Minutes for April 13, 2020History icon Archived Minutes

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Due to the public health crisis, the regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day virtually through the online Zoom platform. The Board of Education, administration and the public were present and participating through logon to that platform. The following is a record of that meeting.

I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:45 p.m. by Board President Christian Bellmann.

Open Public Meeting Statement – Board President Christian Bellmann read the following statement:

Re: Chapter 231 P.L. 1975: “The adequate notice of this regular meeting as required by the open public meetings act was provided by the posting, mailing/delivery, and filing of this notice on March 31, 2020. This notice was on that date was posted on the Courier News, and TAP into Warren, all in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act.”

II. Pledge of Allegiance – Mr. Bellmann led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. Roll Call

Present: Aaron Bellish, Mark Bisci, David Brezee, Patricia Zohn and

Christian Bellmann

Absent: Lisa DiMaggio

Also Present: Dr. Matthew Mingle, Superintendent, and Patricia Leonhardt,

Board Secretary, and members of the public and press.

Marco Franco arrived at 6:47 p.m.

Ayanna Taylor arrived at 6:50 p.m.

Susie Chu arrived at 6:58 p.m.

IV. Executive Session

● At 6:47 p.m. Mrs. Zohn moved the following:

WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A.10:4-11, permits the Board of Education to meet in closed session to discuss certain matters, now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Board of Education adjourns to closed session to discuss:

collective bargaining agreement and/or negotiations related to the WTEA;

Action will be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 15 minutes; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, the minutes of this closed session be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Bisci and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mrs. Taylor, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:00 p.m.

V. Minutes

● Mrs. Zohn moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and executive session minutes of the March 23, 2020 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Franco and approved by a 8-0 roll-call vote.

VI. Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

 0

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

 0

· Suspension Report

In School:

 0

Out of School:

 0

· Fire Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle
  March 9   March 11  

· Security Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

 

Due to the health-related school closure effective March 16, 2020, drills were not conducted at some locations.

VII. President's Remarks – Mr. Christian Bellmann

Mr. Bellmann welcomed all to this, the board’s second virtual meeting.

Mr. Bellmann hoped all enjoyed Spring Break. Mr. Bellmann referred to awaiting guidance from the Governor, working in conjunction with several states, regarding a potential plan for re-opening.

Lastly, Mr. Bellmann noted this agenda would be brief, focusing on critical items only, with a very substantial agenda planned for the board’s April 27th meeting.

VIII. Superintendent’s Remarks – Dr. Matthew Mingle

Dr. Mingle welcomed all and referred to his Flexible Instruction Days update which will be provided later in the meeting.

Dr. Mingle also discussed the district’s 2020-21 budget, which will be presented for adoption at the board’s April 27th meeting.

XI. Presentation

N/A

X. Discussion

N/A

XI. Committee Reports

● Strategic Plan Ad Hoc Committee - Dr. Mingle reported on the committee’s recent meeting which addressed matters concerning the school closure as well as a review of the updated Strategic Plan report.

XII. Public Commentary (agenda items only)

Note on public input at BOE meetings: Board Policy #0167, adopted on June 18, 2018, provides for public participation in Board of Education meetings. Such participation is governed by the following rules:

  1. A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his/her name, address, and group affiliation, if applicable;
  2. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes’ duration. If necessary, the public comment portion of the meeting may be extended fifteen minutes with Board approval;
  3. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard;
  4. All statements, questions, or inquiries shall be directed to the presiding officer and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another Board member shall be redirected to the presiding officer who shall determine if such statement, question, or inquiry shall be addressed by the presiding officer on behalf of the Board;

The portion of the meeting during which participation of the public is invited shall be limited to fifteen minutes (limit may be adjusted at the discretion of the presiding officer as circumstances dictate).

● Ms. Goldstein, Gates Avenue, asked a question regarding the effect of the current operating environment on scheduled school events. Followup discussion was delayed until Dr. Mingle’s report later in the evening.

XIII. Items for Board Consideration/Action

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mr. Brezee, the consent items A.1., A.2., B.1., C.1., and C.2. were approved by a 8-0 roll-call vote.

The Superintendent recommends that it be:

A. Education

A.1. HIB Report

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the HIB Report submitted by the Superintendent for the period ending on March 23, 2020.

A.2. Tuition Contract

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a tuition contract with the Long Hill Township School District, for Student #7569754700 to attend Warren Township School District’s 2020-21 LLD program at Middle School with tuition rates as follow:

School Year

Amount

Extended School Year 2020

$ 1,900

Regular School Year

(9/1/2020 through 6/30/2021)

$28,997

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Transportation Contract - ESY 2020 and SY 2020-2021

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves transportation contract for the Warren Township School District to provide transportation for Long Hill, of their student for ESY 2020 and SY 2020-2021 as follows:

District

Destination School

Amount

Long Hill

Warren Township

School District

$2,305.20 ESY

$13,831.20 SY

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following leave requests:

Employee ID

Paid/Unpaid

#3450

Extended Leave of Absence - On or about April 20, 2020 through April 24, 2020 (paid)

Extended Leave of Absence - April 27, 2020 through May 29, 2020 (unpaid)

(This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on October 28, 2019.)

#2283

FMLA - On or about April 13, 2020 through May 15, 2020 (paid)

NJFLA - May 16, 2020 through June 19, 2020 (unpaid)

NJFLA - August 31, 2020 through October 16, 2020 (unpaid)

Extended child rearing leave - October 17, 2020 through November 1, 2020 (unpaid)

(This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on December 16, 2019.)

C.2. Long Term Substitutes

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following individuals as a Long Term Substitutes:

Name

Effective Date

Replacing

Employee

Lauren Webster

On or about April 20, 2020 - on or about June 5, 2020

(This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on March 9, 2020.)

#3450

XIV. Unfinished Business

N/A

XV. New Business

● Middle School Fields - The board discussed the two proposals regarding the Middle School Athletic Fields. The board asked follow up questions, requested additional information and decided to add to the April 20th Finance Committee agenda.

● NJSBA Resolution - The board discussed. The board decided to review language changes recommended by Mrs. Zohn at the April 27th meeting.

● Flexible Instruction Days - Dr. Mingle provided a current status regarding the district’s operating environment.. Dr. Mingle emphasized that it is the Governor who will decide when schools reopen and that the district is thinking creatively regarding missed events.

XVI. Public Commentary (any topic)

Note on public input at BOE meetings: Board Policy #0167, adopted on June 18, 2018, provides for public participation in Board of Education meetings. Such participation is governed by the following rules:

  1. A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his/her name, address, and group affiliation, if applicable;
  2. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes’ duration. If necessary, the public comment portion of the meeting may be extended fifteen minutes with Board approval;
  3. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard;
  4. All statements, questions, or inquiries shall be directed to the presiding officer and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another Board member shall be redirected to the presiding officer who shall determine if such statement, question, or inquiry shall be addressed by the presiding officer on behalf of the Board;

The portion of the meeting during which participation of the public is invited shall be limited to fifteen minutes (limit may be adjusted at the discretion of the presiding officer as circumstances dictate).

● Ms. Goldstein, Gates Ave, discussed curriculum offerings during Flexible Instruction Days.

● Ms. Lubeck, Jessica Lane, asked a question regarding should the district not operate before the end of year.

Dr. Mingle reference that missed events are being evaluated and that grading is also under review. He assured all that decisions will be communicated.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mr. Brezee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m.

Minutes submitted by,

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary