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Board of Education Meeting - June 21, 2021

Added Jun 23, 2021 •

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okay is refreshing just to change anything on us Knights Inn Suites map well I I mean I joined it look at it earlier alright welcome everyone to the regular meeting of the East Windsor Regional School District Board of Education it is June 21st 2021 written advance notice that this meeting was provide at least 48 hours ago such notice provided the time date and location of this meeting and included the agenda to the extent it was known at the time notice of the meeting has been given an appointment minutes of this meeting are being kept by the board secretary and will be made available probably to any members of requesting them from the board secretary at 2580 leshin Lane Hightstown New Jersey policy and this meeting is being recorded are there any board members presently this means be in violation they're being Nana May proceed I will skip the fire compliance and elright2 item one bead Pledge of Allegiance I'll watch what do we do the United States of America under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all give me one of those mention your points with the approval of the agenda now would be the time to ask about those missing my apology my late notice and looking at this on 10j it states that there is in a task list of contracts and I don't see anything attached yep all right I'll get that up and then do a genda item there's nothing associate thank you I took the L and you know I I change the name to something a little more descriptive on your request so that right and I think that's what new agenda item was was that item with you it doesn't really questions before you ever had all right so with that change being taking place having read the materials received I move the agenda approved is submitted any discussion text Section 1 second please tell Colleen on the second okay I'm ready sorry about that yes this land is Murphy yes yes is Miss Brazil here yet Mr Weekes yes yes okay be resolved at the East Windsor Regional School District May hold to close sessions at this meeting on June 21st 2021 is closed sessions concern matters Hib report for June 21st two 21 and Personnel minutes of these closed sessions will be made available to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exist second in discussion please is Ramadan yes this land yes Miss Murphy this one yes yes is Miss Pooja only here yet should we yes mr. laverty okay I've been to is a recognition of retirees proceed with that portion I'm going to ask if we can just briefly introduce our student council board representatives for the upcoming year that way we don't have to have them wait through the entire retiree segment it was okay with that I'd like to just included or yes please thank you thank you yes that's me know we we've had you for y'all's free vastu for the past year and it's all right for the medication student council Representatives we all agree that outstanding job in keeping us informed and up-to-date regarding happenings have been Hightstown High School and we had talked about how to see if the session playing and then having some individuals to take over and pass the Baton to do tonight I'm pleased introduced to the board and the community or student council Board of Education representatives for the upcoming school year they're their board meetings will begin officially in September however you you're more than welcome to do it and any meetings products that point I'm going to do to this point and this thing and also Gabrielle I believe she goes by Gabby Stripes Tech so I welcome ladies looking forward to hearing your voice just hearing your perspectives hearing the updates you provide to the board in the upcoming school year I like to thank student council of advisors statements the camps for assisting in the process of selecting students and in this again we would you like to just share a few words just to share your excitement into share how you looking forward to upcoming you yeah I'm just really excited to try and re-establish some normalcy it I'm just excited to kind of get to know the new freshman upcoming freshman coming out and try and help them have a real high school experience and yeah I think Gabby wants to 2 yeah I'm very excited to have Expedition and give everybody in the school of voice and make sure that any issues that are being addressed in the school are being addressed to the board as well I'm very excited thank you it's you the other board members like to assure the two new reps in just wanted to welcome you again Gabby and Anissa I'm glad it's finally official I will second that and I will say I always I mean since I came back to be a board member of the student report is really something that really value every time I let you know I'm here as a board member so it says fantastic to have an thank you so much for your time and efforts in the giving us a report about the temperature of the school thank you interested in getting your version of what's happening in feet I haven't seen yet I told me the truth or not okay I'm looking forward to hearing both of you start but until then enjoy your summer okay well thank you look forward to working with you next year. This is your chance to leave them if you stay you you're more than welcome to stay but if you leave we will not be at all offended so look I appreciate you coming tonight especially since school is over and summer has started the student so I appreciate it and congratulations looking forward to next year have a great summer so with that said transitions for retiree portion of tonight and I'm going to turn things over to assistant superintendent for human resources Aaron Seville oh hi cream everyone continue to chat a little while while give me permission to share my screen so you can see our presentation so over the past couple of weeks we had our end of the year graduation and promotion ceremonies and I was on to fill in and speak at one of the Middle School promotion ceremony so at that time I confessed to everybody that one of my favorite things to do when I was a prince was frozen really publicly acknowledging the efforts of all of our students and how they progressed through the years so then as I progressed through my career and became central office staff and now in HR my second favorite thing to do is the retiree so the retirees are kind of like the graduation ceremonies of the so they've progressed throughout their career with us and they spend so much time they've dedicated their heart and soul to public education and this is their ceremony so really pleased to be able to go through all of our retirees each of our administrators Representatives will speak on behalf of the retiree who's retiring from their building and then at the and we'll go through and acknowledge some of the retirees who are leaving us but who are unable to be here tonight so let me know if share my screen so you can see our presentation what am I doing hoping that you're seeing seen it will start or 2021 retirements presentation with Walter see what she is going to be speaking thank you ever Aaron good evening everyone I am going to be recognizing really Brew this evening Billy Rue worked in our district for 16 years and supported almost 500 students from across my countenance she is taught DSL and bilingual education and all four of our District's elementary school and was most recently teaching bilingual kindergarten at WC be in addition to her time in the elementary school she taught Crest Middle School supporting warmer ESL students during this time she saw firsthand the difficulties Middle School multilingual students face and wanted to better support teachers and students in the future it was during this time began work on her doctorate in Spring of 2014 before returning to teach in the elementary school Milli return to W CB and GNR as an ESL teacher where she conducted a pilot study for her dissertation research Rockford University in her study she examines multilingual Learners opportunities to learn science and first grade classrooms she also started a teacher initiative to support multilingual families with workshops on school learning and family engagement within the school throughout her time in East Windsor she conducted multiple workshops to teach the bilingual parents about the math and language arts curriculum as well as the technology platforms available to their children she conducted home visits as part of her Family Outreach and most recently conducted virtual book clubs Millie was an advocate for her students who will truly be missed congratulations on your retirement for grace and Rogers school Michael tozzi will be speaking leaving everyone on this floor. all set up so we're going to start off this is Bronner's 2004 I want to see Black Elementary School the move to Grace and Rogers during the reconfiguration took pride in creating art room that was welcoming and supportive to all students to volunteer as an i n r s t number when we talked about a student that struggle with their academics she would say what a wonderful our is they were and she offered to take the students to a room to work one-on-one with them to build their confidence and be a reward for completion art as a social emotional outlet for other students or love Randy using 3D pads iPads changes in her artwork as a yearbook advisor if she's in a different way she took pictures of all of them and work with the students to design create and write articles yearbooks for all Dynamite ever call her bander we used so that your books will be less expensive and more accessible families but Mr Daniel started Randy Fran student music just a few examples of our kind of Sin Cara from the moment I first interacted with Mandy I knew she was not only a highly effective instruction and stuff but she was good for school culture and she is the best thank you for your years of service we wish you all the best retirement congratulations Aaron Roth East Windsor School District district has been fortunate to have Karen rod certain students and families of the community for 31 years she spent the majority of her tenure at the Walter see black elementary school and she's been the nurse the Grayson Rogers Elementary are often referred to Karen as the goat greatest of all time as a school nurse she is both caring and effective is a beautiful reporter she also pays attention to detail activate my policy over the years she has stabilized one example was when a student presented Bill and Karen urge the parents if the child doctor even though the mom has been locking the child spent over a month now Hospital in basic Karen the child. Erin is intuitive and thorough she treats each student like it is her own child she loves her job or school and the GM over the past years Karen has representative in officer and she's part of the professional nursing association she mentioned nurses and much more this year was the most challenging the Educators lives and Rose to the occasion she reached research covid-19 created protocols for the district and work on countless nights and weekends to keep our school safe all time high note all the work she is 30 years she has been invested but this was an exceptional year to say the g in our community will miss Karen is an understatement we are grateful for her Services student EWR and wish you the best a retirement thank you and congratulations Karen you are truly the belt next apple McKnight Elementary School Nicole Stokes will be speaking good evening everyone it is with great pleasure that I am here to honor the retirement of one of East Windsor Regional School District's most outstanding educational assistance mrs. Ellen Hoffman her career as an educational assistant stand 31 years all within the east Windsor Regional School District in that time she had a positive influence over countless numbers of students because of her patients knowledge enthusiasm and willingness to learn Hoffman's dedication to children has always been as an EA for special education students Mrs Hoffman showed tremendous Compassion Care love and willingness to do whatever was needed to ensure Student Success the countless teacher she has worked with have commanded her being an outstanding team player who you could always count on she has been described as someone with the innate ability to ascertain exactly what needed to be done and then to take the initiative to make it happen she regularly went above and beyond her expect duties to ensure that the day ran smoothly and efficiently mrs. Hoffman has been a bright spot at the MK for over three decades she cares deeply about her aunt a family and made sure everyone for constant smile and warm has truly made her the heart of emk she will certainly be missed congratulations on your retirement Ellen real Drew Elementary School mr. Robert Dayan good evening everyone my honor to talk about Paige puto dedication hard work and a need to make every child reach higher is the best way to describe Peggy Caputo had to retire from The Drew school December 2020 having spent so many years in the district and education she finally is getting the rest that she needs when visiting Patty's class you knew you would be in for a treat independent opportunities and classpass are all the items Miss computer use to make her room a dynamic place to be parents always spoke highly of her talents as a teacher she makes students feel comfortable supported and care for each day they enter her class there were no challenges that Peggy was not up for just as long as the end result was to help students she would be on board to make miracles happen as she closed down in December many families were saddened that they didn't spend a full year with her that speaks of the classroom culture she creates the students when mrs. Caputo has a student you knew that student will be taken care of and would grow academically and populations are doing a great job all the best as wished for you on your new journey in retirement next we have Shelly urien Shelly Graham has worked in the district for the last 17 years seven of her years was spent at the MK and Alexandra spent at pld the role of a secretary is not an easy one there are several members of the community to interact with and many times the secretary is the face of the school Oregon housing and juggling becomes a comment asking life of the secretary throughout her time at both emk and pld she has left a mark this is your ring and work to make sure items like teachers purchase orders were done the magician performing for the school has been paid and whoever needs help get support she smiles as she performs her job not always an easy task over the years memories pile up picking a favorite is hard during the last year everyone was test it to the limits Shelly should be proud of the way she has South Doyle and he's very trying times she remained committed to engaging properly with the public and never hesitated about interacting with our community when Chromebooks and textbooks needed to be added out she was front and Centre to do that after years as a district employee it is time for Shelly to enjoy her life as a retiree travel will definitely be a big part of her new life she is appreciated for her years of service and it is with great hope that our retirement is fulfilling and joy congratulations Capps Middle School Lori Emerson will be presenting everybody I heard that Miss Masters of Victoria used to when I became you were there in 2007 in Miss Masters is known for her leaving in 5 minutes and I am opening 5 McMasters is an eighth grade social studies to draw any play until her retirement in November the ability to connect with her students and they loved her for it as a matter of fact I don't remember where they want me to be in her class what is the reason for his teacher is because she knew herself serial learning from others throughout her years here she continued to explore and more new technology learning so important not only is not open minded Nick and Willy's Einstein High School mister Vincent will be presenting Aaron I have one more I believe that she is not present we're going to be talking about her at the end thank you thank you and good evening my first retiree is Donna came back to his grade level secretary he's been with us since 1995 to 2021 School District in September of 1995 her first edition was in Kik care and in 2019 95 shoes Transit transitioned into Turning Point instructor Imperial Drew Elementary School it's been 4 years the true scope 2006c transition to a 12 months Clark in student services beginning in August 2006 down and moved into our administrative offices where she performed various tasks is Clarkston secretary in 2014 Donna Manor way to the high school where she worked in our guys department since 2016 Donna has been a house off of secretary working with an assistant principal manage any grade-level office in soon for dedication to East Windsor and her ability to handle many rules and tasks are commendable Donna has our students and Families First and it always goes the extra mile graduation sign up to a well-deserved retirement is Eleanor palmisano my personal secretary nothing was more upsetting Miss Thomas son came into my office and gave me her retirement papers we joke to this day I tried to shred the papers but she quickly stopped me this palmisano has been an asset not only Hightstown High School but it was not for her system I don't know where I would everyday Miss palmisano welcome students staff and parents of a smile she's off in the first line to all interaction here at the high school Fielding phone calls and assisting student with Panasonic goes out of her way and Beyond a normal work day to make sure that the office of the principal and more importantly our high school students are taking care of she will definitely be a person that is going to be greatly missed over the course of the last week almost every staff member stop by our office and deliver flowers and well wishes that meant a lot to me to see how much they cared about this palmisano I will miss you as a friend more than anything else best of luck Eleanor Cathy Shoppers school nurse happy shoppers hardbodies the Regional School District on September 1st 2011 at the school nurse for Hightstown High School caffeine is highly skilled and extremely knowledgeable and compassion team member who consistently displays and promotes the highest ethical standards during her tenure in this position Kathy is created timer for students and staff to feel safe and care for Kathy has always treated each student who enters the nurse's office as if their own child was coming in provide them with the comfort and medical attention and caring professional manner additionally the hours of regular school day cafe has given her time unselfishly as a Red Cross Club advisor his work collab with her colleagues and community plan a holiday party for less fortunate members of our community is a Cosmo professional more proud to have her as a member of HHS we wish you all the best coffee building and grounds Department I believe honey Malta is here speaking hello I think I were as we call him. I started with us in April of 2011 has always been considerate and reliable his work ethic is admirable one of my favorite Recollections is when I interviewed for the custodial at the very end of his final interview he asked if he had one and I couldn't help but laugh and said yes time you one but the truth is I we won and we're grateful for having you are you have been a wonderful addition to our Doduo you will be missed. We hope you enjoy every bit of joy Transportation Resnick is here good evening everyone I'm going to be speaking about Elaine Wheaton and she's a bus driver with our district so congratulations on your retirement from the East Windsor Regional Schools transportation department Elaine has been a bus driver for the district for 22 years she just lays a caring demeanor and it shows by her choice of always choosing routes that deal with students with special needs Elaine displays patience with her students and is committed to 51st we will miss your smiling face and kind words your tenure at eastwindsorregionalschools has made a difference in the lives of many children thank you for your service enjoy your retirement and be Administration so hot Novak that's me usually when we do our retirement celebrations there in person and they're very fast we have a nice lay out in the cafeteria we have food and beverages that's almost like a party and it should be for our retirement and who plans all of that so power. able to plan her own retirement party because now we're still doing our board meetings virtually perhaps next year she'll come back and help me plan the retirement party for next year's retirees there is a great joy I can graduate ain't nobody on her retirement from East Windsor has been with the district in various capacities for 21 years as a resident also of the district she's supporting her son David is he traveled through all of our schools and graduating from high school in high school not moved from working briefly a crap and then to pld to the central office in 2006 when she served in the Human Resources office upon my arrival in 2015 that was already and it Marion HR secretary she was a valuable resource for me in my new role and was instrumental in my transition I truly would not have been able to survive without her those first years should be commended on transitioning the office through several changes in practice and procedures we redesigned our digital files we changed our office Focus from Personnel to Human Resources we work the remote remote year and made thousands upon a changes to board agendas that was also very instrumental in helping us design and plan our in-person job fairs the district was proud to host The Siege a pride job fair several years ago are we had over 500 participants and 30 districts that was extremely helpful in making sure that everything ran smoothly I wish past the best in her retirement and have many days in the future filled with grandchildren travel enjoy congratulation Mark I'm sorry I forgot to introduce my Mark Daniels we speak leaving everyone so I'm honored this evening to share a few words to celebrate the retirement of mrs. Tina DeRosa Tina served as the super secretary to the superintendent for the past 40 years Florence and see Tina leave I'm extremely happy she has the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved retirement and exciting next chapter in her life seen as warm and welcoming disposition positive attitude attention to detail ability to take initiative and continued commitment of an able her to successfully manage an array of important tasks to support the office of the superintendent this includes the daily management of correspondence from parents and staff Campbell's the scheduling a bongo in meetings with Central Administration District leadership team in the leadership of the district education and support staff Association calendar prepares various agenda items for the Board of Education Joseph skilfully managed is the ongoing communication between the superintendent's office in the Mercer County Office of Education in the New Jersey Department of Education to ensure the information sharing and communicated in an efficient and accurate as a new superintendent who became a member of The District in 2019 but continued to appreciate team is extensive level of institutional knowledge and history especially when dealing with the challenges associated with a global pandemic Tina Bowen going partnership guidance and support has helped me tremendously during the past two-and-a-half years could have done it without her seeing it is a consummate professional who performed the duties of the Carrington assistant exemplary manner contribution East Windsor Regional School District or in measurable and served as the blueprint three attributes associated with an efficient and effective secretary the superintendent of schools for the greatly appreciated and will certainly even miss Christina continuous filament happiness and good health as she prepares to embark on a much-deserved retirement congratulations so congratulations to all of our retirees I will please show the size of those admirers who are unable to attend and we have one retiree who really is attending and I have her Slide by the mall so I'll call Lori Emerson back up when not slide comes up Joyce Dora Student Services office manager Deborah Kathleen who is assistant supervisor in transportation he's flown from our buildings and grounds Department Richie Torrance on RV our buildings and grounds Department pampshade member of the child study team Bernadette Olson who is present to Lori will read her statement is a respected member of the 6th grade throughout the years soon as they completely committed to the if she does whatever it takes to ensure Student Success by making curriculum and activities making sure curriculum and activities are acceptable to all students Nicholson office who's the actor hockey team and work more effectively with each other this is especially important in creative Miss Olson has consistently been an exceptional people are better congratulations Lori Sharon matraka student assistant coordinator Beth Glickman music teacher and Susan Rodriguez bcba and classroom teacher congratulations to all our retirees we wish you all the best in your future endeavors don't be strangers tell us what we do contact. Let us know how happy and build you are to be retired and have a great summer hey Sarah behalf of the board of his ministry spoken very well very highly of our retirees on behalf of the board I just want to also extend our congratulations on your retirement and express our appreciation to all of our staff for their service to our students and for the relationships to the ewrsd community overall we certainly appreciate your contributions over these years the other board members wanted to add anything at this time before I turn it over tomorrow hey Mark I think it's up to you okay thank you I'll begin just by reaffirming my appreciation for all of our retirees I always believed that the best part of any organization or the people and to have such dedication to have individuals that have been with us for it for so many years in the past so much impact I don't take Brandon Burgess thank you for years of service and I just wish you continued success as you move forward so tonight's going to provide an update of sorts obviously the end of the school year just occurred last week watch to celebrate I just wanted to share my appreciation to everyone's efforts this year you know what staff has been stretched in with deeply committed in their work did not go unnoticed obviously our students with it that the kind of the variable that we didn't always talk about this year but I think that they didn't that tremendous job kind of weathering and the various changes that occurred this year and died when they were home they were in school when I could do a little bit of both I really was impressed with the level of resilience and although this year was difficult I believe that we will be better for it moving forward with your parents Community was amazing this year look for today continued partnership and as we move forward and I was thinking all of that occurred I with the support of our Board of Education last couple of weeks I had the Good Fortune of attending some of our year-end including occasion these things they've been her last year so there was some things that are part of tradition and a rite of passage that I will never take for granted as we move forward and really cherish those moments definitely appreciated having the opportunity to attend the fifth grade promotion exercises that both pld engine are and had the opportunity to attend the 8th grade promotion that was held here at Hightstown High School for Melvin H kreps at two ceremonies and very well organized events you know we took advantage of being outside and the weather was has been tricky for the past couple weeks but I definitely don't breathe about opportunities to students and families to celebrate the transition of the students and I was the last but not least we celebrated our high school students graduation last week at the Trenton Thunder stadium and it's a beautiful morning and a definite well organised event for student voices were well well heard that day well represented and I just want to thank everyone who participated or attended I just think it was a great way to conclude our year The Vow parent survey feedback survey processing can we have our administrative Retreat coming up next week and I want to make sure we dig a little bit deeper into the data but I just a little bit in terms of where we we we are just in time to some initial feedback so we had about 14 which is really impressive kind of a balance between each of our schools we probably had about a little higher participation with a High School parent feedback which is supposed to be 30% middle schools close to when you know what Elementary's what kind of hovering around a queen 12-in in in 14% participation some highlights I mean the feedback that we received this year with you was for me this is like a feedback in terms of some various categories. Say that communication was obviously something that we would curious to get a sense of that kind of Chance by throughout the year I think we got a 90% agreed that communication was effect of numbers both from the district school and classroom level we receive feedback that obviously the access to technology affirming students having devices the notion of remote learning and Amber's really just framed in terms of students have kind of having access to education virtually that was very reaffirming feedback also refer when was the fact that no students that they were connected with their teachers we talked about just getting some feedback in terms of students establishing relationships with their with their teachers that was overwhelmingly positive purple berries that we need to take a deeper dive into and that would be connected to the feedback we received in terms of establishing relationships with tears back was a little warm and that was about a 75% I agree that that the students will have the opportunity to develop relationships with students we recognized environment for most of the year that was something that we were working hard to overcome obviously that facing the notion of providing education is our priority but recognizing that lost connection to Bible it was also questioned it that statement that it the notion of social emotional needs so I was another error we had about an 80% agree response was seen as a 20% Dynamic there where there wasn't quite as much of an agreement that emotional needs of students were being addressed by our school so once again virtually something to be conscientious of digging deep for the determine what that means for us as we move forward with a statement on their on an exit question returning to school in the fall right so based on the governor's statement indicating that they will not be a virtual learning option for families as we had this year it's one of those get a sense of where families were we go at the start of the notion of having their students to know returning to school in person and the fall 2021 that they were comfortable to break comfortable returning in person after you had about 10% that was someone and if you have a 10% response indicating that they were uncomfortable with in-person instruction we have feedback regarding Transportation 80% of our response indicated they plan on having his students ride school bus in the fall so I appreciate the participation will be a more detailed feedback on that provide in an upcoming Community update but I wanted to provide just the same play it's an open-ended questions there in terms of what worked for your child what did not work for your child and some suggestions for moving forward I want to make sure we try to attend a package. The still that will be using that during the summer I want to make sure that we also provide an update to the community regarding some of that feedback short order I'm going to use that the transition to the American Rescue plan on preference this at a private ward mean this is the third installment of federal funding connected to the reopening in in sustainability efforts and turns of having students return to school this is primarily geared towards the fall reopening so the last thing I mentioned the dollars that we were getting the additional dollars that we were slated to get it in our school district the next couple years you know us about four million dollars we need to do the meeting next up first thing is that we need to all districts receiving the funds need to complete a safe return plan the safe return plan needs to be posted on the district's website by June 24th and other needs to be some some slick, connected to the plan is unlike the detail playing that we put together last August we started reopening plan how to say that that still lives this plan is really more a federal requirement in order to access the funds and it's a pretty short completion expectation because it's connected to the grant so this safe return plan gets uploaded to New Jersey home room where there were their house right so they put like a thousand character limits on what you can include however he is what it will look like this there's two main sections first section is maintaining healthy safety the second section is ensuring continuity of services so we're in the process of finalizing it right now these are the areas that need to be addressed in the first section something that addresses plans or something we have in place to CDC guidelines connected to Universal correct version of mass physical distancing can washing and respiratory etiquette cleaning and maintaining healthy for including improving ventilation contact tracing diagnostic screening efforts to provide vaccinations to Educators staff and students of eligible combinations for students with disabilities regard to health and safety procedure in terms of the ensuring continuity of services section of the district will describe how we will ensure the continuity of services include but not limited to services to address student academic needs and students and staff social emotional mental health and other needs which may include student health and food services for Escanaba the general sent to where we are now I'm going to provide to the community in the next day or two the plan and they'll be a link when I website along with this posted for ongoing feedback is an expectation that every 60 days there's an opera ready to revise update the safe return plant will have a link there was a brief opportunity for folks to provide some input based on these two areas and that'll be an ongoing Cash Express in addition to utilizing things or meetings focus group surveys but don't have an ongoing Approach at The Gather feedback as a relates to our plan in the allocation of our resources I mention. student reps and I believe that concludes my report for tonight so thank you Exmark any questions from the board on March report and with that we can just go ahead and move into item for a which is the first stop and see if your board member comments 8 of a reservations to all the seniors that graduated events out of context that I could not avoid but the congratulations to all the students who graduated high school from elementary school and I wish everyone a great summer hopefully you'll see everyone back in school next to Academy care and a great Round of Applause to Administration the pictures all our support staff for all the bugs during the Academy I know there's a lot of things planned in the summer as well. Have a safe and enjoyable summer and see you all in the next Academy gear it's from any other board members wanted okay they'll be another opportunity why don't we move into first opportunity for public comments all the way have any was slated to speak we do not have any publicly submitted comments tonight I have been in contact with the Kathy Carvalho I think Elena gets was going to say a few words at this point about the retirees she had to step away and Kathy will be filling in for her so you can unmute now so thanks everybody I'm the hands of the East Windsor Education Association we wanted to say thank you and congratulations all the retirees for their dedication to the children and families of the East Windsor Regional School District and wish them much success and happiness and all of their future Endeavor thank you I appreciate you giving me a chance have a great night everybody any other members of the public wanted to speak at the that is all that I saved for l'abri okay then I don't see anything for item number five old business which brings us to items which is our first executive session and maybe are only but there is some items we need to discuss before the Roadrunner Staffing agenda so with that leave you we will be back I grabbed everyone back okay I you can start that item 7 77a bylaws 2016 4.6 remote public board meetings during a declared emergency bylaws for first reading rabbit shaking where are we what's our protocol now with some taking a second I'll think technically required to but we are in a second did somebody say something I haven't heard yet a discussion okay call board please yes it's lands just Murphy funniest yes sorry yes two weeks yes celebrity 8 yes 8 mandated policies for first reading a policy 7425 lettuce water in school I'm second any discussion okay call board please mr. ramachandran celebrity yes okay I did 9 days II off news for board never comments anyone wishing to add anything at this point I actually both of my kids are taking advantage of the right out loud program that was introduced and I just laid there in the first Brew the started this week and I just commands put this together because the kids are absolutely loving it and it seems like the the facilitators are really engaging and it seems like one day it seems like a fantastic is provided by the district to the community and look forward to seeing the finished product from all the Riders and look forward to seeing more programs like this Explorer would you describe it to look at the Sun. is it a collaborative program for basically they are all working together by grade and I've got the whole story has been a busy afternoon and busy day but basically it's at noon both kids came down after their first session and very excitedly telling us about the characters they're starting to build out of the three lines are starting to talk about it's it's the really cool I haven't seen him this excited and then a while so but at the end of the book collaboratively written by Iggy truth and cheapest energy level up is great. I wish there was a whole summer version of it kind of thinking I'm kind of little a little resentful that when I'm not there. like my kids are and are there multiple sessions for this program or is it just the next two weeks May broke out over a number of weeks that it was I know we had scheduling issues so we had to look into trying to switch one of ours around so I think it's like I don't know how many weeks great story but it's going through I don't know how deep it to the summer it's going but it's definitely its at least provide a quick update 442 hunt before 2 week session that starts this weekend are the next one will be July 6th and starts then it goes over through the front door and starts at 6 so that anybody resume the summer program they go do August 6th I need wound up having a total of 1/378 students in a rising first through eighth grade coming out so then I was like oh she said there were a couple of parents who couldn't get in on this morning so we can send an email. But Gibson Road fighting already even if they won no I meant if we try to meet once a week and we met at the end of the day today than telling us how things are going how are the kids are making out thing but they are concealing their as the first session going overalls on Roblox thanks for that Mike yeah thank you for the update my day one day one how my kids respond to a writing workshop and this is how our summer is starving and it's going to be a great summer and I'm excited in other board members do not have anything else exciting as Mike's turn on I mean I have something to say but it's not as excited about actually pretty exciting is what we getting in a better position than we thought about that demeans and like let the public, and actually see us and ask questions directly to us and you know any thoughts on that food from the the mini one Bertrand I'm glad you bring that up Paul if we could just that's old business if we don't saw that soon we keep talking about it every meeting but I think when Mark said last time we are trying to organize so that the AV broadcasting Department can help film it and broadcast it and they were looking for a large enough space to follow the guidelines that are still in place but that's my understanding and I briefly talked the other day and I think we mentioned the my 12 meeting so we can shoot for July 12th as a goal we can at least we can say logistically here's where we are I'll meet with Paul later this week and we'll kind of just get that ironed out but we can dip in Tennessee please July 12th is our first in person meaning yeah we talked about it last week but was the choreography around the fireman recognitions there's a little difficult to do it with without enough notice tonight so joyful sounds like a good plan and it is fitting that they that there will well we can talk and maybe somehow out some other districts are doing it but I'm anticipating it would still be hardly Zoom for the purpose of both exposure and recording for the public I know there's that was received fairly well and the only difference then becomes whether we have someone as you'd mentioned Tina from a v do like that a panoramic shot of room at the same time I'm not sure exactly how that would be spliced together as maybe another Zoom input or how that would work but and I think what I would love to see you is like if we have a clear policy like if we meeting physically if you want me to wear a mask for 4 hours do you like that sorry I'm going to stay hydrated I'm going to stay online but you know I really like you could do social distancing and but I'd love to go back to being a physical because you know this sounds of like casual I mean you know it's in her actions she made her act is there a natural way of interacting so I think a special with the public you know I mean I think it's easier to ask questions always going to think so sending online all the time I don't know what caused the rest of the board and we can use one of the tents don't mess with that way tents will be returned alright alright we'll figure some but yeah I agree pressure and it's kind of pointless to do a face-to-face if you can't see your face well the teachers do it I know you can do we could pull among ourselves of who Among Us is vaccinated and if we're separated from the public and we're all vaccinated it's fine we can talk about that with your Paul daughter state state policies to abide by so we can a person yes please we have a 6 play some music I second that because if we physical like as I was saying before I you know I mean I finish work and then jump to the board so if it's a little bit later and I will be perfect and I can grab a quick sandwich something and then go to the bore you want to come maybe they work until 5:30 and can't make it to her in person reading this don't you I don't settle market right there the cookies the OS version hey I like the veggies to do we have do we have July 12th and we have August 2nd so I will look for one of those dates to be where we are okay because I think again we supposed to be in public at Sony Technologies allowing us to do the best we can but we supposed to be in public so I think it's what I think we should do you know you open space but I think we should start thinking about that's all I'm trying to say baseboard trim and to be clear I stay as long as we're recording it or offering them for a while cuz I think a lot of the members are public might not be able to get home in time to attend the meetings and this is a great way to ensure that the community can stay involved so we can keep showing it for the foreseeable future I'm on I'm in on that so likely 7 we're leaning as bored towards 7th and see what we are allowed to do in terms of authority okay any other board members comments hi Gina I just wanted to say thank you for sharing about the written out loud cuz my son is actually signed up for two weeks in July so I'm excited about that and also I wanted to talk about I have a question about like I said I'm not sure if it's the right time for the last number 10 can we talk about if I have any questions on that or should I wait you can ask now okay for 10 a staffing what does title 3 immigrant mean Estelle Rolle funny we received the support of yellow population so instructional Supply Staffing special development it's just what we refer to it as title free money that's kind of the allocation from the federal government okay I thank you so much you know what else okay will move into item nine be the second opportunity for public comment and went from the public wishing to speak at this time I don't see any hands raised and all electronic in football I do not have any hands racing hey store close at in 98 and moved item 10A stopping June 21st of 2021 eat employment contract central office the authorization for summer hiring see virtual I'm sorry travel virtual and related expenses thib report from June 7th 2021 F out of District placement G Professional Services for students aged approved connect church donation to GNR I njdoe 2021-2022 list of approved religious holidays J report to the board on School District contracts K deposit to certain Reserve accounts resolution for 2020 to 2021 school year Al new membership in the Burlington County Insurance Pool joint Insurance Fund also known as East VIP jism approval of Professional Services and comprehensive Equity plan as the way he I'm going to skip because there is no new agenda item that was Liebherr and T bill is from June 21st 2021 you're actually the I just refreshed and Paul did indeed take that empty item out okay my apologies I never refreshed my screen because of that bill that's due June 21st 2020 dragon in addition I posted that attachment appreciate it thank you while we're there I'll do we have a second and then we'll discuss I believe we did go ahead call you gave us a story last week about item J why we have to have a list of all the open purchase orders on record for the district so if you guys can remember back I guess 10 years ago or so when the Trenton mayor and the Hamilton mayor were arrested by the FBI for taking bribes that investigation LED back to the Hamilton Township Board of Education for some Financial in Friday that went in there as well let's have a few Audits and what came back was a bunch of contracts that the board said they never approved act a little more investigation found out the vast majority of the contract award said he never approved in fact we're actually fruit so the legislators came along and we've done this for quite a few years now this is Manuel resolution that we do is what all school districts are now require to do is to have a notification to the board that these are all the contracts that we've issued for this year and we very well may issue these again for next year so it's more of a notice notification to you rather than something for your approval actually proving a purchased me just notifying you while the contracts which is basically a purchase order that we've issued for the entire year to date such a lengthy list like I said notification so I guess you're not approving anything right now but if you do have any questions or anything I don't feel free to drop a message from work and I will get you the answers any questions okay could I ask you as well to mention the insurance the Burlington County principal so every three years we go out for a market research for new insurance beds what most insurance companies like that have is like a three-year commitment from a district into the insurance one that you're you're entering and that's for the stability of the insurance when they they want someone to come in they want to know that you're going to be there for a few years ago, to help stabilize their premiums and then they can go and better shot the mark for coverage for all the districts so that I've been here six years now and I think for quite a few years before that the district's been covered by what's been called the New Jersey school Insurance Group which is a another name for a chef with the joint Insurance on we're basically schools get together and try to throw their money into a pool made a purchase insurance collaboratively we've had you no good service was taking over the years one of the things that has kind of been on my radar for the past couple and really hit the market really this past budget cycle is that are what they call our claims history has been historically low so freezing we're moving to Self insurance for our medical benefits and our broker was upset because we were paying out for every dollar that we gave the insurance company they were paying out $0.85 you keeping the $0.15 for themselves Frost in a few of our claims history for property casualty has been Somewhere over the past six years somewhere around 20 20% so for every dollar we give them they pay out $0.20 and they keep that other $0.80 for them I think what really drove this year search was that when we came for a a budget number for my broker they're getting the feedback from the insurance company that despite that excellent claim history the district has maintained they were looking for probably at percent increase was just really problematic so we really hit the market this year really research them a lot of credit goes to Latonya Brandon our broker and Arthur J Gallagher really went out and then really turned over every stone another joint insurance plan is the Burlington County jeff which is really part of another Jeff was supposed to spell Jessica collection of almost 90 school districts and basically Southern New Jersey we get together I just like saying come together to 2 to purchase insurance coverage Collabera Sig Works different if you're familiar with the New Jersey state health benefits who pretty much a lot how much people go into this New Jersey state health benefits medical benefits when they have bad claims history they run in there and they clean up your claims history and then they they run back out to a private Market which day we we've done ourselves a few years back spell Jeff actually looks for school districts that kind of stood us where we have excellent claims history and they kind of Pride themselves that when they bring someone in that you know you're a good District that has good oversight and that you're not having a Litany of various claims either Eno property mold so I should feel very proud of being offered membership into the spell just if you do have bad claims or a bad clam I can tell you there's another school district in Mercer County x-ray promised will District who was asked to leave the spell Jeff because they they generated a claim and I go back on the market and you can go back to New Jersey there's nothing that's cool just my future anything ever happens but we really from day one the Burlington County just really came forward and really made us feel as if they really wanted us as part of their portfolios so they they really slashed the rates they came in from day one and really made it known that they wanted the district as part of wondered if one of their their districts in the spell Jess overall that the premiums were / will probably save about a hundred fifty two hundred $60,000 a year so like I said you usually sign up for about a three-year commitment as they say you're not required you to leave earlier but like to honor that commitment as much as possible and over the course that three-year commitment we're scheduled to save somewhere around 480 to $500,000 or so a high-quality insurance company there there's a letter mandation attached for my broker recommending this like it's very hard you know if you follow Dilbert's got out of jail and he calls this a confusion awfully hard times are you know they they give you different coverages to use yourselves what's a board to know that we're running with a high quality insurance company and with a lot of high-quality school district and also what's nice about this is that we get just like our self-insured metal we're going to get full access to everything so right now with New Jersey state if there's a school district. Maybe has bad claims and you want to see what they're paying into what they're getting paid out for the New Jersey state will not share that information with you and that way it's kind of closed almost like a private insurance company but with the spell Jeff you get to see everything and I do mean everything you have full access to all the financial so I've been moved to the district will be able to say you know what we're paying and we'll see what everyone else is paying in in relation to what's being paid out so I'm really excited that we'll have that kind of access to the financial baseball questions and reward on that item in particular or any other of the agenda items I just want to mention that actions like this and the self-insurance the healthcare Self insurance program that are ministration is since you starting July one these are extraordinary moves for school districts not everybody is able to manage do this claims wise the next our good fortune that we have a good claims records be able to do this but not everybody has the balance on your team to be able to do this either is fun express my appreciation of the Paul and Mark in the ministration for being able to wear the pull off two of these transitions in one year you're a lot more program money to work with for the benefit of rest and I'll also mention the appreciation board for the donation of a hundred basketball that's certainly fun are we got these you'll get sometimes from members of the community and this one certainly stands out among them and never heard of anything like this before but I appreciate the input from our community any other comments okay call the Portuguese it's ramachandra yes Miss Murphy yes abstain from a B & L thank you yes yes is for July yes the three weeks yes celebrity I don't think we have anything else for executive session so the wrap return thank you goodnight.

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Board of Education Meeting - June 21, 2021

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