##VIDEO ID:qvWprWHgGP4## Marc Plevinsky: Right. Marc Plevinsky: Okay? Marc Plevinsky: Oh, my, sure. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you for that. Marc Plevinsky: Good evening. Marc Plevinsky: Welcome to our meeting. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you for being here tonight, going to read our public notice. Marc Plevinsky: and then we will go into our pledge. Marc Plevinsky: Public notice of this meeting, pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act has been given by the Board Secretary on December 10, th 2024, in the following manner posted notice on the School bulletin board at the Administration Building, transmitted to the Courier Post, Philadelphia Inquirer and the clerk of Cherry Hill Township. Marc Plevinsky: Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Sugars, can you please call the role Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Chaffain here? Mrs. Gallagher here, Mr. Greenbaum, here, Mr. Mayor, here, Dr. Rood, here. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Niaz here, Mrs. Tong, here Mrs. Winters, here, Ms. Stern here. Marc Plevinsky: so Dr. Morton, I believe we're going to start our evening with recognizing a few folks who are joining us in the meeting tonight. Marc Plevinsky: Absolutely. Thank you so much, Ms. Stern. It is my pleasure and privilege and honor this evening to recognize many of our outstanding young people who participated in our fall sports program. I'm going to call up Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Carol Roskoff along with Mr. Finkel and Dr. Burns to come join me at the microphone. As we recognize these outstanding young people. Marc Plevinsky: So good evening, everyone. I'm here tonight on behalf of Mr. Burrell. He could not be here tonight, so stand this way. Marc Plevinsky: He couldn't be here tonight, so he asked me to fill in for him. So he wrote something. I'm just going to read it. Marc Plevinsky: This fall. Athletic season was another banner year for Cherry Hill athletics, showcasing the incredible talent, dedication, and teamwork of our students. While tonight we honor 2 exceptional teams. It's important to recognize the outstanding achievement across all programs. East girls. Tennis reached the sectional final for incredible 24th consecutive year. Marc Plevinsky: East Girls Soccer secured their 1st home playoff victory in over 15 years. Marc Plevinsky: East girls cross country finished the season ranked 6th in South Jersey. Marc Plevinsky: West girls. Field hockey set a single season record for wins, and Tatum woods broke the career record for most goals. Marc Plevinsky: West girls. Soccer came with a penalty kick of it, with within a penalty kick of advancing to the sectional final, and had the most wins in school history and West boys cross country. Rex Takatche was crowned Camden County champion Marc Plevinsky: in total between East and West 77 student athletes were named all conference this fall a remarkable accomplishment. Marc Plevinsky: At the middle school level. Marc Plevinsky: at the middle school level our future stars shine brightly. Karusi boys. Soccer reached the Conference semifinals. Marc Plevinsky: Beck, field hockey made a historic run to the Conference championship game Beck boys cross country, placed second at the Camden County championships with Conan Porter crowned the overall Middle School Boys Champion and Beck's Girls Cross Country, finished 3rd at the Camden County Championship with Leah Vogel earning the bronze. Marc Plevinsky: the Undefeated in Conference play East girls volleyball Marc Plevinsky: coached by Joe Feeney and Mr. Feeney. I'm gonna ask you to come up Marc Plevinsky: East girls. Volleyball are the 2024 Olympic Conference, American Division champions, and Coach Feeney, can you please join us here to say a few words about your season, and then introduce your members of the Marc Plevinsky: sure which way to stand here. Marc Plevinsky: But 1st I'd like to thank the Board Marc Plevinsky: for your support of the program, but especially getting us a freshman coach this year made a big difference. We had 45 total players and managers rostered. This fall Marc Plevinsky: had a a substantial number of Marc Plevinsky: young women that were able to participate in this program. You know more players than than at any point in the history of Marc Plevinsky: all the high school which was great. So thank you for that support as far as the the team goes. Again, you said, you know, 22, and 4 Marc Plevinsky: record which was out outstanding. Marc Plevinsky: And you know. 8 and perfect. 8. No, in the Olympic American Division and Conference, American Conference champions for the 1st time since 2016. So congratulations, ladies. Marc Plevinsky: all right supposed to call each one up and hands. Okay. Marc Plevinsky: taking pusses. All right, Isabel Bologna. I'm going to mess up your name. Sorry, Isabel Bologna. Marc Plevinsky: It's not here. Angela, Cho. Marc Plevinsky: Madison. James. Marc Plevinsky: Yeah, I'm really fumbling jobs here. Aubrey, mon Marc Plevinsky: Leela, Mon Marc Plevinsky: Greta Moeller. Marc Plevinsky: Harper, Nickel. Marc Plevinsky: Lila Rossi. Marc Plevinsky: Nicole Showel Marc Plevinsky: Juliana Simpson, Mave Slattery. Marc Plevinsky: Amanda you Marc Plevinsky: and Irish Yuan again. You're 20 Marc Plevinsky: 24 Olympic American champions. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: If we could ask all the girls from the volleyball team and Coach Feeney, if you could go out into the atria I mean the 4 year area for a picture, please. Marc Plevinsky: So at this time I'd like to ask the East football coach to come forward. Marc Plevinsky: So east football coached by Tyler drab West was West Jersey Football League Memorial Division champions coach drab. Please join us at the podium which you've done already, and please recognize your players. Great. Marc Plevinsky: all right. So I'm going to say a few words as well. How's everyone doing this evening? And when Mr. Brown told me I put a little something down because I'm definitely a planner, all right. So let me just start off. I want to start off by thanking the district, the Board. Marc Plevinsky: our athletic director, Mr. Peru, our principal, Mr. Finkel, especially, for his huge support throughout the season, Dr. Morton and our students for tremendous support throughout the whole season. The success of our team this year, starting with the commitment of our players coaches, especially a lot of our seniors. You see here tonight, after we had a 5 and 5 season last year, I think they were really determined to take the next step, so started with their their leadership. So through everyone's hard work, we're able to win the Memorial Division Marc Plevinsky: have our 1st undefeated regular season since 1988, and when our 1st playoff game since 1991. So some amazing accomplishments led by these guys as an alumni at Cherry Hill East, I was most proud of our entire community coming together for our 1st home night games in school history, which was pretty special. So thank you, especially to the Board and Marc Plevinsky: everyone who made that happen. That was a Marc Plevinsky: tremendous accomplishment just tremendous to see for our guys and for me as an alumni. Marc Plevinsky: It was pretty special. Marc Plevinsky: pretty special to see that just everybody in the community really coming together and supporting us. I know that's something we'll remember for a long time. So it's really special and tremendous. Luckily we're able to go undefeated at home this year. And last thing I just wanted to finish by giving other huge congratulations to our players and accomplishment. Marc Plevinsky: Accomplishments hasn't been done in over 30 years, so I'm glad we could give them that pride to take with them. But thank you to everyone for their support throughout the season. Marc Plevinsky: All right. So how we'll do this easiest players that are here. Marc Plevinsky: Let's all go in the back. I'll call you down. You got to take a little line in the back, you can go right now. Go right now. I'll call you down. There's a lot of guys that might not be here this evening, so I won't call all the names. I'll just call those that are here here with us. Marc Plevinsky: Yeah, with our basketball game. I know that Marc Plevinsky: we do have a lot of our captains and our leaders here tonight. Marc Plevinsky: Great, yeah, yeah. Marc Plevinsky: Oh, there's a lot. Marc Plevinsky: All right. We have 1st Jackson Bowman. Marc Plevinsky: Next we have Isaiah Donaldson. Marc Plevinsky: You're welcome. Marc Plevinsky: Next we have Nico Garcia. Marc Plevinsky: I see that Marc Plevinsky: next we have Greg Olerchik. Marc Plevinsky: and we have Brody Connors. Marc Plevinsky: and we have Liam, Sweeney. Marc Plevinsky: Kyle, Fisher. Marc Plevinsky: Tristan, Perry. Marc Plevinsky: Zack, Salisbury. Marc Plevinsky: Trevor, Levin. Marc Plevinsky: Lawrence, Foreman. Marc Plevinsky: Ryan, Gorman. Marc Plevinsky: Aiden, Stewart. Marc Plevinsky: and last we have Ona Payla Marc Plevinsky: thank you, and we have. Now we are going to recognize Marc Plevinsky: East Cross country coach the 2024 South Jersey track coaches, boys cross country coach of the year. Chris Corey. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Corey, are you here? Marc Plevinsky: He's not here. Marc Plevinsky: I'm just going to read what Mr. Brown wrote about him Marc Plevinsky: this past season, he finished. Second in the group. 4 State Championship, and finished as a top 5 in. All, of New Jersey, at the meet of champions. He has led 2 of his athletes to his career Marc Plevinsky: to the All South Jersey team, Oliver Adler, who finished 5th overall in New Jersey in 2019 and went on to run for Harvard's division one program, and Brody Bogus, who was awarded all South Jersey runner of the year in 2024, and will run d. 1 at Rutgers, New Brunswick next year. Marc Plevinsky: Coach Corey's other athletes have received scholarships to run at Emory, Maris and Temple University through his leadership and commitment to hard work. Coach Corey has developed Cherry Hill, east boys cross country into one of the best high school programs in New Jersey. Marc Plevinsky: So now we are going to recognize East boys, cross country runner. Brody bogus Marc Plevinsky: brody is the 2024 South Jersey track coaches. Boys cross country runner of the year. Marc Plevinsky: Brody is a 4 year varsity recipient and team captain on the Cross country team this season. Brody led his team to a second place, finish at the Conference. Sectional and State Championship meet Marc Plevinsky: at the State Championship. Brody was the 3rd fastest runner from South Jersey. Marc Plevinsky: This helped his team secure a second place, finish only 1 point away from the winning. The State title Marc Plevinsky: at the meet of champions. Brody was the fastest runner from South Jersey with a time of 16 0 7, and he helped his team finish 5th overall. Marc Plevinsky: Other individual accolades include a personal best time of 1530 in the 5 K. This is the second fastest time in school history. Brody was also selected as a member of the All State team, consisting of the top 8 runners from New Jersey. He earned 1st Team Olympic Conference honors, and was selected for the all South Jersey team and the all Camden County team. Brody has recently committed to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, where he is committed to run next year. Congratulations on an outstanding season. Marc Plevinsky: Brody. I remember you on the soccer field, and you were so fast then it's it's great to see you congratulations. Marc Plevinsky: See you, Todd? Marc Plevinsky: Okay, well, that was fun and exciting. Marc Plevinsky: And now we move on to other fun and exciting. Marc Plevinsky: Recognition, bittersweet! Actually, I wouldn't. I wouldn't call it so exciting. But tonight is Marc Plevinsky: the final meeting night of 3 of our Board of Education Members. Marc Plevinsky: We have Marc Plevinsky: Dr. Ben Rood, who has been with the Board for 3 years Marc Plevinsky: and is finishing a very Marc Plevinsky: busy, intense 3 years of service. Marc Plevinsky: We have Sally Tong, Mrs. Sally Tong, who has been with our board for 6 years. Marc Plevinsky: So 6 long years. A lot of work, a lot of time Marc Plevinsky: and and then Mrs. Katzia, Nia. So I'm going to ask if you would come with me one at a time. We'll start with Mrs. Tolling, who's had the longest service Marc Plevinsky: to the microphone and have a little something for you. There. Marc Plevinsky: this is a strange place to stand. I'm not used to this. So, Sally, I just this is for you. This is an honor of your service. And as a small thank you. You know, you've really spent a lot of time here serving this community serving these kids, and I know how much you know how strongly you feel about doing everything you can to do the best for our students in this district. So I just want to thank you. I want to give you a hug. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you a quick comment. I'm not a long conversational person. I will have to thank you all, all the board members, all the administrators, left and right in the center. Marc Plevinsky: We really have worked over the past 6 years a new beginning for me, but eventually I'll grow and I will. I'm the oldest. I'm the eldest one or oldest one in this group now for the board. Marc Plevinsky: but I will come back and visit, so it's not really the end. Marc Plevinsky: I know there's a lot more to be done, and I'll be there to support it. The students I really appreciate every student coming and going, graduating and doing the better for themselves. Thank you all, bye, bye. Marc Plevinsky: thank you, Sally, for your service. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. Marc Plevinsky: Dr. Rood, if you would join me at the microphone for just assured short second. Marc Plevinsky: So I can't believe it's 3 years. Marc Plevinsky: you know, I I think that Marc Plevinsky: you know one of the things that you've really brought was a Marc Plevinsky: in the eyes of, in other words, of my predecessor, saying that you always had divergent thinking which you brought a really strong voice. For Marc Plevinsky: again, I think you know, just wanting the best for the students of our district, and you know, really to do what you could to make this town and this district a better place for our kids. So I just want to thank you so much on behalf of the Board, and present you with this plaque as well. Marc Plevinsky: That's okay. Marc Plevinsky: Think he'll give you a few words. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you for your 3 years of service. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, Marc Plevinsky: I just want to. I'll say thank you to my fellow board members. It's been an interesting experience serving on the Board of Education. I didn't think it was something I would ever do. My daughter Lily is in the back. She forced me to run. In the 1st place, so I thought it fitting that she'd be here for my last meeting. Marc Plevinsky: I'm really grateful. We've done a lot together. We passed a big bond. We got preschool up and running. We've been working on curriculum. We had to choose a new superintendent. We've done so much in the 3 years that I've been here, and I'm really grateful to have Marc Plevinsky: worked on all of that with you. I think I would be remiss if I didn't Marc Plevinsky: stand on the platform that I usually like to stand on, which is protecting our kids. So the my leaving my my kind of farewell message to the board, even though it's not the end of the meeting yet. But it's Marc Plevinsky: Look at the challenges our kids already face and the challenges that they're going to face in the future. It's kind of a scary time as we go into January, when you know Marc Plevinsky: I don't wanna be political, but you can't help but Marc Plevinsky: acknowledge that many different groups of children in our community fit demographics that have been targeted by different groups, and and there is going to be a lot of fear and anxiety as we go forward Marc Plevinsky: for our Latino students. They're going to need extra extra concern, extra care, extra thought for Lgbtq students. They're going to need also going to need extra thought and extra care in the coming years, and I know that the people on the board have huge hearts and are here for all students, and I just want to like especially encourage you to Marc Plevinsky: to do your to, to do your service with Grace, and and to remember that we're here to really serve all kids in the district. Marc Plevinsky: No matter whether we'd agree with their their politics or their or their person. So Marc Plevinsky: that's my. That's my farewell message, and I'm just really grateful to all of you. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: So, Mrs. Niez. It's been 10 months, I believe. Is it? 10 months February? Marc Plevinsky: since you joined our board? So it hasn't been as maybe long as some of the other Board members. But you've definitely made an impact. Marc Plevinsky: You know, I think, that you have Marc Plevinsky: been. You've shown up to so many Marc Plevinsky: activities in our district to be part of things Marc Plevinsky: and understand how you can contribute to making the district and to the township. Marc Plevinsky: You know a better place for our kids. Marc Plevinsky: I want to thank you for your service. This is for you, Mrs. Niez. Marc Plevinsky: I just want to, you know. Wish you well in the next year, when you don't have to commit a thousand Tuesday nights to being here. So Marc Plevinsky: I Marc Plevinsky: well, I just want to thank my fellow Board members for being so supportive and helping me through the whole process. Dr. Morton. I want to thank you and your administration for being there for our kids. You have a lot of work to do, but I think that you will be able to do it. We've come a long way, but we have a long way to go at the end of the day. It's about the kids like, Ben said. Marc Plevinsky: And we are a team, and we may have different perspectives on things. But we all want what's best for our children, and that's what Marc Plevinsky: should only matter. So I wish everybody else the best of luck. I wish the new Board members best of luck. Marc Plevinsky: and I am so happy to be done right now, run out. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. So now that we've had our recognitions, we're going to move things around a little bit on our agenda, and we're actually going to move on to Marc Plevinsky: 7.1 under administrative reports. I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Morton, who's going to talk about what we're going to be hearing. Marc Plevinsky: I'm going to turn it over to Mrs. Sugar to find out exactly what we're going to be hearing. Marc Plevinsky: So we asked Mr. Garrison from garrison architects to be with us tonight to kind of go over the results of the Rosa bid. We had talked about this project going out to bid. It will address all of the issues at Rosa. It will add a new cafeteria Marc Plevinsky: onto Rosa with a multi-purpose room stage set up in it. We'll also create music rooms and a new front entrance. Marc Plevinsky: One of the issues that we have run into with this project is that through Marc Plevinsky: between the time that we were doing our investigating of the buildings and filling out project applications. And the time that we actually went out to bid is that we found some issues with the classroom doors at Rosa, and so Marc Plevinsky: when we put the project out to bid, we decided that we would be remiss if we did not address this issue and complete the building. Marc Plevinsky: Unfortunately, in doing that, we also. Marc Plevinsky: we're going to have an increased cost of the project more than we had originally anticipated between the cost of the doors and some additional hazardous materials removal that has to be done with the project. Marc Plevinsky: And so, since this is the 1st bid. We've been very fortunate with our bids, and where we, as we are managing our bond, referendum funds. But this is the 1st bid that is coming in significantly over Budget. But I asked Mr. Garrison to come tonight to talk about Marc Plevinsky: what that looks like. Some strategies that we have to address that issue, but we feel that it is important that we move forward with this bid, despite the difference between the budget and the actual costs. Marc Plevinsky: So, without further ado, Mr. Bob Garrison from garrison architects. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you so much, Mrs. Sugars, and I'd be remiss Marc Plevinsky: if it didn't try to tie an aspect to the bottom referendum Marc Plevinsky: to one of the most successful football seasons that ever occurred at East. Am I right in making that comparison? So what a wonderful thing as you know part of the bond was the stadium lighting, and it's already reaped a lot of benefits. So, as Mrs. Sugars mentioned, let me hit some of the highlights for you. Marc Plevinsky: The Karusi Middle School was the 1st middle school project under construction. The Rosa school was next, and then we're going to tackle back this spring, so we put the the Rosa project out to bid. Marc Plevinsky: The district received 2 construction bids. Newport construction was 16,000,174, 600. Deandry was 16, 4, 69. Marc Plevinsky: These bids also included a cash allowance for unforeseen conditions Marc Plevinsky: which we always have made good use of, and I'll speak to that in a minute Marc Plevinsky: there was only $294,000. Difference between the 2 bids. Marc Plevinsky: That tells us that the instructions, the plans and specifications. Marc Plevinsky: We're very, very clear. Marc Plevinsky: because it's such a small difference that both companies knew exactly what they were bidding on. Marc Plevinsky: Both of these contractors. General contractors who employ. A lot of subs Marc Plevinsky: also have a working relationship with the district. Marc Plevinsky: They're involved in the all-purpose rooms. They're involved in the construction of Carusi. So they're known to the district, which, when we take a bid, we hope that we attract good quality contractors, which is what we did here. Marc Plevinsky: Also, in addition with the general contractors. There are different subcontractors that work underneath them. Marc Plevinsky: and those are decelectric Jv. Palminary, eagle and Cj. Schmidt. Marc Plevinsky: That's important, because when we go to the electrical systems, the plumbing systems, the mechanical systems, those contractors working under the Gc. Are also familiar with the district which makes us more comfortable in proceeding. Marc Plevinsky: Unfortunately, this time of the year. Here in December, with the way the holidays are falling. Marc Plevinsky: the bid schedule wasn't as favorable as we would like it to be Marc Plevinsky: the marketplace fills up quickly. We try to monitor that in South Jersey Marc Plevinsky: one of our bidders, Velaska, mechanical Marc Plevinsky: on that past Tuesday, the 10, th when we took the bids, had 5 other bids that day. Marc Plevinsky: Pennsauken High School also had a large project, being at one o'clock, and our bid was at 3 o'clock. Marc Plevinsky: so we had some market conditions that also limited the number of bidders. Marc Plevinsky: The Rosa project turned out, as Mrs. Sugars described, to be a difficult project with asbestos. Marc Plevinsky: we thought the most challenging project was already under contract, being the Carusi Middle School with regard to asbestos. Marc Plevinsky: But when we went in and did our additional investigation. We found out that the 42 classroom doors Marc Plevinsky: would be much more complicated in order to replace them, which was part of the program. Marc Plevinsky: In fact, in 1992, they were just put in place with some grouting of concrete in the frames, which meant they weren't secured to the structure above. Marc Plevinsky: Additionally, we we knew when we found out that the doors were surrounded by plaster Marc Plevinsky: that was asbestos containing materials that we weren't going to leave this condition in the district that that had to be dealt with. Marc Plevinsky: and it had to be dealt with in a specific manner, because, as you all can imagine, part of a classroom. Renovation is also dealing with the electrical aspects of it. So we had to deal with the lighting and the switching and the low voltage devices on either side of the door frame. Marc Plevinsky: So we came up with what we thought was the most cost, effective solution. Marc Plevinsky: That solution, though with the asbestos ended up costing on bid day about 1.9 million dollars. Marc Plevinsky: Our the district's consultant and our thoughts going into that and our budget going to net was a mere $400,000, which you can see now has has caused us, or by appearance here this evening. Marc Plevinsky: So that was a large portion of what the unexpected cost was. Marc Plevinsky: The other thing is the Hvac. Marc Plevinsky: We have a new refrigerator in January 2025 coming out. So we're going to have to be mindful going forward about our Hvac equipment, which is a large part of the bond the new refrigerant is more expensive to install. Marc Plevinsky: and that's going to be something that we look at in the future. Marc Plevinsky: So, as Mrs. Sugar says, we now have a problem. Marc Plevinsky: we have the 1st project out of 11 that we've done successfully 108 million dollars successfully. And what to do to solve this project problem? Marc Plevinsky: Well, between 2020 and 2024 the completed projects that are under construction. Marc Plevinsky: We're on budget. Marc Plevinsky: The allowance returned to the district Marc Plevinsky: is $1,097,000. So what is the allowance in each bid. I talked about the allowance here, cash allowance for unforeseen conditions. If that allowance is not used in the bid, it's returned to the Board of Education. Marc Plevinsky: It is only used at the Board of Education Authorization and their representatives. Marc Plevinsky: So this cash allowance is not a slush fund. It's used for unforeseen conditions Marc Plevinsky: to date out of the 1,000,097 the district had received. And you all have received in credit change orders some $404,000. Marc Plevinsky: We have another $692,000 that's still out there in Marc Plevinsky: allowance money that is sitting there for the Aprs. Which, as many of you know, are out of the ground. The frames are up. Kingston is is well on its way to completion, and so there's a future of $692,000 that could be, most of it most likely be returned to the district. Marc Plevinsky: The big achievement, I think, in the bidding of the projects thus far is the early childhood projects. Marc Plevinsky: These projects were 3 million dollars under budget. They are now under construction. Marc Plevinsky: These projects are located at Kilmer and Marlborough. Marc Plevinsky: and you remember there are 2 additions and also the bathroom renovations Marc Plevinsky: for the early childhood program. So we were really pleased to to see that under budget scenario. Marc Plevinsky: Part of the reason that they were under budget was good design, and also the fact that we could now use money to complete the bond work. And what do I mean by that? Marc Plevinsky: Both of the school sites, Mulberg and Kilmer, as you may remember from the referendum, have parking and circulation improvements. Marc Plevinsky: We did not make them part of the original pre-k expansion. But now, since we have money. Marc Plevinsky: we're going to go ahead and do those projects Marc Plevinsky: by doing those projects in the preschool expansion, grant and getting the 40% state aid. That's a smart strategy to return 2 million dollars Marc Plevinsky: approximately, we're out and getting pricing on that with d'andrea 2 million dollars back to the bond fund. Marc Plevinsky: So because we were under budget there, we can now pivot, do, and complete some bond work and return significant dollars back to the bond referendum Marc Plevinsky: overall program accounting. Marc Plevinsky: The other thing that we have is the dance studio. The dance studio was successfully completed by Connor construction. Marc Plevinsky: Connor construction gave us a very favorable bit Marc Plevinsky: of $830,000. Marc Plevinsky: The budget for that particular project, along with the stair. West Stair construction was a million 5. Marc Plevinsky: So we save $722,000 Marc Plevinsky: with the successful dance studio project. Marc Plevinsky: Most of that savings was due in part to the fact that we had our structural engineers reevaluate the dance studio Marc Plevinsky: in the previous consultants reports Marc Plevinsky: much more difficult construction was anticipated. We came up with a creator solution which saved money. There Marc Plevinsky: we plan on using that creative solution. When we start on the East Auditorium project. Marc Plevinsky: There. We have some 5.5 million dollars in repairs in the bond, and we're certainly confident that we can do a lot better with that particular budget as well, just like we did in the dance studio. Marc Plevinsky: The other thing. We always look for dollars outside of the bond and outside the envelope. Marc Plevinsky: So the prescriptive Hvac rebates. These are the rebates that I talked to you about before with the Board of Public Utilities, Trc. And now in the hands of pse and G, our energy provider. Marc Plevinsky: We have our consultant square K. Energy, Chad Moore. Marc Plevinsky: just a wonderful resource in going to Psc. And G. In the state program and returning dollars back to the district. Marc Plevinsky: These are dollars, because we specify led lighting, high efficiency. Hvac equipment. Marc Plevinsky: the forecast there is that we have $150,000 worth of rebates coming back so. Marc Plevinsky: to summarize, we had some unexpected costs. We didn't want to leave a problem with the doors, and the asbestos contained materials. Marc Plevinsky: We have fortunate bids and return dollars to the bond. Marc Plevinsky: We have other sources of revenue, and we try to be good stewards. You know the taxpayer dollar keeping an eye on on the ball, that we have 363 million dollars to spend no more. Marc Plevinsky: So with that it's our recommendation that the Board of Education Marc Plevinsky: award the construction contract to Newport for $16,174,600, and, as Mrs. Sugar says, completing the scope of work. Marc Plevinsky: scope of work that will change that whole environment from a new security vestibule in the front Marc Plevinsky: to dramatically supporting from a physical plant standpoint the music program there that is beyond my wildest imaginations. When we interviewed the principal and looked at the music program, they said they needed X number of units for storage and instruments. Marc Plevinsky: and we're like, wait a minute that that's a division, one marching band that you have with the number of instruments you have. But the program there is so robust, so progressive. We are now going to give them a state of the art music room Marc Plevinsky: and next door. They're going to have a state of the art cafetorium because the cafeteria is going to have a stage with a lot of bells and whistles with a lot of the theater lighting and sound systems that they deserve in order to enhance and showcase their talents from an instructional standpoint. Marc Plevinsky: along with a little bit of parking, a lot of Hvac, a lot of clean air, a lot of it, and infrastructure. That school will be transformed just like we're transforming Karusi right now. Marc Plevinsky: Do you have any questions for Mr. Garrison? Marc Plevinsky: This is Gallagher, I was just thinking, does the with the additional asbestos Marc Plevinsky: work? Does that change the timeline of like or like. Marc Plevinsky: Could that impact school starting in the fall, or like? I don't know how long, that will take Marc Plevinsky: great question. Marc Plevinsky: So the asbestos in cutting the doors is severe, just like Carusi. Marc Plevinsky: So we're not going to have to relocate the students to trailers. Temporary classroom units, which is fortunate, but what we are going to have to do is shut down that 2 story portion, the back portion of the school. Shut that down with the barrier do the asbestos work over 3 or 4 weeks. Marc Plevinsky: which causes us a delay in doing the Hvac. And other work in that 2 story classroom wing. But we need to get that done and and cut those doors, those 42 doors. Marc Plevinsky: Then we reopen, and then we start with the Hvac Marc Plevinsky: the following summer. So that would be the summer of 26. Marc Plevinsky: We'll be able to go in and do the vinyl asbestos tile that we knew about, and some pipe insulation in a lot less impact. Marc Plevinsky: So the schedule does get expanded because we got to take care of this 1st 3, 4 weeks of plaster door. Marc Plevinsky: Like you were talking. You were mentioning like a lot of obviously like numbers, and and I know that Mrs. Sugars presented some of the budget. The bond projects last at our last. I think it was our last meeting, and it kind of feels like we're, you know. Marc Plevinsky: It seems like some are a little over. Some are under like there's like this kind of back and forth between projects. But and this, obviously, there's an overage to it. Marc Plevinsky: but based off of like where we are Marc Plevinsky: like. This doesn't take us off Marc Plevinsky: absolutely not. And then I want you to think about one thing, and not to pat ourselves on the back. We're talking about 108 million dollars successfully on budget under construction Marc Plevinsky: in the district, with 11 different projects. We started with the roofing and deaf site work and some of this stuff. Marc Plevinsky: So I am very encouraged about where we are. Marc Plevinsky: I think we spend a lot of time, and Mrs. Sugar sugars knows this, because on Thursday she consumes her entire morning on the call with us. Marc Plevinsky: arguing with each other and getting things right and getting better with district staff facility, staff, and whatnot. Marc Plevinsky: to do the best that we possibly can. This was a curveball. Marc Plevinsky: Fortunately we have the early childhood bids that we did a good job in, and that we applied for, and you board members had the courage to apply for the early childhood money. Everybody made a big deal recently. I think it was a few days ago that oh, these New Jersey schools got 44 million dollars in shared in early childhood money you saw the press release. Marc Plevinsky: Well, that was round 3. You guys are already under construction Marc Plevinsky: with your projects, which was round one because you had the courage to step forward and get the money first.st Marc Plevinsky: So congratulations to you in that regard. So we're able to save that money there and be be smart enough to have the bond question written as I talked to you before, to be able to shift monies from one school project to another, because some are going to be up, and some are going to be down Marc Plevinsky: right now. We've had a lot of ups. This is one little down. We'll try to avoid that in the future Marc Plevinsky: other board members have any questions or comments, or Marc Plevinsky: guess I'll just make a comment. I Marc Plevinsky: honestly been waiting for the other shoe to drop at some point, because that's what happens with construction, right? When you do renovation and construction at some point in time. All of a sudden you run into a Marc Plevinsky: oh, no! And how are we going to cut the budget? All you have to do is Marc Plevinsky: You haven't done it yourself. You can watch any renovation show on television. And you see that happening? Marc Plevinsky: and I guess we're no different. Marc Plevinsky: I just want to clarify, because, as Mrs. Gallagher said, there was a lot of numbers. So it sounds like, could you just walk us through kind of the Marc Plevinsky: how much we're over Marc Plevinsky: and where we're seeing how much we're seeing from other potential projects. Just highlight those numbers again for us, just to kind of really make it simplified for us. Sure. So we're over $2,527,000, Marc Plevinsky: and where we make up that money is an anticipated 2 million dollars Marc Plevinsky: at Mulberg and Kilmer, with site work going to Deandry in a change order, returning that money out of the early child and back to the bond. Marc Plevinsky: We have $404,000 which you folks have already accepted in returned allowances on the roofing contract and other contracts. Marc Plevinsky: We have $722,000 that you're Marc Plevinsky: we didn't spend for the Connor construction contract Marc Plevinsky: because Connor was 830 when the budget was a million, 5 52. Marc Plevinsky: So those are 3 big chunks of money. There's $150,000 coming back in rebates from Psc. And G. Marc Plevinsky: And we have $692,000 that we did not spend right now for the Aprs and Karusi which potentially could be returned to you. Marc Plevinsky: So the Apr. Money will come back first, st because that project will be completed this summer. Marc Plevinsky: The Karusi money will last a few years as we get through the phases of construction. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. So it sounds like it's Marc Plevinsky: could potentially be more than the 2.5 that we unfortunately are. I said. We just jinxed it because it was literally just last meeting that Mrs. Sugar says we were almost a half a million to the good, and here we are. But it happened, I mean, I think honestly, I Marc Plevinsky: just it happens. And you know and and I think is the thing that I want to also make sure is that you know we don't lose any projects. I know that was a Marc Plevinsky: something I've heard from folks about the bond that was previously in Cherry Hill is that there are projects that didn't get finished Marc Plevinsky: didn't get done, because. Marc Plevinsky: you know, there wasn't good oversight. So I think we're in a very different situation this time. Marc Plevinsky: I also recall Dr. Milos when we did the bond question and answer Marc Plevinsky: community meetings and stakeholder meetings, you know. I recall hearing Dr. Milosh say that Rosa was Marc Plevinsky: touted as the elite the the. Marc Plevinsky: I can't remember how it exactly was said, but the kind of the the lowest cost building to build at that year, or something school building, I mean it was, you know. Marc Plevinsky: and it's great, you know. But you can't. You can't get things, you know, cheap, fast, and good. Right. Isn't that the saying you can't get. You can't get all 3, and if Rosa was cheap, then back, then, you know, it sounds like we have some work that we're Marc Plevinsky: making sure we're Marc Plevinsky: getting it done good, so to speak. And we're going to do it right. We're not going to leave a problem like in 1992. We're not kicking the can down the road. We're never going to shy away. We're always going to tell you the truth, because that's why I'm standing here in the 1st place. Marc Plevinsky: and we will continue to manage the money like it's our own, and I think Mrs. Sugar knows that Marc Plevinsky: we we fight hard with the contractors. Marc Plevinsky: My brother is full time, Ontario, that's what he does. He bounces from site to site. We expect that excellence. We push the envelope. Marc Plevinsky: We get upset when things aren't the way that we want them. Marc Plevinsky: We're tough, but we're fair, and I think that's the the modus going forward. Marc Plevinsky: Yes, some. Marc Plevinsky: Just when I thought that I knew what was happening, you did say one thing about offsetting the cost of the 2.5 million with money that we do not have to spend on the classrooms that we're building in Malberg and Kilmer. Marc Plevinsky: Are you saying that the money that we were awarded through the grant for that. We were under budget with that. So we can 3 million dollars. Marc Plevinsky: Okay? So I guess I didn't realize that those 2 funding streams Marc Plevinsky: could offset each other the bond versus the the money that we were awarded only because Marc Plevinsky: the related projects at Mulberg and Kilmer were in the bond with parking lots, and so now we can use the pre-k to pay for stuff that was in the bond. Okay, and return it to the bond. Okay, thank you for clarifying. So you're basically moving projects between funding sources. You're not moving money. Money stays where it is. Okay. The projects get moved. I gotcha, okay, thank you. Marc Plevinsky: And I think that happened with Marc Plevinsky: we had Covid Funds right or or esser, I guess, esser funds and other funds that we got. Let's say for Hvac that originally we thought we would. Marc Plevinsky: you know, do with bond money, but ended up. We were able to do it with other funds, so they didn't end up being in part of bond money. So it's like stuff. But it's not. And we've done this in other instances, I guess, is what I'm saying. Marc Plevinsky: and just a highlight of that particular accomplishment. Marc Plevinsky: The critical Hvac. Which is the project that you're talking about Marc Plevinsky: involved Hvac work in 12 school buildings almost touched every single building. The largest project was east boiler plant that got completed. Marc Plevinsky: That was a 10 million dollars overall project. Marc Plevinsky: 6 million dollars came from Esser or bond. Marc Plevinsky: I'm looking at Mrs. Sugars, I forget which, but there was a piece of each. Marc Plevinsky: It was a combination of funds we had esser funds that we used. We also had some state funding that we used. We had some capital reserve money that we used and bond money Marc Plevinsky: that we use for that project completed Marc Plevinsky: definitely not a not an uncomplicated scenario, this bond stuff. But thank you for clarifying other board members. Have anything, any questions or Marc Plevinsky: comments, Mrs. Tom, Mr. Garrison, or Bob Garrison. Mr. Garrison, you did a great job Marc Plevinsky: helping us with the bond. The numbers are pretty clear to me, and I think most of the board understood. Well, I think I personally understand better than it was originally presented. So I was very happy. And we'll continue. Marc Plevinsky: It's a good book, thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you, Mrs. Tong, and thank you for your hard work on the bond. All of you had the courage to do something, and you've heard me say it before. Marc Plevinsky: No one has ever done a bond referendum this large, and no one is Marc Plevinsky: probably ever going to do one that large going forward. So you. You should be Marc Plevinsky: very proud of of what you're what you're doing, and Marc Plevinsky: we take it very serious. It's it's the taxpayer and your money. So Marc Plevinsky: so, Mr. Garrison, I think. Because all the way, the way you explain it in very detail, so it make us easily to Marc Plevinsky: make it work. And you are very forefront, and you tell us so. I was very happy. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. I wish I could do that good of a job with my kids. But that's all right. Marc Plevinsky: Anybody else on the board have any questions, comments, information, clarifications? Marc Plevinsky: Okay, well, thank you. Mrs. Sugars. Thank you. Mr. Garrison really appreciate it. Thank you. Happy holidays to everybody. Okay. Marc Plevinsky: and I. Marc Plevinsky: And I was remiss because I, when we had our Board member Marc Plevinsky: recognitions for the 3 Board members who are leaving. Marc Plevinsky: I got a chance to say something, but I didn't offer that opportunity to anybody else on the board, so I'm going to jump back, really move around on our meetings agenda tonight. So in case I left anybody out who wanted to say something tonight. Marc Plevinsky: we can do this. Now we can do this during, I guess. Marc Plevinsky: at the end of the meeting, during old new business, so Marc Plevinsky: just didn't wanna cut off any opportunity for anybody. Marc Plevinsky: Old business, Mr. Mayor says, old business it is so can certainly do it. Marc Plevinsky: That's when the holder will be the end of the meeting. We're very appropriate times. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, so if there is none, we will continue on with our presentations. We have 2 presentations tonight, or I believe so I'm going to turn that over to Dr. Morton to talk about them. Marc Plevinsky: Excellent! Thank you. So the 1st presentation will be on enhancing student leadership opportunities at the high school level. I'm actually going to turn it over to Dr. Birdie. Marc Plevinsky: who will introduce, introduce the presentation. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you, Dr. Morton. I'm going to ask our principals to make their way to the Marc Plevinsky: microphone. I'm going to share my screen. Marc Plevinsky: I appreciate that Bob Garrison is a difficult audience, a difficult speaker to follow. I'm sure my High School colleagues are up for the task up to the challenge. Marc Plevinsky: Just wanna make sure I can share my screen. Marc Plevinsky: Okay? So it gives me great pleasure to introduce Marc Plevinsky: 3 of our friends who need no introduction for sure. They'll be here this evening to discuss the ways that we're enhancing student leadership opportunities at the high school level we have from High School West, Dr. Burns from High School East, Mr. Finkel, and from our Coles program, Ms. Giordano. Marc Plevinsky: Before we get started. I think it probably bears mentioning that we're here to discuss these leadership opportunities this evening because it's part of our major activities. Portion of our board of Ed Goals. Specifically, the High School Marc Plevinsky: administration has been tasked with ensuring that all students have access to a range of extracurricular, co-curricular and or leadership opportunities. Marc Plevinsky: And what we'll discuss tonight really is our 1st indicator of success, and that is, the principals will be discussing their thorough analysis of existing leadership opportunities and then also discussing their action plan to enhance opportunities as we move into the spring of the 2425 school year. Marc Plevinsky: You know we don't. We don't just view, and I and I know this from working with them during the presentation. We don't. We don't just view our Marc Plevinsky: our children as learners, but we view them as leaders or leaders in the making, and we know that in our high schools we have created a tremendous amount of opportunity for students to take on leadership roles. Marc Plevinsky: We foster that sense of connectivity among peers. We cultivate that positive, supportive atmosphere which in turn empowers our students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally and beyond the feel, good sort of intuitive piece of all that. We also know that there's a tremendous amount of research that correlates between student leadership, opportunities, connectivity, belongingness, and ultimately success. Marc Plevinsky: Whether you're thinking about wellness in terms of engagement or motivation, confidence or efficacy, belonging or culture. Marc Plevinsky: or ultimately purpose and passion through higher academic achievement and college and career readiness. All of the indicators are clear that leadership is the pathway forward for our children. So without further ado. I'd like to ask the principals to come to the microphone and discuss both their analysis and Marc Plevinsky: their plan to enhance moving forward. Marc Plevinsky: So it's 2 30 Marc Plevinsky: if you don't have somewhere to go somewhere to be a club, a sport or activity, you're missing out. Marc Plevinsky: The second half of the day begins at 2 30. These are things we tell the students Marc Plevinsky: you get out of high school what you put into it. Marc Plevinsky: but we counter that with clubs also meet during the school day, because maybe you have to go home. You have to get siblings off the bus. Maybe you have to work Marc Plevinsky: and spoken at any orientation session or open house or shadow days that we do for incoming potential new students get involved. Marc Plevinsky: These are things that are so important to drive that message home to anyone coming to the schools or are already there, but just haven't found their place yet. Marc Plevinsky: Anyone can start a club. All you need are a few students, an adult willing to supervise, and they will find a place to meet. Marc Plevinsky: Sometimes students will come to me. Maybe they need a few dollars to to do something, we find that. But the the idea is we don't want to limit Marc Plevinsky: student opportunities. So we try to provide that in any way possible. Marc Plevinsky: Now. Marc Plevinsky: when we looked at how many clubs that we had at both schools, we tried to categorize them, and we came up with these broad categories. So we looked at student government, various honor societies, publications, drama and activities, musical organizations, national organizations, various culture clubs and special interest clubs and events. Marc Plevinsky: And what we also did is we found that Marc Plevinsky: West has 8 new clubs that were added this this year alone with one in the works, and East has 4 new clubs with 9 in the works. So they're at various stages of approval. And you know, and we're looking. We're looking forward to adding those to to the list of clubs that we already have. Marc Plevinsky: So when we looked at how many students are actually participating, we found we have about 2,900 students at East, and about 4,900 students at Marc Plevinsky: 2,900 West, 4,900 at East. Marc Plevinsky: And obviously, that's more students involved than we actually have students in the building, which means that students are engaged in multiple clubs and activities which is so important. It's so great to see Marc Plevinsky: some notable things, the various student government groups and the and the activities that they do peer tutoring. So not only are you able to help. Marc Plevinsky: you know. Take care of your own academics, but you help other students with theirs. Various community service groups that are active within our own community and outside of it. The music program at both schools, with our marching bands and the various band, choral and orchestral groups. Marc Plevinsky: Some no place we have. Each school has a no place for hate and culture clubs. Sometimes those clubs work together between East and West. We're seeing a lot more of that interaction. So that that way they they're working together on some things which is good. The theater program, which, with the variety of musicals and other theatrical productions that are put on Marc Plevinsky: at West, we we have a internship program where we're getting our students out into the community, shadowing, seeing what life will be like, possibly after West, and some opportunities that they could do, you know, to enhance their own resume, but also get that experience and see whether the intended experience is something they want to move forward with as a possible career choice. Marc Plevinsky: Next up is publication. So we have, you know, East Side with their Warren Whitting newspaper. Both schools have literary magazines, yearbooks, and then we have gaming and other special interest clubs. So there's a tabletop gaming club at West. Marc Plevinsky: We have esports which categorizes a sport. But it kind of was starting out as a club as it was getting going. Marc Plevinsky: You know, just basically trying to identify the kinds, the activities that would attract students and get them interested. Marc Plevinsky: So Marc Plevinsky: in terms of leadership, the clubs have their own organizational structure and leadership opportunities. These can be created within each one that that suits the needs of the group. You know. Sometimes you might have a Marc Plevinsky: in terms of class government. You have councils, you have president, vice president. So you have a lot of Marc Plevinsky: potential structures that exist there and class government really determines the direction of class initiatives. So they are leaders within their class, but that also feeds into some of the other groups that ultimately drive decisions at the school. Marc Plevinsky: Both Mr. Finkel and myself have a principals advisory group. So what what that does? We have groups of students that meet with us? Mine meets monthly, and we look at Marc Plevinsky: things that are happening in the school, whether we've whether the Board has put in a new policy, whether something we have done at the school level, and I want their feedback. I want to know. How is it going? What's going on with it? What tweaks do you have in mind? We talked about something at our meeting last week, so that when our Lmc meeting Marc Plevinsky: with the district happens tomorrow, students had some. Input they had some suggestions for one of the things that we're bringing forward. So we'll you know that we'll share that conversation with the the broader Lmc group? Marc Plevinsky: So I I value their input because they are the eyes and ears of the school. Marc Plevinsky: and obviously Mr. Finkel has that same experience with his group, especially with him coming in. Marc Plevinsky: The the students have a have more time in the building than he does but that that set of Marc Plevinsky: experience sitting around the table helps both of us. And then we have our student Board of education representatives. We call this one of the most valuable positions in our school. Marc Plevinsky: because they sit at this table. They help, they help, you understand, from the student perspective. What's happening on a daily basis. They prepare the reports. You know, they share that information. And you know, when needed, they provide that student input when you ask for it on various initiatives. Marc Plevinsky: you know, and and provide that perspective. So that and that's you have to be selected for it. But there, anybody is eligible to apply for it. And that's how we like to try to get students. One of the ways to get students involved Marc Plevinsky: appreciate it. We also have sports, obviously, which are really important, too. I know Dr. Burns myself, and really the community at large. I think one of the most exciting parts about me coming in this year in East is really the success of all of our athletic teams and seeing the community out, and how it really brought a lot of people together, which was wonderful. Marc Plevinsky: We have 28 Varsity teams at East. There's 30 at West, but that's because they have 2 unified teams. So you know, for our multiple disabled students, which East kids do participate in as well. So it's housed here at West. But our kids at East, you know do participate. And we have 15 Jv. And 12 freshmen teams each at each of the schools Marc Plevinsky: which gives a tremendous number of kids the ability to participate. We've got over 400 kids in the fall season, a little fewer, a little more at east and west, but we have, you know, obviously a larger pool, football team, etc. Winter season is about the same, and spring season again a little bit more due to track. But we've got a lot of kids that are involved. And each of those teams has captains. Marc Plevinsky: Is it on each of those teams? You know, the captains are chosen by either the coach or the or the team, you know the next one. Marc Plevinsky: And you know, we really value participation. I want kids to get involved. I want them to be a part of the school, a part of the fabric. All of the research shows that any kid who has a connection to the school will be more successful in school. So it's really important that we continue to push that. And every time we have the opportunity we do so. Marc Plevinsky: You know the captains what's their job? Well, they're the liaison between the students and the coach. So if there are issues going on with the team, they speak to the coach, and and likewise, if the coach needs something that needs to be disseminated, they they speak with them. Marc Plevinsky: Also the officials, you know, officials, you know, we've all been to those sports, and we all know. You know, officials get an earful sometimes, but they'll only listen to the captains and the coach. You know, they handle situations. And really they they're positive role models for all the students, for all, for the certainly, for the younger kids, in terms of how to comport themselves and what the expectations are for the culture of the program. Marc Plevinsky: We also have something called the Positive Coaching Alliance Positive coaching Alliance. Each team every season chooses one sophomore and one junior in their program. Marc Plevinsky: and they work with Mr. Burrow and East and West kids are together, and they really talk about leadership and what it means to be a leader, even though they might not be the captains of the team. They're the younger kids who can, you know, bring that experience and that learning to their teams. So that we continue to grow leaders within the program. So we're trying to get it as the younger kids as they move through the program. To continue to be that that power, and to be very, very positive. Marc Plevinsky: At West we have athletes against bullying, which is exactly what it says. It is. It's it's, you know. We know the status of many of our athletes, and you know our high flying athletes, you know, kids look up to them. Our middle schoolers look up to them. I know that the elementary kids look up to them. And this is a way for them to sort of give back. And they really talk about, you know, their programs, their in-person programs. There's a video that was made. Marc Plevinsky: And my East kids, I think we're going to try and get on board so that we're all a united front. Dr. Burns and I have worked extremely well together since I walked in the door. I think it's really important that, regardless of what school you go to, you have the same experience here within the Cherry Hill schools. Marc Plevinsky: The last thing is the Athletic Leadership Council, and that actually is at East and West. And that is a group of kids that Mr. Burrow chooses. It's athletes from all different teams to get together to really help improve the environment of our athletic programs. Marc Plevinsky: And they meet on a regular basis and talk about issues, what their experience is, and how we can improve the life of every single athlete within the Cherry Hill schools. So it really is a great program. And again, it's giving kids voice. It's giving students leadership so that they can. You know, we can ultimately change our programs to make the experience better for our kids, which ultimately is what our goal is. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. You know, how do we monitor the students for involvement? It's real simple number one. Just show up. You can see all the kids there. But you know we do talk to the kids all the time. You know, guidance talks to them. Any Iep or 504 meeting, what activities are you involved in? You know? How can we get you involved any type of discipline situation. We're always saying, you know, what are you involved in? Let's give you a positive outlet. Let's give you, you know, a way to have like I said that positive connection with the school. Marc Plevinsky: Any positive connection is going to help that student grade level principals myself. When I meet with the kids I always talk about getting involved. Marc Plevinsky: our 9th grade, our orientations, etc, and really informal conversations. You know, how did you know? How does East going to have 13 new clubs because they talk to adults. And they say, Hey, we want to do this, hey? That's a great idea. Get some friends together, and I'll and I'll sponsor it. Marc Plevinsky: And it's really a great way for kids to continue to stay involved. So you know, it was, I had 4,905, and I asked for a list of all the kids. I know that there are more coming in that weren't here by the time we had to get the slide together. But it's it's great to see so many kids involved in so many activities. Marc Plevinsky: You know, as as Dr. Burns said, you know Marc Plevinsky: we want every kid to be involved. So if there's something there, if if there isn't a club there that you have an interest in, and you can, you know, find a connection to our school? We're going to support you, you know, financially and certainly with trying to help you find an advisor so that you can be a part of the of the fabric of the school. Marc Plevinsky: and at this point I think I'm going to turn it over to Mr. O'donne. Marc Plevinsky: You see, I remembered this time right big improvement from last time. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you both. I just like to amplify their efforts for the clubs and activities and the hard work of their staff. Marc Plevinsky: The move to east. Marc Plevinsky: With that has come a huge shift in the amount of kids participating. When we 1st pulled the students last spring to see who was interested in taking a class or participating in an activity club sport. Wise at the comprehensive campus. We had about 33%. Marc Plevinsky: And we hit that mark for the 1st marking period. And we actually just transferred out and have 3 additional students going out to take classes, join sports and such and such. So we continue to increase. Marc Plevinsky: You know, taking part in what they've already built on their campuses. Access has been very, very easy. I would have to Marc Plevinsky: especially thank Linda King in the transportation department, who went out of their way to roster all of our students on all 3 bus routes, their route, the 2 30 route, the 4 15 route. So all of our kids are able to stay after school for advisory and homework help on our campus after our day ends, or are able to participate in clubs, and all have a card with all their buses on it. She even went so far as to give us maps and help the kids find them, because it could be. Marc Plevinsky: It can be overwhelming. Marc Plevinsky: as far as our success there, I would say, you know this, this data is hard to see, but it is from a survey that we gave at the end of quarter one Marc Plevinsky: just showing. You know, the kids are acclimating. They're doing well. And when we did ask them, do you have a relationship with an adult. I would also love to say that part of so many students joining clubs was familiar faces at East, coming down Marc Plevinsky: and coming into the wing, saying, Hello, talking about opportunities. Also, a part of that success would go to Miss Debbie Barr and the Activities Department for including us in absolutely everything and making sure we're invited and had time to go out and try. Kids. Continue to ask to be placed out for homerooms and join clubs Marc Plevinsky: during that time as well, so it's been a huge shift and a really really great one. I can't say enough nice things about, you know, the student experience and the impact, as far as being able to Marc Plevinsky: become sports managers. We have kids that are doing internships in the athletic office. Marc Plevinsky: Another huge part of Neil. Will you shift to the next one for me. Marc Plevinsky: Slide. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: There we go. There we go. So some of the ways that the students are able to join clubs is by accessing open lunch. Marc Plevinsky: we have new internships and internship opportunities that are personal to us. More than 50% of our students now are linked up with Dvr. And the Pre-ets program, which is new for us, too. So they have job coaching on campus. Marc Plevinsky: They also have job shadowing and college readiness help. So they have adults through Dvr helping them bridge the gap. In addition to our guidance department, which has been huge, really, really amazing. And the parents have been great at helping us get it up and running. Marc Plevinsky: Some of the trends we've seen is an increase like I said. We quarter. One was 33%. I would imagine that quarter 2 will be around 40%. Marc Plevinsky: And then academic performance. We had 66% of our students in quarter one make the Ab honor roll, and we had every student that took a class on east campus Marc Plevinsky: that is included as well. So the kids that are going out and are doing blended schedules are doing really really well. Marc Plevinsky: Increased attendance at school functions. 62% of our students attended the Hoko dance at Cherry Hill East. That's also huge for us. Marc Plevinsky: huge. And then we also have had a decrease in discipline referrals with, I think, some of the freedom and the connection that came there. We saw a lot of things that may have been problematic before just aren't anymore. Marc Plevinsky: Our goals for the future are to increase participation in theater music and other clubs. We'll continue to partner through all the communication systems. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. We try to put out as much as we can Marc Plevinsky: and increased interest in attending after school functions. We continue to advertise for those Marc Plevinsky: and increased participation between families, providers, and school that impact post-secondary opportunities. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, so Marc Plevinsky: we have 2 more left. 1st of all, why this presentation? Well, because it's a board goal. Our goal is to increase our participation in extracurricular, co-curricular and leadership activities by 5%. And that is what our goal is. And we are working towards that. We have a little over 80% of our kids at East that I know of that are involved in at least one activity. I'd like to get that up to 90% at some point and hopefully up to 100% where every single kid has a connection. Marc Plevinsky: But we're going to continue to do that. We're going to continue to offer as many opportunities as possible and work with the kids to find out what they want as their opportunities. What are our barriers? Well, financial constraints Marc Plevinsky: obviously, is a barrier. It's always a barrier, right? It's education. It's always a barrier transportation in terms of getting kids back and forth, scheduling conflicts and obviously appropriate supports. But we're doing everything we can to to look at those barriers and and work like Bob Garrison said some unique suggestions on how to fix things, and you know alternate ways so that we can, you know, offer as many things as we can to as many kids as we can. Marc Plevinsky: All right. So Mr. Finkel was a little bit concerned because the paw print on the right hand side in the upper corner is covered over with the Marc Plevinsky: with the video part. But there is a Paul print there. We did try to balance it out. Marc Plevinsky: But for our last slide Marc Plevinsky: in terms of strategic planning. We're doing our own surveying. We're, you know, we're gathering data internally. But so is the district. As part of this strategic plan initiative. You know, the board and the schools and the district are conducting the surveys. Marc Plevinsky: We're generating the portrait of a graduate. There'll be some focus groups again. It's about enhancing opportunities. So what are you hearing from the focus groups that will help all of us as we try to enhance opportunities for students. Marc Plevinsky: Dr. Morton has his own superintendent's Advisory Council, which includes members from from the schools to help reimagine the high schools. Marc Plevinsky: With. Marc Plevinsky: you know, looking at also community wide service learning like, how can we get our enhancing opportunities not only within the schools within programs, but getting them out into the community and then helping Marc Plevinsky: through the their young eyes and minds about developing an artificial intelligence policy with the district. Marc Plevinsky: Because, you know artificial intelligence, you know, it's it's coming. It's here. It's you know. And how do we embrace it? And and the students are will be will be helping with that Marc Plevinsky: pathways program. So we had the Chamber of Commerce business card exchange at breakfast. Marc Plevinsky: getting more engaged with our community partners to help develop opportunities for students, whether that comes through maybe a financial grant or or other kinds of opportunities or increased internship experiences, it's the goal of again more opportunities. And then finally, post-secondary partnership. So whatever whatever life looks like beyond East and West. Marc Plevinsky: the expansion of dual credit, or, you know, an enrollment in college classes. We both have programs at the schools where students could take possibly take a half day their senior year and take college classes. We do have students engaged in that activity. So Marc Plevinsky: you know again, it's about enhancing opportunities. So if they can Marc Plevinsky: finished college earlier, because we've helped them to be able to do that. Marc Plevinsky: That's all about increasing opportunities in their lives beyond high schools, east and West. Marc Plevinsky: So that concludes our presentation questions. Marc Plevinsky: Well, before I guess before we do questions, I do want to say thank you to Lauren and Dan and John. So we appreciate you guys coming out. You know, beyond the obvious. And there are so many opportunities for leadership. It's clear that there are also inherent opportunities for leadership. You know, when I hear about 13 new clubs Marc Plevinsky: that's presumably at least 13 students advocating, you know, meeting with administration, you know, having that confidence and competence to to, you know, to come forward with suggestions, ideas, and that that comes from the climates and the culture Marc Plevinsky: at your schools. I think about the countless opportunities where high school students visit middle school students. You know, when you hear about the it sounds like over 6,000 participants in total. I know that you guys work really hard to make sure the middle school students are aware of those opportunities Marc Plevinsky: long before they get to the high schools, because they see your students leading and modeling and serving as exemplars for our middle schoolers. So beyond the obvious, I want to thank you for all of the things you do in terms of offering leadership to our students. With that, Dr. Morton. I'm going to turn it back over to you or to Mrs. Stern for questions. Marc Plevinsky: 1st of all, thank you so much for Marc Plevinsky: all the information. Very comprehensive presentation. It's nice to hear from all 3 of you, and you know a lot of changes in the past couple of years, so it's good to hear what the fruits they've yielded. Marc Plevinsky: Board members. Anybody have any questions or comments, Mr. Mayor. Marc Plevinsky: So again, thanks to all 3 of you, this is great to see. You know we we hear a lot about student success in the classroom. But we, you know this kind of thing is, I think, equally important in many ways. I'd like to follow up Dr. Burns with the last Marc Plevinsky: kind of your last comments with respect to providing students opportunities to expand beyond the classroom, giving them opportunities outside. Marc Plevinsky: and also just learn a little bit more about process in the Guidance office. Marc Plevinsky: One of the slides mentioned that your guidance officers, the guidance counselors, talk to students about various club opportunities, leadership opportunities, is an element of that discussion. The importance and value of these sorts of roles. Marc Plevinsky: for instance, for those students who are looking to enhance their leadership opportunities, their resumes for college, the importance of, aside from finding something they enjoy right, which is even more important than finding a passion Marc Plevinsky: which could spark their their opportunities organically. Marc Plevinsky: but also just the fact that having these leadership opportunities. Marc Plevinsky: it looks great on resumes. But if they're actually doing the work, so I'd just like to know a little bit more about. You know. Marc Plevinsky: What are those discussions like with your with the guidance counselors? Are there opportunities to Marc Plevinsky: to improve any of that, or enhance those discussions and just make these Marc Plevinsky: opportunities that much more attractive to students. So one thing we do talk about, at least I know I've mentioned it. I'm sure Mr. Finkel has as well. Marc Plevinsky: We want the younger students before they even get to the high school to see themselves at East or west, participating in something. So when we send the marching band he sends his marching band, I send mine to the schools. We send Latinos at West. We send various culture groups to the schools. And that's always something that I stress that Marc Plevinsky: you want those the younger kids to see. When I get I want to go to West, or I want to go to East, and I want to be a part of. Marc Plevinsky: So that's that's that. That's 1 thing that I think, is very important to mention in terms of guidance. Marc Plevinsky: we do what are called developmental guidance sessions. So the guidance counselors go into classes and they talk with the students, and they do mention exactly what you're saying to, you know. Encourage the students to be involved. What are you doing? And then, when they have their individual meetings with students, they are also asking questions about what they're involved in, what they're doing. How are they taking advantage of the resources within the school, whether that's for academics. Marc Plevinsky: A lot of times they might get involved. If there's a coaching situation, or maybe they're having something with a sports team, or with a club or activity, they'll help guide them through that and encourage them to stick with the sport, or stick with the activity, or figure out how to navigate the situation. So you know, when we think about what more could be done with that, it's just making sure that they are having those conversations when they meet with students to enhance Marc Plevinsky: their experience. Marc Plevinsky: I mean, I mean in my experience, I'll tell you that. You know, there are a lot of smart kids out there. But what's going to set you apart from the other, from another student? And the answer is leadership experiences. And I think that that really is. You know we do. I will. I always stress that. But what sets you apart from the other person? You know a lot of a lot of kids are really smart. Marc Plevinsky: But you know, why does the institution want you? Because you're a leader, because you're going to be a leader on their campus because you're involved in so many things and not just on the on the periphery. But really, you know, as a leader, I think that's extremely important. Marc Plevinsky: This is Winters. Marc Plevinsky: Thanks. Just 2 questions, one for Mr. Ordano. Can you give us some specific examples of opportunities for leadership that your students have? Now that the program is seated at East that they didn't have before. Marc Plevinsky: Sure, a lot of our community service initiatives. We have partnered with students and staff for me. So we just did a huge haul for domestic violence victims. So our students were able to make the flyers make everything put it out through Mr. Finkel's Communication board. They made drop boxes, put all the information out, and we also have something coming up which is donations for dresses Marc Plevinsky: for Prom in Camden that we'll be doing. But I think a lot of the ideas have stemmed from kids that are friends on both sides that are both. And since we have had historically, such a huge stake in community service projects as a as a program, we've been able to create more things and come up with bigger ideas and actually have a bigger impact. I mean, even as funny as it is East Marc Plevinsky: myself for that specific project. Even my daughter's soccer team raised $1,800. So we were able to buy a tremendous amount of things from Kohl's and all kinds of stuff which will be delivering on the 20 second Sunday morning. So I think things like that have been really good. We also had students participating in Marc Plevinsky: it's fleeting right now. Students who are future teachers. They take a half day credit, and then they take the bus over to one of the elementary schools and shadow a teacher daily. We have 2 students doing that currently, we've never been in the program officially like that before. We had a lot of students at Kingston who were going and shadowing in a classroom. Maybe one or 2 days a week. This is an actual internship project, that is, you know, coded in Genesis and put on their transcript. Marc Plevinsky: We didn't even know that was available. We were sort of doing it, but didn't just have the information which has been a huge perk Marc Plevinsky: there's a lot of. Marc Plevinsky: I would say also the design and layout of what the physical space looks like through student voice. If you were to keep. I know you visited in the early parts of the year. But if you were to come now, you'd see more bullets and boards, more things that where they're representing themselves, what their goals are, how they're moving forward and how they're accessing everything that takes them in the direction where their talent lies as well. Marc Plevinsky: Also, I would say, we have Marc Plevinsky: a lot of our art. This was Prior, but we've had a huge help from East to has been going out into galleries, coffee shops, things of that nature before it was smaller. We probably have about 17 students that have featured artwork around the community right now in different coffee shops, where we only worked with one coffee shop in Collins with Prior. So that's been really nice, too. Marc Plevinsky: And yeah, and the students actually choosing what they want introduced for post secondary options, the purchase of macbooks and recording equipment for students that like to play music and want to record professionally. Marc Plevinsky: VR goggles, we were able to get VR platform and 2 sets. And the kids have been actually making lessons with the teachers kind of learning side by side, which has been a huge leadership opportunity in my mind. If you are learning with a teacher and a teacher's willing, and you actually know more. And you're still kind. I feel like that's 1 of the best things I'm seeing right now, that really brings a lot of joy to my day. So yeah, those are a couple of the things. I'm sure there'll be more Marc Plevinsky: when we check back in in a few months. Thanks for asking. That is amazing. I love hearing the update about all the opportunities for the students of the Coles program. Marc Plevinsky: He's right. We have sort of done a lot with the Asd program. We have students that go around and teach art lessons. So we planned them out and they go around every week and do art. We've also included them in a lot of our community service projects and trips. Marc Plevinsky: We also have our students in their gym period, one period sort of mimicking what I had learned at West for the adaptive PE class. We're doing that as well. There's a lot of things that all sounds really great. I'm so glad to see the synergy between the Coles program and East, and sort of the fluidity where kids can move back and forth and really interact and enhance each other's experiences. Marc Plevinsky: One of the things that I heard before your program changed locations was that it was really going to benefit the East community to have the Coles program so close. And I think it's really true, I think it's enhanced opportunities for all the students Marc Plevinsky: at that campus, no matter which high school. So thank you. I just have one more question. If that's okay for Dr. Burns at West. One huge leadership opportunity for kids is the Afj Otc. Program at West. I just wanted to know how that fits into this rubric, and also Marc Plevinsky: with what Dr. Birdie spoke to, and opportunities for West to go to the middle schools and showcase leadership opportunities and highlight that how that's working with going into the 3 middle schools and talking about that special, unique opportunity for leadership at West right? Mr. Sergeant Costa has plans in the works to do that as we start to head into the scheduling process. Marc Plevinsky: But yes, the obviously the Air Force Rotc program has the leadership components built in within their leadership structure. They have the top 5, Marc Plevinsky: and those cadets lead the younger ones. Marc Plevinsky: In. In all of all things, drill and activities. And we've Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Sergeant Costa has been doing a lot to get the students out into the community. They appear. They've been invited to a number of things very recently in terms of retirement ceremonies for enlisted service personnel who who are leaving the service. So it's showing that our program is is growing in that sense of getting back out in the community and and getting invited to do these things. So yes, they are. Marc Plevinsky: They are definitely a part of this. This whole program and they are working to to get their numbers up because we know what what Marc Plevinsky: the issues were. Last at the end of last year. So they are engaging in those kinds of activities and developing their own leadership Marc Plevinsky: structure within their within their core. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. It was wonderful to see them last night at the concert that I attended the Rosa kids over at West, and I know that the families, the Rosa families coming to West. We're delighted to see them. So it's a really nice synergy, I think, and a leadership opportunity, a very visible one for our students. So thank you for supporting it. Marc Plevinsky: This is chane. Marc Plevinsky: I have a question and kind of a comment. This is open to all 3 of you. Do you have any insight into the reasons behind. Some of the kids that might be disengaged from some of these activities do not feel that they it's the right fit for them, or that they have opportunities that would feel comfortable to participate in. Marc Plevinsky: I'll start when we have these, the conversations with students that they get into a lot of personal issues, at times past experience. Maybe with a program of sport and activity. Marc Plevinsky: there could be issues going on at home that precludes them. They have to go home. They have to go to work so trying to find that balance and trying to find how can you get involved? Marc Plevinsky: And that's why we mentioned as part of the presentation about some of the clubs running during the school day. So with our lunch homeroom time built in the way it is, it does afford the students that opportunity to meet with and be part of a club. Maybe you can't necessarily do the after school thing or the weekend thing because of your other commitments, but you could be part of the design or part of the setup of such an activity. Marc Plevinsky: So you know, it's identifying those opportunities and trying to find the best fit. But you're sometimes dealing with a student is disengaged with a lot of factors outside of the building that we're trying to work through and help them work through, you know, either through the guidance work Marc Plevinsky: or other sort of accommodations that we can make to try to get them involved. And I've even, you know both of us have said, Look, even if you just come to a game Marc Plevinsky: that's participation. You're getting involved with his football team when they when they did very well this year there were a lot of there were a lot of students in the stands, and that's part of getting involved. And then, as they see that team success that sometimes can motivate them to find something that they can be a part of Marc Plevinsky: and be excited about Marc Plevinsky: right. And I will tell you that when I asked the coordinator of student activities to get me a list of every kid in every club. Marc Plevinsky: I was told it was the 1st time they've done that. So by now figuring out exactly who is not involved. Now I can actually go to those kids and say, Well, why aren't you involved? What can we do? So I think finding out exactly who those kids are is the most important thing. And now that I'm going to know who they are now, we can go Marc Plevinsky: and have those conversations and find that the answers out I mean everything that, John said, is 100% correct. You know, there are students who are just disengaged. And you know it's our job to try and you know, engage them. I'm working, you know, closely with Miss Joseph, our student advocate, and some of our teachers, to to find those kids who are struggling and to work to, you know, in a village model, really to help them and support them, and to give them the sports that they need. So they will be successful. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. And I agree, I think that's really important to be able to identify the kids that are not engaged in these activities. And why? So thank you for that. And then the other comment I had was more, it's kind of question, more of a comment. Because of the positive results that you're seeing from integrating the 2 schools at East. I'm curious if and this kind of goes beyond the 3 of you, too. If there's any discussion on potentially writing up and publishing some of the work that you're doing with that I know. When we discussed it in this room Marc Plevinsky: there was a lot of apprehension from a lot of people. A lot of people were uncomfortable with it, and had a lot of questions, and I would imagine that there's probably not a lot of literature out there on the dynamics between pre and post. You know, especially the results that you're seeing with student involvement not to put additional pressures on you. But I'm curious if that's something that we talk about as a district Marc Plevinsky: specifically with this type of situation Marc Plevinsky: we can entertain, that we can entertain. You're probably correct in that, you know, there probably aren't a lot of alternative, you know, programs that are housed within a school, you know, most alternative programs that you see are housed in separate buildings. So it might be nice, you know, to look at the success Marc Plevinsky: you know, under Lauren's guidance and leadership. That it has brought to the program, and how you know, it really enhanced both programs. So it's certainly something that we can work together on game. Yeah. There was one student article published, but that was during quarter one. Marc Plevinsky: One of the students from the newspaper interviewed myself. Sorry, Mrs. Giordano, would you mind being at the microphone that way on people who are watching? I'm regressing already. I'm regressing. I'm really sorry people people want to hear you. And outside of this room. So there! There is one article that was published in the East Side that includes Marc Plevinsky: interview with one of our students. An interview with one of our staff and myself. Marc Plevinsky: and the article was very positive. A lot of the student feedback we've gotten so far is very positive. Yeah, I think we keep going right like day by day, but we've we've had a tremendous amount of students asked to come in to have lunch on our campus. Come in talk to us. So that that's also been really, really nice. Yeah, I would love to do something with the student voice. We'll do it each quarter for our kids. We do. But it'd be nice to see how Marc Plevinsky: both sides felt together. And yeah, great idea, thank you. Yeah. I encourage you to give yourselves credit for the work that you're doing. And I think, having data to support the initiatives that you're implementing would be really impactful for obviously, not only ourselves. But Marc Plevinsky: you don't know who you'll reach with that. So that's true. Marc Plevinsky: Their board members have comments or questions. Marc Plevinsky: I just want to comment that I Marc Plevinsky: really would be excited to see daytime. Marc Plevinsky: you know more and more opportunities during the school day. Certainly, I think in terms of engagement. We talk about equitable access. You know, kids who have obligations after school, you know Marc Plevinsky: whether they're family responsibilities, work responsibilities or it's a transportation issue, you know. I mean, we do offer after school transportation several days a week. But you know that's different from having a lot of flexibility, because, you know, some of our activities don't fit into those parameters. Marc Plevinsky: And also, you know, there are definitely a lot of kids out there who fall into the category of, you know, being in a busy, active, stimulating school environment for that many hours is more than enough for their nervous systems. And and after those hours they're ready to go and be by themselves quiet, separate from a lot of interactions. So Marc Plevinsky: I think another to me, that's another Marc Plevinsky: category of kids, I think, who sometimes don't. It's more than enough what they get it during the school day. So you know, having those engagement opportunities within that parameters which is hard, we talk a lot about Marc Plevinsky: things that are outside of the traditional kind of curricular day, which is obviously the primary responsibility. But this is so. This goes hand in hand, as you know, Mr. Finkel, you were saying. You know, the research is very clear. You know, kids who feel who are engaged and feel a part of something are going to learn better and get more at, you know. Do better in school. Marc Plevinsky: So it's why we have so much of that which is, you know, challenging at times to to look at budgetarily. But it's important. So Marc Plevinsky: yeah, I mean, I definitely like the idea of having you know as much as. And I know there is a lot during the school day, but I think Marc Plevinsky: where that can fit in, it's it's great. Marc Plevinsky: So Marc Plevinsky: all right, I think we're great. We're good with all our questions and comments, unless I missed anybody. Marc Plevinsky: Thank thank you so much. It was fantastic. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, Dr. Morton. Last, but not least. We have one more presentation, totally different, totally different topic. Yes, thank you. Ms stern. I'm going to call up Mr. Saparido, our district's Director of Security, who will present on the School safety data system annual report. Marc Plevinsky: maybe not totally different. Actually, in some ways. Marc Plevinsky: it's a very tough group to follow. Marc Plevinsky: It's outstanding what's going on there. It's really good. Marc Plevinsky: Mark's gonna be running my program here. Marc Plevinsky: First, st I want to thank everyone here and give me the time to present this to you tonight. This is the annual Presentation School Safety Data System report for the 2324 school year. This 1st half of the 2425 school year has been completed. So those numbers are not. Marc Plevinsky: haven't been tabulated or not. Marc Plevinsky: are not ready to be looked at yet. It will. I'll be doing that over the break. Marc Plevinsky: just as a brief reminder to everyone who has been here, and anybody who hasn't been here hasn't seen it or heard it before. The overview of the Ssds Marc Plevinsky: each. Each school is is required by the DOE to report any incident that falls into these categories Marc Plevinsky: to the Ssds system which is basically filling out the form generally. Campus police. Take care of filling out the form in some instances, with HIV. I take care of tabulating the information that's in the hipster program that we use, and the Sacs generally take care of filling out anything that has to do with drug usage. Marc Plevinsky: But that's where the data comes from, the Ssds forms. These are the categories that are set up by the DOE Marc Plevinsky: violence, vandalism, weapons, substances. Marc Plevinsky: hib, which, of course, is harassment, intimidation, intimidation, bullying, and alleged HIV. Now, before the Ssds system, there was the Evvrs system. Marc Plevinsky: And now Vrs, I should say, and the different categories subcategories under these categories here had numbers broken down. So you can actually see each and every Marc Plevinsky: category under the violence under vandalism, under weapons and and so forth. Marc Plevinsky: When we 1st switched to this and we couldn't find them, I emailed the DOE and said, Are we going to get those categories? And they said, they're working on them. That was 6 years ago. Marc Plevinsky: So I don't think those subcategories are coming anytime soon there was a question. Can we compare the data for the 1st half Marc Plevinsky: of the school year that would take that would be labor intensive. We would have to go back to each individual form and and check the incident and tabulate it, since there's no way to do those subcategories. These categories are fine. We have the numbers for them, but the the breakdown underneath them is what's going to be the the problem trying to to duplicate that information. Marc Plevinsky: So these are the numbers of red, of course, is our covid influenced years. I like to see them keep moving off to the left, so sooner or later they're going to be gone, and we won't have to see them anymore. The numbers all the way to the right are the most recent numbers. Downtick in violence incidents Marc Plevinsky: a very small increase in vandalism. Weapons are 8, and you know. You look at that and say, Oh, it's double the amount from the previous year, each one of those instances, in fact. Marc Plevinsky: I don't want to go too far. I don't wanna say Marc Plevinsky: I don't want to go too far back. But at least the last 2 years the 4 and the 8 in this column of weapons. These are not weapons that have been used in schools. These are not weapons that have been brandished in school. These are weapons that have happened to be in book bags, or brought for various reasons, even on a bus which gets counted and into the into the classroom for various different reasons there has none that would be used because that would go into a different category. Marc Plevinsky: So that is, students bringing the weapons into school. Sometimes they don't even know they have them. Marc Plevinsky: There happened this Marc Plevinsky: used the book bag over the summer for something, and something was in there that shouldn't have been, didn't get cleaned out, and then oh, look what I found, and somebody sees it. Marc Plevinsky: The substance use Marc Plevinsky: up a little bit, and then, of course, the HIV confirmed very, very small uptick on there Marc Plevinsky: through the HIV alleged category. I tried to clean this slide up from the previous ones. It wasn't exactly Marc Plevinsky: I'm sorry, Mark, can you go back to that last slide for a second? Marc Plevinsky: My stray asterisk, I'm sure, threw everybody off because I I can't stand when I'm reading something, and there's an asterisk, and it doesn't say what it's for. Marc Plevinsky: And I did exactly that. Here. I forgot to put it down the bottom. I apologize when I went back to last year's data. I always double check. Everything. That column from 2122 school year was 1, 94. If you look at it in last year's presentation. It was a math error on my part. It's really 1, 99. So that was the that was just a math error that I corrected in this one. So if you. Marc Plevinsky: I guess if you're bored and you want to look at this year's and last year's and compare them. You're gonna see a 1 94 in that column, and it should be 1 99. Marc Plevinsky: Thanks, mark. Marc Plevinsky: So the HIV alleged, took went up, you know, considerably after the 2122 Marc Plevinsky: school, I was, gonna say, season school year into the 2022, 23, and it's kind of it went up a little bit. Not that much. In the 2324 school year. Marc Plevinsky: And again we'll take questions at the end with all this thing to remember about HIV and HIV alleged is it can be on school property or off school property. So if something happens during the break Marc Plevinsky: it and it fits into that category. It has to be investigated as an HIV. It will be. That's the only one of the. It's the only 2 categories in the Ssps program that can be counted that happen off of school property. Obviously, because those things can be Marc Plevinsky: manifest themselves in the buildings if they happen off of campus Marc Plevinsky: State mandated actions. What we have been seeing over the over the past couple of years. Some of these are reviews. Some of them are new. The threat assessment teams that are required by the State law were put into place before the 2324 school year. Marc Plevinsky: This the past, the school year we're reporting on now and then. Of course, the school year. It's been going very well. We haven't had very many at all, but we have taken each case, and we evaluate it with the people that have been trained by the State. It's mandated has to be in place. Marc Plevinsky: We were timely and getting that in. Not everybody was. We were timely and getting all of our people trained. And it's continuous training process. Just put out a bunch more at the beginning of this year for anybody that was new, anybody that transferred it didn't have it, or anybody transferred into a spot that now would be sitting on one of these teams. You cannot sit on a behavioral threat assessment if you have not been to the training. Marc Plevinsky: So if you hold a position that would normally be on that team. But you haven't been trained. You cannot sit in on that, because the training obviously is necessary. Marc Plevinsky: Body worn cameras Marc Plevinsky: mandated by the State Attorney general for all law enforcement agencies to have them. We are a law enforcement agency, however. The Ag has seen the the issues that can come up with privacy in schools, of course, so they are not used within the school buildings during the academic day. Don't use them. They may be on their person, but they're not on any extracurricular activity, they are required so sporting events Marc Plevinsky: morning arrival and dismissal, as the next bullet point says it is. It is it is mandatory to have them Marc Plevinsky: available. They don't have to be on. They don't have to be on during extracurricular activities. They just have to be warned. But if something happens, they have to be activated. Marc Plevinsky: I think Marc Plevinsky: the last presentation put, put a few of these things in. It will give me the answer to why? Why some of these things are happening, especially the violence numbers are down with with Marc Plevinsky: with our students getting taught and given the opportunity for leadership positions like that. Marc Plevinsky: I think that naturally makes everything Marc Plevinsky: it corrects. There was an old sound, remember where it came from, but a rising tide rise raises all boats or something like that. But if everybody, if we're getting, if we're getting that solid leadership taught to our students, I I think the the stuff that is, is not tolerated, I think, starts to go away a little bit because they're interested, and they're given that opportunity to take those leadership positions. So that's fantastic job by all those principals and everybody, all the principals and all the buildings Marc Plevinsky: strong emphasis on character. Education. Marc Plevinsky: You know what? Why, what what makes our school safe. Marc Plevinsky: I think that's the Marc Plevinsky: that's the the most important thing. I I had the opportunity, thanks to Dr. Morton and the Board, the to travel to Florida Marc Plevinsky: a few days couple of weeks ago for a conference. It's called the Active School Threat Conference. It's put on by the School Safety Advocacy Council. It is a fantastic conference. There were 37 States represented, and 2 countries. I have no idea why. But Canada is kind of okay. I can kind of see that the other country was Australia. Believe it or not. It's pretty long flight from Australia to Kissimmee, so but they were there. There were 6 of them from Australia there, and Marc Plevinsky: great presentations, 3 full solid days of presentations of you know why these tragedies happened in school, and unfortunately, here we are a day removed from another one. Marc Plevinsky: and Marc Plevinsky: sure there there are. There are things that are necessary, of course, locked doors, and and all those things we don't have time for tonight. But Marc Plevinsky: the bottom line was the most important thing in any school, in any district anywhere are the people. Marc Plevinsky: because if the people don't follow the Security Protocols, then Marc Plevinsky: nothing else really matters, nothing else works. Marc Plevinsky: And that's what you can go through each case case by case of these terrible incidents, and there is a breakdown somewhere with people. Marc Plevinsky: And that's what we try to avoid daily here. Marc Plevinsky: Mandatory annual Review. Annual review of the district's crisis management plan. That's also mandatory. We have to sign off on at the end of the year and go through it. We update it. We tweak it. Whatever we have to do with whatever was given to us during that particular school year. We're continuing campus visits by Cherry Hill police. They're on our campuses, all the time supporting campus police and just driving through or getting out and walking around Marc Plevinsky: mandatory training for campus police, de-escalation training, Sro certification, cultural proficiency in service training with Chpd twice a year, including a myriad of training topics there. School safety specialists Marc Plevinsky: which which I I'm the district school safety specialist continue training. We have to have a certain amount of hours Marc Plevinsky: each year when it's required by the DOE Marc Plevinsky: and the law enforcement licensing process, as you see is bolded. That's new. This year. Each officer in any law enforcement agency in the State of New Jersey, including prosecutor's office. Marc Plevinsky: need to have a law Enforcement license. It was a gut wrenching process to get it done, because we're kind of a unicorn being a K through 12 school district police department. But I spent literally, and I'm not exaggerating all summer, making sure that we were in compliance. We got it all together. All of our folks are licensed, has law enforcement license. We have a couple that expire at the end of 2025, and then the rest expire at the end of 2026, Marc Plevinsky: and that's a continuing process to renew that license that involves mandatory training and other aspects different background stuff to make sure that they're Marc Plevinsky: that that law enforcement is kept in the, in the high esteem it should be. Marc Plevinsky: We have a memorandum of agreement with Cherry Hill Police Department, Camden County prosecutor's office. All school districts have that it's mandated by the State. I just went to myself and Jen Distefano sit on the Camden County School Safety Committee that all the schools, that not all the schools, not all the districts, but most of the districts in Camden County. We meet about once every 3 months at a different place, and we go over all the things that have been happening, and we generally have a speaker, Bob Sensi, who's a Marc Plevinsky: a retired State trooper who is part of the DOE office of school emergency planning and preparedness, and we've had a prosecutor. Erin Dietz came and spoke with us the last time. She's the section chief of the juvenile unit, the prosecutor's office. Marc Plevinsky: and keeps us updated on what what we should be looking for and what we should be doing on a daily basis. Marc Plevinsky: We have access to Chpd. Records. Chpd CAD. Rms. Every day. All of our officers do Marc Plevinsky: the direct communication between the campus police and Cherry O police! All day long Marc Plevinsky: during extracurricular activities. Anytime that we have campus police officer on a particular campus, there is direct communication with Cherry Hill police. Should it be needed? Maggie's law notification has been has been around for years. It's done by the police department, cherry Hill Police. They bring it to the buildings, and there's protocol in place on how that gets distributed out to the folks in the building. Marc Plevinsky: and we continue to practice a monthly security drills and fire drills required by the doa, 2 security drills a month are required, one fire drill. A month is is required. We do more than 2. Most buildings do more than 2 2 a month. Marc Plevinsky: Alyssa's law compliance, which is a direct 911 access to the police department with lack of a better term to call it a panic button. Each building has one. It has to be a silent alarm. It's what's mandated in Alyssa's law, and you can push that button, and it's instant instant it will trigger an instant response from the Cherry Hill Police Department. Marc Plevinsky: Swipe card entry system in lockdown system and security cameras are all in place. Stop the bleed program we put in place a couple of years ago. You see them hanging around the buildings. They are the the kits that are used to attend to any wound. They're not for scrapes on the playground or not for that kind of stuff there, for hopefully, everyone that's hanging, or where it's ever where it's at in the nurse's office will stay there forever and have to be replaced whenever they begin to rot, because that's where I want them to stay. Marc Plevinsky: We have Narcan in every building. It was a grant that was given to us by the through the prosecutor's office. I forget exactly who was the Marc Plevinsky: the Grant tour on that originally, but where we have it staffed, or we have it in place in every building Marc Plevinsky: incident command system, which is, is something that that God forbid. Should something happen. Marc Plevinsky: it has to go into place. It's mandatory. It's Federal law. If there is an incident that requires multi jurisdictional response. You have to employ the national incident command system. It puts everybody on the same page so that there's different. All the jobs are being done, and there's no jobs being duplicated. Communications are good and everybody's on the same page. Marc Plevinsky: and we have a resiliency program in place for our campus police officers, Officer Baldacera Marc Plevinsky: front that works Rosa. Now he's trained, fully trained, and has to to continue his certification on resiliency for Resiliency training for the campus police officer should they need it. As everybody knows, we had a an officer injured seriously at the beginning of this year, which it's hard to believe it's almost been a year. I'm happy to report that he is back and was in my office today, and he is doing fantastic. So he. Marc Plevinsky: while he was still in the hospital before he even started his rehab. Marc Plevinsky: All she wanted to know is. Marc Plevinsky: I can come back right. I can come back. That's that's that's how much they're dedicated to to the schools and to the staff and students. Here. Marc Plevinsky: Mark. Marc Plevinsky: we have this every year the the slides up there every year. But I I bolded and underlined Marc Plevinsky: parents and students, teachers and staff. Marc Plevinsky: That was from my time I spent at the conference. Marc Plevinsky: Everything starts at home. Marc Plevinsky: There's there's things that can be spotted at home. There are things that can be taken care of at home. Marc Plevinsky: The students who see their friends every day know their friends Marc Plevinsky: know what's not right with their friends. Know when something's not right with their friends. A simple question, hey? What's wrong? Could lead to Marc Plevinsky: the the, you know, the stopping of something happening, and teachers and staff in the buildings know their kids better than anybody else. They spend 180 days with them every year. They know Marc Plevinsky: one of the big things that has come out, and and I think it's going to end up coming out. Unfortunately, in this last one in Wisconsin, one of the key and 1st things that that show after they go back and and do these violence, the violence in the schools is writings. Marc Plevinsky: almost every incident. Marc Plevinsky: There's a telegraph of something that the violence is going to happen in almost every instance. Marc Plevinsky: So it's very important. Those those 4 groups of people Marc Plevinsky: are key to keeping everybody safe Marc Plevinsky: course, all of us. Our Pta is our campus police, the Security Staff, Chfd, Chpd. They have a great working relationship with all all of the emergency services in town. We have an emergency, an office of emergency management that's headed by Detective Moore in the police department and Marc Plevinsky: meet with him often, and we we make sure that Marc Plevinsky: everybody's on the same page like the incident command system I was talking about. Everybody needs to be together, and that way you have more eyes looking at everything. It keeps everything on the same, everybody's on the same page. Marc Plevinsky: for every day that we're in our buildings. Marc Plevinsky: That's it. Right questions, please. Marc Plevinsky: Board members have questions or comments, Mr. Green, ma'am. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. I had a I had a number of questions, Mr. Separito. Thank you very much for the the thorough presentation. I always appreciate putting that together and providing some context around it. Pleasure. Marc Plevinsky: I was glad to see the steady decline year over year in incidents of violence. Can you share any insights you might have on possible contributing factors to that. Marc Plevinsky: I think I think our climates in our schools are really good. Marc Plevinsky: and I think the things I mentioned parents, students, teachers, staff. Marc Plevinsky: the presence of campus police. The presence of Cherry Hill police, the programs that are put on by the police department. I think they're working through Carusi right now, Dr. Birdie, is that Marc Plevinsky: the the yeah, it's crucy now, right? They're working through. I believe so. And that's a great outreach to the students. And I think I think education, and I think the the climate that our principals and staff and the administrators that supervise those principals. Marc Plevinsky: the Marc Plevinsky: what they what they dictate each day. I think that's the reason, or at least one of the reasons for sure. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Something. I was wondering if you can do for for the benefit of those who might not Marc Plevinsky: might not have might not be clear for them. Can you explain the difference between alleged Hivs and total incidents Marc Plevinsky: and total incidents? Total incidents on the 3rd slide, and then on the 4th slide, there's alleged HIV mark. We put that 3rd slide back up, please. Marc Plevinsky: Yeah. The Marc Plevinsky: The total incidents that we see. The 1 94 does not include HIV alleged. Marc Plevinsky: I am not by no means an HIV expert. I am the collector of the information from the buildings through that, as I said, the hipster program, I Marc Plevinsky: thank goodness that all the hard work that the student assistant counselors do in in investigating the Hivs go into that system, and there are criteria that need to be met for it to be a founded incident. The HIV alleged, which the next slide mark. Marc Plevinsky: That's a separate category, because that's something that's been investigated. Marc Plevinsky: Dr. Morton. If I'm speaking, if I'm not saying it correctly, please please let me know there are incidents that have been corrected that have not met the criteria as they founded HIV. Marc Plevinsky: So that that is, that's not now that that Marc Plevinsky: there could be a cab that could be a crossover in categories where it could be. Let's just say Marc Plevinsky: a fight, or under one of the subcategories of the violence. But it's not an HIV. Marc Plevinsky: And another thing, it's important that if you engage in a mutual fight and you lose, it does not become an assault. You lost the fight, and it's still a fight. It's not an assault, barring any outside, you know, barring anything bad happening, or or you know too much violence after that. But that's another thing that we we have to keep in mind also. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, my understanding is, I'm sorry. Go ahead. I'm sorry just to clarify so alleged Hivs would be the full gamut of all Hivs that have been investigated over the course of the year. Confirmed would be the portion of the alleged that they're 2 separate Hivs are. So if you total the HIV founded Hivs and the alleged Hivs. That's how many were investigated. Marc Plevinsky: The founded, or, of course, on that one slide, and then the unfounded or the the alleged are on the other slide. Marc Plevinsky: Okay? And then my, my understanding is the the other categories, violence, vandalism, weapons, substance. Use. Those aren't necessarily Hivs. But those are other incidents that are included in this and included in that total correct. And I I printed the page out of the Marc Plevinsky: the Guidance Marc Plevinsky: manual that we have just, for instance, under this, and these are the categories that would have been tabulated under the old the old system under violence. It's assault, fight, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, not too much of that going on in schools. Marc Plevinsky: sexual assault, sexual contact threat, 2 different types of threat, criminal and simple. So that's the categories, the subcategories underneath violence. Vandalism is arson, computer trespass. Marc Plevinsky: Why damaged, the property, false public alarm, theft, and regular trespass. Marc Plevinsky: So they're the categories. They're the categories that are on those subcategories are underneath the other ones, weapons and and substance use are kind of self-explanatory. Okay, thank you. And then one more is more of a comment. Marc Plevinsky: But we saw an increase of 7 HIV confirmed or founded Marc Plevinsky: from last year. Any increase is undesirable, of course, but considering the tumultuous year we had, I was kind of expecting that to be higher. I'm a little bit relieved to see such a small increase. Obviously any increase is not what we're looking for, but Marc Plevinsky: an increase of 7 is Marc Plevinsky: relatively small compared to what I would have expected. Some it is, I want to say, happy to see that, but relieved to see that. Yeah. Marc Plevinsky: I agree. Marc Plevinsky: Yeah, thank you, Mrs. Gallagher. Marc Plevinsky: Curious what substances? You're finding the kids like the the substance category. Is it more drinking drugs? Is there like a like our one? Is something like a bigger number, like a portion of those majority of it's marijuana, marijuana. Okay. Marc Plevinsky: either through possession of marijuana or through vapes. Marc Plevinsky: This is tripping Marc Plevinsky: you made me think of something when you were talking about hopefully, never having to use the stop, the bleed kits. I agree hopefully we'll never have to use those. Marc Plevinsky: So I have a question about the stop, the bleed kits, the Narcan. I'd like to extend it to Aeds in the building. As well, do you know, if we have a process in place to ensure that those things are not expired and they're within code. And all of that stuff? Yeah, the the boxes that are the boxes that are hanging on the walls. They're my responsibility because I have them put up Marc Plevinsky: so. I checked the the expiration on them. They're they're 2025, I believe, is the expiration for them. Marc Plevinsky: and the nurses have it, and that is their responsibility to make sure that there is that theirs are up to date. Campus police have little orange bags that have Narcan in it also, and that's their responsibility individually. To make sure. I know that there is an expiration date on the stop to bleed kits, but it's like it's like 20 years or something like that, like again. I don't think we'd have to worry about that, but yes, it is in place now. They these I can't speak of, because I don't have any. Marc Plevinsky: I don't. Marc Plevinsky: I don't deal with the Aeds, but I'm sure you know things have to be. You have to make sure the battery is okay, and the pads are in place, and all that kind of stuff, so I believe the nurses take care of that Marc Plevinsky: other Mr. Mayor. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Separator. Thank you. This oddly, this is always one of my favorite presentations of the year. Really Marc Plevinsky: stepping back a couple of decades. Marc Plevinsky: I was the one that that asked the question earlier Marc Plevinsky: through Dr. Morton, with regards to, you know, hoping to see, or or asking if it would be possible to see. Marc Plevinsky: a comparison between the the fall the 1st half of this year and and previous falls. Marc Plevinsky: and I understand that that you know that's just not prepared, not ready yet. Marc Plevinsky: Is is that something that that we would be able to see, though Marc Plevinsky: sometime early in the next next quarter, including those subcategories. I mean, if you can do that, the the main categories. I can have that with no problem, because that's already tabulated, except obviously not for this year. This year, probably by the time I get everything up and updated or updated, uploaded where it needs to be. It's probably going to be mid January. Marc Plevinsky: But I can. Yeah, we can certainly get them out. I would more than love to do the the subcategories. It's just gonna it's just a little labor intensive to go through each. It is. It is, it's very unfortunate, but certainly I think you know that that would be great if we could get a snap. Absolutely. So appreciate that. Marc Plevinsky: With regard to the the category of again going back to alleged allegations. Marc Plevinsky: It's your understanding that if if an HIV is alleged a student, a staff member, a parent. Marc Plevinsky: you know, comes forward and alleges that an HIV took place, that that is then Marc Plevinsky: categorized as an alleged HIV. Marc Plevinsky: Regardless at that point it check is made right. It's in the category of an alleged HIV. Yeah, as long as it. Yeah, yes, it doesn't meet the the criteria for for a founded HIV, regardless of whether or not after the investigation, it turns out that in fact. Marc Plevinsky: there was not an HIV. It's still there. That check mark is still there. So there's a difference, then, between an allegation and an incident. Marc Plevinsky: At least, my understanding of incident is something happened. HIV happened. Yeah. And and the the Marc Plevinsky: the cat or not cat. I guess it would be the the Marc Plevinsky: criteria that have to be met for it to meet. Be that HIV incident would not be met in the intellect. Yes. Marc Plevinsky: you know, it's just that. That category has always been a little. Marc Plevinsky: I think, misleading, at least to me, seeing allegation, because you don't know what's there, and it's unfortunate. It's important that they are all. Marc Plevinsky: And we all agree. And we, you know that we're thankful that the schools Marc Plevinsky: do those investigations and do them the right way. It's just unfortunate that that there is a category that says alleged HIV. Marc Plevinsky: It makes things look worse than they actually. Marc Plevinsky: and that tends to be weaponized against this district. It could be sure it definitely could be. But on the whole, with these numbers. Marc Plevinsky: you know, we're we're thankful, as Mr. Mr. Greenbong said, that you know. Marc Plevinsky: I think a few of us expected maybe the numbers would look worse, because it's been a difficult year. Marc Plevinsky: and they're really not. I mean, they're they're ticked up a little bit. But compared to 2122, they're significantly better. Marc Plevinsky: So that's great. And and to your you know you made the point of Marc Plevinsky: attributing much of that to the climate, the culture of the schools, which is much improved to Marc Plevinsky: whether it's, you know, combination of cultural proficiency and leadership of the schools, you know. Hopefully, we can continue to support that and support your work and your Marc Plevinsky: the work of your of your staff and your officers and campus police. They do. They do wonderful work, and Marc Plevinsky: I know they're appreciated and they are respected at the schools, and we hope that continues. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. I I agree with you and I remember I particularly remember Miss Winters talking about Marc Plevinsky: one of the officers at the dance at Rosa, making sure everybody gets in their car, and I've said this a number of times. It's a completely different mission than township police, which I proudly served for 30 years. It's a completely different mission, and everybody that works for me and works with me knows Marc Plevinsky: that mission is, it is to protect and make sure that every school day goes off safely for staff students, administrators, visitors, and anybody else that's on our property. For any reason. Marc Plevinsky: Other board members just want to revisit the topic of the substance. Use? I mean, it's certainly alarming. Marc Plevinsky: But Marc Plevinsky: I think you know that was a question asked to Dr. Morton in in our weekly questions, and you know Dr. Morton was pretty forthright in responding. You know that there's a you know, cannabis is legal. It is any person who Marc Plevinsky: is 21 years old can purchase cannabis in New Jersey, and certainly we know, just like alcohol. Many people who are not 21 also purchase alcohol and can purchase cannabis, and Marc Plevinsky: also cannabis, is easy to be consumed using devices now that do not have the same kind of emitting Marc Plevinsky: properties that let's say directly, in utilized. Marc Plevinsky: you know, original form. Cannabis might have. Marc Plevinsky: I think the prevalence is astounding to me astounding Marc Plevinsky: among children, and I say children. Marc Plevinsky: and then I and I, which I differentiate from even teenagers right? Astounding the amount of cannabis that is used, and I see some of our student reps shaking their heads. Yes, it is, it absolutely is. And it's it's a it's Marc Plevinsky: using your word, astounding public. How much you smell it now! It's a very distinct smell. It's it's it smells like nothing else. Marc Plevinsky: It never, of course, before you'd smell it every now and then something, now it is prevalent. It is everywhere. And like you, said Mr. Stern, with. Marc Plevinsky: you know, older siblings having it, and it's going to be made more available to the younger, to the younger siblings. It's just that. It's it's going to happen. It's just like like you said, like alcohol and adults. Marc Plevinsky: a lot of adults in our society, that's, you know, part of lives. So you know, I think there's just a I think it's something we're going to be continuing to need to figure out how to cope with in our school system. Marc Plevinsky: You know, I know we talked about a couple of years ago, like policy, like updating our policies about it. Marc Plevinsky: but it's Marc Plevinsky: yeah, I I completely blown away by what I'm what I see going on and what I hear about probably more here than see myself. But you know, I I hope, that our numbers don't. Marc Plevinsky: Skyrocket, but it's hard to see a world in which. Marc Plevinsky: you know I'm hoping that doesn't happen in our schools during the school day. I guess I will say that as much in a high prevalence way. But it's Marc Plevinsky: as soon as I get those numbers together for the 1st half of 24, we'll make sure, we get them to you. Marc Plevinsky: Alright. Well, thank you so much. Very informative. And Dr, Morton, just to Marc Plevinsky: ask in our Mrs sugars, that, will, I know, we're about to go into our, you know, winter break. But hopefully, after the break. And with our new website, all these will be available. The presentations we've gotten tonight will be available on our website. So I think you know. Come, come the New Year. Marc Plevinsky: right? It's a realistic timeline. Marc Plevinsky: okay, very good. Mr. Povinsky is the final word. Here I am calling out, you know, Dr. Morton, Mrs. Sugars. And actually. Marc Plevinsky: that's Mr. Blavinsky. So great. All right. Well, thank you so much appreciate it. You're welcome again. Thanks for the time. Happy holidays, everyone. Thank you. Happy holidays. Marc Plevinsky: All right. Real quick. We'll go through a correspondence, and then I swear by before 9 o'clock we'll get to our student reps. Do any board members have any correspondence? Real quick Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Greenbaum? And then, Mrs. Winters. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. I know it's getting a little late, so keep it brief. Marc Plevinsky: I attended the strategic planning community discussion at Beck Middle School, along with about 40 other parents and community members. There's some great discussion about portrait of a graduate. We talked about. What are your hopes, aspirations, and dreams for your child discussion of core traits. And what does someone who exhibits them think, feel, and do? There's a thought exchange that followed that which I hope people participated in. So we can capture some of that information. Marc Plevinsky: A big thank you to zone. Pta for coordinating these community discussions. Marc Plevinsky: Something I wanted to share, because Marc Plevinsky: a lot of people have asked particularly on the west side of Cherry Hill when it's going to be their turn. Marc Plevinsky: So I'd reach out to Dr. Morton to ask about this. There'll be additional meetings related to portrait of graduate work happening concurrently with the strategic planning process. The Administration is working with Zone Pta. To schedule these meetings in collaboration with various Ptas and civic associations, that being said, there will be a meeting on the West Side for the community in January. Marc Plevinsky: Is this, can I share the date? Marc Plevinsky: Sure. January 21st at 7 30 Pm. At High School West, which will include families from Kilmer High School, West Barton, Karusi, Kingston, and Payne. Marc Plevinsky: I'm sure lots of reminders will go out about that, but I wanted to give a little bit of a heads up because I've heard a lot of questions about, you know. When are they going to get to my school? What's next? When are these things happening? So January 21, st 7, 30 Pm. High School West, and keep an eye out for some flyers which I'm sure will go out in weekly emails and from schools and from Ptas. Marc Plevinsky: Alright. Thank you, thank you, Mrs. Winters. Marc Plevinsky: Thanks. I attended the Ecac meeting on December 12.th The topic was something that I was not on my radar screen. It was chronic absenteeism at the preschool level, which is really interesting, because when I think about chronic absenteeism, I tend to think of older students, although I've heard Marc Plevinsky: chatter about it at the elementary level as well, which I thought was kind of interesting. So here it was at the preschool level, really robust presentation on absenteeism, what they're seeing and what can be done to help our youngest students have that consistency of being in school. So that was pretty neat. Marc Plevinsky: And then they discuss. They're going to have a new Monday series called More, you know, Topics, and that's topics for families such as picky eating and potty training that families might be interested in. So again increasing that Marc Plevinsky: community connection and value to our preschool families on relevant topics for them. Marc Plevinsky: So it was a really neat meeting to attend. I also, as a parent, attended the Rosa instrumental Music Marc Plevinsky: High School West last night, and I just wanted to echo what Mr. Garrison said. I have never seen Marc Plevinsky: a packed auditorium the way the auditorium was packed at High School West last night. It was standing room only Marc Plevinsky: for the Rosa students, which was absolutely wild, and for me it really signaled our music programs being back robustly after Covid. The 1st Rosa music concert I attended was for my son. He was in 6th grade year, that it was the pandemic closure, and I remember a really sad concert with his trumpet with a mute like a mask on the bell, and we all had to be socially distanced and masked in the auditorium, and everybody was a little bit terrified. There was basically nobody there Marc Plevinsky: and then to see. Just a few years later the 6th grade band last night was so huge they barely fit on the stage, and there were families standing on the sides because there were no seats. That was how much our music program has come back at the middle level. So I just think it's a really good sign going forward. Marc Plevinsky: What we're going to see. We've all been talking for the past few years about how certain programs really declined during the pandemic. And this was a nice bounce back. The current 6th graders, I believe, would have been Marc Plevinsky: 1st graders Marc Plevinsky: when the pandemic happened. So it's nice to see that as the years have gone by, the programs really are rebuilding. So it was a really good sign. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: So great any. Mr. Mayor. Marc Plevinsky: A couple weeks ago, together with Dr. Morton and Steve Redfern, Chia. President, an opportunity to speak. We were asked to speak at the National Education Association's National Council of Urban Education Educators Marc Plevinsky: Association's Annual Fall Conference. We were asked to speak about our Lmc. How we do it, how it is why it has been so successful. Marc Plevinsky: As as it's gotten a lot more notoriety. Lately the presentation Marc Plevinsky: was very, very well received. We we had attendees from Marc Plevinsky: Districts as far as California, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina. Marc Plevinsky: Really, you know, throughout the country very engaging conversation. Lots of great questions. And I just I thought it would be just yesterday yesterday, or might have been the day before yesterday. I got an email Marc Plevinsky: I'm going to read part of that just so that you know just what our work at the Lmc. How it is. Marc Plevinsky: How does catching on? Marc Plevinsky: One of the attendees of our session is Marc Plevinsky: she's Nea's acting director for strategy, so she's pretty high up with the Nea. She was there Marc Plevinsky: afterwards she came up. She talked to me about how much she loved the presentation, and hoping that maybe we could do something similar to that with the National School Boards Association Marc Plevinsky: Annual Conference. So she wanted to put us in touch with her counterparts at National School Boards Association. Marc Plevinsky: Here's how she put that together, talking about introducing us. Marc Plevinsky: how Cherry Hill is doing such great things in labor management collaboration Marc Plevinsky: and hoping that we could help them on the national level, learn more. They want to learn from us Marc Plevinsky: about what we are doing what we are doing specifically Marc Plevinsky: is increasing. It's helping to increase Marc Plevinsky: across the board communication throughout the district and also student outcomes at a time. Of course, when you know that's what's always important. But it's that much more important these days. So unfortunately, we were only at the conference for about a day and a half Marc Plevinsky: the conference, so we we didn't have the opportunity. At least I didn't to Marc Plevinsky: to attend as many sessions as I wanted to attend. The conference itself was wonderful. Conference, focused in large part on Marc Plevinsky: strategies that districts are using across the country to try and prepare themselves to address. You know what has become more and more challenging Marc Plevinsky: universe out there with regards to public education and attacks on public education. So again, it would have been great if we could have stayed and and seen some more of the some more of the sessions. I could have brought some of that back, but Marc Plevinsky: we were only there for about a day and a half, and I. It would be a mistake for me not to thank the New Jersey Educational Association because they paid our way Marc Plevinsky: they covered our costs. Marc Plevinsky: our transportation that covered our hotel. So it was. It was great of them to do that Marc Plevinsky: wonderful conference, and that's it. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. It's certainly a impressive recognition, but Marc Plevinsky: it's not why you did it. You did it because it's Marc Plevinsky: working. It's making a huge difference Marc Plevinsky: in our relationships and our ability to attract and retain Marc Plevinsky: excellent people who take care of our kids during during the day. So thank you. Marc Plevinsky: All right. Marc Plevinsky: no further board member correspondence. So we're going to. We're going to go to our board reps. Our student reps, and I'm also just going to start by saying it's almost 9 o'clock. Marc Plevinsky: and you all are students Marc Plevinsky: might might have homework might have tests before the break, so as always, I welcome you to stay as long as you want Marc Plevinsky: or to leave Marc Plevinsky: if you would like. So you can take care of yourselves and and be your primary job, which is students. So with that, we're going to start and end with our representatives from West, because our representatives from East, unfortunately, are both sick. So yeah, so unfortunately, they can't be here. They kind of Marc Plevinsky: knew at the last minute. One of them. Erlyn, was sick at the last minute, and so, unfortunately, we don't have their report, so it's going to be all West. It's a West show tonight. So Marc Plevinsky: take it away. Rebecca and Jenna. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Students, faculty and staff are preparing to round out the 2024, school 2024 year, and start fresh in 2025, with several exciting events and activities. So for academic students prepared for upcoming, testing, completing the December 7th sat, and the act on the 14th interim grades have been released, marking an important reminder for students to stay up to date with their grades. Marc Plevinsky: Also, seniors continue to complete college and scholarship applications having deadlines for regular decision most in early January. It's crunch time, seniors, so reach out to your guidance, counselors, if you have any questions Marc Plevinsky: in athletics, our teams are thriving this season. Positive coaches Alliance had a meeting with both East and West, promoting teamwork and sportsmanship. Marc Plevinsky: Winter's winter track boys and girls saw outstanding performance with 4 school records broken at the new Penn facility. Marc Plevinsky: including the girls. Smr. The boys 4 by 2 and 2. Well, one was broken, and one was tied in the high jump. Marc Plevinsky: both by sophomores and freshmen. Marc Plevinsky: Our basketball regular season is in full swing. The boys team will face Cherokee today, and the girls team have an away game against Cherokee, and I actually have an update. Our west lions, one against Cherokee in overtime tonight. So go lions. Marc Plevinsky: The swim team won their meet against Camden, Catholic West wrestling competed in a meet last Saturday, and will host a home match next week next week. On Wednesday. Marc Plevinsky: The Bowling team has had a busy season with several matches. The Olympic Conference relay meet will take place this Friday in Tom's River, which I'll be competing in Marc Plevinsky: over the winter break. Several tournaments are scheduled, the boys, basketball coaches versus cancer tournament against Cherokee for boys. Basketball. The South Jersey invitational basketball tournament will be held at home, and the boys basketball tournament against East will occur on the 27, th 26, th 27, th and 30.th Both the boys and girls will face east on the 30th Marc Plevinsky: for arts. The choir concert will take place this Thursday, and the band concert occurred last Thursday, so we got 2 awesome concerts. In 2 weeks the Trium Honor Music society will be hosting a showcase this Friday. During the lunch periods the cast and crew of clue are hard at work as rehearsals continue. We're looking forward to their performances. Coming very soon. Marc Plevinsky: Also, they hosted holiday parties from the language clubs and the Art Club for extracurriculars. The Principal's Advisory Committee met last week. Marc Plevinsky: Club and activity photos are being taken during the lunch periods, clubs, including the African American Culture Club, Community Service Club and National Honor Society, participated in a breakfast with Santa, and finally the Sgo. Hosted their annual fop party after weeks of dedication, preparation, making decorations and other plans and activities for their event Marc Plevinsky: for other notes. On December 18, th tomorrow, Spanish 5 Ap. Students and heritage speakers will be visiting mi casita to donate gifts to the community with national honors, society students actively participating by providing a number of these toys. Marc Plevinsky: the chamber singers recently caroled at retirement homes, Adelphia's Aldo Lamberties, and a homeless shelter in Camden, spreading holiday cheer and their love of music, while making incredible art. Next month we will recognize Muslim Heritage month, stay tuned for more information regarding events. Marc Plevinsky: Students also notably prepare for the New Year in their classes as well as homes as per the entire district. Students return to school on January second. Lastly, we invite families to our 8th grade, open house on January 23.rd Come and see what our school has to offer, and we are so excited to see you guys in the New Year. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. And happy holidays. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you both so much. And happy holidays to you. Great reports, lots of information, good luck, competing. Marc Plevinsky: And yeah, just appreciate you guys so much, and hope you get a nice break. Marc Plevinsky: Very good. All right. We move on to our 1st public comment. Marc Plevinsky: This is our 1st public comment. There are 2 opportunities to make a public comment in our meeting tonight. Marc Plevinsky: The 1st common session is for board action items only, which are items 13 through 16. Marc Plevinsky: If you are a student in the district, you may comment on any school related item at any time, whether 1st or Marc Plevinsky: in the 1st public comment period. If you are a student and you are online, I would ask you to please put an S after your name so that I can easily identify that you are a student. Otherwise I wouldn't know necessarily by looking at your name Marc Plevinsky: if you would like to speak. Now, please identify the agenda item you are speaking on and clearly state your name and your municipality, we will alternate between speakers who are here in the room and those who are online. Each speaker will have a maximum of 3 min to speak, and the timer on the screen will indicate the amount of time you have remaining. Marc Plevinsky: Public comment is an opportunity for members of the community to comment on matters relevant to the operations of the Cherry Hill School district, and under the authority of the Board of Education Marc Plevinsky: Board welcomes diverse opinions on relevant matters under reasonable. I'm sorry, under established Federal law, governing reasonable restrictions on speech and public forums, statements which demean individual community members or groups, or which are irrelevant to the operations of the school district or are repetitive, will not be tolerated or permitted. Marc Plevinsky: Community members who are like to, who are present, like to present information not relevant to the school district, are always welcome to communicate directly to the District Superintendent Board, President and all board members via email or other alternative means. Marc Plevinsky: And with that we will start in the room. Marc Plevinsky: So if anyone would like to speech to speak on an action item. Please approach the podium. Please state the full name, your full name, your municipality, and the item you're speaking on. Can we hold for one second. I'm sorry, Mr. Povinsky. Could you put the timer up? Please? Marc Plevinsky: Thank you, Mrs. Sugars. I'm looking at my screen, and that's true. Marc Plevinsky: There we go. Marc Plevinsky: It's a timer up. Marc Plevinsky: Okay? Marc Plevinsky: Okay? Alright, Rick. Short of Cherry Hill. Marc Plevinsky: So speaking, about 14.5 Marc Plevinsky: the construction going on at Rosa. Marc Plevinsky: I did miss part of the meeting. Something about the mention, I think, of doors. Marc Plevinsky: replacement of doors. I'm not sure if I caught that right. But that's a good thing. Hopefully, that also carries on district wide. Marc Plevinsky: The other thing I want to mention is because I can't really see the the entire bid Marc Plevinsky: is. If there's any paving being involved. Because let me remind you that the architect that Marc Plevinsky: planned Marc Plevinsky: the project at Rosa took away 32 parking spots, if you can compare the old to the new. Marc Plevinsky: So if there's anything being repaved, just note there'll be 32 less parking spaces also. Marc Plevinsky: in means of making the area less traffic. Marc Plevinsky: If we're gonna do any parking lot work, what about breakdown lanes? Marc Plevinsky: 1 1 wider breakdown lane would help traffic flow Marc Plevinsky: and make it safer, and have traffic flow easier through that section because we all know it. Gridlocks. Marc Plevinsky: Let me remind the district that Pennsauken. Marc Plevinsky: and I believe this was under our current architect Marc Plevinsky: has breakdown lanes at all their elementary schools Marc Plevinsky: and breakdown lanes in front of schools. Helps traffic flow better. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. Now we go to the line, and the phone number ends in 7 8, 8. Please state your full name, your municipality and the action item. You're speaking on. 1856****788: My name is Jeff Potowitz, and I live in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and 1856****788: 13.4 13.5 and 13.6 13.4 resolution authorizing the acceptance of New Jersey Community college consortium for workplace and economic development. 1856****788: It's for December 2024 to June 30, th 2025 total grant is $9,000, 3,000 for each high school. 1856****788: for that's 2 and 1,000 for each middle school. No matching funds whatever. That means at all. We are told that there'll be no matching funds. 1856****788: I know. What is that gonna fund. 1856****788: I mean. Honestly, I mean, that's not much money at all, especially for Cherry Hill, 1856****788: and that's what concerns me. What's going to happen the following year there won't be a grant. The State started this by giving us 9,000. But moving forward. 1856****788: Are we going to continue this? And what will it cost us when you continue it? Is it just a 1 time thing I mean, that's not much money at all, especially in Cherry Hill. No matching funds. Yeah. But what does that mean? I remember 70 73 quoted, basically quoted our superintendent. And he was asked about 1856****788: about the course from digital promise. And he kind of said that $5,000 would cover everything. That's basically what he said. And that's what the quote basically said, you had to listen to his language carefully. And then you realize later, he walked that back, and it was going to be a lot more. So is this going to develop into something that we're going to be spending money on something the State wants of 13.5 1856****788: acceptance of Nj. Learning accelerations. $37,000. Okay, fine. If 1856****788: we're getting something that's kind of real money they want you to focus on. It has to do with the focusing on kids that disproportionately were affected by the pandemic, and it talks about 3rd and 4th graders, and if you do the numbers. 1856****788: you'll think that 5th graders were also really really substantially 1856****788: affected. So I would add 5, th 4, th and 3rd graders and 5th graders may actually have been more affected by the pandemic than 3rd graders. I think that's something that has to be looked at. Maybe the focus needs to be on those 1856****788: 5th graders. 1856****788: 13.6. Approval of research request from Kennesoa State University. They're a public university. They're university now. Georgia, please. Oh, no, on that. Because we've been researched enough. 1856****788: Digital promise research, because that course is researched. 1856****788: we're going to be involved in a research study in some ways with the Lmc, we're being researched. You think it's successful. I really question how successful the Lmc really, really is to be honest with you. But okay, that's another thing. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you, Dr. Potowitz. Your time is up. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. We go back to the room. There's anybody who'd like to speak. Please approach the podium. Say your full name, your municipality and the action item you're speaking on and on Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Item 14.6. I would like to know how much we are paying these 2 organizations for their services. And my other question is, I do understand that the 13.4 Marc Plevinsky: that it's for grades 3 and 4. But are we going to service any other students if there's any money left over after paying these 2 organizations? But what concerns me is, is it per grade level? Is it per student? What is the projected cost just for these 2 organizations? Out of that grant? Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. Marc Plevinsky: and we go back to the line. And when the clock restarts the name is Rosen. Please state your full name, your municipality and the action item, you're speaking on. Rosen: Mindy Rosen, unmute, unmute, Mindy Rosen. This is for Garrison, about Rosa, about whether the stage will be accessible. Marc Plevinsky: State the item that you're speaking on. Rosen: On the Rosa. Rosen: I don't have the agenda item. I'll call back. Everybody just spoke on Rosa. Is it not allowed. Marc Plevinsky: Yeah, we just always ask that you state the action item that you're speaking on via the agenda item. But. Rosen: I'll call back afterwards if you won't let me speak. Thanks. Marc Plevinsky: It's it's Ms. Rosen, are you? There? Rosen: I am here. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, so are you speaking on 14.5. Rosen: I'm talking. Marc Plevinsky: Resolution. Rosen: Resolution, of. Marc Plevinsky: The award of bids is that the one you're speaking on. Rosen: Yes, thank you. Rosen: sure. So I just want to know if the stage is accessible from behind and from in front. So if you're in the audience. Can you walk up to the stage in an accessible way? And also, if you're in a play and you're in a wheelchair, can you get on the stage from behind. Rosen: That's my questions for agenda items. I'll call back for the other 2 after. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, we go back to the room. Marc Plevinsky: Don't see anybody at their microphone. Marc Plevinsky: Go back to the line. Marc Plevinsky: Don't see any hands raised online. So we'll close 1st public comment. Marc Plevinsky: and we'll move to superintendent's comments. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you very much. Ms stern. 1st and foremost, I'd just like to express my gratitude and appreciation for the commitment and the service for our Outgoing Board members. Marc Plevinsky: I believe the greatest commodity that we have on this earth really is our time. Once we give up our time, we do not get it back. So you have selflessly given up your time Marc Plevinsky: for the community and for the children. For that I say thank you. Marc Plevinsky: greatly. We greatly appreciate your efforts. Marc Plevinsky: kudos, and express also of gratitude for our high School principals, who had an opportunity to present under, under the leadership of Dr. Birdie, many of the wonderful things that I get to see on a daily basis that are taking place within our schools. We tour buildings along with Dr. Birdie and with Mr. Guy and Dr. Mahan as well. Marc Plevinsky: There are pockets of excellence that are happening across the board in our schools. And you know, as human beings, we naturally focus on areas that need improvement just out of cause of concern. But you know there's just a tremendous amount of excellence that definitely is happening, and I believe that excellence is spurring momentum and setting us for a platform for many great things to happen. As we move forward Marc Plevinsky: we'll see great positive growth. We've heard a few comments this evening about a portrait of a graduate community discussions. So the portrait of a graduate process is running concurrently with our strategic planning process. Our strategic plan sets the overarching vision mission Marc Plevinsky: core values. It's a process where we define who we are as a district and who we ultimately want to become as a district. Marc Plevinsky: Within that process. There's establishment of key areas of focus district goals, indicators of success, so that we know, you know, when we, when we reached benchmarks that we established, but also portion of that has to do with what we call a portrait of a graduate Marc Plevinsky: portrait of a graduate is an important process that allows us to identify the skills, the qualities, the characteristics, the attributes that as a community we desire for our students to embody and to obtain, as they progress throughout their time with us in Cherry Hill public schools. And more importantly, these skills that they'll need in order to be successful in a post-secondary environment. Marc Plevinsky: Our goal and our approach is to. Marc Plevinsky: I'm sorry for this, pop. But our goal and our approach is to engage community members in a discussion and allow community members to to provide input that's all of our community members. You know, students, staff. Marc Plevinsky: those who have children in the schools, those who do not have children in the schools. We're looking for as many opportunities as possible to have conversations. Thus far we've engaged with or collaborated with zone Pta and Zone. Pta has been gracious and truly outstanding in collaborating with us to schedule meetings. Marc Plevinsky: We've had 3 meetings so far, which is Rep, which have represented 5 schools, and also last Friday we had seniors within our community come in, senior citizens, not seniors in high school. Sorry, Rebecca and Jenna. Marc Plevinsky: but conversations have been outstanding. They've been tremendous. It's been fantastic for me along with Kyle Roskoff to engage with our community, and, as we, you know, hear the insights and hear the feedback. It's just a reminder of Marc Plevinsky: how just, how engaged and how much our schools and our students mean to the members of our community just a couple of key themes that have emerged thus far from the feedback that we've been able to to gather. Marc Plevinsky: There's 5 key themes, one academic preparedness. Marc Plevinsky: There's a desire to see our schools, you know, focus on academic preparedness. Marc Plevinsky: critical thinking skills being infused into the curriculum and allowing students to develop those focus on character and values like core values and character attributes of kindness and compassion and empathy are very important for the 100 plus people. We've spoken with safety and well-being. Marc Plevinsky: emotional mental safety, physical safety as well for our students and inclusive opportunities as well in our community has deemed as being very important. Marc Plevinsky: Just want to reaffirm the fact that, you know we're listening. Marc Plevinsky: We want to hear from the community. And as we continue to go throughout the process. Marc Plevinsky: what we put together, and what we will present to the board in June will be reflective of our collective community's voices Marc Plevinsky: as we move forward. I'm very optimistic about, you know, the year to come this this last year we've seen a tremendous amount of wonderful things happen, and as we move forward into the into the future, into 2025, we will not be slowing down. Marc Plevinsky: We're going to continue with our pace, so strategic plan will come to fruition. Our portrait of a graduate will come to fruition. We have a host of construction projects that still will continue to move forward as we see our schools transform right before our eyes. Marc Plevinsky: Elementary redistricting is coming in 2025. A new website. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Povinsky, is coming along with the data, a data dashboard Marc Plevinsky: as we listen to our community around, you know, enhancements for communication. So again, I just want to express gratitude, and just say thank you to our board members. Thank you to our community who are engaged and so involved, and truly, who want to, you know, benefit our schools and focus on areas and opportunities to sincerely and genuinely benefit conditions. And, you know, experiences for our students. We appreciate you all. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Very excited to here to see what's to come. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, we get to move on to our action agenda. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Winters, can you please move the Cni agenda, I would be happy to superintendent recommends, and I move the following 13.1 approval of attendance at conference and workshops for the 2425 school year 13.2. Approval of out of District student placement for the 2425 school year 13.3. Resolution authorizing Ood placement at Gloucester County, Vocational Technical School District Marc Plevinsky: 13.4. Resolution authorizing acceptance of New Jersey community college consortium for workforce and economic development. Marc Plevinsky: 13.5, resolution authorizing submission and acceptance of the New Jersey Learning acceleration program, high impact tutoring Grant Marc Plevinsky: and 13.6 approval of Irb research request for Kennesaw State University. Do I have a second Marc Plevinsky: Ms stern? Do any board members have questions tonight on the Cni agenda items going once, going twice. Marc Plevinsky: seeing no questions. Ms. Sugars. Please open the voting Marc Plevinsky: members. You may cast your votes. Marc Plevinsky: Ms sugars. I don't have my laptop today, but but I'm a yes on all the agenda items Marc Plevinsky: 13.1 to 13.7. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, we have a unanimous yes. Vote. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, Mr. Greenbaum, can you please move the business and facilities? Agenda? Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Superintendent recommends, and I move the following Marc Plevinsky: 14.1 approval of minutes board working session, special Action meeting minutes and executive session minutes, dated November 12, th 2024 Marc Plevinsky: 14.2. Approval of minutes, regular meeting minutes and executive session minutes, dated November 26, th 2024 14.3. Financial reports, 14.4 resolutions, 14.5. Resolution for the award of bids Marc Plevinsky: 14.6 resolution for the award of Rfps. Marc Plevinsky: 14.7. Resolution authorizing the use of contracts with approved sourcefill National Cooperative for vendors to approve, to provide goods and services. Marc Plevinsky: 14.8 resolution for the award of transportation. Marc Plevinsky: 14.9 acceptance of donations. I always like to read these out. Marc Plevinsky: A donation from Alan Miller to be used for offsetting the cost of the senior trip for families in need at High School, West from Cherry Hill Education Foundation for the field trip to the African American Culture Club trip at High School, West Marc Plevinsky: Cherry Hill Educational Foundation to be used for purchase of a Pcr machine at High School West and patient 1st to enhance school logo at man. Thank you very much for your support. Marc Plevinsky: and I think that does it. Do I have a second. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Mayor? Are there any questions? Marc Plevinsky: Seeing none? Mr. Sugars? Please open the voting Marc Plevinsky: board members. You may cast your votes. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Sugars. I am a yes, on everything except for 14.3. I will be abstaining from the sac financial report for October 2024, due to conflict of interest. Marc Plevinsky: and Mr. Sugars as well. Marc Plevinsky: On 14.3 I have to recuse myself. Bill list for Ess for a conflict of interest. Otherwise yes, on everything. Marc Plevinsky: This is Tom. Could you use my camera? I'm sorry. Hello. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Sugar. I have to abstain from Marc Plevinsky: 14.2. Everything else is, yes, thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. So we have an abstention from Mr. Mayor on 14.3. We have a abstention Marc Plevinsky: from Ms tong on 14.2, and we have a recusal on 14.3 from Mrs. Niaz. Marc Plevinsky: Other than that, we have a unanimous yes, vote Marc Plevinsky: okay? And we move on to the human resources. Agenda Marc Plevinsky: the superintendent recommends, and I do, the following 15.1 termination of employment certificated 15.2 termination of employment non-certificated 15.3. Termination. I'm sorry Marc Plevinsky: it's not even that. Late appointments certificated, 15.4 appointments, non-certificated. Marc Plevinsky: 15.5 leaves of absence certificated 15.6 leaves of absence non-certificated, 15.7 assignment salary change, non-certificated, 15.8 affiliation agreement, 15.9. Other compensation certificated. Do I have a second. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Greenbaum. Are there any questions? Marc Plevinsky: Seeing none? Mrs. Sugars? Can you please call call it Marc Plevinsky: board members? You may cast your votes. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Sugars. I'm a yes, on everything from point from 15.1 to 15.10. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, we have a unanimous yes. Vote. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Mayor, can you please move the policy and legislation agenda. Of course, the superintendent recommends, I move the following item 16.1 approval of harassment, intimidation and bullying investigation. Decisions. Marc Plevinsky: Item 16.2 1st reading of policy. Specifically, that's policy. 51 11. Eligibility of resident non-resident students. That was the policy that we discussed during committee of the whole during our last meeting. Marc Plevinsky: and, item, 16.3 second reading of policies. These are policies which which we discussed at length during 1st reading Marc Plevinsky: and and they were not put on for second reading. So we're doing that now, specifically, though, those are policies Marc Plevinsky: 0 1, 41 board member number and term policy, 31, 60, and 41, 60, physical examination, both teachers and support. Staff Marc Plevinsky: policy, 53, 37 service animals, 53, 50, student suicide, prevention. Marc Plevinsky: policy. 84, 20, emergency and crisis situations, 8,467. Firearms and weapons. Marc Plevinsky: Policy 91 81 volunteer athletic coaches and co-curricular activity. Marc Plevinsky: Advisors and assistants. Marc Plevinsky: Do I have a second, Mrs. Stern? Are there any questions Marc Plevinsky: being none, Mrs. Sugars? Would you kindly open the voting Marc Plevinsky: board members? You may cast your votes. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Sugar is on my, yes, on 16.1 to 16.4. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, we have a unanimous yes, vote. Marc Plevinsky: Okay? And we will move on to new business. Is there any new business to discuss this evening. Marc Plevinsky: Miss Gallagher? Marc Plevinsky: Alright. So let me read what I have. Marc Plevinsky: so I don't forget anything. All right. So Mrs. Winters and I started looking at our current committee structure in the fall to assess whether or not its current structure is best to support our current board and district with comments and advice from fellow Board Members and New Jersey School Boards Association. We decided that our current structure should be changed. Marc Plevinsky: Starting in January 2025, our committees will be policy and legislation, business and facilities, curriculum and instruction and governance. We'd like to add ad hoc committees to focus discussions on other topics as well. Marc Plevinsky: In addition to all committee, all committees will take place on Tuesday evenings to allow for consistency with board members, schedules, and community members who would like to attend times of the meetings are not determined. The new structure will also Marc Plevinsky: be a 3 Board member on each committee with the ability to have a 4th rotate in which will allow for more board members to have access to committees, that he or she do not sit on Marc Plevinsky: having main committees and ad hoc committees means more chances for leadership opportunities. We have 9 eager board members who want to contribute Marc Plevinsky: a govern. Our new Governance Committee, which we're suggesting will be a committee focused on the runnings of the Board. This committee will focus on training roles and responsibilities, and other internal matters that will lead to a more efficient and effective board. In order to staff our committees. Marc Plevinsky: Gina and I work. Sorry, Mrs. Winterson, I worked on a Google form that allows for returning board members and new board members so that we can collect preferences, availability skills and other information. So that, you know members have a little bit more input as to like what committees. Marc Plevinsky: whether they be main or ad hoc committees, that they would choose to sit on Mrs. Winters. Is there anything else you'd like to add? Marc Plevinsky: No, you did a fabulous job. Okay, I just want to commend you for all the work you did. And I just need to confess that Kim, Miss Gallagher really did about 95% of the work. On this. She was fantastic. Miss Stern asked Marc Plevinsky: for committees to be looked at, I think, earlier in the year. It just kept getting pushed later in the year, because with the unexpected budget stuff going on, and then that ran straight into Marc Plevinsky: goals. I feel like it just was a blur. So it really wasn't until the fall and lack of childcare in the summer, and this summer was a blur. It really wasn't until the fall that work began in earnest. Miss Gallagher and I partnered together because we thought it was important to have somebody who had been a committee chair and somebody who hadn't to have multiple board member perspective. But I think the outcomes. Marc Plevinsky: We're good, and I'm hopeful that this is a good 1st step at looking at the way the board is organized, and having it be more nimble to reflect. The, as Dr. Morton said, he does not expect our work pace to decrease in 2025, so that we can be more nimble and efficient, and also to, I think, match board members more effectively with Marc Plevinsky: issues and subjects that they're passionate about, and what and that align with their personal goals as board members. And I think that will make our work more effective. So the idea is to get input from board members about what where they would like to be placed, and then also consider the needs of the board and sort of love match people that way. So there's a synergy allowing board members to develop deeper expertise that they can then contribute back. Marc Plevinsky: So that's at least the idea. In theory. I think Ms. Gallagher did a really good job surveying board members, and also a lot of work with Njsba, who had some really good thoughts and resources about best practices for organizing our Board, and how it should, could look going forward. Marc Plevinsky: Are there any questions, comments? Anybody else? Marc Plevinsky: Oh, yes, Mr. Greenbaum, thank you. I just have a couple comments. I'm I'm all for this I really appreciate the work you put into. This seems like a much more streamlined structure that allows the work to be focused Marc Plevinsky: where it's actually done and putting it on a single night. I think that'll make it a lot more convenient and easier for board members and hopefully for the community as well as well as I really like the idea of having a rotating 4th Board member. It's a fantastic idea. Marc Plevinsky: Just to create a less siloed organization and give everybody opportunities to collaborate Marc Plevinsky: and and opportunities for leadership through the various ad hoc committees. So I just wanted to share those thoughts and thank you very much for your work. You're welcome. Yeah, for sure. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Mayor, I'll admit, when the when the idea 1st came up, I thought, you know Marc Plevinsky: I don't know why we need this. Marc Plevinsky: And then I realized, after I saw saw the proposed presentation, that I had fallen into Marc Plevinsky: something that I caution others not to do, which is, you know, I just assumed that because it was always done this way, that it's being done right. And I saw the presentation. And I realized Marc Plevinsky: it's time for change. Marc Plevinsky: I really like it. I think. Marc Plevinsky: I think it makes a lot of sense. Thank you. You know, checking me and keeping me Marc Plevinsky: so you know I'm not out there saying you need to do this, and and just don't do the same thing, because you've always done it. Marc Plevinsky: You know I fell into that, and so it was a good. It was a good Marc Plevinsky: It was a good experience for me. To see that. But more specifically, I think it does make a lot of sense. I mean, I like, I like these changes. Marc Plevinsky: You know. I expect there's going to be a couple of you know, questions that have come up on, you know, who's going to handle what? When there might be some crossovers, but we've handled crossovers before pretty well. Marc Plevinsky: so I'm looking forward to it. I love the idea of having them all in one day. I think that does make it. I know it makes it easier for all of us, and I think it should make it easier for community. Those that Marc Plevinsky: they'll come out and attend, and and hopefully that'll increase attendance, too, you know. Just one night it's easier for people to schedule. Marc Plevinsky: I think it's probably now it's long overdue. I didn't see it that way at first, st but I appreciate that you put the work into it, and I'm looking forward to helping to make it actually work Marc Plevinsky: cool. Good job, Mrs. Sherfin Marc Plevinsky: also thank you for all the work that you guys put into this echo. Echo. I do have one kind of clarifying question when it comes to the ad hoc committees. I know we spoke about some of the ideas of what some of those committees would address or what have you so my question would be, have you discussed when those would meet? Would it still be on Tuesdays? Would that be different. Is it still Marc Plevinsky: in the same forum that we do our normal committees? Marc Plevinsky: Sure. Marc Plevinsky: So no, technically, the ad hoc committees would be done. Marc Plevinsky: and that's why we're asking for availability. So they could be done at different times. So those would not be done in public. So Marc Plevinsky: that is something that we will need to discuss as to how Marc Plevinsky: that information is presented so that it is so that there's, you know, some transparency right? So the community members, other board members, right? So that we all know, because, like, you know, every 1st meeting of the month we have our Marc Plevinsky: our committee readout. I mean, if we did like every app that could get that could get tedious. Marc Plevinsky: But Marc Plevinsky: I think it's 1 of those things where this is going to be trial and error right? Marc Plevinsky: and so I don't. I can't answer that question, but it's important that we continue to present the information to the community and to the rest of the board, and so that it is like. Marc Plevinsky: you know, on record, right? And that there's a way for the community to Marc Plevinsky: be involved in at least knowing what's being discussed and maybe having avenues of. Because, you know, at committee meetings there's public comment. And obviously there's public comment here. But you know, I think that that's something Marc Plevinsky: that we're gonna have to work through. So I can't answer your question. But obviously, it's really. Marc Plevinsky: it's really important that we are transparent Marc Plevinsky: in that I was. Gonna say, this is a perfect question for the new Governance Committee. But question like that is exactly what the Governance Committee is going to be, for the Governance Committee is going to be the place where these kinds of questions, how are we doing our work. What does that look like? What does our workflow look like? How does that get reported out? That would be something that governance would work on, because that's sort of an internal mechanism of the board. And I think that's a blind spot that we Marc Plevinsky: add to Mr. Mayer's point. It's we kind of do things the way that they were always done, because that's the way they were always done before. So this is kind of an opportunity for us to take a look at ourselves, and also some of the functions that we perform, like the Board, self evaluation, all that stuff would fall under governance, and then governance would manage all that, because it really is separate from the subject area work that the other committees do, and I don't. Marc Plevinsky: Both Miss Gallagher and I think it hasn't gotten enough attention. I mean, it's kind of like one of those things where I almost feel like as a board. We need to level up. Marc Plevinsky: I feel like there's so much going on. And there's 9 board members that need to be fully engaged and involved if we're going to keep pace. So governance is sort of the place that manages us, and how we work together in that workflow and make sure that it's all being done in a timely manner. So there's accountability among Board members, and that it's equitable as well, so that all Board members feel engaged and involved. Marc Plevinsky: That's the hope of the Governance Committee, and also, like we kind of discussed, too. It's like creating, like, kind of like job descriptions, right? That allow for consistency, but also autonomy. Marc Plevinsky: you know. So yeah. Marc Plevinsky: in theory, right? It all sounds great. No, but it'll be, you know, it's gonna there's going to be some learning curves here, you know. But I we went, Jean or Mrs. Winters and I went to a session at the Njsp. Conference about committee structures and the the group that spoke talked about like the Governance Committee, and how it really did change the the board, and and how it really kind of allowed, for, you know Marc Plevinsky: more kind of more buy in, and you know, cause there was somebody who was like making sure that training was happening. Marc Plevinsky: that there was consistency among, you know, committees and the the workload, and how things were structured. And it just really felt like it was a. It was a smart. It was a smart addition to our to our current list of of committees. Marc Plevinsky: So thank you both for all of that. You answered my neck. My follow up question with that was, how would information from those ad hoc committees be disseminated to Marc Plevinsky: all of the people? I was also going to mention that I think that this is really exciting and promising, and for all of those who are listening bear with us in these changes, because I'm sure, as you said, that that was kind of a blind spot you already identified. There's probably going to be plenty more that you have not identified, and you won't know that until we're doing it. So I think that that's totally reasonable. Something else that I would love to add to Marc Plevinsky: further discussions. But before I go there I would say that I love the fact that we're taking accountability for ourselves and and doing the work within our within the board and making sure that we're doing things the way that should be and could be, and are the best way to have them done Marc Plevinsky: and taking that on ourselves. So I appreciate that one thing that I would love to add to the conversation is maybe now that we're going to centralize all of our activity and our work on Tuesdays. Maybe this could be the laying the foundation for making these meetings more accessible, and I don't know how realistic this is, but maybe major events within the district. Maybe Tuesdays are Marc Plevinsky: board related things because I know for me personally, when I have Marc Plevinsky: There's a lot of, for example, Pta conflicts that I can't participate in those, because they just happen to be on Tuesdays. So maybe if we're gonna try to in, you know, be more involved in ptas or working with the Ptas. And this kind of stuff, or them working with us. Maybe we can start discussions on what that would look like to make this more accessible. I don't think a lot of people Marc Plevinsky: realize half the work we do, and a lot of times it's like, is it on Monday? When's that committee. When's this? When's that going on? But if everyone knows, Tuesdays are the Sacred Board work day? Then maybe it could open the line of discussion for other potential, like potential other abilities, to work the limit of conflicts and work with other organizations or groups, or whatever Marc Plevinsky: cool. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Stern, yeah, 1st and foremost. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Gallagher and Mrs. Winters. This is, you know, important work that needed to be done Marc Plevinsky: that needed to be done months ago. And maybe year and years ago, maybe. So you know. Thank you for taking this on and and taking. So you know. Marc Plevinsky: doing as much work as you did. Marc Plevinsky: I think it's great. Marc Plevinsky: I really do. I think that we need to be efficient as a board. We need to do things that make sense make it make sense. Marc Plevinsky: you know, to channel. This is Elmer Stratton. Marc Plevinsky: I think that you know this is this is great. I proposal, and I think the new board will ultimately decide. You know, if this, you know, makes sense for the new board, and I think you know I'm a hundred percent in support of it. Marc Plevinsky: I have a question and and some thoughts as well. Some comments. One question is, would the governance, perhaps put together like a new board, like a board. Like job description, manual like orientation manual, something like that which is a I asked, because it's 1 of those things that Marc Plevinsky: you know. Well, I'll ask the question, and I'll kind of give the rationale behind it. But yeah, yes. Marc Plevinsky: yeah. Marc Plevinsky: that. So that would be amazing. So so, you know. And and I, in the context of that question is, when some some of you have heard me say this before, I mean, we have had. Marc Plevinsky: I want to say, at least 7 or 8 Marc Plevinsky: board presidents in the past 9 years, right? 7 or 8 or 9 years like, I'm the longest serving board President in the past almost decade, which is. Marc Plevinsky: oh, unfathomable that there's been no so little consistency and stability. Marc Plevinsky: and with so much board. Turnover, you know again, Mrs. Tong. 6 years longest serving board member. You know. You know, Dr. Rood, you know 3 years, you know you're you're right up on my tail, you know. I'm 4 years. I mean, it's it's really shocking how much turnover there is right. Marc Plevinsky: Where is the muscle memory. Where is the where is the, you know? Talk about manual for for President. Marc Plevinsky: I mean it's it, you know. You know the the you know. Marc Plevinsky: you know, the truth is that it's Marc Plevinsky: it's the demands are intense, you know. Even things like, did all board members complete their governance training this year. Who tracks that? Who has that responsibility? The President who explains and supports and then also disseminates and ensures that roles and responsibilities are being followed properly the President. Marc Plevinsky: There's just so many responsibilities that Marc Plevinsky: would be better served with a governance committee. So that happening is beyond exciting for me. Marc Plevinsky: you know, for you know, just personally, it was like, you know, okay, President, go, what does that mean? You know? And we can do all the Njsba trainings. And you know Marc Plevinsky: our reps can be. You know, the representatives can help be helpful in guiding us. But Marc Plevinsky: you know, it's a lot of it's a lot of sorting out as you go. So you know, I think it would be enormously beneficial to the entire board to have that, and then have a mechanism, you know something small like, you know. The what do you do when you know you're not copied on emails that you're supposed to be, or or you know. Marc Plevinsky: I can remember meeting with a board member years ago requesting a meeting with a board member, and the board member came, met with me and said, I just want you to know, or 2 board members met with me and said, I just want you to know. We've you know our Board President is aware and supportive of this meeting, and I'm like, who cares, you know? Why do I need to know that? But that was that's Board Norming, and they were always transparent about that, you know. So it's like stuff like that. You, you know, we don't have muscle, memory and and I Marc Plevinsky: It shouldn't rely on individuals right? Any Marc Plevinsky: healthy organization should have processes that are in place, not just people. So you know, this is a little bit of my, you know. Maybe it's some of my frustration, you know, but but I'm being honest, I just think it's really, I think it's long overdue, and it's fantastic. So as far as the other committees, all in support. I think it's a great way to go. We have a lot of work to do. Marc Plevinsky: I keep looking at this. This is Winters, too. So again, just really want to thank you both, any way that I can be supportive as a board member, you know, in this process, please let me know. I would be very happy to be, you know, whatever I can do again. Marc Plevinsky: just to clarify. You know it will be the new board. Ultimately, that will decide right. Tonight's the first, st the opening conversation. Marc Plevinsky: But but I think it could be really, really great. So thank you both. Marc Plevinsky: maybe. Just think of something with what you were just saying. I'm assuming I already know the the answer to this question. But with the Governance committee be the ones that oversee our bylaws that we have or no. Marc Plevinsky: So that was actually Mr. Mayor's question when he 1st looked at it, because he's very territorial, like a dragon about P. And L. So I think the conversation we had was that it would be the way that it is so. P. And L. Would hold the bylaws, but then governance would also read them. Just the way that if P. And L. Has a policy that touches on Cni. It comes to Cni, and then gets sent back to P. And L. So P. And L. Would still retain the bylaws. But it would be in collaboration with governance, and that's to Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Greenbaum's point about the siloing. I think that we need to break down some of those silos and work more collaboratively together. Marc Plevinsky: and I think that will help, and also the rotation of board members in and out of the other meetings, and having the board meetings all stacked on Tuesdays will help with that, too, because if I need Miriam to swing in to see. And i 1 night because we're talking about something that she's the only one who remembers how it works, you know, or something like that. Or if, for whatever reason Marc Plevinsky: Adam needs, you know you to swing in to be enough, because you have special expertise on something that will allow us to do that. It used to be that the only time that a board member would sub into a committee is if somebody else was absent, and a lot of times that was last minute you didn't really get to prepare so it's good to have another set of ears, but this would be more intentional both to allow exposure to other issues, and also to allow for people to be pulled in if their expertise is needed. Does that make sense? Marc Plevinsky: Yeah, definitely, I and I wasn't really thinking about that until everything that you were saying, Miriam. Mr. I'm sorry. Marc Plevinsky: Because I think that sorry. There's 1 of the one of the things that I remember from my my board training, my initial board training was the importance of reviewing those bylaws, too, because, like you're saying, we probably aren't get into the habit of yeah. Well, that's the way. It should be right, because that's the way that they've been. But maybe that's something important that some work can come out of both Marc Plevinsky: committees not to step on your toes, but Marc Plevinsky: re-stepping on them. But yeah, that's I think that's a good thing that we can discuss, or something you know, important to bring up in discussion, too, is to make sure that we're staying on top of those, and that they're current and following the practices that we all agree to Marc Plevinsky: any anyone else. Marc Plevinsky: All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Any other new business. Marc Plevinsky: all right. So we're gonna go to old business and any anybody Marc Plevinsky: have any other old business before we have our goodbye. Old business. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Gallagher has an old business go for it. This isn't really old business, necessarily. It's just more like I just, you know, all the strategic planning portrait of a graduates that are going on right now. Obviously, I know the zone Pta is collaborating with individual ptas, and it seems like kind of school clusters are coming together to kind of maximize. Marc Plevinsky: If for some reason your school or your cluster is not having a strategic planning meeting, are you? Is a person able to join another like if, if like a parent in? I don't know, like a man parent like if we're not doing it, could we go to the one on the west side on the 21st of January? Is it limited? Okay. Awesome. Okay? And then is Marc Plevinsky: I don't remember. If I saw. And obviously those dates would be put in all the district correspondences that come out like, whether through the building principles or the and the and the district as well. Marc Plevinsky: Yes, they will. So you know, as we are converting our website from the current site to the new site. We refrain from putting, you know, plethora of information on the current site because it would have to be just converted. So that doesn't make sense for us. But yes, it will appear. Marc Plevinsky: January. Marc Plevinsky: We come back. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. Any other old business. Marc Plevinsky: So I think this might be a nice time. I think we have some Marc Plevinsky: goodbyes to say if anyone has anything that they would like to the folks who are had a chance. Some of you had a chance to say goodbye. Some of you have people, I think, who showed up for you, as you're saying goodbye in this room, so I just want to kind of open it up as our as we finish our last meeting of the year. You know, as this current board last meeting is this current board just to kind of give that opportunity to folks who are finishing their time for Marc Plevinsky: comments to be said, remarks to be said or not. That's okay, too, Mr. Gomem. Marc Plevinsky: Sure. Why not? Why not be the one to start Marc Plevinsky: so in no particular order, Mrs. Nance, it's really been a pleasure getting to know you this year, and while your tenure was a bit shorter than some of the others, you were selected by this board to support the students of Cherry Hill, and I thank you for your impactful and hopefully meaningful service to the community for the past year. Marc Plevinsky: Well, you're certainly more than just the communities you represent. Marc Plevinsky: I'm really glad you were able to be a voice for those communities, and Marc Plevinsky: you know, I hope you'll continue to to stay involved and be that voice. Marc Plevinsky: This is Tom. After serving for 2 terms, you bring so much experience to the board. You've always been willing to share your insights and experiences from your time supporting the district, and I just want to say it was a joy seeing your daughter graduate last year and just seeing the big smile on your face as a proud mom. Marc Plevinsky: And then, last, but not least, Dr. Rood, I've always thought of you as kind of a bit of a wild card. I don't Marc Plevinsky: never quite sure what to expect, but I know that. Marc Plevinsky: you're an independent thinker who who brings a unique perspective to your board service, and and never shies away from standing up for what's right. You did this again with your remarks tonight, and I know you'll continue to advocate for students and and for various communities. So thank you very much. Marc Plevinsky: Mrs. Winters. Marc Plevinsky: So I'm going to say this about all 3 of you, because it's equally true for all of you. Marc Plevinsky: Your board service is marked by the fact that whenever you were needed you showed up. And I think that's something today when we're all so busy running around. And already the level of board commitment to these meetings, the amount of preparation is high. Every time there was a need for somebody. I'm thinking about Dr. Roo showing up at the preschool meeting we had at Malberg. The public hearing Marc Plevinsky: Ms. Niaz, you showed up for so many community events this year. Every time, every single time I looked at the list of Board Member engagement opportunities your name was on there. I think you probably hit almost every single school during your Marc Plevinsky: you did a you did a fantastic job during your Marc Plevinsky: during your service, and Miss Tong, every time there was something to be done. You came chirping with a smile. Like I Marc Plevinsky: really it. It's to Dr. Morton's point. The biggest gift that we have is is our time. Marc Plevinsky: and the fact that all 3 of you went at different moments in your service, above and beyond, for this district is so commendable and admirable, and I hope to emulate that because it's not an easy thing to do when there's so many other pressures on our lives, family pressures, and things that are going on Marc Plevinsky: in our within our own. You know our own lives, our time, and all that space. But everybody, all 3 of you, always showed up for the kids and showed up for us when we needed you. And I just really appreciate that of all of you. Thank you so much, and I hope you all find enriching enjoyable things to do on your Tuesday nights going forward. But we will miss you, miss you so greatly here at the table. So thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Mayor. Marc Plevinsky: it's late, so I'll sort of keep this brief. But I'm also going to be informal and use 1st names only quad Marc Plevinsky: largely. You are here, Mr. Greenbaum Greenbaum mentioned it that we selected you, and Marc Plevinsky: one of the reasons why I was comfortable doing that was the words that you spoke in this room Marc Plevinsky: during a not terribly calm meeting. Marc Plevinsky: you said things that needed to be said. You said them in a way that they needed to be said. Marc Plevinsky: and I think went a long way towards Marc Plevinsky: helping us understand the importance of hearing Marc Plevinsky: voices that we don't hear from often enough, and we aren't careful enough to listen to Marc Plevinsky: and your presence here. Allowed us to do that. Marc Plevinsky: I'm sorry that it, you know, was not as long as I might have hoped, and as you might have hoped. Marc Plevinsky: but it was, it was important service, and I'm glad you were here. Marc Plevinsky: Your concerns, the concerns of those who who you spoke for will not be silent. Marc Plevinsky: thanks to your presence. So thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Sally. You have always been one of my favorite board members to hear. Marc Plevinsky: and the only board member who is always smiling all the time. Marc Plevinsky: That's not easy. Right? You like. The rest of us, unfortunately, are Marc Plevinsky: blame for things that we have no control over and did not do despite the work we're trying to do never seems to bother you. You also bring perspective, and have from years Marc Plevinsky: before any of us were on the board. That's been very helpful. Marc Plevinsky: So I thank you for that for your Marc Plevinsky: constant smiles, your perseverance, your willingness to be here. Marc Plevinsky: And someday, from now, when the Sherry Hill Public School system Marc Plevinsky: has a Solar Farm for electric buses. I am hoping that it will be named the Sally Tong Marc Plevinsky: Solar Farm. Marc Plevinsky: Ben yours, yours will be the shortest Marc Plevinsky: only because Adam already stole some of my thunder, I wouldn't necessarily say that you were the wild card. I will simply say that when you got up to speak Marc Plevinsky: I always thought this might be really good, but Marc Plevinsky: not sure what that means. Marc Plevinsky: but I was always right, because you always were, and quite simply Marc Plevinsky: I so always saw you, and always will, as the conscience of this board. Marc Plevinsky: Speaking not just for particularly troubled Marc Plevinsky: students and and students who are unfortunately always attacked, being willing to stand for them, but just being the conscience for all of us, for all the students, and helping Marc Plevinsky: us understand the importance of seeing Marc Plevinsky: what's inside of a student's desires. And what can we do as a board to ensure that they can succeed? Marc Plevinsky: You were that person, and hopefully, your Marc Plevinsky: absence will not mean that that important Marc Plevinsky: element of our consideration is in any way weakened for me. It won't be. Marc Plevinsky: Thanks largely because you are here. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, this is Gallagher. Marc Plevinsky: I'll keep it short, too. Ben, Sally and Katia, I just want to say, Thank you. Obviously, this is a lot of time, a lot of frustration, you know it's Marc Plevinsky: it's Marc Plevinsky: It's, you know. So I, you know, appreciate all the time and effort that you guys have put into it Marc Plevinsky: and enjoy enjoy that free time. Marc Plevinsky: I cannot be the only one, but I don't take my silences anything other than I'm just speechless, so enjoy your free time. I'm a little jealous. I hope your Tuesdays are serene and calm. Marc Plevinsky: so I got to speak earlier, so I won't. I won't duplicate but Marc Plevinsky: I do want to remind you all to turn your laptops in. Please don't want to forget that. But yeah, just really, really grateful, really thrilled. Marc Plevinsky: excited, very jealous in some ways, all of the above. But I want to give all of you. Whoever would like time to speak. Marc Plevinsky: Please feel free to have a chance, so go for it. Marc Plevinsky: I'll make one last comment, hope I'm not sure. But I thank you for all your generosity, your good remarks. Marc Plevinsky: I think you guys heading for better next year. I can see you guys already have action plans which I would when I was in there. That's not in place. Marc Plevinsky: So I appreciate that you guys are doing more than Marc Plevinsky: average Poe been done has done, or at least I what I see. Marc Plevinsky: All right. Good luck. Marc Plevinsky: Bring it home, Katya. I just want to thank you all again, specifically. I will always remember all the times that everybody was very helpful. Adam, you follow me around at the State House, my charger, should I plug it over here? Should I plug it in over here Marc Plevinsky: like, I'm okay, Adam Ben, your Marc Plevinsky: your willingness to say whatever is on your mind, regardless of who's in front of you? Marc Plevinsky: miriam and Joel, your leadership. Marc Plevinsky: Kim and Rene, your friendship, your your guidance. Marc Plevinsky: Gina, your enthusiasm on every single topic. Marc Plevinsky: And Sally, your constant smile, like Joe, pointed out, and just thank you all so much. This has been a wonderful experience, and it's it's a 1 in a lifetime thing for some people, and I am just so blessed that I was able to Marc Plevinsky: represent not only the Muslim community, but the disabled community. I hope that this brings more people forward that come from both communities and gives them a space Marc Plevinsky: to advocate for themselves and for others as well. Thank you so much. It's been a wonderful 10 months, regardless of our differences, regardless of our how we voted, or whatever you guys are, all of you are great people, and and this is a difficult job, and I commend you all for doing it for the longest times that you've done it. But I need a break. I really do. 10 months is more than enough, and I will be back, maybe someday, but for now I'm done Marc Plevinsky: well, beautifully said. I'm going to assume we are done with our old business. Marc Plevinsky: We've fleshed out our old business, and we will move into our second public comment. Marc Plevinsky: This is the second public comment section during which community members may comment on any school related topic. If you'd like to speak now, please clearly state your name and municipality. Marc Plevinsky: We will alternate between speakers who are here in the room and those who are online Marc Plevinsky: public comment. The time on the screen will indicate the amount of time you have remaining. Marc Plevinsky: Public comment is an opportunity for members of the community to comment on matters relevant to the operations of Cherry Hill, Public School district, or within the authority of the Cherry Hill Board of Education. Marc Plevinsky: The Board welcomes diverse opinions on relevant matters under established federal law governing reasonable restrictions on speech in public forums, statements which demean individual community members or groups, or which are irrelevant to the operations of the school district or are repetitive will not be permitted. Community members who would like to present information not relevant to the school district are always welcome to communicate directly to the District Superintendent Board, President, and all board members via email or other alternative means. Marc Plevinsky: And with that we will start at the microphone. Marc Plevinsky: Anyone would like to speak. Please approach the microphone. Marc Plevinsky: Please state your full name and your municipality. Hi! My name is Tuba Hussein, and I am from Cherry Hill. I'm sharing a message on behalf of Community member who had to head out. So you should have all received invitations to Muslim Heritage month on January 25.th It would be wonderful for everyone to attend. I think, Phil Murphy announced. December or January. Excuse me, was Muslim heritage month last year there's going to be art performances and food. That's probably a little too spicy Marc Plevinsky: for everyone. We would love to see you all there, and there'll be a lot of students within our district, and I'm sure they'd be happy to see you all there. Marc Plevinsky: And this I wasn't really planning on saying anything, but I just wanted to congratulate and say to Cotia, we are all so proud of you for the work that you've done on the board, representing not just, you know, our community's interests, the interest of disabled people, but always kind of being the voice of reason within our community, too. And just I think you've done an incredible job, always being like, let's see the other side. Let's see the other part of things, and we're all Marc Plevinsky: so proud of you. We've seen how hard you worked, and we are just so proud to know you, and thank you to the rest of the board for being just so kind and supportive to our community. I know there's so many times that Cutsy was like, Yeah, like, you know, Renee's coming to the mosque, I was like, why is Rene coming to the mosque, or like, I'm driving to this conference like with my friends, and it just means so much to not just kind of embrace like our community and people who represent our community, but really embracing someone who we care so deeply Marc Plevinsky: about as an individual, and everything that comes with that, whether it's following her around with a charger, or just supporting her in so many ways. It means so much, and we've heard so much about it. So I just wanted to say Thank you on our behalf. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, and now we go to the line and the hand. The 1st hand up online is the name Gloria Gloria. If you could please state your full name and your municipality. When the timer restarts. Gloria: Bye! Gloria: Can you hear me now? Marc Plevinsky: Yes. Gloria: Oh, Hi! Thank you. My name is Gloria Gao. I'm at Cherry Hill School district. Gloria: in shop. Gloria: and I just want to take a moment to thank Sally Tong for serving on the board for 6 years. Gloria: As you attend your final meeting tonight, I want to thank you for your commitment and contribution for taking the time and for thoughtful and tireless advocation for students, staff, and community. Thank you very much. And I want to thank everyone on the Board of Education. Thank you for your time and commitment. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, thank you. We go back to the room. Marc Plevinsky: There might be. Marc Plevinsky: Wait. I'm sorry if you could. Please hold on. Marc Plevinsky: Are we still? Are we still live, Mr. Blavinsky. Marc Plevinsky: Camera that Marc Plevinsky: delay, delay, delay. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, I'm sorry, Crystal, all right. If you could please state your full name municipality, and make sure to show us Marc Plevinsky: you have time. Marc Plevinsky: Hi, everyone! My name is Crystal Yay, from Cherry Hill. I've been at the microphone a lot of times in my past to advocate for the Cherry Hill community. But this time is a little different. Marc Plevinsky: Usually I'm used to reading off my phone. But tonight I want to be a little bit more authentic and genuine. I really want to congratulate my mom, Miss Tong, who you might know her better as, and really congratulate her for all the hard work that she's put in into the community for the students. For me. Marc Plevinsky: I remember as coming to these board of Ed meetings as early as 5th grade to advocate for bringing mandarin to the school curriculum. And just that introduction and that little encouragement from my mother has really brought me into this sphere of endless possibilities and showing how much potential I have. And she really just showed me how much potentially I do have, and really instilled that confidence in me Marc Plevinsky: really been a strong light in the Asian community specifically, and has really been a point of representation for me to show that anything is possible. I don't think I would have done student government in high school if it wasn't for her. I wouldn't have started my organization if it wasn't for her just doing this whole lifetime of service would not have been a Marc Plevinsky: pathway that I would have considered Marc Plevinsky: a open door for me if it wasn't for my mother, and I think that her being on this board has also done the same for many other members of my community. I see a lot more Asian American advocates and a lot of people who are really interested in educational equity. And I'd like to thank that to my mother has always supported me and everything that I've done, and she's always been on the side of the students Marc Plevinsky: when they have these concerns. She's always been very empathetic towards all the sides. Marc Plevinsky: So I really appreciate all that she's done, and that she was there for me when I walked across the stage and graduated last year. Marc Plevinsky: and Marc Plevinsky: I'm very thankful to have you as my mother, and to have you also as a no now, former board of Ed. Member. But Marc Plevinsky: thank you so much for your time, and we have your favorite flowers, orchids, to share with you. So thank you, and also thank you to the rest of the Board of Ed members, who also probably had to hear me talk a lot on behalf of the students. But thank you all for your hard work as well, and for being with my mother. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Flop it right on. Marc Plevinsky: You can have it back. Marc Plevinsky: Aw, sure go for it. Why not? Marc Plevinsky: No one's going to give you a hard time today. All right. Well, I hope not. Marc Plevinsky: Very good, all right. Thank you. Thank you so much. We're going to go to. Oh, gosh! This is precarious. We are going to go to the line, and the next name online is Nigel. And if you could please state your full name, you're in a municipality. Marc Plevinsky: Timer restarts. Ni Gao: Hi! Can everybody hear me? This is Nico. I go by Nina Gao! I am a resident of Cherry Hill. I have come to these meetings many times before myself in person before Covid. I want to take a moment to thank the Board of Education members, the delegation. Ni Gao: And every week I know these meetings are long, but I also I want to echo what Crystal just said to congratulate Sally Ni Gao: and thank her for 6 years of service to the community. I remember Sally was at the Ni Gao: during the bound issue period. She was at the Chinese school every Saturday, taking the time to explain to the parents there what bound is, and because we have many Asian community members, 1st generation immigrants new to the district. Ni Gao: So she did a tremendous job to support the bound. I really want to thank her for that Ni Gao: and thank you for letting me speak. Ni Gao: that's it. Thank you, Sally, I will miss you. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, go to the room. I think you know what to do. Yeah, raise it up so we can hear you Marc Plevinsky: full name and municipality. Yes, Lily E. Rood, she her pronouns, Cherry Hill. I like Crystal, have been here many times before, although I have not been here for a year and a half when I was sitting at the table as the East Board rep. But I came tonight to congratulate my dad, Dr. Ben Rood, and thank him for his 3 years of service to the Cherry Hill Community on the Board of Education. Marc Plevinsky: As he spoke to it, was me who asked him 3 years ago to run for Board of Education. I was getting involved in politics and education, and I felt strongly that we needed more voices in our community to stand up for environmental sustainability, for transparency, for Lgbtq students, and most of all for Marc Plevinsky: voices on the Board of Education, who were dedicated 1st and foremost to students, and to Marc Plevinsky: doing what I think now. So many folks on the Board have named tonight, which is, you know, advocating for students first, st and I think you helped to bring that priority, and I think that Cherry Hill students will always be better off for it. Marc Plevinsky: So I thank you, and, like you spoke to earlier tonight. I could not come up here without making Marc Plevinsky: you know a more of an issue-based statement of my own, which is that I also have to thank you for having been an advocate for Lgbtq plus students, and particularly trans. Students in Cherry Hill. Marc Plevinsky: When I was last here, as the Student Board Rep Marc Plevinsky: and I made my sort of my own Marc Plevinsky: closing remarks. I remember very clearly the moment in which I asked each member of the Board to commit themselves to continuing to support our trans. Community in our schools, and many folks assured me that that would happen. Marc Plevinsky: and I think it has. But I also think that the conditions to do so have worsened. I think that the attacks on trans students have intensified. They've intensified in this very room they've intensified at this microphone. They've intensified all around the country, and so it takes courage to continue to stand up for the most vulnerable among us, and you all need to continue to do so. It is your duty, and my dad has done so. Marc Plevinsky: and I'm very grateful, and I hope that Marc Plevinsky: much like there will be the Sally Tong Solar Center. I hope that Marc Plevinsky: you know there will be the Benrood. Marc Plevinsky: Cherry Hill support of trans students, memorandum, or something of the sort. So thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: It's nice to see the kids coming back, young adults. Now. Marc Plevinsky: all right, we go to the line, and the name is Rosen. If you could please state your full name and your municipality when the timer restarts Marc Plevinsky: so. Rosen: Mindy Rosen, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Rosen: Good luck to all the members, the outgoing members, and thank you for your service. Rosen: so I have 3 questions that I've written to all of you about. And I've spoken Rosen: the last meeting. And now I'm gonna just for the record. Ask these questions again. Rosen: where does it say that you must have an appointment to be admitted admitted to any school in Cherry Hill? Rosen: Where is the written procedures for admittance to Cherry Hill schools. Where can I see them? How can I get them? Rosen: Then? The second question I've been asking, Where does it say that the box must be checked on an Iep form where your advocate will not be allowed in the Iep meeting in violation, actually of idea. Rosen: Where is the policy that says Rosen: that this, in my view, discrimination is permitted. Rosen: So those 2 questions which I've asked for for a while now. Rosen: and I am very glad you're having all these new board Rosen: groups, especially governance. I'm hoping that maybe they'll bring. They'll learn some of these things there, but I am concerned a little bit about any meeting that would not be open to the community. I think that seems problematic personally. Rosen: So that's it. Thanks. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, we go back to the room microphone. Marc Plevinsky: Please state your full name and your municipality when the timer restarts. Marc Plevinsky: All right. So my name is Dj. Yay, I'm from Cherry Hill, and I am Sally Tong's son. Marc Plevinsky: I'm kind of up here to, I guess. Say a few words related to my mom. Marc Plevinsky: I think when I think of my mom in my head, there's a few words and things that I that come to mind. Marc Plevinsky: One thing is, she's very loud. Marc Plevinsky: She gets her way, and I'm tempted to say annoying. But you know Marc Plevinsky: these are just the superficial things about her. Marc Plevinsky: I think the more deep things that I Marc Plevinsky: have realized about my mom is that. Marc Plevinsky: And or you guys have realized this, too. But she tends to smile a lot. Marc Plevinsky: And Marc Plevinsky: I think a lot of people would think of this as a naive trait like she might not care about things, but I think it's both strategic and necessary, that she smiles all the time Marc Plevinsky: in the sense that it keeps her level headed, and it really fills the room Marc Plevinsky: and affects the people around her to smile more and to stay level-headed as well. Marc Plevinsky: And that's a trait that I really admire about my mom, and that I am so proud of her to exude amongst everybody that she talks to, especially on this board. Marc Plevinsky: The other thing is that my mom brings a very unique perspective, and she could have easily Marc Plevinsky: decided not to be on this board based off the fact that she's not that eloquent. Not that it's her fault, but Marc Plevinsky: she decided to be a part of this board. Marc Plevinsky: because deep down, she really does care about the people around her, and making sure that Marc Plevinsky: everybody's happy, just like she is. Marc Plevinsky: And I'm really proud of my mom for chasing her dreams when she couldn't in high school. Marc Plevinsky: But she has the opportunity now to affect change the way she sees fit. Marc Plevinsky: and I tried to take after her in chasing my own dreams. And so I'm so proud of my mom, and just want to congratulate her for her time on the board. Marc Plevinsky: Oh, very nice. Marc Plevinsky: thank you. I mean, you still have 17 seconds left. Thank you. All right. We are going to go back to the line. And the next hand online is the number 788. If you could please state your full name and your municipality. 1856****788: My name is Jeff Potowitz, and I live in Cherry Hill. Let's talk about some numbers. Some funding numbers, because our funding, it appears, will be cut again first, st which you know, because if I know it, you know it. 1856****788: our equalized valuation increased 8%. 1856****788: You should be more than able to tell us what effect that will have will have on our 1856****788: our aid for next year. You know those numbers. You can estimate it. 1856****788: Tell us 1856****788: 8% increase means we will be affected negatively. You may have the aggregate income numbers. I don't have it, but you very well may. If that's risen. 1856****788: the 2 together. What will the effect be on our numbers? Our aid will be cut. Are you considering this? What's going on 1856****788: when you look the one way which I heard no one talking about. And this has to do with kids with disabilities. 1856****788: Is that that number that census method, number of that we're supposed to receive 1856****788: for our aid, because they decided to go to a census. Method should not be wealth equalized 1856****788: the way it is, and not be roughly equalized at all. So the children kids with disability get that total number. 1856****788: An example of the way the State works is. Last year the aid we got for preschool was 6.1, but you listed it as 7.6. It was not 7.6. Anyone can look at that number, and the fact that you wrote that was wrong, but also you were doing what the State wants at our expense. The number is 6.1. You transfer money down 1856****788: from our total Sfra numbers which are decreasing, and you you provide it. But it's our funds. Another thing is our total funding per pupil in 2,023, 2,024 was over 26 million dollars. So when you look at the cost for preschool, that's the number to work on. There's a number. The other number the state uses called Budget cost for pupil that was left that was left. That was about 20 million 1856****788: 20,000. I'm sorry per pupil, but that doesn't include things like the bond which wasn't included in the 26. And also what else was not included was transportation and other things like that, that 26,000 is a more equal number. So you know something. If they ever take that 14,000 or 15,000 per pupil away from us, we will be sunk as a community. There are a lot of problems, all right. Our taxes are going up tremendously. 1856****788: You got to do something. You got to consider that. And please tell us. Tell us what you figured out an estimate of the numbers of what our aid is going to be next year. Please do that. Marc Plevinsky: Padowitz. Your time is up. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: and we will go back to the room. The microphone. Marc Plevinsky: Please state your full name and your municipality. Marc Plevinsky: Rick Shore, Cherry Hill, Miss Tong. Thank you for your service. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you for always voting for the best interests of children, miss. There was one moment we had together. I can't really go into it, but much, much respect for you, Dr. Rood. Thank you for your service. We might not have always agreed, but like with any wishes, I wish you the best, because that's just good, Karma. I wouldn't wish badness on anyone. Marc Plevinsky: All right, let's get down to the topic of the night, and the topic of tonight is Marc Plevinsky: protecting radical pedagogy. Marc Plevinsky: That's what our district or our board is up to. Marc Plevinsky: Let me give you some examples of what radical pedagogy does. If we look back 2 meetings ago, Dr. Morton stated, there's a tremendous amount of division in Marc Plevinsky: and in our town. Marc Plevinsky: Let's also go back to what Mr. Mayor said about the incident when they posted the Marc Plevinsky: the make tar great again. Marc Plevinsky: Mr. Mayor said they knew what they they were doing, and it was wrong, ladies and gentlemen, that picture Marc Plevinsky: that was associated with vile hate, and everything else that Marc Plevinsky: Dr. Morton and Mr. Mayor referred to is, if you look into it. Marc Plevinsky: that person, if it's true, lives over a thousand miles away from us. Marc Plevinsky: So our district Marc Plevinsky: and our board is throwing our town under the bus. It's called radical pedagogy. Let me give you another example. This is a quote from Dr. Mahan Marc Plevinsky: to address this systemic racism and implicit bias by staff and students. Marc Plevinsky: So we have systemic races going crazy in Cherry Hill. We have bias, staff and students. Marc Plevinsky: you know, and then we come back to the question of Dei and the report from Marc Plevinsky: Rutgers University on November 13.th Marc Plevinsky: Dei is causing more bias and hostility. Marc Plevinsky: This is what builds character of people. This is what builds our Marc Plevinsky: best students. So our board sits here. Marc Plevinsky: and you know you have to ask the question, do you let your children lie to you. Marc Plevinsky: Do you let your children regularly come up and just and just lie to you Marc Plevinsky: every question that comes up about Dei. Marc Plevinsky: It's just basically a big lie. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. Marc Plevinsky: And we go back to the line. And I don't see any hands up online. We go back to the room. Marc Plevinsky: Oh, please feel free to approach the podium. Marc Plevinsky: Please state your full name and municipality when the timer restarts. Jenna Taylor and Cherry Hill, and I just wanted to get up and say congratulations to all the Board members who are leaving, and you'll have more free time on your Tuesdays. Marc Plevinsky: And I just want to say thank you to Miss Tong. Marc Plevinsky: We've known each other a short time, but Marc Plevinsky: you have consistently advocated for student voice, and I can't thank you enough. Marc Plevinsky: It's very important. Marc Plevinsky: And students really care about it. They want their voice to be heard. They want to be in the conversations, and I've always been one of those students who wanted to advocate for myself, but also advocate for my peers. Marc Plevinsky: And I just thank you for that. And Dr. Rood. Marc Plevinsky: I thank you for advocating for all the communities that aren't heard enough. Marc Plevinsky: And just thank you for your support. Marc Plevinsky: You just have gone beyond, above and beyond, in supporting us students from all different walks of life. So I just want to let you know that you have impacted me. Marc Plevinsky: And I just thank you and Miss Niez. Marc Plevinsky: I want to thank you for putting forth your time Marc Plevinsky: and just being a representative for the Muslim community. You don't know how much it means to me, because I don't get to see many people who look like me in rooms. So for me it's very important Marc Plevinsky: that our voices are heard Marc Plevinsky: and that our community has somebody that's standing up for us. So I appreciate it. Marc Plevinsky: And I want to thank you all and just enjoy your time Marc Plevinsky: and keep making a difference in our community. Because us as students, we see it and thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. And we go back to the line. Marc Plevinsky: and the hand up online is Penny Nemintz. You could please state your full name and your municipality when the time go ahead. Pnina Mintz: Good evening, Dr. Penina Mintz, Galloway Township. Pnina Mintz: I want to thank Sally Tong and Nias and Ben Root for their service on the Board of education. Pnina Mintz: I'm a little bit questioning the spending so much time of the Board meeting on self-congratulations, and not attending to the business at hand, of taking care of teaching our students. It's all about feelings. It's all about identities. It's all about different communities. Pnina Mintz: And what I'm not hearing is the only mission that this school is charged with is educating our children. Pnina Mintz: We're not here to self-congratulate ourselves or to feel good about this person or that person. We're here to achieve skills in K through 12. And I'm not hearing any of that. I've been listening and listening, and I'm not seeing it. So I'm kind of wondering what happened? What happened to our schools? Pnina Mintz: I'm not sending emails anymore to the Board of Education, because none of these emails ever get any answers. Nobody cares. So you talk a good game about listening to the public. And you talk a good game about student voice Pnina Mintz: and making the students believe that they have a voice. So you're fooling the students. You're fooling the public, and I'm sorry to say that. And I know I'm making generalization right now about all the Board of Ed members, and I'm sorry about that. But you really have to look at the mirror and really stop that game and start paying attention of what we need to teach our children. Pnina Mintz: and you're failing at that. And you just look at the scores. Look at math scores, you know, reading and writing, and so on. Pnina Mintz: So Pnina Mintz: the taxpayers and the parents and the students are being shortchanged, and I know you love to congratulate yourselves. And you like all these identity politics. And it's really very wonderful. And everybody's so happy. But at the end of the game the students are being shortchanged and turning them into activists is not going to help them in the long run. Pnina Mintz: So I'd like to return to merit where you put the effort in, and you achieve Pnina Mintz: by your own strength, no matter what your identity is. Pnina Mintz: and nobody can help you. You can help yourself with your own brain, and don't let emotions get in the way. Marc Plevinsky: Go back to the microphone. Marc Plevinsky: Benjamin Rood, Cherry Hill. I'll make it short. Nj. Nj. Sla. Scores were all up. The district is sorry. Marc Plevinsky: That's okay. We just want we should get the timer just to be fair. Treat everybody fairly Marc Plevinsky: and just. And Jsla scores are up. Marc Plevinsky: Measures across the district are up. The district is doing amazing. Then the naysayers who want to detract and and destroy will say that we're failing. But I am so proud of our district of our superintendent of the board members at this table. Because you guys have all been fighting for our kids, and the numbers prove that things are going in the right direction. Well done. Marc Plevinsky: Okay. We go back to the line. There are no hands up online. So we go back to the room. If anyone else would like to speak. Please approach microphone Marc Plevinsky: when the timer restarts full name and municipality, please. Marc Plevinsky: Can you restart it, Mary? It's already gone 4 min by the time you're done talking 4 seconds. Thank you, Anne Einhorn, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Marc Plevinsky: several things on January 8.th They're having a preschool information session. Marc Plevinsky: and I was really disappointed to see that only the community members seem only have been banned from this for observation. Informational purpose, as all the taxpayers are responsible for paying for this program. Marc Plevinsky: When you have parent teacher conferences, why are teachers not in attendance. Marc Plevinsky: or have made other arrangements with the parents for those parents with a team of teachers Marc Plevinsky: said that all staff is there for the parents, and I thought the student Kazia, I'll never forget Marc Plevinsky: Ronaldo Terrace in the summer. I will always be glad to take you home and thank you for everything, particularly representing the Muslim community. Marc Plevinsky: I am going to say this Marc Plevinsky: when you do the next leadership team for this board in January, I would hope that you do indeed plan for the future, and that you make sure that you're at least your vice president is someone who's going to be on this board for at least another year, if not 2, because that has been one of the problems with Marc Plevinsky: this situation. Marc Plevinsky: The other thing I'd like to make sure that you all know that you may not like me, or you may not respect members of this community, and but you do sit here in front of all of us. Marc Plevinsky: and you also have the students looking at you, and when you mock and you do a drum roll and you roll your eyes and you laugh, it's not appropriate. I'm sorry we can talk about all kinds of things. But you set the tone. Marc Plevinsky: We're all valuable in this community where we've agreed with each other or not, and sometimes sometimes, if you would take the time you might list it in here that some of these communities absolutely are correct in some of their statements. Marc Plevinsky: I just and hopefully next time around, we can quit the gum chewing at the table. So for the rest of you, thank you for serving. I know I've been there, and I'm glad that you did it for your own sake, if not for anything else, because it's always an experience to sit there. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, we go back to the line. Marc Plevinsky: I don't see any hands raised online. So we go back to the room. Does anybody who would like to speak? Please approach a microphone. Marc Plevinsky: gonna be on the side anyway. So why not? Marc Plevinsky: Can you get? Can you get it? Okay, yeah. Marc Plevinsky: All right. I just want to say that serving on this board has been one of the greatest honors of my life, being the 1st disabled Muslim. To hold this position is a responsibility I carry with immense pride. Like many who have navigated complex identities, I have once struggled with self-acceptance in a world that often treats difference as a limitation Marc Plevinsky: over time. I've come to see these parts of myself as sources of strength and perspective. Today I wear these titles with pride, knowing they have shaped the way. I serve this community and advocate for students of all backgrounds. Marc Plevinsky: In this role Marc Plevinsky: I've had the privilege of building lifelong friendships with fellow board members, staff and community members. I hope that in my time here I've made a small difference in the fostering equity, inclusion, and ensuring every student feels valued in our schools. Marc Plevinsky: I want to thank Dr. Morton and his staff for their dedication to supporting our kids. Their commitment to our schools is invaluable. I also extend my gratitude to our teachers, who work tirelessly to help students succeed. I attribute much of my own success to the guidance and patience Marc Plevinsky: of the educators who supported me. One lesson I learned is that true inclusion goes beyond representation. It means creating an environment where every student feels they belong, regardless of background, abilities or circumstances. It means ensuring our policies and programs inflect the needs of every child, not just the majority or the loudest voices. Marc Plevinsky: This commitment was tested with Ferpa violations this past year. These breaches are trust, affected students and families, and it is unacceptable that resolving them took so long, we must do better to ensure. No family feels their privacy or dignity is dismissed, comments like it was only names diminish the gravity of the situation. Empathy is essential because every child deserves safety and respect. Marc Plevinsky: Looking ahead, we must carefully evaluate our resources while preschool expansion is valuable. It cannot come at the expense of the resources current students. Need we have a responsibility to support students today with the tools and programs necessary for their success. Whether that means hiring an interventionist providing mental health Marc Plevinsky: support or addressing academic gaps. Growth is important, but it weakens the foundation we've built, not if it weakens this foundation we've built Marc Plevinsky: as board members. We must remember we are on the same team, united and serving students. Respect and collaboration are key to fulfilling that mission. Marc Plevinsky: I also emphasize the importance of board etiquette, especially in how we engage with the community. We may not always agree with opinions, but it is our duty to listen respectfully as board members. We set the tone for our district, and must model inclusion, respect, empathy. Marc Plevinsky: The future of district is bright, and I'm confident that the that together we can continue to build schools that serve as source of pride for our community. Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you. Marc Plevinsky: Well, hopefully, you'll continue to come back and do that. Marc Plevinsky: Okay, we go to the line. There are no hands online Marc Plevinsky: in the room. There's nobody at the microphone. So I'm going to close public comment Marc Plevinsky: and move on to superintendent comments. Marc Plevinsky: Thank you, Mr. And I'll be very brief. We. We have not received any budgetary figures, numbers, or anything else. At this. At this point Marc Plevinsky: budget information will be released released after the Governor's address, which does not take place until the end of February. If I'm correct. Marc Plevinsky: anything or any Marc Plevinsky: indication that numbers have been released completely made up, and I'm not quite sure where that would come from. Marc Plevinsky: There's a question about the hit, Grant, the high impact tutoring Grant Marc Plevinsky: and the vendors that were identified. Marc Plevinsky: The amount that will be Marc Plevinsky: allocated to those vendors will not exceed the amount that was approved this evening, so that amount is published on the agenda. And then with that I'd just like to say, I wish everyone a wonderful winter recess. Happy holidays. Happy New Year! Look to see, look to see, look forward to seeing you all in 2025. Have a great night. Marc Plevinsky: thank you, Dr. Martin, and I want to echo Marc Plevinsky: the sentiment of wishing you and the Full Board, and everybody in our community, all the administrators staff. Marc Plevinsky: very restful and enjoyable and peaceful winter break, and for those who celebrate any holidays. I hope you have good holidays and a good New Year, and I'm excited to for the last time. Say. Marc Plevinsky: I'd like to make a motion to adjourn. Do I have a second? Marc Plevinsky: This is Nia's. All in favor. Marc Plevinsky: Motion carries meeting is adjourned.