like to call the order 6:31 p.m. you all please stand for the black un States Nation indiv andice all pursu to the open public meetings Act adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as follows by having the time date and place of the meeting posted on the VES and board and the administration buing January 12 2024 by sending a copy of the meeting noce to The Star Ledger newspaper and the local Source on January 12 2024 and by file a copy of the township Hillside Hillside Public Library January 12 2024 roll call please board member C har G Howard clks Shapiro yes present good evening everyone you all here uh we would like to have a special presentation um from the Hill public schools to one of our very special and wonderful student athletes at this time peace and good evening to all hope everyone is having a beautiful first day with most school for many of our students second day for some as we prepare to enter into our spring our summer season we want to take the opportunity this evening to call forward student hope I think I see his mother here with him as well one of our great eighth grade Scholars at w Middle School Mr Alonzo Bland I want to read the accomplishments of this young scholar Alonzo 8th grade student at W has over the last several months participated and competes with the New Jersey Special Olympics area five of Union and middlex County on the Mighty Ducks team for the following Sports swimming track and field soccer and bowling on April 8 the 2024 Alonzo competed in a bowling finals and came in third place and received a bronze medal on April 7th of 2024 Lonzo competed in the area of meet swam 25 backstroke with the time of 16 minutes and 59 seconds and finished in first place with the gold medal then you know that wasn't good enough he swam in the 4X 25 relay team with the time of 1 hour and 23 minutes 1 minute and 23 seconds about however first place gold medal all right but he still wasn't done swam the 100 freestyle first place gold medal I guess he decided that it was time to rest did the 4X 50 freestyle relay and the team came in second place with a silver meal then because you know that deserves to be recognized he qualified for the New Jersey state summer games now I did mention that he swims runs track and field does soccer and bowling so in his free time when he's not swimming participates in top soccer and last year the Mighty Ducks won second place for soccer okay this year participated in the West Orange division for the spring and fall but he's also a member of our school course he's also on the drum line received the top Wildcat award for band participation here at w plays piano snare drums inside theone did I mention he's also a great student own alono plan please come forward with your mother and your still the school student recognition Award presented to you sir for your achievements [Applause] new take picture picture right front awesome will the board members please join me [Applause] [Music] what a wonderful way to end the school year as he goes on to high school congratulations again r [Applause] have the superintendent report those are the reasons why we get up and do this work no matter what folks may have to say no matter what comments come the Lonzo of our district are the reason why all of us should think about what we're doing that's true the mistakes that are made on the course of a day can always be fixed when we fail to recognize the talents of our own students they might remember that I'm sure This Moment's going to be special for you because this Liv for forever in our memories but it also lives forever live and video so we'll be able to always look back and say I was recognized by the district that I was raised in I think that's an [Music] [Applause] important before I get into my report I also want to just acknowledge and give a lot of accolades to the many awards and celebrations we had this week I'm going to work backwards how many folks in this room attended the Hillside High School graduation ceremon this past Tuesday night don't don't be shy raise your hand he did not get a chance it was a warm evening but it was a beautiful evening it was a beautiful evening because we got the chance to approximate approximately watch 240 students received it 24 42 approximately 240 plus two receed their diplomas from Hillside High School you're quiet you should applaud that's a true graduation that is recognized in the state of New Jersey and those students majority of them are going off to the Military College entering careers so when people have negative words to say about the work that's being done 242 of our best and brightest are now contributing members in society and getting a chance to follow their dreams in postsecondary life the valorian speech that took place she is amazing I'm [Applause] emana Emily no I should know that because she is dyamic going to the University of Pennsylvan R University but I can get on the list and name so many of our students we have students who are already in college left early for early admission came back for their ceremony folks I've had a chance to watch many of these young folks when I came here when they were 10th grade we have Scholars who are on the rise to do great things so the ceremony at the high school was was beautiful warm but it was beautiful earlier that day we had the eighth grade ceremony for our students at w how many folks were there for that one again beautiful ceremony to watch our students approximately 180 183 18 I'm off by I'm pretty 183 students to finish their Elementary School years and Embark and prepare themselves embark on that Journey for high school and prepare themselves for what's next at our high school where 242 students just graduated a week ago today we were at Hillside inovation Academy is 8ighth grade St approximately 50 of our great Scholars achieve their certificates of completion of Elementary School countless countless countless award ceremonies have taken place from our pre babies kindergarten first grade sixth grade honor Ro ceremonies if you didn't get a chance to come and see what our babies are doing our children our Scholars are doing in this District you're missing trees because that's what we're here for complet the test CS don't always show the true character of students I think sometimes we miss that sometimes we get into these debates about how did someone arrive to A Place here's what I know our goal is to put the best teachers in front of our students to put the best adults it's hard in this teacher shortage environment right now to do that but somehow the word is getting out that we want to come to Hillside I'm going give a little Kudos and forgive me within the last 48 hours about 10 individuals have come to Hillside to work as teachers 10 we're closing the Gap when people say you're not closing the Gap we're closing the Gap I'm just going to say this it's on the agenda so it's not a secret you know how hard it is to find a chemistry teacher a biology teacher a physics teacher well my great HR team finally Trifecta today and hopefully now our students will be able to continue that tradition of taking advanced placement courses and college ready build enrollment courses to prepare them my report is about making sure we understand that this season it's about celebrating our students who are transition into the next grade level there are mistakes that get made along the way but we can correct them we can't afford to make tooo many mistakes folks because our babies are cing on us so that when they get to that secondary postsecondary level they're prepared as I'm standing up sitting up here tonight I want to just also say there's a special shout out to several members in this audience because I want to just recognize you for some of the great things you you have done and make sure this season is correct so the president vice president of our Hillside innovation academy inside Education Association I want to say thank you and I salute you cuz you made sure many of our ceremonies that have taken place have been on point you and all of your goverment Bo board members I salute you and say thank you Mr skelt few other folks I don't see them in the room right now Mr Skelton thank you for what you did for one of our board members this past Tuesday night we appreciate you and I know that our board members and the rest of us appreciate the quick response thank you very much [Music] to say thank you to so many people but there are so many folks who have been instrumental in making sure our students get to where they're at I say thank you to everyone there are central office staff there are School based leaders there are staff parents oh my gracious so many parents who at this step in brought water to the field because kids were high brought water to the school participate in field days I say thank you to you as well I'm thanking all of you always forget someone if you don't give your flowers to those who are make sure you're standing in the right space at the right time when they're alive you may not get a chance to give them to them at all I want to give you your AOW so thank you very much to everyone my report my report is filled with students again tonight so thank you to principal Graham and principal P for what you're about to present to our community you have a beautiful word to say happiness so in the month of July for those that are get a chance celebrate have ice cream conb on meal ice cream it's also mental health minority mental health one make sure you are still staying in tune connected to what your personal stress levels may be your massage therapy time make sure you don't miss it taking walks with your family going to the beach finding a happy place so throughout the course of the Year board members and Community we've been talking about a priority goal to make sure our first grade students meet their reading and math goals hitting the standards I'm happy to report that we can say that our students have met the challenge not to the 100% that I wanted but we definely made significant gains and stes principal Graham I'm sure is going to speak on it but I just want to share this is the outcomes for this year 72% of our first grade students are reading and Demon reading on grade level and demonstrate Mastery of grade level standards for first grade literacy 75% of our first grade students demonstrate proficiency and Mastery on math skills there's a part two of this part two was mentioned and announced yesterday Elementary School here in Hillside as well as one of our middle schools but I'm going specifically stay on our elementary school the direction that our district is going and the research that I have done has put forth the following challenge that is not just for school leaders but it's also for all of the community members who care about making sure our students are prepared within the next 3 years I have challenged every Elementary School to continue to demonstrate growth and high academic success by the end of year 3 2027 all of the elementary schools her and looker over Edwards Community School the energy Taylor Academy will be expected to apply for blue blue ribon status and I anticipate at least one but if not all three of them will be identified as blue rib School for those that don't understand that's not to be lightly and that's a lot of work to get there and it's Collective work that's going to have to take place the reason why it was so important for this goal to be met is these Rising second graders are going to be the ones who help us get to that space where we are a Blue Ribbon School District as well as three which is unheard of elementary schools that are all ribbon status we will be applying for po ribbon status because I'm confident for all the leaders and staff will make sure our students are prepared that's why this goal was so important for me do you understand that time by the time these students hit third grade fourth grade and fifth if they still remain around that 75% proficiency you will be top in the state of New Jersey so there was a me to that m and I'm sure that all the staff parents and students will meet that goal of us being able to apply the blue R School District as well as blue rivet Elementary School that being said principal Graham princial pillard floor is yours thank you thank you for giving us the opportunity to come up and showcase the progress of our students I couldn't be prouder of the of the effort and the growth that I've seen from our incoming second graders our Rising second graders uh you made me very proud we came a long way and I want to talk about the journey that we took to get there okay end of year reflection very happy that uh we didn't meet our 100% goal but I'm very excited at of the path that we've taken um our upward Trend towards reaching those goals we followed the school priority goals we followed the every decision was based on the hillside District goals and um our mission statement and vision statement this was emphasized throughout the year every every decision all of my instruction uh I wanted to discuss my role to develop the ability to clearly articulate personal and professional uh values to staff students and parents and continuously reflect on leadership practices and adapt them to maintain a positive educational culture I went um into to the 20 um 23 24 year uh Dr Glover mentioned that one of the principal's meeting over the summer of the big audacious goal of a 100% reading and math proficiency goal uh it I ask others principles he say first grade he said first grade but we didn't run from that opportunity we we took it on and we it was our chance to display how great the grade one team could be our last year dad in literacy we didn't do too well and we put a lot of effort in but we only made 51% uh of our grade one students were proficient in ela and in math we were even worse we were 39% proficient by the end of the year so there was a lot of work that went in over the summer to improve those those areas so if you look at the Benchmark data you look at the red you see that's those are the students that are well below and you look at the blue those numbers increase by the year same thing for math uh this was the highest we've been in math in years and uh a lot of credit goes out to the teachers and here's some of our activities and students that we can celebrate [Music] [Music] now [Music] oh [Music] yeah on this side the guy on the left that was reading the funniest thing students they will make you laugh every single time he asked a question about reading to the students how did they feel and one student said I love it when the elderly reads to the CR I said wow that's what they think elderly looks like wow yes so I wanted to thank before we bring up the first grade students I wanted to thank the board for providing us with the materials and resources to reach those high [Music] goals first grade students please come up I'm sorry Rising second grade student you that's you that's you you completed first grade we had a song keyed up but it's not quite working so students we're going to sing our Capel [Music] nice it's the end of the year graduation is here our two little words our teachers Mom Dad grandparents and all thank you thank you thank you thank you for all you than you thank you thank you everyone thank you for all [Music] you us Lear taught us to be all right how you take our turn thank you thank you thank you everyone thank you for all you than you thank you everyone thank you for all you you thank [Applause] you [Applause] awesome good Scholars students in the first grade you made principal gram look real good well 3K and kindergarten have experienced so many wild experiences as also experien both academically socially as well so this presentation is just going to show you a few slides in which our pre students as well as our students having fun Wild experien [Music] this is a little F feel a little bter a little bit tall the friends I made [Music] I can watching you see I'm on Myer I'm on my way I'm bra and stronger I'm on my way little [Music] te I'm proud of and all I can watching you will see I'm on my way I'm and SM I'm on my way I'm bra and stronger I'm on my [Music] way Sarah [Music] come on up come on up on [Applause] up ready okay here go [Music] [Music] all my way I'm I'm my way [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] bder B louder look the friend I made these never [Music] of me all I can watching you [Applause] [Music] see Ander on my way me the best I can be I'm on my way that's right Sarah [Music] [Applause] I'm on my way I'm and SM I'm on my way I'm braer and stronger I'm on my way watch me the best I'm on my way I'm on my way I'm and smar I'm on my way I'm bra and stronger I'm on my way watch me be the best that I can be I'm on my way thank you again awesome job for our first graders with their accomplishments an awesome job for our prep and our kindergarten and all the fun that they've had in education most importantly thank you parents thank you thank you thank you and let's continue the partnership thank you board members so much thank you [Music] so isn't that why we let's give a round of applause once again [Applause] excellent job Scholars excellent job I'm close out cuz the students are definitely the ones who are the game changers and the Show Stoppers I want to remind our families that we have our summery we began it about 2 years ago our summery are inclus of Hands-On learning exercises board members I'm happy to say that we have the close enrollment in may we have 500 students registered this year to what you offer us and allow us to do here and again I said it's handson we also partner with Scholastic we'll be doing lit camp lit Camp is a fun Hands-On way of doing keeping our students engaged in the area of literacy but it also invites the parents in so parents you're going to see these books come home you're going to be asked to come to the schools and participate it's a continuation and part of a larger initiative while we continue to stress love for reading I wish you all a great evening thank you very much [Music] [Applause] the principles we appreciate you and all the students that do all the wonderful work that you do may I have I'm sorry yes may I have a motion to go into public comments residents are requested to State their names addresses and subject matter in the event it appears the public comment portion of the make 2 15 minutes presiding officer May limit each statement made by a participants at 3 minutes duration issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board all comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate the board ask that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking specifically comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged and will not be responded to by the board students and employees have specific legal rights afforded by the laws of the state of New Jersey the board Bears no responsibility nor will it be liable for any comments made by members of the public members of the public should consider their comments in light of leg rights of those affected or identify in their comics and be aware that they are legally responsible and liable for their comics Angela Lawler 54 hden Street um that was amazing I love seeing the little ones I love seeing the big ones but the little ones kind of hit you right in the heart um but that's due to the fact as Mr lover said we have some amazing teachers in our district so without those amazing teachers you would not see a performance like that so I'm excited I'm really excited um to tag on what Mr Glover said about giving flowers as we are here right instead of waiting till after earlier this month um the Union County Education Association hosted an event um it was called the friends of Education um each Union each district was asked to nominate someone from within their district for this award it could have been a teacher it could have been a Community member um anyone who affects children and education Mr Glover is being a little shy right now um I had the pleasure of nominating Mr glubber and the reason behind nominating Mr glubber and there was a long thing that went with it and I won't read my whole speech but the gist of it is his Innovative thinking allowing us to do what we need to do within the district to do things better for the students and better for staff and parents his Innovative thinking brings us to a point where we have performances like this where we reach goals of 75% in first grade without someone thinking this way we would stay stagnant so Mr glver was amongst four or five recipients um that received the award but I just wanted everyone to know that for thank you um we do appreciate Mr Glover although we might not always see ID to ey we always find a common ground between us so I just wanted everyone to know I know he was not he does not speak on himself so I'm going to do that Bo so he was awarded the inaugural Union Camp friend of Union County Friend of Education award so thank [Music] [Applause] you sharen Del 63 CLK Street good evening everyone a moris that was wonderful my daughter is 28 years old and she is the director of marketing for Robert Wood Johnson's children Specialized Hospital hospital and her kindergarten teacher was just sitting right there Miss D and miss her teachers her first teachers and I I thank them because without teachers none of us would be anything but people right so I thanked him for that Mr Glover congratulations when your award I was there on that rainy evening and it was a you gave a very nice speech as well and I also want to thank miss Helen who we' adopted at Ola Edwards Community School she came and she bought ice pops for all the students at the school and not only did she buy them she came and gave them out and I appreciate that and I appreciate all that you've done this board for Ola Edwards and the children of this community because without you we couldn't do what we do and we thank you for coming to read to them coming and donating your time and and for me time is the most important resource that we have and I thank you for your time even if you couldn't come you sent something or you called and I thank you for that on behalf of all the parents in Hillside and I'm not the principal of Ola Edwards but I'm here to say I thank you for participating in the carnival and all the other things that we've done this year because we did a lot of things the Color Run I have pictures of you so don't do nothing you don't want nobody to see but I appreciate you and I thank you have a good [Applause] [Music] evening good evening everyone ER mura 133 silver teacher WK um kind of piggy backing off of Angela and um what m r said I just want to say thank you for showcasing and allowing the time and and the board allowing the time for the schools to to be able to Showcase a little bit of something at the board meetings um it allows us in different schools to find out what's going on in the other schools I can't wait to get these kids at w like they are gorgeous they are beautiful they are smart um it really allows us a little bit of insight um so thank you so much for all of that and for all that you do for us to support us so that we can support our students on an everyday basis [Music] [Applause] good evening members Mr G friend I'm not going to do nothing WR today don't wor uh same as the rest of the people right here I want to thank every one of you thank you Mr clber um I I see a lot of potential in the school with the teachers they're doing an amazing job everyone and Ola Edward and ab moris this is my last year on AB Mor with a little one he's going to Ola Edward I hope so thank you I was wondering only quick question um if it's any possible way that we can just give more challenging activities for everyone like last time two years ago there was a math activity I think math uh Challenger something like that Thea Ed was the first time winning the prize so you know get more into that for the kids it's a lot of potential on our kids in each of them so something like you know to motivate them like more activity physical activity or more to challenge more re if the mind thank you um in my particular case I'm not really fanatic of Technology I have to be honest uh sadly is the world that we live in right now technology for everything but I wish you know very deep to get back to many years ago with the books were everything a dictionary just to find a word definition or something today for today um we use Alexa or Siri just to get the definition something when it's more like getting to a book to read um on this summer I don't have too many um activi with my kids but I plan in an hour not 20 minutes an hour reading which I start on Monday with the kidos so I have questions for day but I wanted to do more with them so I wish as a parent uh if we can just give more to the kids more activity to hands on more books more reading I really appreciate that thank you again for everything you guys are amazing thank thank you I see you next year I had too many more questions [Applause] thanks motion to [Music] close um Angela ller 54 hen Street I just wanted to say I know Mr Ward is not here um he couldn't be here this evening but I just wanted to say thank you for hiring Mr Ward this was his first year at Hillside High School and it was a huge um undertaking following someone with a long career in education someone who was a staple in the community um he came in as an unknown but he goes out as being known he really made a huge impact on the high school and I'm speaking as his secretary not as the union president um I'm speaking as his secretary because he is an amazing person to work for he is very caring about about the students and about the staff so it was a it was a little bit of a shift you know everybody has to get used to somebody new but I have to say he closed out the year on top with 242 graduates that's probably the most we've had in a very long time so I just wanted to give him his Kudos thank [Music] [Applause] [Music] you all in favor I want to just humbly say to the 3,000 plus students nearly 600 staff members and employees of this District thank you I say thank you because you allow this job for me as challenging as it may be you allow me to go home at night and lay my head on my pillow excited about up the next day thank you for rec recognitions should be shared with so many folks you don't understand the the amount of positive energy it's tough this is this is tough work but the amount of amount of tough Sorry Miss Candy amount of challenges that we experience as a collective body we don't run away from I won people understand that we don't run away from them because our students deserve us to run run towards whatever the challenges thank you but I'm only as good as the people who walk with me you know I didn't come here to be have adversarial conversations with union members that's not what you do I used to be a union rep I understand that conversation and those tough conversation we have to have I didn't come here to destroy a district I came here to make a district have a lasting impact for the lives of [Music] kids the recognition that I received a few weeks ago was just a reflection of all the people in this District those who work in it and those who support it from the external so I say thank you for sharing that you didn't have to I appreciate you and I appreciate all those Miss Candy you are always remind the board members their their worth thank you and I say it on behalf of the board members thank you for inviting us all heward always has us and all the schools to all the he is always calling us to beon and and pres M Mador thank you for that we're going to continue to Showcase so maybe W will be first next year so you can set the bar to the parent from AP Morris and Edwards that's part of the reason why I mentioned about the hand are learning this summer we're also going to be flooding our homes with books Scholastic made a donation to the high school a few weeks ago where every graduating sooner receive five books plus we're going to continue that with Scholastic and the parents you're going to be getting involved with we're going to be seeking volunteers from within the community to make sure we come in and read to our students and yes we're going to make sure every child has a library by the time they graduate from the home Library you're 100% you have a lot of great School leaders but Mr wer did set the bar for rest of us thank you very much thank you vice president how to report please good evening mad president good evening everyone we can hear you finance committee met on Monday and the items yes um committee one day the train and discuss the it good evening the education committee met on this past Monday June 24th and we reviewed items 1- 14 not 1 through 40 this month 1 through 14 yes the policy committee met on Monday June 24th good evening the labor committee meant to go over on June 24th 2024 Lind items 1 through6 thank you vice president Howard may I have a motion to go into executive session be resolved pursuant to the open public meeting be resolve pursu to the open public meetings act that the Board of Education Mee and Clos executive session at this time to discuss matters related to Personnel pending litigation labor negotiations contract negotiations attorney privilege the board will reconvene the public session at the conclusion of the Clos session the matters discussed in Clos session will be disclosed to the public as soon as the need for confidentiality no longer exists who member CE m s Gordon gens Howard Parks Shapiro best [Music] oh no that not nice [Music] I'd like to move items 1 10 and 12 14 under Finance member yes sayi yes s yes SW G yes Mr Howard yes Parks yes Mr Shapiro yes president best yes MO mes my Thursday night voice um yes M yes yes G yes Mr Howard yes yes Mr Shapiro yes president best yes already given education I like to move let's move it items 1 through 14 any questions on motion yes yes yes Mr Howard SHO best yes I'd like to moveo yesti yes har yes whon given yes Mr Howard yes M Parks yes Mr Shapiro president best yes motion carries member par I like to move items 1 through 56 only any questions on the motion yes yes M AR yes Mr Howard yes to this Shapiro yes stay 29 [Music] best motion carries so we do have to go back into executive session but before we do that um you want to I do want I do want to make an announcement um I apologize for not early making this announ when everyone was here members of the board specifically Joanne Horton given and others from her and our vice president Donald Howard participated in ice cream social with our students from our high school a very funfilled day I'm going tell you how much fun it was I was walking down the hallway and one of the students came came to me and he says man we had a good time yesterday and then he went on to describe some of the things that took place and I said Co it doesn't sound like you were supposed to be doing all that then I realized our board members encouraged it so it was a good time by our students they had a great time I want to just acknowledge and give a salute and [Applause] Applause thank you thank you for all you do to all of the board members um I stated we will be going into executive session so may I have before we do that Madam president one more thing don't we've done this already but I did we'll be back they have a motion to go into executive session [Music] going hard grave yes yes given yes Mr Howard spks yes Mr SPO yes yes we have resolve pursuing to the open publics act that the Board of Education post executive session at this time to discuss matters rela to pending or anticipated litigation Personnel the board will reconvene in public session at the conclusion of the closed session the matters discussed in close session will be disclosed to the public as soon as the need for confidentiality no it's our in correct come back from s we will beeting to come back bu action may be taken you shall return though stay [Music] tuned back motion who second all in favor listen there my understanding is that there was a matter in finance that wasn't addressed that's number 11 motion to renew Rd par Associates for profession professional risk management that needs a moving a motion to move it in a second and a roll call yeah to be recommended correct but if if nobody moves it then seconds it then it won't be moved but it wasn't called 11 wasn't called so needs a second secondo no yes hardre yes Orton given yes Howard yes Parks yes chapiro no best yes C there any old or new business M president Howard would you like to say any closing remarks good even even once again everyone truly thank you for your patience I thank you for uh just abiding with us and again to all of my comrades and arms out there all of our Educators whether you're certificated or you're just and educated by practice or as a parent I just want to say thank you all for all that you've done during this school year it has been an amazing year once again um people just don't know what we do working in public schools it is a truly lab it's a labor of love but I tell everyone don't always forget it is labor trust me someone asked me why the teachers get such long vacations I said well they're not on vacation they're in theover so enjoy your time off we probably will meet again in July but those who won't don't make it back have a absolutely fabulous summer I beg you just pleas be safe be hydrated and once again thank you so so very much for doing all that you do on be of our children thank you is there no other comments sure okay good sorry about that we just wanted to make sure we didn't Overlook something else that was in our folder um with that said if there are no other comments we can I will request a motion to adjourn all in favor motion carries [Music] Happ