Videos

2025-02-11 Business Meeting

Added Feb 12, 2025 •

Copy this URL:
Embed code:	<iframe class="edlio-embed-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="//district.franklinlakes.k12.nj.us/apps/embed/?v=382512" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Change dimensions

Show Transcript

welcome to the we're recording this okay to the function of a education it's Tuesday February 11th it is 8:14 p.m. and we're in Franklin Avenue Middle School in Franklin Lake New Jersey please join me for the flag salute here we go that's why behind the no thank you for Miss bis here Mrs cordella is absence Misty Agostino here Mr Kim here Mr Richmond president miss seravino here Mr Speaker is absent Mr lawyer here Mr donio yeah um in accordance with the provisions of the New York open public meeting act the Franklin Lakes board of education has closed notice of this meeting to be mailed on or after January my third 2024 the record in Suburban news setting forth the day time and place this meeting permanently posted in the B Hall and the Franklin Lakes Library filed with the clerk of the Boral function Lakes posted on the district website and mailed to all persons with any requested said notice meetings of the board or conducted for the purpose of carrying the business of the schools and therefore are not public meetings but meetings held in public the board welcomes your questions including suggestions for public comment or email please always keep in mind our strategic plan goals and our board goals um reports from the president just a quick reminder that primary elections going to be June 10th and our schools going to be closed that day not June 3rd June 10th as for next year we're still waiting for uh for a response from the Board of Elections to how how they're going to divide the elections in town still unclear and the moment we have uh more clarity will definitely report to the public how things going to to um also if any of the public is interested in next uh meeting we're going to have our board uh training from our tyranny um and he will discuss also some recent development in cases that are uh I guess our district semi tax them or impacting our district so if you'd like to hear that or listen to The just going to be an interesting 1 I hope for all of us with that let's move to a public board work session for board uh committee and liaison report I'm going to start I'm going to pick 1 okay that's that's the only Public Works today um I attended the PDA meeting for HMR in January 22nd and it was uh evening full of events and they actually also um presented many upcoming the events that are on the website and Instagram please follow um the next PDA meeting is in March 203 so it's actually too much to discuss that but there was a a full-blown meeting and I think that Miss B is going to describe 1 of the things that they presented their on the curriculum 1 it was about what do you call the the day um with this times oh God they they presented the coffee chat for yeah right exactly the coffee chat so so I think uh other community uh report going to elaborate on that so that's my report any other board comedian reports I think okay yeah please listen um so the curriculum and instruction committee met on 1210 2024 um via Zoom 915 mm board members in attendance of Reno Lisa cardello myself administrators president work Greg mocker Steines and Jamie precios we discussed um a presentation of the flow District data um for njsla the is on par with flow District counterparts reviewed the data with attention to increasing grade level or rigor as students articulate committee discussed a possible inquiry into rampo Indian Hills and how Frank and Lake students are performing in their first year action plan for Middle School Readiness for algebra by eighth grade is new in development for this year committee to discuss at the number of students um with the Scala would be difficult to determine as coded by specific learning disability in their IEPs but would discuss the special services committees uh committee also shared feedback on items within the action plan for math um you know having to more students have algebra by 8th grade um um committee inquired about communication about this plan with the public and Greg shared this might be included as part of a superintendent's report in the future or an upcoming PTA meeting our next meeting is was 128 and I'll report on that so for our committee meeting on 128 was also via Zoom 9:15 a.m. board members in attendance were Carolina sobrino uh oh no it wasn't sorry board member we had a new new 1 so I scratched that 1 board members in attendance were um say uh Ari myself and Scott and administrators present where Greg mcherry liezel Steines and Jamie precio you see how automatic that is um we discussed the curriculum revision Karen calendar cycle which uh will hopefully be posted on the website for um the public to see we also discussed the front running Ela curricular resource or possible pilot um in K through 6 discussed um new members who received information on curriculum and the board's role in curriculum and we were given a chance to ask questions regarding curriculum we reviewed link it Benchmark data Form B making your Ela and math and the committee had some concerns um that there can be inconsistent communication to the home um at different schools prior to link it be for administration and there was a request also for um Middle School benchmark marks which are the cumulative quarterly assessments to have more consistency and practice throughout the school um among classes the next meeting was today which I don't have notes on otherwise you will want to kill me um I do have 1 more rapport for Urban County sure okay so I have never Wanda through with the huh is that the 1 that that I was in no the last meeting March so um Burton School Board Association meeting um so they just had their recent um winter virtual meeting you I don't think you were on their say was on there um on the top of a conversation was with the assistant Commissioner of Education many questions were asked and answered board members if interested can view this session at their own convenience um 1 notables for special education uh the question was given the imminent and unpredictable ever increasing costs for special District placements has there been thought of creating a reserve line account such as a capital maintenance Reserve to allow districts to set aside funds for an unpredictable placement and that was actually something that they're going to be moving forward to hopefully make some uh leeway on but we will shall see but it's a good idea um biggest message to remember is that students come first that was a big thing in the meeting Matt Lee our Fields rep commented on the new self evaluation tool for boards located on the New Jersey school board's website which we've have never ever succeeded yet in getting 100% on that so hopefully that happens now with the new tool and the next speeding will be the unsung hero Awards on March 4th um which will take place at the Burton Community College um hopefully everyone will attend promise in promise yeah promise Greg a we required by law to do the board self evaluation no no it's mostly there to um help with our goals so so it's an njsba and what's their recommendation once a year once a year yeah um I remember when I asked they said some boards like to do it like earlier in the year some boards like to do it towards the end of the year but essentially it's a tool to improve a board and improve in on board goals it's quick I will say because I I don't know if I for those of us who have not done it I'll say like that it's very quick and it takes 5 minutes so it's not going to hurt them any questions or comments any other Leasing or committee reports Finance operations um met actually this morning uh 10:30 um in attendance for the board was myself and Ari and then from administration's Greg and Dana we talked through some of the heating issues we've been having um at each uh the coils um Replacements uh came and the work to replace them started on Friday last Friday 27 uh the estimated date for completion of that work is this coming Friday 214 um so hopefully by the time the kids come back from break they should be back in their regular classes um there are some Professional Services fees for HVAC upgrades that um agenda tonight resolution 1540 1541 um that'll be for planning and project management and architecture drawings for some of the work that needs to be done for some of the critical units also working on preventive M maintenance contracts to minimize future issues updates on the Windows project the windows have been delivered or on site ready to be installed in the um there's some change orders uh on the the agenda tonight resolution 1554 40 1544 4546 and those are just um to help store the the trailers with some fencing rather than make sure that it's secure uh we also talked about parking lots um for Woodside HMR um there's some lots of issues with them so there were repairs to a portion of outside parking lots last year um we're looking to redo the entire HMR and Woodside parking lots um and I think that's going to be future resolution I want to try to see if we can do it this summer and see if maybe we can piggy back off the town because they have the um the bits for the the paving so maybe we can get a chance maybe they're still going out I think when we bring in a few other person correct yeah yes they were going out and then we did talk about um the budget a little bit Greg and Dina working um diligently with the ministration to make sure we have a good balanced budget for 2526 next meeting is March 10th at 10:00 a.m. any questions they just sparked a question for me because about the parking lots the you know fans obviously different where it has the we utilize you know the Veterans Plaza parking lot so when it comes to like this the snow removal who is the town take care of that or no we do we do with the exception of Woodside we contract out with Manila because um the guys can't handle so all the schools including that parking lot obviously it's through the school which parking lot including the Veterans Plaza the Veterans Plaza is taking care of by the burrow okay just wanted to make sure any other any other committee or Woodside uh PT meeting uh was on January 15th um in attendance were for the board were myself and karolina um Greg was there from Administration um so Mrs your friend came in with the presentation about instructional coaches talking about child um empowering children as lifelong readers um very good presentation lots of uh questions from the parents um the principal updates on Miss Jameson gave an update about all the uh various great things that have been happening um at the schools around like recess toys Lego workshops I would say mural hanging at library winter concerts coat testing and just La presentation that happened that week after on January 24th which I think was attended pretty well I think 30 pairs or something um Greg gave a superintendent update around the window updates moving to Summer um Transformer or waiting for that uh and then they had some fluff updates with the events uh that were coming up which were like the Denim and Diamonds um that have been 5 I think and then there's the black and white Gala that's going to happen in April at the Westmount Country Club uh and then the big 1 I think is the casino night that's coming up at the end of February so get tickets get get to that not a good baskets out there um next meeting in March is uh TBD any questions or comments report I have a quick 1 uh CRS PTA meeting was supposed to be last Thursday it was canceled due to the snow it's rescheduled for March 6th at 9:15 brilliant okay so seeing nobody in the audience motion to waive public comments second all in favor okay before we go solution can I have a motion to postpone resolution number 1523 approval of minutes to our next meeting is going to take place in March 18th some second so the motion is to postpone to March motion by Mr lawyer and second by by Cathy David Miss bis yes this is the August yes Mr Kim yes Mr Richmond yes Miss seravino yes Mr lawyer yes Mr Danio yes it was I was actually need to open for comments before so you're just going to comment and quickly for transparency um we had several very private matters in executive last meeting and uh we just need to make sure that the over describing the situation that can be offered so we need to amend the minutes slowly slightly thank you for that uh I need another motion to um for the motion is going to be a singular motion on approval of calendar resolution number 1527 can I have a motion to approve the calendar of 2526 District resolution number 1522 motion 15 1527 um moved by Mr lawyer and second by his comments on this motion we just comment on on that separating it to make a comment on the calendar know just so any comments on any yes I just I just I want 1 second on resolution of there's nothing it's on the it's on stage it's right after the resolution second yeah it's right after the yes so it's nothing against the calendar it's just to make a note um and I think I say this pretty much every year but as we are you know we're looking at the calendar now it's going to end June 26th um so it's completely in the air I know that's because of obviously um we have winter break and now we have um election closing because elections will be held here we have religious holidays so I just think it's something that we should definitely look into um but also see specifically with our district what our population is and what they celebrate um because that's going to change every year so certain holidays may not necessarily be celebrated by all so um just to kind of look into that and to really focus on it because June 26th and you know ending in the end of June every year is probably a it's not a favorable thing when it comes to um potential to have to push that out for whatever reason um camps that start right away and end of the year so it's just something I think that um we should take note of next year any other comments on resolution 1527 so I comment I know um the parent teacher half days um were very important to the parents in the district um it was I think in the top 1 on our SI dependent list but if if there's any way pay for us to do it in 2 days versus 3 days I think it would be beneficial to help with um you know less half days I guess I I can speak to that I think we're going to re-evaluate that at the end of the year wasn't it was a I think it was a it was a 2 year commitment right um with the reevaluation but we can we'll we'll reevaluate it but I think that which I agree with you but I think the the point was to um see how it went both sessions to see the numbers I think you had numbers from the first session to see what the um feedback and what the how many people actually came utilized it the first time yeah Mark will be the first time that we're having right but I I feel you I think it's probably going to end up going that way um here's my No 1 3 days to help well I think it's because I mean you know as a parent I think it's also because when you first start the year you need to know more but as your child is doing well you're going to have less people attending those but there are definitely going to be people who want yes this is necessary but Ryan's right if we get to see a different number is because less people want to Spring conference then we can obviously eliminate a day and then doing 2 days instead of 3 yeah we'll see what the numbers are this session and then we'll yeah that's but not getting rid of the spring session is just no no no based on the numbers based on me right any further comments on resolution 1527 they had a comment on the election but I don't know if that's that's not actually about the calendar itself but so right now we just on that resolution itself 1527 this bill is yes this the Agostino yes Mr Kim yes Mr Richmond yes Mr ofinno yes Mr lawyer yes Mr yes okay so now we're moving to our consent agenda um can I have a motion or the touch of the motion being presented consent agenda and we therefore be voted as 1 motion and I have a motion to approve resolutions 1524 until 1526 and 1528 until 1559 some of second lawyer please on resolutions 1524 to 1526 and 1528 till 1559 um yes but abstain from 1524 since I was not present when it was discussed its 1 534 1524 024 sorry thank you Mr Agostino um likewise yes but I'm abstaining from 1524 because I was not present at the meeting Mr Kim Mr Richmond yeah Mr Dio car okay that takes us to our suspension report I don't have any to report very good any board members comments on any subject so election so do they I mean it's more of a question uh so the county is forcing the election paper use of no no no I don't think so we we try to fight it for a little bit and and probably was able to postpone it for 1 year it it actually from what I understand you're not a lawyer is that the board of election actually in the county has a superseding power to really almost forces to hold the election wherever we or they can force the elections to be in a place that they deem fit to the process my understanding is that no yes um I just also in conversations that I've had um I know there are other districts around the state that they have been um using the schools and the buildings for elections and they are not closing down for the entire day they've worked around ways of um using certain entrances or certain classrooms that have like an out side door with outside access to get into the classroom so I don't know if it's something that we would want to talk about in the future but I'll start so the first 1 which is in this June we're just going to to let it be and then Greg we look into that I know in params for example they make a path in some school but for for the voters to vote for the school is still in session I if if our infrastructure can support it is going to be depend on Greg on the police probably going to have to figure it out I think I yeah and I think that we we mentioned previously uh was 2 things 1 safety being a big issue with our parents but 2 our part we are different from our parking lots can't handle it that's the issue so 1 of the things that would be probably be the biggest so we have to look at to see what the what the flow is meaning how many residents vote during when we would have school hours the most it would ever be by the way is a minimum day like we wouldn't have a full day with students we would have the minimum day with students um Melissa did mention security which I think probably might be not palatable for this community right but what's more important like from a logistical standpoint is can we handle parking for people coming in to vote and for staff and at the same time while we're while we're simultaneously running car lines for um I know not the ideal I don't know no I think it's going to be an absolute mess well right now we have the days off right so for that reason but I think if you did it your phone would not stop ringing and your email box right now I have scheduled in the calendar for November election in June primary to be days off for students did did the county but if someone has a great idea you'd be counting just out of curiosity what was the reason that they decided to go from the past venues to so the way the town is being redistributed so so Frankie legs has 6 voting districts the way the town is divided is unbalanced I think District Number 4 is almost double the size of Voters than all other districts and that causes imbalance what the Board of Elections or claiming what all the count is actually considering is dividing District 4 or redistricting the town from a voting district perspective and then there's going to be 2 options 1 to remain correct like the north of 208 voting district and south of 208 voting district and the other option that they consider is to actually do 2 voting districts in each elementary school so for example Caroline and myself were voting uh Woodside while uh you probably going to vote in in CRS and and therefore 2 voting districts going to be in school to reduce the road on the on the on the question was my question was though why do you have to be the school so you you could have you could have redistricted you could Section 1 District or divied up 1 District could have been a church could have been anything like why why did they go to the school I think they felt better there were no they felt that there were no locations that were suitable to do it and the schools had the best parking and infrastructure for them if you want we can we can write another letter to the county executive board of election I've spoken to the Board of Elections they're they're supposed to do an on-site uh visit to all our schools I put their engineering team right engineering team should have done that before they're supposed to they're coming in February now to to do all that um what I politely recommended and asked for is whatever decision you make to me in writing so that way if I have residents who are asking I can provide them the justification through the board from the County Board of election it's actually surprising though because a lot of districts there are several districts where they would do the voting don't have air conditioning in the summer don't have what air conditioning so it's it's it's kind of shocking that they would go that route so I have a question on the calendar right now we're looking at here you know uh for 2020 States and then schools when I am June 26th correct but if I look at the calendar of June 4th last ending on the 24th I know 23rd 23rd or 23rd right before was Sunday last year 20 June 2024 the school ended on uh 2024 any on the 21st the 21st of June right so I know that you know because they can it goes you know further but it does seem like we're talking about the difference when there's not a leap year in the middle right Labor Day Labor Day Falls weather uh I just feel like we're we're full on weekends or not it's just the 2 days of Elections that were increasing here like that you know it's different or is there anything else that we have if you think about it there are right now on the calendar if if you clean it right and and you do you take um forward 3 religious holiday and Eid only these 3 days they can fold it on because these are not holidays that are like Thanksgiving or like an American holiday a Monday the first whatever Memorial Day right the last Monday of of May these are not that kind of holiday is the lunar calendar they fall on a different day every time so if 1 this 3 holidays falls on a weekday and not on a holiday and that's already taking taking away 3 days but otherwise you wouldn't have like 2 years ago rashaana fell on a weekend we only had to account for Yam kapor so we gained a day back in our calendar uh if Eve falls on a Friday night going into Saturday and it's not observed until the night we won't give the Friday off because it it's it school will be done and the observation happens same with Russia Shana same with young support um and then we also have to I mean we know this but it takes and I love it winter break off you and there's a full week of winter break which I love so I'm not for February I I want to I already heard nobody wants to be taken away I'm going to put something wild out there give me hit my personal opinion I'm not there yet but I'm actually leaning more and more towards um call it like a federal calendar or the bank's calendar are you follow just the school going to be like the banks whatever holidays the banks are don't open or open New Jersey itself if you think about it it has over 140 recognized religious communities holidays and and the only thing it takes from the from the district is to be cognizant of of of religious or observance students and and provide them the right um I guess not putting a test on that day or whatever right to to me again I'm not 100% there but I'm getting there you may think you know why all the teachers need to to have a day off or all the school needs to be off I feel like the balance a little bit cheap fun um I guess recognizing the needs of of a group of religious perspective to the needs of the district as a whole especially with the election putting down on us without we're going to try to fight it further more I mean I I don't know what else we can do but yeah and it's I I that's I'm starting to get there that that's my opinion my my that my mindset was that way but then you look at that and of course it's a whole big discussion it should be done um when you look at that calendar I mean Christmas day is all right yes I'm Catholic lucky me but you know that's those are the things you have to think about so I that's why I think it should really be kind of looked at to see what our population is um and do they want to stay every year till June 26th I don't think so in our contracts for teachers I think is the 30th right June so we're we're we don't want to ever be in a predicament where we get ourselves it it definitely a big conversation we can we can have it now we can have it another time because we already passed the calendar for next year to not get dropped if you're going to have a lot of snow what you do are you taking out April from a break you're taking from a religious think are you taking right you're taking from you ended up taking from spring break spring break on the brakes right so so again maybe I'm just putting it out that's for the future I'm starting to lean toward no exception Federal calendar that's it makes makes our lives easier teaches life easier that's that's I'm not there yet I'm just I'm starting to learn any other board comments or questions yeah all right I just want to give an update its kind of piggybacks on Alisa's curriculum report so we have a committee with there was apparent input through surveys and normally when we do like Ela revisions and so on and so forth plan which guides us to uh what we need to do with respect to English language arts um there were a few programs that were identified that were basically looked at by this committee as a whole 1 was identified as something that we want to go forward with respect to a beta or Pilot so to speak right um and that's Amplified uh amplify has 2 different programs ckla is the K5 program amplify Ela is the great 6 program right um what we're looking to do is look for materials for the upcoming school year 2526 to see if we can run a case 6 basically soft let's call it a soft um a soft roll out it is is the worst way to put it right a soft roll out of the program to see if it works for our school district works for our teachers works for our kids while we're simultaneously looking at those materials we have our team administrators uh and and teachers going to other school districts who actually use it to observe it in practice so that way we can learn more about it and then bring it to us um so we're hopeful to have that going for September of 2025 September of 2020 right I think yes um so that's ckla K5 um and then amplify Ela for for grade 6 only just as an FYI 7 and 8 needs to shift more to a high school model that's where we're going to make our shift away from elementary more towards High School which is more novels based and what you would see in in the LA classroom that goes on and it's a good thing this is a really slow methodical way to get Buy in to see if something works for our school district rather than rushing and making sure it's the right thing any questions to Mr material I just got any question or comment what I was going to ask you um do we have record of uh past um modules that we've used and like which ones were successful which ones were not meaning like a a series like we're currently are not using a series for healing but we're doing research all right okay but uh like a purchase of the yeah you guys are purchasing programs educating the staff on how to implement and correct and okay and it seems that like this is you know the wheel turning you know this is how it's always done and you go through a program you see how it works and then you try another 1 it's not work uh you you normally make if you were going to purchase this district has not purchased it purchased this series and probably it might be ten years like you know phonics but those are fun type those are minimal costs right not like a full-blown textbook series since we transitioned to readers and writers workshops before I got here so probably at so what happens is to answer your question bluntly I guess the pendulum prior to readers or Writers Workshop we use these things that were more like we call Basil readers so these were things like like balance lips and literacy it wasn't a balanced literacy approach it was more oh it would be way back way back sorry it's more like a a phm awareness approach where you actually have a series that walks kids through specific um Everybody kind of has specific things that they all use to teach a skill make sure that that skill is mastered before you start moving on a comprehension so on and so forth right that's a let's holiday 25 year old from then the pendulum swings and it goes to more of a reader's workshop model where you're like all right read more become a better reader right that's probably a more recent 15 within the last 15 to 20 years I think that's right not probably what new words labor in school we didn't have that right so now the pendulum has swung another way where it's going kind of going back more towards yeah this let's focus in on Phonics let's focus in on making sure kids know how to decode how to read the skill a little bit um in order to do that um kind of piece mealing resources is not a good idea this is where you where you want to partner with like an amplify or some other kind of series in order to implement that in your school district which is why we're looking to like pilot it see if it works okay you know of that kind of thing okay I I guess what I'm asking though because as as you're describing it like my my question is why are we following that pendulum swing do we have any like it actually swung I don't know um a few years I guess ago uh 3 4 and yeah I was definitely asking about it at that point but they want to and rightfully so that meaning I think she needs have shifted stuff they want to make sure what the needs are the needs of of what the expectations are of students the needs of um looking at our performance on on on internal benchmarks and external benchmarks has shifted to a point where we see that this is 20 years from now those needs are probably going to shift again right or maybe even 10 uh so usually when we make a purchase like this we do a 3 or to a 6 year purchase just and then kind of I I I'm more preferential to 3 um to see like does this program work in 3 years gives me good enough results to decide if something's working and whether we need to shift again or not right because we're coming up with that okay okay so that's where I was asking it's been a long time since we had a ship No but do do we keep record at all like what has worked the best in the we'd have to go I'm asking um yes yes the issue becomes covert change things change so sometimes a little bit hard to see like as Greg was saying what works for that this particular group and population but in general I mean they're you're going by scores and assessments the issue more Lisa is that the um the state level assessment has shaped so if you look at something just say from the years of 2008 this was a really good series to have if that happened that that we had it worked really well for nsj and we're looking at from this to this this is now working for Park which is now transition to njsla it's not an app Apple's comparison because the assessments that are being used and the standards that those assessments are supposed to be um aligned to have shifted so many times over a 10 or 15 year period so it's part to pinpoint and just say hey this really worked really really well when it was a completely different set of standards and a completely different assessment model as a as opposed to now we're saying these are brand new standards this is a brand new assessment model this is what we think will work right I agree with what you're saying I follow so I guess why after like you know that's why I was listening you know usually a lot of times like I was I was like listening but I went home and I was thinking about it and I was very I guess frustrated um you know if if what you're saying you know sometimes you use all these standards and assessments if they're changing then we need something to kind of like a a weapon quote unquote to give our teachers in order to make sure that we get that across the finish line and we should see the results tools cool I mean uh it's a tool thank you Ryan know it's not where I was going but um you know what I'll just now the conversation okay and the other question the bond so I know we already approved it on the agenda um what I'd like to thank uh the okay but they're generous donation okay um happy early Valentine's Day to everybody um looking forward to the parties at the schools which will be at at Woodside for 1 a and hope everyone enjoys the week off yes what do we call any other calling our next board meeting is on March 19th uh motion to return so uh all in favor any oppose me

Videos

2025-02-11 Business Meeting

More videos in Board Podcast