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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=jUytMQNh__4

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Hey, this meeting of the Ocean Township Board of Education comes to order. We previously opened this meeting. >> There is an executive session. Mr. Hastings, do you want to do the roll call? >> Yes, sir. Thank you.

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>> Mr. Brady, Mr. Covert >> here. >> Mrs. Dan, Mrs. Gilman, >> here. >> Mr. McCarthy >> here. Mrs. McGovern >> here. Mr. Schneider >> here. Miss Stevens, Mr. Dalton >> here. Okay. Uh just briefly for president's

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report today, just a couple of items. Uh Miss Weldon and I were speaking about the uh new staff uh welcome, new staff orientation, which is on Monday, August 24th. The official welcome is at 9:00, but I know that for those of us that have attended in the past, we usually

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come a little earlier to greet people and talk to them. If we could just let Miss Weldon know if we plan to attend, uh that would be helpful. Um, so that's Monday, August 24th, figure between 8:30 and 9:00, probably starting at 9:00 to welcome [clears throat] our new uh

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staff. Um, also I did share an email with everyone. I know Mrs. Gilman and I had the opportunity to discuss it. There's been a lot in the news about the school funding formula and the governor putting together that new group to look at that. Um, I kind of perused the site

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myself. You can sign up for regular updates. There's an interesting learning series in in the first category and in that learning series they get into the history of funding the funding formula adequacy local fair share equalization a aid and categorical aid and it's all

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done in a in YouTube videos um so if you want to you know give yourself a little lesson um it's all available there I just thought it was interesting that in one week it showed up on my newsfeed like five times >> um so I thought it would be worth sharing so I did send you all the link.

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Um, in this time of school funding, we all want to pay close attention to all of that. And at this point, I turn it over to our superintendent as well. Then, >> thank you. Okay. My part of my report this evening was also to remind everybody that we are having our new

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faculty orientation uh beginning next week under the direction of Dr. Kishia Morgan. Our new faculty will start here uh in our administration building learning all about district practices, procedures, teaching and learning, best practices and then they will move on to

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the school buildings later in the week where they will uh meet with their principles and their supervisors about specific assignments and and school procedures. Um but we are excited to welcome them to our district next week. So if you can join us, that would be great. The welcome address and

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introduction is at 9:00 a.m. but it does begin at 8:30. So feel free to come a little earlier. Um, [clears throat] also last week I sent out a communication to all parents and families that our Genesis parent portal is now open for parents to complete their back to school

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forms. Parents need to complete these back- toschool forms in order to be able to view their child's schedule or teacher home room teacher's name when we open that part of the system. So, we are encouraging all parents to take a few

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moments and log into the Genesis parent portal and complete all of your forms. I also would just add a little extra reminder. This is in my newsletter every single month, but I encourage everyone to choose their preferred language in

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Genesis. In doing so, when we send you letters through our messaging system, you will receive the letter in your home language. Sometimes people are receiving it only in English and may think we're not translating it, but that's not the

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case. Anyone who has selected a preferred language is getting the letter in that language. So, um, I really encourage all families to take a few minutes, follow my newsletter. The instructions are in there. It's very easy to do. And if anyone needs any

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help, they can always call the main office of their school for assistance. The schedules will be available for TOIS and OTHS on August 17th and all elementary school home room teachers

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will be available on August 24th. I know that's an important day in the life of a student, a summer day in the life of a student. And uh so mark your calendars. Secondary TOIS and OTHS August 17th, elementary August 24th. And then just a

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few other important dates that we have coming up. We welcome our 10-month staff back on September 1st with uh two professional development days. Time for them to set up their classrooms and their offices and their spaces and prepare to welcome back our students. On

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September 2nd, while our staff are also participating in professional development, we have a number of orientation programs, our 9th grade, our preschool, our kindergarten. And this summer, I'm excited to announce that Mr. motto and Mr. O'Neal and the

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intermediate school team will be hosting a an in-person orientation for fifth graders. So that we're excited to bring that back. That'll be on September 2nd. So in all of our schools, we'll be having orientation programs for our new students or new to the school students

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so that they can get acclimated a day before the rest of the student body returns. The first day of school this year is September 3rd, 2026. That's a Thursday. We're excited for that. We're excited to welcome our students back. Okay, at this point now I would like to

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introduce Dr. Kalishia Morgan who's going to present to us the student use of internet enabled devices. This is a program this is a the culmination of work that Dr. Morgan led all year long um when the state released new guidance

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on allowable uses of internet enabled devices in schools. She worked together with our administrative team and she's going to present this to you this evening. Also, the policy that coincides with our procedures here is also on the

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agenda tonight. So, you will get a more in-depth look at how we are going to uh follow the our own policy. Dr. Morgan. >> Thank you, Miss Welden. Good evening, board of education members and members of the public who are

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listening. Tonight we want to share with you an important update regarding student use of personal internet enabled devices during the school day. Our goal is simply not to explain a new expectation. However, we want families to understand

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why this change is taking place, what it will look like in our schools, how we will address individual student needs, and how families and schools can work together to support our students. Next slide please. Beginning with the 2026,

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I'm sorry, 2026 2027 school year, New Jersey law requires every public school district to implement a bell-to-bell policy limiting student use of personal internet enabled devices during the school day. While this is a state requirement, it also supports priorities

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we already value in the Township of Ocean School District. We want our students to be able to focus on instruction, engage with their teachers and classmates, develop meaningful relationships, and experience a school environment with fewer unnecessary

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distractions. Our goals are to increase student focus, improve learning, strengthen social connections, support student well-being, and create distraction-free classrooms. Next slide, please.

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Why this matters? We all know that technology is an important instructional tool and students will continue to use technology throughout the school day when it supports teaching and learning. Reducing personal device use can can

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support attention, classroom participation, positive peer relationships, student well-being, and overall school climate. The message we want families to remember is focus leads to learning and learning creates

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opportunities for connection. Next slide please. Oops. So what does bellto bell mean? You will hear us use the phrase bellto bell. So we want to be very clear about what that means. The expectation begins when the

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school day starts and continues until dismissal. That includes classroom instruction, passing periods, lunch, and other portions of the school day. Students personal internet enabled devices should remain turned off and

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stored throughout the school day unless an an approved exception applies. The consistency is important. We do not want students having to determine whether a phone is permitted in one classroom but not another or during one part of the

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day but not another. Next slide please. What in what devices are included? When we talk about personal internet enabled devices we are talking about more than cell phones. The policy includes devices

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such as smart watches, tablets, smart glasses, and internet enabled earbuds. As technology continues to evolve, the important distinction is whether the device provides personal internet access

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or communication capability. One thing we want to emphasize is that district issued Chromebooks are not being eliminated. They remain available for instructional purposes. Next slide, please please.

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What will students still use? Students will absolutely continue to use technology for learning. They will continue to have access to district Chromebooks, classroom technology, educational software, and

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teacherdirected digital resources. Teachers will continue to make instructional decisions about when technology enhances learning. So again, the focus of this policy is personal devices, not eliminating technology from

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our classrooms. Next slide, please. So, how will this work in Ocean Township? We want to make the expectation simple and predictable for students. Students will arrive at school with their phones

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powered off, store their devices as directed, and keep them put away throughout the school day. The specific storage procedures will vary by grade level, which we will discuss in the next few slides. Our goal is consistency.

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When students know the expectation before they walk through the school doors, teachers can spend less time addressing devices and more time teaching. Next slide, please. Student expectations. Students are expected to arrive prepared to learn,

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keep devices off, follow staff directions, respect instructional time, and contribute to a positive learning environment. We want students to understand that this is not simply a list of things they cannot do. It is an opportunity for them to build habits

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around responsible technology use, self-management, communication, and I'm sorry self-management communication and being present with other people. Next slide, please. Student expectations for grades K

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through 4. For students in grades K through 4, personal internet enabled devices are not permitted in our elementary schools. If there is a medical condition requiring a student to use a personal internet enabled device, the school nurse must be notified and

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the appropriate medical documentation must be provided. Next slide, please. For students in grades 5 through 8, personal internet enabled devices will be stored in assign lockers. We also

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understand that there will be times when a student needs to communicate with a parent or guardian. Students may make necessary phone calls through the designated school offices, including the main office, fifth grade office, or the guidance office.

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If parents who need if parents need to reach their child during the school day, they should contact the school rather than the students personal device. Medical needs will continue to be addressed through the school nurse with appropriate documentation.

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Next slide, please. At the high school, students will turn off their devices when entering school. Personal internet enabled devices will be stored in classroom storage areas and secured during passing periods and

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lunch. Students who have an important or necessary reason to make a call may do so through the main office or school counseling. Again, students with documented medical needs should work through the school nurse.

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Next slide, please. Are there exceptions? Yes, this is this is an important part of the policy and we want families to understand that there is a process for addressing individual circumstances.

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Each school will have a process through which a student or parent may request a waiver when there are special circumstances that require the student to use a personal internet enabled device during the school day. A request does not automatically mean that a

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waiver will be granted. Each request will be reviewed individually based on the students circumstances and needs. Some special some special circumstances may include IEP accommodations, 504 plans, medical needs, translation

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services, and student caregiver responsibilities. Next slide, please. We all know that this may be that emergency communication with parent for parents is our biggest concern for our

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families. If parents need to reach their child during the school day, please contact the school office. Staff will deliver important messages and contact students promptly. In the case of a larger school or district emergency, families should rely

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on the district's official notification systems for information. This is particularly important during emergencies because we want information to be accurate, coordinated, and coming from the appropriate source.

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Next slide, please. So, how can our families help? Families are essential partners in making this successful. You can help by talking with your children before the start of school about the expectations. Please reinforce

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that personal devices should be turned off and stored as directed. We also encourage families to talk about healthy technology habits. Model balanced technology use. Encourage face-to-face communication and contact the school

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office when you need to reach your child during the school day. Next slide, please. We see this as a partnership. School plus home equals student success. When families and schools communicate

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the same expectations, we can create more focused classrooms, respectful learning environments, healthier technology habits, stronger relationships, and ultimately greater school success. This initiative is not

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simply about putting phones away. It is about helping our students learn when technology is useful, when it is distracting, and how to manage it responsibly. Next slide, please. Thank you for partnering with the Township of Ocean Schools. We understand

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that this change may require an adjustment for students and families, particularly at the beginning of the school year. Our schools will work with students to teach and reinforce these expectations, and we ask families to please reinforce them at home. Thank you for your partnership. Thank you, Dr. Morgan, and thank you to

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everyone who worked with you. I know leading something like that stirs a lot of discussion. Members of the board, any questions comments? >> Yes, M. Mr. Schneider, >> any you plan on uh managing the

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exceptional translation service? >> We will leave that up to the building principal and if they need assistance from me or Miss Welen, they will call us. Is that one that can lend itself to a benefit to one group or other? >> Absolutely not. We want to make sure that it's equitable and that we are

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consistent amongst everyone who comes with the waiver. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome, Mr. Skilman. To join, >> Dr. Morgan, I'm very glad to see this policy being put into further action. How does it differ from the policy we

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already had in place, for example, in the high school? What's going to change there? Well, now it's bell to bell. At the high school, students were able to put their phones in the in the pouches during classes and they receive them and they can walk the halls with them and they also use them during lunch.

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>> But now it's bell to bell. >> I think that will I think that will work >> because we found that you know sometimes lending itself to discipline problems. >> Yes. >> In the hallways. >> We agree. >> Thank you very much for this presentation.

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>> Anyone else? That's Mr. McCarthy. what is the plan in addition to this um to communicate this all with parents um because just like education I think needs to be I believe that it's Mr. adult who told me we needed to be heard

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from many voices and many people, right? So, um you know, I have my own personal opinions. I know how we parent in my house. I understand that others do not parent the way I do, but we're very big on limiting device time, not being around it. You know, I recommend any parents who have not already read the

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book that we've pushed out, Jonathan Height's book on the anxious generation, right? You can see the the damages that are done by access to these devices to females and males in our in our district. Um, but how are we going to get parents on board with us to support

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this? Because I I'm not saying that we need to be lites and refuse to adopt the technology, but I do worry that the success and the and the what we gain from this bell-to-bell is going to be eradicated outside of that. >> So, I'm glad you mentioned the book

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because I do believe we're sort of on our third iteration of scaling back screen time in school. Um, as you alluded to a few years ago, we did a a book club, for lack of a better word, at every level, districtwide, and then at every level, elementary, middle, and

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high, uh, reviewing the anxious generation and then developing action steps to change our procedures in schools for internet enabled devices. Um, at the elementary level in that very first year, just immediately, all all internet enabled devices were not

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permitted at the elementary school. So at the elementary level, we don't foresee any real concern with what is coming for this school year because it is no different from what they are already doing. At the middle and high school, we certainly did anticipate some concern there, but we started in January

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last year speaking to our families about this law. And at the intermediate school, we piloted this. They really did not have widespread cell phone concerns either. However, they had minor minor uh

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issues. They had a larger problem with the use of Chromebooks during lunch for gaming and for communicating, you know, replacing the cell phone with the Chromebook. So, last school year, Mr. Amato communicated with his families and changed the procedures in lunch and

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Chromebooks were no longer coming to lunch and so he's already piloted what they are going to do. So, people are prepared for what is coming. Same thing happened at the high school. Mrs. Kazuba met with her students, communicated with her parents about this law, and talked

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about the different ways things will change at the high school this coming year. Also, after this presentation tomorrow, both Mrs. Kazuba and Mr. Amato will be emailing letters to their families regarding their specific school

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rules and expectations regarding this policy. And this will also as all presentations are will be available on our website and then we will continue to work through the concerns that come up. >> Mr. Schneider,

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>> Miss Welen, I was wondering uh do you find that the policy it was successful, right? But does it fall is there a lot of responsibility on the teachers to make sure that they're policing that the students >> So let's back up for a minute. So we have a policy on to be approved on

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August 25th. Tonight it's on for first reading. August 25th will be final reading, then it will be approved. So that is the new policy with the new law. So I can't speak to the effectiveness of this policy yet. It's not even approved or in in place yet. >> We enacted one, right?

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>> We changed the procedures for cell phones in our schools when we started with this anxious generation. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Study. What happened at the high school two years ago was that they instituted

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the the hanging shoe shoe yeah hanging pockets. Thank you. Hanging pockets over the classroom door >> and it it was immediately successful. It changed the entire culture in the school was excellent. It was a wonderful change. During instructional time

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students did not have their cell phones at their fingertips. they could not leave the classroom and take their cell phone with them. And so it it greatly improved the environment. We that's why I say we're almost on our third iteration of this because we've already taken steps towards this. The major

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change at the high school for next year will be that that hallway time and that lunch time. That's what's new and that's what we will work through. And Mrs. Kazuba and Mrs. Hagermanerman and the whole team over there. Yeah, it it probably will be

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some burden will be on the staff. There's no question about that. As it was two years ago, but the staff implemented those p hanging pockets to great success. So, I credit them. We credit them for the success of that new procedure. So, we are very hopeful that

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this will go well. Do we see that there could be problems? Could there be parents that disagree with the law? Absolutely. And we will try to work through that. But we as a public school district have to enact this policy and prevent use of internet enabled

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devices, personal internet enabled devices from the start of the school day to the end. >> You see, u it's my last time on the board my and I know some graduates they they had mentioned the word burner phones like oh yeah we just throw the burner phones on

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the thing and then they keep the real phones on that. So I just considerations for like you know overall classroom management less burdensome on the on the teachers >> the the the the it would be wonderful if every student

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came to school and did what we asked them to do. That would be the least burdensome thing on the teacher. >> But they are adolescents and they are learning and growing. So we try to develop policies, procedures and a suit of code of conduct that balances action

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consequences with their de their brain development. >> McCarthy, >> two quick questions as a comment. When was it two years ago that we started this anxious generation book club? >> I believe it was. Yes. And then when did we when did we officially initiate these

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policies >> limiting cell phone use in the classroom putting them in the pockets >> that that year >> two like that same time second half of the of that. >> So I just want to say and I'm I'm probably drawing massive conclusions here but I'm allowed to do that because

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it's my right. We did that. We shared that practice with the legislative leaison committee shared that practice with uh commissioner Arnon and Senator Gopal and then this law was created

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after that. Um so I think that is a bit of a feather in the cap of our school for sharing a best practice. Uh, and I think that that goes to our central office administration for doing something that is going to help not just Ocean Township, but it's going to help

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the entire state if it's executed appropriately. So, little kudos to both all of you for the work that you're doing and the fact that nobody else is going to say it, but I think that Ocean Township kind of led the led the charge on this. I'm sure there were other schools doing similar things, but we led

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the charge. We communicated to our leadership how it was going and the benefits that it had and now we're seeing it implemented across the state. I think that's kind of a big deal for Ocean Township being uh being leaders. So, way to go. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Appreciate it. >> That is true. I remember us being an

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early adopter on that. >> Yeah, >> it is it is true that local high schools have contacted us for our procedures and then have implemented something similar in the past two years. So, that part is definitely true. I don't know if we can take credit for the law, but certainly we have helped our neighbors from time

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to time. >> So, I I I just I have to add a personal note here. Um, as someone who has had to manage cell phones for years, as a middle school principal for many years, when cell phones came into middle schools, um, it might explain my gray

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hair. Um, I always look at how we set children up for success. And sometimes in our zeal to give kids things they want, we actually set them up for failure because as Miss Weldon

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just very eloquently stated, this idea of adolescence and what their brains are ready for. And I know that one of the discussions I often had with families when their child maybe made a poor decision with a cell phone and some of those decisions were pretty

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serious was this idea that think about when you're teaching your child how to drive and the steps you go through. It's months. Sometimes it's over a year. And then New Jersey that went to the limited license where you can only do so much

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with so many people in the car and all of that. Research showed that delaying driver's licenses even one year compared to states that give driver's licenses at 16 year olds dramatically reduces fatality rates. And that's because of

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what Miss Weldon was talking about with the brain research that the decision- making from 16 to 17 is so dramatically different. Okay? And very often when I would sit with a parent and their kid had things on the phone they shouldn't have had, I said to them, "So when you

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bought them an iPhone, what guidelines did you give them?" The reality is we all rushed to buy them and we really didn't think about because in society what happened it came at us faster than we were prepared for it. And I looked at that and said, "Gosh, we

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set kids up for failure because we gave them access to the internet and the entire world with no guidelines and then expected them to remain safe and they can go down a rabbit hole that

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could be very dangerous." Um, and very often when I ask parents that question, I had silence and they're like, "I never thought of that." Right? And I see Dr. Morgan as a mom, right? we bought them the cell phone and we didn't say the same as when we and now we look at cars and we have airbags and anti-lock brakes

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and all that stuff and some of us didn't have that. So we have to keep kids safe but it's this whole balance thing but now we have a law and we need to follow the law right. Um my hope is that there is more social interaction because when we talk about some of the other things that are our goals and things like that

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that there's more successful eye to eye contact and social interaction. So I hope that that does work. >> Yeah. >> We good. Thank you Dr. Morgan. Thank you to everyone who worked with you. >> Any questions from >> Oh, any questions? Well, I was going to get to the public. Oh, that's right. For Dr. Morgan. Yes. Uh, public comment.

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>> No. >> Do we have any questions in the audience for Dr. Morgan? Do we have any questions in the queue for Dr. Morgan? >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Morgan. >> Uh, the board of education. We'll go to

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public comment. The board of education recognizes the value of public comment and educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest. Public comment uh public comment is not a question and answer session. Specific questions can be directed to the administration. Superintendent's contact

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information is on the deis and on the district website. We encourage you to contact her with any questions. Public participation shall be governed by the following rules. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to 5 minutes duration. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic

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until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard. The presiding officer may request any person to leave the meeting and that person does not observe reasonable decorum. Would anyone from the public like to comment on any item at this time?

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Seeing no commenters here, do we have any in the queue? Then we close public comment. Okay. Section seven. Uh Mrs. McGovern >> move to approve meeting minutes for um July 28th, both executive session and

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regular minutes. May I have a second? >> Second Hastings. >> For items 71 and 72, Mr. Covert, >> yes. >> Miss Gilman, >> yes. >> Mr. McCarthy, >> yes. >> M. McGovern, >> yes. >> Mr. Schneider, >> yes.

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>> And uh Mr. Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Section eight. Mrs. McGovern. >> I move to approve items 8.1 and 8.2. May I have a second? >> Second. >> This is items 8.1 and 8.2. Mr. Cobberg. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gilman.

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>> Abstain. >> Thank you. Mr. McCarthy. >> Yes. >> M. McGovern. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schneider. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dalton. >> Yes. >> Motion carry. >> And section nine. Miss Bever >> move to approve approve items 91 to 99.

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>> Second items 91 through 99. >> Mr. Gilbert. >> Yes. >> Uh Miss Gilman. >> Uh abstain from 93 executive secretary position and 95. >> Thank you. Mh. Mr. McCarthy.

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>> Yes. >> M. McGovern. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schneider. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Dalton. Yes. >> Motions carry. >> Financial management and resources. Mr. McCarthy. >> Move to approve items 101 through 104. Do I have a second? >> Second.

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>> Items 101 through 104. >> Mr. Coburn. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Skilman. >> Yes. Do I abstain from 104? >> Thank you. Mr. McCarthy? >> Yes. >> Mrs. McGovern? >> Yes. >> Mr. Schneider? >> Yes. >> And Mr. Dalton?

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>> Yes. Motions carry. >> Mrs. Gilman, section 11, please. >> Yes. Move to approve items 11.1, our curriculum through 11.3. >> Second. This >> is 111 through 113. Mr. Cover.

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>> Yes. >> Mrs. Gilman. >> Yes. >> M. McCarthy. >> Yes. >> M. McGovern. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schneider. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dalton. >> Yes. >> Motions carry. >> And then section 12 policy. Mrs. Gilman. >> Uh yes. 12.1 is our uh approval of the

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third reading and final revisions to the policies and regulations as listed. 12.2 includes approval of the first reading of the revised policies and regulations including uh what we just discussed with

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Dr. Morgan and that is our uh student use of internetbased enabled devices. And then 12.3 for discussion of the policy and regulation 7510.

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>> Second on did you move? >> You have a second. >> I'm the second for 121. >> 12 what? >> Did you move it? >> So you second it. >> I second it. >> Okay. And I would like to say on 123 um

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in a prior meeting we talked about a questions that came up around rates and things like that with school um facility use. Um in discussion with our administration and preparing for this meeting, we put these on here so that

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feedback can be provided by each member of the board to administration through the framework of the policy. Right? because we want to stick to the policy and the regulation. Look at what's there and if you have thoughts or concerns using the frame of the policy,

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if we could provide that feedback to the administration prior to the next meeting, that would be helpful. Is that correct? >> Yeah, that works. I think >> because if we if we get into a discussion >> so you can review that first. >> Yeah. If we get into a discussion but don't do it through the framework of the

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policy, are we rewriting the policy or are we looking at items within the policy and the REGG? Um, so if we could all do that and get back in a timely fashion to the administration, that would be helpful >> at another time,

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>> right? If this is on here now because of our last discussion, things you want so that everyone at their fingertips, >> right? Yeah, there's nothing stopping you from making >> comments. >> Comments now, but we did want to make

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sure that everybody had a chance to review. >> Has the time. >> Very good. >> So, first we were voting on 12.1 >> for our discussion. >> No. >> Thank you. >> 121. >> 121.

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Uh, Mr. Cobert, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gilman, >> yes. >> Mr. McCarthy, >> yes. Mrs. McGovern, >> yes. >> Mr. Schneider, >> yes. >> Mr. Dolan, >> yes. And then 122. >> Um 122 we have our as I discussed

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policies regarding uh high school graduation which have been revised. Uh any questions about that and our presentation uh pretty much addressed the other policies student use of internet enabled devices. So, I feel like and and from

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what I read, that was passed on July 8th, just this this past summer. >> It was actually passed in January, but there was some clarification. Uh public school districts were asking the Department of Ed to clarify some of the

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language, which they did on July 8th. >> On July 8th, correct? >> So, I feel like we're very current with uh keeping up with these regulations. >> Well, part of the law is that it's in place by September 1st. >> By September 1st. Okay. And I hope uh as Mr. McCarthy

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stated that and as you stated that we get all of this information out in every means possible so that parents do not express any surprise >> on the first day of school. >> Well, that's why we started last year communicating about it. So,

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>> but we will continue to do so. >> We need to >> any discussion I think is this. >> Yeah, >> that will be those will be back on. That's only so those will be back on. We're not voting on those. >> So 12.3 our use of school facilities as

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attached. Um, if I could just make a comment that reflects back to last week's discussion of our um, facilities, the damage specifically to the turf field from the previous storm

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and uh, the need perhaps in the future to go to Capital Reserve for repairs and the constant use of our fields by all of these organizations. s and um as

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addressed through the policy, I would I would say that the custodial and maintenance fees for use of these fields, not targeting any one group, but all of them that use our fields. Uh

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my fear is that going into the Capital Reserve to make these repairs is is going to be shortsighted because we don't know what's coming down the road with other things we might need our capital reserve

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for whether it's roof, boiler, HVAC. So I think that having us examine this use of school facilities in a prudent way. so as not to harm the students of Ocean Township, but also fiscally

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thinking about what's going to happen when these fields get used to the point that they need repair. >> Yeah. Anyone else? Yes, you I might have been staring at my computer, but the the policies you

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attach those are our current policies. >> Yes. >> Not like a a stab at >> No, we put them on or this discussion. >> I was reading I'm like >> because if we have to adjust the rates and things like that, it's in the regulation. So, >> it's helpful if you make a recommendation of an edit that you would

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like to see >> like a red line almost to that document >> and then we can just I think unless someone has another way to approach good way to approach it because then you're looking within the policy and the charts that are in there >> and that's how we ended last meeting that we would look at these policies and

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make recommendations of revisions. >> Yep. So if you find a space where you feel and if it was for if what you just meant was that you think the custodial and maintenance fees should be increased make that revision as a recommendation

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and submit it to us and we'll try and collate it all so we can have a working doc to discuss. >> And it's helpful to look at it on the regulation because you see the charts. >> Yeah. So you see those categories in their totality,

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>> you know, so that helps to frame maybe our thinking, >> you know. Any anyone else this evening? >> I mean, I'll just say may I >> may I >> Yeah, please. >> Um I'll just say like I'm going to look over the policy more and read about it.

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Um the one reason I think why why custodial and maintenance hasn't been kind of offset in that way from the years of me asking just about that and and whether things were needed to be paid is because generally the days that or times that people are on these at

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these facilities we have custodians and maintenance there which is why we've never really charged that separate fee because they've been there working at that time. Also, there's some organizations that may collect their own garbage and bring it to the dumpsters and stuff to offset not having to pay

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that because those are the types of fees that I think could get high and are unexpected and not not unexpected, but un um they're not uh budgetable. But that's not really a word, but they're harder to budget for an organization to

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say that this will be what my fee will be for that, which I think is why the flat rate fee for the season is is a little bit more easy to budget for these nonprofits, right? You don't necessarily know your amount of kids you're going to have or or, you know,

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not have. It fluctuates from year to year. You might have, you know, eight games a day or you might have one game a day depending on the year. You don't know. Um I so that was one of my and I'm not saying that we can't figure out a thing. I don't know that that would be where I

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would want to go. Um I think that it's hard right because these are as we've said before and I always go back and forth that there are taxpayers, there are kids, the majority of them at least. Um,

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so I feel like my thought, but I don't know if anyone else would feel this, is more of like the sliding scale of how many times you use your field in the season to do a or use a gym or use a, you know, the blackbox theater or use a theater or whatever that it makes more

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sense of if you use one to 10 times, it's one fee. If 10 to 20 is another fee, 20 plus is another fee. you know, you're not going to you're not going to do like 20 to 25 and then 25, you know, you're not going to hit it every time, >> but um I also don't know if that's like

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something that people will be interested in doing. And and I even go back and forth, which Kelly and everybody will kill me, um whether it's it's a feasible thing either. You know, it's I'm not saying to to charge people $1,000 a season, you know, cuz some some organizations have three seasons, so

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that's $3,000 a year, which is a lot for, you know, someone. Um, and it's not a it's not just the turf. There's other fields that are being used. There's other places on our district that are being used. Um, but I

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I don't know about I think it needs to be more of just my reason of saying a flat rate is more for budgets for these other organizations. If we start hitting them at the end of the year year with an extra $700 or something that they weren't expecting, I think that's harder for them to anticipate and play pay and

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that puts them in a little bit of a harder, you know, at that point all of their money has been collected. You know, you collect the money at the beginning of the season or whatever and and stuff. I also don't know that we would have the votes to change any sort of thing. So, I think we have to figure that out too if it's worth going down

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the rabbit hole of, you know, how people feel. So you're saying that in lie of charging for custodial maintenance maybe we bake that into the seasonal fee and you could slide it like so if I'm going to use the fee for a thousand and Mr. or Carthage using every 50s my fee will be

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pretty pretty pretty high cuz >> I think if you I think if someone's using using something >> five or six times and someone's using some something you know >> 200 >> 200 times that's very different on on

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how much they've and also >> on those five times how many hours are they there versus the you know there's a lot of hours there could be or there couldn't be you know I don't so like I said I I'm not saying like we should charge up to 200, you know, like we should charge 100 times for every every

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time for each 200 times. Like I think that that's unattainable for a nonprofit. I mean, I' I've been on the boards of these of these youth organizations. I know the tightness of budgets and all of this, but that's why I say like these unpredictable fees

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are harder. You know, >> I agree with you, >> Mr. McCarthy. What is the custodial fee? There isn't >> there's no custodial custodial fee >> um on Sundays. I take that back. If they're a Sunday, if they're a Sunday and they're sometimes inside on Sundays,

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you're sometimes charged a custodial fee because we don't have custodians there on Sunday. >> So if custodians aren't present during the activity, the organization will pay basically to reimburse the salary of that person to be there at that time. >> Open gates, close gates, open close bathrooms, that sort of thing.

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>> Okay. Typically, if the custodians at events on a Thursday evening at the school and they're renting a classroom, we don't charge them that fee because the custodian's already there doing that cleanup. >> Mr. McCarthy, >> that makes sense.

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>> No, it looks like he's we're going to >> Do wreck teams qual that utilize our facilities qualify as a nonprofit? don't know if they qualify as a nonprofit, but they may qualify as a second or third tier that may have those

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fees waved. So again, on the um ally on the first page, you can see that they're breaking them down into different priority groups. But again, this is sort of as Mr. Dalton said the information we wanted to go back and and take a look at and then make

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recommendations uh at [clears throat] the next meeting >> or even a future workshop meeting. >> Yeah, >> if that makes more sense. >> I think it definitely >> but I think >> everyone has to >> read this. So we're talking from

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>> a point of what is our current policy and how would we like to adjust that, >> right? because you're you're talking about five different classifications of groups, you know, and I think some of us have to really look deeply in this and say, "All right, what does that mean? That group

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is this and that group is that category, you know, >> um I mean, the policy does have to Mr. Hastings's point, you know, I'm just on the page right now that has school age services and it says youth organizations whose memberships blah blah blah blah blah, Ocean Township Presidents League,

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Little League, Pop Warner, so on." So, it has the information in there to reference. >> Yes, it does. >> You know, and I think Miss Welton's point is, you know, we're already kind of into this year. This could be an ongoing discussion into maybe another

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workshop, too. If we don't have enough information in two weeks, >> we can do a two week. I'm sorry. Go ahead, Mr. Hastings. No, go ahead. >> So, I would look at two areas. One is the first page of the policy which talks

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about these different categories of groups and then on the regulation under fee schedule and procedure it talks about those priority groups and what fees are waved based on their priority level

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and then >> thank you for the cliff notes there >> changes would like to be made on those categories then >> that's good >> you know that would flow through >> yes Mr. Schneider >> well look to Mr. McCarthy is a point of order, a point of clarification. So, we voted like a straw man that we're

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looking to revise these so that so that we're not wasting everybody's time to Amy's point and then we're going to be working on the language that we think makes sense or is it a chance that we could just not update the policies or handle it through a working session? >> Well, that's why where I started was is

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if everyone takes the time and I like Mr. Hastings pointing us to the sections of both policy and regulation. if you have something that is of concern to you or that your opinion is you'd like changed to feed that back to the administration and we can see if we have

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what do we have right because this is challenging to get into without us all sitting and reading it and penning it up maybe you know >> there was a 5-4 vote last meeting in favor of of taking a look at this policy so we've put it on the agenda so

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everyone can take a look at it >> if you would like to make recommendations for revision there's There's really two ways to do this. You can submit them to us and we can collate them so that the board has a working document to review. >> Yeah. >> Or you don't have to do that and the board can have an open discussion which

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then I would recommend we hold to a night when there is a workshop only, not a regular meeting right after it. But we were just suggesting that you submit your recommendation so we could prepare something to have at the next

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discussion. >> Almost like a red line like when we get the assessment the 54 vote. >> So if you got extra red lines and it's really messy then you might say hey I think it's time for a workshop potentially or >> either way we would have to talk about it. It's just a matter of cutting down

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on the talking. If if Miss Walden was able if we all emailed >> not even cutting it down but focusing on focusing the discussion. Focusing the discussion >> because some some people may pick this section and other people may pick that section or maybe everyone's aligned in one section and we just may need to narrow the discussion as to what the

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fees are. >> So this is a point of information that was a point of inquiry. Is that right? >> No, >> he's the walking encyclopedia. >> He is. I got that. >> That's why I looked at you. >> Okay. Anything else on this topic? And

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could I also note that it was mentioned about the field and turf repairs. Uh what I mentioned after the storm uh we did make repairs to the turf uh to make it playable and safe for our students and our community. However, the field is

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older now. Uh so we're getting to that point where we have to replace the field, which means we tear up all the existing turf. We rele and and and get the surfaces smooth, make sure the drains are cleaned, and then put new turf on top. It'll last them yet another

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12, 13, 14 years. Right? >> That would be we would be in that situation whether we allowed anyone else to use our fields or not. Those fields have a lifespan that we are at the end of that we are past the the end of. So, I do want to say I don't know that we

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could approve a use of facility policy that would charge high enough fees to pay for the replacement of that turf fields too. I'm going to be careful about that. I don't know that that would possible >> speak to what you like. I can say from

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from my point of view last week I was not saying I wasn't going towards the thought that this would do get anywhere close to ever paying for a turf field. I was more getting to the point of it's going to be replaced soon. It's going to have to be like we all know it's coming

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that this would be the time if we were going to ever do it. The time usually to raise it is around the time that you're putting something brand new in. So, I would even say that if we got to the point of of raising anything that I would even be okay with not raising it

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until the new turf was placed. >> Mrs. Gilman, >> how much does replacement of a turf field cost? >> We had a quote about a year ago and it was approximately $596,000. >> And when we do that, we would recommend

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probably replacing our scoreboard as well because that's um seen better days. >> Did that include the track or no track? >> That does not include the track. We're looking at the track right now. We've got some estimates on different options for the track. >> Uh right now we're looking at some

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repairs. Um uh and we'll assess the cost of re repaving, if you will, the track and uh versus repainting and any other kind of renewal we could do to it. >> I want to try my new phrase out as a point of inquiry. I'm just curious

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>> if if we were able I'm not saying we're paying for the field but if we had a are you able to take the money you could >> did you approve this point of income >> I did >> I was just curious if we took the money from the from this from the facility use are you able to apply that to a capital

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reserve or it goes into the general >> it goes into the general fund but at the end of the year we're left with excess funds uh hopefully and then we move those funds into our capital and maintenance reserves so >> indirectly Yes. >> Did you have something, Mrs. Gman? I

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>> I did because that that number and I don't know much about the replacement of fields, but that's a huge number. And you're right, Amy, there's no way raising these fees is going to cover that. But I think that back hearing that

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it's lived its lifetime and it's going to be replaced that now would be the time to examine this. and >> not going to be replaced like tomorrow or anytime soon. We don't want that to get meaning in this next six months.

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It's not going to be replaced or a year. I don't even know. >> This could typically be a summer project right? >> And on a budget would take planning and you know, it's not tomorrow the rumor to be out that we're getting a brand new turfield. >> No, maybe next summer, you know, that's possibility if we can vote.

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>> Possibility. Okay. Thank you. >> Are we closed on this subject for now? For now. Okay. Do we have any old business? We have any new business? Can I have a motion?

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>> Motion to second. >> Second. >> All right. Thank you.