22:24At the forefront of the discussion was the issue of bullying, with several parents voicing their distress over how these incidents are handled. Anthony Faso from Blackwood shared a disturbing account of his son’s experiences with bullying at CW Lewis School, where his son had been “victimized seven times,” detailing incidents of physical assault, including a severe one that resulted in a concussion when his son’s head was slammed into a concrete wall. Faso stressed the need for the administration to impose stricter consequences for bullying to ensure accountability among parents.

The conversation around bullying also saw contributions from Allora Johnson, who spoke about her child’s struggles in the school system, exacerbated by bullying that led to anxiety and depression. Johnson expressed disappointment over the lack of effective interventions and the delay in securing homebound instruction for her child.

29:51The meeting also shed light on the challenges faced in special education services, particularly concerning the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BDA) program. Staff from Union Valley School, including a behavioral support technician and a K1 autism teacher, expressed concerns about the transition away from the current BDA program. They emphasized the need for maintaining robust support systems for students with behavioral challenges. Heather Hagen, a K1 autism teacher, provided insights into the daily operations and significant efforts made by her team to manage student needs, inviting board members to witness the work firsthand, especially during autism acceptance month.

36:54Nicole Realine, a behavioral support technician, highlighted her employment conditions, contrasting her role with those of her full-time colleagues. She expressed feeling undervalued and called for better support and benefits, noting the demanding nature of their work. The dialogue included clarifications that proposed changes were aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of support, not phasing out services.

17:29A significant public comment came from Dorothy Hope Deleo, a recently terminated employee with 37 years of service. She expressed her frustration over her termination just months away from securing lifetime benefits and suggested a need for further discussion regarding her long tenure with the district.

05:30:759The effectiveness of current discipline policies was questioned, with some parents and board members discussing the necessity of policy revisions. A board member noted that the discipline policies had recently been re-evaluated, but concerns about their effectiveness persisted.

10:31The meeting also touched upon administrative matters, with the superintendent requesting a consent resolution for various agenda items, which was passed without dissent. Questions were raised regarding field trips, particularly the Turkey Hill experience, and financial matters, including a check related to a drug alliance grant.

02:05Additionally, the artificial intelligence (AI) committee chair provided insights on the development of an AI policy that includes “guard rails” to ensure ethical AI use in education. The committee is working on a framework that includes professional development for teachers and students, gathering data from a faculty focus group and a survey.

Parents expressed a need for a more robust response from the administration, while school officials acknowledged the challenges posed by existing policies and the necessity of ongoing review and adjustment.