001Everybody >> is it okay if I have to roll and she just wanted to know get some background. So we're good to go forward with that public specific. Okay, let's stand al to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Here, >> Miss Crystal >> here. >> Miss Giovani >> here. Miss Holland here. Mr. Chair >> here. >> Mr. Stampone >> here. >> Mr. Toad >> here. >> Miss Wadwick >> here. Miss Calder >> here. >> Notice of the November 3rd, 2025 meeting of the board of education was emailed to the clerks and burrows of Essex North and Roseland and to the township of Fairfield and to the editor of the progress on January 7th, 2025 in the Star Ledger on the same day. Um,
002I had the privilege of attending two events here this past couple of weeks. The first one was the um, band tournament and I was very honored to be able to give out a trophy and of course West Essex came up high in rankings as always. But it was a great event. It was really very It was a beautiful day. a little chilly, but it was a great event. Uh, Miss Swanik's team did a great job and um I was just privileged to be able to be a part of it and give out the trophy. The next event that I was able to attend was the um middle school um trickor treat Halloween walk, which they did um in conjunction with a walk for breast cancer. and as being a three-year survivor out right now from
003breast cancer. It was just so nice and heartwarming to participate with all the kids. Um the staff had phenomenal costumes. I think the staff kind of enjoyed it better than the kids [laughter] because they went all out. They they truly did. It was a beautiful day. a tad bit windy up there, but um you know October is um I was able to participate also in a walk in Cedar Grove and if anyone has any of free time I know this is aside from West Essex but there's a group called Manetti Angels and it's an organization which does works within our communities right here and they really do support the families. So, you know, they give gift baskets, gift cards. Um, I just started volunteering for them a little while ago if you know someone needs
004to be driven to chemo or the kids need to be picked up or whatever. It's just another layer to support the families who are going through this horrible disease, but just to make more normaly in their lives. So, if you ever have an organization that you would really love to volunteer for um and they also take donations. So, it was just nice to see that West Essex, they've done a lot of wearing pink um on Fridays and it's just nice to see that we go outside of just the school community and that which affects our children, specifically the academics or the sports, but that we do the next layer because we don't know how many people within our own little community is going through it. and these kids could use some support and the families
005could use the support. So I know for me my personal experiences being that I had a wonderful support team and that carried me through it whether it was family, friends here on the board. Um so it that's what it's all about to maneuver through it and um I was just grateful that I was asked that I could come and attend it. So, those were my two reporters. Who did anyone do? Go ahead, Greg. >> So, um I also attended the tournament of bands with you. I was privileged enough also to hand out a trophy. Great day. Um spectacular weather for the event. I've been there numerous times when it's been horrible weather. This was a great day. Fans were tremendous. West Essex, of course, the number one in their division. So, great spectacular day for
006that. Also attended the cabaret. So, This is their second year of doing the the cabaret and keeps getting better. Uh the students are just so very talented. I mean it's amazing watching them just get up there and perform and uh did a really good >> actually received a video from another song. >> Oh yeah. It was it was really great. So >> great. Thank you. Anyone? Um, I attended soccer uh senior ceremonies >> um as a mom. Um, but I'll say one is the booster club did a phenomenal job. Um, I think you know their volunteers. We should definitely recognize them. Um, but also I think in general West Essex um does ceremony very well at these monumental moments in your child's life or in the life of a family. you really make feel very
007special as a as a finale. So, excellent job. >> We have the master Okay, >> good evening everyone. >> We are officially in November. So, as you know, um, Dr. Dun Levy has announced her decision to step down from her position as principal of West Essex Middle School effective December 31st. On behalf of the district, I'd like to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr. Dun Levy for her leadership, dedication, and service to our students, staff, and families throughout her tenure. her positive influence and contributions to our middle school community have been truly meaningful and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors. Um, as we look ahead, I'm pleased to be recommending uh Mr. Caesar D. Labberto serve as the interim principal of our middle school effective January 1st. Mr. D. Labberto is
008a highly respected and experienced member of our administrative team with over 14 years of dedicated service to the district. He has successfully led in multiple capacities including as assistant principal and principal of our high school and currently as the assistant superintendent of schools. At the same time, uh the district has launched a comprehens comprehensive search process to select the next principal of West Essex Middle School. Candidates will parti participate in multiple rounds of evaluation and interviews to ensure that highly qualified and visionary leaders are considered. Our goal is to identify a dynamic student centered educator who embodies the district's core values. >> Mr. Um likely we will be starting maybe the week after Thanksgiving. Okay. Um, we're confident under Mr. D. Liberto's interim leadership and our and through our thoughtful selection process, West Essex Middle
009School will continue to thrive. Um, just a couple other uh brief announcements. Uh, just a reminder, um, the district is closed Thursday and Friday of this week due to the NJA teachers convention. Uh we will be having delayed openings for seniors who are not testing. Um and Mr. Derberto will will talk about um the testing in his his report tonight. But basically on November 5th, November 10th, and November 12th, we'll be running um some field testing and um many of our seniors are not taking that test. So they'll be permitted to come in late. Seniors are required to test, they know who they are, they will be in the building. Um, and then just a reminder, Thanksgiving recess, we have a half day on November 26th, followed by uh the school being closed on Thursday
010the 27th and Friday, November 28th. And that's all I have for tonight. All right. Wonderful. Good evening everyone. Last month I gave the annual assessment report and at that report I did reference um what this slide is and what I'm going to talk about right now because it's here it is upon us. So in late uh in mid August about two weeks before we started the school year the state announced that the format for all standardized testing was changing to an adaptive format uh for NJSLA and for NJGPA. And in addition to that, all districts statewide will be participating in a field test. So this is something that all school districts are doing right now. Uh and virtually, so it it really applies to grades 4 through 11. Um but as far as we're concerned
011at West Essex, it is for grades 7 to 11. So virtually every single student in our district is participating in this field test with the exception of some seniors. But we still have about 130 seniors that are taking a math test. So for ELA, what that means is all students in grades 7 through 11, they're just going to take the EL the appropriate grade level ELA class. And it's really based on the standards from the previous year. Um for math, all students in grades 7 through 9 are taking grade level appropriate math tests. and any students who were enrolled last year for the 24-25 school year in either algebra 1, geometry or algebra 2. So that goes from freshman all the way to some seniors that we still had in algebra 2 or geometry last
012year. Um we have those three dates, November 5th, 10th, and 12th. All testing will begin at 8:00 and last for approximately 60 minutes of testing time. Following that testing time, then this both schools will operate on a 90minute delayed opening schedule. But this is actually one of the first times where we've actually had the entire district testing at once. So kind of excited to see how it goes. I'm sure it'll be pretty fluid, but you never know. I have complete confidence, however. Uh, and that's it. The field test questions. All right. Sure you don't want to stay up here. Middle school principal. >> Oh, Melissa, are you up first? >> Let our senior go first. >> Oh, okay. Sorry, I rush. >> All right. So, right now, um, just a big struggle with the students.
013Just a big struggle with the students and even some teachers. Um during our lunch period we have something called math lab which is just tutoring and me and the students of course we appreciate this um program that the school provides for us. Not every school has this so it is a privilege. Um just the biggest struggle with it is there's always like one teacher in there, just one math teacher and like 20 students, 10 to 20 students in there. And our math teachers are great, but with the lack of teachers in math lab, not every student really gets the full help that they need. And so a lot of the time they don't have they don't have the time to finish assignments, get tests done, uh get the help that they need for tests and
014just projects that we have. So that's a big like a big struggle with us right now. So I think just a good idea for that would be just more math teachers whether it's like the ones at westx or just hiring some tutors just things like that. Um any questions? That's it for math lab. But um another thing was I thought me and many students came up with this idea for like some kind of late policy with uh students who who are in their season of like sports or students who have jobs. We thought it would be a good idea for students and their teachers to come up with some kind of agreement um to have extra time on their work. A lot of the teachers are very generous with it. Sometimes it's just not enough
015unfortunately with like schedules with uh students with their work and with their sports. Sometimes it can pile up and just be a lot whether it's just one class or many classes. So I think if students and their teachers come up with an agreement based off their schedule for work and for sports um just for more time on their work that would be a good idea. Um, and they can always show, you know, proof of schedule for work, proof of schedule with their sports and all those. Um, and that's it for that. And another idea that we all had was our locker rooms. Obviously, they're they're old. Um, a lot of a lot of the time like they're beat up. Um, lots of the locker rooms like the locks there's no locks on the the doors
016and the bathrooms are flooded. They don't work. No locks on those as well. And for some sports like soccer, they have their own locker rooms which they uh recently got to redo their own locker rooms. But for sports with volleyball and with basketball, um they have to use the same locker rooms that are used during school hours. So, you know, a lot of students during school break down these locker rooms. So, it would be nice to just have, you know, renewed locker rooms that are just built better, more professional for the sport. all those things. Um, and that's basically it. >> That is so nice to have a report like that. Oh my gosh. Thanks. >> Thank you. We appreciate we appreciate the fact that we're getting, you know, some really good ideas and things
017that we don't know on a regular basis because we don't walk through the halls. So, you know, keep them coming. You know, we will discuss it at the park with the administration and have open dialogue and see what >> Hello. Um, not much to report tonight. The board did conduct uh site visits in both the high school and the middle school to see the critical areas of need. The next referendum meeting will be November 13th at 6 PM. Am I right, Dave? 6 PM. >> Yeah, >> at 6 PM here. Um, there will be uh more discussion about the project list. That'll all start to get fine-tuned and and a budget put out um to the public. So, we're not there yet, but November 13th should be the hopefully night. That's all I have. >>
018[laughter] >> 5:30 November 13th. Before you start, the whole board wants to just say congratulations. We know that you're doing this for your best for your career and we wish you all the best in the world. We will miss you here. everything that you brought to the table here at the middle school. But as you noted, we understand that you have to make choices and sometimes your career and your pathway changes and so we wish you all the best. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Yeah, bittersweet being here tonight. Uh same speaking to the staff. I got a little emotional with the staff. You know, it's you're with these people every day and um just forming relationships is really really powerful. So I just want to express my gratitude to Mr. from Chochi and
019to the board for giving me this opportunity back in 2019. Um, you know, I'm in year seven right now and how far we've come. I didn't know 6 months later we would hit COVID and all of the challenges we faced um with CO, but if you've ever seen me present at a parent meeting, you've probably heard me say that I'm the proud principal of West Essex Middle School. And that's actually how I always felt. I said that very intentionally so that people knew that I was proud to represent the students and the staff of the middle school. Um, so I'm very grateful for my time here. I've learned so much about the middle school child, not only as an educator, but as a parent. Um, it's just really helped me kind of be very well-rounded.
020So, I will definitely value my experiences here. Um, you know, working with the team when you're when you're a building principal, it's almost like parenting where you hope that you kind of take the last generation and kind of move the next generation forward, if that makes any sense. So Dave Montgomery and Lisa Tamburi and V Popad and others before me uh put me in a place right. They set the stage and allowed me to be successful and I hope that I've then set the stage for the next candidate um to come in and to kind of carry the baton. Some of the items listed on the board are what I'm most proud of and it's not that I did this individually, it's that we did this as collectively as a team. Um our academic foundations
021course which is designed to help struggling um learners is really something I'm very proud of. um our math mastery program allowing middle school students to retake assessments, right? That's a standardsbased grading philosophy that that um I'm proud of. Our weare core values, we lead our peer leadership program, we modeled it after the high school, but that was something that we started here shortly after COVID. We expanded that into read across America, the kids going back to the elementary schools every year. What a powerful way to give back to the schools. Um that's part of the legacy and then esports and spring musical. So, there's a lot that we've done. I feel like in a short period of time collectively and I just I'm very appreciative for the opportunity. But enough about that. Let's go on
022to some of the things going on at the middle school. We have our no place for hate. Thank you to Lisa Hulse and the counseling team. This year's theme is going to be harmony happens when every note counts. They went into English classes. The kids signed the annual pledge um and began their lessons. So that is underway. As you may recall, October is uh school safety month. So, we started that in October. Chris Pulo's assembly was pretty wild. So, Chris Pulos is a professional BMXer. Um, Mr. Machochi came to this and this is actually him like doing all sorts of stunts. >> That's not Damian. No, >> no, but that's him like doing all these stunts. It was pretty amazing and it was actually very engaging. the kids were like very focused on him and
023he was very basic just talking about you know you know be kind to others and I get hired he said this I get hired because I'm flexible and I'm kind so people bring me back. Um he talked about following his passion but also having backup plan and going to college and things of that nature. Um and he also talked about like he he's talented because he puts in the time and the effort and I thought that the message was really powerful for the kids. uh just emphasizing character education, being kind, um and those anti-bullying conversations. So, that was really cool. Thank you to the high school for allowing us to use their gym. Uh we did our PTO sponsored cookie with a cop. So, here we are with uh police officers from various departments locally.
024The PTO donates the cookies and then our police officers go through all our eating locations um and the kids devour the cookies. So, that's a wonderful opportunity to have them in the building and so that the kids are comfortable with them in the building. We had our spirit week and our middle school pep rally. Thank you again to the high school for the marching band and the cheerleaders and um the dance team and everyone that kind of makes this event really fun for us. Uh and our student council hosted this event. So that was a lot of fun. That was I think the pep rally was two Fridays ago. I'm losing track now. Um because last Friday was Halloween. So Deb had mentioned being at the at the walk the Halloween walkathon for breast cancer
025awareness. So this is Tiffany Hammond in the middle who is me and Michelle Souse who is Jeff Mr. Martin. Um it was it when I saw them in the morning to say that I was hysterical would be an understatement. I mean Tiffany had me nailed from the Nike sneakers to the to the bracelets to the glasses everything. So it was pretty cool. Um they student council raised just under $1,300 that they're donating to breast cancer uh research. Uh congratulations to our middle school girls field hockey team for their 13th straight championship. Uh our coaching staff, you know, really congrats to all of our sports teams uh at the middle school, but in particular fields hockey won the title again this year. And the big news of the night is the Washington DC trip is coming
026back. Um I really want to commend Jim Nasa, our adviser. every year since CO. The last time we had this trip was prior to me coming. It was in um I guess the spring of 2019. It was planned for 2020, but got cancelled because of COVID. We feel like the building is finally in a really good place where we're able to bring it back. So, I want to thank Mr. Machovichi and the board for kind of supporting this and Mr. Massa, like I said, for just every year kind of saying like, can we do this? Can we do this? Um, we also had a faculty advisory committee who also provided input and felt like the building and the kids were ready. So, it's going to be March 19th and 20th, two days, one night. We
027do take coach buses and some of our um, you know, the locations that we go to, the various memorials. This definitely aligns with our social studies curriculum, um, you know, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, MLK National Memorial, and so on. Um, the capital, the White House, and so on. and dare I leave off the dance party that the kids will probably actually enjoy the most, right? Like I don't know how much of the the sightseeing, but it's just a wonderful opportunity for them to connect the curriculum. And so just want to thank the board for supporting this. We'll be communicating this out to the students and to the staff and to the parents um tomorrow. And that's all I have. Thank you. >> Good evening. >> All right. So, um, marking period 1 just concluded and
028so our ShopRight stars have been named. For academics, we have Kash Sai. They're all grade 12 students. Athletics, we have Addie Manella for field hockey. Um, in the arts, we have a choir member, Emma Riley Casper. Leadership, we have Michael Corvo for his work on the student council. And for our service to the community, we have Nik Nicholas Deliscoco for his work on our first aid squad. So, we're really proud of those students. And I want to say thank you to the staff members who nominate them. We had more nominations this year than we've had in the past couple years. That just speaks to the the culture of the school. We also just received the AP Capstone diploma recipients. And so, um, only 27,650 students from around the world earn this distinction. To earn the
029capstone diploma, they have to pass the AP Seminar and the AP Research Exam as well as four other AP exams. So for the year of 2025, we have um four of our graduates, Brook Brooke Comerberg, Allison Randall, Sophia Rosen, Harold Shrem, and our current 12th grader, Sedarth Suknan. So we're very proud of them and congratulations to them and their hard work. I know Miss Blanchard's here in the audience, so she knows the work that goes into it as she leads the courses for culture and climate. We are um starting the no place for hate pledge this uh the week of November 10th in the English classes this year. Um our culture and climate committee decided on the theme linked together. We are united against hate. So when the students dive into the lesson, they're going
030to go over the language that's in the pledge. They're going to talk about what the pledge means to them and how they're going to uphold the pledge and then they're going to sign a link and then all of the links will be chained together. And so that's what our banner will look like this year. All the chains together. Um and so we're excited for that work as always. Um that should say November Noble Night Awards. I apologize once in a while, very rarely. I will make a mistake. Doesn't happen often, but sometimes I am human. Um [laughter] so our November Noble Knight Awards. So I shared at the last meeting that each month we acknowledge staff members that go above and beyond and that the staff members then have to choose the next recipient. So
031for the month of November, Miss Zlada Denise was nominated by Liz Ricker um for Zlat's understanding and empathy with students. Maria Fagiani, special education teacher, was nominated by Steve Sarrausa for her always making certain that her students are safe, supported, and seen in the building. Um, Maria works with our LLD population. And so that was a meaningful um award. And Miss Heidi Monowski, our French teacher, she was nominated by Miss Marian Drew because Heidi is a dynamic language teacher who has made an impact on many of her students. And today, Marian shared some of the things that her current students have said about Heidi, which is really beautiful to hear and really special for the teachers um to have that recognition, especially after um adaptive field test training. And then upcoming, please come out and
032check uh check out our full production, Save Hamlet. Um I am excited because the English teacher in me can't wait to see the production. Save Hamlet is a unique twist on one of the most famous plays of all time. What if there were people looking out for Hamlet to prevent the tragedy from unfolding? What if those people were a group of women disguised as his male friends? Can these girls outsmart Claudius and Pelonius and save Hamlet? So on the 14th and the 15th at 7 p.m., come join us and I'm sure it will be an amazing production. And that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. At this time, I will open it up for public comment on agenda items. Finance. Uh the following finance motions are made at the recommendation of the superintendent of schools.
033Anything placed on this agenda, items 1 through nine will be voted upon in one motion and I move second questions. >> Miss principal. >> Yes. >> Miss Gibbani. >> Yes. >> Miss Mr. Sher, >> yes. >> Mr. Stampone, >> yes. >> Mr. Toad, >> yes. Miss Wwood, >> yes. >> Miss Catherine, >> yes. >> The following building and grounds motions are made at the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. Anything placed on this agenda item one will be voted upon in one motion and I so move. >> Miss Ael, >> yes. >> Miss Cruel, >> yes. >> Miss Gani, >> yes. >> Miss Hollstead, >> yes. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sam, >> yes. >> Mr. Toad, >> yes. >> Miss Wadwick, >> yes. >> Miss Cather, >> yes. >> John [clears throat]
034following motions are made. The recommendation of the superintendent of schools through >> second. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss Crystal, >> yes. Missy Divani. >> Yes. >> Miss Holland, >> yes. >> Mr. Chair, >> yes. >> Mr. Samp, >> yes. >> Mr. Code, >> yes. >> Miss Fitz, >> yes. >> Miss Pal, >> yes. >> The following curriculum special education motions are made at the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. Anything placed on this agenda, items 1 through nine, will be voted upon in one motion. And I so motion second. Miss Ael. >> Yes. >> Miss Chris, >> yes. >> Miss Dani, >> yes. >> Miss Hans, >> yes. >> Mr. Chair, >> yes. >> Mr. Sampone, >> yes. >> Mr. Toe, >> yes. >> Miss Voditz, >> yes. >> Miss Ke, >> yes. Miscellaneous.
035>> Sure. >> The following miscellaneous motions are made at the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. Anything placed on this agenda, items one through six will be voted upon in one motion and I so move. >> Second. >> Mhm. >> Yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss Giovani, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Mr. Sher, >> yes. >> Mr. Sam, >> yes. >> Mr. Toes, >> yes. >> Miss Wadwitz, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. I just like to wish everybody a great week. Enjoy your days off. Enjoy the great weather and everything. Good luck for the testing coming up going forward. Good luck to those who have to administer it and the patience to do it and to the kids and um I wish you the board here like to take this opportunity
036to wish you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving. take that time to enjoy with your family to reflect on all the things that we have to be grateful for and going forward. So we wish you all the best and we will see you on December 8th. >> Public comment on non-aggenda. >> Oh, thank you. Public comment on non-aggenda items. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Go ahead forward. >> Okay. Uh there being no b further business before this board of education be resolved this public meeting oh my gosh be adjourned at 810. on paper.