Pleasantville Public Schools Board Meeting April 21, 2026

Mic check. One, two. Check. One, two.
Testing. One, two, three.
One, two, three, 4.
Check. One, two. Check. One, two.
I think that's good.
They look like they about to cuss us
out.
>> Testing. May I have a motion to come out
of executive session, please?
>> Motion.
>> Motion by
>> by
>> Mrs. Akens. Second. May I have a second?
Second. Second by Miss Silver.
All in favor?
>> I
>> Okay,
next
we have 1.5 public comments, agenda
items only.
We ask you when you come to state your
name um be courteous and respectful and
remember we do not discuss personnel in
public. First we have Miss Priscilla
Noel.
>> One two cent.
>> Good evening everyone.
Good evening.
>> Good evening.
>> I had a question in reference to
4.2 in the bill list with over one of a
few of the items over $20,000 for
maintenance. I just wanted the board to
look more closely at that because I
don't know if that's a normal
expenditure considering that the
playground slide at South Main Street
School is still in disrepair and it's
been over a year possibly if I'm correct
going on two years that that slide on
the playground has been in disrepair.
There is caution team on it. In addition
to that, the staff and students do not
have adequate temperature control in the
school. So when it was hot, they were
hot. When it's cold, they are cold. And
one of the thermostats I was able to
personally witness had an error code on
it. And when I looked it up on Google,
it mentioned that that was for lack of
maintenance. So, I really want y'all to
look into these maintenance expenditures
because there are things in disrepair.
For
>> 3.3, the tax levy for healthcare, that
is almost $3 million. And I'm just
wondering if you can reconsider
doing that tax levy because as far as
the budget for next year, the state of
New Jersey has awarded Pleasantville an
additional $3 million. So, can we offset
or is that not how the budget works when
it comes to getting actual uh additional
monies from the state? So, is there a
way we can delay that so that the the
taxpayers and everyone's a taxpayer that
lives in Pleasantville, whether they're
paying a mortgage or whether they're
paying rent. So, the people who live in
Pleasantville won't bear the cost of
that at least for one year. So, can you
look into that $3 million additional
that has been awarded from the state of
New Jersey for the 2026 2027 year so
that the taxes don't increase because I
see that it was to go over the 2% limit
and it doesn't specify what that percent
is for the increase. So, I understand
people have to have benefits, but can we
look at that more closely so that we
don't front the cost of that and get
blindsided because whether it's uh taxes
going up and the mortgage has to go up,
they have to pay escrow or whether it's
the rent going up, the landlord is not
going to absorb that cost. They're going
to pass it on to the renter. So, please
look at that tax levy and see if that 3
million that the state's going to give
you can be offset so that we don't
increase the taxes at least for the 2026
27 year. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Noah.
>> Excuse me before you leave. You said the
temperature issues are South Main also.
>> Yes, ma'am. And this has been the area
of contention because it seems like a
lot of things have been in disrepair.
And I want to say thank you to the
superintendent for making efforts to
make things new and bring things up to
code and make them new. But if somebody
who's in charge to maintain things is
not maintaining them, meaning you're not
cleaning the HVAC systems, you're not
changing the filters, you're not change,
and this is speculation, but if for
things to go into disrepair
so severely that they need to be
replaced, something is wrong.
>> Miss Noel, uh Dr. Martinez will check
into it and she will thank you back to
the board.
>> Thank you, Dr. Martinez. Okay. Next we
have Pastor Jerome Page.
Good evening, 213 West Pleasant Avenue.
Um,
what the young lady just said, I agree
on the tax levy. If we can change that
number, bring that number down. Uh what
I like to know and for all board members
um the tax levy the taxes that we pay
for schools going to be 13 something
thousand uh $13 million. Do we know in
the budget
where that money is used? How is that
money used?
>> Uh Dr. Martinez will be going over that
um today. Mr. Paige,
>> you kind of remember that one?
>> Yes. Um, I'm going to talk about the
agenda.
>> Okay.
>> You have the vacancy, board vacancies,
interviews.
>> Yes.
>> I just need to know
>> why aren't I don't know how many how
many are to be interviewed today.
>> It's
three.
>> And why aren't there names on there on
the agenda?
>> Do we need to put their names on?
>> They're going to be announced.
Mr.
Paige,
>> I'm I'm just asking a question. Why are
our names not on the agenda
>> for the public to see who the three are?
>> Go ahead.
>> The names don't have to be on there. Um
you you should have gotten the the
resume.
>> No, we got the resume when we got today.
>> Yeah, we just found out today
>> with our packet.
>> Well, that's that's my leading question.
I put my letter in on the 14th of this
month.
I called the board secretary just to
make sure. Did you get it? She got it.
She sent me a correspondence and I said,
"I sent you some documents that I want
the board to see,
my resume, my transcript for New Jersey
school boards." Yes. And I was told that
they would get a copy of it
>> today. Today. And see that's kind of
threw me. It's throwing me off because
y'all should have had it prior way
before today. Totally agree.
>> To be very transparent, Mr. Paige, we
had no knowledge of who applied
>> and why until we sat down.
>> And why not?
>> Mr. Paige, do you have a question about
the agenda?
>> To the board president, to the board
president, why did not the the uh board
members receive my information that I
was interested in the opening?
>> Mr. page. They did get a copy. They
should have got a copy of everybody that
applied for the vacancy.
>> They did.
>> No, there was one that was missed
>> on the table when we came.
>> Yes. But then she put it was one that
was missed to be in the packet and she
put it on the table right here when they
came.
>> So before
madam president,
>> right? But does it matter if you got it
before after? I mean here
you're you're going to be questioned
anyway. um you're going to have your
opportunity to have your say uh of you
know your expectations or whatever the
questions is. You're going to be able to
answer that. But to me, it just seems
like you're coming to this board and I
don't want to seem kind of rude, but
it's like you're asking questions that's
it really doesn't matter to try to start
something.
>> No, ma'am.
>> But we're going to interview you, Mr.
Paige. I'm just asking you a question of
what pro what protocol is for board
members and I'm going to stand up here
and I'm going to answer any questions
they have. But I wanted them to see my
resume.
>> I never put a resume together, but I did
did it for this board. Okay? And I
wanted them to see other paperwork that
I had for you. My transcript for New
Jersey school boards since 1995 to to
2022. I just wanted you to see that
because all I want to do I I would like
to help the children. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Paige.
>> Next, we have Tim Jones.
>> Good evening, board.
>> Good evening.
>> I'm not going to drag mic Chris.
Um this evening I would like to um
address an issue that I have come to the
board meetings in the times past to
address. Um as a member of this
community I I look at um things in in a
way that what's good for the board is
good for the community and wasting money
on frivolous litigation is something
that seems to be systemic and it needs
an input to it. It seems like
everybody's readily willing just to
accept that's just the way it is. When
you have a dispute, file an ethics
complaint. I say it's really wrong to do
that. In the end, if you notice, most
cases, nothing is resolved other than
lawyers make money and nothing's changed
with regards to the students or the
positions of the persons on the board
other than maybe uh a minor disciplinary
action. But it sounds childish to me to
behave that way and you cost the um the
district tremendous amounts of money in
doing so. In the early part of this
year, I made an open request to find out
how much money has been spent on the
district and legal fees for a certain
amount of time on um things related to
athletes complaints. In a basic summary,
about $220,000 is spent from five years
prior to the beginning of this year in
legal fees alone from bickering between
members that um that run for um seats to
represent this community. $200,000 in
five years that and is not and that
money did not go incidentally to people
standing here. Most of it went to people
who are no longer here. Superintendent
Atua etc etc etc etc. people not um I'll
name the names because it's public
record. Na and Knox, whoever he was,
thousands of dollars because of that
nonsense of things that should be
handled as grown-ups in a grown-up
manner and and in responsible manner and
it shouldn't be left to on a burden of
the taxpayers to take the burden of
things that grown-ups can't handle. And
and and in in keeping with that, I sent
all of you a document that I I generated
through AI, our friendly AI that um
creates a basis for you to come to a a
process to agree that you have a
knowledge of things to be voted on prior
to coming to a meeting to vote on it so
that you don't have controversies. work
on eliminating the proc the
controversies before the controversies
arise and we'll have a better system and
stop just saying we'll just take it to a
litigate litigation and let the lawyers
make a lot of money. $200,000
and from from the beginning of this year
to about five years prior just the
dispute over um the um the um the board
seat that Urban is sitting on and and
like I said then I have no problem with
Urban being on that seat but the the
controversy around that ended up costing
the district $5,000 and it wasn't
directly related by the way to the the
problem of of of that was happening with
the um in terms of the process to be
nominated for the seat but my point I'm
making is little things can cost a lot
of money. $5,000 over somebody who
wanted to be on the board who is
currently not on the board.
>> Too much money.
>> Thank you, Mr. Jones.
>> Thank you.
>> Next, we have David Callaway.
>> Good evening.
>> Um I I wanted to touch on the open
vacancy.
I know at the last meeting you guys took
a vote to have that seat filled.
Why isn't it being filled this evening
and and it went back out?
>> Per the statute per 18A. Unfortunately,
um that seat cannot be filled by that me
that person.
>> Okay.
Word is
that seat that it was supposed to been
filled by whoever it was was not
eligible
because of some background stuff.
It's is not a secret. Everyone in the
community knows.
But everyone up there was always like
Mr. Jones you just said talking about
attorney fees.
this person filed lawsuits against this
board in the district
knowing that he wasn't even eligible to
be sitting on this board. And I hope
that this board someone puts a motion on
the floor to recoup that $5,000 that was
spent frivously.
Please
recoup recoup that money because that'll
send a message to other people in this
public. Stop trying to get over on his
district. Please get your money back. He
knows that he wasn't eligible to be on
this board.
>> Thank you.
Next we have Al. Is that
Alexander
Meno?
Yes, board presidents. Alexander
Mendoza.
>> Yes. Sorry.
>> Okay. Thank you. Good evening to the
board of uh Pleasantville. I'm speaking
on behalf of the agenda and subject 1.10
board vacancy interviews. I'm here to
talk about uh Mia Torres who is one of
the candidates running. Uh I'm proud to
say that I know her very well. She's a
student at Stockton University. She is
also an alum from the Pleasantville High
School and one of the things uh
Pleasantville I know is proud of is
making leaders and we always talk about
how we want to create leaders for the
future but me as a leader of the present
and by having her on the board you send
a clear message that there there can be
many students that can rise who can go
to college and can continue to show
those leadership skills. Mia is an
extraordinary leader. She is on the
government affairs of student senate.
And she actually recently passed uh a
resolution in support to creating more
resources for the immigrant community.
As you know, Pleasville has a 70% Latino
uh community. So, she understands the
problems that Latinos face. She's a
student here and she's very educated and
she has all the leadership skills. And I
believe that if you really care about
students, having her on the board of ed
sends a clear message that students can
become leaders and they can have a say
in how their school district is run.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Uh
1.6 the superintendence report. 1.6 the
superintendence report budget.
>> I got questions.
How are we doing?
I thought that was May 5th.
>> No, this is just the you have to approve
the preliminary budget. You're doing the
preliminary budget.
>> May 5th is the actual
Please unmute my wireless mics three and
four.
All right,
we'll just share this one.
We'll share this one. It's fine.
Okay. Technology as good as Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ready.
>> Good evening, Board of Education staff,
community members, and participants
online. My name is Dr. Marilyn Martinez,
superintendent of schools, and with me
is Mrs. is Dale White, our district
business administrator. This
presentation is our proposed budget to
the board of education.
Overall, district enrollment has
declined from 3,742
students in 2024 2025
to 3,617
students in the 2526
application for state school count. a
reduction of 125 students. Current
enrollment as of April 14th is 3,619
students, reflecting relative stability.
At the school level, trends are mixed.
High school enrollment has increased
from 996 to 1,035 students, now slightly
exceeding last year's 133 students,
indicating recent growth at the
secondary level. Middle school shows a
continued decline from 854 students last
year to 807 currently suggesting a
smaller cohort moving through the
system. Leadeds and North Main
Elementary Schools have remained
relatively stable with only minor
fluctuations.
South Main Elementary has experienced a
more noticeable decrease, dropping from
471
students last year to 425 currently.
Washington Elementary has increased
enrollment rising above both last year.
Recent data shows stabilization
districtwide with growth at the high
school in South Maine. These trends
should continue to be monitored closely
as they have direct implications for
staffing, programming, and resource
allocation.
There is significant and growing
financial pressure on the Pleasantville
School District
from the rising cost of charter school
tuition and outofd district placements.
The cost per student continues to
increase and these are expenses the
district is legally obligated to pay
with little to no control over the
rates. Even with the use of IDA funding
to offset a portion of these costs,
overall expenditures are rising and
consuming a larger share of the budget.
While the district experienced a
one-time reduction of 287,04
in school year 2023 through 2024 due to
students who did not attend the Atlantic
County Institute of Technology. That
relief was temporary. In school year
2024 through 2025, we were required to
make a tuition adjustment to reconcile
actual attendance, further underscoring
the unpredictability of these cost. For
the current budget, we have taken a
deliberately conservative approach,
estimating $18,000 received per student
from Epsen School District, knowing that
the final certified tuition rates may be
higher. Once those rates are issued, we
will be required to adjust accordingly
regardless of our local financial
constraints.
To be clear, the these rising
uncontrollable costs are a substantial
and recurring pressure on the budget. As
a result, the district must make
difficult and necessary decisions in
other areas of the budget. While we
remain committed to providing
appropriate educational placements for
all students, we must also ensure fiscal
responsibility, long-term stability.
This requires aligning staffing programs
and expenditures with the financial
reality of the district today.
Good evening everyone. There are four
types of funding sources for the school
district. Fund 11 is general expenses
which is funding that supports the
operation of the district. Fund 12 is
capital projects throughout the
district. Capital projects is viewed as
large amounts of funding needed for
construction, equipment, and repairs.
Fund 15 is a combination of individual
school budgets. Each school receives an
allocation to support the operation of
the school and the district programs.
Fund 20's. Fund 20 is our grant and
entitlements, which includes early
childhood education, which is a state
grant, and other federal grants.
I will provide a brief overview of the
proposed 2627 budget compared to the
2526
fiscal year. The total budget decrease
from 126,5,619
to $123,275482
representing a reduction of 2,730,137.
This reflects our continued effort to
align expenditures with projected
revenues while maintaining maintaining
essential services for students and
staff.
On the revenue side, the local tax levy
increased from 10 million 374,45
to 13,19,224.
an increase of $2,644,819.
This amount includes the increase of a
2% minimum tax levy cap of 27,488
and the 2,437,331
for the healthc care adjustment cost.
both of which are necessary to address
address mandated increases and rising
fixed expenditures.
Local s sources of revenue show a slight
decrease from $791,86
to $764
and 760
76
4,244
a reduction of $26,842.
State A general education funding
increases from 94,477,611
to 97373,844,
an increase of 2.896233,
which includes adjustments related to
early childhood education funding.
Grants and entitlements, including
semi-reimbursement, reflect a net
decrease overall with fluctuations
resulting in a reduction of
approximately $874,725
based on current production projections
and available funding data. The fund
balance decreased significantly this
year from 14,857,021
to 7,421,695,
a reduction of approximately 7.4
million, reflecting the plan use of
prior year surplus to stabilize the
current and upcoming budgets. Fund
balance serves as a financial
stabilization tool for the district.
It allows us to manage fluctuations in
revenue, particularly state aid,
enrollment changes, and unexpected cost
increases without immediately impacting
programming or recurring abrupt tax levy
increases. It is created when revenues
collected in a fiscal year exceed
expenditures often due to conservative
budgeting, unspent appropriations,
timing of expenditures, or one-time
revenue adjustments. In the proposed
budget, the reduction in fund balance
reflects the strategic use of
approximately 7.4 million in prior year
surplus. These funds are being applied
to stabilize district finances, support
infrastructure needs, and balance the
upcoming budget in light of rising fixed
costs and revenue constraints. While
fund balance is an important tool for
financial stability, it is a finite
resource. It is plan used. Its plant use
must be managed carefully to ensure
long-term fiscal sustainability and to
avoid structural deficits in future
years.
In summary, we are appreciative of the
increase in state aid which provides
important support for the district's
instructional programs and operational
needs. We also recognize the necessary
increase in the local tax levy which
helps address rising mandated costs and
fix obligations.
As a result, the district continues to
face structural budget pressures that
require careful financial planning,
conservative revenue assumptions, and
ongoing expenditure controls to maintain
fiscal stability and support student
needs.
For the 2627 school year, the district's
appropriation reflect our continued
commitment to prioritizing instruction
while maintaining essential operational
and student support services. The
largest investment remains instruction
at 46.6 million, underscoring that
teaching and learning remain at the
center of all we do. This is followed by
employee benefits at 22.3 million which
supports our workforce and ensures we we
remain competitive in attracting and
retaining high quality staff. We are
also investing significantly in
operations and maintenance at 12.7
million ensuring safe, clean and
functional learning environments across
all facilities. Student support services
at 11.4 4 million reflects our ongoing
commitment to the academic, social, and
emotional needs of our students.
Additionally, require and strategic
expenditures include chartered school
tuition at 8.5 million, tuition
placements at 6.7 million, which
supported mandated educational
placements outside of the district,
capital outlay at 4.6 6 million
continues investments in infrastructure
and long-term facility improvements.
Transportation is budgeted at 3.9
million ensuring ensuring safe and
reliable student access to schools and
programs. School administration is at
2.4 million and central ser is at 4.2
million. support that support district
leadership, compliance, operations, and
the central administration functions.
Overall, this budget reflects a balanced
approach protecting core instruction,
meeting mandated obligations,
obligations, and sustaining with the
systems necessary for a safe and
effective educational environment for
all students.
Over the last eight-year period, the
total budget has increased from
88,332,856
in 209
in 2020 to 123, million287,682
in 2026 2027 school budget. This
reflects an overall growth of
approximately 35 million over eight
years driven primarily by increase in
state aid, rising fixed cost, staffing,
and program needs. The budget peaked in
23 and 20 2324 at 120,638,376
and again in 2526 at $126,5,619
before a plan reduction in 2627 to align
expenditures with projected revenues and
stabilize the long-term planning. The
tax levy has remained relatively stable
for several years, increasing modestly
from 10,55,935
in 2019 2020 to 10,656,946
and 2324.
In 2425 and 2526,
the the levy remained relatively flat,
reflecting e efforts to minimize local
tax impact. For 2627, the local tax levy
increases to 13,19,224,
reflecting a necessary adjustment to
address rising costs, including health
care, contractual obligations, mandated
expenditures. State aid has been the
primary driver of revenue growth over
the past eight years, increasing from
73,198,234
in 1920 to 97,373,844
in 2627.
This steady increase has supported
instructional programming, operational
needs, and district growth and remains
the largest single revenue source in the
budget.
The fund balance has fluctuated
significantly o over the 8-year period,
increasing from 968,79
in 1920 to a high of 14 million I'm
sorry 2019 to 2020 to a high of
14,857,212526
before decreasing to 7,421,69.
95 in 2627.
These fluctuations reflect the district
use of prior year surplus to stabilize
the budgets, manage enrollment changes,
and address revenue timing differences.
Grant funding, including ESSER and ARP
federal relief funds, created a
temporary and significant increase in
revenue between 20 2020, 2021, in 2023,
and 2024, peaking at over 16 million in
ARP and ESSER allocations. These funds
were one-time federal infusions related
to covered COVID 19 recovery efforts and
were never intended to be recurring
revenue sources. As these funds expired,
grant revenue has returned to more ne
normal levels, declining to 4 million
$65,155
2627.
Medicaid reimbursements have remained
relatively modest and stable over time
with fluctuations based on eligible
services and student participation.
It is import It is important to note
that over the past five to six years,
the district benefited from
approximately $18 million and one-time
federal COVID relief funding, SR. These
funds temporaril temporarily enhanced
district resources but but were not
sustainable re revenue sources and have
now been fully expended. In summary, the
district has experienced significant
budget growth over the past eight years,
supported largely by increase in state
aid and temporary relief, federal relief
funding. As those one-time funds have
expired and costs continue to rise, the
district is transitioning back to a more
traditional funding structure that
relies primarily on state aid, local tax
levy, and limited grant support.
This requires continued fiscal
discipline, long-term planning, and
careful alignment of resources to ensure
sustaining sustainability moving
forward.
In this 2026 2027 budget appropriations,
we want to emphasize that this budget
reflects both the district's ongoing
commitment to student learning and the
fiscal realities that must be
responsibly managed moving forward. A
significant portion of the budget
continues to be directed toward
instruction totaling 46.6 million, which
remains the core priority of the
district. This investment supports
classroom instruction, curriculum
implementation, and direct services to
students across all schools. We're also
committed to ensuring that students
receive the supports they need to
succeed. Student support services total
11.4 million, reflecting services such
as special education, counseling, and
related supports that are essential to
student success. At the same time, the
district continues to face substantial
mandated and fixed costs. Employee
benefits total $22.3 million, reflecting
contractual obligations that must be met
in order to maintain a qualified and
stable workforce. In addition, the
district is required to fund significant
external placement costs, including $
8.5 million for charter school tuition
and $6.7 million for out of district
tuition. These are mandated expenditures
that are largely outside of local
control, but have a direct and ongoing
impact on the budget. Operationally, $
122.7 million is allocated for
operations and maintenance, ensuring
that our school facilities remain safe,
functional, and supportive of learning.
We have also included $4.6 million in
capital outlay to address necessary
facilities improvements and
infrastructural needs. Transportation,
school administration, central services,
general administration, and technology
collectively support the daily
operations of the district and ensure
continuity of services for students and
staff. It is important to recognize that
a large portion of the budget is fixed,
contractual or mandated in nature,
particularly in the areas of benefits,
tuition and transportation. This
significantly limits flexibility and
requires continued careful and
disciplined financial management.
I will now provide an overview of the
district's facility sustainability and
capital improvements for 2627, which is
essential to maintaining safe,
efficient, and long-term functional
school buildings. A major focus of this
year's plan is continued investment in
HVAC systems and building Y
infrastructure improvements.
Multi-purpose areas, the cafeteria, the
gymnasium, auditorium upgrades are
budgeted at 1.9 million impacting the
high school and the middle school
facilities.
High school classroom HVAC replacements
phase 1 through 8 spanning through 2025
to 2033 are estimated at 400,000 to
500,000 annually over the next eight
years to complete all phases of
modernization.
Phase one design work 2526 has been
budgeted at 80,000. Phase two HVAC
replacements for 2627 are budgeted at
$425,000
for both high school and middle school
buildings. These investments are
designed to ensure consistent climate
control, improve energy efficiency, and
extend the life of existing systems. In
addition to the HVAC work, the district
is planning several critical
infrastructure upgrades,
building automatic system, HVAC controls
upgrades, a one-time investment of
350,000,
which will provide updated thermostats
and system controls and is expected to
last approximately 10 years at Leed
Avenue.
Pipe installation replacement at Le
Avenue School for $600,000
for full building coverage. Access
control system upgrades. Door swipe
systems to enhance building security.
130,000.
Exterior door replacements at Washington
Avenue School. 75,000 to improve safety
and energy efficiency.
high school hot water system replacement
$450,000
to ensure reliable building operations.
The total capital projects allocation is
$4,68,000
which includes all of the above
infrastructure improvements as well as
associated engineering and design costs.
These projects represent a long-term
investment in the district's physical
infrastructure. Many of these systems
are aging and require phase replacement
to ensure continued safety, efficiency,
reliability across all school buildings.
With with these are significant capital
improvements, investments. They are
necessary to avoid higher long-term
repair costs, reduce system failures,
and maintain safe learning environments
for students and staff.
I want to address the serious fiscal
challenges facing Pleasantville public
schools and the impact of what is
commonly referred to as a fiscal cliff.
As federal relief funds and one-time
revenue sources have fully expired, the
district is transitioning back to a
funding structure primarily supported by
state aid, local tax levy, and limited
grants. At the same time, fixed costs
such as salaries, benefits,
transportation, and mandated tuition
continue to rise. This creates a
structural gap between available
resources, and the cost of maintaining
current services. It is also important
to note that these types of budget
reductions and fiscal pressures are
being experienced by districts
throughout the state of New Jersey as
many school systems face the expiration
of one-time federal funds and increasing
operational costs. Without additional
revenue support, the district is forced
to consider difficult reductions in
order to balance the budget, including a
potential increase in the local tax levy
in order to avoid deeper reductions to
instruction and student student
services. A reduction of approximately
40 staff positions with reductions
primarily achieved through attrition,
including retirements and the
non-filling of vacancies rather than
layoffs wherever possible. Reduction of
bus routes affecting transportation
services for students. Reduction or
elimination of certain instructional
programs, extracurricular activities,
and athletic opportunities. Limiting
capital expenditure strictly to critical
priorities, deferring or eliminating
non-essential facility improvements.
While these challenges are significant,
we remain confident in the strength and
dedication of our staff, administrators,
and school community. Pleasantville
Public Schools continues to demonstrate
resilience, commitment, and a shared
focus on student achievement. By making
thoughtful and responsible decisions,
the district will continue to protect
the core mission of educating and
supporting every student.
As we conclude this budget presentation,
the focus of Pleas schools remains
clear. Ensuring stability, improving
student achievement, preserving the
mission. This budget reflects both the
challenges and responsibilities we face
as a district. While we continue to
operate in a period of rising costs and
constrained resources, our commitment to
students remains unchanged. Every
decision reflected in this budget is
grounded in the priority of protecting
the core of the educational program and
supporting student achievement. Even a
even in a difficult fiscal environment,
we remain focused on maintaining strong
instruction, preserving essential
services, and sustaining safe and
supportive school environments. These
guiding principles continue to shape how
we allocate resources and plan for the
future. As we move forward, our shared
responsibility is to ensure to ensure
that Pleasantville public schools remain
stable, focused, and committed to del
delivering a highquality education for
every student that is served. As I
conclude my service to this district, I
want to express appreciation to the
board, staff, and community for their
partnership and commitment to students.
My focus throughout this process has
remained on ensuring stability,
transparency, improving achievement and
rem and responsible stewardship of
public funds. Thank you.
May I have a motion to accept the
superintendence report slashbudget
preliminary?
>> Motion by Mrs. Silver. May I have a
second?
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Second by Mr. Marino. Any questions?
Yeah.
>> Uh oh, excuse me. Had to find I wrote
notes all over everything.
Just want a little clarity on the Let me
see what page is this.
I know we asked was
One of the ways of saving on a budget
was it were we going to keep staff or
get rid of staff and I believe we was
told that all staff was going to be kept
or something similar to that.
But I'm looking on here. I just need um
some clarity
when it say routes that may be affected
or changed. I'm trying to find it, but I
know that was one of my questions.
Okay, here we go. On page 10,
purple page 10.
Reduce bus routes.
So, with this right here, are you saying
everything that's on this page 10, are
you saying that this is what's taken in
effect or this is just something that's
being considered?
I'm on this one right here. I guess it's
still Yeah, it's on the bottom of the
page. I didn't pay this too much in
attention.
My question was for page 10, are these
is is this taking effect or this is just
things that's being considered for the
budget?
>> Am I saying it right?
>> Yeah. Those are reductions that were
considered in order for us to balance
the budget.
>> So this is not effect. This is just a
consideration like just
>> that's what needs to happen. This is a
>> Well, yeah, that's what needs to happen
in order for us to get to this balanced
budget of 123,275
482.
>> So, y'all y'all planning on reducing 40
staff?
Meaning, what you mean by that? Not
renewing them, terminating them, um
demolishing the positions, like what
what we're doing. So when we looked at
staffing, we're aiming to
we're looking at a reduction of 40
positions, but as stated, we're looking
first to
uh positions through attrition that
means a person retires, we don't fill
the position. Um so retirements,
positions that were never filled, then
we don't fill those positions. So we
exhaust all of those possibilities
before going into any possible layoffs.
>> Okay.
>> So, so we're working hard to work
through those measures first.
>> Okay. And my next question when it say
reducing the bus routes, what do you
mean by reducing the bus routes for our
children or transporting other children
to different districts? What part of
reducing the bus routes are we talking
about?
Well, we may have to consider prek like
reducing
routes for prek when we look at routes
for reduction because pre prek is
considered courtesy busing. So that
>> prek is a courtesy bus. You said
>> well well yes it's considered courtesy
busing.
>> Okay.
>> So that may be one of the areas we may
have to review for cut.
>> I can't barely hear you because you
sound so muffled.
There's like five routes that are prek
that we may have to reduce in order for
us to prek
>> continue to have a balanced budget
because transportation costs are
exorbitant in the district.
>> So is that the only routes y'all um
looking at to um stop is prek? Is it
other routes?
>> Well, that was the main one. Just pre
preK.
>> Just prek.
>> Okay.
And the next one, sorry to be asking so
many questions everybody. Reduction
instructional programs and
extracurricular I can't pronounce too
good and sports activities. So we're
taking programs and sports from my from
our children.
So every every in order to balance this
budget, we looked at all facets of the
budget where we minimize impact was
instruction. So the core programs during
the day were not impacted but after
school programs that can be uh covered
through title one grants and other
grants uh those are the ones that were
impacted so that we could keep all of
the day programs. Um and then uh the
uh athletic programs that budget which
was a pretty hefty budget that budget
was impacted more so about uh
equipment which I would say we have
upgraded significantly
>> right but that budget was impacted uh
not necessarily the sports programs
So what do you mean by sports activities
then?
>> Means that we have the sports programs
>> but additional funding to those programs
that was impacted not completely but a
percent was impacted.
>> Okay.
That's all my questions.
Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
>> I have a question.
the tax levy. Going back to someone had
spoke um I think it was
Priscilla um Noel had spoke about the
tax levy and trying not to raise it. Um
can you explain to this board and people
here and people are listening why you
had to go in to the healthc care part so
this raises our taxes. Can you actually
just ex really explain it to them
because I know it took you a while to
balance this budget because you couldn't
get it balanced
and that's why we're
not on schedule to have pro have proven
this budget in the beginning but can you
just explain because I had a problem
with going into that and taxes going up
myself but can you just explain why you
had to do that?
Well, the district has never increased
the
tax levy for the health care costs. We
always increased the tax levy, the 2%
minimum, which equates to about $200,000
because we didn't have to because we had
the infl the influx of COVID funding all
those years. But this year, because we
had $7 million less than we had the
prior year, if we didn't increase the
health care and take the health care
cap, we would have had to cut more
positions because that's 2,600,400
was $2,644
that we did not have. So it was either
increase the tax levy for the healthc
care adjustment which we didn't want to
do because we didn't want to put the
burden on the taxpayers but it was
either that or cut more positions
because we don't have any re our only
revenue stream is the tax levy and the
state aid that we get in the grants that
we get federal grants we're about $4.6
million like we don't have additional
revenue like to support the budgets for
sustainability I mean in your expenses
are increasing. You have your health
care costs. You have your tuition. You
have charter schools. You have salaries.
Like we're raising salaries
3 4% but your tax levy is only 2%. So
how can you raise your tax levy only 2%
and you have all these expenditures that
you can't I mean you you have a budget
that can't sustain your expenditures.
And so each year it's going to get even
harder. So for the next superintendent
is going to be the same situation or
even worse because where are you going
to get that additional funding? The
state gave us $3.4 million which we're
thankful for but we're going to need
more than that because every year
there's increases in salary
expenditures, utilities is just the cost
of living and cost of school expenses
are continuously going up.
>> And I have one more question also. Can
you also explain to this board and to
the audience and the listeners um about
the money that we had carried over for
so many years and since we carried over
we carried the money over from year to
year to year and now we're here
what happened so this board can
understand we don't have any money
>> well the money that we had was we had co
money I mean when we got the co money we
hire hired custodians, we hired HVAC
tech, we hired um attendance officers,
we hired people, but that money was only
to sustain you during those COVID years.
And now that that money has been
exhausted,
those some of those positions was moved
into our general fund budget, but our
general fund budget is not increasing at
the rate of the increase in the
salaries. I mean, it's not just
salaries. Your budget is 70% salaries
with salaries and benefits, but those
costs, we have to sustain them. And now
we don't have that COVID access surplus
money left to kind of like guide us
along the way every year.
I mean hopefully like we don't I mean
Pleasantville is a sub I mean it's not a
suburban district. It's an urban
district. So the tax levy, I mean, we
can't continue to increase the tax levy
millions of dollars every year either.
So I mean, I don't know what the future
holds.
>> Okay. And next, and just for my clarity
and the board's clarity and who's
listening in the audience, we do not
have any more
um what do you call it? I'll call it the
ESSER money. Is that what it would be?
>> No, the Esser money. know the money that
we had um carried over when we got
during co there's no more of that hidden
nowhere in a hiding spot nothing
>> no no no no here no there nothing
nothing we have is it anywhere
>> no ESS money had to be expended by 2324
so all school districts had to expend
their ES money at the end of 2324 the se
that September it all had to be expended
or you had to return what you had
Okay, great.
>> Chair, I have a question. If
>> I was saying, why do we have hidden
money anyway?
>> Chair, um or I don't know if this should
be directed to Dale, the superintendent.
Um is there anyone that we worked with
to get this budget um for the next
academic year? Was there a county
who who who did we work with to get this
budget straightened out? Are you asking
who we worked with?
>> We worked directly with the county's
business administrator. And that her
title?
>> Yeah. Yeah. She's the county business
administrator.
>> And the uh county's
um I don't know her title, but director
for special specialized services special
education. Uh they were working uh with
us closely to really um align this
budget to
ensure that there was continuity of
programming and that all of the
resources to the schools to the staff
and to the students were maximized and
that we were abiding by the law. So yes,
we work closely with the county
throughout the entire process.
>> Thank you. And sheriff, if I may, I want
to just hone in on a point. Um what does
it mean when when you say that the core
curricula will not be impacted?
Will will students at the academic level
suffer? Are programs being cut? Spanish,
French, is any of that being cut? Um
the exciting news is that uh today uh I
was going to share it with you next
month, but I'll do a month early. Uh the
Pleasantville School District is
positioned to continue to make uh
student learning progress. We can see it
in the data. Um that is because I
believe one of the indicators has been
that we um implemented the the
curriculum with fidelity. So we did not
add all these programs.
We implemented the programs
from 20 that were here throughout but we
implemented them with fidelity. So in
this budget
the continuation of the current programs
exist.
Um
then there is
the that's the core and the core means
that the required courses
through all of the schools for for every
grade level elementary, middle and high
school they are offered
and teachers have text materials and
supplies for those courses. They are
they are supported in this budget.
Additionally,
supplemental
um
materials and resources that we have
used in the last three years, not added,
they were here, but we have used them
with fidelity, they are also supported
in this budget. And the reason for that
is because the data is showing and I'll
prepare to show it at May's uh budget uh
May's board meeting that the students
are showing learning progress and
academic achievement and the academic
achievement gap is closing. So the
recommendation is to continue the course
for uh the implementation of the core
programs and supplemental programs
because they are uh really positively
impacting student learning.
>> So is it correct to say that the
academics in the Pleasantville school
district will not be impacted by this
budget? the core programs that means the
programs that every student has access
to
have not been impacted and that's that's
very key right because our
responsibility is to ensure that there
is access to the core program right um
and supplemental
pro um materials and supplies and
resources are about also ensuring uring
that we can provide the support systems
to students through the uh multi-tered
support process that we implemented in
the last three years so that that uh
process is or continues to be
implemented with fidelity because the
MTSS process one the district is
mandated to provide support services to
students whether they are general
education or special education but the
MTSS is the framework that New Jersey uh
department of education provides and it
is now implemented with fidelity. Um
want to applaud the teaching staff and
the administration who have worked
diligently to implement that program and
it is showing success. Uh the MTSS
implementation addresses learning,
addresses behavior, addresses social,
emotional and mental health supports for
students. It behooves the district to
continue to implement the core program
and supplemental programs to uh to
ensure that students have the supports
that they need uh throughout their
school years.
>> And just one more question if I may
chair um will student faculty ratios be
impacted in any way? the um
interestingly enough uh we used the New
Jersey regulated uh ratio for the this
budget. So we didn't go oversized as
number one. But what we also did was we
supported the um an organizational
structure that reduces class size
particularly in primary grades. So we
tried as much as possible to secure um
lowering the class size not by ratio but
by the implementation of of um the
second teacher I can't think of the
>> in uh inclusion classes. Thank you.
Slipped my mind for a minute. Um yes.
So, so that supports students that may
have a 504 and uh IEP individual
evaluation plan and that is supported
also through the continuation of having
additional staff in teaching staff
particularly in the classrooms to
provide additional support to students.
>> Thank you, chair. Thank you,
superintendent.
>> You're welcome. Madame President, I just
have a question.
>> Go ahead.
>> Yes, madam president. And I have a
question um just for clarity sake
because sometimes we see a lot of
numbers and and you know we get kind of
um kind of flustered. So for clarity
sake so are we saying that without the
levy it's more reduction
>> and with the levy is the 40 positions
>> without
the levy it's it means more
reduction
>> in staff. Yes. more reduction in staff
without the levy. But with the levy,
it's the 40 staff. Correct.
>> Well, the the levy is not going to cover
40 staff,
>> but I'm saying but without it,
>> right, it would be more.
>> Without it, we're looking at 40.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. All right. Just for clarity sake,
>> we're looking at a maximum of Okay.
>> 40 in this budget. Okay.
>> We're doing everything we can not to
reach
>> to reach to 40. Correct. Okay.
>> That's that would be the maximum
>> maximum.
>> I'm sorry. Yeah. Okay. whereas in other
places they're looking at, you know,
three-digit numbers.
>> Okay. Thank you,
>> Madam Chair. Go ahead, Mr. Sanchez.
>> I just want I just wanted to request
that we get a list of the programs that
are going to be affected.
>> Which one?
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Yes. Uh the programs have been shared
publicly. Uh, so they are on the record,
but I will send them I'll resend them to
the board.
>> Yep.
>> Any more questions?
>> Core programs and the supplemental
programs, right?
>> Yes.
>> Yeah.
>> More questions? Nope. Yeah, I think she
was
>> Were you still asking a question for
Harris? Did you finish your question?
>> Oh, I just said was it is it's on board
docs. Is that where it say?
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> All right.
Wait, I have a question. Um,
right now this goes we're reviewing this
now. This is just a report, but the
fifth is when we vote on this.
>> The fifth is when you vote on the the
actual budget. This is just a
preliminary.
>> So, we have time from now until the 5th
to review this
>> to finish to finalize your review and
speak with the superintendent and the
business administrator as to your
suggestions. And
>> but on the 5th is when you're going to
vote on the final budget.
>> Okay.
So Megan, the submission for the budget
was due to the county at the on the
27thary. So we have we haven't submitted
it to the county because
>> the board didn't approve it.
>> Yes.
>> So we have to submit it. I mean in order
for us to submit it to the county,
>> we have to have the preliminary budget,
>> right? And then we'll on the 5th it will
be the public hearing.
>> Yes.
>> I have madam chair I have one more
question.
>> Yes.
So if we approve the preliminary
tonight, we don't have time to change
anything. Whatever we approve tonight is
going to be submitted exactly the same.
>> Yes,
>> there's a question.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Well, I don't know because that has
never happened before.
So
>> her question was
>> your question is that if the preliminary
budget that you approved tonight is what
is going to be submitted to the county.
>> Yes.
>> On the preliminary budget. No
>> this
has go to the
>> this is a done deal.
>> No it's not the final. That's what
that's what we're saying. This is the
preliminary.
>> This is just uh send it to the county.
>> Yes. To get to get it to the county
>> and they can start looking at it.
>> Um so let me ask you another question.
So um what Miss Sanchez is saying, is
there room for change?
Um Dr. Martinez,
if there's room for change, I know you
took a long time to do this. Where would
the change possibly come from? No,
>> don't say tax levy.
>> Don't say that.
>> You know,
>> don't say that.
>> No, I I'm I'm not going to just say at
whim. You know, we were very careful
and meticulous and strategic at uh
creating a budget that is balanced and
that focuses on continuation of
maintaining and sustaining this
district's instructional program and
infrastructure and organization and
operations. So to answer that question,
I'd have to go back and look at, you
know, what are those things that um
you know, through committee, I guess we
could talk about, you know, what what
can be afforded to be lost. I I will
tell you this, uh the function of the
district is to provide a high quality
education program to all students that
attend public schools here in
Pleasantville. I would urge this
district to continue to support the
programs, teachers and the schools so
that they have the programs to help and
when I say programs I'm talking about
curriculum right um materials teacher
supplies um I will say to you that in
the last three years we were able to
provide math science uh social studies
text core program materials and
resources that needed to be replenished
in this district. So, every grade um
every teacher of every grade has access
to um curriculum materials and
resources. Those things I I don't
believe I say I uh don't believe uh
should be um removed because you would
impact the mission of this district. So,
I mean, I guess we could squeeze the the
lemon some more or the orange some more.
Um, we have tried to minimally or, you
know, we've tried to impact personnel
um
in a in the most minimal way. Uh, but
every district is being impacted.
Um,
we'll do we'll continue to do the best
that we can.
>> You're good, Miss Sanchez.
>> Okay. Uh,
we we'll call Miss White.
>> Miss Akens?
>> No.
>> Miss Harris?
>> No.
>> Miss Morgan?
>> No.
>> Mr. Rodriguez?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Sanchez?
>> No.
Miss Waters,
>> no.
>> Miss Silver,
>> yes.
>> Miss Royel.
>> I'm going to say yes.
>> Motion fails.
Okay. So, what is the reason for this we
do now?
You're going to let the county
superintendent know and they're going to
make a decision and they might make a
decision on your budget.
>> Okay.
>> Say that one more time.
>> The county superintendent will will
likely make a decision on your budget.
>> So, it's now up to him.
>> So, it's now up to the county super
Yeah.
>> So, they submit everything and it's out
of our
>> They're going to try and submit it again
and then we'll see what the county
superintendent says. and you you have
the you might now leave it up to the
hands of the county super. He might ask
you to try again or he might just
prescribe something.
>> They were the ones that was involved
with helping us the first time. So
>> but um madam chair is trying to see what
if I think I'm reading what they're
saying.
>> We we don't want to lose 40 employees.
We're already short staff.
We don't want to take livelihoods.
>> Yeah.
>> We're trying to do what's best for our
district and our kids, but we're already
understaffed. It's a lot going on. We
just want to see what we could do.
>> And then too, he may send it back down
and tell us to go back over it.
>> So, Dr. Martinez, once again, I think I
asked this question. I hate to ask the
same question over again. Is there any
way possible you can look at this budget
without getting rid of or moving things
or tweaking things for our taxes going
up? Can you squeeze anything or
anything? I don't know. So
when we talk about the
allocation
to schools and
appropriate allocations per school
levels, in other words, why do we
allocate a certain number of teachers at
the elementary school versus teachers at
the middle versus teachers at the high
school? those different levels require
different teacher ratios to student
numbers per class.
All of those um
procedures to ensure that we met um
the states regulated
required uh ratio. We met them. So,
we're not underst staff in teachers. As
a matter of fact, um the district, this
district for its size because we have uh
supported through this budget a ratio
particularly in the lower grades of
inclusion classes. That means that there
are two teachers in a class, possibly
two teachers in a class. then your ratio
is smaller because you have two adults
to 23 students. So
we're not under
>> So are we under staff with what the
support staff? So where
I would say that we are not under staff
>> um in accordance to the the number of
students enrolled and the size of this
district right so where we take a look
at and I said this before where we take
a look at reducing for personnel number
one is attrition right we look at
positions is that people are retiring
and we don't need to fill them.
>> If we've done that the LA like I've I've
looked in prior last few years
>> that's right it's the easiest reduction
>> easiest reduction. We also looked at uh
positions that for example I'll give you
a clear example came to my head
um we have two positions for reading
specialists. We were able to fill one,
right? But we allocated for two,
we can remove one because nobody's
there,
>> right? So that's a cost savings, but
that counts as a position. So we looked
at possible ways to reduce personnel
without impacting
uh the classroom.
The reality is um that that some
personnel will be affected. That is the
reality.
>> So I have a question because I've sat in
a few different budget meetings and
hearings throughout my span of my
career. I know some companies tend to do
things like where employees donate a
percentage back of their salary to save
their peers jobs. 1% 2%. Did we give
that option out? Say it again because I
I didn't
>> where some people some companies do
things like they'll put um a request out
for some employees especially with
higher higher salaries to donate back a
percentage of their salary maybe 1%
maybe 2% of their salary to go into a
different pot where you could save other
employees.
>> I think they do
but not with salaries. I'm not sure.
>> Is that an option?
>> I know it wasn't done here.
>> Okay.
They do that with sick time, but I'm not
I I've never heard that done
>> for salaries.
>> Okay.
>> But that's something that certainly can
be investigated.
>> Okay.
>> Um
>> Yeah, that's a difficult concept. That's
a difficult concept.
>> We'll look into it.
>> May I have a motion for 1.7 the monthly
fire drill and safety?
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mrs. Akens. May I have a
second? Second by Miss Sanchez. Any
questions? No.
>> No questions. You
>> said what is this? One point. I'm sorry.
>> 1.7.
>> Okay. Vote on Miss White.
Miss Akins.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Harris,
>> yes.
>> Miss Morgan,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez,
>> yes.
>> Miss Sanchez,
>> yes.
>> Miss Waters,
>> yes.
>> Miss Silver,
>> yes.
>> Miss Roell,
>> yes. Motion carries. Uh, next 1.8. Um,
board president comments. Um, I was just
wanted to talk about the budget, but we
covered that. So, next, uh, Michelle
Kennedy came next. We had 1.10 board
vacancy interviews.
>> Um, do you guys want to do the board
interviews or do you want want to run
through this? Um,
>> let's let's do the interviews
>> and then we'll run through the um
agenda.
>> So, you want to push this to the end?
I'm sorry.
>> Let me
Yeah.
All right. Okay. We're gonna um push the
board vacancies to the end will not be
too long. Um, we're going to run through
the agenda and prove the business.
>> You hold you holding off today for
interviews. Um,
may I have May I have a motion for um
2.1 board minutes from March the 17th?
Motion. Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. May I
have a second?
>> Second.
>> Second by Mr. Rodriguez. Any questions?
No questions. Roll call. Miss White.
>> Miss Aens.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Harris,
>> yes.
>> Miss Morgan,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez,
>> yes.
>> Miss Sanchez,
>> yes.
>> Miss Waters,
>> yes.
>> Miss Silver,
>> yes.
>> Miss Roel,
>> yes.
>> Motion carries. Next. Um, that was the
board minutes from March this. Yeah. 2.1
board minutes from March the 17. Okay.
Next. May I have a motion for the
>> Well, that's what you included that in.
>> Oh, okay. I included the budget.
>> They did it separately.
>> Okay.
>> They didn't pass.
>> Oh, they didn't pass it.
>> Right. But it's better to do it separate
because you do it without the put it
with the budget. Gotcha. Okay. Um the
proposed budget uh 3.1
um we'll do it separately. The
preliminary um school district budget
for submission.
>> Didn't we just do that?
>> No, but we mixed it with the
superintendent report and it might have
to be separate.
>> All right. Because it's on here with the
superintendent report on the agenda and
it's also in here again twice.
>> That was the presentation.
>> Oh, okay.
So, may I have
a motion?
>> It was It was put on here separately,
but you did it with your um
superintendent comments.
>> Right.
>> That's exactly exactly exactly
>> the budget and stuff should be separate.
>> Exactly.
report is
>> right. So what do you want? We have to
do this separately again then. Correct.
>> I agree with Dr. Martinez. It has to be
rescended because we we y'all put all
that together
>> failed. Yes. The superintendent report
failed. But if the if the faction who
voted it down wants to approve it, they
can approve the report, the budget as a
part of the report. And then when you're
approving the
>> when you're approving, you don't have to
approve the budget.
So, why did y'all put it together?
>> Wait, I'm sorry.
>> Yeah,
>> the superintendent's report,
>> right,
>> is a budget proposal. That's
>> right.
>> It's the superintendent's report. It's
not accepting a budget proposal,
>> right?
>> I just we just explain the budget.
>> So, just go proposal is the agenda item.
>> Okay.
>> So, the superintendent's report is the
explanation. That's it.
>> That's what I do every time.
So now just call a vote for 3.1 3.2. All
right. So do you want to do Okay. So we
don't get confused.
>> But what messed it up is that y'all put
the budget with it,
>> right?
>> We already voted on
>> and that's the way it was voted on.
>> Superintendent report.
>> I understand what you're saying. I
understand what you're saying.
>> I know what you're saying. But in item
1.6 it says superintendent report
slashbudget.
>> Yeah.
>> And that's what that's why the vote came
out the way it came. That's why I said
we did that already. Right.
>> Super superintendent report.
>> Correct.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. So that need to come all the way
back. So
>> So only the the f the faction that fa
that to voted no.
>> No. Cuz it was all together. So the
whole thing was voted no. So it need to
be separated. So therefore, we could
vote on her report that she gave
>> and then the budget separately. But by
y'all putting it together.
>> Okay.
>> Right. So can we
>> we send it? We're going to
>> go all the way back and resend it.
>> That just superintendent report.
>> Just makes it simple. Rescend it. Res.
Who Who motioned the first time for the
superintendent?
>> She got the paperwork. She should be
able to
you take yours back. Miss Silver,
>> shut your mics off.
>> We send your um motion. Miss Silver,
>> you're first. You have to resend it.
Yes, resend.
>> I resend my vote.
>> Who second it?
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Mr. Rodriguez, can you resend your
second,
>> please?
>> I resend my second.
>> Thank you. Now, do we have to do
>> roll got do? Okay. Roll call.
>> What are we voting?
>> This is specifically for the
superintendent report, right?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Can we clarify that on the record? This
is specifically for superintendent
report.
>> Yes. It omits the word budget. May I
have a motion to approve the
superintendence report?
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mrs. Sec.
>> Mrs. Sanchez. Who second it?
>> Me.orggan.
>> Miss um Morgan. Any questions about the
superintendent report?
>> No. Now is cleared.
>> No. Okay. Roll call. Miss White.
>> Miss Aikens?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Harris?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Morgan?
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Sanchez?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Waters? Yes,
>> Miss Silver.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Roel.
>> Yes.
>> Motion carries.
>> Next. May I have a motion now for 3.1?
>> Motion
>> um for the um
>> to 3.4 cuz all that together.
>> 3.1 to 3.4. May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mr. Rodriguez. May I have a
second?
>> Second.
>> Second by Mrs. Sanchez. Just to let you
any questions? No,
>> no questions. Just to let you know when
you vote on this, if you're however
you're voting, the budget is in here.
>> So, separate the budget.
>> Yeah.
>> When you say you're whatever you're
going to say, say what you're going to
say just so nobody
to
>> budget. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Just trying to
make it so everybody understands.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, we all know. Roll call,
Miss White.
>> Miss Akens.
>> No.
Miss Harris,
>> no.
>> Miss Morgan,
>> no.
>> Mr. Rodriguez,
>> yes.
>> Miss Sanchez,
>> no.
>> Miss Waters,
>> no.
>> Miss Silver,
>> yes. I keep my Yes.
>> Miss Roel,
>> yes. Motion fails.
>> Next is uh finance 4.1 to 4.19. May I
have a motion?
>> Motion. Motion by Miss Sanchez. May I
have a second?
>> 4.1. You got
4.1 to 4.19.
>> May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. May I have a
second?
>> Second.
>> Second by Miss Silver. Any questions?
>> I have a few questions.
>> Okay. Go ahead, Miss Sanchez.
>> Okay. I want to start with uh
>> number 4.2.
We still have yet to receive itemized
bills as though we keep requesting them
every meeting. Um 4.5,
right?
I need an explanation of this amount and
why it's so high.
>> You want me to do it one by one and get
answers or keep going?
>> Go ahead.
>> Okay. Um
4.13 I would love to pull that. and
4.14. I would like to pull both of those
for further review.
>> Which which one?
>> 4.13 and 4.14. I'd like to pull those
two for further review of the board.
>> So, you're saying pull 43 44
>> uh 413 414.
>> Okay.
>> 4 what?
4.3
>> 4.13 4.14
>> 4.1
>> No, it's 4.3 and 4.4
>> 4.13 and 4.14 is the sanitary line for
the new school at Decar Avenue School.
It's a easement that has to run through
our property.
>> I still would like to pull it for
review. We already having budget issues
and I'm trying to figure out how we're
affording this. So, I want to pull those
for review.
So
>> just for clarification,
the new school
is paid for not by uh mostly not by the
Pleasantville
town or board of education.
>> But some of it is coming from us.
>> Um how much?
>> Well, no. We have to pay like $30,000
for a sign. And this fee here is the
city of Pleasantville's fee for
communicating with our attorney on the
easement in order for us to record it at
the Atlantic.
>> So, is this going to hurt anything so we
could pull it for further review?
>> Yeah.
>> Can it wait for next meeting?
>> Is that a You know what? It's a timeline
with the SDA. Um they have timelines of
everything um that needs to be signed um
approved and submitted to the state. So
it can cause
>> we could leave it. I'll just go
>> because once we approve it, then the
city has to approve it and then the
attorney has to record it.
>> Atlantic County record.
>> This brand new beautiful school is
scheduled to open,
>> the fall of 2028.
>> Okay.
>> So we want to move this process quickly.
>> Understandable. I just I just want
transparency and everything and make
sure we're doing things correctly in the
right order.
>> All right. Anything
else? One second.
>> I have a question.
>> I think that's it for me.
>> Hi. Um, excuse me.
>> Oh, go ahead, Miss Harris.
>> Oh, Elise, you're still going. Sorry.
>> I'm done. Go ahead.
>> Since we speaking on
>> I know. I know. I'm done.
>> That we have a schedule for the school
to be built. We're already cutting our
staff. We already have a proposal to cut
our staff. Now, how are we going to
afford to put staff there?
>> How are we going to afford
>> to put staff here? be cutting people
now. How are we going to afford?
>> That's a great question. Right. So, one
of the things that we know is that
redistricting the district is necessary
and so there will need to be work done
in collaboration with the township to
really take a look at the uh
neighborhoods and the boundary lines for
schools so that they are redistricked.
Um, I think that most uh and I do I
think I see Dr. uh Hyman Metley. I think
that she would applaud and everybody
else would applaud and um retiring the
North Main Elementary School, which is I
think the only school in the United
States of America that has what do you
call that?
>> The underground uh
So, so the answer is you have to redist
redistrict the schools. And so we'll uh
take North Main well the recommendation
is to take North Main offline as an
elementary school and then you
redistribute the students to have a new
school as well as the other elementary
schools. You'll continue to have four.
You'll just have a new one.
>> Make sense?
>> You won't have five elementaryaries.
You'll have four.
>> So what we going to do with no?
That's a conversation that you can have.
>> Yeah, conversation later.
>> Okay. Any other questions?
>> Chair, I have a question.
>> Go ahead, Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Um, in terms of 4.16,
um, if we could get some clarification
on why we would
>> attempt to vote to pay for a law firm
that's currently suing the board of
education.
>> I'm sorry. Say that one more time.
>> 4.16
>> legal services for employee
>> if I could get clarification on that.
>> Attorney want to answer that.
>> I was just pulling up the
>> the dish policy. So it's not a conflict
per se because I understand that he is
involved in the litigation against the
board but that particular thing that
he's suing the board for it's not a
conflict what this is this matter that
is that was in the municipal court who's
>> why why is it not a conflict I don't
it's an inherent conflict isn't it
>> this law firm is currently suing the
school district and we're about to give
them at maximum $5,000 on this vote
But there's no conflict in that in those
two immediate cases.
>> And so this is I can't give you the
details that's in the board agenda. We
can go into executive session to talk
about it because it is
>> I'm but I'm just saying we can't I can't
discuss it in public.
>> Can we pull this and discuss this in
executive session because we don't got
no information on it.
>> Also, it's
>> the issue was also resolved.
What are you talking about? 4.16.
>> 4.16. Correct.
>> All right.
>> Okay. Any more questions?
>> No more questions.
>> We'll call Miss White.
Oh, Miss Aken.
>> Wait a minute. What? Um, are we pulling
some stuff or what?
>> Yes.
>> So, Miss Sanchez, in 4.2, two. What did
you
>> What was your question?
>> 4.13 was necessary. I just said call the
vote and I vote how I want to vote.
>> Okay. Call vote. Um Miss um
>> but 4.14 I wanted to pull for
clarification because that's not an
urgent matter.
>> Roll call. Miss White.
>> Miss Akens.
>> Yes, but no to all legal fees.
And no to
this four6.
4.16. Yeah, I don't know what that is.
And no all legal fees.
>> Miss Harris.
>> Um I'm saying I can you write this down?
I'm saying uh no to
no to
hold on. I'm saying yes, but no to no
legal fees. I'm abstaining from Yale
School East. It's on the bill list. Um
I'm saying
no to Hold on.
Sorry. Sorry.
Sorry.
And I'm saying no to 4.13
4.14.
No to 4.16.
4.16.
That's all.
>> Miss Morgan.
>> Yes to everything.
>> Yes to everything besides legal fees.
416 4.16 4.13 and 4.14
>> Okay. 4.14 4.13 and 4.16.
>> Yes.
>> And no legal fees. And no legal fees,
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Yes. But I abstain from bills pertaining
to Stockton and Stockton's Performing
Arts Center. And I would abstain to
4.16.
>> Miss Sanchez,
>> I want to say yes to everything. No to
4.12, 4.13, pull 4.14,
and no to 4.16.
>> Okay. So 4.12, no. 43.
No. 13. No. Okay.
>> Pull 4.14 and no to 4.16.
>> So you said pull 1.14.
>> Yes.
>> So do they have to do Megan a resolution
to pull it? You have to do something to
pull.
>> Yeah. 44.
She wanted to pull.
>> Yeah. You want to take it off the agenda
or you're voting no?
>> Yeah. I want to table it.
>> Okay. You have to make a motion to
table.
>> Okay.
>> Which one?
>> So yes to everything. no to 4.12, 4.13,
4.16, and then I'll make a separate
motion.
>> Yes.
>> To pull 4.14,
>> Miss Waters.
>> Yes. To everything except 4.2,
46,
413, and 414.
Miss Silver.
>> Yes sir. Everything from no to 4.16.
>> Miss Roel.
>> Yes.
>> Which one? 4.16.
>> Oh. May I have a motion to Elise, Miss
Sanchez? Uh, what did you want to pull
again?
>> May I have a motion to um table 4.14 to
table for further review?
May I have a motion?
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Miss Sanchez. May I have a
second?
>> Second by Mrs. Akens. Questions?
No questions. Roll call. Miss White,
>> Miss Aikens,
>> yes.
>> Miss Harris,
>> wait, I have a question.
>> Can I call now?
>> We got finished roll call.
>> Go ahead. Go ahead. I'll just make my
statement.
>> Go ahead.
>> Miss Harris,
>> yes.
>> Miss Morgan,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez,
>> no.
Miss Sanchez,
>> yes.
>> Miss Waters,
>> yes.
>> Miss Silver,
>> no.
>> Miss Roel,
>> this is for 4.4, right?
>> No, 4.14.
>> 4.4,
correct?
14. Okay.
>> Oh, no. Oh, no.
You said no.
>> No.
>> Motion fails. The motion's table.
>> Okay.
>> All right. What was it?
>> Oh, the motion is table.
>> Okay. Next is
>> the resolution is table.
>> Resolution is table. Okay.
>> Okay.
And also, did the architects for the new
school go through the resolution that we
needed for the sanitary waste? Did that
>> No.
>> So, what do we need to do with that? Do
you need to contact the SDA about that?
>> Well, I I'll call them tomorrow. I don't
know.
>> So, did it go to the city yet for the
city to approve it?
>> Well, it can't go to the city. The board
has to approve it, then it goes to the
city, so I can't send it to the city.
>> Okay. All right. So, you're going to
contact the SDA. Can you um let me
follow up so I can let everybody know
what happens with that?
Okay.
Next is transportation
5.1 to 5.4. I have a motion.
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. May I have a
second?
>> Motion.
>> Second by
>> Second.
>> Second by Mrs. Morgan. Any questions?
>> No questions. We'll call on Miss White.
>> Miss Akins. Yes,
>> Miss Harris.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Morgan.
>> Yes,
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Waters.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Silver.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Rowell?
>> Yes.
>> Motion carries.
>> Uh, facilities, we don't have anything.
Um,
we took facilities off, correct, Dr.
Martinez? Nothing for facilities. Okay.
Uh, human resources. May I motion for
7.1 to 7.8?
>> Motion by Mrs.
>> uh, 7.1 to 7.8.
Second.
>> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez, second by Mrs.
Morgan. Questions?
>> Morgan seconded. And Sanchez.
>> Okay, go ahead.
>> And test first.
>> My turn.
>> Miss um Harris.
>> Yeah. Um
>> back to this budget we were showing. We
got new hires on here, but we don't have
no We're getting rid of 40. Um I see an
accountant for
who's been doing the accounting since.
>> Why do we need a new account?
>> This person retired April the 30th.
>> Placing a position. you replace.
>> This position is an accounting position.
>> So, who's been doing the accounting
right now?
>> The person retired
>> as of the 30th of April.
>> So, wait a minute.
>> Board approved already.
>> It's board approved already.
>> Uhhuh.
>> So, why is on here now?
>> No, no, the retirement was board
approved.
>> Oh, okay. Okay. Okay.
>> Okay.
And then Any
other questions?
>> Any other questions?
>> No.
>> No questions. Roll call, Miss White.
>> Miss Akens,
>> I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Harris.
Yes to everything but 7.2.2.
Miss Morgan. One second. Trying to look
at my notes.
Yes to everything besides 7.2.
Okay. Yes, that'll be it.
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes to everything except for 7.1, 7.2,
and 7.7.
Miss Waters.
>> Yes to everything except 7.2
and 7.7.
>> Oh, I need to change my vote. Miss
Silver.
>> Yes. For everything.
>> I need to change my vote.
>> Miss Morgan.
>> Morgan, what did you just say? I need to
change one um something on my vote.
>> Okay.
>> It was in my notes. I couldn't find it,
so I wanted to vote. I want to say no to
7.7 as well.
>> 7.2 and 7.7.
>> Mwell.
>> Yes.
Wait a minute.
>> Wait, can I also resend my vote? I'm
sorry.
>> Fix it.
>> Okay.
>> Can I fix my vote?
>> What I got to say? Tell me. Oh,
>> which one? Which?
>> Go ahead. You're good.
>> Okay. Um, okay. Yes to everything was
7.2
to
7
and
I'm sorry
that's it. Y it's too much. Okay. Sorry.
>> Okay. So
7.2 and 7.7 fails. Everything else
passes.
>> I have a question. Um
um 7.7. These are A2 contracts, correct?
>> These are what
>> are they A2 contracts or am I reading
this wrong?
>> No, it's A2 contracts.
>> Okay. So my next question is since
they're A2 contracts, have these people
gotten paid yet?
>> Have they gotten paid?
>> Because this is from March the 1st to
June 30th, April the 22nd. Some of them
are April 22nd to June 30th. Some are
June 1st to June 30th. This means all
these people are not getting paid now.
>> Well, no, because they say April 22nd,
so that states that they haven't started
yet is
>> right. But my thing is since they're not
starting and it was voted down, these
people can't do these jobs. Correct.
>> Correct.
>> Right. Right. They can't do the job.
>> Okay. And they won't be paid.
>> Correct. the board.
>> I just want to make it plain so
everybody on this board and everybody
out here sitting down and the people
listening understand what's going on so
nobody comes back and screaming and
yelling at us. Um,
>> it's April 22nd is
>> tomorrow.
Most of it starts tomorrow and some of
them started March March the 1.
>> Women, one started March the 1st.
>> Two of them started March the 1st.
>> So why are we even voting on it now?
>> Why?
>> One started is uh will start tomorrow.
Most of these
>> a whole lot of them.
>> All right. But was this stuff included
inside the budget? You got to think
about what we got to think about. Why
keep leading people on that? We going to
have to get rid of people eventually.
>> This is
>> this is part of this year's budget. I
understand what you're saying, but
>> not next year's budget. This is this
year's budget.
>> I understand what you're saying.
>> I I totally understand that part, but
what I'm saying is why are we this this
March stuff stuff like this is what I
was asking you about, Dell. Why are we
consistently going back dating? Why are
we voting on stuff or or approving stuff
that's back that's back then? That
wasn't We should have voted on that
March.
>> Maybe
>> February.
>> What' you say? It was submitted late.
>> It was submitted late.
>> So, and also I just want to make clear
that the high school coaches, the care
program, the early childhood additional
teachers from Satan Hall contracts, A2
contracts, curriculum and instructions,
middle school.
>> I don't want nobody not to pay their
bills.
>> Nobody's going to get paid. I get what
you're saying, Doris, but there I get
what you're saying, Madam President, but
there are ways that we have to do this,
right? This board runs by nine people,
right? In a 10th, who gives her, but
it's it's not like that. Y'all can't
just throw us stuff the day of or the
day before, then you playing this blame
game on us. Okay. Oh, nobody curriculum.
>> You you can't do that to us.
>> Who's in
what subject is this?
>> HR.
>> And I apologize. We didn't have a
meeting, Miss um
Miss Harris. I'm sorry about that. But
um
>> it was no committee. It was no
committee. It was canceled. It was no
committee.
>> No meeting, right?
>> No meeting. So we don't want to prove
things or anything about
>> it. Was normally not like that. But I'm
just saying when the packet went home
and I'm not trying to make excuses for
nobody or make
>> nothing. And I get what you're saying,
um Miss Harris. I get we don't have the
money and all that, but
>> they already did the work. Basically
what you're saying or they
>> Madam President, it's not about the
money. It's the fact that we didn't have
a committee meeting. So, no one knew
anything about this until they got their
agenda in the evening and it was too
late to try to figure it out,
>> right?
>> We don't know anything about any of
this. It was no committee. So, it has
nothing to do with next year's budget
because that's what we're discussing.
That's where the money issues are. We're
discussing the fact that nobody there
was no committee meeting. So, no one
knows anything about any of this,
>> right? And also the packet went home on
Friday too as well. If like if anybody
had any question, you had Friday,
Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
I mean, you could have, if I'm not
trying to make excuses because I don't
need to make excuses. Um, if you had a
question, you could have probably called
or said, "Hey, this what the heck is
this going on? Why do we, you know, we
don't even have money for this?" You
know, but you wouldn't have known. We
didn't have any money because you just
saw the president at the board. Um,
>> that's for next year's budget.
>> You saw that last year. But if you would
have reached out and called or just
reached out to somebody,
>> this is the thing. This is not about the
budget. This is about not having
knowledge. So, we don't want to vote on
nothing we don't have knowledge on.
>> Right. But my thing is, and I'm not
disputing what you're saying, Miss
Sanchez. Well, what I'm saying also is
>> on Friday, say if you open it Saturday,
whatever, you know, or you browsing it
when you're at work. Um, hey, I don't
understand this. Pick the phone up. You
know what I mean? Moving along. Can we
>> So, you want me to call administration
on the weekends?
>> Because I don't get if you put in my
mailbox Friday, I don't get off to
Saturday morning.
>> If you would give me a call, if you give
me a call, I don't care how late it is,
I'll make sure I get an answer for you.
>> And I appreciate that for the future.
But for the future, could you give us a
courtesy and make sure something that
this extensive and this important that
the committee meeting is not cancelled?
>> Yep.
Not a problem. So, we're pulling that.
So, no, we're going to change it if
>> we would like it. Failed. Okay,
>> Dale. No, Dale. We going to Well, I'mma
speak for myself.
>> I'm going to change my no from 7
to yes.
But also, can we can we put on public
record instead of making us look like
we're not organized or we don't know, if
we do the proper channels, we'll look
well up here. We don't look well because
you give us what you want to give us and
then expect us just to sit up here and
say yes, yes, yes. Oh, that looks fine.
Oh, that looks fine. That looks great. I
like the way you type that there. No, it
doesn't work like that. We need it when
we need it. And if we get our packet on
Friday
after you guys get off,
>> who you want me to call you on Saturday?
I'll just give y'all y'all time like you
know your personal time. But I'm just
saying. So that's um Harrison that's the
only issue we're having duly noted and
we won't make this hap this won't happen
again but in the future too um if you do
see something in the book maybe that you
>> doesn't look good to you give me a call
and I'll make sure I get in touch with
one of them and I'll make sure I get you
the answer
>> in the future. Okay.
>> Thank you um Mrs. Harris.
>> Um okay so 7.7
will now pass.
>> Okay.
You said on the
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
Next uh policy. May I have a
motion for 8.1?
>> You got changed
by Mrs. Silver, second by
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> I switched it up. Is that okay?
>> Yes.
>> Okay,
>> that's fine.
>> Um, any questions about the policy?
Um, I had
>> Oh, wait a minute. That's the
resolution.
>> I'm sorry. Go ahead, Char.
>> No, you go ahead. That was the
resolution.
>> 8.1,
>> the revision to policy 0142 42.1.
>> I believe in my personal opinion, it's
just me. I'm only one vote that needs to
be pulled for review. Um, I don't think
that's in the best interest of the
district.
>> Four point the policy. Okay.
>> Uh, would you want that to be pulled to
take back to committee?
>> To someone. Yes.
>> Okay.
>> All right. So, we will pull that take
that back to committee.
>> Okay.
>> On the same page. Okay. So, um, we put
on record make a motion
>> to pull it.
>> Yes. Okay. We'll take it back to
committee.
>> Just motion to table.
>> Motion to table 8.1.
>> Second.
>> All right. We'll call Miss Whitegan.
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> This table.
>> Cuts it off.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> All right.
>> Um different.
>> Do we need to do another voice?
>> Okay. Roll call. Miss White, you need to
do a voice um for table.
>> Miss Aikens.
>> Yes.
Miss Harris.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Morgan,
>> this is just for the nepotism one.
>> Okay. To pull it. Uhhuh. Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> No.
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Waters.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Silver.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Roel.
>> Yes.
>> Motion carries to table.
>> Next is curriculum and instruction. Uh
9.1. They have a motion for 9.1 to 9.3.
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mrs. Silver. Have a second by
Mrs. Sanchez.
>> Any questions about this the curriculum
and instruction?
>> Yes.
>> I have a question.
>> Yes, Miss Aens.
>> Um I believe it's going from
Make sure 9.1 to what again?
>> Uh 9.1 to 9.3. 9.3.
>> Yes, I have concerns
on page 32, the resolution.
>> Okay.
>> Resolutions.
Uh,
number one and number two, I'm thinking
that I'm asking that we pull that
review. But number one, my concern is
um
staffing not working on Fridays when we
supposed to get our agendas.
Um if this if we pass this, I want to
put a motion that we get our agendas on
Thursday.
>> How does that work?
>> Because last year we had problems and we
didn't get them until Monday because
there was no staffing on Friday.
>> And we should always get them before,
not a date.
So the summer hours historically have
been Monday through Thursday.
>> Um
the week well last year I I believe
memory serves me right. I think there
was no meeting in July
and
>> we had a retreat.
>> It was a retreat. Memory serves me
right. And then but the point is uh the
summer hours work hours are Monday
through Thursday.
>> Um
>> so this resolution is about the summer
program.
>> Yeah. I don't have a problem with the
hours. I have a problem with us getting
our agenda. So I'm requesting that
>> all agendas
>> for the summer be given on Thursday. Is
that is that one last day Thursday
not Monday
like the committee?
>> You guys going to arrange your schedule
for August.
>> So you'll just wrap it up and you'll
have it ready by Friday. Correct.
>> They're not going to be here Friday.
>> Thursday is your committee meeting. So
>> to have it done by
the committee.
>> Okay. Yeah, we can probably change the
um that committee to Wednesday and then
we'll wrap it up to
>> Thursday. Great idea. So that's what
we'll do. You'll have it on um Thursday.
>> I'll just change the personel.
>> Is that okay? She's
>> okay with you, Miss.
>> So she don't need to make a motion that
we get it on Thursdays.
>> No. Can you
>> because they're going to make sure they
get it on Thursday because we're going
to change the finance and um human
resource to Wednesday because there's no
committees on Wednesday. So once we wrap
that up on Thursday, you will get your
agenda. Okay. And they'll be done for
the They're not there Friday.
>> So can you please make sure?
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. Um where are we at?
>> In table number two.
>> Table what? Number two. number two.
>> Um,
what page?
>> Third.
>> It's the district calendar
>> because I think the
>> Oh, the district superintendent should
have a say in this calendar for next
year.
>> Yes. Yes. I agree. I agree
>> as well.
>> Okay. I agree. Okay. We
We'll table the calendar and we'll take
it back to committee and then what we'll
do is we'll send it back out.
>> So, you got to make a motion to table
that.
>> Can I make a motion to table number two?
>> Okay. resolution. So, do we skip all
this and we want to pull the calendar?
Whatever you want to pull, you have to
table because table stops whatever
motion or discussion
>> number two.
>> So, you're tableing two from whatever
>> we're tableling the
>> number two.
>> Number two of the resolution.
>> Which but under which
>> under curriculum and instruction
>> page 327
I27.
So then just say that that you're
>> Miss Akens.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh can you say that you're tableabling?
Um
>> I want to make a motion to table
resolution I two.
>> Okay. Okay. Um All right. Did you get
that?
>> Yeah. Akens motion. Miss Morgan.
>> Okay.
>> Second.
>> Okay. Roll call. Miss White.
>> Is this for the table?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Aikens? Yes, Miss Harris.
>> Oh, wait.
>> This is about the table.
>> But we're voting on the whole agenda.
>> You're just
>> Oh, okay. Okay.
>> Okay. All right. Just table
>> tableabling two. Yes. Okay. Go ahead.
Miss Morgan.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> No.
Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Waters.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Silver.
>> The table. The calendar.
>> Miss Rowel.
>> Yes.
>> Motion carries.
>> And Miss Silver, would you want to leave
it alone? Are you sure?
>> Okay.
So I just need a motion for the
agenda for the whole agenda now.
>> Yeah,
>> I will do that.
>> 9.1 to 9.3 with us pulling I
>> toot.
>> Motion second.
>> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. Second. May I
have a second?
>> Second by Mrs.
>> Morgan.
Any questions?
No questions. Roll call. and Miss White.
>> Miss Akens,
>> yes.
>> Miss Harris,
>> yes.
>> Miss Morgan,
>> yes.
>> Miss Mr. Rodriguez,
>> yes, but I abstain from 9.2 part E
number 29.
>> I'm sorry. 9.2. What did you say?
>> 9.2 part E number 29. Okay.
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes.
Miss Waters.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Silver.
>> Okay. Miss Roel.
>> Yes.
>> Motion carries.
>> Okay. Go ahead.
Motion for the board of education to
accept the recommendation of the
superintendent of schools and approves
the HIV report for March 2026.
>> Motion.
>> Who second? Miss
>> Morgan.
>> Miss Aikens.
>> Yes.
Miss Harris,
>> yes.
>> Miss Morgan,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez,
>> yes.
>> Miss Sanchez,
>> Miss Waters.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Silver.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Roel.
>> Yeah. Yes.
Can we have a motion for to accept the
recommendation of the superintendent of
schools? Whereas a grievance was filed
by the Pleasantville Education
Association under docket number AR
20269.
And whereas in lie of the uncertainty
and additional expense of litigation,
the parties have agreed to amicably
resolve the matter in dispute. Now
therefore, it be resolved that the
Pleasantville Board of Education hereby
approves the settlement under docket
number AR2026-9
in accordance with the terms of the
settlement agreement attached here too.
That's the one Mr. Lester Taylor
discussed in the executive
>> motion.
>> Second,
>> Miss Morgan and Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Roll call. Miss
>> Akins.
>> Miss Harris.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Morgan.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Sanchez.
Oh, yes.
>> Miss Waters,
>> yes.
>> Miss Silver,
>> yes.
>> Miss Roel,
>> yes. Motion carries. Okay.
>> Did you approve the HIG report?
>> I didn't say yes.
>> Yes, you did.
>> Did I?
>> You was talking to me.
>> Oh, okay. I'm sorry.
>> I'm sorry. I was distracting y'all.
>> Okay. Uh next we're going to have um the
board vacancy um interviews. Um
first we have um
Deandra Miller. Deandra Miller. Is she
here?
Um, hi. How are you?
>> Good evening.
Okay. It says, um, first
question is, why do you want to be a
board member for the Pleasantville
School District?
>> I want to be a part of the change. I
want to make sure that we can have a
platform where there's unity and there
there is some form of proactiveness to
better our children's future.
>> Okay. Um, next,
how do you deal with confidentiality of
board business?
>> I am a woman of ethics. So,
confidentiality
to me is very important. I'm bonded by
the code of ethics and I would most
certainly uphold that bond and that
confidentiality with the members here
for the board.
>> Okay.
Um, next I have a question. How do you
handle a disagreement with other board
members with board business? I listen,
I review, and I allow different
perspectives to take and transpire.
And when that happens, we can
collaborate and all have a resolution at
some point or another. But listening is
the main key in that because at some
point, we're all working for one cause
and that's for the District of
Pleasantville.
Okay, next last question. Um, what would
you do if the board was divided on an
important issue?
I would review policy,
procedure,
past situations that were similar, and I
would make a decision predicated off of
that.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Thank you.
>> Next, we have Mr. Pastor Jerome Page.
Good evening.
>> Good evening. Okay. Um,
uh, Pastor Pade. Um, why do you want to
be a part of the board of education?
Well, one because I've been on the board
before
and I've been here since 6 o'clock
tonight
and I like to really bring the the board
together in unity as the young lady said
because in unity
everyone benefits.
Um
that's why I would like to get on. I I
would like to help the children here.
It's only for nine months I believe.
It's only until December 31st.
Um,
but I think I can do and share a lot uh
with the board members here.
>> Okay, great. Okay. Um, how would you
deal with uh confidentiality
of board business?
I would have to bring it to the full
board
in executive session of information that
has gotten out
and try to pinpoint it to who's doing
it.
Um,
I just found out today that it was three
of us going for the position of the
vacancy.
called a board member up and didn't know
nothing about it. So I would just make
sure that you know policy is followed
and that we all come together and talk
about confidentiality.
>> Gotcha. Thank you. Um next, how would
you handle a disagreement with board
members
with board business for board if we had
board business?
I mean, how would you handle a
disagreement with other board members
with board business?
>> Well, when I was on the board, we used
to have a list of the numbers, names and
numbers of all the board members and I
would call up whichever board member
that I have a question or whatever about
and talk to them. Communication is very
very important. And if we as board
members share communication with another
entity that's not even within our board,
then that's wrong. But what I would do
is call up the person and tell them what
the issue is and see if we can come up
with some agreement together.
Sounds good. Okay. Next question. Last
question is, what would you do if the
board was divided in on divided on a
important issue?
Well, I looked at it tonight and you I
was going over the superintendent
delivered the uh the budget and I looked
at and listened to every board member
and what I seen was
uh no communication outside of the
meeting. what I see was board members,
you know, not being contacted by the
board president. Um, I heard that, you
know, the personnel uh, excuse me, the
uh, yeah, the personnel committee was
was uh, cancelled and as a board
president and I guess are you the chair?
>> Yes, I am the chair. as the chair is
responsible to call up every board
member, call up every board member and
tell them that the personnel committee
has been cancelled.
>> And that was them, Mr. Paige.
>> Okay. But can I finish?
>> Yes, you may.
>> Um, it's communications.
It's not just saying to them, if you get
your packet and you see something that
you don't, give them give me a call. No,
the chairs
are responsible to call up every board
member after they had a meeting and
share with them some of the issues in
that meeting. On your agenda, you have
facilities,
nothing.
Now, I heard the budget tonight and
there's a lot of things getting ready to
happen in facilities.
There should always be something to
discuss in in facilities and those
minutes of every committee should go out
to every board member that is not a part
of the committee. So when you come
together at your board meeting,
everyone would know and understand
what's taking place.
One more thing,
your board agenda
should have the chairman's, the
chairpersons of every committee ready to
give their report of the items on the
agenda.
There are some items that was pulled
tonight,
but if that chairperson at the beginning
of the meeting would say, "This is what
we talked about that 7.7.
This is the issue. This is what's going
on."
That's that's communication.
That's going back and forth. And really,
the the community just sits back and
watch the board work their comm work
their meeting.
But what I'm seeing is
not enough communication among the
leadership of it and everybody else. I
would I would bring in so much
experience, especially with the budget.
The budget and I I applaud you. You
don't agree to something that you really
don't know the whole story about. The
budget starts in February
and it it gradually goes through where
small committees are together about the
budget. So when the budget comes up
tonight,
everybody would already know what's in
it.
>> So Mr. Paige, so getting back to the
question, we got to steer back to the
question.
>> I'll give you a half a second.
>> And and what is the question again? What
would you do if the board was divided on
an important issue?
>> I would have to reach out through phone
numbers of each board member or wait
until we have a meeting and go into
executive session. If it's item that we
can talk about in executive session or
some kind of way, I have to communicate
with you because if we don't know, we
can't. is going to affect our children
because we vote on things that really
affects our children,
>> right?
>> And if we don't know, we got to
communicate. We have to talk to one
another.
>> Thank you, Mr. Page.
>> One second. Madam Chair, I have a
question because I think I might have
missed it because I was talking to the
attorney.
>> Did you say you knew how many people
applied before you got here?
>> Yes.
>> Can you tell me how you knew that? Cuz
we didn't find out who applied or how
many applied till we when we got here.
That's when we found out everything. So,
how would you know before I said we're
the board?
>> Somebody came to my house, knocked on my
door. I opened it up and that person
told me
>> someone from the district. I'm asking
only because we trying to be transparent
as a board. We didn't find out how many
applied or who applied to today when we
sat down.
>> So, I'm trying to find out how does an
applicant find out before the board
finds out
>> and the only way it would go through was
the BA. Correct.
>> Uh, yeah. But Miss Sanchez, if you want
to know the question to that, maybe you
can.
>> I need to know how privileged
information is getting out our district
to people.
>> Right. We can and we can discuss that
>> in public. Yes. Not private.
>> Okay. Well, we'll go through the
interviews first and if after you want
to have that conversation, that's fine.
Okay.
>> Okay. So, I may may ask you a few
questions.
>> I would like to answer to your question
of who the person was.
>> Mr. Paige. No.
>> If there was somebody in this jurist, we
need to know because that means
privileged information is getting out.
Mr. David Callaway came to my house
today.
>> He came to my house today and I
appreciated that because he wanted to
know if I knew
>> how many people were
>> were going to be interviewed
>> and I didn't know
>> and he told me three two women and one
guy. Me.
>> Thank you, Mr. Paige. Well, at least you
knew before us cuz we didn't find out
till we got here.
>> Next, we have Mia Torres.
So, can we ask you
>> Hello. Good evening.
>> Good evening. Um, okay. Why do you want
to be a board member for the
Pleasantville school district?
>> I want to be a board member because I
believe in giving back to your community
and I grew up in the Pleasantville
school, excuse me, district for nearly a
decade. And I believe I can bridge the
gap between students and the board. As a
Pleasantville alumni, a scholar who is
now at Stockton University and
excelling, I do something similar
currently as a student senate. So, I
believe I can bring a fresh perspective
to the board.
>> Okay. Next. How do you deal with
confident confidentiality of the board's
business?
>> Excuse me. Mhm.
>> Well, I believe if any information were
to get out, I don't believe that
information should go sideways. It
should only go upward. I would approach,
excuse me, I would approach the chair if
I believe there to be any leaks. And of
course, I would hold myself to the
ethical standards of the board because
no matter what, no information should be
getting out. We should always appear to
be a unified front to the public.
>> Okay, great. Next question.
How do you handle a disagreement with
other board members with board business?
>> From my perspective, the most important
thing is to take a step back and breathe
because it's easy to forget that
disagreement is good. I believe that if
in any moment I were to agree with all
of you on any given issue, something is
wrong. Because disagreement incites
further thoughtfulness, more
deep questions. It's how we get into
deeper conversation and help students
more.
So, when it comes to disagreement, I
would just remind everyone to be
respectful. Remember that we are all
here to represent the students and to
move forward intentionally.
Okay. Thank you. Next uh last question.
Uh what would you do if the board was
divided on an important issue?
If the board were divided on an
important issue
and we had to make a decision, I would
try to call for executive session. I
believe that our working moments should
be in private so that in public when we
make our decisions and reveal why they
those are transparent.
Excuse me, I lost my train of thought.
>> Take your time. Take your time.
And then I also believe that the
simplest way to put it is to a vote. The
majority has the right to pass and the
minority has the right to be heard. So
long as we are listening not solely to
respond and to get our way, but to
understand
that is how a board moves forward.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Thank you for having me.
>> You're welcome.
Come over here on fire.
>> Now it's time for the motion.
>> I mean,
>> yeah, you can pick someone
like last We're not doing
>> score. You're gonna make your votes and
say why. If you voted for somebody
>> Why do we have to do that? We don't
normally do that.
>> No, we don't. Yeah. No, we don't
normally do that. We normally make a
motion and pass. It don't pass. We don't
say why.
>> Okay. Okay. Got Well, we'll roll call
for each applicant. Okay, first we have
um Miss Miller. May I have a motion for
Miss Miss Miller?
>> I'll make a motion.
>> Um Miss Morgan motioned it and I have a
second.
>> Second.
>> Second by Miss Sanchez.
Uh any questions? No questions. Move on.
Miss White.
>> Miss Aikens.
Your mic's not on.
>> Miss Harris.
Yes,
>> Miss Morgan.
>> Yes,
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> First president.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Waters?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Silver?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Roel?
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Motion carries. Okay. Next we have
Mr.
>> do all of them.
>> You have to do all of them.
>> All of them.
>> Uh let me have M. Pastor Jerome Page.
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez.
>> Second.
>> Second by Mr. Rodriguez. Questions? No
questions. Roll call. Miss White.
>> Miss Aikens.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Harris.
>> No.
Miss Morgan abstain.
>> Mr. Rodriguez,
>> no.
>> Miss Sanchez,
>> yes.
>> Miss Waters,
>> yes.
>> Miss Silver,
>> yes.
>> Miss Rowell,
>> no.
>> Motion fails.
>> Okay. Next we have Mia Torres.
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez.
>> Second.
>> Second by Mrs. Morgan. Questions? No
questions. Roll call on Miss White.
>> Miss Akins.
>> No.
>> Miss Harris.
>> No.
>> Miss Morgan of Stain.
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Waters.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Silver.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Rowel.
>> Yes.
>> So, who got the most votes?
I didn't count.
>> So, everybody said yes.
>> So,
>> yeah.
>> Everybody said yes.
>> Said yes.
>> So is Miller.
>> Okay. Um, so congratulations, Mrs.
Miller. You actually won.
You can see the BA after the meeting and
everything. She'll give you instructions
from there. Congratulations.
Welcome. Um,
>> okay. Public. I'm sorry, Madam
President.
>> Yes.
>> Before we get further into different
things,
>> um, nasty allegation just was put out
there in public.
>> Okay. I would like to make a motion for
a full formal investigation to how
private information is getting out from
the administration to the public and
we're not even getting it.
>> Okay.
Now I put that motion. Can I get a
Y first and a second?
>> May I have a motion?
>> Second.
>> You wrote that down, Miss White.
>> Okay. May I have a motion?
>> Who motioned this?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Sanchez. May I have a second?
Silver.
>> Second by Silver.
>> Silver. Any questions?
>> No questions. Roll call. Miss White.
>> Miss Akins?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Harris?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Morgan?
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Sanchez?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Waters?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Silver?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Roel?
>> Yes.
>> Motion carries.
>> No. Who does
next public comments
uh 10.4 Pastor Jerome Page
>> Board of Education. Thank you. Wow.
>> Um,
I'm still going to support you. We'll
support this board.
I will come at the meetings and share
what I can share.
>> Thank you.
>> Um, I thank you again. Um but I think
you know it's time for me to move on
and um but I am available at any time.
>> Thank you.
>> Um this is a a new board, you know, even
though you had board members been on the
board before, but I like um Sanchez and
she's going into the different classes
and whatever workshops and all that. Uh
and I would request that all of you do
that. Um, just one more thing. I would
participate in the county, New Jersey
school boards county meetings once a
month. I would go up to this to Trenton
to the office. They have um different
meeting meetings up there. What I would
ask you to do is get out of the
environment you're in and go to the
other board members and see what happens
in their places in in their schools. and
they have good programs
and you can bring them back here. But I
I I think if you take your mind off of
Pleasantville Board of Education, the
inner workings of it and go out and
visit other school districts,
go to the board meetings, EHT, great
meeting. You go, you see how it's
presented. The chairperson presents
everything. Nobody has a question.
because that chair is in the middle of
that meeting. So, I would just say thank
you.
>> Thank you.
>> May God bless you.
>> Thank you.
>> And keep keep going on.
>> Thank you.
Next, we have Tim Jones.
>> Yeah. Okay. Next, we have David
Callaway.
>> Good evening, board. Once again,
>> good evening. I just want to bring to
this board's attention in the community
that we have a board member, Miss The
Waters, who hasn't lived in
Pleasantville in almost three years.
>> Huh?
>> Say it again. Oh,
>> no.
>> We have a member, Miss The Waters, on
the board who hasn't lived in
Pleasantville in almost 3 years. She's
ineligible to even sit up there. She's
not a resident.
>> Callaway.
>> I have proof.
>> Mr.
Callaway.
>> Mr. Callaway. Call the the president.
While he's here, can we ask him who told
him
>> forwarded?
>> Yeah.
>> That information. Who has told me?
>> No. Who Who told No, when you finish
that question.
>> Wait.
>> It that that has been proven and the
information has been sent to the
Atlantic County.
>> Wait a minute. Mr.
>> Superintendent of Election.
>> Trying to talk to our legal so we don't
get in trouble.
>> You ask him to stop speaking. Yes.
>> So, he's supposed to stop seeking
because he's directing all comments to
>> Right. So, she wants to know if
>> what was your what she say?
>> What?
>> Say it again.
>> What's your question, Elise?
>> What was your question?
>> My question was since Mr. Kow is hearing
he's speaking, instead of paying for a
formal investigation, would he be
willing to tell who told him the
information about how many candidates?
>> I'm going to tell you this, Elise. I'm
going use your saying like you say
>> the walls in city hall
>> should he really should
>> has ears
>> the walls in this school district
>> Mr. Callaway
>> yes
>> do me a favor can you just send an email
to um
>> I want the public to know
>> I know Mr. But listen, listen. This the
information the information has been
forwarded to the Atlantic County
>> Superintendent of Elections. It has been
forwarded to
>> Atlantic County Superintendent of
Education.
>> You send me an email.
>> The information has also been forwarded
to New Jersey school boards. The
information has also been sent to the
Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
>> Mr. out of the way. If you send me an
email, I'll make sure each board member
gets it. Okay?
>> I'm telling you, and it's proven facts.
It's proven facts. It's been
investigation and they have it.
Somebody's in trouble.
>> Somebody is in trouble.
>> And okay. All right. Thank you, Mr.
Callaway. Thank Thank you, Mr. Callaway.
>> Yeah. Thank you. He got time.
>> Okay. Go ahead
>> to Miss Sanchez. We had our little spat
on uh social media and I said that I was
going to check you every time you told
the untruth and you have on that on that
um loose bat we had. I told you yes I
please direct your comments to the
board.
>> Directed to me forwarded information
>> directed to me I
>> y'all keep taking my time away by
interrupting me.
>> Go ahead. I'm sorry. Go ahead and speak
to the board. I um told her that yes, I
filed ethics charges on her. It's been a
while ago. She agreed, but then she took
her to another part and said that I
filed criminal charges on her, which she
knows is a lie. She has done nothing to
me at all for me to file criminal
charges on her. And she said she had
proof of it. I would love for you to get
the proof and put it out there cuz it's
a false accusation that you made against
me.
>> Okay. directed to me.
>> I have I have not today I have not I
have not ever fought
>> criminal charges on Miss Sanchez. And if
you have the proof
took away my time,
>> Mr. Callaway, go ahead. Finish, please.
I'm a big girl. I can take it. Finish
talking.
>> Mr. I know you can. But no, no, we're
not going to. We're not going to do
this. No, we're not. Mr. Callaway, we're
not going to do this again. If you don't
retract that statement, it will be
Crystal. I tell you that. But I'm
telling you now, we're not going to do
this today. But I'm telling you now,
I'm going to come back and straighten
it. Every time you tell a lie, I'm
coming back.
>> I appreciate your transparency.
>> The comments that Miss Sanchez made were
not in
>> in her capacity as a board board member.
They were private personal capacity.
>> No, Mr. Mr. Callaway, your time is done.
>> Okay. Thank Thank you, Mr. Callaway.
>> Mr. Callaway. Thank you,
>> Mr. Callaway.
So,
>> may I please say something? I'm not
going to say anything. I just want to
put on record as a whole.
>> Miss Sanchez,
>> I want everybody if we say anything
wrong to come up and pull us up.
>> I know. No, Miss Sanchez. Please don't.
Please don't.
>> Come on. Please. Everybody come. You
know your truth. You don't have to
swear. Come on. Come on. Everybody come.
Miss Sanchez. Miss Sanchez. Next we have
Priscil. Miss Priscilla Noel.
>> That is crazy.
>> Miss Priscilla Noel.
>> I love it.
>> But madam madam madam president.
>> Wait a minute one second. Before you let
Priscilla come up, can we discuss
something here as a whole? Okay. He can
feel however he wants to feel about us.
But deep inside we don't have to take
that. And I understand that you were
trying to cut him, but when other people
speak out there in the public, they get
cut. They get ran off. He should have
got ran off a little bit more cuz now we
all got to go outside.
>> You know what? I'm not.
>> Now we all got to walk outside though.
>> Okay. We have Miss Priscilla Noel.
>> She just ignoring me.
>> Miss Priscilla Noel.
>> Miss Miss Priscilla Noel.
>> Yes.
>> Uh which paper was that?
>> Um okay. I will let her speak.
>> Um, good evening.
>> Good evening.
>> Um, I am writing on behalf of our
self-funded recreational track team here
in Pleasantville.
>> Um, Pleasantville Phoenix Rising. Um,
it's built through the dedication of
volunteer coaches and retired athletes
and committed parents. Mhm.
>> Our program is this solely to provide
local youth with a positive, structured,
excuse me, positive, structured, and
empowerment athletic, excuse me,
athletic outlet. This request
specifically pertains to our upcoming
track meet scheduled for May 16th with a
rain date of May 17th. At this time, we
are respectfully requesting access to
the track at Pleasantville High School
for this single event. Last year, we
were unable to access the Pleasantville
High School track, which required our
athletes and their families to travel
weekly to Williamstown for meetats.
This presented a significant burden both
financially and logistically on families
who are simply trying to support their
children's growth and development.
Providing access to lo a local facility
even for just one day would greatly ease
the burden and allow our athletes the
opportunity to compete in the community
they proudly represent.
These are dedicated students who train
consistently, show discipline, and
reflect the very best of our youth
athletics here. Additionally, the full
track meet schedule has already been
created and distributed to parents,
coaches, and athletes. To revisit or
deny access after this level of planning
has taken place places an extreme strain
on families and participants and feels
deeply unfair given the commitments that
have already been made. To ensure a
safe, organized, and well-managed event,
we will have appropriate support
services on site, including ambulance
services, police presence, and public
works personnel. We are fully committed
to maintaining the integrity and safety
and cleanliness of this facility.
Despite being a small self-funded team,
our athletes achieved an outstanding
record last season, and several
participants advanced to the to compete
in Texas at the Junior Olympics. an
accomplishment that speaks volumes about
their dedication and the strength of
this program here.
My father and family are natives and are
deeply rooted in this community. I
however am a parent who travels daily
from Ocean City because I believe in
this team,
its coaches and its mission. I
respectfully ask that you reconsider
your decision. We are only asking for
the use of this track for one day during
the season.
Looking ahead, we also hope that in
future years, access can be granted when
it does not interfere with any school
related events as there is tremendous
value in supporting local youth programs
like ours. We understand there may be
considerations behind the initial
decision. We are more than willing to
work and collaboratively address any
concerns.
>> Did you fill out a facility usage form?
>> Yes.
>> Everything is done.
>> Okay. Was that
>> Madame President? I have question.
>> Wait a minute. Jess,
>> I'm trying to see who was answering.
>> She filled out. Go ahead. Finish your
question. Was
>> What's the name of your organization?
>> The Pleasantville Phoenix Rising
>> with the
recreate for the Pleasantville
Recreation Center.
>> Okay, I can speak on that. I'm the
chairperson of facilities. My name is
Charnell Morgan. Um,
unfortunately the superintendent's not
here because she gave me more
information pertaining to what's going
on. I believe that it was it was pulled.
It wasn't really turned down. It was
pulled because I believe she stated that
it was going to it's like $10,000 for
something. I can't recall what it was,
but I know
>> it was $10,000 for our
>> Okay. Y'all was in the committee. Y'all
can jump in when I fall off.
>> They had to pay 22,000.
>> I'm sorry.
>> With the total cost of everything, like
the use of the track, the the security
team, the cleanup,
>> all that,
>> it was pushing it to 10 about 10 grand.
So, what we did was try to work back. We
trying to work back with the wreck to
help us with the cost because we they
want it as no cost.
>> So, what we decided was we would take on
a bigger portion, which would have been
the 8,000.
>> Okay? And then the balance of the 200
and some would have been on the wreck.
>> The superintendent was supposed to go
and speak with Bobby Laws, the BA of
Pleasantville, okay, and get back to us
to let us know. So what we said was if
the wreck agreed to pay the balance, the
2,000, okay, then we was going to walk
it on today to approve it.
>> So this is what I was saying, this is
what I was saying to you,
>> but she didn't send the email. You
didn't see the email. So the email was
sent the email was sent to the city of
Pleasantville to agree to their portion
of it and then we'll pay the remainder
of the portion and then it'll be
approved
>> and to submit the insurance
>> right insurance policy.
>> So we was waiting I personally was
waiting for um the superintendent. She
did send emails out to um Bobby Laws.
>> Okay.
>> And as of now we're at a standstill
waiting for a response from him. So,
we're at a standstill waiting for a
response from Bobby regarding the $2,000
that the wreck needs to pay.
>> And just to be clear, if the wreck
itself cannot fund it, it can be
sponsored in on behalf of the whoever
can get it.
>> Well, it doesn't
>> doesn't matter. The money doesn't know
where it comes from as long as you
>> as long as y'all Yes. And and and
supply your insurance.
>> Okay.
>> So, as long as you supply the insurance,
pay the balance. So, you want $2,000 in
proof of insurance.
>> It's a little bit more. It's 2,000,
>> right? Yeah,
>> it's 200 and something. I just don't
know it right now because I don't have
my notes on me cuz I
>> What you can do is give Dr. Martinez a
call tomorrow and get the correct
information. So, you're not
>> Can I answer a question while she's
still there?
>> You know, so you're not getting the
wrong
>> So, these are district kids, correct?
>> Yes.
>> Okay. I just wanted to make sure.
>> So, that's where the stand still was. It
was never a no. It was just that it's
going the cost of the district. We
wanted to give um we took the big bulk
of it, the 8,000 something and we was
leaving the 2,000 there. So, Dr.
Martinez reached out to Bobby Laws and
we were waiting for a response from him.
Had we got the response today, then
>> just to clarify, we have insurance.
>> Okay. That has to be submitted for
everyone. Everyone that use our
facilities has to submit their
insurance. And if it would if she would
if he would have got back to her today,
then we all would have received a paper
or a dim to let them know that, you
know, we was going to approve it. Okay.
>> So, I did let a couple board members
know about it just in case if it
happened, but the Dr. Martinez hadn't
heard anything from him yet. Okay. But
if y'all do pay the balance, then you
know to come back for in front of us and
then it shouldn't be a problem.
>> I appreciate your time. Thank you.
>> Just make sure you get with Dr. Martinez
and she will forward the board the
paperwork appropriate people.
>> Perfect. Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
>> Thank you, Miss Priscilla. Now
>> after 4 hours,
>> imagine how we feel.
>> Everybody give yourself who stayed
through it a pat on the back.
So So let me get this straight. We won't
have an accountant to replace a retiring
accountant.
We don't have a preliminary, meaning
just something in good faith to submit
to the district, I mean the county for a
budget.
And um we're at a standstill with a few
line items. They're being tabled. We
have so many tables we could probably
host a banquet.
And I'm looking at this list here, which
was not at the beginning of the meeting
presented. And that's a shame. But
before I get to that, I wanted to speak
about the platform that is utilized by
the district for I believe it's prek
through 8 is class dojo.
Recently they updated their terms and
conditions and I for one like to read in
detail. Some of the providers are Open
AI and Anthropic which are a AI
companies and another one is Google
facial recognition. The platform is
offered for free but they want parents
to give up their federal protections of
their ch minor children so that they can
access the platform. I for one am not
agreeing to that and I wanted to make
the board aware that this is a platform
that has changed their terms and
conditions to compel
parents to just agree blanketly for
nonschool
products. It says that in the terms and
conditions. So this is a large data set
they're getting access to and we need to
be more mindful of what we're using.
So, I I urge the board to look through
that thoroughly. Now, back to the budget
situation. I looked it up and it seems
as though the deadline is uh for budgets
to be certified is May 20th. So, the
clock is ticking. In addition to that,
if the board does not approve the
budget, they do lose the power to make
the budget and it could go as far up as
to the state. And the last time I
recalled that the state was in charge,
we as the district and Pleasantville had
to pay for two state monitors. So you
want to talk about budget cuts, you want
to talk about staff cuts, they will cut
all of that just so they can pay for two
state monitors to tell you no for
everything including our sports. So I
think we need to seriously consider what
we're saying no to and understand the
procedures and what in the long term the
consequences will be because in the end
we will be failing the students. When
I'm seeing sports are going to get cut
or sport extracurricular funding is
going to get cut, that's a problem.
Especially after we spent over $1
million on a track and a field, that
doesn't make sense. Especially after we
improve the swimming pool. That doesn't
make sense. So, can we critically look
at what we're saying no to to make sure
that the consequence, the short-term
pleasure of saying no isn't a long-term
consequence to the children.
>> Thank you, Miss
>> Madam President.
>> Thank you, Miss Noel. I need I need to
respond to that. I just want to make it
very clear, Miss Noel. I personally know
you, personally know me. That's the
reason why we said no because things are
being done that is not in the best
interest of the children and we're not
knowledgeable about everything that's
happening.
>> Okay?
>> So, we had to pull that preliminary
budget. If I may
>> to make sure everything's being done in
the best interest, this is the board,
right?
And the people who do the paperwork are
the employees, right?
>> Yeah.
>> By law, they're supposed to give it to
you two days in advance, right?
>> If they're employees, they can get
viced, right, for not doing their job.
And I know that that's not a popular
thought or opinion, but when you have to
put your foot on somebody's neck,
they'll behave differently. And I'm just
saying that because if it's making you
all look bad and disorganized and you
are unprepared, that's a problem because
now it's infecting my children and I got
a problem with it. So I advise you to
utilize your power strategically
or at least remind those who are
employed and the decisions that are made
by the board that they know that they
are made by the board. not delay,
not drag your feet,
>> do it in accordance with what the board
needs done.
>> Thank you, Miss Noel.
>> Mrs. Noel, um just so you know also,
um this budget should have been
submitted back a month ago. And um Dr.
Martinez did reach out to each board
member. She emailed board members to
come in to look at it. Um so I don't
know everybody you know speak to
everybody but it was it'll make
president to everybody
>> madam president that's she did do that
right
>> so
>> she did do that everybody has situations
>> she wanted to do it on her time and the
budget is supposed to be public. It is
not for us to go in there two at a time
and look over it if we know if we're
doing things for the best interest of
our children. That's right. Well, that's
the public.
>> That was for the the um when she wanted
you to come in two or three at a time.
That was for you to look at it, for you
to have your overview of it, then she
was going to present it to
>> still in all that's not how it's
supposed to technically go.
>> Well, let's be clear. Let's be clear.
>> How does this go? Wait a minute. No,
that's okay.
>> Wait, let me be clear. Excuse me.
>> Go, Miss White.
>> Let me say something. We had a meeting
to go over budget and stuff. It was
cancelled.
So, let's not act like we
>> just dropped the ball,
>> right?
>> It was we were supposed to have a
meeting. The budget wasn't complete or
wasn't ready.
>> That's right. Correct.
>> And then we asked why was the meeting
canceled? They said because it wasn't
ready.
>> So, that's correct.
>> You know, accountability.
>> So, with that being said, I make a
motion for a special board meeting for
next Tuesday.
>> A discuss the right notices that were
already in effect to go out tomorrow.
>> Wait a minute. You are absolutely right,
Miss Akens. it was cancelled. But after
it was cancelled and no one showed up, I
believe Dr. Martinez did reach out to
the board members and said, "Hey, um,
such and such a time, you can come in
and review the budget again." So, to
what I know and what I was told, that
was done. So, I'm not going to go back
and forth with it, but that's, you know,
>> we're not going back and forth. We're
just having a d we're having a simple
dialogue
>> madam how we should we should be able to
do this
>> and discuss you know it's nine brains
they all have to
>> madam president.
>> Yes Mr.
>> So before we end the meeting I make a
motion for a special board meeting for
next Tuesday to discuss the right no
rights notices that are already on
notice to go out tomorrow.
>> Sir second
>> for next Tuesday.
>> Yes.
>> Uh what date is that?
>> The 28th.
>> The 2.
>> 28th. We we have one.
>> Where's the meeting?
>> Not the rice notices we discussed.
>> That's what I'm saying. It's not
supposed to be public.
>> You do notice.
>> You all know who we racing. I just want
the meeting.
>> I'm saying it's not supposed to be
public. It can be it will be sent to
>> fine. I want a special board meeting to
discuss the notices that are going out
tomorrow.
>> Okay. Uh that would be the 28th.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Um any questions about that?
>> No questions. Uh, roll call. Who who who
second? Uh, may I get a motion? Motion.
Motion by Miss Sanchez. Who second it?
Thea second it. Go ahead. Roll call.
Miss White.
>> Miss Akens.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Harris.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Morgan.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> No.
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes.
Miss Waters.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Silver.
>> I don't know.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Yes. If I can get a sitter for my
mother.
Miss Roel
>> abstain.
>> Yes. Somebody do it.
>> Motion carries. Okay. So, we will
advertise for next Tuesday at 6 o'clock.
But that
>> in the what is it for personnel?
>> For personnel.
>> Next Tuesday.
>> Okay. Uh next we have Britney.
>> Oh, wait. Did I mess up?
>> Oh, that was her.
>> We're going back to public comments.
Oh, Britney Hughes. I'm sorry. Britney
Hughes.
>> Okay. Uh, okay. Britney Green.
>> No. Carrie. Carrie Clark.
Hello. Hello. I would like to first ask
the question of do you know what happens
when you photocopy something to to that
information in a photocopier?
It actually stays in that hard drive
forever.
Forever. And that's exactly what happens
to our children's information with the
class dojo. So I just would request that
when I need to communicate with my
children's parents or with my children's
teachers about their issues in class and
all of those things that I don't want
that information to be held on to
forever by many many computers across
the board. and then sold possibly to
other data mines and terrible things
that have happened
across there. So please in careful
consideration do all of the proper
research for how we can use the a proper
communication between teachers and
parents and all of the critical
information.
The second note is I am flabbergasted
and absolutely devastated thinking about
how much
the school board budgets to a charter
school and then how much we take away
from the students that are here for
extracurricular activities. My stu my
children go to Leeds Avenue. Last year
when my oldest was in second grade, he
was looking forward to being able to
learn an instrument in school. That
opportunity is no longer. He needs to
wait until fourth grade. The same with
participating in the talent show. No
answers or understanding of why that
opportunity was taken away. But if the
next budget is also removing more
extracurricular activities,
more
arts and all of these things are
critical for forming
critical thinking, interesting,
brilliant people. We are removing the
fuel from their rocket ships. They are
zoning out into screens and they are
forgetting that you have the opportunity
to learn about the world. And this board
is doing all of their disservices by uh
to quote meeting bare minimum of the
core education.
That is devastating. I have stood up to
every educator in my family
who questioned where I would send my
children when I bought a house here and
the the teachers they have had in Leeds
Avenue.
>> Magical unicorns.
>> Thank you.
>> Next we have Alexander.
Good evening board. I would just like to
say a thank you again and we would like
to congratulate Miss Miller. We know
you're going to do great things. Uh we
know your your dedication to the
students and we're very excited to see
you on the board. But we also want to
say is that we also thank the board for
hearing Mia's uh comments and her
nomination. But at the end of the day,
we still want uh seat at the table. And
that means when we say that we are not
the future, we are the present. That
means that we will organize in November.
That we understand that we must stand
together. And that Mia, she is she's a
student. She understands what the
students are going through the
challenges. She was just a formal
student in very recent years. So she
knows what's at stake. And many of us
remember like in 2008 when we saw these
cuts. So we know what it means when we
lose sports. We know what it means when
we lose programs, especially
extracurriculars, where students aren't
able to develop those special skills
that uh normal programs aren't able to
give them. So, our message is clear that
we will continue to organize. We will
continue to stand up for each one of of
us. As you see in the back, we always
bring youth. We always bring different
of our friends and we're going to use
that power to organize and to get
representation that we deserve. Thank
you.
>> Thank you.
>> Next, um
board comments. Before we go to board
comments, um I was looking through past
agendas and meetings and I noticed we
didn't go out for RFPs for the auditors
or the insurance broker. So I want to
make a motion that we go out for RFP for
the auditors and insurance brokers.
>> Which insurance brokers?
>> The insurance brokers for the district.
Y'all kept the same ones. We didn't get
a new one for the airport.
>> We went out.
>> I didn't see that. I checked and I
didn't see.
>> Yeah, we did. Um Atlantic Associates is
as a matter of fact is the brokers. you
went out after we got on the board or
prior?
>> It was last year.
>> Yes. So, I would like to make a motion
to RFP for the orders and
>> second.
Any questions?
>> Roll call. Miss White.
>> Miss Akins?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Harris?
>> Yes.
>> Miss Morgan?
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez?
>> No.
>> Miss Sanchez? Yes,
>> Miss Waters.
>> Yes,
>> Miss Silver.
>> Miss Roel.
>> No.
>> Motion carries.
>> Okay. Next. Uh, board comments. Mr.
Clark.
>> Thank you for bringing up your concerns
this evening. Um, I've been on the other
side on on many occasions waiting out
city council and board of education
meetings. So, from the bottom of my
heart, really, thank you for sticking
with us, for staying around. I know we
all have families. Uh, we all have all
other other things to take care of at
home. Um, but thank you for for
continuing at this board of education
meeting. I know it was over four hours.
Congratulations to our new board member.
Um, congratulations to all the
candidates. Um, I was touched
>> uh by all the public comments today. I
also want to make a note that I do chair
the technology committee and I want to
assure the parents who brought up their
concerns about the dojo program they
will be fully investigated at our next
committee meeting uh and even before
that. So thank you
>> Miss Waters
Miss Sanchez
come
to commend the young lady for coming up
today and having the courage and guts. I
don't think I had it at that age.
Someone had to actually talk me into
politics in my early 30s. And I would
love to see you run in November. And
I'll formally let you know that I'll be
behind you 100%. I help you in any way.
I'll stand at the polls and I'll get out
give out literature. Um
being an advocate in this community from
the youth from five up. It feels good to
see the up andcoming people and I just
want you to know that I stand behind you
110%.
Um to Mrs. Miller, congratulations.
I'm looking forward to working with you.
I've watched you grow. You're a little
younger than me um up in Pleasantville
and it just feels good to have
Pleasantville giving back and coming
back to do what's right for this
district. To my community, I think I say
this every
public comment. Hold me accountable. If
you think I did something wrong, I like
it done in public. I'm not a secretive
person. I don't do things behind closed
doors.
I stand in the forefront. I've always
done it since I was a kid. It's one of
my great treats. So, if you feel as
though I've did anything wrong,
address me in front of everybody and let
me defend myself in front of everybody.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Sanchez. Miss Aens,
>> just want to thank everyone for coming
out. Um, thank you guys for hanging in
here with us. I know it was a long
meeting. Um, just ask you guys to
continue to come out, support, voice
your comments, your concerns.
Um,
and you guys have a great night. Thanks,
>> Miss Harris.
>> Um, I just want to say, um, thank you
all for sticking it out with us tonight.
It was a long night. Um, first I want to
say April 1st I came in. It was the who
was it? Miss Miss Pleasville.
The kids had something here.
>> Oh, Miss Pleasantville.
>> Miss Greyhound and Mr. Greyhound. It was
so awesome. All these kids are so
talented. They got a baker. They got a
cook, a chef. It was It was awesome. A
dancer. One one uh kid had a band. I was
like, "Look at Pleasantville." But you
know what I love the most? that they
were so proud to say Pleasantville. They
were like, "I'm ready." They love to
talk about that. They came from
Pleasantville. A few of them were
graduating early. So, I like that's type
of stuff with their associates. That
type of stuff breaks. You know, I love
that. I have a son who went through
college now getting his masters. Anyh
who, I have a son graduating this year.
>> All right. All right.
So, I thank all you educators, staff,
everybody that plays a part in this
daily operation because I know it's not
easy.
Thank you. Thank you, Miss Harris. Miss
Morgan. Okay. I have a couple things to
say. First, I want to say thank you for
everyone that um came out this evening,
all the ones that came up to the
microphone and spoke,
the candidates for the um vacant seat.
Thank you. Y'all sounded very, very
good. Unfortunately, we could only vote
for one at this time. I want to
congratulate you, Miss Miller. I love
exactly what you said. You sound like
you stand on 10. So, I'll be loving to
work with you and to whatever type of
help that I can help you with, please um
don't be afraid to ask me. I'll try to
help where I can. I want to thank board
members for basically sticking together,
especially with some extra things that
we didn't know that we were going to be
doing this evening and everyone that's
listening and watching.
But also before I leave, I want to um
make a motion for the board and I know
everybody's tired of ethics charges.
Everybody tired of everyone going
against everyone, but I have to do this.
I want I want to make a motion for the
board to file charges with the school
ethics commission against the board
president and the vice president
um president Roel and vice president
Silva for withholding critical
information from the board including the
superintendent's resignation letter
which still today we have not received.
We send it on the social network and
just like today what we're asking for
investigation to find out how does
someone from the public find out
information that board members should
have been privileged to. So I'm asking
the board to support me with making this
motion.
So I'm going to make the motion.
You second it. Thank you. Roll call.
Miss um
Dale. Miss Akins.
Miss Harris.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Morgan.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> No.
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes.
>> Miss Waters.
>> Miss Silver.
>> No.
Miss Roel. No
motion carries. Thanks. Next, Miss
Silver.
>> Thank everyone for put my mic. Thank
everyone for coming out. Miss Miller,
congratulations. Looking forward to
working with you. Thank you guys for
your patience and just for hanging in
there with us. We're going to continue
to move the district forward in spite of
it all. Thank you. Have a great night.
>> Thank you, Miss Silver. Okay. Just want
to thank everyone for coming out. We
want to thank you for being patient with
us. Congratulations to our new board
member. We want to thank all those that
interviewed. Um, please remember our
board meeting that we have, our special
board meeting next Tuesday at 6 o'clock.
Um, and with that, we hope that you have
a healthy, blessed, and safe week until
we meet again. May God bless you.
>> Can I call a motion?
>> Have a motion.
>> Yeah.
>> Can I call a motion?
>> I call a motion to remove
the solicitor Bush Law Firm and placing
Lester Taylor until further notice and
regulation of the board. Wait a minute.
>> She could do that.
>> Um, she motion she
>> Oh. U any questions about this?
>> What was the motion?
>> Can you repeat that? I called the motion
to remove the current solicitor Bush Law
Group and replace it with Lester Taylor
until full agreeance of the whole board.
>> Why don't you just go out for RFPs?
>> But let her do it this way first and
then if you want to make a motion for
RFPs, then you make a motion.
>> Right. Until you go out for RFPs.
>> I'm saying if you want to make a motion
for RFP, then you can make a motion for
RFP. But she's making a motion for
something totally different. Do you
understand what I'm saying, Elise? Thank
you.
>> Okay. You want to do that?
>> Okay. Go ahead. Roll call. Roll call.
>> Second the motion.
>> Thea did. Thea.
>> Miss Waters.
>> Miss Aikens.
>> Miss Harris.
>> Harris.
>> He turned it off.
>> Miss Morgan.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> No.
>> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes.
Miss Waters,
>> yes.
>> Miss Silver,
>> no.
>> Miss Roel,
>> no.
>> Motion carries.
>> May I have a motion to uh journ this
meeting?
>> Motion.
>> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez, second by Mrs.
Silver. All in favor?
>> Opposed? No.
>> Good night.
Oh, wait a minute. We got to
get our Don't forget your cups.