##VIDEO ID:-v3pmYQfJ_U## e e e e e e e the exact uh written guidance that um schools have received just so that everybody is on the same page and so from a u a calendar perspective we start uh initial planning for the budget um in October uh we begin approaching the subject with uh School leaders in November we review uh and refine um guidance in December um budgets uh come from school leaders um or requests come from school leaders the end of this week and so generally in December uh before we we break uh for the winter for the winter break and then we start uh reviewing all of their requests we start looking at alignment we start looking for uh redundancies because we want to make sure that we're not wasting dollars between um operations and between um uh schools and curriculum uh and then we wait because we will not actually receive uh State funding um until probably mid to late February uh and so all the while we're continuing to make sure that we are getting feedback from our schools from our school leaders to make sure that what they are requesting um we can continue to advocate for uh cost out and making sure that we have an accurate um assessment of the of the finances and so uh we felt that it was important to just kind of share just the overarching guidance we start with making sure that all of the decisions that U all schools are making are alligned to our mission um and our vision uh and then we specifically um are making sure that they understand um who they're budgeting for and so in this environment student-based budgeting is the uh the strategy and all student based budgeting means is is that the funding follows the student um and that the needs of the student drive the uh changes or proposed changes um or supports that schools are to put in place and so uh from September to November it's really um informing about the cycle uh giving a preview of what schools should expect December and January is really getting granular based on what schools have requested um making sure that we we as a district clarify in February uh continue to in partnership with our board board um to talk about the finances where we are where we would believe we we may be in terms of the projections while we wait for state aid uh and then once we receive state aid um we uh finalize some of those budget decisions in partnership with the board um and then get prepared for uh the March submission uh to the state uh with uh pending that approval the board would then um review uh final a final review and then actually approve the budget in April and so the guidance that we give to um schools are first to identify their budget priorities second make sure that they inform their school Community um about their process what they're prioritizing um and how uh programs and services will be determined continual review and Analysis of student data uh making sure that we are uh continually aligning Staffing to student needs and then taking an individualized approach and so uh no two schools are the same and therefore uh no two School budgets are going to be the same because the conditions in which they operate are going to look different the needs of their students are going to look different and we want to make sure that schools have the latitude and the flexibility to make those decisions uh we also want them to focus on Solutions making sure that everything from their learning schedule to the delivery of services is student facing uh and we want to maximize funding whenever and wherever possible and so when we get uh additional funds whether they be in Grant dollars um or uh rebates or uh distributions that come back due to some of the Partnerships um that we have in in the form of dividends from our insurance um we want to make sure that we are maximizing those dollars to to support students focusing on student needs prioritizing academic achievement making sure that student voice and choice drives many of the decisions and so in um December and January uh we um we conduct focus groups with every single school um and so we've already conducted the focus groups at the middle of the high school starting in January we will conduct focus groups uh students in grades three four and five um in every Elementary campus um we get lots of uh very valuable uh but interesting feedback from our uh our third fourth and fifth graders much of their feedback is really around the overall experience um and um we want to make sure that uh their ideas uh materialize and so we share all of this feedback with our school Leaders with an expectation that action takes place based on what our kids are saying uh we're constantly looking at enrollment um whether enrollment is up or down and then we're also constantly looking at are the uh supports programs and services that are in place are they meeting the needs of our of our students and if not what adjustments need to be made or what new programs or what new Services need to be provided in order to fill such gaps uh in addition to looking at any discretionary uh spending um so given each school's context um how are we maximizing those resources how are we uh leveraging those resources in the form of instructional materials field trips and um experiential learning for our students student enrichment after school clubs um guest speakers family engagement events and then overall staff support and then making sure that we continue to coordinate with departments um to be able to maximize the dollars that are being spent and then uh empowering our schools to be Innovative whenever uh and wherever possible and so in terms of the overarching uh priorities uh from a district perspective improve alignment um of the administrative teams making sure that roles and responsibilities are aligned with the goals and objectives for all of our schools actively engage our communities um as it relates to um system challenges infrastructure challenges budgetary challenges uh continue to identify strategies to secure adequate school funding actively pursue additional revenue streams to support student learning and then commit to uh retaining our dedicated faculty and staff in the area of curriculum continued implementation of the science of reading improving the quality of teaching and learning making sure that we're maximizing the effectiveness of our existing curriculum and resources building leadership capacity to support instruction in the classroom and then building uh District capacity to support uh inclusive schools while also making sure that we refine um and improve our targeted support in literacy and Mathematics specifically as it relates to prek through five uh increasing access to high quality preschool seats for all Oakland families um that's going to be a a a rolling agenda uh and a continued push until we get to uh Universal levels and then also maintaining our uh multi-tiered system of of uh support for students um and so we will be uh releasing uh this information we'll be sending it out this week uh to make sure that it's in the hands uh of our community in addition to a call to action where in January there will be uh opportunities for public comment um at the state level looking at the school funding formula um and we are going to be asking our community to to join us in the efforts of advocating for fair funding for all of our schools thank you the I just wanted to add the the link um for the he hearing on the state funding formula is on the website I added it to both the Collingswood not me the tech team added it to the Collingswood Oakland websites last night so if somebody wants to register to testify or register to be present or submit a statement um on behalf of the schools and in support of us um they can do that so it's on the website are are any of the administrators planning to speak at this point are you planning to speak um I don't know only because it's the 16 and it's January is a crazy month with having reorg meetings like we have six meetings out that week but I will say I said this last night at the Oakland board meeting so rich has heard this already my State Association um the accountability regulations that govern pretty much how we manage the school district and our finances um those regulations sunset in June so they allowed public comment or like the state associations they allowed people to comment on the regulations before they were reauthorized by the government I sat on a committee at my State Association and we spent countless hours going through about 300 pages of regulations making comment um unfortunately Trenton did not accept one comment that we made and some of the comments with that I'll point out I thought were very reasonable um you know how I feel about the 2% um and that in some cases at handicaps the school districts because CPI and cost of living is way above 2% right now and we're still still held to a 2% cap on our on what we can ask for that was set in 2008 so 16 years is I think it's about it's about time um but the argument we made was at least the cost drivers that are in direct control of the state of New Jersey and the Department of Education that they passed on to us those things like um add of District tuition costs that treaten literally they publish the tuition rates tretan sets the tuition rates they just pass it on to us and the transportation costs um that they've allowed to just run a muck in the state um we asked for the ability because I can prove as you well know anybody who sat on my finance committee I can very well prove and I can show those cost drivers just going bananas in both Oakland and Collingswood that even if those two large budgetary line items if I was allowed to increase those above the 2% we would have a little more grace within our budget so that was the recommendation that we made and it was rejected by Tren or or on the flip side if they're making school districts cap at 2% then those I forgot to say that I said the same thing um because the private schools um they're kind of governed a little differently but they do have I guess a board of directors but they have to submit their request for tuition to traton and then Tron approves it and then they publish the rates so the same thing I'm like well we we have a board event and we hold our spending and everything to 2% they should do the same um and Trenton does not hold them to that um unfortunately so um again all of our recommendations that came from a lot of seasoned business administrators who've been I mean I've been around for 30 years and you know um a lot of my colleagues have a a lot of experience as well and our recommendations were flatly rejected by Trenton so in in in addition to that the um there are multiple uh administrative uh associations and so um all of the superintendent associations for every County in New Jersey are all advocating the uh New Jersey Association of school administrators which is also our state agency are also advocating um in addition there are some ad hoc organizations uh alas or New Jersey alas which is the association of uh Latino administrators and the New Jersey Association of black superintendents are all also uh advocating and so every administrative entity in New Jersey is also pushing and lobbying with the state as well so yeah at this point I have to I have to check my schedule if I if I don't I will probably submit a statement um and I do know you also sit on that group but um the there's a local I don't do we have a name yet no name [Music] named local advocacy group um it's headed by Kelly Hingle who's the president of Haden Township and she's put a bunch of like citizens in this direct little area between like Haden Township Collingswood Oakland um I don't think anybody from haddenfield because they don't have the same issues but um I forgot who else is on there but it's board members it's um admins like me it's you know parents and anybody who's just concerned about the state of the way we fund and and um help serve our children um we sit on it so I know there's a meeting in January for scheduled for that too they're also doing committee work at this point so they're forming committees and like I'm sitting on the student committee as well as the storytelling committee because they're trying to find ways to make the case this kind of came up very quickly though so Kelly hle has been mobilizing everyone um and I know that from the student committee's perspective we want to reach out to ptas as well um to try to get you know the student voice the parent voice in this as well so just an update on that and can I say one more thing about the communication for um going as families next week so I thank you for putting that link on the website that's easy to find finding how to if you can't attend but still want to submit a comment is a little hard to find it's all the way at the bottom so I'm I'm going to email you guys and I suggest maybe highlighting a link to that Google form where where people can register to go or submit a comment you can do both through that one link so Fred can I ask that you send the information you're sending to the parents could you also send it to the board members that don't happen to have children in school thank you all right any more questions about the budget process all right moving on to section 3.0 too Fred's G to take over unless you want to recognize yourself but we wanted we wanted you spoke before I had a chance to like jump on you and be like don't talk um but yeah Fred's gonna say a few words but we wanted just to take this time to thank both Denise and Amy for their service um these are unpaid jobs they're thankless jobs but you do it on behalf of your children and you do it very gracefully um and you've served very well so I want to personally thank you uh you will be missed but I'm sure Fred also has some words but we just wanted to recognize you with another plaque you can add to your house but you know so so yeah we we didn't want Denise to uh be schizophrenic and have to talk to herself about herself and so um so I I want to Echo what uh what bethanne talked about and so um being a board member uh in 2024 um is probably one of the most uh challenging uh and thankless uh uh public facing positions that one can have and so um I think it goes without saying that um there is a shared commitment of all the members on this day of uh working together um because we love our community and we love our kids and so um that self-sacrifice um when you're tired when you are uh dealing with your own uh uh family issues busy work life you know being a good parent being a good uh neighbor um that has not gone unnoticed within our community um and the level of thoughtfulness intentionality and Grace that you both have shown um for several years in an extremely challenging time um has not only gotten the respect of our leadership team but it's really gotten the respect of our entire community and so um we have a a plaque just as a symbol as a token um but we can't thank you enough there's no amount of of uh of gift that would be sufficient for the level of investment and sacrifice that you both have made on behalf of the Oakland School District on behalf of the children and families in Oakland um but we wanted to say thank you uh thank you for your service thank you for your commitment um and don't be a stranger [Applause] [Applause] ban do you mean to tell me we're not getting paid for this bill if you think you've been getting paid this whole time I want to see your bank account hun that's all I'm saying he watch that 50 years of back pay I'm saving it up for one big payment PR um so if I could to I just want to take a moment to to thank both Denise and Amy uh for your service and dedication to this board uh it's been an honor to have both of you on um your your commitment your dedication um you know speaking without any reservation um I've always appreciated that and and um Denise has been an honor to serve alongside of you as president um you've been committed to the district to these children um your decisions have always been given careful consideration and thought uh and you've come on with No Agenda or ulterior motives but you know just wanting to do what's best for Oakland so to Denise and Amy again both I I thank you both for your service it's it's been an honor to have you guys on this [Applause] board thank you all very much it's been an honor to be here thank you um all right moving on to section four Committee of the whole uh is there a motion to go on to Committee of the whole so moved second moved and second and all in favor I I all right we're now in Committee of the whole does anyone have anything for committee of the whole I feel like I had a note and I don't know where it is so oh I happen to have a note oh thank you Bill you you screwed up my whole my whole system here I was going to begin with thanking you for uh all of your service and now that's that's deflated so I've got to I got a quick scramble to go to something else uh one of the things I'd like to talk about is is the committee system that we use I don't know that it's effective uh I I don't know that Oakland being a k to5 school really needs that uh I I think personally I would like to see it as a committee of the whole uh it would add time to the meetings like tonight's meeting would be a little bit longer but it would also free up a night where you wouldn't be going to the committee meetings problem I have with the committee meetings is there are you're on one of three committees so you know exactly what's going on in onethird of the items but we're asked to vote on all of the items uh I I I think it would be better served if we discussed everything as a a Committee of the whole where everybody you I could hear what Amy had to say Amy could hear what I had to say uh and it it just it it may something she says may uh bring up something that I hadn't thought of and maybe I could expand on that or something I I think we ought to look hard at uh uh doing away with our current uh committee system because I don't think it's effective uh I don't think it provides the uh uh the best information for the board and we're we're voting on things that uh we may not know a whole lot about I'll respond see preach of the choir and that I don't love two nights however I think in those meetings first of all the committee chairs do a nice job of following up with some high level notes and it's not to say we've disag we have not openly disagreed on things in this room however if we're not in agreement in the committee meetings I feel like that's a better place because then we have to present to our community that we're a board and were aligned with stuff and yes there are times where there have been no votes and yes votes for certain things publicly on YouTube in front of our guests or community members here but I think there probably is something important to be done behind the scenes so that we present ourselves as a solid team but I'm with you like I I don't love the two consecutive Tuesdays either so I I think I would be indifferent to whichever method we choose but I I think that that is an important place where we can vet some things out without the community saying do they know what they're talking about I think credibility is important and the Optics of those disagreements um not that we disagree frequently but I think it's probably better to do in a small forum so that when we do present whatever we decides the best outcome for the greater good we we're credible do you think maybe the public would like to hear us discuss it or it's not all in agreement do you do you agree with everything you and your husband talk about I don't no I don't and I don't even agree with everybody at the table at all times like and you guys know that so I don't feel bad saying it but at the same time like yeah I do there's something to be said where I think people do enjoy witnessing not a confrontation but making things uncomfortable cuz when something's uncomfortable change can be made if everybody was comfortable all the time it wouldn't catalyze change for sure but I don't know like those are just my thoughts on it and we and we get the summaries and yes it's not the same as being in the room and hearing what led to those summaries but I don't know I see both sides of it so this just my two sons and I I I would agree with that as your board secretary can I give you my two cents only because I've I no okay um again a couple things first I want to say you do have a bylaw that if you want to go down this route um you know you have to see a new president you know you can't do anything tonight you have a bylaw and it would have to be amended right now you know um I don't know that there's a proposal to do that but that would be the process you have to you know engage your new president and have a discussion and public amend your bylaws to govern differently that's number one number two I have served um in two capacities my very first school district was a k to8 and they did everything by Committee of the whole so the way it worked you're still at two nights folks the first meeting in L of committee it would be a committee of the whole where you go over every item on the agenda but it's in public and then you come back the next week and you do it all over again so um so that's number so the two nights I don't know that's solving anything but my only having witnessed all of you for the last 11 years there is value in the committee in that people are camera shy I know Bill's not um and I'm not you know as you know but some people I want you everyone to be able to say exactly what's on their mind and not have it be be out in the universe you know um cuz I it's happen in Collingswood where people get Tongue Tied not so much anymore but in the past people get Tongue Tied so in when it's just three or four people and you're like arguing an issue or really getting like passionate and we do sometimes because we're talking about children we get very passionate about this um I just want to bring that to your attention that you know sometimes you know It Gets Lost in Translation and sometimes we we may say things that I got to Quick say stop talking we have to go into a close session because we don't realize that we're bringing up things you know what I mean um especially during budget season as you very well know we go we go everywhere during budget season so talking about certain topics publicly we may be in and out of close session a lot as well so I just wanted to there's a lot to it um to just to be considered that's all that's was going to be my question is could we do I mean I concur with Bill I concur with Jen um but could we have the committee as a whole as closed session the whole the whole thing that's not a that's not a thing okay um it would have to meet which is why like you'd be coming in and out right soon as like somebody says something inappropriate I'm going to jump on you and say shush um it would have to be one of the items that is listed that would um make it a need to go into a close session like legal Personnel um something violating someone's right so we would have to like zip it go into a close session then give the the public an estimated the amount of time we're going to be in the other room um and then come back so but yeah yeah the now I've worked under both systems so I've seen them both how how they work I wouldn't do two nights with the committee of the whole I don't see any reason to do that uh some of the concerns about the the discussions are are valid concerns but we don't often and I'm talking Oakland now we we don't often run into those things and I'm not worried about the nights when I was calling to rep uh Rich can testify as to how many nights you're out uh uh in a month and that that doesn't bother me I've done that for years I don't miss meetings I I just don't uh so I'm not worried about that I'm I'm just worried about the the discussions I want everybody to know everything that's going on we all have to vote on everything and when we vote on it it's it's this is what we're going to do and I just want to feel that everybody understands that the budget issues you know the budget issues are are going to be the budget committee uh that we'll we'll know exactly what's going on but everybody else is limited to what we we can think to tell them about or what you guys can think to tell about uh so it's it would be better I think if everybody understood the budgetary items that uh that are being discussed and the same way with uh with curriculum there's a lot of discussion on curriculum uh that you know you guys know what's going on but the rest of the board may not know what's going on we get we get your policy oh your policy I'm sorry yeah it's okay curriculum who's curriculum oh okay curriculum oh uh and policies the same way I mean you know you put down your policy and uh that was one of the things I asked about too if we could get the italicized form for the second reading so that we don't have to flip back and forth uh to figure I mean that's a valid valid question I mean what I would I just thinking as a group I think all of us on this board have unique talents that's why we're all here not all the same I think committee structures work because you gather people who have either a very vested interest or a talent in these certain things so that they can be the experts so that fellow board members can go to them with questions and what have you I think it's completely valid that you especially when we're going into a budget review process that may be a bit difficult as we've been surmising might happen in the coming year that all voices need to be heard I'm not sure if changing the whole com the whole meeting structure is necessarily a solution to that maybe there's other Solutions like could we have special me meetings for these things could we have another Retreat we did one Retreat could we do multiple we're talking about these kind of bigger issues I don't there are agendas that don't warrant you know massive mulling over things and there are ones that do so I would rather seeing see us putting together a structure where you know we're we're everybody we're delegating the work in a way that's manageable because not everybody can go to four meetings a month I mean that's again maybe gave us a raise but I don't see that happening and but not with a 2% cap we can work on that but at the same time we can I think we definitely need to address the problems that you're bringing up because then what does happen tends to happen is there's Communications on the side Communications on email with only two people and what have you so and I've seen that as something that's challenging for me as a board member because maybe I feel like I'm left out of some of the communications maybe I have similar questions so I think it's warranting a conversation but I I don't personally think that changing the entire meeting structure will solve all of those problems I mean even more to what you said like I I've been in a lot of committee meetings where we won't have an answer for something that night right and we have to wait that whole week before we can actually get an answer for it to be approved so I think it would also delay um being able to approve things on on the board nights so as much as I agree with you I think I mean that that's a good point so this is this comes up you know like every so often uh as we have new board members come and go and and and that type of thing um you know I I've always been more of a mind like Jen where I think we need to you know always present a united front right and that doesn't mean we all have to vote the same way and I'll often coach new board members with that same advice um to Teresa's point you know the I we do have a standing uh executive session on the agenda so for those bigger topics when it is budget season and that type of thing we could plan to go into an executive session to discuss some of those bigger topics the the other thing too um just a thought is you know a lot of times with our committee the whole portion of our meeting we kind of go into it like we did tonight and saying anybody got any news you know but if if we really want to maximize that time too the the president or whomever is floating through all the committee meetings as they've done um you know that could be an agenda item for our committees to say like are there questions or or things that I should as president have put on the agenda for committee the whole based on the committee meeting so that might help to focus these conversations as well and keep some of those other topics um at the Forefront a little bit more um I know for me personally I never think of it that way when I'm in committee meetings so I probably should start thinking that way hey can we put the this topic or whatever on committee the whole just so we can talk a little bit deeper about it um and and put it out there for the for the board as a whole um I think that would be a good use of that time I just want to add that the whole reason we started the um summaries of them was to sort of help with it and maybe we just have to look at making sure that that's happening and maybe what information is included in that versus what might not be included just as a way to make sure that it is getting through and if there is a need for a further discussion we have other tools as I'm also in support of the many the the three committees okay that went over well well bill I think it was an important discussion and I'm glad that you brought it up and I think it is it I mean in the seven years I've been on the board we've gone back and forth several times with it so I don't feel like it's I don't feel like this is a a resolved thing but maybe we need an action item as to what the next step would be do you want to add the bylaws question onto the January committee I would say once we have our leadership in place we can re I think really discuss this in in January um so once we have those people in place I think we can really hit the ground running then all right thank you uh anyone else for committee of the whole all right is there a motion to come out of Committee of the whole moved second moved in second and all in favor I all right now moving on to section five of future dates um so this information about uh what's coming up for the next month uh there's some PTA events which I'll skip um the school is closed for a winter break um from the 23rd uh through the 1 and students return on the second and the board reorganization meeting is on January 7th at 6:30 here in the library um moving on to section six routine board business uh is there a motion to approve the minutes from November 19th so moved second mov in second all in favor I all right that's approved uh moving on to section s this is the first public comment section um um so this is for items that are on the agenda only please stand state your name and address keep your comment or comments to five minutes or less um you actually don't need to say your address if you don't want to there's a piece of paper over there or you can write your address if you prefer that all right anyone have anything all right moving on uh section8 this is the superintendent report Dr McDow okay um section 8.01 um is the attached enrollment report enrollment for November of 2023 was 269 enrollment of 2024 uh November 2024 is 273 uh 8.02 and 8.04 uh and 8.05 are the school safety uh anti-bullying and CST uh quarterly reports and all three of those are also attached all right thank you um there questions on any of those items from board members right moving on to section nine uh the business administrative report Okie doie um 9.01 is a listing of your November 2024 monthly budgetary transfers 9 point 9.02 is your um financial report so it's your board secretary and treasur Report and all the related Financial backup 9.03 is a listing of the purchase orders that were issued in the month of December 9.04 is a listing of the warrants that will be paid tomorrow morning uh pending approval tonight thank you all right section 10 uh finance committee Mr Jimmy thank you good evening uh first I'd like to thank thees for uh sitting in for me I was uh not not here last week so I'll stumble through this the best I can um we're looking for approval on 10.01 the approval of budget transfers 10.02 and three for the approv approval of uh certifications and non ere expenditures 10.04 the approval of secretary treasur reports 10.05 and six for the approval of purchase or orders and warrants um on 10.07 we're looking to accept uh $2,000 honorarium for the participation in the National Association of nurse nurses research and data collection study uh 10.08 looking to approve a contract between uh the board and Stacy Goran our new lawyer uh Miss Goran will represent the uh Oakland Board of Education as the school solicitor for the remainder of this year um ending at uh the end of 2025 school year um 10.09 looking to approve the use of facilities for the uh OC Panthers basketball to use the gymnasium on Monday Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. uh starting in February and in May uh 10.10 looking to approve the use of facilities again uh for the Collinwood band director to hold indoor guard practices at the Oakland School cafeteria on Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 beginning um that already began um back in uh November and ending in March of 2025 and 10 uh 101 looking to approve another use of facilities for the Oakland Little League to use the Oakland school gymnasium and baseball field Monday through Fridays from 400 p.m. to 900 p.m. uh starting in January 1st and ending uh March 31st uh the facilities will be used to hold light indoor pre-season practices and outdoor practices when the weather permits thank you um just a note on 10.11 we discussed this in committee but there's a limited availability of the gym at the moment um so the um um little league would need to work with uh John  on when it would actually be available because of the other groups that have already been approved for that yeah the notes on it did say when available so correct yeah um all right is there a motion to approve 10.01 through 10.11 so moved second moved and second it are there any other questions from board members about any of those items and just to knowde 10.08 um came about from our discussions at the November board meeting um so that change would start as of January 1 correct all right on a roll call please Mrs Ezekiel yes Mrs Fel yes Mr STS yes Mrs Rondo yes Mr McMillan yes Mr tab yes Mrs Maran yes Mr Schaefer yes Mrs go yes all right section 11 this is curriculum and Personnel Chad all right uh and as Jimmy did I'd also like to thank whomever it was that sat in for me Tuesday as I had a hea heating emergency at my house so appreciate that um so just a couple items here item 11.01 uh we're looking to approve our qac district Improvement plan uh that was provided by our assistant superintendent of instruction and curriculum Merit of Hell Turner uh if you had a moment to look at that it's um we're looking to increase increased Proficiency in English language arts Math and Science um also looking to update curriculum uh in ela and uh the Visual and Performing Art so we're looking to approve our qac Improvement plan there in item 11.01 and in item 11.02 we're looking to approve the following um substitutes um and nurses there you see Emily foron and Nicollet rra so uh just those two items we're seeking approval on items 11.01 and 11.02 thank you is there a motion to approve those items so moved second moved and second and any questions for board members yes yep I I've received a note over the weekend that says the osac Improvement plan will be uploaded later Meredith is fine-tuning it and we're going to approve it tonight that's the dip right that's the qack Improvement plan it was attached isn't it okay all right so I'm sorry say say that it's attached to the agenda it was uploaded ear the we last last it's item well okay now I I missed it responded about then I guess this is from you that responded well you sent an email to a bunch of us and I responded Yes and it is attached it's 11.01 it was attached it was upload voted in the board box yeah yeah yeah okay I guess I missed it I'm sorry I all right uh on a roll call Mrs Ezekiel yes Mrs fael yes Mr STS I stain on 11.01 yes on 11.02 Mrs Rando yes Mr McMillan yes Mr Tavy yes Mrs marmian yes Mr sha I'm sorry I got you Mr schaer yes Mrs bka yes all right moving on to section 12 uh School community relations and policy committee this is teres uh item 12.01 is the report from the colums with board Mr TV thank you uh we have our board meeting over in Collingswood last night uh um just uh highlights and the board agendas were sent out to all board members uh so that's in your inbox um just some updates uh of note um kwood High School uh senior string quartet perform they sounded fantastic so it's great to uh kick off the meeting with some holiday Tunes um we also discussed uh the uh public comment for uh the funding at the state level um with the notes I sent out a link to the uh broadcast Memo from the Department of VI that also has all the links so if you're unable to to find it on the website um you can just click on that link in my meeting notes um and access all the information there it has all the dates uh for the month of January um just some upcoming dates uh to keep in mind uh January 21st uh Kingswood Middle School PTA meeting that's on Google meet um Snowball Dance is the January 24th 8th grade open house is January 30th and the end of the second marking period uh for congs with middle school will be January 20th or January 30th rather um and I believe that uh that information will be in Genesis as well um Dane coder our representative uh had some updates from the students um this past month we've had two bake sales to raise money uh for uh children in Gaza um winter sports is officially in full swing um he lamented uh smart passes and Wi-Fi being a little glitchy um and reindeer games is coming up at the high school which everybody's really excited about as well um from the superintendent report uh Collingswood Middle School made the news uh for uh our food pantry and all the work that they're doing there so that was pretty exciting um and then uh a lot of class trips being approved uh choir Mark mock trial um art students will be going to New York uh later in the school year and the High School uh TV production and art students will be going to La so pretty pretty cool stuff there um so that's it from Collingswood really quick not no mention of the Freaky Friday play and the musical that went off this weekend which was freaking amazing all right thank you um item 12.02 is PTA Lee is on report Mrs Rond hi everybody so L PTA me meeting was on the 3D of this month um they reported that there are 134 members at this time Miss Balden gave an administrative update that included thank you to all the parent volunteers that helped during P piter day and the fall classroom parties and also reflected on the family fun night that was a big hit that was like November 22nd and um there was an update in terms of the winter classroom parties that are going to take place this Friday um which is a full day of school the room room Ambassador tried to like um sorry about that they encouraged everybody to follow the Facebook page for updates the PTA does a nice job of keeping everybody current on the Facebook page past events included a prek and kindergarten family fun night there were special Thanksgiving to Mrs ishido and Miss Serena for leading cosmic yoga um family fun night again there was like about a hundred people that showed up for the first one of the Year everyone really had a nice time um the winter event was this past Saturday the PTA holiday shop is going on this week the fifth grade promotion committee is in full swing they plan for an amazing year moving forward um events and fundraisers are in the planning stages with the most recent one being the candy gram um and that is really kind of where I'm going to go with this in terms of a board update thank you when is the next meeting January we're gonna go to January L will let us know okay um item 12.03 is the omac report M butko um so meac hosted a small but vibrant gym night on of the 13th uh last Friday and Santa came to visit um they're working with Miss Balin to sponsor recognition for the Hawks awards they're also working with the high school on an assembly and they've requested inclusion in the 2526 Grant application um I also asked Adam because a question came up in our committee um so mayac host the um men's basketball league or I guess it's co-ed over 30 basketball league on Tuesday nights um the brittle Brothers um and a question was what's their participation looks like and you said it averages about uh 12 to 16 people a week so good good participation there um and Bill reminded us that that's been going on a long time many years long time long time and that's all thank you um item 12.04 is the Education Foundation um we have not met since our last meeting but we will be possibly meeting tomorrow or sometime soon as soon in the new year um to discuss recruiting new members um we have a really great vibrant new group of new parents um that you know I'm seeing a lot in the PTA so just putting a public call out anyone who wants to help um the Oakland Education Foundation again is a 501c3 organization that can raise money for anything that the school district needs um so if anyone is watching or listening and wants to join um please reach out um item 12.05 is a policy for second reading it is um 8467 uh the firearms and weapons revised um and then we have item 12.06 is a regulation um we just do one reading also it's the regulation for the policies 8467 firearms and weapons so we are app seeking approval for items 12.05 through 12.06 is there a motion to approve those items so move second you've done seconded you pick uh any questions from board members on any of those items right hearing none on a wot call please Mrs Ezekiel yes Mrs Vel yes Mr STS yes Mrs Rando yes Mr McMillan yes I'm sorry if more than two buttons uh they don't work Mr mcdan yes Mr tab yes Mrs Maran yeah Mr schaer I can hear you really well not that the thing's not blowing Mrs bushka yes moving on to section 13 uh miscellaneous um we have uh nothing from the previous month so there's nothing here uh section 14 is the last public comment section this is for anything that you wish to bring before the board uh please stand and state your name you can write your address on the paper um and keep your comments to five minutes or less good well I did come to say congratulations to me she's one of my good friends tonight but M but I have something else I figured I'll make a public comment why not so so my name is this okay so my name is Karen Williams and I live at 21 East bwood Avenue in Oakland so first of all I wanted to congratulate the collinswood middle school for their phenomenal rendition of Freaky Friday which happened last weekend the cast crew and teachers did an amazing job my son this year my son Ethan Mercer is in eighth grade at Collingswood Middle School and it was his first year participating in a show up until now he has mainly focused on Sports but this year he tried two new things one the School Musical and two the school's chorus and I started off with my appreciation for the performing arts department and I'd hate to have to shift to disappointment but here I am I wanted to express to you my sincere disappointment that there will be no in-person evening holiday concert this year to showcase the middle and high school's Bandon chorus like I said this year is the first year my son is in chorus my daughter who was in fourth grade at Oakland school as well as the grandparents of my kids were also shocked and disappointed that they will not be able to attend this performance as I'm aware the show was canceled due to a lack of a contract between the teachers union and the administration the taxpayers of Oakland are paying for our students to attend a school that has more than once canel events due to the lack of a contract I'm a Geno Union nurse and my husband belongs to the United academics Philadelphia Union so we know about bargaining but this has gone on too long to the school board I urge you to consider the Fallout from the the lack of a contract when teachers cancel events like back to school night and performing art shows it creates division between the school the kids and the parents to the Collingswood Administration we urge you to settle the contract for the sake of your students and their families thank you Karen anyone else all right uh is there a motion to adour so moved second M and second all in favor I we are we areed thank you all