Montclair Public Schools Public Board Meeting Held On
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MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS PUBLIC BOARD MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 AT 5:30 PM GEORGE INNESS ANNEX ATRIUM 141 PARK STREET, MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY Minutes/Public Board Meeting Monday, June 18, 2018 Page 1 MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC BOARD MEETING HELD MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 AT 5:30 PM GEORGE INNESS ANNEX ATRIUM 141 PARK STREET, MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY A. STATEMENTS 1. Meeting Notice Let the minutes reflect that adequate notice of this meeting has been approved in the following manner: 1. On Thursday, May 17, 2018, notice of this meeting was posted on the public bulletin board in the first floor main hall of the Board of Education building, 22 Valley Road and filed with the Township Clerk. The time, date and location of this meeting were accurately set forth therein. 2. On Monday, May 21, 2018, notice of this meeting was posted in the Herald News. The date, time and location of this meeting were accurately set forth therein. 3. On Thursday, May 24, 2018, notice of this meeting was posted in the Herald News. The date, time and location of this meeting were accurately set forth therein. “Please be advised that this meeting is considered a public meeting under the law and may be taped, broadcast, used or reproduced in ways and in mediums beyond the control of the Board of Education. Individual statements and opinions expressed are solely those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the Montclair Board of Education. Please keep in mind that if you directly disclose personally identifiable information or personally sensitive data regarding yourself or others during this public meeting, this information may be collected and used by others. Accordingly, the Board asks that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the Board are discouraged. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The Board bears no responsibility and will not be liable for any comments made by members of the public. Speakers should, therefore, carefully evaluate their statements for individual consequences under the law, and should obtain any appropriate professional advice prior to speaking.” B. ROLL CALL at 5:32 pm PRESENT ABSENT Laura Hertzog x Minutes/Public Board Meeting Monday, June 18, 2018 Page 2 Jevon Caldwell-Gross x Jessica de Koninck x Joseph Kavesh x Anne Mernin x Eve Robinson x Franklin Turner x C. RESOLUTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION Joe Kavesh moved to approve the following WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A.10:4-12, 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: a matter rendered confidential by federal or state law; material the disclosure of which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of individual privacy; a collective bargaining agreement and/or negotiations related to it; a matter involving the purchase, lease, or acquisition of real property with public funds; any matter involving the employment, appointment, termination of employment, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of the performance of, promotion or disciplining of any specific prospective public officer or employee or current public officer or employee employed or appointed by the public body, unless all the individual employees or appointees whose rights could be adversely affected request in writing that such matter or matters be discussed at a public meeting deliberation after a public hearing that could result in a civil penalty or other loss. pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation and/or matters of attorney-client privilege AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the minutes of this closed session be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. Seconded by Eve Robinson and approved by a vote of 4-0 AYE NAY ABSTAIN ABSENT Laura Hertzog x Minutes/Public Board Meeting Monday, June 18, 2018 Page 3 Jevon Caldwell-Gross x Jessica de Koninck x Joseph Kavesh x Anne Mernin x Eve Robinson x Franklin Turner x Anne Mernin arrived at 5:37 pm, Franklin Turner arrived at 5:37 pm D. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION at 7:42 pm E. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE F. ROLL CALL PRESENT ABSENT Laura Hertzog x Jevon Caldwell-Gross x Jessica de Koninck x Joseph Kavesh x Anne Mernin x Eve Robinson x Franklin Turner x G. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT/ADMINISTRATION PRESENTATION 1. Academic Salutes 2. Leadership Salutes 3. Advanced Placement Participation and Action Plan 4. Report on Magnets and Small Learning Communities H. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION 1. Fortunato Turf Field Replacement I. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC The Board will allow time for the public to comment on agenda and non-agenda items. J. BOARD OF EDUCATION 1. Excellence, Equity and Access Resolution Minutes/Public Board Meeting Monday, June 18, 2018 Page 4 Franklin Turner moved to approve the following resolution: Whereas: Montclair Public Schools’ Mission and Vision clearly state we strive to ensure that every child receives a high quality, creative, innovative and challenging education that will prepare our students for college, careers, and livelihoods in the 21st century; and Whereas: Montclair Public Schools will pursue excellence, equity and access for each student in the district by ensuring there are multiple pathways to meet and/or exceed educational goals; and Whereas: Equity and equality are not interchangeable terms. The concept of educational equity goes beyond formal equality -- where all students are treated the same -- to fostering a barrier-free environment where all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, and/or socio-economic status, have the opportunity to benefit equally. We believe that equity must be measured by access and outcomes; and Whereas: Montclair Board of Education acknowledges that race and ethnicity status has been a predictor of student achievement in the Montclair Public Schools. Further, the Montclair Public Schools’ data shows that not all students are achieving at their full potential. We assert that addressing disparities in educational access and opportunity are the responsibility of every adult in the Montclair Public School district, and not the responsibility of our children. Inequality in outcomes will be addressed through the implementation of systemic structures to support all students within our school system. An explicit focus must be given to students who have not been given access and opportunity based on race, ethnicity and/or socio-economic status; and Whereas: The Montclair Board of Education recognizes that over several decades from the 1970’s to the present the school district has responded to the public call for more equitable access to quality education for all students, in particular those students who have experienced discrimination by race, ethnicity or socio-economic status. The district has responded to both this public call and court orders to desegregate schools by studying, reflecting and creating programs whereby all students have a pathway to success. Many members of the school community as well as the community at large have contributed to these discussions during these decades and to the implementation of programs that worked towards creating and sustaining these equitable opportunities. Whereas: The Montclair Board of Education recognizes the 2015 Report of the Achievement Gap Advisory Panel as a valuable resource that provides quantitative and qualitative findings that documents Montclair Public Schools’ students have vastly different experiences in our classrooms based on race and said report findings could be used as baseline data points for academic achievement planning; and Whereas: the Montclair Board of Education has committed leadership; articulated goals to create multiple pathways that will promote academic and social emotional success eventually leading to the elimination of achievement disparities in outcome data; and dedicated fiscal resources to attaining this goal; and Be It Resolved: The superintendent shall develop a shared excellence, equity and access vision with a clearly delineated pathway outlined in a 5-year plan by September 1, 2018. Said plan should include specific benchmark objectives for the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. The plan should include gap data (i.e., gap data includes but is not limited to achievement, program Minutes/Public Board Meeting Monday, June 18, 2018 Page 5 participation, climate and culture – student, staff and parents/guardians); scope of work including specific actions required, interim deliverables and outcome measurements; and required funding. Progress will be assessed and publicly reported each academic year with benchmarks and fiscal resources adjusted annually to ensure that benchmark objectives are fully achieved. Be It Further Resolved: that upon the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Montclair Board of Education recognizes that this is a complex task and invites feedback from the Administration regarding how this task is best defined and undertaken. Seconded by Jessica de Koninck and approved by a vote of 6-0 AYE NAY ABSTAIN ABSENT Laura Hertzog x Jevon Caldwell-Gross x Jessica de Koninck x Joseph Kavesh x Anne Mernin x Eve Robinson x Franklin Turner x 2. Exploring Eligibility for Public Preschool Expansion in the Montclair School District Franklin Turner moved to approve the following resolution: WHEREAS, high-quality preschool programs aligned