Regular Public Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019 Page 1 of 57
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Regular Public Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019 Page 1 of 57 President Vice President Board Member Arthur G. Soto Christina Schratz Maryann Capursi Board Member Board Member Board Member Horacio Ray Carrera Kenia Flores Craig B. Miller Board Member Board Member Board Member L. Daniel Rodriguez Judith Sanchez Ronald Van Rensalier Regular Public Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019 Page 2 of 57 REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING - DECEMBER 16, 2019 1. Call to Order.....................................................................................................................1 2. Invocation …………………………………………………………………………………………………….1 3. Pledge of Allegiance...........................................................................................................1 4. Roll Call ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….1 5. Recognition of: ……………………………………………………………………………………………….1 Fall Athletic Honors Student Performances: School 19 Choir and School 19 Band 6. Student Representative Report..……………………………………………………………………….…1 7. Public Participation …………………………………………………………………………………………1 8. Executive Session……….………………………………………………………………………………….. 2 9. Report of the President……………………………………………………………………………………..2 10. Report of the Superintendent……………………………………………………………………………..2 Hearing on Violence, Vandalism and Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying for the Reporting Period from January 1, 2019 ending June 30, 2019 11. Committee Reports ………………………………………………………………………………………….2 12. Agenda Items A. Approval of Minutes .................................................................................................. A-1 B. Personnel……………… ............................................................................................... B-1–B-21 C. Tuitions .................................................................................................................... C-1 D. Authorizations .......................................................................................................... D-1–D-10 E. Board Secretary/Treasurer of Moneys Reports ........................................................... E-1 F. Payment of Bills ....................................................................................................... F-1 G. Finance and Accounting Reports ............................................................................... G-1–G-2 H. Award of Contracts .................................................................................................... H-1–H-6 13. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS ............................................................................... I-1 14. ADJOURNMENT ........................................................................................................... I-1 Regular Public Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019 Page 3 of 57 ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Call to Order This meeting is being held in accordance with the “Open Public Meetings Act”, Chapter 231, Laws of 1975. The notice of this meeting was mailed to The Herald News and The Record, and to the presidents of the five employee groups. A copy of the meeting notice was delivered to the Office of Municipal Clerk and posted on the bulletin board at City Hall. A copy was also posted at the Board of Education Administration Building. Annual notice was filed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 10:4-8(d). Adequate notice has been provided in accordance with the law. 2. Invocation God, guide us in the decisions to be deliberated this evening and help us to work together in the best interest of the children and the parents of the City of Passaic. 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Roll Call 5. Recognition of: Fall Athletic Honors Student Performances: School 19 Choir and School 19 Band 6. Student Representative Report 7. Public Participation At this portion of the meeting, members of the public will be able to question and comment on any item on the published agenda or on items/topics not on the agenda. Members of the public are requested to sign the register with their names and addresses. Please wait to be recognized by the President of the Board. Approach the microphone and give your name and address for the record. Please be advised that the Board of Education will not entertain any comments from persons who communicate obscene material, make statements which are considered bias intimidation in which a person intends to intimidate any individual or group because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity or makes comments intending to harass or speak any offensive language. The person who makes these statements will relinquish his/her allotted five (5) minutes for public participation. The Board asks that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Please bear in mind that students and employees have specific legal rights afforded by the laws of New Jersey. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. All comments and questions are to be directed through the President. 1 Regular Public Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019 Page 4 of 57 8. Executive Session Recommends that the Passaic Board of Education meets in Executive Session on December 16, 2019, at Daniel F. Ryan School No. 19, 320 Highland Avenue, Passaic, NJ to discuss personnel matters, legal update, and HIB Report. 9. Report of the President 10. Report of the Superintendent Hearing on Violence, Vandalism and Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying for the Reporting Period from January 1, 2019 ending June 30, 2019 11. Committee Reports 12. Agenda Items A. Approval of Minutes B. Personnel C. Tuitions D. Authorizations E. Board Secretary/Treasurer of Moneys Reports F. Payment of Bills G. Finance and Accounting Reports H. Award of Contract 13. New and Unfinished Business 14. Adjournment The next Regular Public Meeting of the Passaic Board of Education will be held on Monday, January 27, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at William B. Cruise Veterans Memorial School No. 11, 390 Gregory Avenue, Passaic, NJ 07055. 2 Regular Public Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019 Page 5 of 57 Regular Public Meeting Minutes Passaic Board of Education Passaic, New Jersey 07055 December 16, 2019 6:07 p.m. Daniel F. Ryan School No. 19 320 Highland Avenue Passaic, NJ 07055 AGENDA: A. Calling the Meeting to Order Ms. Arellano called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. She said that the meeting is being held in accordance with the “Open Public Meetings Act”. The meeting notice was mailed to The Herald News, The Record and the Presidents of the five employee groups and was posted at City Hall and the Passaic Board of Education Administration Building. B. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance C. Roll Call Members Present: Ms. Christina Schratz, Ms. Maryann Capursi, Mr. Horacio Ray Carrera, Ms. Kenia Flores, Mr. Craig Miller, Mr. L. Daniel Rodriguez, Ms. Judith Sanchez, Ronald VanRensalier and President Arthur G. Soto Also Present: Mr. Pablo Muñoz, Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Erlinda R. Arellano, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, Mr. Jeffrey Truppo, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Donald Goncalves, Chief of Operations, and Ms. Rachel Goldberg, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Yaacov Brisman, Board Attorney Recognition: Mr. Soto announced that the board would be honoring 1) Fall athletes who have been recognized by their respective leagues, divisions, and at the County and State levels, and 2) two coaches who have earned accolades from their peers. All athletes and coaches present were called to the front and presented with Certificates. Next the School No. 19 student choir and band provided performances. Regular Public Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019 Page 6 of 57 Student Representative Report: The Student Representative asked President Soto to please get back to her regarding their recycling initiative discussion of getting recycling bins into the schools. Regular Public Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019 Page 7 of 57 Public Participation: Joe Conoscienti, 170 Broadway Mr. Conoscienti provided the board members with the following list of questions: When will current Superintendent/Administrators start providing a safe educational environment for all students, educators and staff in 2019-2020? Can the public have an update on Ms. Ruiz and her son? Can Superintendent/Administrators stop playing musical chairs with current educators and staff and bring stability to the educational system and start working on the improvements to its mediocre ratings for the past five years? When will School No. 1 have all fencing and vehicles removed from its plaza and return it to its historic past with a state of the art play areas for the children? President Soto stated he will provide a response before the next meeting and shared that the 2nd item on the list is a police matter. Kimberly Harris, 77 Lafayette Avenue Ms. Harris stated she sent a letter to the Superintendent of Schools and all board members approximately a month and a half ago and has not received a response. The letter was in support of a friend who applied for a management position and was not interviewed or hired. She is concerned about nepotism within the district and feels that qualified African Americans are not receiving a “fair shot” at management positions. Ms. Harris stated that positions are being given to individuals who do not have the proper requirements or qualifications. Mr. Muñoz acknowledged receipt of the email and thanked Ms. Harris for stating her position, but shared that he cannot