no good evening I'll call this uh reorganization meeting for the pasaway Board of Education order we'll start with a salute to flag to flag to the flag of the United States of America the repu stands Nation godice liberty and justice for all notification announcement hereby be it known that the piscato Township Board of Education has complied with the notification requirements of the open public meetings act for the announcement of this meeting date and place on April 30th 2023 in the following manner posting of the public notice on the post in board for the Board of Education in the administration building email notification to the newspaper serving Piscataway the home News Tribune and The Courier News email notification filed with the municipal clerk at the municipal building on hose Lane this meeting is being digitally recorded this recording is not an official record or supplement to the minutes and it is tended only as a source of information that the public might utilize at a later date to familiarize themselves with the board's activities so tonight we will be swearing in the new board members uh administering the oath of office and we will start with Miss Shantel Cherry you join me up at the podium J good good okay please raise your right hand repeat after me I state your name I Shantel Michelle Cherry do solemnly swear or affirm I do affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established and to the government's established in the United States and this state in the United States and this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people so help me God so help me God I state your name I Shantel Michelle Cherry do solemnly affirm I do affirm that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of member of a board of education for office of member of the Board of Education and that I am not disqualified as a voter and I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to rs19 col 4-1 one pursuant to rs19 col-1 nor disqualify due to conviction of a crime or offense nor nor disqualify due to a convic or crime or crime or offense listed in njsa 18a Colon 12-1 listed in NJ 188 col-1 and that I will faithfully and partially and justly and I will Faithfully partially and justly perform all of the duties of that office perform all the duties of that office according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability so help me God so help me guide congratulations thank [Applause] you m Stafford ra right hand repeat after me I state your name I Ana Stafford do solemnly swear or affirm do Sol solemly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established and to the governments established in the United States stes and this state in the United States and this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people so help me God so help me God I state your name I AA Stafford do solemnly affirm do solemnly affirm that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of member of a board of education for the office of member of the Board of Education and that I am not disqualified as a voter and I am not disqualified as a voter pursuing to rs19 colon 4-1 pursuant to rs19 colon 4-1 nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense nor disqualified due to conviction or of a crime or offense listed an njsa 18a 12-1 listed in njs 18a colon 12-1 and that I will faithfully and partially and justly and that I will Faithfully Y impartially and justly perform all of the duties of that office perform all of the duties of that office according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability so help me God so help me God [Applause] congratulations please raise your right hand repeat after me I state your name I Lea Rivers do solemnly swear or affirm to to affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and I will BR you faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established and to the governments established in the United States and this state in the United States in the states under the authority of the people under the authority of the people so help me God so help me God I state your name I Loretta Rivers do solemnly affirm do solemnly affirm that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law do I that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of member of a board of education for office a member of a board of education and that I am not disqualified as a voter and I am not disqual qualified as a voter pursuant to rs19 colon 4-1 pursuant to rs19 colon 4-1 nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense nor disqualified due to a conviction of a crime or offense listed in njs 18a col 12-1 listed in njs 18a col 12-1 and that I will faithfully and partially and justly and I will faithfully and partially and justly perform all of the duties of that office perform all the duties of that office according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability so help me God so help me God [Applause] congratulations okay so that that statement is required I don't do it to try and trip up the uh new board members and I certainly didn't make it up so job well done everybody thanks next I'll present the results for the annual school election that was held on November 7th 2023 so the annual school election of the school district of Piscataway in the county of middle sex was held on November 7th 2023 there were 39,19162 Shantel Cherry 3,787 Taha Khan 1, 956 Kimberly Lane 2,14 Gail Nelson 1,920 narj Patel 1,725 Loretta Rivers 3,258 Ana Stafford 3,123 William Lawrence 1,665 okay now we will proceed to roll call Miss Cherry present Dr Connor present Mrs cordino here Mr King here M rashed here miss Rivers here Mrs Salgado Cowen present Miss Smith here miss Stafford present we have nine all nine board members present this evening the next order of business is for the board to elect a president this process I'll begin I will open the floor to receive nominations for the office of president of the board of education do I have any nominations I have a nomination yes I have a nomination okay Tom Dr Connors uh I nominate Shantel Cherry for president I second are there any other nominations for the office of president of the Board of Education I make a mo motion that the nominations be closed seeing none Miss Smith made a motion to close can I have a second second all in favor I I any opposed okay the nomination process is closed as I call your name please confirm your vote for the office of president of the Board of Education Miss Cherry I vote for myself Dr Connors Chantel cherry Mrs cordino Chantel Cherry Mr King Chantel Cherry Miss Rasheed Chantel Cherry Miss Rivers Chantel Cherry Mrs algado Cowen Chantel Cherry Miss Smith Shantel Cherry Miss Stafford Chantel Cherry Miss Cherry congratulations you're hereby elected as a president of the piscatway Township Board of Education thank [Applause] you it was nice having you here for a moment we'll talk later continuing on the agenda the election of the vice president the floor is now open to receive nominations for the office of vice president of the Board of Education I nominate um can I make a nomination yes you may thank you um I nominate um Tom Connors Dr Tom Connors can I have a second second anyone else name going in for vice president of the Board of Education make a motion that the nominations be closed thank you Miss Smith Mr secretary the Motions are closed for nominations uh Mr secretary can you take the role can I just get a second of Miss Smith's motion second all in favor I I I any opposed okay uh same when I call your name please State the name of [Music] your excuse me your selection for the office of vice president miss cherry Dr Connors Dr Connors don't fall asleep now I think he said Mr cordino hear me yes Dr Tom it says my internet connection is unstable Dr Tom Connors all right Mr King Tom Connors Miss Rasheed Tom Connor M Rivers Tom Connor Mr Salado Cowen Dr Tom Connors Miss Smith Dr Connors Miss Stafford Dr Connors Dr Connors congratulations you're hereby elected as vice president of padway Township Board Board of Education please give me a minute Madam president oh go ahead Tom um I'm sorry I couldn't be with you live um congratulations Shantel Lett NAA for being reelected and elected uh to the board you know it's been an honor and privilege to serve as the bright vice president last year as the VP this year I look forward to working with all the board members so that we can best represent the needs and concerns of our community and do what is best for all students of Piscataway I believe that when a district has effective School governance it can promote the achievement of all students through an engaging curriculum in its programs I'm committed to a diverse academically excellent transparent safe healthy and fiscally responsible School District we must commit ourselves to help every student regardless of their income level or background to see their own selfworth and reach their goal go s speaking as an executive State officer of the New Jersey school boards Association I I like to believe and I think we are we serve as a role model to other boards throughout the state um on effective governance to the administration like last year together let's focus on our strategic district and annual goals to make sure that everybody's inspired and given the opportunity to achieve and succeed and last board members We're All in This Together I wish the best to Chantel uh you know in her second term and be well everybody take care of yourselves always be ready um as a team to do your best and thank you so much for letting me serve again as your vice president thank you Dr Connors next motion to establish committees be it resolved that the current board committees be reestablished as standing committees with the committee chairperson and members to be appointed by the board president prior to the first committee meeting can I have a motion motion can I have a second second Mr secretary can you please take the roll call M Cherry yes Dr Connors yes Mrs cordino yes Mr King yes Miss Rasheed yes Miss Rivers yes Mrs algado Cowan yes Miss Smith yes Miss Stafford yes motion carries thank you reorganization resolution be it resolved that the following motions identified as items a through D be approved as presented second Mr secretary can you take the RO Dr Connors yes Mrs gordino yes Mr King yes Mr rashed yes Miss Rivers yes Mrs Salgado Cowen yes Miss Smith yes m Stafford yes Miss Cherry yes the motion is Carri and now at this time we're um going to go around uh to all board members and we're going to actually read the school board members code of ethics um Letta we're going to start with you uh with Section D begin with d and go and read number one read all of it and just one to one you're just going to read the read the beginning of D whereas it is recommended and then read number one okay whereas it is recommended that each year Board of Education reviews and endorses the New Jersey school board association's code of ethics thereby affording individuals members the opportunity to declare themselves willing to be abide to abide by these principles the following actions will renew this commitment be it resolved that the Piscataway Township Board of Education adopts the following New Jersey School Board member code of ethics one I will uphold and enforce all laws state board rules and regulations and core order pertaining to schools desired changes should be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures number two I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools which meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability race Creed sex or social standing number three I will confine I will confine my board action to policymaking planning and appraisal and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them back to counters number four I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools but together together with my fellow board members to see that they are well run number five I will recognize that Authority re rest with the Board of Education and will make no personal promises nor take any private actions which may compromise the board number six Miss oato I will I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interests or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends number seven Miss Smith I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which if disclosed would needlessly injure individuals or the schools but in all other matters I will provide accurate information and in connect in concert with my fellow board members interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its schools number eight I will vote to appoint the best qualified Personnel available after consideration of theend recommendation of the chief administrative officer I will support and protect School personnel and proper performance of their duties number 10 everyone let's do it I Willer all complaint to the chief administrative officer ATS only after ad and now we have officially read the school board code of ethics um did the ready next on the agenda public comments um at this time the Board of Education recognizes the value of public comments on educational issues and school matters of the community interest in support of this position the LA establishes a period of public comment at every board meeting individuals wishing to speak must State their name and address comments are limited to three minutes duration but an individual may speak a second time after all others who wish to speak on topics that have been heard the board may require that individuals registered to speak prior to the beginning of the meeting participants May submit written material in support of their position all statements in or question shall be directed to the presiding officer and no participant May address or question board members individually all speakers are requested to express themselves as a in a civil matter with due respect for the dignity and privacy rights of others whose legal rights may be affected please note while this is not the board's intention to stifle comment on matters of legitimate concern to the school Community the public should be aware that if these statements violate the rights of others under the Lord governing defamation and or invasion of privacy they may face personal liability to the injured party if speakers are uncertain of legal ramifications of their comments the board urges them to seek guidance before hand from their own leg advisor can I have a motion motion a second second uh at this time is there anyone wishing to speak if you do wish to speak come to the microphone state your name your address and you have three minutes to say whatever you wish to speak on then we don't see anyone with their hands coming forward to speak uh motion motion close second second all in favor I and with that can I have a motion to adjourn this meeting motion to adjourn can I have a second all in favor we are offed [Applause] congratulations congratulations see you next week