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Good evening everyone. Welcome to our August 12th board meeting. Please rise to salute the flag. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone. Miss Ikeo, can you please call the role? >> Trusty Gar, >> Trusty Gillis.

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>> Oh. Uh, Trusty Minos >> here. Trusty Pacheco. Trusty Santana >> here. Vice President Dr. Majio >> here and President Leon >> here. >> We have a quorum. >> Thank you. Can you please read these statements of compliance, please, Miss

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AO? >> Notice of this meeting has been provided in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10:4-6, by the board secretary. A written notice was posted in the office of the board of education filed with the township clerk and sent to the designated official newspapers at

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least 48 hours in advance of this meeting. The notice stated the date, time, and location of this meeting, and to the extent known, the agenda to be discussed. The New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of

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this board, except where specifically exempted by law, at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the board of education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having sem advertised in the lender, NJ advance,

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and the record. Also, notice of this meeting has been mailed to the members of the board, the burough clerk, all elementary schools, the middle school, the high school, Hornblower Early Childhood Center, and posted on the district website. Also, this meeting is being televised via the district's YouTube and Facebook pages.

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>> Thank you, Miss Ao. Can I please have a motion for the approval of minutes for our July 8th, 2026 meeting and our August 3rd, 2026 board of education retreat? >> So moved. >> Can I have a second, please? >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> All right, moving along. We are now

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going on to our superintendence report by Dr. Eric Alonso. [clears throat] >> Have a simple >> Good evening everyone. So, it's amazing to think that we're halfway through August already. The summer has absolutely flown by, but

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there's been a lot of progress has been done during that time. I'm sure when you all walked in in the outside hallway by the gym, I mean, by the auditorium here, you saw the fresh coat of paint. The new design looks amazing. So big shout out to our buildings and grounds and our maintenance crew for the work they're doing throughout the district. The middle school is another place that

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looks absolutely amazing. U and there's several other initiatives that we are pursuing on the BNG side. Also curricular and academic. Uh speaking of curricular and academic, I'd like to talk about the ETA electrical training academy. So all our units are officially

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put into place over at CASA. As we mentioned at last month's meeting, this program will is a two-year program and will be giving students a tremendous head start towards their electrician certification. So, by the end of the second year, they'll be placed into jobs

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getting the apprenticeship hours and one more year online, they'll be getting their electrician certification, which is fantastic field. According to some people, it's the number one growing field right now in the country. So, AI is definitely helping with that part as well.

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As far as we have a new student information system, real time there's transition. So if anyone's been trying to log on to P school since June 30th, Power School is no longer with us. We went with Real Time, New Jersey based company and it's been great working with them so far. We are going to in the next

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week or so we're going to be emailing the families with login information. We're just making sure all the backend information is ready to go. So that way when you log on it is a actual clean portal. The parent portal is fantastic. It is a one-stop shop where you could

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look at uh any dues, you could look at your attendance, you could look at any special announcements, grades, one-stop shop for everything you communicate with staff through there. It's it's fantastic. As we all know, the previous student information system was not exactly user friendly. So, it is

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definitely a big win during this transition. Uh in the next two weeks, we have our admin leadership retreat where we will be having a week-long retreat as far as establishing the vision and the direction that we're going with our

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administrative team and just making sure that we're all rolling in the right direction, which is so important with a district this size. Making sure that our Y is grounded, that we're refreshed or renewed. We're having Danielson come in and get some training on our evaluation system. We're also having uh Clifton

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StrengthFinders. For those of you who are not familiar with Clifton StrengthFinders, it is uh an assessment used by many Fortune 500 companies and it's almost like a psych eval personality assessment and it gives you your top five strengths. We're having

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coaches come in and having our leaders learn how to work with each other and how to tap into each other's strengths to make it a more cohesive unit. So, that'll be the last two days. It is uh we did it last year, it was great. This year we're expanding on these strengths to work on our full 38.

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Recently we just received also and we're very happy to announce we received our NJQ sack results and we passed on all areas. So kudos to the team. You know special shout out to the business department, buildings and grounds curriculum and instruction. Those are our main areas of focus. Everybody came

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together provided all the paperwork. For those of you that don't know, it is extremely extremely rigorous uh assessment. It is a full week long. Uh we have people from the county coming in, spend the full day with us. It's all hands on deck. Paperwork of every sort you could imagine. And no, we succeeded.

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We came out on top of that one, which is fantastic. Another update, and I know this is statewide. There's been a lot of back and forth with our policy for cell phones, student enabled devices. That's been big. We heard about it as Governor Murphy was leaving his office probably

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the week before he left. He just left us with that gift. Um, and then somebody had to pick up the ball from there. So, it's been a lot of back and forth and we received initial guidance from the DOE. It's been revised about three times over at this point. So, we have to keep revising as the DOE keeps revising their

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guidelines. So, the one that you see today, it is the most recent as far as guidelines. It is u up there for public uh for public display so you could all see it. I do want to highlight there's a couple requirements for the DOE. One of

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them is it has to be a progressive discipline policy. Has to be a progressive policy. They're very clear that they we have to show progress. So we make sure that we complied with every single component that this policy requires in regulation. But we also feel strongly that a student should not be

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kept out of school because they brought their phone to school regardless of first time, second or third. You know, our goal is to bring kids into school. Our attend is something that we're working on heavily last year and going into this year. and you know this administration did not feel that one of

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the punitive measures to be would be to keep students outside of school. So there is per a progression but I want to make that very clear because I know there's talk and other districts might have adopted it. Um again every district is distinct in what their needs are and I feel that our students need to be in

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school. That is what we're pushing so we shouldn't be the ones keeping them out of school for something like this. Uh, and looking ahead, so we're only a few weeks away. Again, amazing to believe we blinked and we're here. Uh, there's a tremendous amount of work happening. Our

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buildings are right on track to be opening according to schedule with fantastic modifications. Big kudo to Miss Ikeo. She's been on it. She's popped into every building almost every day, which is unheard of. We have 17 sites total districtwide, so it's a lot to be done.

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Uh we've had some great uh partnership opportunities with the town. I'll let her speak to that in her report. And again, last year was about finding the direction uh redefining our identity and the back to basics concept. That was our

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vision, our mission for last year, back to basics. This year, the foundation is almost established. It's there. So, we're doubling down on making sure the foundation is clear and starting to build from there. So that is the goal that we're going in. It is making sure

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that we're educating. We're not doing whatever's trendy, whatever is new, whatever, you know, might be the new thing. We're making sure that we're grassroots our education, our support for our students, our resources, and once we have that clear foundation, starting building from there, consistently scaffolding and

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consistently scaling the programs and the protocols that work. So that is it for my report for the month of August. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Fanso. Uh, moving along to our report from our business business administrator, Miss Ikeo.

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>> Thank you, President Leon. Um, so I I wasn't going to mention it, but uh, Dr. Alfonso did mention that we've had a number of really great opportunities to partner with the town over the summer. So, I'm really grateful for um, the support from Mayor Veles and his team. Um, just this week we've been hosting

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walkthroughs with the Belleville Fire Department at several of our school buildings. Just getting boots on the ground, making sure they're familiar with our footprint. Um, making sure they have, uh, our school maps on their rig iPads, um, electrical shut offs, gas shut offs, roof access, solar panel shut

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offs, things of that nature, so that if in, you know, heaven forbid, we do have an emergency, it's not the first time that they're stepping into the building. Um, incredible professionalism from the Belleville Fire Department. and it's been great to work with them this week. We're also next week hosting active shooter drills uh at Belleville High

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School. So, if you see a number of first responder vehicles, both police and fire department at the high school, do not be alarmed. Um they're actually doing uh simulations of an active shooter in a school, um very important exercise because uh statistically speaking, uh the faster our responders can get to an

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emergency like that um the the lower the chances statistically of fatality. So um them putting the time and effort uh kudos to Captain Maloon and um Chief Alivi in planning this endeavor along with Dr. Sullivan uh a lot of time and

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effort is going into this uh for them to simulate these things. And don't forget uh the way our first responders their shifts work. They have to do it four times to make sure everyone gets gets you know uh access to the to the drill. So um they're putting an incredible amount of time. Um couple other updates

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also a town joint endeavor. um pleased to report that the district recently submitted an application for funding through the school violence prevention program, also known as the COPS grant. As part of this process, we conducted a comprehensive district-wide safety and security assessment in conjunction with the Belleville PD, reviewing our

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facilities, existing security measures, emergency response capabilities, and opportunities for improvement. The findings from that assessment helped guide the safety initiatives and enhancements included in our grant application, which as you'll see on the agenda tonight is uh over $400,000 if we receive that grant. So fingers crossed

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for us. I would especially like to thank Captain Maloon and Dr. Sullivan for their tremendous amount of time, effort, and expertise they contributed uh to putting this grant application together. Um along those same lines, as Dr. Alfonso mentioned, as we prepare to welcome our students and staff back to the buildings in just a few weeks, uh I

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want to take a moment to give a huge shout out to our B&G team. Our custodial maintenance teams have worked tirelessly through the summer, not only completing extensive deep cleaning uh in all of our instructional spaces, but also tackling a numerous facility improvements throughout the district. So, uh, really appreciate them. I also want to

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recognize our technology department, which has been equally busy behind the scenes. They've dedicated countless hours to preparing student and staff devices, completing infrastructure upgrades, updating systems, and addressing many of the technology needs that have come with preparing an entire district for a new school year. So, thank you. Uh, led by Mr. Parapotato. We

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appreciate you. Uh, and then my most important update might not seem that important, but it's super important. I want to take a moment to talk about school meal applications for the 2627 school year. Uh this is incredibly important for all of our families. Uh approximately 1500 Belleville families were recently

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directly certified for free school meals. And basically what that is is we take an an export of our students. We upload them to the state and the state matches our families uh with anyone on SNAP benefits or Medicaid. So about 1,500 families do not have to complete an application because they

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automatically qualify for free meals. They received an email. They're going to get a paper letter and they also got a text message notifying them. If you did not get that notification, I'm saying this to the entire community, you do need to apply for free meals through the application process. Um, even if you do

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not think you qualify, you should complete a meal application. Very, very important. If you qualified in the past, you still have to complete a meal application. It's it's every single year. If you didn't qualify in the past and you're like, "Oh, well, my income really hasn't changed or anything like that." New Jersey re-evaluates the

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threshold uh every single year for what families have to make to qualify. And the threshold is going up every year. So even if you weren't captured in that free meal last year or reduced meals, you should still apply anyways to see if you can uh receive that resource. Um there's a couple different ways you can

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apply. There's payschools central.com. You can download the application in English or Spanish and fill it out and hand it in to 56 Ralph Street. or you can actually come to 56 Ralph Street, the board office, Monday through Friday, excuse me, Monday through Thursday, 8 to 4 next week. Um, language assistance is available. We have several Spanish

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speaking um staff members that can assist with that. Um, and I'm hoping that I can get Dr. Alfonso to read the Spanish version really quick of what I just said. And I appreciate everyone's time. Thank you. >> Next year she'll be the one reading it.

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We'll make it happen. [laughter] So, depending depending what part of Latin America you're from. All right. Okay. Well, thank you for embellishing. Um, and also one more thing, just a matter of housekeeping. Uh, there is an

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agenda item resolution number 14.3. Um, that is just a typo. It's actually just a duplicative of resolution 9.39. So 14.3 can be disregarded. Thank you. >> Uh Mayor Veles uh has some words for us.

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I guess he does. All right. Good evening everyone. It's really great to be with you all here. We're here with Councilwoman Rodriguez. Um so for this month, what we really wanted to talk about again is the uh really the cooperation that the

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township's been having with the school district. Um as the business administrator uh laid out, uh we actually did just a really great um assessments and walkthroughs of the different schools with the fire department. uh there's going to be further checks and uh we also are

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working with the school district and uh getting that important grant. Uh we actually are also working with the state senator Britney Timberlake on that as well. Uh really being aggressive and making sure that we get the resources for our schools that they deserve.

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Additionally, the township is rolling out a hashtag cleaner Belville initiative. Uh, so we're getting back to the basics, the streets, the sidewalks, the trees. Um, all the important things that you feel every single day. Uh, we're getting back to the basics. We're getting back to the pavement. Uh, that

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is our focus, especially as the weather is still cooperative. Uh, working harder with our DPW and, uh, making sure that we are addressing concerns. So, uh, just make sure for all of you here, uh, when you have a concern about a specific street, a specific sidewalk, a tree,

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pothole, any of that sort, uh, make sure there are two avenues to get that done. Um, we are pushing the GOGV Belleville Connect app. Um, it's really, really important. You could actually fill out a form on the app directly. It goes instantaneously uh to the DPW. Um, you

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could also send an email uh to my official uh mayoral account at ephlesbevelj.org. Uh, we're making sure that we are getting all these concerns documented as soon as possible because again, as it gets colder, uh, it's going to be harder

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uh, to really make uh, those important patches, right? There's a difference between a hot patch and a cold patch. It is much easier to fix that in hot weather. So, uh, that's why we're being really aggressive here and really making sure, uh, that we're really getting back to the fundamentals of local government.

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Uh, so again, we really appreciate the cooperation from the board of education. Uh, really great to be here every month and we look forward to working with uh, all of you and, uh, working with our partners at the local, uh, county, state, and federal levels. Um, and the

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additional news that will be forthcoming. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Mayor VZ. Uh, moving along, can I please have a motion to open up remarks by citizens on agenda items only? >> So, move. >> Can I have a second, please?

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Second please. >> Second. >> Thank you. Uh, we are now open for remarks by citizen items only. Our first speaker is Mr. Michael Sheldon. And we have a new clock today. So that will be the timer so everyone the

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audience and our speaker can see. >> All right. Good evening everyone. Michael Sheldon, 47 Floyd Street. Uh questions about a few agenda items tonight. Firstly, 7.70. Um as I'm sure most of the board members are aware, there's been a lot of social media chatter the last 48 hours about

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this particular matter. So, I'm hoping you could uh give some additional information to diffuse the rumor mill and mitigate any uh unnecessary political attacks about this matter. As I see it, what's really going on here is really a lateral move. The individual

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named in 770 uh was formerly a dean for the high school, but recently you did away with all the dean titles, and so now he is becoming a a new vice principal for the high school. Uh I understand there are three current vice principles. So if you

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could confirm that he's going to become the fourth and when I look at his you know his compensation situation I just recently got an Oprah to this effect. Um looking at what he made in 2526 and what he's likely to make in this current academic year it's you know six of one half a dozen of the other. So, I don't

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really see what's happening here as u inflicting a as some people are arguing another gross uh unacceptable uh uh administrative add-on. I I think this is what I am seeing right now is completely legitimate, but I think you know maybe

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some of you want to say a word or two about this to allay any of the concerns in the community. Um next is 9.28. This is the uh uh cell phone policy, but in board docs, the item the policy isn't

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included. So, is this already on Strauss estimate or are you going to be adding the policy statement to board docs? It's it's missing. It was missing as of 5:30 this afternoon. Um, next item 9.2.

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Um, this indicates that there's been a settlement agreement between the board of ed and the Belleville Education Association, which is a teachers union. Um, I'd like to know if you can say a word or two about the nature of this settlement. You may have to wait until the board actually approves it in a few moments, but um, if there's any money's

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exchanged, then the settlement agreement would become operable under the New Jersey Supreme Court case, Asbury Park Press versus Mammoth County. So, you know, I don't know if I'm going to have to do an Oprah, but if need be, I will. And then lastly, um 10.8, uh this is to

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approve an agreement with the new chapter faithbased recovery LLC for this current academic year. Um they seem completely legitimate. They look like a credible medical establishment, fully licensed, but a few people have been

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expressing concern about any possible infringement upon the separation uh the establishment clause of the constitution where where um tax monies are not supposed to go directly or indirectly to support any sort of religious organization. So, if you could maybe

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just said say a word or two about this new group that's uh entering into the sphere here in Belleville and what they're planning to do on behalf of our students, it would be appreciated. And there I go. Zero zero and I'm done. Miracle. Okay. Thank you.

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Okay. Uh can we please have our next speaker, Mr. Shm Duran. Good evening to everyone. Hope you all having a great summer. Um, so the first agenda item that I want to speak on is 3.2. Um, which references the board of

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education goals. Um, I just wanted to know if it's okay. I don't know if it needs to be board approved, but could the board explain what specific goals were established in that meeting back? I believe it was on August 3rd. Um like what outcomes or benchmarks will be used to measure progress towards these goals?

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And just curious like when will these goals uh be made public to to us for the residents here in Bellev? Um another [clears throat] agenda item I have is uh 10.3 which is the approval of student tuition rates for the Essex County of Technology. I

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just want some clarity just like on the nature of our our affiliation and agreement with them. Uh pretty much um how many kids are going to be serviced, what are they servicing our students for, and just how much that will cost the district at the end of the year. And

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then um just like Mr. Sheldon that uh the 10.8 eight item. Um I just want to know specifically since it is a new establishment, what will they be providing to our students uh during the next school year? So for example, will it be home instruction?

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Will it be mental health uh counseling? Will it be um drug addiction counseling? Um I also want to know how many students are are expected to receive these services through this agreement. Um and when I was doing my research, they definitely do look legitimate. I I

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noticed um that historically they they identify themselves as a Christian um faith-based recovery organization. Like does this agreement permit um or require any religious component pretty much to whatever treatment they're going to be providing? For

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example, that could be prayer, Bible study, um counseling, religious instruction. Um, and if they are religious components to this, um, are they completely voluntary or just, uh, separate from the educational services?

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And then last but not least, um, I just want the board to clarify whether any board member, administrator, superintendent, or member of the district leadership has a personal, professional, financial, or family relationship with anyone that works there. That's it. Thank you.

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Uh, is there anyone else in the audience that would like to uh approach the podium? No. Dr. Alfonso, Miss Ike, anything you'd like to address? >> Yes. Um, so a couple of items. Uh, starting with um Mr. Sheldon, you had

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brought up uh 10.8, the agreement with new chapter faith, and Mr. Dan, you brought that up as well. So, um I'll speak to this. So, uh New Chapter Faith is a recovery center for um students that we have contracted with uh if they

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are having a substance abuse issue. So, if a student, you know, goes goes out on an IOP, an inpatient outpatient program, that is typically covered by the students insurance. So when that happens and we send a student out for a substance abuse issue, they can select

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through their insurance provider who they go to. So that was actually selected by the students family. What we are paying for is just the educational component that they are getting while they're there. So it's almost just like a supplement to what their insurance company's paying. So that student was

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actually referred last year. So we're just picking up the agreement because that student will continue IOP into this school year. So, I hope that provides a little bit of clarity. It was chosen by the family and it's being paid for by their insurance company. We're just paying for that educational component.

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Um, as far as uh Mr. Duran brought up, um, resolution 10.3, uh, this is something that just gets approved every year, the tuition student rates for Essex County School of Technology, that is the vocational school in Essex County is a choice school. Um, so students can

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attend there, you know, carpentry and there there's there's a whole bunch of differentmies there. Um, and that is on the district to pick up that tab when students go there. We have roughly 60 to 65 students that go there and that varies and those are only students in 9 through 12 and I hope that gives some

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clarity on a couple of those items. I know that Dr. Alfonso is going to speak on some of the other comments. Thank you. And just to add on to SX Tech, just like charter schools, our students and families have 100% the right to apply for them. And if they apply for them and

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get accepted, then we are the ones who are responsible for that tuition. So it's 100% up to the families. It's part of the school choice initiative. So again, it's just a due diligence on our end. So circling back to Mr. Sheldon, it was 770.

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Yep. 770. As you're most of you are aware, the high school at one time not too long ago about a year ago had four vice principles and two deans. Uh during that time then uh you know some fiscal constraints happened etc. And as we

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mentioned at previous meetings whenever there's uh fiscal shortfalls you have to overcorrect. You have to overcorrect to make sure that you are comfortably sitting within your fiscal means. And then from there as the it's it's a situation that's fluid when it

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comes to your budget. So you have retirements, you have resignations, you have different things that happen uh you know a need for a department or a department that might not necessarily get uh as much attention. For example like our drone program and district we

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had you know not a good amount of uh students who were putting in for us. So drone program we eventually you replace with something else. So ultimately with this recommendation, yeah, correct. Fiscally it makes sense. We're having a 10-month employee who is

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serving under the instructional certificate and very limited on what their means could do. As a dean, you do do discipline, but you are pretty much like a tier one support. You know, you break up fights, you document, but ultimately your hands are tied as far as

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how much you can do. And also, you're only here for 10 months. where the vice principal is a 12-month employee that we do have summer school. We have several initiatives, summer bridge programs, etc. that happen during the summer where the additional administrator would

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absolutely benefit us, but also we do have 1,600 students at the high school, 1,600 students. Our community, as fantastic as it is, it has a large amount of needs. And in order to adequately staff the high school with

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these new initiatives, you know, we have an ID uh we're using IDs at the high school this coming year just to enhance our safety and be able to identify our students. We have a new cell phone policy. We have a ton of new initiatives that we're really trying to push again to enhance the culture, climate, safety,

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and instruction of the high school. This additional administrator would be an absolutely uh essential component to it. And as Mr. Sheldon, as you highlighted also an established rapport within the building, within the community, serving in a role similarish

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similarish in the sense that like I said, it's very restrictive on what you can do when you're serving under an administrative certificate. You have the ability to exercise discipline to to assist the students more comprehensively than just pretty much be a mediator and

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then hand it over to a vice principal. So instead of bringing back potentially one or two deans or trying to go that route, the most effective way is to have a full comprehensive support as an vice principal that's also 12 month who has

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the experience, who knows the students, who has the background and who has a proven track record of already doing a lot of these administrator-like responsibilities with um within our student population and also has an established rapport with our students that the students respect,

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which it's very difficult coming in brand new from somewhere in the outside and building that rapport with students. So there was a lot of things I taken into consideration. We had uh the preliminary interviews. One thing that I prided myself on since I first got here, I said that we build capacity and leadership. Every internal candidate

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that applied that was eligible and certificated for the position was interviewed. From there five administrators, five candidates were recommended to myself. We had a committee of five. We had a rubric. the same questions were asked of every single candidate and

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ultimately this uh this candidate rose to the top and is the recommendation here today. So as far as logistics we went from a principal four VPs and two deans to a principal three VPs and two deans. Last year we did see an

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escalation as far as incidents uh happening throughout the building and then now this year we're still three VPs and we remove the deans. So it's besides it being absolutely a safety measure, it is a overall uh

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remediation to culture, climate, uh student rapport, support, uh has established rapport with our athletes. I could go on and on, but u most of you know who the candidate is and could, you know, absolutely his reputation speaks for himself. So that is regarding that

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one. Um cell phone policy, Mr. show than I thought it was in there. The regulation is definitely in there. Correct. >> 9.28 >> 9.28. >> Dr. Dr. Alonso, if I may, I believe the [clears throat] um documents actually

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appear on 9.3 after we suspend the bylaw for the emergency uh first reading. >> So, it's a sequencing. >> No. >> 9.30. >> Oh, okay. While you're looking for that, I'll just

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Mr. Duran asked a question about um the uh personal financial interest. Yeah, there's there's a requirement not not just of school board members but also of municipal officials that they fill out a personal financial disclosure form where you're supposed to list all of your relatives if you have any personal

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interest. So those form those those those forms completed forms are supposed to be I haven't looked this up in a while but they're supposed to be available on the Department of Education's website. So you can take a look at that for any district not just Belleville. Uh everyone is available there except for the municipal officials. I think that's on the DCA's website. Not that you asked about that

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but it's the same thing. So, Mr. Sheldon, just to clarify, there was uh so the first abolishment occurred when Stes did the update, they changed the policy number instead of just renaming it 2360. So if you look at 930

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it's under the first hyperlink student use of technology is that uh stra as me slipped a quick one on us and it's it is 5516 but it was still hyperl as the previous number. So if you click on it it's still there. We'll update that to accurately

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reflect um and as far as 9.2 the settlement. So with any collective bargaining agreement, you know, you try to be as comprehensive as possible. Some things are either mute in the collective bargaining agreement or some things are

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open to the way that someone reads it. So it was regarding uh six periods and counselors. So the BEA read it one way, we read it a different way and ultimately went through the grievance process and got to this point and both

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parties we found mutual ground and we're good. So that's this settlement is just clarifying that part of the collective bargaining agreement that was a little bit ambiguous in its wording. So that's regarding the settlement and you touched 9 10.8 and oh and 3.2 Miss Duran. So we

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had the administrative the board retreat we it was more on how to develop board goals and there was different there was a list of them that they kind that the board came up with. Then from there there's you know separate conversations going to be had as far as delineating

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which ones are going to be the priority. Boards optimally do have goals. They have strategic plans in place also that are usually about 5 years. Uh this board with the previous administration never had that opportunity. So one of the things we're doing is we're putting all our ducks in a row. We want to have a

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strategic plan in place to have a clear course for the board for the next 5 years. And that is so important because as you know every year depending how many board seats are open it could be one it could be three or four and it drastically changes the dynamics of the board and then it's just like relearning everything and trying to keep the

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momentum on initiatives that we're trying to pursue. So by having a strategic plan in place there's a five-year blueprint in place that any board member coming in and out will be able to just jump on and follow along. So we had the preliminary uh meeting per se which was a retreat. Then from there

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there will be board goals that are going to be established. Those will be pushed out. Uh most likely the president vice president will have a short presentation on it. And then from there the strategic plan once that starts kicking off there will be a ton of subcommittees. Uh residents will be uh invited to be part

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of committees. Staff members will be invited to be part of committees. Township will be invited to be part of committees and having truly a comprehensive wraparound approach that truly is reflective of the entire town and all the shareholders in it. So that is uh that is the objective with this. It is a massive undertaking and from my

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experience it takes a full year if you're starting from the beginning to get a strategic plan polished and out there but there will be periodic updates throughout and um the board is very excited about it. You know it's a lot of the board members will tell you here the year one is a it's it's a rough year

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when you're on the board like what can I say, what can I not say, what can we do, what are the initiatives are in place. Um and then you have you know external parties giving you their version of information and then you try to figure out what is what. So it's a it's a big learning process by having the strategic plan in place. It aligns what the

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community wants with the direction the community wants to go and the administration have one single vision. So that is the goal with the strategic plan ultimately but board goals are part of this process moving forward. So once those are established they'll be pushed out um be published and then everyone

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will be able to see Thank you, Dr. Alphonso, and Miss Ikeo. Uh, can I please have a motion to close uh remarks by citizens on agenda items only? >> So moved. >> Can I have a second, please? >> Second. >> All right. Moving along uh to personnel

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items as recommended by Dr. Alonso, item numbers 71 through 771. Can I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Can I have a second, please? Second. >> All right. Uh, Miss Aiko, I'm going to ask that uh you take agenda item 770 so

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we could vote on that separately. >> Yes. So, first we're going to vote on 7.1 through 7.69 and 7.71. So, that is all of the personnel resolutions except for 7.70.

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Trusty Gar, >> wait, sorry, I'm going to open up for discussion. Uh, do we have any discussion? Any any uh comments or remarks from citizens on anything on this personnel on these items? >> On the other side? No.

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>> Okay, I'll speak up then. Um on May 20th, uh we had let go 22 teachers and we were here till 12:00 in the morning and um it was a tough decision for all of us to um let go that many educators.

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Uh but it was explained to us it was out of necessity and which I understood. Okay, we had to we were four million in the hole. We had to figure it out. Um here at 12:00 in the morning over 70 80 speakers the whole felt like the whole town came out to that meeting. Um to

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come here in August to hire a administrator uh just doesn't really sit well with me. And I understand that people might think it's a uni a unilateral move. It isn't because once

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that person goes up to admin, you got to replace them in the classroom. So that's 60 plus benefits plus whatever the increases from the classroom to the admin position could be $110,000. Okay. Um I have nothing against the

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person for the position. I've only heard great things about this person. Um, but as a trustee and elected official, I do have a duty to the public. Um, us having to deal with the deficit of cutting 22 teachers, having to deal with the

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insurance premium hike that's going to happen again in January. Uh, I would like to I would like to see this get pushed down the road. Maybe have this discussion again in December. Uh, try to get it on the books for for January for

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the new school year. Uh but I would also like to see some data from Dr. Calhoun uh you know based on her personal experience with three VPs based on compared to the previous principal uh that was there. Um not against the move

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but I just don't feel like it's the time right now and and that's why for me today it's going to be a no. Uh, but I am totally open to having this conversation again in December if the data shows it to have it approved for January.

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>> Can I make a comment? Go ahead. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um, I would like to to say that I think it's a fabulous idea and it's not just because I have a student in the high school.

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Um, I believe that putting Dr. Calhoun into the high school as the principal, we need to do everything that we can to give her the tools she needs

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to turn things around here and make the high school successful, more successful. We've been complaining year after year after year. Some of you sitting here have been complaining to us meeting after meeting after meeting. Oh, the

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test scores never go up. Oh, the SAT scores never go anywhere, etc., etc. And well, well, that's on her plate. And a lot of other things are on her plate, like the dress code, like

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behavior, like attendance, etc. And if the previous principal couldn't get it done with six people, >> four VPs and two deans, how do you expect her to get it done with three

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people? So, she asked us for an additional assistant principal and I believe we need to give her the tools that she needs to make this happen.

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And I have nothing but the utmost confidence not only in Dr. Calhoun but in Dr. Alonso and his recommendation and in the person being recommended for

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the position. And I emphatically support the move because the person being recommended would be coming from a classroom position into an admin position for a

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minimal salary increase. His benefits are already there. So that's not a change for us and then we would be able to bring back another person who has already been rifted. So I think it's a win-win for us all the

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way around and I think it's a great idea. >> I agree with Vice President Dr. Maja about um adding the fourth admin. we we're losing two deans and with the new initiatives, we definitely need the

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power in order to put all of this in place. Um I'd like to share if that's okay. Um on May 20th, like Steve said, we had to face um a very difficult um situation where we had to let go of a lot of

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people. Very hard decision to make. I stood in full support of the board decision because I believed that that was what needed to happen. Um, however, I do not feel comfortable sitting here and saying that we need to add another administrator. I hear the reasons for

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this administrator is to enforce policy, but I do not hear anything about student impact when it comes to instruction. I don't hear any impact on testing scores. I don't hear about um someone who's coming in to analyze data and to uh move

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the needle. We are just saying we need extra we need an extra body. We need to change the school culture and an an extra administrator doesn't change school culture. The new administrator coming in that was highly recommended was recommended for a reason. She has a

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job to do and she's going to come in with all of her expertise and her knowledge and support from the superintendent, the assistant superintendent to hold the people who are already in the positions that they are accountable. Um, and so for me as a

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board member, I have to be um, educationally sound in my decisions and also fiscally responsible. Um, and I for those reasons, I I don't think it's a good idea at the moment. I'm not saying that later on we can't revisit this. I'm

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saying that we're basing this off of someone else's data. Um, we're basing these decisions based off the data of previous the previous administrator. um who y'all didn't feel was effective >> was just

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>> or was moved for whatever reason he was moved. >> I just want to and this isn't specific to and just as we're having this conversation we just have to be mindful of personnel rights of individuals here. Okay. As we're as we're talking I just want to make sure it's hard to have a conversation about personnel without talking about personnel but I think you all understand uh we're getting close to

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that line. So let's just be careful. Okay. Thanks. What I'm saying I I believe that time needs to be given to review her data. What is it that let her have a few months to come in and say okay this is we already know what the need is. Okay,

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what changes can I do with the resources that I already have and then later on come on and revisit and say okay I've tried X Y and Z. I still need X Y and Z because this is the data and this is what it shows under my leadership versus going about it from somebody else's um

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data. Thank you. >> And I'm going to speak a little bit about this. So, as one of the only board members that does not have an educational background, I actually come from the finance world. I did ask my questions to the administration. So, for

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those who voted yes on the budget, we are still staying within the budget of the money we said we were going to spend on the current staff. We are not pulling money from any other resources. This money is being allocated throughout the

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the needs that the super and team feel. Um so there is not additional money being pulled from somewhere else. It is being used for the [clears throat] staff and the needs of the schools. And um I just wanted to put that out there that

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no other we're not pulling money. We're staying within the budget that Tina and Dr. Alfonso worked really hard on and um it's important for us to have financial transparency and responsibility and I feel like if they're staying within the

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numbers that we promised that majority of the board voted on I feel like we're still being fiscally responsible. >> Anybody else? >> Well, that will leave me. Um I just want to say that um I agree with the budget

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situation. And I think that it's important for everyone to know that as long as we stick to the budget, it's also important for me to know that we will be bringing someone back. Um, and after asking many questions and spending

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lots of days finding out as much information as I need, I do think that this is within the best interest of the high school. Therefore, I do agree for adding a VP. >> All right, Mr. Ike or call the RO.

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>> Okay, just for clarity sake, we are right now voting on resolutions 7.1 through 7.69 and 7.71 only. Are there any other resolutions that the board members want separated aside from 7.70? Please let me

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know. Going once. Okay, that being said, Trusty Gar, >> yes. >> Trusty Gillis, >> yes. >> Trusty Moses, >> yes. >> Trusty Pacheco is absent. Trusty Santana, >> yes. >> Vice President Dr. Majia,

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>> yes. >> President Leon, >> yes. >> Voting on resolutions, resolution 7.70 only. Trusty Gar, >> yes. >> Trusty Gillis, >> yes. Trusty Munoz, yes.

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>> Trusty Pacheco is absent. Trusty Santana, >> no. >> Vice President Dr. Majia, >> yes. >> President Leon, >> no. >> Okay. Uh, Moline, just to clarify, I just want to make sure with the board secretary, that's a 4-2 vote. Is that right?

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>> That's right. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. On to [laughter and panting] curriculum instruction. Curriculum instruction. >> Do we have it though? >> On to curriculum instruction instruction

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as recommended by Dr. Alonso. Resolution items 8.1. Can I please have a motion? >> So moved. >> A second, please. >> Second. >> Miss Ikeo, please call the role. >> Trusty Gar, >> yes. >> Trusty Gillis, >> yes. >> Trusty Moses, >> yes.

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>> Trusty PCO is absent. Trusty Santana, >> yes. >> Vice President Dr. Misagio, >> yes. >> President Leon, >> yes. Okay. Um on to resolution on board action and board policy as recommended by Dr. Alphonso. Can I please have a motion?

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>> So moved. >> Can I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Got that? >> Mhm. >> All right. Miss AO, please call the role. >> They have questions. >> Trusty Garl, >> yes. >> Trusty Gillis, >> yes. >> Trusty Moses,

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>> yes. >> Trusty Pacheco is absent. Trusty Santana. >> Yes. >> Vice President Dr. Majia. >> Yes. >> President Leon. >> Uh yes to all abstaining from 938. >> Okay. Good. On to resolutions purchasing and business services. Uh agenda items

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101 through 1045 as recommended by Dr. Fanso. Can I please have a motion? >> So move. >> A second please. >> Second. >> Miss IO. Please call the role. >> Trusty Gillis, >> yes. >> I'm sorry. Trusty Garrow, >> yes. >> Trusty Mos,

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>> yes. >> Trusty Pacheco is absent. Trusty Santana, >> yes. >> Vice President Dr. Majia, >> yes. >> President Leon, >> yes. >> Rule two, resolutions on finance agenda items 111 through 116 as recommended by Dr. Alonso. Can I please have a motion?

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>> So move. >> A second, please. >> Second. >> Miss Ikeo, please call the role. Trusty Grow, >> yes. >> Trusty Gillis, >> yes. >> Trusty Manoz, >> yes. >> Trusty Pacheco is absent. Trusty Santana, >> yes. >> Vice President Dr. Majia,

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>> yes. >> President Leon, >> yes. >> Can I please have a motion to open up remarks by citizens on any issue, please? >> So move. >> Second. >> Second. >> All right. We are now open for remarks by citizens on any uh issue. Can I please have our first speaker, Mr.

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Michael Sheldon? Uh this session is 5 minutes. >> Okay. Good evening again. Michael Sheldon, 47 Floyd Street. Um I forgot to ask in regard to agenda item 10.8, which is this uh new chapter faith-based

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recovery LLC. Uh in the verbal description of it, it says $600 per week. But does that mean $600 per week per student? >> Yes. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure that was the case. All right. Um, next thing as uh I'm sure all the board members are

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aware that uh tomorrow evening at the planning board meeting take starting at 7 at 6:30 the town hall um representatives of this board will be doing a courtesy presentation before the planning board over your plans to uh make some sort of parking lot facility

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next to the middle school. I hope all of you come to that meeting tomorrow night because um I'm hoping but it's probably the case that most of you if not all of you are not aware of the history of what transpired with that parking situation

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going back four years ago when the town hall and the board of ed in place at the time um arranged for an 11.9 million shared services bond ordinance which was supposed to result in the creation of a massive parking garage, two-level parking garage

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flanking Washington Avenue with an arable rooftop that was going to allow the creation of a huge outdoor recreational space running all the way from Washington Avenue back to High Street. Obviously, that's all been abandoned. Now, there's some minus little parking thing proposed. Okay. All

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right. Thank you. Now, there's some minor little parking lot proposed, but in any case, you know, $1.9 million was bonded and uh that actually is going to cost Bubbleville taxpayers more than $15 million when the long-term cost of borrowing is involved. We're getting no

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massive parking garage, no recreational space to speak of. So, I I just hope you're able to be there tomorrow night. Now, I've got three minutes left. I want to um say I have a prepared little statement here remarks about the QAC situation. Um while I expect some here

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may want to celebrate the quote high performing label, I'm here to urge this board and our community to look closely at the actual numbers. This report is not a trophy. It is a serious warning light on our district's dashboard. While BEL scored 100% in governance and

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operations, our instruction and program score came in at an 82%. In fiscal management at 84%, in the world of CUSAC, 80% is the absolute minimum line for passing. We are sitting just two to four percentage points above entering

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mandatory state improvement status in the two most critical areas of school operations. That is a razor thin margin. More importantly, the community needs to understand what QSAC actually measures. QAC evaluates compliance, paperwork, and administrative infrastructure. It

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measures whether we have written curricula on file and procedures in place. It does not mean our students are thriving academically. While our administrative processes receive high marks, our district standardized test results, including the NJSLA and SAT

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scores, remain abysmal. A district can check every administrative box to satisfy state code while its students continue to fall behind in basic reading, math, and college readiness. Perfect marks in governmentance mean very little if the actual educational

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outcomes in our classrooms remain profoundly subpar. Checking off state compliance boxes is the bare minimum requirement of running a school system. It is not the ultimate goal. I caution the board against taking a victory lap over an 82% in instruction

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and program. Instead of treating this report as a celebration, I urge the board to view it as a confirmation of systemic disconnect between administrative processes and our teachers compromising classroom achievement. Our students deserve a district that strives for academic

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excellence, not one that settles for barely passing state compliance thresholds. So, with that said, there's one last thing I'd like to mention tonight. Uh, there seems to be an ongoing disconnect between the number of teachers that were rifted and have lost

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their jobs uh come the opening of the school year in September. Uh, tonight, Mr. Leon mentioned 22, but in recent conversations I had with Mr. Mion, the president of the BA just a few days ago, he assures me that the actual number is

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45. So could you please for all of our benefit explain how Mr. Manion is able to claim 45 teachers are not coming back while you're saying 22. Have have uh 23 of those teachers now been rehired in

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the last week since Mr. Mion told me in writing that the number of teachers affected is 45. I'd like to for all our stakes to be on the same page in this matter. So please explain what the number is. Thank you. speakers if you want

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to speakers. >> Can I please have our next speaker, Mr. Shame Duran. Good evening again everyone. Shamil Duran. Um, as someone that's been working in the mental health um, career for the last 13 years, I just have a a

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few questions in regards to that. Um, I'm still I I know I came up here about a couple of months ago and I asked what was the district's vision in regards to just mental health. Um, you guys did a phenomenal job restoring back the special education and the wellness

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department at the middle school. Um, but I'm still curious for the students that are here at the high school. What are we going to do with them in regards to just I know there's school counselors downstairs, guidance counselors, right? Um, but I will I will say this. There's

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a difference between mental health and guidance. And you know, I've been working in this career for the last 13 years. And learning about mental health is not something that comes overnight or in a week. It it's something that you dedicate your life to day in and day out and it takes years and experience. So,

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I'm just wondering what what are going to be the trainings, the the services that are going to be provided to the guidance counselors downstairs because for those that don't know, um for many years, the the wellness department provided mental health services to the

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students here at at in the district of Belleville at the elementary school level, middle, and the high school. So now that that's out, I know at the elementary school level, the middle school level, those services as I mentioned before have been restored. So

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going back to before, just curious right about here at the high school. Just what's going to go on with them? Like what type of services are they going to receive? The training especially for the counselors downstairs, what's it going to look like? What risk assessments need to be established? Uh I know that the

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board approved for the threat assessment team. Um, so I guess I would want like just more information on that. Um, I think that's pretty much it. Let me see. [snorts] Yeah, you know, just for everyone out here, I mean, you guys have seen how

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much mental health has increased ever since the pandemic. So, um, just genuinely curious how we're going to continue to invest in those students who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and other mental health challenges on an ongoing boy on an ongoing basis. And that's it. Thank you

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for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Duran. Uh, can I please have up our next speaker, our state senator, Miss Britney Timberlake. You can bring the baby up if you want. Welcome Senator. >> Thank you. Thank you so much, everyone.

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Hello to our superintendent and to the all the entire board, our board president. Um, I just wanted to stop by to say hello. This is a part of a ongoing thing that I'm doing to go throughout District 34 um and just let

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people know what's going on and uh to reaffirm our commitment particularly here for Belleville um the Belleville school district as well as the Belleville Township. We were able to secure over $400,000 for the township of Belleville in our state budget this

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year. Um but we are committed to doing more. My office is working very hard already for next year's negotiations and appropriations and I'm hopeful that we're going to be able to secure more um but include also our school district in

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that. There's many pieces of legislation that we're also working on legislation to really fill the gap and the divide also around racial biased incidents. Unfortunately, we have seen a rise just

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throughout the state. This is not Belleville specific, but throughout the state and racial biased incidents. And we want to be sure that we're educating our children properly and why that's wrong and insensitivity so that everybody understands how to respect one another, their culture, their ethnicity,

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their religion, their gender, whatever it is. Respect and love one another as human beings on this planet. So, I just wanted to drop in to say hello. On my way in, I heard that uh you know, Richard was confirmed. I thought that was really wonderful. Um, so

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congratulations to you. This is your beautiful baby that I'm holding. He started fussing a little bit there and I just it's second nature to me to just go and pick up babies. So [laughter] being that I have four of my own at home uh under eight. So thank you so much.

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Um, superintendent knows how to get me and uh I'm here for even all of you who are board members. If you have something or issues that you want to talk about or legislation that you think that we need, please contact my office and let me know.

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>> Thank you, Senator. We'll definitely take you up on that. >> Thank you so much, state senator, for stopping by and all that you do. Um, is anyone else in the audience that would like to uh speak on any issue? You just get one time, Mr. Dylan. I'm

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sorry. >> All right. Anybody else in the audience? Mr. Mardro. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Uh good evening everybody. Um I would just like to say thank you to Dr. uh Fanso and the board uh for entrusting me and you know voting me to

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uh serve as assistant principal here at the high school. Uh you know most importantly I also always thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Uh without without him uh we all wouldn't be in our where we are right now. Um so just like to give praise and thanks to him uh my

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beautiful wife and my family, my sons Timothy and Titus. Um and I just want to say you know I'm overall just elated to serve Belleville. It's my been here for 4 years. It's been, you know, a great four years for me here. I I grow to love this place. I'm a resident here. Um I

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grow to love the students, the staff I work with, uh the administrative staff. Um it's just it's just a blessing. And you know, I just want to let you know who I am as a person and as a leader. U my leader my leadership philosophy when I said this in my interview, it was derived from from roots back at home. My

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grandmother was the assistant superintendent of schools in Pennsylvania uh York Pennsylvania where I'm from. Uh, African-American woman. She served in the district for 40 years. One of the first African-American women to, uh, earned a doctorate from University of Pennsylvania. And she was

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really the person who I really looked up to and she helped me grow into who I am today. Um, you can look at me, I'm I'm a former professional football player, uh, division [clears throat] one college football player. But uh one thing I wanted to show at to coming into education with my my you know my why I

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got into education was you know I wanted to serve children. I want to help people. Um and I want to show that I was just more than just an athlete. Um so when I hear things about you know how can we improve the test scores? How can we improve um the academic rigor that's

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that's what I came in education to do. Uh, I want to show that I'm more than just this big brick body here that could just that blocks people and runs around the football field. I want to show that I'm, you know, a team player, collaborative, visionary, and I'm just excited to uh lead here and, you know, work with you all stakeholders as I mean

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stakeholders to you all. Um, serve the community and serve Dr. Khon. So, thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Mojo. Is there anyone else in the audience that would like to speak on any issue? All right, hearing none. Seeing none,

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can I please have a motion to close remarks by citizens on any issue? >> So move. >> Have a second, please. >> Second. >> All right. Thank you. Uh moving on uh to board remarks or committee reports. Would any board trustee would like to go first? Any remarks or comments?

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>> I'll go first. Um >> sorry, Mr. Sheldon. We have a couple answers for you. >> Okay. So, um, quickly touching up on QAC, Michelon, you're right. Like, we're skimming at the 80s. Um, coming into, as

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you know, pretty much a whole new administrative team. The goal was to figure out what's going on, right? So, and as you also know, I'm not sure the public knows, QA, there's some parts that are look back years and then some that are current snapshots at time. Um, that

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being said, personally, I think it's a little biased. the school was 100 when there was a state monitor here. Um I think it's a little biased, you know, but what I do find telling is that part of that look back was the previous year where the monitor was here and that's a score that we got.

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Why is it lower than 100 if the monitor just left and should have left it in great standing? So not going to say anything, but I think that speaks for itself as far as the data instruction. We're off by a couple points compared to 2023, which again is not where we want to be. I agree with you. Belleville

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excellence is not just the term, it's the brand that we're going to push. Uh we're getting all the right puzzle pieces in place. Dr. Kahung being there, she's such a strong instructional leader. Mr. Mojo is going to be an essential part of that as well. Like we're getting all the right puzzle pieces. I was going back to the back to

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basics foundation this last year which again we're thinking establishing a foundation but there was a lot of triage that had to happen with fires no pun intended and everything else but um that is uh as far as QAC I think it's very comparable to where we were in 2023 and

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we had state oversight at the time so the fact that this team has come in with minimal background knowledge and be able to pull off what we did I yes it's not where we want to be but it's a kudos to the team for even just holding it down while we get the right things in place

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without the DOE oversight. Um, as far as the annex, that's one of the first things I think actually you were the first one to ever mention it to me um about this bond and that I would this bond's been sitting here for like 3 years. What's going on? Well, when I got in over a year yet, so three or four. Um, and I said, you know what, let me

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look into that because I don't know why a bond's sitting here for that long. So to think that when we had that conversation, it's been almost less than a full calendar year. And we like the plans that the you all might have seen, I think we could all agree that the number that was attached to might have

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not been a reasonable number. Um, also calculating inflation over the last four years, any possible display you could have seen four years ago definitely is not worth the same now. So that's another thing that this administration absorbed. And instead of letting it sitting there and kind of punting it like the previous administration did,

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within a year we have plans in place. We're getting in front of a planning board. We scrapped the architect, got a new architect, and we're staying within the budget. And we're not even taking away parking spots, which was the previous plan. There was a lot of bells and whistles, but less parking. We're actually adding a couple of additional

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spots, which is not again ideal. We wanted more than that, but it is better than the stagnation we had for four years. So, we're making the best of a not ideal situation also. And as far as the riffs, um, we've had this conversation with the BEA several times.

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And it is far it is as far as the nonrenewals in addition to riffs. That's the number that is being perceived by them. It's the number that we are giving is the actual bodies that are attached to it. The actual reduction in force, not

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non-renewals that might have taken place also. Um, again, I we can say till we're blue in the face, but they could keep saying what they're saying at the at the end of the day. Um, and since that since that May meeting, I've lost count, but I think with including today, there's another educator we're bringing back

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today. [clears throat] And now we have one in the pipeline with Mr. Mojo's promotion. We're bringing back another riff for this coming meeting. We're we're definitely in the mid- teens at this point. And for all of us to look at our neighbors in

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the area who had similar deficits to only have in the teens as far as reduction in force considering as you saw in the budget presentation we were net positive 175. I again I I wish I could tell you exactly how it happened. We just nothing short of a miracle. So we're in the teens as far as a reduction

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in force with a $4 million budget gap. We're adequately staffed. We're right size which has been the term that we've been using and I stand by it. That's pretty much where it comes down to. So, you know, I again it we got a lot of heat for it in this board. Kudos to them

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for taking on it because it was such a big end, but we are in a much better place than I could holistically say all of our neighbors consider considering the amount of the budget gap in comparison to the amount of riffs. We're in the teens for 4.5 because we did get a million reduction in state aid plus a

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3.5 that we found with all the audits that we were doing. Uh we're doing our we're doing our end. we're doing our end and um we're we're building it back. So that is as far as that conversation you hear you heard it here now it's on the

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record that's the I'm not going to say it's miscommunication is uh misinformation that's been given. So uh uh Miss Durant as far as a mental health component we absolutely stand strong by it. We have ASA national foundation

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who's bringing supports as well. We're looking into tellahalth providers. We're actually going to be Did we end up approving another this one or is that >> Marble's on there? >> Yeah, Marble's on there. Marble's on there. Marble is an online teleahalth that works with students onetoone, works with families, works with staff. There

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are comprehensive support system. They're also available to bring people inhouse and this is all grant-f funed. So again, difficult situation. We've had this conversation a million times in May and in June and we I think we had it last month. It's a blur but not ideal

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situation. We're doing the best with what we have and we're looking at all outside sources for funding outside providers to maximize situation and we're also providing an intense amount of professional development to our support services staff to have them uh

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properly equipped. To that same token, we all know that when we go through our certification in our master's graduates program as a counselor, social worker, there's not a track for academic social worker or mental health social worker or mental health counselor. There's certified clinician that's a separate

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ser. But when you get your masters, it's in counseling period. We develop our strengths as we progress in our careers. But the foundational training for counseling, the foundational training for social worker is the same when you're in grad school. So that foundation is there for our staff. Now

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we just need to build up on that foundation that everyone had when they went to school. So did I miss anything? >> No. And I would like to close by saying congratulations to Mr. Modro. I am elated and very very optimistic about

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the future of Belleville High School and our district as a whole. You are a unifier. I've seen it in my time here. Um you were one of the first people I met when I came into the high school. and between you and Marby, I was like, "Oh, we got a big staff here." So, um, just looking to looking forward to

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seeing what you're going to do now given this capacity to really show your worth. And I'm sure you are 10fold. Mr. Sheldon, we we just told another member of the public that he couldn't speak a second time. I appreciate you complying with the rules. Thank you.

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>> Can I please have a motion to close remarks by citizens on any agend issue? >> So moved. >> Second, please. >> Second. >> All right. Moving along uh to board member reports. Would any trustee like to give a report or remark or comments? >> I'll do go ahead.

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>> Who's going first? >> Oh, I can you what? >> All right. Just start speaking. Thanks. >> Oh, okay. >> Who's going? Is she going first down there? >> Liz, you can go. >> Dr. Maja, you may go. >> Okay. Thank you.

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Okay. Um I participated in my committee meetings. time on uh finance and uh facilities. So I attended buildings and grounds. I'm very happy to hear that

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everyone has been working extremely hard to get all the buildings uh ready for the opening of school which is just a few weeks away and everything is looking really really good. Um, I did attend the other night

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uh the family night out and I had a lot of fun. Um, it was a very I thought it was a very successful evening. Saw a lot of people there. I even helped to distribute some free goodies. I was over at the uh Belleville public schools

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truck and I helped to give out free goodies, some squishy apples and uh bag clips, um drawstring bags, all kinds of of nice free giveaways. A lot of other uh tables, tents, different

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groups were there, the police, the firefighter, uh the fire trucks were there. Um, tow trucks were there and then there was free ice cream, lots of giveaways for the kids, uh, resources, school supplies, there was great music,

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there was a train, so much fun, great, great experience I think for the families, rock painting. It was awesome. And finally, I would just like to address something that I heard um at the

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last meeting when I was engaging with a member of the audience who was going back and forth with me about whether or not it was 22 staff members or 45 staff members. Um,

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and I made a comment where I said, "I would like to say something to you, but I can't." And I understand that the person and maybe other members of

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the audience didn't receive it the way I intended it and the person was offended. So I apologize. Unfortunately, the person isn't here for me to apologize to him personally. So if

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you're watching, I apologize. Um, I didn't mean anything offensive by it. Um, what I did mean was that I could not continue to address

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and give definitive proof on how I know for a fact the number was 22 and not 45 because a lot of it relied on data that comes from confidential records

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from personnel and I can't give that information out. So when I said that I'd like to say something to you but I can't, that was in fact what I meant.

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So if you misunderstood what I said or it led to some misunderstanding of what I was saying, I apologize and I hope this clears the air. And if there's ever any time that

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you don't understand what I say or you think I say something and it's not what I meant, please always feel free to come speak to me because I always like there to be an open line of communication between

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members of the community, members of the district, and I always like there to be good feelings between everybody. And thank you very much. Have a good evening. Enjoy the rest of what's left of our

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summer. It's fading fast. Good night. >> Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Maja. Uh, would another trustee like to speak? >> I want >> Yes. I want to say for everybody that has reached out about school supplies

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and home room teachers, I did ask administration about it. Um, so school supplies list, the PTOs, PTAs, and HSAs have done a really amazing job posting it. If you're not following your homeschool's um organization,

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um, please follow that to see school supplies list. If you don't have access to a school supplies list, please contact um, m your your school's principal. And from what I've been told, I believe teacher home room assignment teachers will be towards the end of

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August. Um, and if you have any concerns, um, reach out to your principal as well. But that's my updates for all the questions that I've got about school list and teachers. >> Thank you, Trusty Gar. Uh, any other trustee member?

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>> I'll go if that. >> Trusty Gillis. >> Um, I just wanted to say enjoy the rest of your summer. I'm definitely not rushing to start school, but I'm a little nervous because my son is going to start doing homework. So, I will be reaching out to Senator Timberlake to

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see how to get a 5-year-old to do homework after a really long day. And just and it's wild to think that the next time we meet, it'll be the end of day two of school. So, have a good evening. [laughter] >> Any other trustees?

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Trusty Santana. >> Good evening, everyone. Um I um wanted to share that recently we had a board um a board retreat. Um it was really um a good time spent together um analyzing

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where our board is um where our areas of strength are, where our areas of growth are. Um we talked about upcoming trainings um for us as individuals and also for us as board members as a board as a whole. Um, I'm very excited um to

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continue that conversation and to see us grow and to really set um the bar for what this board um should be doing for our scholars and the education they should be receiving and the training they should be doing for themselves to be knowledgeable to um make the best

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decisions for our kids in our community. Um I hope everyone had a great summer. I on the other hand really looking forward for school to start. I think a lot of parents are. My kids are eating my house at this point. [laughter] Um but um I'm

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really excited to see um what happens this school year, all of the changes that um the superintendent and and the rest of the staff have put into place. Um and just just know that things are going to get better. So I'm excited. Have a good evening.

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>> I just want to wish everyone to a great rest of your summer. take this time that's left to encourage your kids to have a wonderful, positive school year ahead. Thank you and have a good night. >> I just want to thank everyone who came

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out tonight. Uh, as a teacher myself, I'm I'm enjoying these last two, three weeks. Uh, before getting back into the grind, I think my wife wants me out of the house, but that's another conversation piece. Um, I just want to thank the board. Uh obviously there was, you know, uh we didn't all agree on on a

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certain uh agenda item, but I think that's what good government does. I think that you got to have discussions. You got to talk. You got to, you know, pick each other's minds and and not always vote blindly. And I mean, Senator Timberlake, I'm sure you could speak to this in in Congress. Sometimes it's just like party lines and no one has

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discussions. And I know you reached out to the other aisle all the time. And I think it was great that, you know, we did that. You know, it was an interesting couple of days. Uh but in my opinion, that's good work. So, I appreciate uh everyone sitting up here uh putting in time, doing their homework, getting data to make a

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decision. Agree or disagree, that's all fine, but I I appreciate everyone's effort on that one. Uh with that being said, uh to the students out there, enjoy your next couple of weeks. I'm excited for this upcoming school year. A lot of changes. Uh but total faith in Dr. Afonso, Dr. Dia, MSI KO, and the job

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that they're doing, and I'm sure it's going to be a great school year for you. All right. Thank you again for everybody who came out tonight. Can I please have a motion to adjourn the meeting? >> So moved. >> Can I have a second, please? >> Second. >> We are now clo All in favor. All right. Thank you. Our next schedule meeting is

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September 9th. It'll be here in the high school. See everybody then. Have a good night.