like if you guys are even reading that or even understand that that's what that is cuz I that's why I said I know when I get it from the principal like from principal kid and she says these are the like upcoming dates that you need to remember and then she gets into detail about sometimes we just have a topic on there but you don't necessarily know what it is. I mean, >> so some boards do have all

098their board members on the district list serve. I mean, that would be, you know, not a norm, but a separate decision, but >> so I would Yeah, that would that wouldn't be a norm. >> But yeah, that's what you said, but something we can ask way >> it would be a way of us figuring out how we wanted that information disseminated to us >> other than how it's already being done. >> Not at all. So that's what I guess what I wanted you guys to think about is you want to you want to add that on or do you feel that getting those topics on the bottom of the committee agenda is enough? >> Yeah, I mean that's probably a se maybe a separate discussion or you know a discussion to have within committees. >>

099So but >> however you guys would like to discuss it I can move on to the next one. >> Um the next one is strive. Um so that one is always strive to develop professionally as individual board members um and as a board. Oh and then we added on um ideas as an afterthought should be directed to the committee chair. So, we had a discussion about um after the meeting. Obviously, we want to try to have all of our discussions then, but there have been times where some of us are don't think about something until later and then they want potentially, you know, a committee to look further into something. Um, so we thought that might be a good idea to just inform board members that if you do have an afterthought, just contact the

100chair of the committee and then you can have them add it to an agenda or something like that that it's just not like >> the end, you know, meeting's over. We can no longer discuss these things anymore type >> and that could be part of like communication processes like questions directed to committee chairs, >> right? You guys like the >> Any thoughts or discussions on those? So that was it for that. >> Okay, good. So then you did now you're up to for all committee meetings, >> right? Then we did uh and these I wrote out. So for all committee meetings, so um come come prepared having reviewed the agenda and notify the chair of any questions or concerns and then we said um to discuss when materials are provided to the committees because you

101know we have experienced yes this is great for us to ask questions and voice concerns prior but when we're not getting our materials within a timely manner it makes it kind of difficult for us to follow that board norm. >> So, so I don't know if you guys want to talk about whenever they're being provided at this point or >> there have been Yeah, there have been some committee discussions about that because each committee is a little bit different like policy really needs a lot of advanced notice on materials because there's so much reading. Finance will always have a couple last minute bills and things like that that get added. So finance had a discussion in their committee meeting about what that timing should be and what works for everybody and policy. We you know

102that meeting happens a week before everybody else's because there's so much reading and thinking to do on that. So I I don't know if there's one norm for all the meetings. Uh >> you could discuss >> materials are provided >> a something like put it into like your protocol like committee chairs will share their agendas with the entire board two days before their scheduled meeting >> we're doing >> yeah we have so all of the actually curriculum and personnel is the same the week before >> um the conversation the week before the committee conversation with the chairs the Friday is the agenda if anything new like comes after that to make sure that the chair knows to let people know before the committee >> and that's it. I think I think what you're saying though

103is right that that each committee should have a process and should that should be discussed >> by committee. >> Yeah. >> I mean because I think we all want to follow the first one. >> Mhm. >> But it's hard to do that if you're getting information like the day of the of the committee meeting or sometimes even like 20 minutes before the committee meeting is going to start, >> right? um >> you know and and just to piggy back off that I think that um you know the second part of once we're done with the norms when we when I start working on or when we start working on as a group like processes maybe whether it be per committee or just um you know with working with president, vice president, superintendent and what those

104paths look like and processes look like. We can incorporate some of these steps u further in in more detail. Um, in addition to this, >> so I know you're you're working on like a handbook or want to make a handbook. Some boards have like at the beginning like these are our norms and then handbook right after that. >> Right. >> So I had just on that on that point I had written down um the committee chair will alert the committee when the meeting packet is available or when new items have been added. Um, and >> yeah, that's great. >> Yeah, because you're not always looking. >> Mhm. >> We don't sit there and just stare at our board folders all the time. So, um, yeah, that's that would be awesome to put that in. Um

105and then two like whatever's discussed in committees about process or whatever. Remember we can always bring it to board business and have and explain it to everyone >> and then have a full board discussion too if you guys want to do that as well so that it's not just like you know stays in just the committee or whatever or this committee decided this for the whole board type of thing. Um you can always bring it into the that part of the agenda and we can discuss it there if you guys want. Uh what was I up to? Notify. Oh yeah, notify. Um if un if unable to attend, notify the chair as soon as possible and then call one of the alternates to attend if available. So that was something that I said maybe we

106should discuss who finds the alternate. Um because I don't know if we've ever discussed it. we were just kind of told like you're not coming so you have to find the replacement. But in the past we didn't do that. The chair of the committee was responsible. Oh, >> I don't really care either way, but I just didn't know if that's something that the board wanted to discuss on what they would like and then >> we kind of got into >> um the meeting's going to happen probably anyway unless it's just probably the board president and the superintendent who can attend the committee meeting and then you're probably going to try to reschedule it, right? >> Because you need at least one other board member there. So, I mean, even if you can't find the replacement,

107you know, it's the committee meeting has to happen before the board meeting regardless. So, I didn't know if that's something that the board wanted to discuss or if everybody just likes the process of if you can't come, you got to see if you can find somebody to replace you or not. >> Yeah. So, that's like good like as a general norm like that's good. And then the you can decide if you have a process for that after, but you could keep that just as a general >> norm. This is this is very much I think a policy perspective having been on the policy committee much longer than others. I think when there alternates come in for policy they're so out of place because there's been so much discussion that it's almost more challenging >> even

108operations and finance. >> I agree. I think we overuse the alternates a little bit that sometimes maybe I think it's a really hard thing to come in as an alternate to some meetings you're completely lost. So I'm not sure that we I feel like we almost need a discussion as to whether we want to continue with the alternates. >> I agree with that. >> It's it it's putting board members in an awkward position, especially if they're being asked to make a decision and they haven't been to any of the leadup meetings. >> Like I think as long there, you can still have a productive meeting, right? >> Maybe maybe we only need to find an alternate if it's down. >> Yeah. And don't forget you're just discuss you're having discussions and making recommendations. a new

109board member doesn't have to come in and you know decide something but at the same time it might be good to experience. I remember I used to encourage my board members when I was board president to attend >> because we you know we were a board of nine so we could have up to four people we had three committees we had three people on a committee and I you know as board president I would try to attend all the committee meetings but I used to say if you're interested in something on this committee come come to this committee meeting and attend that meeting. It's it can be a very good thing for your board members to experience what's going on on the other committees and also build trust too. >> Yeah, I've seen that too

110where um like if you have a board member who wants to be on a certain committee and then they're not um in the past like if somebody wasn't coming and you're kind of like you offer that olive branch and say like well hey this person's not going to be there so if you want to sit in and see how this committee works >> like come on in. like there's a spot open. >> But I agree like it's tough like and then for the amount of work that gets done in the committee and then to try to rehash all of that for a new person who's there >> takes add on and some of these meetings can be >> with Yeah. >> hours, you know, and then to have that new person. So, I mean, like

111I said, I've I've had committee meetings where it's the board president, one board member, and the superintendent, and you still get through the committee, but if it's only like the president and the superintendent, then they try to reschedu it. So, >> so maybe >> I don't know if alternates are necessary. >> Yeah, maybe it just needs to be alert the committee chair if you can't attend and the chair will determine if an alternate is needed for that day. >> I think that's a good idea. I like And also if you want to if you want to be an alternate on a particular committee, you know, >> let that chair know. >> Yeah. Usually board members will tell you, I really wanted to be on this committee, you know, like and then as the president, you

112kind of know like, oh, okay, I know this person's not coming, so let me see if the other one wants to show up. >> Cool. >> Oh, um, what were we up to? Listen, can >> you go back to something you said earlier? Sure. um about the conversation. You don't if you want to come back to something raise it during the board something at the end of the board meeting. >> Oh, at the uh board during board business. >> Yeah. >> Addition like additional business >> at the So, let's say for any reason there's something coming out of a committee meeting and someone's reading the minutes. Is it is it more appropriate then to raise questions after the minutes have been read at that point or to wait until the end for the board business

113section? >> You could do either, but we've done it usually if it's a board member asking like the community has to wait for certain parts, right? But as a board member, we've said like, "Oh, I have a question for the chair of that committee right after they've read the minutes." >> And then you just have the discussion there. So, you can definitely do that. If you don't um if you don't think of it until later, you can bring anything up under board business. >> Okay? >> Because it's new and old, >> additional business, >> right? And board business is like we don't say it, >> but it's anything new, right? Any old business, right? So >> you can go return to >> uh so we have to listen uh listen to and consider thoughtfully all

114um administration recommendations. We thought that pretty self-explanatory. >> I think that was from the presentation too. >> Yeah. uh work work towards consensus with your colleagues keeping all students as the focus for your recommendations and then uh welcome input and consider all viewpoints with the expectation that students are at that one the center >> good any thoughts questions we came up for the committee I think you all did a great job. Are you all kind of okay with these? >> Yeah, I thought they thought they were all >> So, I mean, you're not like voting on them or anything right now. So, like I said, >> support respect. Take the I really like the strive. >> Oh, the strive. Yeah, >> I'm big on professional development in case anybody hadn't figured that out yet. No,

115we had we had some more specific like process things like the chair is responsible for making sure notes are taken in some form during committee things like that. Is that >> do we want to get to that? >> If you're doing a handbook. >> Yeah. But you know, one thing though is that um you know, I kind of did I mean since we're all here and it's very rare that we all get to sit together and have a discussion. >> Um I think it's important that we do talk about some of these things because once we split up that's it. And it's hard to communicate and us all get on the same page. I know we're talking about, you know, hey, we don't want to stay here any longer than necessary, but if we don't

116have and understand the same message, then, you know, how do we all come to an agreement or really understand and we're going to have inconsistencies constantly? >> So, should we have like the structure of the handbook? Should we start with the board norms? >> Yes. >> Those being like Yes. Start with the norms related. >> Yes. Those are how you treat each other separate from respectful and then have a section after it >> on the procedures. >> I've seen that. Yeah, I've seen handbooks where the boards they have their >> in your board goal folder, right? In your board packet, the the example of the handbook that you have um is in that packet that you know with the four sections of the handbook with the norms and I think that there's samples from other

117districts. Yeah, I have I mean I have like that in this packet >> the norms and then the what do they call the rules of the road or whatever >> it branches off into a folder in your board packet that started all the way back in July. >> Which board packet are we talking about for tonight? board. No, you're on the Google Drive. There's a folder board goal one has um Jen the governance thing. It has the PowerPoint from October. It has um Jessica's uh memo. It has >> Where is that? And that's where you can really you can really get into email like email and communication protocols and those kinds of things that you want to follow too. Yes. Like >> we could continue this like we kind of have a bit of a

118like we discussed quite a few things but could we continue >> like because as things come up >> in board business >> at our meetings and say okay well we tried this >> and this didn't work and this worked really really well and then >> it should be a dynamic document anyways because like for instance we tried the alternate thing last year and then >> it was hard like it was you kind of came >> as the year went on I was like this might not be the best idea it might be better to reschedule meetings if really if the regular committee members can't be there instead of slotting in people who aren't up to speed with what's going on it might be better to reschedule. So yeah, I like the idea of it being

119dynamic and I don't think like even if if you don't if we miss something tonight is my point like we could still discuss it in board business like it's not like the conversation is over, right? you find something that you would like changed or you see an issue or you'd like to iron out a certain process, we could always do that in board business as well. >> You approve your norms and eventually when you are finished with your handbook, your board will approve that handbook. But then you're going to want to re revisit it probably >> get new board members or find things that don't work. >> Yeah. >> There's a lot of boards like we can help you with it if you want me to come back out and help you with ham handbook.

120I have one of my colleagues is helping a board with a handbook. Right now, handbooks seem to be very popular right now with boards. So, yeah, we can help you with that. You know, I can always come back and do that for you. But >> yeah, it's something you're going to want to be revisiting. And then also talk about, well, what if somebody violates the norm? Is it a conversation with board president or you know, what do you do about that? And that's again something that can go in your handbook. >> So, but you want to your norms are typically like more general. How do you treat each other? What are our >> So after this meeting, can we do the board norms and then we discussed actually quite a few of the processes >>

121and even just put in >> like what Danielle has set up for the process for, you know, discussing the agenda with committee chairs and the super the week before >> could probably change on a yearly basis, you know. >> Yeah. Well, as in it should because based on the president and their expectations and getting the email from the chair when the board when the committee packets available and when anything's been added. Um, what else? >> Communicating the committee chair communicating with the super a week before the meeting to review agenda. >> You're allowed to contact the chair. You're allowed to contact the president. You're allowed to contact the super. You have questions. I think that one thing that I found to be challenging for some board members to understand, I don't know why it was

122challenging. I feel like when you say it, it should be pretty plain and simple. But for some people, it seemed difficult for them to understand that we don't have a big administrative team. And there is kind of like that chain of command of reach out to the chair of the committee, you know, reach out to the board president and then, you know, even though the superintendent has an open door policy, which is great, but that should be like the last person that you try to get to just because they have to do, and I've said this repeatedly, their dayto-day and run the schools. So we need to give them the time to do that and we have to try to work together to like sort out whatever questions or misunderstanding or whatever has happened >>

123maybe like a flowchart right in the >> actually I have an example I >> Jen I had started that remember some time back and that's kind of where we >> flowchart of communic your communication process >> because I think like when it was stated to people or board members they took it as, "Oh, well, that's because this person is very controlling and they don't want anybody to talk to the superintendent." Meanwhile, the superintendent could be saying, "I don't have time to talk to all these people. I have to do my job and if you want me to do my job, you know, you're going to have to start handling some of these board members, right?" So, I think they kind of took it that way. And it wasn't that way. it was just, you know,

124there's just not enough time in the day, which I think on some of them that we have is like being considerate of each other's time and the administrative time. >> So, I think like setting that up is good so that people understand that it's not just whoever's sitting in the seat as president at that time is making this decision. It's just an overall general thing. >> And understanding you're not actually being restricted. you are. >> I would say sometimes if it if it makes sense to just ask the question, please reach out because sometimes by the time it's gone. >> But I do remember cut through it. Yes. Does cut through. >> I do remember being at workshop and a superintendent presenting and saying that it was like being the superintendent was like dating nine

125people. >> Yep. >> Yeah. They do. They'll get nine different though. I don't get nine differentities with nine different processes of learning with nine different sets of questions and yeah >> but don't get that's a real it's a good point especially in these you know smaller districts I was president of a little tiny K to8 one building school district and the administrators we had a small administrator team they wear so many hats but they still have a lot of the same responsibilities of the superintendent the administrators in the larger all the same same job. >> Yes. So it is like you know they do wear so many so many hats and I give them a lot of credit for what they do but that was a really excellent point that you made and some boards

126again like they have that in their handbook. If you have a question about this this is the person you have a question about training you contact your board secretary or you know and then they also have you know the field service you know contact your field service rep for these types of questions. So like and that's really good for new board members too because new board members have a lot of questions and sometimes you don't know who to go to. Speaking of that, >> and I guess sorry um maybe it's what Jenn you were talking about before about professional development like something that I would expect and I'm kind of seeing it now is all right we don't have a handbook but like it it appears and I'm guessing this is from the retreat that

127there isn't a action plan from for 2526 >> for your goals. Yeah, >> for the goals. So, first of all, the the goals folder is in the agenda folder, so I wouldn't have never known to look there. >> But then the action plan, like to me, we should have something that's like >> onboarding like >> here you go. >> So, Sahil, Leticia, and Rich, this is what's in process right now. >> Um because like I I'm finding that document very helpful. >> You did. Yeah, you did. >> So, I I have started to create and have been working on and I'll send you permissions for it. board resources folder. It has an orientation >> folder and then it has a governance folder. So it will have like all the previous goals and action plans and

128anything related to governance like norms and things like that. Then it has a policy folder, a personnel folder, curriculum folder and a finance folder that has resources mostly from New Jersey School Boards Association in each folder. like what we went through with you guys is also from the >> Right. Right. >> Is this yours though? >> I'm just commenting. >> You have access to it. >> But I haven't added you. >> I'm just curious though like and I I'm going to direct this question to Dory. >> Oh gosh. >> Just because you've been here the longest, but like why isn't why doesn't that exist? Is it and I don't mean that as like what did the old boards do wrong, but is it like is that something because there's turnover in boards that's just hard

129to maintain? Like is there a way that we can like >> you could >> not just do it for this year but make sure that >> Well, no. I think that's the idea. >> I would actually also like to create an orientation manual for president and vice president. >> Oh, but his question is why hasn't it been done before? >> You could set that as a board goal. Like if that's something that you wanted to do, you could have that be a board goal moving forward >> and then you would have that in place. I mean, I'm not sure what >> we do have a new board. I was going to suggest you did the orientation in the We did >> we do an orientation. >> Well, you know what it is too? >> And

130there's the documents, too. >> When you come in as a first board member, do we Nobody knows what you're talking about. I don't mean to make it sound like that. >> No, no, there's all this information. Absolutely. And we met for hours. We did. We met for hours. >> You don't when you go in for that orientation, you're not actually seeing the Google Drives and how like you're not talking about the detailed processes and protocols. No, no, they just so that >> they're a document. >> You just you just dive into that pool >> and that's confusing. >> Yeah, there's also there's a huge learning curve to being a new board member. I mean, it's it's a lot of reading. It does take a long time to learn >> and just you know, that's what

131I always recommend a new board member. >> You have a three-year term. >> It is there is Yeah, I know it's a three-year term, but there is a there is a pretty big learning curve to it. >> What I mean like finding stuff. Yeah, that's like >> that's what I wanted. And that board packet or committee packet is everything. >> This is something we could probably discuss too. Like sometimes it's okay for stuff to be duplicated and put in multiple places so that I'm not like clicking on every single thing all the time. It is I'm not trying to be lazy. It's just like >> sometimes it can get confusing, you know. So >> Well, you had asked for the policy to go in the board packet. Not just in policy, the first and second

132reading and the committee like the committee stuff in the board packet, not just in the committee. So that does happen. >> Yeah. >> From Pinky every month. So you you'll see it, right? Like if you're in policy, you see that first and second reading folder, the agenda, the minutes. Additionally though, you have other policies under review in the board packet. Like if it's on the agenda for first and second review, it's in those folders or in the committee. >> I like that process where everything that you need to know is in the board packet so you're not having to go back >> for the board meeting. >> Yes. I feel like you shouldn't have to go back into committee folders unless you have a question or you're confused or should everything should be >> everything

133should be in the board >> and that and that is what um >> they respond to. Pinky respond. >> No, I I like it better that way. >> Agree. >> Too confusing. Yeah, too many folders. >> There's like >> Oh, we have to have to committee >> area then then. Yeah, that that would be >> Can we Can we get that board resources folder? No. Here. Board agenda packets committees. >> Yeah, I wanted to add it on. >> I don't know. I don't know how to do that. But we can ask Aaron because we don't believe it or not. We don't set that up. That's how it's in your email. I've just been emailing everybody the link like every six months. So, but it would be nice. And then we put the folder with your

134any stuff you send, right? We add it to that. >> There's a board goal one that we add your stuff to. I don't think I have the resources links or we could make that a folder for you if you want. >> And Rich, I'll send it to you and then just star it and then it will always come up under starred too. >> I guess I've just always found like you want people to come to the table and be prepared, right? So just make sure you make the information easily available for them to be able to >> Yeah. And like I said that we responded to. >> All right. Are >> go ahead. Will you send that link out again? >> I'll send it out again. Actually, everybody also has like edit access. You can

135add your own stuff >> to those folders. If you have gone to a seminar or workshop and you have a slide deck or something you want to add in, you could. Everybody has access to add in. So, are you gonna do the you're gonna send the norms? >> So, I will type up in a form. I'll take that. Type it up. If you could maybe email me what you typed up on there. Do >> it right now. >> I'm going to put it together in a form. I will send it to your board president and then you'll have it just what we did. Yeah. What we did here tonight, >> norms that you came up with, >> right? >> The the outcomes of what we did here tonight. I'll type it all up for you.

136Perfect. And then I was wondering Jessica if you could like create the like a start for the governance handbook and put in like the procedures or processes as we're using them right now and maybe we could bring it back to board business. >> Yes. >> And I'll review it like put it in a board packet in the future >> and then I'll review it as a group because we have a couple people missing too. >> Yeah, >> absolutely. >> That sound good? >> Thank you. >> Great work. So, I was happy to be here with all of you tonight and thank you so much for the cake and happy birthday. >> Thanks. >> Um, I actually will be back next week for finance. It's one of my favorite uh to talk about. So, board role

137in finance. So, think of your finance questions that you have. >> Don't forget to send the power. We can click it to >> Yes, I will send the PowerPoint in advance to your board president. Yes, I have. Yes, I have some handouts that go along with that too. How to read your board secretary treasure report 101 and to ask about the budget. So >> for you >> I know >> she has it. >> Great. Thank you. And then of course I'm always available to all of you. I think that you know anything you need, call me, email me, any questions you have. >> Free to reach out. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So, we still have to do comments from the public on agenda items, >> right? >> Um, >>

138you don't have any. >> We don't have any, but I still need to read the legal. Yeah. >> Um, we welcome input from the public. There are two times during the meeting when the public is invited to speak. The first opportunity to comment on agenda items only is now. The second opportunity for public comment is toward the end of the meeting, which will also be in a minute. All comments are limited to 5 minutes. The total time allotted for public comment is 30 minutes. Before you make your comment, please state your name and municipality of residence. In the event it appears the public comment portion of the meeting may exceed 30 minutes, the presiding officer may limit each statement made by a participant to three minutes duration. Our public forums are not structured as a

139question and answer session, but rather are offered as opportunities to share input with the board. In instances where where the board feels a response is needed, the presiding officer or superintendent will address the comment. New Jersey statutes do not permit the board to discuss personnel or hiring in public session. Names of students should not be used. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of legal rights of of those affected and identified in their comments and be aware that they are personally legally responsible with potential liability for comments that they make to the board. The board shall not be held liable for comments made by members of the public. Are there any comments? Seeing as no one is here this evening, is there any board business? Once again, it is time for comments

140from the public. Are there any comments from the public? >> Okay. Um, I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. All in favor? I I >> meeting is adjourned. >> Really great you guys. It was fun to