04-28-04 Organization

MINUTES OF THE PATERSON BOARD OF EDUCATION ORGANIZATION MEETING

April 28, 2004 – 6:30 p.m. John F. Kennedy High School

Presiding: Dr. Edwin Duroy, State District Superintendent

Present: Dr. Edwin Duroy, State District Superintendent Dr. Maria Nuccetelli, County Superintendent Mr. Michael Azzara, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Mr. Gregory Johnson, General Counsel

Comm. Brown read the Open Public Meetings Act:

The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act was enacted to insure the right of the public to have advance notice of, and to attend the meetings of the Paterson Public School District, as well as other public bodies at which any business affecting the interest of the public is discussed or acted upon.

In accordance with the provisions of this law, the Paterson Public School District has caused notice of this meeting:

Organization Meeting April 28, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. John F. Kennedy High School 61-127 Preakness Avenue Paterson, New Jersey

to be published by having the date, time and place posted in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Paterson, at the entrance of the Paterson Public School offices, and by sending notice of the meeting to the North Jersey Herald & News, The Record, El Diario, the Italian Voice, and Al-Zaman.

The Salute to the Flag was led by Miss Sharifa Ali, 12th Grade, National Honor Society.

REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE BOARD ELECTION

Dr. Duroy: I will ask district counsel, Mr. Johnson, to report on the results of the Board of Education election.

Mr. Gregory Johnson: Good evening Dr. Duroy and members of the Board of Education. I have before me the Certification of Election Results provided by the Clerk of Passaic County regarding the election of the April 20th School Board Election. It is dated April 27, 2004. In accordance with the Certification of Election Results, the three candidates who placed first with respect to the voting are:

Daniel Vergara, Sr. 1,919 Alonzo Moody 2,304 Andre Sayegh 2,113

Page 1 04/28/04

I have read to you the certified election results. Dr. Duroy, if any member of the public or Board member would like to receive a copy of that, certainly we will comply.

SWEARING IN CEREMONY OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Dr. Duroy: Thank you, counselor. I am going to ask the three newly elected Commissioners to step forward here by the podium and we will have the swearing in of all three at the same time.

Present and sworn in by Dr. Edwin Duroy were Mr. Daniel Vergara, Sr., Mr. Alonzo Moody, and Mr. Andre Sayegh.

ROLL CALL

Present: *Comm. Leslie Agard-Jones Comm. Alonzo Moody Comm. Joseph Atallo Comm. Juan Santiago Comm. Chauncey Brown Comm. Andre Sayegh *Comm. Donald Generals Comm. Willa Mae Taylor Comm. Jonathan Hodges Comm. Daniel Vergara Comm. William Kline

WELCOME REMARKS BY STATE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. Duroy: I would like to welcome and congratulate the three Board members. Quite frankly, two who are incumbent and the third who sat as an advisory Board member have been elected and congratulations to the three new Commissioners. We look forward to continuing to work and move this district forward. We are still a state operated school district and we are looking forward, as the Commissioner had indicated, to move not just Paterson but Jersey City and Newark closer to local control. There are a number of areas that are key for us to be able to accomplish that and one of them certainly is governance. The authority that is vested in the Board and the decision-making is very important to the Department and, more importantly, to this city. So we hope and I certainly pledge to work with the Board of Education as we look forward to getting closer and closer to local control. At this time, I am going to ask the three newly elected Commissioners to extend their remarks to the public. We will start off with Mr. Moody.

REMARKS BY NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Comm. Moody: Thank you, Dr. Duroy. This is for all the folks out there, all the voters, all the supporters who supported me in the campaign, and those that voted for me and who worked hard in our campaign. I want to express my deepest and my sincerest thank you and appreciation.

Comm. Sayegh: Thank you, Dr. Duroy. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I just want to start off by congratulating Comm. Al Moody on his reelection to the Board. I would like to also extend congratulations to Comm. Daniel Vergara for returning to the Board. Last night at the City Council meeting, I commented on how I decided to leave my signs up simply because of the fact that I put a thank you sticker on each and every one of them. Words cannot express how grateful I am to the public for electing me last Tuesday. I don’t feel as if I just won an election. I feel as if I won your trust. I know

Page 2 04/28/04 exactly why I was elected. I was elected to make sure that I am a good steward of the money, to make sure that the dollars in this district are spent wisely and properly. I was elected to ensure that a curriculum that meets state standards and is deemed appropriate by this district is implemented. I was elected by parents that are concerned about their children and are interested in Commissioners that will stand up for both themselves and their children. I see a number of well-wishers and I certainly am grateful for all that you have done. I am committed as ever to making sure that I make good on my campaign promise. I sincerely believe that every kid counts and every adult is accountable. Thank you very much.

Comm. Vergara: Good evening everyone. First of all, I would like to pay thanks to the Lord for having me here today. To my family members and to all the voters, the teachers, the students, the senior citizens, and everyone that I encountered during the election, thank you for your support in returning me here to this outstanding Board. I congratulate Mr. Moody and Mr. Andre Sayegh. I know that together the three of us will be able to maybe bring a message to the Board of unity and of working together in the best interest of this district, and in the best interest of our children. To the members of Troupe 911, I salute you and I thank you. This election wasn’t a victory for Dan Vergara or for Al Moody or for Andre Sayegh. It was a victory for our children in the City of Paterson. Once again, I thank you. It is an honor to be here Mr. Superintendent, President, and Vice President. Again, to all the voters, thank you. I cannot give you any promises except to say that I will be your voice and your vote and you can count on me. Please call on me at any given time. Thank you.

*Comm. Agard-Jones enters the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

SELECTION OF PRESIDENT

Dr. Duroy: At this point, we will move to the next item on the agenda, which is Selection of President. I will recognize nominations and keep the floor open for nominations, and then we will vote accordingly as far as who was nominated first. If that person obtains the majority of the votes, then the election would end at that point. So at this point I will open for nominations from the floor.

Comm. Santiago: I nominate Comm. Brown for President.

Comm. Moody: I second that.

Comm. Kline: I take this opportunity to nominate Dr. Hodges.

Comm. Atallo: Second.

Dr. Duroy: Are there any other nominations? Seeing none, we will end the nominations at this point. As I indicated earlier, we will vote on the first nominee and if that person obtains the majority, then that will end the election. If that person does not, then we will move on. Right now the first vote will be for the first nominee, Mr. Brown. I am going to ask Cheryl to have a roll call on the nominee Chauncey Brown for President.

On roll call the votes were as follows:

Comm. Atallo: No. Comm. Brown: Yes. Comm. Hodges: No. Comm. Kline: No.

Page 3 04/28/04 Comm. Moody: Yes. Comm. Santiago: Yes. Comm. Sayegh: No. Comm. Taylor: No. Comm. Vergara: Yes.

Dr. Duroy: We will move on to the second nominee for President. We will be voting at this point on the nomination for Dr. Hodges for President of the Board. Roll call again, Cheryl.

On roll call the votes were as follows:

Comm. Atallo: Yes. Comm. Brown: Yes. Comm. Hodges: Yes. Comm. Kline: Yes. Comm. Moody: No. Comm. Santiago: Yes. Comm. Sayegh: Yes. Comm. Taylor: Yes. Comm. Vergara: Yes.

Dr. Duroy: Congratulations, Dr. Hodges.

SELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT

Dr. Duroy: At this point, we will move to the nominations for Vice Chair. Are there any nominations for Vice President of the Board?

Comm. Santiago: I nominate Willa Mae Taylor.

Comm. Taylor: I decline. I nominate Mr. Kline.

Comm. Atallo: Second.

Dr. Duroy: Are there any other nominations for Vice President of the Board?

Comm. Moody: I nominate Mitch Santiago.

Comm. Vergara: Second.

Dr. Duroy: Are there any other nominations? We will close the nominations and we will vote in order, first on Mr. Kline for Vice President. If he obtains the majority the first time, then the election would be over at that point. Cheryl, roll call.

On roll call the votes were as follows:

Comm. Atallo: Yes. Comm. Brown: No. Comm. Hodges: Yes. Comm. Kline: Yes. Comm. Moody: No. Comm. Santiago: No. Comm. Sayegh: Yes.

Page 4 04/28/04 Comm. Taylor: Yes. Comm. Vergara: No.

Dr. Duroy: That ends the nominations. Mr. Kline is elected Vice President.

SELECTION PROCESS FOR BOARD STANDING COMMITTEES

Dr. Duroy: On the agenda, it calls for the selection of committees. I am going to ask that the President and Vice President have some time and report back to the Board at the next meeting with the selection of the committees and the assignments. At this point, I think it is appropriate to take a five-minute intermission and then we will convene and go right into the regular order of business.

The Board took a five-minute intermission at 7:05 p.m.

The Board reconvened at 7:15 p.m.

REPORT OF STATE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. Duroy: Mr. Chairman, given the long agenda we have, I am going to forego my presentation, but for two comments. The Board is going to be working with the Department and calling for a retreat to continue to talk about raising the standards and moving the district forward. Our work continues with the Stupski Foundation and they have asked to convene with the Board as well during the month of May. I will be approaching the Chair to organize that meeting. That concludes my presentation.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY

It was moved by Comm. Taylor, seconded by Comm. Vergara that the Public Comments on Agenda Items Only portion of the meeting be opened. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

Comm. Hodges: We don’t control the agenda in terms of where the public portion is but that does not necessarily mean that we agree with it or will remain silent about our disagreements.

Ms. Irene Sterling: Oh, this is on agenda items only?

Comm. Hodges: On the agenda items only for the first 30 minutes.

Ms. Sterling: Then I will hold my comments other than to say it was a very interesting workshop meeting on Monday and I certainly hope as the work goes forward that all the Commissioners are present and participating at the workshop meetings. I want to also remind the public that those meetings are open to the public and the press. You can learn a lot by learning with the Board. I found that meeting very interesting. Thank you and I will talk with you further in the other portion.

Mr. Charles Ferrer: Charles Ferrer. I would like to talk about item C-24 dealing with the Pepsi Bottling Group. I don’t know how the program is working in the schools other than my own but since we are getting ready to award them another two-year contract, maybe it would be possible to make some kind of arrangement. Right now they changed the route of the original driver who used to deliver to our school and he now comes out of the East Hanover office. So he doesn’t come as frequently and there are

Page 5 04/28/04 periods of time where the machine is empty. I am wondering if there might be a way to make some arrangement. When we had our soda machine before, we had a cabinet that locked another supply of soda that could be put in the machine so that we wouldn’t have this problem because it is maybe a two-week period before the person comes back. I don’t know if those things can be worked out or if there is another way for them to come more frequently. That is something I would like to bring to the Board’s attention. It’s a problem because we are out of water or whatever and people have to make other adjustments. If there is a way that they can leave an additional supply, then someone can fill into the slots like we used to do. We would appreciate that. I am pretty sure the problem is probably happening at other schools but I can only speak for my school. Thank you.

Dr. Duroy: We will take that information and forward it to the appropriate person.

It was moved by Comm. Vergara, seconded by Comm. Taylor that the Public Comments on Agenda Items Only portion of the meeting be closed. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

GENERAL BUSINESS

Items Requiring a Vote

PRESENTATION OF MINUTES

Comm. Hodges presented the minutes of the March 3, 2004 Workshop Meeting, the March 10, 2004 Regular Meeting, and the March 31, 2004 Budget Hearing, and asked if there were any questions or comments on the minutes.

It was moved by Comm. Moody, seconded by Comm. Brown that the minutes be accepted with any necessary corrections.

Dr. Duroy: If I may, we are talking about a, b and c.

Comm. Hodges: Well, we are moving one at a time.

Dr. Maria Nuccetelli: You can move them together.

Comm. Hodges: I don’t wish to move them together because there are some questions I have.

Comm. Moody: My motion was actually for a, b and c.

Comm. Hodges: Can I have an amendment to that because there are some items that are of concern individually?

Comm. Kline: For the purposes of discussion…

Comm. Taylor: You can move them together and then discuss.

Comm. Hodges: Okay, we will move them together. There is a concern that I have with the minutes. The tape continuously runs out and we are unaware. That is the official record. The official record is not the videotape but the tape and so there are large gaps in the transcript on all of these. When the tape stops, the tape is changed and people are still talking. We have no indication that is going on so we are missing information.

Page 6 04/28/04 We have asked that whenever the tape is going to run out that we get notified and I think Dr. Atallo and Mr. Brown are going to do that but the minutes still are not going to be complete because of those gaps in this last one. If we could review the tape and replace those gaps with the appropriate transcript materials, it would be greatly appreciated. I would then remove my objection.

Comm. Kline: I just would like to add that when we are notified that the tape is about to run out, we can ask the speaker who has the floor at that time to stop talking until the tape is replaced. That way there won’t be any gaps either in the recorded transcript or the transcript of the television. That is a suggestion.

Comm. Hodges: That was the intent of asking that we be notified – so that we can stop.

On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

Comm. Hodges: My only concern is that we are going to go back and review those areas and fill in those gaps.

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE

Comm. Hodges reported that the Curriculum and Instruction Committee met, reviewed and recommends approval for Resolution Nos. A-1 through A-19:

Resolution No. A-1

WHEREAS, revising the Carryover dollars on 2/20/04 that are available for use in Title I, Title I SIA, Title II A, Title II D, Title IV, Title VI, and Title V, for the 2003-2004 No Child Left Behind Application; and

WHEREAS, the Total Expenditures for Title I $12,757,905.40, Title I SIA $436,123.42, Title II A $2,350,080.45, Title II D $234,149.67, Title III $379,324.01, Title IV $237,743.87, Title V $324,732.00. Total Expenditures in the amount of $16,720,058.82; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public Schools accept the revised Carryover Application for project period 9/1/03 – 8/31/04 in the amount for Title I $465,173.60, Title I SIA $35,876.58, Title II A $398,617.55, Title II D $131,613.33, Title III $231,698.99, Title IV $91,668.13. The Total Carryover $1,354,648.18.

Resolution No. A-2

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District identified the need for after-school programs in our community and submitted an application to the New Jersey State Education Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Discretionary Grant Program; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of this grant will be to provide after-school programs that keep children safe, help working families and improve academic achievement; and

WHEREAS, the program design includes services provided by community-based organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, the Boy Scouts, PAL, Hope Worldwide, Paterson Housing Authority, YMCA, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and the New Jersey Community Development Corporation, along with Paterson Public Schools, to increase

Page 7 04/28/04 student achievement, bring greater health to the community, strengthen families, and brighten the economic future of the city; and

WHEREAS, this program will operate in Schools 6, 10 and Paterson Catholic High School; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the acceptance of this proposal entitled “The Paterson Educational Partnership for 21st Century Community Learning Centers – NJ” (PEP-21NJ) in the amount of $500,000.

Resolution No. A-3

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has become home to an ever- increasing number of refugees. Data from the Department of Education states that there are 361 school age refugees residing in the city. Many of these refugees are school-age children between the ages of 5 and 18 years old. Some refugee children are traumatized due to circumstances of war, hardship and separation, and this trauma can be an obstacle in their adjustment in school. For school-age children and youth, the major challenges to adjusting to an American school environment and the challenge of “catching up”, especially for children who have never been to school or who have missed years of schooling due to disruption of war or natural tragedy; and

WHEREAS, the Harbor education program will service 40 students enrolled in grades 4 through 8 and will be operated at Public School Number 9. The Harbor program will emphasize English language acquisition and enculturization; and

WHEREAS, teachers, parents, students and administrators will collaborate in identifying instructional objectives for the different disciplines. These instructional objectives will be the driving force of the instructional program; and

WHEREAS, during after school and the summer hours, counseling and other services for both students and their family members will be provided by the district’s partner, Catholic Family Services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education will apply for additional funding through the New Jersey Department of Education Refugee Student Impact Continuation Grant Program in the amount of $150,000.

Resolution No. A-4

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Labor has requested the Paterson Public School District to submit an Application for Continuation Funding in order to operate a New Jersey Youth Corps; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District wishes to operate a New Jersey Youth Corps in order to assist young adults (ages 16-25) who have dropped out of high school in successfully transitioning to employment, college, or additional training by obtaining a state-issued high school diploma, by receiving career counseling and employability skills instruction, and by engaging in meaningful community service activities for the 2004-2005 school year; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves submission of an Application for Continuation Funding to the Department of Labor to operate a New Jersey Youth

Page 8 04/28/04 Corps for the project period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005, in the amount of $328,000.

Resolution No. A-5

WHEREAS, the County of Passaic is requesting proposals for employment and training workforce services for youth under the Workplace Investment Act of 1998 and has mailed a solicitation to the Paterson Public School District’s Paterson Adult School as a potential offeror for out-of-school youth services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Adult School is currently operating the New Jersey Youth Corps program with supplemental funding from the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 in order to assist young adults (ages 16-21) who have dropped out of high school in successfully transitioning to employment, college, or additional training by obtaining a state-issued high school diploma, by receiving career counseling and employability skills instruction, and by engaging in meaningful community service activities; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Adult School wishes to continue operating the New Jersey Youth Corps program with renewed supplemental funding from the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that permission is granted to respond to the “Request for Proposal for Funding of Youth Programs under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998” to the County of Passaic to operate a New Jersey Youth Corps, for the project period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005, in the amount of $308,806.

Resolution No. A-6

WHEREAS, the grant allocated by RFP No. 04-CC13, Students Using Technology to Achieve Reading-Writing (STAR-W), for $240,000, has been accepted by the Board of Education at its meeting on the 28th day of April, 2004; and

WHEREAS, the said grant shall be used for the purpose described in the application filed with the New Jersey State Department of Education at School No. 10; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education has applied for a continuum in the amount of $240,000 from the New Jersey Department of Education starting July 1, 2004 and ending June 30, 2005.

Resolution No. A-7

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District is constantly improving the district’s technology; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey Edge is a vehicle to allow us to interact via distance learning with colleges and universities throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, this is a district wide solution to keep our ITV System ongoing and to go from five schools having this service to all 50 sites having this new NJ Edge service; and

WHEREAS, Verizon will no longer support our current service; and now therefore

Page 9 04/28/04 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public Schools apply to the federal government E-RATE Program where PPS will be reimbursed 86% of the Verizon charges.

Resolution No. A-8

WHEREAS, New Jersey law requires each school district to adopt annually the textbooks approved for use within the schools of the district; and

WHEREAS, the attached list has been prepared indicating the textbooks to be used in the Paterson Public Schools for the 2004-2005 school year; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the attached list of textbooks for use in the district’s schools or until such time as they may be modified and presented to the Board for review and approval.

Resolution No. A-9

WHEREAS, New Jersey law requires each school district to adopt annually the curriculum and high school courses approved for the schools of the district; and

WHEREAS, one of the attached lists indicates the kindergarten through grade 12 curricula and courses of study previously reviewed and approved by the Board; and

WHEREAS, the other attached list indicates high school courses of study; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the attached lists of curricula and courses of study for use in the district’s schools for the 2004-2005 school year or until such time as they may be modified and presented to the Board for review and approval.

Resolution No. A-10 was pulled.

Resolution No. A-11

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District is responsible for the periodic revision of its curricula; and

WHEREAS, the Career Learning Academies and Smaller Schools (C.L.A.S.S.) Project Grant calls for the writing/revision of academy elective curricula in the district’s high school level theme academies, including the Digital Arts Technology Academy; and

WHEREAS, curricula are presented for the following Digital Arts Technology Academy course:

Music Technology Curriculum I – Elective Music Technology Curriculum II – Elective Music Technology Curriculum III – Elective Music Technology Curriculum IV – Elective

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves acceptance of this course curriculum for use in the Digital Arts Technology Academy.

Page 10 04/28/04 Resolution No. A-12

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District is responsible for the periodic revision of its curricula; and

WHEREAS, curricula are presented for the following MPACT Academy course:

Introduction to Engineering – Elective

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves acceptance of this course curriculum for use in the MPACT Academy.

Resolution No. A-13

WHEREAS, N.J.A.C. 6:11-13 states that Local Professional Development Committees create a professional development plan for the district and that this district be the guiding force of professional development in the district; and

WHEREAS, N.J.A.C. 6:11-13 states this plan must be submitted to the county professional development board for approval and that the 2004-2005 professional development plan was approved on March 4, 2004; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the 2004-2005 professional development plan be accepted by the Board of Education and implemented throughout the 2004-2005 school year.

Resolution No. A-14 was pulled.

Resolution No. A-15

WHEREAS, in compliance with N.J.A.C.6A:7, all school districts are required to develop and submit to the New Jersey Department of Education a Comprehensive Equity Plan by May 5, 2004; and

WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Equity Plan must cover school years 2004-2007, to enable the district to address identified equity needs affecting its facilities, programs, pupils, or staff in accordance to state and federal laws; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the submission of the Comprehensive Equity Plan to the New Jersey Department of Education for its authorization for the implementation of the plan.

Resolution No. A-16

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District is expanding its career offerings for high school students; and

WHEREAS, the district proposes to integrate a CAD Drafting Program to the existing curriculum at Garrett Morgan Academy and its School-to-Careers initiative; and now therefore

Page 11 04/28/04 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the CAD Drafting Occupational Program Approval Application for submission to the state and for implementation in the district.

Resolution No. A-17

WHEREAS, the Garrett Morgan Academy has planned to implement Project Lead The Way as a part of an approved occupational program, for the 2004-2005 school year; and

WHEREAS, a School District Agreement must be signed as a first step in the implementation process; and

WHEREAS, implementation of Project Lead The Way will establish a support and working relationship to provide a high school pre-engineering program; and

WHEREAS, the program, when approved, can be supported by the Carl D. Perkins grant; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the School District Agreement with Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Resolution No. A-18

WHEREAS, the City of Paterson, acting by and through the Department of Human Resources, serves as the lead agency in the Paterson School-Based Youth Services Programs; and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Human Services fully funds the Paterson School-Based Youth Services Program at John F. Kennedy High School; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey Department of Human Services’ policies establish that resources donated by a public donor in the form of cash or In-Kind Contributions may, under certain conditions, be used as match in the provisions of social services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District provides the facility and the collaborative services of the Guidance Counselors, Dropout Prevention Specialist, Substance Awareness Coordinator, Health and Social Services Coordinator as in-kind support to the School-Based Youth Services Program at John F. Kennedy High School; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves continued support to the School-Based Youth Services Program at John F. Kennedy High School at no cost to the district.

Resolution No. A-19

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District is committed through its career learning academies to provide a wide variety of options to students including: Orientation to the world of work as part of their career exploration process; Improving educational achievement; Preparing youth for succeeding in employment; Supporting youth through guidance and counseling;

Page 12 04/28/04 WHEREAS, the Paterson School District wishes to continue receiving funding to support career/workplace readiness components; and

WHEREAS, the Youth Programs proposals are currently being developed for submission to the County of Passaic on April 20, 2004; and

WHEREAS, the completed proposals will be presented to the Board of Education when finalized; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the submission of the bid to the County of Passaic to fund programs for youth for the program year July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005.

It was moved by Comm. Hodges, seconded by Comm. Brown that Resolution Nos. A-1 through A-19 be adopted.

Dr. Nuccetelli: Identify the ones that are pulled.

Comm. Hodges: Which ones are pulled?

Comm. Taylor: A-10, A-14 and A-20.

Comm. Moody: A-10.

Comm. Sayegh: A-14 and A-20.

Dr. Duroy: 10 and 14 are pulled.

On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

Resolution No. A-20 was pulled.

Resolution No. A-21

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has a contract agreement with La Vida Child Care, 396 Straight Street, to provide full day preschool services for three and four year olds; and

WHEREAS, the district continues to seek space to provide preschool services for additional district students; and

WHEREAS, the original contract was designed to serve 60 students; and

WHEREAS, La Vida Child Care reorganized their classroom space to accommodate an additional 30 preschool Abbott students to help district enrollment; and

WHEREAS, the district’s goal is to build more capacity to provide preschool and wraparound services for additional families; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the district modify the original contract of La Vida Child Care from 60 students to 90 students, and provide compensation for a total of $718,442.

Page 13 04/28/04 Resolution No. A-22

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District is in a collaborative partnership with community centers to provide preschool services to resident students; and

WHEREAS, Sha’terra Memorial Preschool Academy, Inc. is a contracted provider of preschool services for three and four year old resident students; and

WHEREAS, an adjustment to their contracted FY04 budget is appropriate to resolve their loss of administrative/indirect funds due to unforeseen circumstances leading to the premature closure of Sha’terra Memorial Preschool Academy (site) II in FY03; and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Education has approved this budget adjustment; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the contracted budget amount for indirect costs at the Sha’terra Memorial Preschool Academy (site) I be amended to include a one-time adjustment in the amount of $10,320.00.

Resolution No. A-23

WHEREAS, Paterson Public Schools has entered into a contract with North Jersey Community Coordinated Child Care Agency, Inc. to provide wraparound services to in- district preschool children with special needs; and

WHEREAS, the agreement between Paterson Public Schools and North Jersey 4C’s allows for the district to request supplemental services in addition to those set forth in the original agreement (Section 3A, page 2); and

WHEREAS, the District and the Contractor have mutually agreed upon the cost of these services in accordance with the rate established by the Department of Human Services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public Schools reimburse North Jersey 4C’s for the cost of three additional instructional assistants from May 1, 2004 through June 30, 2004.

Resolution No. A-24

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Character Education Partnership (NJCEP) initiative was developed to implement a substantive character education program in every school district in New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Counseling and Family Services has successfully implemented the research-based “I Can Problem Solve” Program and the “Raising a Thinking Child” Parent Program in Wayne Township Elementary Schools by means of a grant from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Counseling and Family Services has received additional funds from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to share with Paterson and duplicate these program; and

WHEREAS, School No. 25 has begun the programs and is pleased with their implementation; and

Page 14 04/28/04

WHEREAS, these activities will be at no financial cost to Paterson Public Schools; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves the extended implementation of the above programs to School No. 15.

Resolution No. A-25

WHEREAS, the approval for receiving a student from a sending district as per their IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves receiving a student and payment from Prospect Park Board of Education for the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition P.C. $29,858.67

Resolution No. A-26

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to All Can Excel (ACE) Academy while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition D.G. $9,727.50

Resolution No. A-27

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to All Can Excel (ACE) Academy while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 school year:

Student Initials Tuition J.J., C.D. $22,956.90

Resolution No. A-28

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Bergen County Special Services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition D.G. $7,200.00

Resolution No. A-29

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

Page 15 04/28/04

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Bergen County Special Services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Norman Bleshman Regional School

Student Initials Tuition J.H. $22,378.20

Resolution No. A-30

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Bergen County Special Services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Bergen Regional Medical Center

Student Initials Tuition J.P., A.F., E.P. $17,550.00

Resolution No. A-31

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Bergen County Special Services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Norman Bleshman Regional School

Student Initials Tuition K.M. $25,674.94

Resolution No. A-32

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Bucks County Schools Unit #22 while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition N.B. $22,256.00

Resolution No. A-33

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Calais School while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular and extended school year:

Student Initials Tuition J.P. $17,168.00

Page 16 04/28/04

Resolution No. A-34

WHEREAS, the approval for student placed in hospitals/treatment centers as per IEP/health is recommended; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves payment for educational sessions of student during the 2003-2004 school year, payment to Care Plus N.J. Bergen County Juvenile Fire Prevention:

Student Initials Tuition J.S. $210.00

Resolution No. A-35

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Catholic Community Services while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: St. Anthony’s School

Student Initials Tuition J.C. $25,844.23

Resolution No. A-36

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Clearview School while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition J.C. $15,500.43

Resolution No. A-37

WHEREAS, the district of responsibility for homeless students is the last district of residency (N.J.A.C.6:3-8.4); and

WHEREAS, Paterson students reside in a shelter in Clifton, New Jersey; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Clifton Board of Education while providing educational instruction to students during the 2003-2004 school year, for the following children:

Student Initials Tuition R.A., S.P., I.S., L.S., A.R. $35,900.00

Page 17 04/28/04 Resolution No. A-38

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition L.B. $3,450.00

Resolution No. A-39

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Community School of Family Connections while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular and extended school year:

Student Initials Tuition S.D., F.H., J.V.Z., T.S., S.D. $161,919.20

Resolution No. A-40

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment for Home Instruction to Daytop Preparatory School during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition M.P., M.S. $15,600.00

Resolution No. A-41

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Glenview Academy while providing educational services during the 2003- 2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition K.A. $20,386.80

Resolution No. A-42

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to High Point School while providing educational services during the 2003- 2004 regular school year:

Placement: High Point School of Bergen County

Page 18 04/28/04

Student Initials Tuition A.O., J.S. $48,282.52

Resolution No. A-43

WHEREAS, the approval for student placed in hospitals/treatment centers as per IEP/health is recommended; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves payment for educational instruction of students during the 2003-2004 school year, payment to Kidspeace National Centers:

Student Initials Tuition C.R. $37,620.00

Resolution No. A-44

WHEREAS, the approval for student placed in hospitals/treatment centers as per IEP/health is recommended; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves payment for educational instruction of students during the 2003-2004 school year, payment to Kidspeace National Centers:

Student Initials Tuition T.H. $9,405.00

Resolution No. A-45

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Lakeview Learning Center while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition A.U. $22,957.96

Resolution No. A-46

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves payment to Morris-Union Jointure Commission for an evaluation as per the student IEP for the 2003-2004 school year:

Student Initials Tuition R.F. $477.00

Resolution No. A-47

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

Page 19 04/28/04 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Mountain Lakes Board of Education while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Lake Drive School

Student Initials Tuition K.N. $45,000.00

Resolution No. A-48

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to New Brunswick Board of Education while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Fort Lee Education Center

Student Initials Tuition T.H., T.A. $63,542.70

Resolution No. A-49

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment for Home Instruction services to Newark Renaissance House, Inc. during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition T.F., D.G., B.F. $12,600.00

Resolution No. A-50

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Passaic County Educational Services Commission during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Hilltop School

Student Initials Tuition C.P. $9,102.00

Resolution No. A-51

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves Letter of Agreement and payment to Passaic County Educational Services Commission during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Page 20 04/28/04 Placement: Park School

Student Initials Tuition T.J. $12,229.66

Resolution No. A-52

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Passaic County Elks, Cerebral Palsy Center while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition J.M. $14,403.30

Resolution No. A-53

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

Student Initials Tuition K.A. $47,072.06

Resolution No. A-54

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

Student Initials Tuition K.A., N.T. $40,626.00

Resolution No. A-55

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Professional Ed Service, Inc. during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Princeton House, Home Instruction

Student Initials Tuition J.A. $462.00

Resolution No. A-56

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

Page 21 04/28/04 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Professional Ed Service, Inc. during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Princeton House, Home Instruction

Student Initials Tuition M.D. $660.00

Resolution No. A-57

WHEREAS, the approval for student placed in hospitals/treatment centers as per IEP/health is recommended; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves payment for educational instruction of students during the 2003-2004 school year, payment to St. Clare’s Hospital:

Student Initials Tuition C.J., A.V., T.M., G.A., M.S. $1,672.00

Resolution No. A-58

WHEREAS, the approval for student placed in hospitals/treatment centers as per IEP/health is recommended; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves payment for educational instruction of students during the 2003-2004 school year, payment to St. Clare’s Hospital:

Student Initials Tuition R.H., A.N., D.T., R.M. $1,584.00

Resolution No. A-59

WHEREAS, the approval for student placed in hospitals/treatment centers as per IEP/health is recommended; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves payment for educational instruction of students during the 2003-2004 school year, payment to St. Clare’s Hospital:

Student Initials Tuition R.H., M.D., A.F. $924.00

Resolution No. A-60

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Somerset Hills School while providing educational services during the 2003- 2004 regular school year:

Page 22 04/28/04 Student Initials Tuition S.S. $24,769.85

Resolution No. A-61

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Union County Educational Services Commission during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Related Services, Children’s Specialized Hospital

Student Initials Tuition B.S. $10,512.00

Resolution No. A-62

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Union County Educational Services Commission during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Bedside Instruction, Children’s Specialized Hospital

Student Initials Tuition L.H. $1,100.00

Resolution No. A-63

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Washington Academy while providing educational services during the 2003- 2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition U.P., H.G. $31,129.50

Resolution No. A-64

WHEREAS, the district of responsibility for homeless students is the last district of residency (N.J.A.C.6:3-8.4); and

WHEREAS, Paterson students reside in a shelter in Vineland, New Jersey; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Vineland Public Schools while providing educational instruction to students during the 2003-2004 school year, for the following children:

Student Initials Tuition R.R. $724.03

Page 23 04/28/04

Resolution No. A-65

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Windsor Academy while providing educational services during the 2003- 2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition D.B. $22,828.30

Resolution No. A-66

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Windsor Academy while providing educational services during the 2003- 2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition H.J. $18,323.16

Resolution No. A-67

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to YCS – Fort Lee Educational Center while providing educational services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Student Initials Tuition T.A., G.K. $39,657.58

Resolution No. A-68

WHEREAS, the approval for student as per IEP is required; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District approves placement and payment to Youth Consultation Services during the 2003-2004 regular school year:

Placement: Fort Lee Educational Center

Student Initials Tuition A.C., A.B. $35,843.90

Resolution No. A-69

WHEREAS, four Marketing students/DECA members of John F. Kennedy High School and their advisor, Thomas Mongelli, have planned to attend the DECA International Career Development Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee on April 30 to May 5, 2004; and now therefore

Page 24 04/28/04 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves this educational experience for students and staff with conference expenses being paid through the Perkins Grant money.

It was moved by Comm. Hodges, seconded by Comm. Santiago that Resolution Nos. A-21 through A-69 be adopted. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

Resolution No. A-70 was pulled.

Resolution No. A-71

WHEREAS, the Paterson Teachers for Tomorrow (PT4T), a group developed through a working partnership between William Paterson University and the Paterson Public Schools, which includes John F. Kennedy High School, Rosa Parks High School and Eastside High School, funded through the Taub Foundation, has successfully attracted students who are committed to becoming educators and returning to the Paterson Public School System as teachers once they graduate from William Paterson University; and

WHEREAS, to offer the students in this group an opportunity for leadership, educational activities and positive group dynamic training, a two-day one night trip to the Princeton-Blairstown Environmental Educational Center in Blairstown, New Jersey on Thursday and Friday, May 13 and 14, 2004 has been planned; and

WHEREAS, expenses for the total of 40 students and 6 teachers/advisors will be provided by the Taub Foundation. An attached itinerary presents an outline of the goals and objectives along with the overview of the program; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves this worthwhile trip to the Princeton-Blairstown Environmental Center for the students in the PT4T, with all expenses provided by the Taub Foundation.

Resolution No. A-72

WHEREAS, expenses for the total of 36 students and 6 teachers/advisors will be provided by the Taub Foundation, which funds the PT4T partnership. An attached itinerary presents an outline of the goals and objectives along with the overview of the program; and now therefore

Page 25 04/28/04 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves this worthwhile trip to the Princeton-Blairstown Environmental Center for the students in the PT4T, with all expenses provided by the Taub Foundation. Chaperones do not expect to receive a stipend for this extracurricular activity.

Resolution No. A-73

WHEREAS, to offer the students in this group an opportunity for leadership, educational activities and positive group dynamic training, a two-day one night trip to the Princeton-Blairstown Environmental Educational Center (PBEEC) in Blairstown, New Jersey on Thursday and Friday, May 13 and 14, 2004 has been planned; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves this worthwhile trip to the Princeton-Blairstown Environmental Educational Center for the students in the PT4T, with all expenses provided by the Taub Foundation.

Resolution No. A-74

WHEREAS, the MPACT Academy submits for your approval our senior field trip to Boston and Salem, MA on Friday, May 21, 2004 leaving Paterson at 3:00 p.m. and returning to Paterson Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 3:00 p.m.

Costs: Bus Transportation $2,000.00 Room & Board $ 930.00 Admissions $1,000.00 Total: $3,930.00

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the aforementioned MPACT Academy field trip be approved by the Board of Education.

It was moved by Comm. Hodges, seconded by Comm. Santiago that Resolution Nos. A-71 through A-74 be adopted. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

LEGAL COMMITTEE

Comm. Moody reported that the Legal Committee met, reviewed and recommends approval for Resolution No. B-1:

Resolution No. B-1

Page 26 04/28/04 WHEREAS, it is necessary to designate the official newspapers, on a yearly basis, to be used by the Paterson Public School District; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education authorize the following newspapers be designated as the official newspapers to be used by the Paterson Public School District for publication of any district matters during the 2004-2005 school year:

Al-Zaman El Diario North Jersey Herald & News The Italian Voice The Record The Star Ledger The New Jersey Forum

It was moved by Comm. Moody, seconded by Comm. Santiago that Resolution No. B-1 be adopted.

Comm. Sayegh: I would actually like to propose an amendment. Last year I informed the Board that Su Guia, which I believe is a subsidiary of the Herald & News, also covers Board of Education meetings and other events pertaining to this particular body. I would like to propose an amendment to see that Su Guia is also recognized as one of the newspapers that will receive information regarding our activities.

Comm. Santiago: I support it.

Comm. Taylor: Can you explain Su Guia to us?

Comm. Sayegh: I believe Su Guia is a subsidiary of the Herald & News and they have covered… It’s a Spanish-speaking newspaper. Once again, I want to reiterate what I had stated earlier. I believe it is a subsidiary of the Herald & News. They have sent a correspondent to our meetings. They cover information that is discussed here at our meetings and they also featured Board candidates and played a role in this past election. So I am submitting that to you for your consideration.

Dr. Duroy: If the author of the resolution would accept that along with the second, then we would not need a vote other than the original resolution. Who introduced it?

Comm. Moody: I did.

Dr. Duroy: Do you accept the amendment?

Comm. Moody: I don’t trust you.

Comm. Hodges: He is still considering. Is that a yes, Mr. Moody? Thank you, Mr. Moody. Is there any further discussion on the item?

On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

FISCAL COMMITTEE

Comm. Atallo reported that the Finance Committee met, reviewed and recommends approval for Resolution Nos. C-2 through C-11:

Page 27 04/28/04 Resolution No. C-1 was pulled.

Resolution No. C-2

WHEREAS, it is necessary to pay vendors’ bills and claims against the Paterson Public School District; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves payment of April 2004 bills and claims, checks 110821 through 111558 in the amount of $14,303,470.45 as attached hereto and made a part of the minutes; and be it further

RESOLVED, that manual checks 106915, 110757 through 110762, and 110763 through 110773 in the amount of $506,558.99 as attached hereto and made a part of the minutes; and be it further

RESOLVED, that voided checks 107559, 110439, 109672, 101190, 107558, 109181, 109184, 109935, 108957, 109228, 110021, 110087 and 110624 in the amount of $53,699.08 as attached hereto and made a part of the minutes; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that cafeteria checks 110774 through 110820 in the amount of $459,923.76 as attached hereto and made a part of the minutes.

Resolution No. C-3

WHEREAS, there is a need to request district taxes, exclusive of debt service requirements, to meet the needs of the School District for the month of April 2004; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the request of District taxes, exclusive of debt service requirements, needed to meet the obligations of the School District, for the month of April 2004, in the amount of $3,032,474.17, and that the City of Paterson is hereby requested to place in the hands of the Custodian of School Moneys that amount within the next thirty (30) days, in accordance with the statutes relating thereto; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the monthly certification of the State District Superintendent/Board of Education for the month of April 2004, attached hereto and made a part of the minutes.

Resolution No. C-4

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools identified concerns related to the district’s financial position, financial systems, and internal controls; and

WHEREAS, a Corrective Action Plan has been prepared and disseminated by the Assistant Superintendent for Operations in response to the above findings; and

WHEREAS, the Assistant Superintendent for Operations presented these findings and that adequate funds were available to cover 2003-2004 financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year; and

Approve transfer of funds within the 2003-2004 school year budget for the month of February 2004;

Page 28 04/28/04 WHEREAS, the New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:23-2.11 (a)-(c) requires the Board Secretary and the Board of Education to certify that no budgetary line item account has been over-expended and that sufficient funds are available to meet the District’s financial obligations; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves transfer of funds within the 2003-2004 school year budget, for the month of February 2004, so that no budgetary line item account has been over-expended and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district’s financial obligations, as requested by various budget managers, and as identified in the list of transfers attached hereto and made a part of the minutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.

Resolution No. C-5

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools identified concerns related to the district’s financial position, financial systems, and internal controls; and

WHEREAS, a Corrective Action Plan has been prepared and disseminated by the Assistant Superintendent for Operations in response to the above findings; and

WHEREAS, the Assistant Superintendent for Operations presented these findings and that adequate funds were available to cover 2003-2004 financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year; and

Approve transfer of funds within the 2003-2004 school year budget for the month of March 2004;

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:23-2.11 (a)-(c) requires the Board Secretary and the Board of Education to certify that no budgetary line item account has been over-expended and that sufficient funds are available to meet the District’s financial obligations; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves transfer of funds within the 2003-2004 school year budget, for the month of March 2004, so that no budgetary line item account has been over-expended and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district’s financial obligations, as requested by various budget managers, and as identified in the list of transfers attached hereto and made a part of the minutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.

Resolution No. C-6

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools identified concerns related to the district’s financial position, financial systems, and internal controls; and

WHEREAS, a Corrective Action Plan has been prepared and disseminated by the Assistant Superintendent for Operations in response to the above findings; and

WHEREAS, the Assistant Superintendent for Operations presented these findings and that adequate funds were available to cover 2003-2004 financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year as of November 2003; and

Page 29 04/28/04 WHEREAS, the School Business Administrator has presented the Board Secretary Report A148 and the Report of the Treasurer A149 including the cash reconciliation for the month of January 2004; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public Schools acknowledge receipt of and accept the Monthly Financial Reports for January 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public Schools hereby incorporates the Monthly Financial Reports for the fiscal period ending January 2004 as part of the minutes of this meeting and note the public discussion of same for the minutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Business Administrator be directed to forward to the County Superintendent the minutes together with the Monthly Financial Reports; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.

Resolution No. C-7

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools identified concerns related to the district’s financial position, financial systems, and internal controls; and

WHEREAS, a Corrective Action Plan has been prepared and disseminated by the Assistant Superintendent for Operations in response to the above findings; and

WHEREAS, the School Business Administrator has presented the Board Secretary Report A148 and the Report of the Treasurer A149 including the cash reconciliation for the month of February 2004; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public Schools acknowledge receipt of and accept the Monthly Financial Reports for February 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public Schools hereby incorporates the Monthly Financial Reports for the fiscal period ending February 2004 as part of the minutes of this meeting and note the public discussion of same for the minutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Business Administrator be directed to forward to the County Superintendent the minutes together with the Monthly Financial Reports; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.

Resolution No. C-8

WHEREAS, the Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation, Inc. wants to extend services to underserved populations; and

WHEREAS, the Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation, Inc. has approved a grant of $35,000 for dental care for the 2004-2005 school year; and

Page 30 04/28/04 WHEREAS, these funds will be used solely to support increased hours for the dentist providing services through the Dental Clinic, to provide additional support of the fluoride rinse program, and additional dental supplies; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education accept the $35,000 grant to provide additional support for services to uninsured and under-served school-age children through the Dental Clinic.

Resolution No. C-9

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Education has awarded the Paterson Public Schools funding under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Act of 1998 in the amount of $300,381 for the 2003-2004 school year; and

WHEREAS, an Amendment Application must be made when any changes in salaries and/or benefits are made; and

WHEREAS, there are unexpended funds in salaries and benefits in the amount of $13,564; and

WHEREAS, the district does not wish to return any of the grant funds to the state; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the submission of the Carl D. Perkins Amendment Application for Fiscal Year 2004 to the state.

Resolution No. C-10

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Education requires that the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Act of 1998 Annual Spending Plan be submitted by May 3, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in order to be considered for funding; and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Education has not yet released the district allocation; and

WHEREAS, the Annual Spending Plan cannot be finalized until the allocation is released; and

WHEREAS, the district wishes to continue receiving funding from the state under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Act of 1998; and

WHEREAS, the completed Annual Spending Plan will be presented to the Board when finalized; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the submission of the Perkins 2005 Annual Spending Plan to the state for funding.

Resolution No. C-11

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools must complete a revised Close-Out Report on 2/20/04 for the 2002 Consolidated IASA Carry-Over Application for project period 9/01/02 – 8/31/03; and

Page 31 04/28/04 WHEREAS, this report shows the expenditures on Title I $836,251.47, Title IIA $186,905.18, Title IV $29,012.74, and Title VI $88,098.79; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District accepts the Close-Out Report for the 2002 Consolidated Plan for the expenditures totaling $1,140,268.18 and returning in the amount of $21,039.37.

It was moved by Comm. Atallo, seconded by Comm. Santiago that Resolution Nos. C-2 through C-11 be adopted.

Comm. Atallo: On C-2, I have some serious concerns. It is through no one’s fault really but we received the packet Thursday evening and I asked for the backup material on the bills. I received them yesterday afternoon and today I received some additional ones. It was a very tight time schedule or window in terms of reviewing them but I have some serious concerns about some of the legal bills. I was in Newark at an administrative law hearing on Friday and we have two law firms billing the district on a case, two lawyers with two law firms, plus in house counsel assigned. I am very concerned about the legal bills in this district and the number of firms that are being employed by this district and what they are doing. We are not being briefed as to what their roles are and what they are doing but each week I see additional law firms appearing on the payroll and that concerns me. I see additional bills from Baskingers. Again, I think these issues need to be addressed. I see other concerns here. We are facing a very large deficit and we need to address that to make sure we are fiscally sound and healthy. I have great concern about passing these bills at this time. I suggest we have a special meeting to review the bills. We did not have ample time to review them. So at this time I cannot vote to approve the bills because we did not have enough time to properly review them. I can’t vote for bills that I haven’t seen.

Comm. Brown: I would like to ask Mr. Michael Azzara if he recommends that this Board pay these bills this month.

Mr. Michael Azzara: It would be my recommendation that the Board vote on these bills. Because of the lateness of the April meeting and the failure not to have a meeting in the beginning of April, many of these vendors have been waiting for payment. This is an unusual time of the year when we don’t have that early April meeting. So these bills have been waiting to be paid for quite some time. I understand Dr. Atallo’s concerns but I don’t think that they, at least at this time, would preclude the payment of these and they could be addressed subsequently.

Comm. Brown: And this is for work that has already been performed?

Mr. Azzara: Yes, it is for work already performed and I think we can address Dr. Atallo’s issues through policy and future discussion.

*Comm. Generals enters the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Comm. Atallo: I think it would have been prudent to have a meeting early in April so that we could address these. Again, I can appreciate what Mr. Azzara is saying about the bills but one of my concerns is that every month we get the bills and a Board member will ask if the services have been performed, or if the goods have been delivered. That is a problem with me because we probably would not approve a lot of these if it were presented to us before they were being paid. I have great concerns, particularly the number of legal firms that have been hired. We were presented with a proposal last July that two in house counsels would be hired as in house staff and that it

Page 32 04/28/04 would be cost effective to the district. What I have seen is two in house counsels still being paid, although one is on administrative leave, and multiple law firms have appeared. It was also the practice of this district to pay $125 an hour for billing time for law firms and now I see law firms being hired ranging anywhere from $145 an hour to, and I was told by the in house counsel Monday night on the record that one of the firms is being paid $250 an hour. That is double what has been the standard billing practice for this district. So that really needs to be addressed. Again, one of my concerns, being a state operated district, is the state says we are not supposed to get involved with certain areas but if the administration is not being responsible and accountable, then we have to hold the administration responsible and accountable. Multiple firms are appearing and we have what I believe are excessive billing rates. You see the bills. They are thousands of dollars every month and students go without books. We have other areas we have to cut back on in the district and I think our priorities are misplaced. We need to redirect our priorities. So I am going to vote no on C-2 but I will vote yes on the rest.

Comm. Sayegh: Mr. Azzara, in addition to the vendors, is there anyone else that would be adversely affected by a lack of a yes vote on C-2?

Mr. Azzara: That would be particularly the vendors.

Comm. Hodges: I think Dr. Atallo’s concerns were not at the entire bill but these legal bills in particular.

Comm. Atallo: Well, there are one or two firms that I have concerns with. I am not looking at all the legal bills. I am looking at one or two firms and what they are doing, and there seems to be a lot of duplicity going on with these legal firms. I was sitting in on a case the district is litigating, which the Board never approved the litigation of, the Superintendent approved the litigation, and I am watching two law firms sitting there. Both firms are billing the district and then you have the in house counsel assigned to this as well. Why do you have three lawyers, the in house counsel and two firms, on one administrative law case? It seems to me to be excessive. I think we need to be prudent stewards of the public dollars. I am not saying don’t pay these bills ever. I am not saying don’t pay these people. I am saying that tonight it may not be prudent to pay them since we haven’t properly reviewed them. I know I asked for the backup material, but I don’t believe anybody else asked for the backup material. Since I am the only one looking at them, anyone else who votes yes is really voting blind. You are voting on things without having seen the documentation. I think we need to set a new tone. Let us begin anew. We have seen what happens in this district with the $20 million. I am not going to regurgitate what has happened. Everyone has read the papers and everyone has seen the internal audit report. $20 million was misspent because nobody was looking at the bills.

Comm. Sayegh: For the record, I would like to state once again something that I mentioned when I was a state-appointed liaison. I do believe that the legal bills in this district are excessively high.

Comm. Taylor: I would just like to say that if Mr. Azzara is true to his word that we need to review these, and he said that to us Dr. Atallo, then I think that if we know in the month of April that it is going to be a long month, I think something should be done about the fiscal committee prior to check the bills. We don’t want to not pay our bills. We want to pay our bills. But there are some that need review. I am in agreement with you that they truly need review and we don’t want people in towns around us to think that we are misspending money because it is not us. We are just watching and we are

Page 33 04/28/04 trying to make sure that it doesn’t happen. Through the Chair, I would just like to say that I sit on this committee with Dr. Atallo and whenever he asks for information I try to get it as well. Any one that I see, I ask for the information. Not all of us are on the fiscal committee but we can report back to each other. I hope that we get a chance to in the near future report back and forth to each other before we get to workshop and before we get to the public meeting. We need to do this ahead of time and not here. I thank you, Dr. Atallo, for going over it and I know every month we do go over those and we see the same thing. But we are going to have to try to do it a little differently, more comprehensively before we come to the public meeting.

Comm. Kline: I concur with the continuing problem with the legal bills. It would seem to me if we are allowing more representation of law firms at one single case, that we may be trying to overkill the case. It would seem to me that since the legal bills have been a bone of contention for quite some time, that perhaps before those lawyers are assigned to represent the district at whatever level of judiciary it is, that they be reviewed by Mr. Azzara so that we don’t again find ourselves with two law firms and the in house counsel showing up at an administrative hearing. If you are not familiar with an administrative hearing, it is not before a jury. It is before a judge sitting by himself and in many cases there may not even be lawyers present. But it certainly wouldn’t require the presence of two different law firms and the in house counsel, the in house counsel being Mr. Johnson or whomever he designates. It’s like we are over-trying to kill a mosquito. I think we need to refer those situations to Mr. Azzara and maybe we can avoid duplication and over-representation.

Comm. Agard-Jones: Would it then be possible to, and I am asking this through the Chair to Mr. Azzara, withhold the legal bills and let everything else go on? The reality is that when you don’t pay vendors, you do get a reputation of not paying and then you may, in essence, not only be hurting the vendors, but in effect be hurting the district and it’s ability to conduct business in the future. Would it be possible, Mr. Azzara, to somehow separate those legal bills from all of the other bills?

Comm. Atallo: Mr. Chairman, why don’t we pull legal bills over $5,000? Any legal bills under $5,000 we will pay with our other bills and review the bills over $5,000.

Comm. Agard-Jones: Why not all?

Comm. Atallo: Because the other ones are small and they are documented from the other firms. I have no problem with those. But the ones that are excessive, over $5,000, I believe those need to be reviewed. I am one Board member. I am one vote. I reviewed them and as Chair of the finance committee, I have no problems with the bills under $5,000. Those are solidly documented as to the work and I say let’s pay them and not hold those up. But those over $5,000 are excessive and higher, and I think those should be reviewed.

Comm. Agard-Jones: Well, I couldn’t make a motion but I guess one of your Board members may decide what it is you want to do.

Comm. Atallo: I make a motion to pull all bills over $5,000.

Comm. Hodges: Just a minute, please. I would like the Board to go through the Chair so that we can not have a back and forth banter. I would appreciate that.

Comm. Brown: I think that what we should work on is pulling all of them and reviewing them as a committee as a whole. Also, I would hope with our new leadership that you

Page 34 04/28/04 might want to reconsider bringing back the policy committee. We might want to look at the existing policy that is in place and maybe amend the policy to solve this problem this month once and for all. Maybe we can put a cap on the legal fees and move forward.

Comm. Atallo: My motion is that we pass the bills with the exception of legal bills over $5,000, which need to be documented and reviewed. So I don’t think we should hold up anyone else’s bills under $5,000. That’s my motion.

Comm. Taylor: Second.

Comm. Sayegh: There’s a motion on the floor.

Comm. Hodges: Mr. Azzara, I understand we have done that in the past.

Mr. Azzara: We have done that. We are having our May meeting the third week of May. If you want to do that, it would give us an opportunity between now and the next meeting to discuss these at the fiscal committee and it wouldn’t be put off more than three weeks.

Comm. Atallo: There’s a motion to pay the bills under $5,000.

Comm. Hodges: So that is not going to cause any undue hardship?

Mr. Azzara: I don’t think pulling a couple of legal bills will cause undue hardship. There are a number of other vendors on the list that I would not like to see that happen to.

Comm. Hodges: Would you speak into the microphone please, Dr. Nuccetelli?

Comm. Sayegh: I think she needs clarification.

Mr. Azzara: She just wants to make sure the motion is clear as far as what we are changing.

Comm. Hodges: Dr. Atallo, would you repeat your motion?

Comm. Atallo: My motion is that we do pay the bills with the exception of any legal bills in excess of $5,000 this month. Those would be pulled and reviewed for consideration for next month.

It was moved by Comm. Atallo, seconded by Comm. Taylor that Resolution Nos. C-2 through C-11 be adopted, with the exception of legal bills in excess of $5,000.

Dr. Duroy: I would need a clarification because legally I have to authorize pulling a bill. I would like to at least understand how many bills are over $5,000.

Comm. Atallo: Whatever legal bills are over $5,000 would be pulled.

Dr. Duroy: So your selection is arbitrary – anything over $5,000? If you tell me there are ten bills we are going to review, then I will understand. That is what I am asking. Do you have an idea?

Comm. Atallo: I am saying that any legal bills over $5,000 should be pulled and reviewed for the next meeting for consideration. That’s my motion.

Page 35 04/28/04 Dr. Duroy: I understand but I am asking for clarification. How many fall into that category?

Comm. Atallo: Well, you can go through the bill list because they are listed. Those law firms that are in excess of $5,000 will be pulled. It is very simple and easy.

Dr. Nuccetelli: He is asking for the clarification because it is a change to the agenda. I think the reason for the request for the clarification is because it is a change to the agenda and you have to be mindful of 18A:7A-47.

Dr. Duroy: The point I am raising is that if we are talking about one or two firms, then I need to understand why we are specifically targeting one or two firms. If we are talking about ten firms that fall into this category, then I think that would be a little more helpful for me and certainly for the Board to have that specific information.

Comm. Hodges: The concern is that we are paying legal bills inappropriately and I think in view of what we have done in the past with other vendors, it is not imprudent to take a look at these bills and review them for three weeks and then come back to the Board with a clearer understanding of what our situation is and what those bills are. I don’t think that is an extraordinary… I think we can go ahead and do that. For three weeks review all the bills, if necessary, and bring it back. That way it wouldn’t be an undue hardship. Do you want to amend your motion to pull and review all the legal bills so that we can then come back in three weeks and do it again?

Dr. Duroy: I think that is a little more reasonable.

Comm. Atallo: Let me respond to the President. In light of the fiscal scandals that have occurred in this district and in light of the internal audit report, we have to be ever vigilant as to what this administration is doing fiscally. So I take extra cautious procedures in reviewing. I reviewed the legal bills under $5,000 and as one Board member who has reviewed it, I have no problem paying those bills tonight. The legal bills in excess of $5,000 that are on the bill list tonight, I haven’t had a chance to properly review because we haven’t had time. It only fell into my lap this afternoon at 3:00. So I am saying let’s pay the ones under $5,000. Let’s pull the ones over $5,000 and we will review those in three weeks.

Comm. Hodges: I do want to end this debate. Mr. Azzara, is there a hardship to review the ones over $5,000?

Mr. Azzara: I don’t have a problem with either way but I think what Dr. Duroy is looking for is that picking a cutoff may seem arbitrary and it might be more fair to just hold all of them for the next three weeks and discuss them all.

Dr. Nuccetelli: Does anybody know how many bills there are?

Comm. Hodges: Just a second, please. Let’s all obey the Chair. Thank you.

Comm. Kline: Mr. President, it appears as though we are trying to reach a compromise to satisfy the concerns of all members of the Board. I would certainly support pulling all of the legal bills, subjecting them to review, and then after we have reviewed them bringing them forward, rather than being tied up on under $5,000. Let’s go with the compromise and review them all. I think we can save a lot of time.

Comm. Hodges: Can we have a second to that amendment, please?

Page 36 04/28/04

Comm. Santiago: I second that.

Dr. Duroy: Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.

Comm. Moody: Point of clarification, you had a motion on the floor and the maker of that motion didn’t accept the amendment.

Comm. Hodges: Dr. Atallo, will you accept that amendment?

Comm. Atallo: I don’t think it is fair to hold up the other bills because we have reviewed them. So I have a motion on the floor.

Comm. Hodges: Okay, roll call on Dr. Atallo’s motion.

Dr. Duroy: The issue is removing items from the agenda. I think that it would be correct if individual Board members voted and you can say I am not voting for a particular item on the agenda. Basically, you vote yes for the items you want and no for any other specific item. To vote for a resolution that pulls specific items that I don’t agree, I agree with what I believe is the consensus that we pull the legal bills, but we pull all of them. So I would say that the resolution needs to either read vote on all of them and then each individual member can vote no on any specific items they don’t want to vote on, or a resolution to pull the legal bills and proceed with the balance of the items.

Comm. Hodges: Dr. Atallo, would you consider amending your motion?

Comm. Atallo: I will amend the motion and then I will specifically vote no on certain bills, which I believe are not appropriate.

Comm. Hodges: Would you restate your motion, please, for the record?

It was moved by Comm. Atallo, seconded by Comm. Taylor that Resolution Nos. C-2 through C-11 be adopted.

Comm. Kline: My amendment, Mr. President, is that we pull all the legal bills for review. That was the amendment.

It was moved by Comm. Kline, seconded by Comm. Santiago that all the legal bills be pulled from Resolution No. C-2.

Dr. Duroy: We are going to vote first on the amendment to the resolution.

On roll call all members voted as follows:

Comm. Atallo: I don’t agree that all the legal bills should be pulled. I have a problem with the ones over $5,000 that need to be documented in a more informative way. So I respectfully vote no.

Comm. Brown: I agree that we should pull all the legal bills, we should review them as a committee of the whole, we should look at what policies we have in place, and then implement new policies to correct this situation once and for all. My vote is yes.

Comm. Kline: Yes.

Page 37 04/28/04 Comm. Moody: Yes on the amendment.

Comm. Santiago: Yes.

Comm. Sayegh: Yes.

Comm. Taylor: Yes.

Comm. Vergara: I believe we should review the legal bills. I haven’t had a chance to review anything so I am going to abstain.

Comm. Hodges: Yes.

The motion carried.

Comm. Hodges: Now you can go ahead and vote on the resolution absent the legal bills.

Comm. Taylor: How many?

Comm. Vergara: How many?

Comm. Hodges: C-1 through C-11.

Mr. Azzara: Let’s have the count on the amendment first and then we’ll do the vote.

Comm. Hodges: Now the vote on the original motion, C-2 through C-11.

Comm. Taylor: Please restate the motion.

It was moved by Comm. Atallo, seconded by Comm. Santiago that Resolution Nos. C-2 through C-11 be adopted, absent the legal bills. On roll call all members voted as follows:

Comm. Atallo: I vote yes on all the resolutions up to C-11, with the exception of C-2. I vote no on C-2. I was the only Board member who pulled up the backup sheets and I didn’t have time to review them because I only received them yesterday afternoon and some additional ones today. I fail to see how the Board can vote on paying millions of dollars in bills that they haven’t looked at or reviewed. I don’t think people pay their bills at home without reviewing them. I don’t see how you can pay these here. This is how the Board got into trouble with the $20 million. They listened to the administration and they blindly voted on bills for services that either were not performed, that were duplicitous, or that work was never completed. This is how the district got in trouble – by listening to this administration. They got into a $20 million financial problem. So I vote no on C-2. I think we have to start anew. Tonight is the night to start anew. I think the Board has to say we need to get information in a timely manner and once we receive it in a timely manner, we review it in a prudent way and then take action. That’s the responsible way to go. So I vote yes on the resolutions up to C-11, with the exception of C-2. I vote no for the reasons stated.

Comm. Brown: No.

Comm. Kline: I vote yes on C-2 through C-11. I think we satisfied the legal dilemma and I also review the bills. It is not a solitary thing. I am not on the fiscal committee but

Page 38 04/28/04 I also review the bills. I am satisfied that our concern about the legal bills will suffice for tonight and my vote is yes.

Comm. Moody: Yes.

Comm. Santiago: Yes.

Comm. Sayegh: I do agree that we have to be more meticulous with legal bills and that fiscal accountability is the order of the day. I vote yes on items C-2 through C-11.

Comm. Taylor: I vote yes for C-3 through C-11. On C-2, I vote for all bills to be paid except for the legal bills.

Comm. Vergara: Once again, not having enough time to review all the bills, I concur with Comm. Atallo. I abstain.

Comm. Hodges: I vote no on C-2 and yes on the rest of them.

The motion carried.

Resolution No. C-12

WHEREAS, John F. Kennedy High School has a need for additional instructional space due to increased enrollment; and

WHEREAS, John F. Kennedy High School has converted Room 117C, formerly the woodshop storage room, into a small group instruction room for the purpose of in-school suspension to accommodate a limited number of students; and

WHEREAS, the number of students daily will not exceed 15 in this room; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves a room change for John F. Kennedy High School, Room 117C, from a woodshop storage room to a small group instruction room.

Resolution No. C-13

WHEREAS, the Paterson Board of Education, as part of the ACE + State Grant, and in partnership with the USDOE 21st Century Community for Learning, has an obligation to provide instructional space; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Board of Education has secured a converted motor home as a Mobile Temporary Classroom Unit as part of the ACE + program; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Board of Education is required by New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:26.8 to submit an Application for Substandard Instructional Space to the Passaic County Superintendent of Schools; and

WHEREAS, the maximum number of students and teachers/aides using this Mobile Temporary Classroom Unit at one time will not exceed twenty (20); and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the use of this Mobile Temporary Classroom Unit as instructional space; and

Page 39 04/28/04

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that review and approval from the Passaic County Superintendent of Schools is requested for the purpose of fulfilling the ACE + grant and providing appropriate instructional space; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Business Administrator be directed to forward the minutes and Application for Substandard Instructional Space to the Passaic County Superintendent of Schools; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.

Resolution No. C-14

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District seeks to procure goods and services through the use of state contract vendors (18A:18A-10-a) during the 2004-2005 school year; and

WHEREAS, the board of education may, by resolution and without advertising for bids, purchase any goods or services under the State of New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Program for any state contracts entered into on behalf of the State by the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has the need, on a timely basis, to purchase goods and services utilizing state contracts; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District intends to enter into contracts with the attached referenced state contract vendors through this resolution and properly executed contracts, which shall be subject to all the conditions applicable to the current state contracts; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District authorizes the Purchasing Department to purchase certain goods or services from the additional approved New Jersey state contract vendors on the attached list pursuant to all conditions of the individual state contract; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the duration of the contracts between the Paterson Public School District and the attached list of state contract vendors shall be from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005 pursuant to the vendor’s state contract award date.

Resolution No. C-15

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools business administrator solicited and publicly advertised proposals to prepare the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and to perform the annual audit for the 2004-2005 school year as required by NJSA 18A:23-1 et seq.; and

WHEREAS, three experienced and qualified CPA firms submitted proposals to do said work; and

WHEREAS, the firm of Watson Rice LLP submitted a proposal that was both technically sound and the lowest price; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education, on the recommendation of the business administrator, appoints the firm of Watson Rice LLP to prepare the

Page 40 04/28/04 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and to perform the annual audit for the 2004- 2005 school year for a fee of $87,768.

Resolution No. C-16

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Audio Visual Supplies, PPS-114-05; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Audio Visual Supplies, PPS-114-05, for the 2004-2005 school year, to the following vendor:

Valiant Inc. 55 Ruta Ct., P.O. Box 3171 S. Hackensack, NJ 07606

Resolution No. C-17

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Elementary Science Supplies, PPS-115-05; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Elementary Science Supplies, PPS-115-05, for the 2004- 2005 school year, to the following vendors:

Fisher Scientific Scientific Kit Inc. 3970 Johns Creek Ct., Ste 500 777 East Park Dr. Suwanee, GA 30024 Tonawanda, NY 14150

Childcraft Education Corp. Sargent Welch P.O. Box 3239 P.O. Box 5229 Lancaster, PA 17604 Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

Resolution No. C-18

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Fine Arts Supplies, PPS-116-05; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

Page 41 04/28/04 WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Fine Arts Supplies, PPS-116-05, for the 2004-2005 school year, to the following vendor:

Sax Arts & Crafts P.O. Box 510710 New Berlin, WI 53151

Resolution No. C-19

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Health Supplies, PPS- 117-05; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Health Supplies, PPS-117-05, for the 2004-2005 school year, to the following vendors:

Henry Schien Inc. Moore Medical Corp. 135 Duryea Rd. 389 John Downey Dr. Melville, NY 11747 New Britain, CT 06050

Resolution No. C-20

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Home Economic Supplies, PPS-118-05; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Home Economic Supplies, PPS-118-05, for the 2004- 2005 school year, to the following vendor:

S.A.N.E. 2275 Millville Rd., Ste 1 Hamilton, OH 45013

Resolution No. C-21

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Library Supplies, PPS- 119-05; and

Page 42 04/28/04 WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Library Supplies, PPS-119-05, for the 2004-2005 school year, to the following vendor:

The Library Store, Inc. 112 E. South St. Tremont, IL 61568

Resolution No. C-22

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Physical Education Supplies, PPS-121-05; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Physical Education Supplies, PPS-121-05, for the 2004- 2005 school year, to the following vendor:

Sports Supply Group dba-Passon P.O. Box 49 Jenkintown, PA 19046

Resolution No. C-23

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Science Supplies, PPS-122-05; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Science Supplies, PPS-122-05, for the 2004-2005 school year, to the following vendor:

Sargent Welch 911 Commerce Ct. Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

Page 43 04/28/04 Resolution No. C-24

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Beverage Services Outside the School Lunch Program – District Wide, RFP-001-03; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools is allowed to renew contracts, pursuant to 18A:18A:42; and

WHEREAS, contract prices will not be increased above original contract; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract, as per the attached bid summary, for Beverage Services Outside the School Lunch Program – District Wide, RFP-001-03, for a two (2) year period, from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2006, to the following vendor:

Bottling Group, LLC BDA Pepsi Bottling Group 2 Empire Blvd. Moonachie, NJ 07074

Resolution No. C-25 was pulled.

Resolution No. C-26

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools awarded a contract to Xerox Corporation of Morris Plains, NJ pursuant to state contract A51145, T2075 to lease one hundred thirty- eight (138) new Xerox digital copiers on July 16, 2003; and

WHEREAS, the need for copiers is ongoing throughout the district; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District awards a contract to the Xerox Corporation of Morris Plains, NJ to lease an additional two (2) copiers from the Xerox Corporation of Morris Plains, NJ for a term of 52 months pursuant to their proposal of April 7, 2004, at a monthly cost of $931.00 for 50,000 copies per month and an additional $.006 cost per copy over 50,000 copies. Said lease is pursuant to state contract A51145, T2075, to the following vendor:

Xerox Corporation 201 Littleton Road Morris Plains, NJ 07950

Resolution No. C-27

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools solicited proposals for Music Supplies, PPS- 120-05; and

Page 44 04/28/04 WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District encourages open public bidding for goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District recognizes the need for obtaining the lowest responsible bid for goods and services; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District rejects all bids, as per the attached bid summary and Legal Counsel recommendation, for Music Supplies, PPS- 120-05, for the 2004-2005 school year, due to non-compliance to Public School Contract Law 18A:18A-24 – Security to accompany bid; amount.

Resolution No. C-28

WHEREAS, the Paterson Board of Education currently is under several contracts with the University Bus Company providing for approximately 115 routes (see attached pages 2 & 3) for the school district’s transportation of students; and

WHEREAS, the provision of these services has been satisfactory to the school district; and

WHEREAS, the University Bus Company has been affiliated with the Scholastic Bus Company but on January 1, 2004 has legally changed its corporate name to Scholastic Bus Company; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Board of Education is desirous of continuing the contractual relationship initially established with University Bus Company with Scholastic Bus Company under the same terms and conditions of said contracts; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education consents to the transfer of said contracts with University Bus Company to Scholastic Bus Company under the same terms, conditions and specifications as previously negotiated with University Bus Company; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the State District Superintendent authorizes this action and the Paterson Board of Education affirms this resolution.

Resolution No. C-29

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has identified a need to provide transportation for out of district special education pupils; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has agreed to jointure with other districts through the Passaic County Educational Services Commission and the District approved a previous action to the terms of the contract agreement; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District ratifies the action of the State District Superintendent in approving the revised contract agreement for the 2003- 2004 school year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the total estimated cost of the jointure revised agreement is as follows:

Route School Est. Cost Per Route Surcharge BSS1 Brownstone School $8,691.30 $122.88

Page 45 04/28/04 HMS Hallmark Shop $1,100.25 $333.75

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action is authorized by the State District Superintendent of Schools and is affirmed by the Paterson Board of Education.

Resolution No. C-30

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has identified a need to provide transportation for out of district special education pupils; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has agreed to jointure with other districts through the Passaic County Educational Services Commission and the District agrees to the terms of the contract agreement; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District ratifies the action of the State District Superintendent in approving the contract agreement for the 2003-2004 school year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the total estimated cost of the jointure agreement is as follows:

Route School Est. Cost Per Route Surcharge DHS3 DHS Bergen $6,232.20 $186.97 PS21 School #21 $8,806.00 $264.18 PS21 School #21 Aide $2,590.00 $77.70 ACEA All Can Excel $2,520.00 $75.60 (Aide added to route) 6087 Learning Center $3,914.00 $117.42 (Aide added to route) MCGP Mount Carmel $5,428.00 $162.58

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action is authorized by the State District Superintendent of Schools and is affirmed by the Paterson Board of Education.

Resolution No. C-31

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has identified a need to provide transportation for a temporarily displaced Paterson Public School District pupil, currently residing in Wayne, New Jersey, attending the Passaic County Technical Institute; and

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has agreed to jointure with the Wayne Board of Education and the District agrees to the terms of the contract agreement; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District ratifies the action of the State District Superintendent in approving the contract agreement for the 2003-2004 school year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the total estimated cost of the jointure agreement for Route #JC04 is approximately $575.00; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action is authorized by the State District Superintendent of Schools and is affirmed by the Paterson Board of Education.

Page 46 04/28/04 Resolution No. C-32

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has identified a need to cancel transportation routes for displaced pupils for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District cancels the following route with the referenced contractor as follows:

Route Contractor Destination Decrease TD19 D & M Tours EHS & #13 $2,805.00 TD20 D & M Tours Dale & #12 $3,300.00

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action is authorized by the State District Superintendent of Schools and is ratified by the Paterson Board of Education.

Resolution No. C-33

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has identified a need to provide temporary transportation for special education pupils for the 2003-2004 school year to out of district schools; and

WHEREAS, informal telephone quotes were received by the Transportation Department; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board of Education ratifies the action of the State Business Administrator in awarding a temporary contract to:

Route Contractor Destination Total Per Diem TNB1 Bus Trans Ed Norman Bleshman $230.00

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action is authorized by the State District Superintendent of Schools and is affirmed by the Paterson Board of Education.

Resolution No. C-34

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has identified a need to provide temporary transportation for special education pupils for the 2003-2004 school year to in district schools; and

WHEREAS, informal telephone quotes were received by the Transportation Department; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board of Education ratifies the action of the State Business Administrator in awarding a temporary contract to:

Route Contractor Destination Total Per Diem T7Z Bus Trans Ed Public School 18 $178.00

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action is authorized by the State District Superintendent of Schools and is affirmed by the Paterson Board of Education.

Page 47 04/28/04 Resolution No. C-35

WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District has identified a need to provide transportation for out of district special education pupils; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District ratifies the action of the State District Superintendent in approving the contract agreement for the 2003-2004 school year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the total estimated cost of the jointure agreement is as follows:

Route School Est. Cost Per Route Surcharge 6114 Norman Bleshman $20,639.49 $619.18 6122 Glenview Academy $8,280.00 $248.40 6123 George Washington $8,800.00 $264.00 6130 Passaic Co. Tech/MLK $15,397.00 $461.91 ACEA All Can Excel Academy $12,584.00 $377.52 ADP1 Adolescent Dev. PR $9,064.00 $271.92 CSP2 Community School $10,960.00 $328.80 PAJS Emer/Hallmark/BCC $12,690.00 $380.70

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action is authorized by the State District Superintendent of Schools and is affirmed by the Paterson Board of Education.

It was moved by Comm. Atallo, seconded by Comm. Sayegh that Resolution Nos. C-12 through C-35 be adopted.

Comm. Atallo: On C-14, while I don’t oppose this resolution, I think it is fiscally prudent for the district as a policy to not just look at state contract vendors but to look at all options available, to look at competitive bids, and to look at RFP’s and quotes. The state contract vendor list is not always the least expensive price and I think Mr. Azzara would agree with me. Would you state for the record?

Mr. Azzara: Definitely. I state for the record that I agree with you and it is an alternative if it is the lowest price.

Comm. Atallo: It’s an option that we should keep open for the district and that would be a sound policy but we should not restrict ourselves or limit ourselves to state contract vendors. We should always get the best possible price for the district and the best possible service. On C-15, I will respectfully vote no on this because I have concerns about this firm and the role that they played with the Newark district. So I have concerns about this firm doing the audit report in Paterson.

Comm. Kline: Mr. President, in reference to C-14, which has to do with state approved vendors, you may recall that at the workshop meeting I requested information as to whether or not there were minority vendors on this list. This district has to satisfy certain requirements and we had a document presented to us the other night. One of the items had to do with equity of just about everything we do. I am not sure but there may or may not be equity in the vendors list and I asked the business administrator to

Page 48 04/28/04 ascertain whether or not minority vendors are included in that list. I know there weren’t any from Paterson but at least hopefully there may be some minority vendors because we have a responsibility to be concerned about that.

Mr. Azzara: I have requested that information but it is not available tonight.

Comm. Hodges: Mr. Azzara, do you have a timeframe when we might expect that?

Mr. Azzara: I have a feeling our purchasing department can put it together within a week and we would have it by next meeting.

Comm. Hodges: One week? Thank you.

Comm. Sayegh: I would like to dovetail on what Dr. Atallo stated earlier. I do believe we have to make a more concerted effort to find the lowest responsible bidder and reach out as far as the contract process is concerned to explore all options. I also want to piggyback on what Mr. Kline just stated. I think it is time we take care of our own. We must make more of an attempt or endeavor to engage our community with some of these contracts and afford these opportunities to people that reside in either Paterson or Passaic County, and also reach out to more minorities.

On roll call all members voted as follows:

Comm. Atallo: I vote yes on C-12 through C-35, with the exception of C-15. I vote no.

Comm. Brown: Yes.

Comm. Kline: I vote yes on items C-12 through C-35, with the exception of C-15. Since I don’t have the information on C-14, I am voting no on C-14 as well. C-14 and C-15 no, yes on the rest.

Comm. Moody: Yes.

Comm. Santiago: Yes.

Comm. Sayegh: I vote yes on items C-12 through C-35, with the exception of C-14 and C-15. I vote no on those.

Comm. Taylor: Was it noted that C-25 was pulled?

Comm. Sayegh: No.

Comm. Taylor: From C-12 to C-35 with C-25 pulled, I vote yes for everything except C- 14 and C-15.

Comm. Vergara: I vote yes on C-12 to C-35. I vote no on C-14 and C-15.

Comm. Hodges: I vote yes on everything except C-15.

Comm. Atallo: Point of order, Mr. President. I just want to note for the record regarding C-15 that this is the second time that the Board has rejected this resolution. The prior Board with other Board members rejected this resolution and this current Board has rejected this resolution. With all due respect, I think we should look at other firms. I concur with my colleagues that there must be auditing firms in the Greater Paterson and

Page 49 04/28/04 Passaic area that do this type of professional work. We should pursue RFP’s in that area. Again, I just want to state for the record that I do have concerns as to what happened in Newark during the time this firm was the auditing firm. That record is very much a public record. I am sure the Board members are aware of it.

The motion carried, with the exception of C-15, which did not carry.

Items Not Requiring a Vote

PERSONNEL

04-B213. Approved hiring Pushcart Players as a consultant for two performances of “The Last, The Very Last…Butterfly” through the PEP-21 Program on April 6, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $2,500.00.

04-B214. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Kiai Jones Tchr./No. 21 $40,100 3/15/04

04-B215. Approved transfer:

Name From To Eff. Date Alaric Chuy Tchr./No. 20 Tchr./SCA,AHA 4/5/04

04-B216. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Michael Diaz Tchr./No. 16 $42,700 3/15/04

04-B218. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Rhonda Rollins Secretary/No. 28 $29,631 3/15/04

04-B219. Approved appointment of Nancy Francisco as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B220. Approved compensation for staff at Paterson Academy for Urban Leadership working in the after school program, at an amount not to exceed $20,790.00:

Evans Roache Christine Pisano Tekeema Allen Jodi Bland Glenn Houthuysen Robin Campbell Christine Sarno

04-B221. Approved compensation for staff at Paterson Academy for Urban Leadership working in the after school program, at an amount not to exceed $17,319.00:

Delane Harrison Melaika Dias

Page 50 04/28/04 Erica Thomas Bairis Galitz Grace Kennedy David Greer Vinette Bishop

04-B222. Approved compensation for staff of School No. 16 participating in the Extended Day Morning Program, from November 24, 2003 through May 28, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $17,094.00:

Cathy Blank Linda LeProtto Ana Martinez Michael Paciga Raul Quispe Maribel Vega Arleen Weil

04-B223. Approved compensation for staff working as curriculum writers for High School Language Arts and Academy Theme, at an amount not to exceed $1,584.00:

Justin Hallberg Tim Caspare Geoffrey Borshof

04-B224. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Jamila Jendayl Tchr./No. 4 5/19/04

04-B225. Approved payment for 13 teachers of the handicapped and 1 science teacher for participation in the New Jersey Consortium of Urban Education at William Paterson University, in the amount of $2,491.00:

Ryan Benford Tara Carlucci Brenda Jemal Alexander Kennedy Paris Moore Ramon Ortiz Gary Pagan Sondra Richardson Arraceli Serrano Sergio Spina Christopher Taylor Lisa Tutunjian Stephen Womack

04-B226. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Lauren Ciuppa Candis Jacobs Virginia Lagos Kaara Lydner Michael Renne Nagwa Shahin

04-B227. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Nicolette Thompson Tchr./EHS $40,100 3/8/04

04-B228. Approved creating a position control number for the ACE+ Center Mobile Computer Lab Teacher for the Access Collaboration Equity Plus Grant Program, beginning February 10, 2003.

Page 51 04/28/04 04-B229. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Willie Davis Driver/Grant Dev.&Eval. $25,000 3/1/04

04-B231. Approved appointment of Adriana Gil as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B232. Approved appointment of Diana Giraldo as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B233. Approved appointment of Marilyn Olivo as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B234. Approved appointment of Ismelda Paulino as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B235. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Sylvia Rodgers Lead Monitor/JFKHS $7.30/hr. 3/15/04

04-B236. Approved hiring Passaic County Community College as a consultant to provide staff development technology training for teachers in the ACE+ Program, beginning February 13 through April 30, 2004, in the amount of $10,000.00.

04-B237. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Nicholas Fiumara Inst. Asst./No. 28 $27,898 3/22/04

04-B238. Approved compensation for Edwin Tylutki for participation in the Academy Fairs on October 20 and 27, 2003, at an amount not to exceed $198.00.

04-B239. Approved compensation for teachers attending staff development workshops for technology training for the ACE+ Program at Passaic County Community College, beginning February 14 through April 20, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $11,220.00:

Sheri Banks-Watson Lucille Mankovich Carmen Pindilli Eldridge Pettway Karen Puryear Nancy Castro Graciella Ayala Ingrid Hall John Kuzviwanza JoAnn McKinney Edward Dale Christina Hernandez Atondra Friday Edwin Hernandez Brenda Robinson Sherri Thompson Dawn Ciarleglio

04-B240. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Ebenezer Nukpezah Tchr./EHS $40,700 3/22/04

Page 52 04/28/04 04-B241. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Laura Blanco Perm. Sub./No. 3 $27,898 3/3/04

04-B242. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Jacob Adopley Tchr./PANTHER Academy $57,303 5/10/04

04-B243. Approved adjustment of salary for John West, Warehouse Manager, to reflect current responsibility, from March 1, 2004, in the amount of $2,500.00.

04-B244. Approved compensation for academy leads for attendance at the Spring Academy Professional Development Program on April 3, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $6,336.00:

Henry Baker Angelo Bonora Ann Bradbury Kenneth Davis Pamela Davis Gerald DeCola Ed Gordon Stan Karp Laurie Kelly Maria Matano Harry Mount Natalie Patterson Mary Prendergrast Debbie Slota Steve Temple Myra Winters

04-B245. Approved compensation for academy leads for attendance at the Spring Academy Professional Development Program on April 3 and 24, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $3,744.00:

JoAnn Cardillo Isabelle Grassi Andre McCollum Gladys Melendez Bonnie Miele Zatiti Moody Merry Naddeo Jane Silverstein

04-B246. Approved hiring the Center for Effective School Practices (C.E.S.P.) as a consultant to provide staff development for academy leads and administrators in the five domains for effective school practices, on April 3 and 24, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $3,000.00.

04-B247. Approved substitute teacher applicants:

Reda Baghdadi Kip Beasley Alvin Bush Thomas Dahab Kristen Dardia Eman Elwakkad Faeda Faddoul Rayham Jalil Michele McGrogan Danery Metrio Deborah Nicola Megalena Sandoval Kevin Scillia

04-B248. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Kara Leslie Lorraine Jackman

Page 53 04/28/04 Jisely Sanchez Anila Shehu

04-B249. Approved compensation for teachers of School No. 18 working in the GEPA, ASK4 Saturday Program on February 28 and March 6, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $1,320.00:

Janice Basilicato Julie Conway Phyllis Dorino Debbie Grossman Josephine Heberling Jessica Rentas Marguerite Sullivan Jill Cisneros Amanda Konecny Nicole Hampson

04-B250. Approved compensation for Ada Fernandez for clerical responsibilities associated with the development and submission of a new Whole School Reform model, revision of the Three Year Operational Plan and work papers associated with the revised budget, beginning February through June 2004, at an amount not to exceed $115.00.

04-B251. Approved compensation for Gail Marrone for clerical responsibilities associated with the development and submission of a new Whole School Reform model, revision of the Three Year Operational Plan and work papers associated with the revised budget, beginning February through June 2004, at an amount not to exceed $115.00.

04-B252. Approved submission of appropriate form for emergent hiring:

Stephen Trongone Eleanor Sico

04-B253. Approved submission of appropriate form for emergent hiring for Ray Nelson.

04-B254. Approved change in status for Sandra Smith, from permanent substitute to teacher, retroactive to February 3, 2004, at a salary of $40,100.00.

04-B255. Approved compensation for Joseph Meyers as teacher in the Rebound Program at John F. Kennedy High School, for 18 weeks, at an amount not to exceed $2,376.00.

04-B256. Approved compensation for staff participating in 18 hours of creative curriculum training, at an amount not to exceed $9,000.00:

Bahiah Abuhartieh Joanne Barca Luis Cedano Kelly Dacey Maryanne Ibrahim Renee LaRaia Mirca Martinez Joan McKeon Kathleen Petrow Maylin Rodriguez Stella Sawicki Michelle Triolo

04-B257. Approved compensation for preschool disabilities teachers participating in CPR training on May 5, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $1,500.00:

Bahiah Abuhartieh Joanne Barca Luis Cedano Kelly Dacey Maryanne Ibrahim Renee LaRaia

Page 54 04/28/04 Mirca Martinez Joan McKeon Kathleen Petrow Maylin Rodriguez Stella Sawicki Michelle Triolo

04-B258. Approved compensation for preschool disabilities instructional assistants participating in CPR training on May 5, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $1,100.00:

Alicia Addison Simone Bailey Yris Borges Rosa Cabrera Vilma Cosme Zoila Echevarry Kathy Fouskey Winnifred Johnson Vernon Kline Ines Lopez Arleen Mosley Elizabeth Perraro Miguel Rubino Edgar Ruiz

04-B259. Approved processing payment of non-accumulated sick days for Carol Cammon, less $100 substitute per diem pay, from March 3, 2004 through April 16, 2004.

04-B260. Approved payment of unused accumulated vacation days, as per policy, to the following employee:

Name Days Lydia Sanchez 5

04-B261. Approved change in status for Shawn Hackett, from permanent substitute to teacher, retroactive to January 1, 2004, at a salary of $40,100.00.

04-B262. Approved compensation for staff writing the Three Year Technology Plan, from February 25 through March 30, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $2,970.00:

Christopher Graber Pamela Davis Jennifer Schmid Joe Borchard Joseph Serico

04-B263. Approved submission of appropriate form for emergent hiring:

Natasha Allen Vesile Demir Nancy Francisco Rosemary Munoz Carmen Reyes Fitzroy Swaby Emilia Tapia Cassandra Kearney

04-B264. Approved submission of appropriate form for emergent hiring:

Sanjay Mistry Tamica Ruffin Anila Shehu Pradeep Varghese

04-B265. Approved payment of unused accumulated vacation days, as per policy, to the following employee:

Name Days Berdie Gregory 10

Page 55 04/28/04

04-B266. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Tracy Stewart Tchr./No. 13 2/24/04

04-B267. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Joshua Ramos Perm. Sub./IHS $22,000 3/15/04

04-B268. Approved retaining the firm of Schwartz, Simon, Edelstein, Celso & Kessler of Florham Park, New Jersey as special counsel handling certain school legal matters and litigation, at an amount not to exceed $30,000.00.

04-B269. Approved hiring Lori Hanes & Associates as a consultant to conduct evaluation assessments for students as per their IEP, at an amount not to exceed $2,100.00.

04-B270. Approved adjustment to salaries of staff based on equivalency credits, retroactive to February 1, 2004:

Name To Level/Step Shirley Arturo $26,503 (II, 8) Rose Baldwin $36,555 (II, 13) Joseph Bashkanji $27,528 (IV, 2) June Cade $29,751 (IV, 7) Jessica Campos $27,928 (IV, 4) Elizabeth Cascio $29,510 (V, 5) Colin Diane $23,466 (II, 6) Rosie Cox $28,940 (IV, 6) Verraina Freeman $30,321 (V, 7) Aida Mella $36,555 (II, 13) Carol Rosario $25,898 (III, 4) Frank Pajuelo $24,066 (II, 5) Lucy Pratt $38,812 (III, 13) Tamara Robinson $29,510 (V, 6) Tania Rodriguez $28,698 (V, 5) Doris Santamaria $27,315 (II, 9) Angela Washington $41,068 (IV, 13)

04-B271. Approved transfers:

Name From To Eff. Date Omar Khalil Tchr./BUILD Acad. Tchr./JFKHS 3/8/04

David Guy Tchr./JFKHS Tchr./BUILD Acad. 3/8/04

04-B272. Approved appointment of coaches for the Eastside High School Spring Sports Program, beginning March 1 through May 26, 2004:

Name Position Christopher Ziolkowski Head Softball

Page 56 04/28/04 Biagio Confortti Assistant Softball Ivan Piedra Assistant Baseball Rosemary Gerry Assistant Softball Yudelki Nunez Assistant Tennis (Boys) Sharon Allen Head Track & Field (Girls) Richard Flores Assistant Track & Field Nina Jones Assistant Track & Field MariaElena Colon Head Volleyball (Boys) Denise Bernarducci Assistant Volleyball Giovanni Ormaeche Assistant Volleyball

04-B273. Approved compensation for staff participating in an all academy meeting on February 24, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $792.00:

Henry Baker Angelo Bonora Ann Bradbury Pamela Davis Stan Karp Laurie Kelly Maria Matano Harry Mount Mary Prendergrast Ted Schoening Debbie Slota Steve Temple

04-B274. Approved compensation for Myra Winters for participating in an all academy meeting on February 24, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $33.00.

04-B275. Approved adjustment to salaries of staff based on equivalency credits, retroactive to February 1, 2004:

Name To Level/Step Nicole Almazi $43,300 (BA+30, 5) Raysa Boyer $42,700 (BA+30, 3) Jannette Daniels $79,234 (BA+30, 17) Bree DeMolli $42,400 (BA+30, 2) Vanessa Guzman $43,000 (BA+30, 4) Christine Johnson $45,000 (BA+30, 8) Joseph Sandy $43,600 (BA+30, 6) Coretta Lawrence $43,000 (BA+30, 4) Lourdes Rodriguez $42,700 (BA+30, 3) Nicole Musarra $42,700 (BA+30, 3) Sharon Reibel $43,900 (BA+30, 7) Maria Squeo $46,155 (BA+30, 9) Kenneth Sumter $45,000 (BA+30, 8) Christopher Toomey $42,700 (BA+30, 3) Margaret Culmone $44,500 (MA, 4) Christine Damasceno $44,500 (MA, 4) Michael Fede $45,100 (MA, 6) Mary McGuire $80,734 (MA, 17) Sarah Moody $44,500 (MA, 4) Anne Marie Mule $44,500 (MA, 4) Deanna Mullica $45,400 (MA, 7) Phyllis Pedersen $43,900 (MA, 2) Reina Rodriguez $43,900 (MA, 2) Erin Taylor $44,800 (MA, 5) Tania Wagner $45,400 (MA, 7)

Page 57 04/28/04 Christopher Ziolkowski $45,400 (MA, 7) Rima Bandeli $45,660 (MA+30, 3) Maria Castro $50,726 (MA+30, 10) Yelena Gould $45,060 (MA+30, 1) Patricia Haliskoe $82,194 (MA+30, 17) Kathleen Hanrahan $62,644 (MA+30, 14) Mary McAdam $46,260 (MA+30, 5) Nabas Susan $46,260 (MA+30, 5) Michael Renn $47,960 (MA+30, 8) Barbara Rugys $82,194 (MA+30, 17) Renee Thigpen $45,360 (MA+30, 2) Raymond Gonzalez $71,938 (BMA30, 1) Kenneth McDaniel $73,389 (AMA30, 2)

04-B276. Approved leaves of absence:

Name Location Eff. Date Type Carmen Clinton Tchr./No. 3 1/1/04-3/12/04 Fam./Med.

Lori Crudup Tchr./No. 27 4/7/04-6/30/04 Fam./Med.

Mabel Estrada Tchr./No. 24 3/23/04-6/30/04 Fam./Mat.

Jennifer Freid Tchr./No. 27 6/1/04-6/30/04 Fam./Mat.

Elizabeth Geron V.P./No. 5 2/25/04-2/27/04 Fam./Med.

Anthony Kozakiewicz Tchr./ECE 3/8/04-5/31/04 Family 6/1/04-6/30/04 Personal

Robert Lamming Tchr./EHS 2/27/04-4/16/04 Medical

Sylvia Ligon Tchr./EHS 3/1/04-3/19/04 Fam./Med.

Maria Lorenzi Tchr./No. 21 4/1/04-6/30/04 Fam./Med.

Carmen Marchetti Tchr./No. 15 9/1/03-6/30/04 Ext. Medical

Michelle Marino Tchr./No. 9 1/13/04-6/30/04 Fam./Med.

Sarah Moody Tchr./No. 6 2/12/04-2/20/04 Fam./Med.

Alma Morel Tchr./IHS 4/29/04-6/30/04 Fam./Mat.

Ida Odio Tchr./No. 8 3/22/04-6/30/04 Fam./Med.

Jacqueline Ondimu Tchr./No. 5 3/8/04-5/21/04 Fam./Mat.

Alexandra Vidal Tchr./No. 2 3/26/04-5/7/04 Fam./Mat.

Christina Hernandez Tchr./MLK 3/22/04-6/30/04 Personal 9/1/04-6/30/05

Lauren Scott Tchr./MLK 11/1/03-12/31/03 Fam./Med.

Page 58 04/28/04 1/1/04-2/29/04 Extended

04-B277. Approved leaves of absence:

Name Location Eff. Date Type Jeanette Aquilar Fd. Serv./NSW 1/10/04-2/20/04 Fam./Mat.

Hazella Brown Inst. Asst./No. 25 2/19/04-2/29/04 Fam./Med.

Lysa Catello Inst. Asst./DAS 3/4/04-3/19/04 Fam./Mat.

Cynthia Liggians Sec./No. 14 5/1/04-8/13/04 Fam./Med.

Hannah Secka Inst. Asst./No. 21 2/11/04-2/17/04 Fam./Mat.

Michael Somers Maint./Old No. 5 1/21/04-3/19/04 Fam./Med.

04-B278. Approved returning staff to active employment:

Name Location Eff. Date Nazmul Chowdhury Tchr./No. 2 2/18/04

Yamira Infante Tchr./No. 21 2/2/04

Sarah Moody Tchr./No. 6 2/23/04

04-B279. Approved returning staff to active employment:

Name Location Eff. Date Jeanette Aguilar Fd. Serv./NSW 2/23/04

LaJuana Credle Inst. Asst./ULA 2/19/04

Marilyn Exum Fd. Serv./Cafe. Serv. 2/9/04

Sarah Johnson Fd. Serv./Cafe. Serv. 2/1/04

Lymaris Santana Inst. Asst./No. 27 2/9/04

Hannah Secka Inst. Asst./No. 21 2/18/04

Marjorie White Inst. Asst./JFKHS 2/9/04

04-B280. Accepted resignations/retirements:

Name Location Eff. Date Type Dennis Aurilia Guid. Cnslr./JFKHS 7/1/04 Retirement

Louise Capra Tchr./No. 5 7/1/04 Retirement

Francisco Colon Tchr./No. 2 3/8/04 Resignation

Donna Kropp Tchr./RPHS 7/1/04 Retirement

Page 59 04/28/04 Kathleen Mustica Tchr./No. 15 7/1/04 Retirement

Ina Rubin Soc. Wrkr./No. 6 1/12/04 Resignation

Frances Spencer Tchr./No. 7 7/1/04 Retirement

Daisy Taylor Principal/No. 7 9/1/04 Retirement

Margaret Timmons Supv./Spec. Prog. 4/1/04 Retirement

Ethel White Dept. Head/EHS 5/1/04 Retirement

04-B281. Accepted retirements:

Name Location Eff. Date Type Michael Cortese Maint./Old No. 5 2/1/04 Dis. Retirement

Jessie Kelly Fd. Serv./Cafe. Serv. 3/1/04 Retirement

Mazie Kendrick Inst. Asst./No. 15 7/1/04 Retirement

Patrick Mone Sec. Guard/RPHS 4/1/04 Retirement

04-B282. Approved returning Jose Soto to Sector Supervisor in the Maintenance Department at the previous salary and stipend as of August 2003.

04-B283. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Michele Krill Tchr./No. 24 $41,000 3/15/04

04-B284. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Crystal Twitty Tchr./No. 26 $42,700 4/1/04

04-B285. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Eff. Date Candis Jacobs HSCL/No. 26 3/22/04

04-B286. Approved appointment of Ana Goenaga as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B287. Approved appointment of Ysabel Rodriguez as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B288. Approved appointment of Alba Rosario as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B289. Approved changing funding source for Kathleen Rumsby, from part time teacher to part time examiner account, effective September 2003.

Page 60 04/28/04 04-B290. Approved compensation for Karen Bernard for additional work pertaining to district Character Education activities, from the roll-over grant account 2A, in an amount not to exceed $6,000.00.

04-B291. Approved change in status for Theresa Hipkins, from permanent substitute to teacher, retroactive to February 1, 2004, at a salary of $40,100.00.

04-B292. Approved compensation for Larry Hurtado to work as the Star-W Generation Y Teacher at School No. 10, beginning March 5 through August 31, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $6,600.00.

04-B293. Approved changing funding source for David Ferrier, Site Coordinator for the PEP-21 program, effective March 1, 2004.

04-B294. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Robert Lamming Tchr./EHS 4/30/04

04-B295. Approved appointment of cafeteria monitors at $6.75 per hour, effective March 15, 2004:

Lourdes Duran Maria Salazar Marie Ugliono

04-B296. Approved compensation for Karyn Pabst to serve on the Professional Development Committee, from January 1 through June 30, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $1,485.00.

04-B297. Approved compensation for Keisha Campbell for work performed in the summer LEAP Program, in the amount of $1,056.00.

04-B298. Approved payment of unused accumulated vacation days, as per policy, to the following employee:

Name Days Doreen Piscitelli 10

04-B299. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Antonio Albino Willie Davis Lourdes Duran Adriana Gil Ky Kim Jessica Ortiz Ismelda Paulino Aida Saez Maria Salazar Marie Ugliono Sharyn Wills

04-B300. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Rhonda Morelli Tchr./No. 28 3/5/04

04-B301. Approved change in status for Kevin Carty, from permanent substitute to teacher, retroactive to January 1, 2004, at a salary of $40,100.00.

Page 61 04/28/04

04-B302. Approved change in status for Michael Forbes, from permanent substitute to teacher, retroactive to March 3, 2004, at a salary of $40,100.00.

04-B303. Approved change in status for Ivette Soto, from permanent substitute to teacher, retroactive to February 1, 2004, at a salary of $40,100.00.

04-B304. Approved payment of staff serving as mentors in the Provisional Route Program:

Evelyn Parker Luana Randolph Lidia Zerquera Kenneth Eatman Sharon Allen Ralph Colognori Maureen Gourley Patricia Valenzano

04-B305. Approved substitute teacher applicants:

Ana Bezerra Damein Callum Jhiree Davis David Dragani Sobejda Escoricia Kaisha Green Miranda McKenzie Jean Medley Ysaac Mendoza Abu Musa Tromel Nichols Fidel Rounds Victor Tolo Melissa Warbuton

04-B306. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

William Brezsnyak Rosalyn Delgado Effieh Denson Hassam Fahmy Glenn Fernan Jenny Formentin Shantisha Hynes Dorothy Jeffress Alisa Love Adalberto Perez Stephanie Powell Hadiya Razzak Edward Roberts Tatanisha Rodgers Saban Serin Sakeenah Stephens Benjamin Veal William Visotsky Ana Williams Toufik Zouabi

04-B307. Approved removing Mariel Cedeno from the attendance location 99 (Curriculum and Instruction) in the Edumet System.

04-B308. Approved increment withholding for Sandord Kushner for the 2004-2005 school year.

04-B309. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Thomas Walker Security Guard/JFKHS 3/5/04

04-B310. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Shamika Burgess Cafe. Monitor/No. 7 3/5/04

Page 62 04/28/04 04-B311. Approved termination of substitute teachers, effective March 4, 2004:

Juan Arroyo Tiffany Crandol Alvin Dixon Adrianna Gallardo Nancy Garrity Alberto Gonzalez Raymond Ippolito Robert Jackson Rodney Laney Jeffrey Lenosky Shaheed Mohammad Christian Monroe Bryan Morris Keri Omeara Madeline Rosa Alphonso Smith Sonia Torres Teresa Yarborough Irving Watkins Joselin Zapata

04-B312. Approved appointment of Faaizah Davis as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B313. Approved retaining David B. Rubin, Esq., to represent Michael Azzara in the matter of Control Building Services, Inc., at an hourly rate of $150.00, and increase the initial cap by $10,000, at an amount not to exceed $20,000.00.

04-B314. Approved hiring Lori Hanes & Associates as a consultant to conduct re- evaluations and initial evaluations for students as per their IEP, at an amount not to exceed $12,325.00.

04-B315. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Edita Collado Nesreen Harb Gloria Rodriguez Rhonda Rollins Fior Romero

04-B316. Approved processing payment of non-accumulated sick days for Carol Cammon, less $100 substitute per diem pay, from February 20, 2004 through April 16, 2004.

04-B317. Approved processing payment of non-accumulated sick days for Lizzie Walton, less $100 substitute per diem pay, from February 13, 2004 through March 31, 2004.

04-B318. Approved processing payment of accumulated days for retired employees and position abolished:

Name No. of Days Jessie Kelly 80 Dennis Mulvihill 25.5 Stanley Rogers 41.5

04-B319. Accepted resignations of part time employees:

Name Location Eff. Date Laura Bunting Cafe. Monitor/No. 21 2/27/04

Alicia Moczo Cafe. Monitor/No. 24 12/22/03

Page 63 04/28/04 Julia Vasquez Fd. Serv. Sub. 2/9/04

Carmen Reyes Fd. Serv. Sub. 2/23/04

Jennifer Dickson HSCL/No. 28 3/3/04

Ruby Howell HSCL/No. 26 3/4/04

Antasha Morgan Lead Monitor/JFKHS 12/22/03

Darlene Torres SCL/MLK 12/22/03

04-B320. Approved internal transfer for Akmed Kamara, from resource teacher at School No. 25 to Grade 2 teacher, effective April 10, 2004.

04-B321. Approved payment of stipends for John F. Kennedy High School staff for coaching in the Winter Sports Program, for the period ending March 15, 2004:

Name Position Frank Peragallo Basketball (Boys) Carmella Crawford Basketball (Girls) Joseph Almazi Asst. Wrestling

04-B322. Approved adjustment to salaries of staff based on equivalency credits, retroactive to February 1, 2004:

Name To Level/Step Nancy Correa $43,300 (BA+30, 5) Nicole Lovell $45,100 (MA, 6) Kathy Rogers $55,838 (MA+30, 13)

04-B323. Approved payment of unused accumulated vacation days, as per policy, to the following employee:

Name Days Katori Walton 5

04-B324. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Aubrey Johnson Acting Principal/No. 12 $82,000 3/22/04

04-B325. Approved retaining the firm of Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP as special counsel to handle the recovery of funds to the Internal Audit of Facilities Contracting, in the amount of $150.00 per hour.

04-B326. Approved compensation for staff participating in Leadership I Meetings on March 4, 18, April 7, and May 6, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $2,376.00:

Henry Baker Angelo Bonora Ann Bradbury Loretta Kelly Harry Mount Debra Slota

Page 64 04/28/04

04-B327. Approved compensation for Loretta Kelly for participating in Leadership II Meetings on March 8, 15, and April 26, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $297.00.

04-B328. Approved compensation for staff at Paterson Academy for Urban Leadership working in the after school program, at an amount not to exceed $7,128.00:

Caroline Ewan Joan Bivins

04-B329. Approved compensation for staff at Paterson Academy for Urban Leadership working in the after school program, at an amount not to exceed $7,452.00:

Darryl Rogers Leonard Miller Nick Johnson

04-B330. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Marisol Bosquez Sch. Comm. Liaison/ $10.50/hr. 4/21/04 Office of Stud. Attend. $25 travel stipend

04-B331. Approved appointment of Jim Trisuzzi as Softball Coach for John F. Kennedy High School, beginning March 7 through June 15, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $3,991.00.

04-B332. Approved substitute teacher applicants:

Joseph Cleary Samantha Emery Edward Garner Graciela Enriquez John Johnson Khadjah Jones Jared MacDonald Michael Smith

04-B333. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Jacob Adopley Diana Girald Ebenzer Nukpenzah Marilyn Olivo

04-B334. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Steven State Cafe. Monitor/No. 26 3/10/04

04-B335. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Flor Canelos Cafe. Monitor/Fd. Serv. Dept. 3/11/04

04-B336. Approved compensation for Abraham Figueroa to ride the bus for the Alternative Middle School, beginning March through June 2004, at an amount not to exceed $759.00.

Page 65 04/28/04 04-B337. Approved appointment of Agustina Rosario as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B338. Approved appointment of Edwin Guzman as Assistant Baseball Coach for John F. Kennedy High School, at an amount not to exceed $3,991.00.

04-B339. Approved payment of staff serving as mentors in the Provisional Route Program:

Frances Atieh Georganna Bradley Judith VanHook

04-B340. Approved compensation for Joseph DeChellis of Joey Dee Entertainment to provide entertainment for the Paterson Public School District Retirement Dinner on May 25, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $400.00.

04-B341. Approved compensation for Ivonne Maldonado as part time examiner and proctor according to the procedures and guidelines of GED Testing funds for the 2003-2004 school year, at an amount not to exceed $4,290.00.

04-B342. Approved compensation for instructional and support staff according to the procedures and guidelines of Adult Basic Skills (ABE) funds, for the 2003- 2004 school year:

Barbara Cheon Lorraine DeAngelo Paul Fontanella Enrique Lorenzo Dora Martinez Sylwia Mokry Gloria Nazario Gloria Salinas Candido Vilas

04-B343. Approved compensation for instructional and support staff according to the procedures and guidelines of Adult Basic Skills (ABE) funds, for the 2003- 2004 school year:

Lynn Tarant Susan Ronga

04-B344. Approved compensation for Maria Lorenzo as support staff according to the procedures and guidelines of Adult Basic Skills (ABE) funds, for the 2003-2004 school year, at an amount not to exceed $207.00.

04-B345. Approved payment of unused accumulated vacation days, as per policy, to the following employee:

Name Days Yomara Sanchez 10

04-B346. Approved appointment of Mamie Canty as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B347. Approved appointment of Nan Leggett as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B348. Approved appointment of Brenda Medley as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

Page 66 04/28/04

04-B349. Approved appointment of cafeteria monitors at $6.75 per hour, effective March 15, 2004:

Antonio Albino Edita Collado Nesreen Harb Gloria Rodriguez Fior Romero Aida Saez

04-B350. Approved appointment of Tony Reed as 1st Assistant Boys Basketball Coach at Eastside High School for the 2003-2004 school year, at an amount not to exceed $5,280.00.

04-B351. Approved compensation for Bonnie Statuto as nurse for kindergarten registration at School No. 17, at an amount not to exceed $660.00.

04-B352. Approved compensation for Keith Kelley as Special Olympics Coach at S.T.A.R.S. Academy, at an amount not to exceed $460.00.

04-B353. Approved compensation for Angeline Piper as Special Olympics Coach at S.T.A.R.S. Academy, at an amount not to exceed $660.00.

04-B354. Approved compensation for Robin Tanguay as Special Olympics Coach at S.T.A.R.S. Academy, at an amount not to exceed $460.00.

04-B355. Approved hiring Bruce Manel of Lifeshot Medical and Security Training as a consultant to provide CPR training on May 5, 2004 to staff of preschool disabilities classes, at an amount not to exceed $1,500.00.

04-B356. Approved change in title and salary adjustment for Maria Sandoval to Confidential Secretary, Grade B, Step 3, due to the nature of the work of the Ombudsperson/Affirmative Action Office, in the amount of $4,469.00.

04-B357. Approved compensation for Catarina Cefalo as support staff according to the procedures and guidelines of Adult High School funds, for the 2003- 2004 school year, at an amount not to exceed $1,000.00.

04-B358. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Stephanie Osher Karen Krickow Paula McMurran Michael McMollam Richard Lovson

04-B359. Approved placing Kevin Hanly on administrative leave with pay, effective March 15, 2004.

04-B360. Approved change in status for Roman Ruderman, from permanent substitute to teacher, retroactive to November 12, 2003, at a salary of $40,100.00.

04-B361. Approved appointment of Carmela Ramirez as Food Service Substitute, at a salary of $6.75 per hour.

04-B362. Approved payment of stipend to PEA secretaries for completing ten hours of training according to the contract, in the sum of $200.00:

Page 67 04/28/04

Nancy Alessio Brenda Alford Mamie Andrews Elizabeth Aponte Madelyn Ayende Marjorie Balough Lilliane Banchs Renee Barrise Maleni Beauchamp Yohanna Bencosme Angela Birchenough Esther Boone Lisa Brown Ruth Canales Lorraine Marie Capria Josephine Carnemolla Doreen Carter-Stephens Mariel Cedeno Lucia Cefalo Carmen M. Chalas Beverly Chestnut Martha Clark Maria Cobian Tairis Colon Dwaune Conley Latonya Cook Lakeysha Cooper Selma Copeland Rona Cosby Aleida Cruz Laurie Culhane Sylvia Davis Trudy De Fenza Lucy C. De Jesus Carmen Del Rio Janet R. Deleon Ilia Delgado Cresie Diaz Thelma Jean Dickson Donna Dolan Rae Ann Dowd Taffalyn Sharp Drakeford Debra Drobenak Valerie Durham Pricilla Durkin Camille A. Easton Yvonne Ellerbee Maribel Ellison Mindy Espinal Yolanda Estrada Claretta Fabor Zenaida Fantauzzi Valeria Felicetta Ada Fernandez Judith Fragoso Charnay Dana Francis Maribel Franco Valerie Freeman Darlene Gibson Alethia Gilmore Karen Glover Iraida Gonzalez Zoraida M. Gonzalez Elizabeth Gonzalez-Flores Francine Grady Monica Griffin Yuvelky Guerrero Rosaicela M. Gutierrez Phyllis Hamer Donna Harper Sandra Harrison Rozia D. Hodges Joely Holmes Shevonn Holmes Alicia Hughes Joyce Huntington Margaret Hutman Carol Iannacone Virginia Jackson Jadira James Sarah James Nelida Jenkins Patricia Jones Edith Kaplan Suzanne Kaprelian Renee Lee Cynthia Liggians Florence Liguori Yomari Liz Elva Lopez Mary Mahar Ivonne Maldonado Maria Maldonado-Cousins Donna Marino April Martin Debra Martinez Janet Matta Sharolyn McCombs-Revoal Buena McDaniel Loretta C. McElveen Lorraine Melvan Marion Mesick Theresa Miller Chaneses Morgan Candida Ortiz Elizabeth Ortiz

Page 68 04/28/04 Marta E. Ortiz Rafaela Ortiz Sylvia Ortiz Loida Pagan Fiordaliza Pallero Betty Jean Pellettere Ibelka Pena Sharice Pierce Sheryl Pilgrim Fidelina Racanelli Omaira Ramirez Jussara Ramos Rosa Richardson Evette Rivera Tamara Rivera Yolanda Rivera Mirta Rivero Migdalia Robledo Gloria M. Robles Ana Rodriguez Luz Rodriguez Carmen Roman Gail Rooney Ruth Rosado Elisa Ruiz Rosario Sanchez Charlotte Sanderson Maria Sandoval Maria Santiago Responda Sims Kathy Spada Monique Stamps Deborah Sumter Nina Thomas Sabrina Tigney-Gerald Elizabeth Tobdzic Rose Marie Tomasini Marilyn Torres Daisy Valdivia Vivian Valentin Dahiana L. Vargas Danielle Volino Patricia Wade Sande Washington Lenora Watson Minnie White Bonnie K. Williams Nikki Williams Tamara Williams Tanya Williams Yvonne Williams Jacqueline Younge Ana Zuniga Sylvia Bacote Aurea Berrios Patricia Bornstein Dory Canto Jacquelin Casiano-Joseph Felicita Colon Annette Deprospo Marybel Echevarria Joyce Everett Vianel Fabian Jennifer Foster Patricia Granados Beverly Ann Hayek Linda Herald Bernice Jacobs Kim Johnson Donna Jones Rosina Lara Lillian Lopez Sandra A. McDuffie Shawnee S. McLeod Leslie Renee Merkerson Michele Moya Maria Munera Sharon Nealy Barbara Novajoski Libby Ove Sandra Polk Gloria Ramos Cynthia Robinson Jannilka Roca Annette Rodriguez Maria Rosado Nancy Schumann Debra L. Shipp Flor Simpson Dorothy Surita Santina Susino Gail Vanrensalier Ann Varela Sheila Williams Haifa Zahroon

04-B363. Approved compensation for Lisa Weaver for increased responsibilities dealing with unemployment matters in the district, effective July 1, 2003, in the amount of $750.00.

Page 69 04/28/04 04-B364. Approved transfer:

Name From To Eff. Date Barbara Walker Acct./Bus. Off. Acct./Facilities 4/1/04

04-B365. Approved hiring Cynthia Forster of North Jersey Media Group, Inc. as a consultant to create and distribute instructional activities for middle and high school students to be published by The Record, beginning May 4 through June 22, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $5,000.00.

04-B366. Approved compensation for Child Study Team members to conduct CST evaluations to address backlog of cases, from April 1 through June 30, 2004:

Luisa Alcala M. Barbi Seymour Burack Luana Bruce Maria Castro Morten Feigenbaum Wally Gould Anthony Kozackiewicz Marni Mendez Aquila Noble N. Pearce Kathy Sheber Michelle Bocchini Paul Tillman Maura Tuite David Urban Ron Wilson Marisol Afanador Richard Garcia H. Pallesen Linda Wood Shivoyne Trim Diane Steiner James Albert Cesar Cabrera Beverly Ferris Lorenzo Puertas I. Fidel Gregory Davis Joyce Zappulla Alex Tahbaz Rosie Brown Linda Cenicola Arnez Crockett Melanie Glassman Ada Delgado Christine Bussy Elizabeth Hook Deborah Ajimobi Silvia Miller Mary Riley Kay Sofer Tanisha Tuck Alicia VanDiver Jacqueline Vicioso Iris Weitzman Victoria Wozniak Roni Avidon Orlando Caballero Vivian Campos Nellie Chuy Arlena Clayton Ailyn Costa Marlo Cozart Diana Diaz Juanita Hameed Isabella Handcock Jennie Rivera Barry Rosser Kristin Sobieski Dale VanRensalier Miriam Vega Roseann Brizan Louella Cheatham Danelle Perrone Kathy Rogers Ina Rubin Monet Woods Carolyn Piccollo Marilyn Calamita Marie Cioletti Karen Collins Mary Crooms Elaina Gaitanis Fred Royster Tara Scarborough Cynthia Sisco G. Stefanacci Jane Zimel Ray Baldino

Page 70 04/28/04 Barbara Brooks Liliane Bzdek Rita Cabani Nina DelCollo Joseph Gennarelli Jose Gonzalez Constance Harrell Judith Kalmanson Carol King JoAnn Laudi Michele Lowenstein Aristide Salvati Lois Scott

04-B367. Approved change in status for Janelle Giblin, from permanent substitute to teacher, retroactive to March 19, 2004, at a salary of $40,100.00.

04-B368. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Juan Arroyo Belkys Olivo Berlinda Ballestas Janet Class Marisol Bosquez Sylvia Rodgers

04-B369. Accepted resignations of part time employees:

Name Location Eff. Date Julia Mantilla Cafe. Monitor/No. 24 2/23/04

Olimpia Rodriguez Cafe. Monitor/No. 5 3/5/04

Blanca Quionones Cafe. Monitor/No. 5 3/5/04

Dania Nieves Cafe. Monitor/No. 26 3/15/04

Rana Abudaqa Cafe. Monitor/No. 9 2/2/04

04-B370. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Ida Robles Cafe. Monitor/No. 11 3/23/04

04-B371. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Sameer Abedrabbo Linburn Farquharson Aaron Goar Leticia Nicho Vicki Osorio Claribel Sepulveda Bernard Williams Kathleen Valle Jeffrey Vanesselstine

04-B372. Approved payment of unused accumulated vacation days, as per policy, to the following employee:

Name Days Michael Krause 10

04-B373. Approved withholding three days pay from Alexander Osorio, School Community Program Coordinator, effective March 24, 2004.

Page 71 04/28/04 04-B374. Approved transfer:

Name From To Eff. Date Kendrik Nelson Inst. Asst./No. 4 Inst. Asst./No. 6 3/29/04

04-B375. Approved ending the one year salary continuation for Frank Van Santen for his workers compensation claim as of March 25, 2004.

04-B376. Approved ending the one year salary continuation for Joseph Puluse for his workers compensation claim as of March 27, 2004.

04-B377. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Frank Barber Tchr./BUILD Academy 3/23/04

04-B378. Approved appointment:

Name Assignment/Location Salary Eff. Date Lavinia Smith Sch. Comm. Liaison/ $10.50/hr. 4/21/04 Office of Stud. Attend. $25 travel stipend

04-B379. Approved compensation for after school teacher tutors in the Bilingual Program under No Child Left Behind, Title III funds, at an amount not to exceed $66,000.00:

Maylin Rodriguez Nazmul Chowdhury Lidia Zerquera Daniel Grullon Maria Pena Yolanda Ravelo Kathy Esquiche Luis Valentin Aida Munoz Maria Ross Wilma Sanchez Raid AbuGosh Jorge Chuy Cynthia Flores Maria Milligan Nelida Alicea Orlando Berrios Evelio Chavez Eloy Huamanchumo Anthony Menzel Adalila Sibrian

04-B380. Approved retaining the firm of Frank & York, LLC, as special counsel to handle immigration matters, at an amount not to exceed $15,000.00.

04-B381. Approved submission of appropriate forms for emergent hiring:

Michele Krill Alba Rosario Maria Rosa

04-B382. Suspension of employee, with pay.

04-B383. Approved modifying the status of Robert Conforth from Substitute Principal at Montclair State University Pre-Collegiate Teaching Academy to Interim Principal, for assuming full principal duties after three months in the position, retroactive to March 15, 2004.

Page 72 04/28/04 04-B385. Approved substitute teacher applicants:

Joe Almazi Adefunke Adenuga Nancy Alexander Marian Anderson Glenn Anton Nicholas Balogh Elizabeth Baroh Matilda Baye Quatarra Benjamin Carlita Bishop Jennifer Bligh Lanyka Brown Jeannette Butler David Callegari Christopher Carius Kimberly Carmichael Herminia Cedeno Cindy Cerdas Danny Cerdas Karen Cheng Lee Chong Carla Christiana Lorraine Cobb Ken Cofer Kimberly Colon Scott Cook Mariluz Sela Jerry Davis Myrian Ferreira Fitzgerald Fraser Gregory Frett Yudy Garcia Peggy Goldwire Luz Gomez Jenifres Mella George Granados Sherrell Grier Brian Greaves Aureichen Graziani William Haibach Sharell Hammond Robert Hauser James Hepperle Morales Humberto Ruslana Ilkiv Mona Ismail Christian Jimenez Elizabeth Jimenez Larry Jo-Yen-Kiam Tara Kane Joan Kegerize Michael Kerrigan Zoriana Kornienko Tesla LaManna Paul Latsounas Clara Lavergne William Lawson Matia Lee Joseph Liu Allam Maha Lina Makao Eustachio Manzo Vincent Marasco Catherine Martinez Jason Martinez Calvin Maxwell Kathleen McGarrity Roxanne Lewko Theodore Mehlig Angela Meluso Wendy Miller Jeffrey Morrow Evelyn Murphy Laverne Nealy Katherine Nestico Jamie Nicholls Steven O’Donnell Tamasha Owens Sharon Parkes Elvia Perez Sharon Pezzano Bart Picheo Sherri Pollard Kimberly Allen Joanne Prieto Blanca Ramos Carolyn Reer Gerald Remy Jacqueline Remy Carlos Rendon Ruth Resnick Graciela Reyes Nicole Reynolds Deborah Robinson Rory Rogel Nicole Richardson Tori Richardson Eldiberto Ruiz Brian Roth Valerie Rutan Wilkin Santana Kristin Scarnaty Terence Sheffield Nadia Silvera

Page 73 04/28/04 Sandra Storey Jacqueline Borum Dorene Thornton Laura Thorson Kelly Tiernan Maranda Torres Waleska Torres Robert Vadala Michael Varga Doris Benavides Nancy Ware Melanie Whitaker Marianna White Russel Wiebe Charlotte Williams Victor Yabidi

04-B386. Approved creating a position control number for a LEAP Intervention Tutor at School No. 2.

04-B387. Approved sabbatical leaves of absence:

Name Location Eff. Date Michelle James V.P./No. 28 9/1/04-1/31/05

Cedenia McCollum Tchr./No. 1 9/1/04-6/30/05

04-B388. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Lucille Ellis Cafe. Wrkr./Fd. Serv. Dept. 3/30/04

04-B389. Suspension of employee, with pay.

04-B390. Approved hiring Danielle Basu as a student worker in the Communications Academy, replacing a student who relocated, to produce television programming after school at the John F. Kennedy Television Studio, including district news shows, Board of Education meetings and other events, at an amount not to exceed $300.00.

04-B391. Approved compensation for staff participating in creative curriculum training, at an amount not to exceed $2,100.00:

Alicia Addison Simone Bailey Yris Borges Rosa Carera Vilma Cosme Zoila Echevarry Kathy Fouskey Winnifred Johnson Vernon Kline Ines Lopez Arleen Mosley Elizabeth Pezzaro Miguel Rubino Edgar Ruiz

04-B392. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Kenyada Mitchell Tchr./EHS 4/1/04

04-B393. Approved processing payment of non-accumulated sick days for Gregory Davis, less $100 substitute per diem pay, from April 5, 2004 through June 30, 2004.

Page 74 04/28/04 04-B394. Approved hiring Education Based Services, Inc. as a consultant to provide speech/language specialist services to students as per their IEP’s, from April 1 through June 15, 2004, at an amount not to exceed $60,000.00.

04-B395. Approved termination:

Name Location Eff. Date Ini Obot Tchr./MPACT Acad. 4/5/04

04-B396. Approved processing payment of accumulated days for retired and terminated employees:

Name No. of Days Louis Milone 12 Patrick Mone 14.5 Margaret Timmons 90 Thomas Walker 14.5

04-B397. Approved processing payment of non-accumulated sick days for Karen Snyder, less $100 substitute per diem pay, from March 24, 2004 through April 23, 2004.

04-B398. Approved designating Zaida Padilla as the Affirmative Action Officer to coordinate and implement the District’s efforts to provide equality in educational programs, effective April 2004.

04-B399. Approved the designation of the Affirmative Action Team to carry out the state mandate as required by state law and regulation:

Zaida Padilla Eileen Shafer Jacqueline Jones Brenda Patterson Iris Currie Judith Albornoz Donald Merachnick Ed Leppert John Sico Michael Azzara

OTHER

04-B217. Approved by the Superintendent's use of his veto power to appoint the firm of Watson Rice LLP to prepare the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and to perform the annual audit for the 2003-2004 school year, at a fee of $84,870.00.

04-B230. Approved by the Superintendent's use of his veto power to enter into an agreement with various qualified entities to participate in 457(b) optional deferral plans for eligible district employees.

04-B384. Approved by the Superintendent's use of his veto power to ratify the lease agreement and riders between Xpertal LLC for the Boris Kroll site, dated May 1, 2002.

04-B400. Approved the list of dates, times and locations for monthly Board of Education Meetings for the 2004-2005 school year:

Page 75 04/28/04 DATE MEETING LOCATION July 14, 2004 Workshop Rosa Parks High School July 21, 2004 Regular Rosa Parks High School August 11, 2004 Workshop Eastside High School August 18, 2004 Regular Eastside High School September 8, 2004 Workshop Eastside High School September 15, 2004 Regular Eastside High School October 6, 2004 Workshop Eastside High School October 13, 2004 Regular Eastside High School November 3, 2004 Workshop Eastside High School November 10, 2004 Regular Eastside High School December 8, 2004 Workshop Eastside High School December 15, 2004 Regular Eastside High School January 5, 2005 Workshop John F. Kennedy High School January 12, 2005 Regular John F. Kennedy High School February 2, 2005 Workshop John F. Kennedy High School February 9, 2005 Regular John F. Kennedy High School March 9, 2005 Workshop John F. Kennedy High School March 16, 2005 Regular John F. Kennedy High School April 25, 2005 Workshop John F. Kennedy High School *April 27, 2005 Organization John F. Kennedy High School May 11, 2005 Workshop Rosa Parks High School May 18, 2005 Regular Rosa Parks High School June 8, 2005 Workshop Rosa Parks High School June 15, 2005 Regular Rosa Parks High School TIME: Workshop Meeting - 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting - 7:00 p.m. *Organization Meeting - 6:30 p.m

PUBLIC COMMENTS

It was moved by Comm. Sayegh, seconded by Comm. Vergara that the Public Comments portion of the meeting be opened. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

Comm. Hodges: Let me just say three minutes per person, five minutes per organization. I do want to say one thing before you start. I strongly encourage parents to bring their concerns to the Board when they have gone through the process and have not found the appropriate assistance or solutions to their concerns. But I strongly hope that as part of that process you recognize the importance of your home school council for assistance prior to coming to the Board. Please state your name and address.

Ms. Virtudes Sanchez: Good evening, I am Virtudes Sanchez, 421 Ellison Street. I am running for City Council in the 5th Ward. I would like to congratulate all the winners in the past Board of Education elections. We just started the sweeping changes in the Board of Education and we have to continue with sweeping changes in the 5th Ward. Remember, May 11th vote 3A – Sanchez and help me with sweeping changes. We have crime and prostitution and we have to clean the streets. Thank you and good night.

Ms. Waheeda Muhammed: God’s name good evening. Waheeda Muhammed, 127 Rosa Parks Boulevard. I just want to say I am really delighted to find that we have Jonathan Hodges and William Kline as our Chair and Vice Chair. I really expect great

Page 76 04/28/04 things to happen and I am really pleased that you have come together to make Paterson better for our children. That’s the bottom line. We have to be here for our children. So, Commissioners, I congratulate those that just got here. We want you to hit the pavement running. We want you to do what you promised you were going to do and we are here to hold you to that. But the other thing I want to know is why these doors are locked. I had to go all the way around this building to get in here. We paid big money, I’m sure, to get that beautiful ramp put up out there. If I was in a wheelchair and rolled up that ramp, I couldn’t get in the building. Can somebody tell me why these doors are locked? I understand 911 and all that but are we that afraid that we can’t let parents in the building? Somebody had better tell me what is happening. Why couldn’t we get in this building?

Dr. Duroy: We will look into it. You are correct that doors of that nature certainly at a public meeting need to be open and we will try to get that straightened out in the next couple of minutes.

Comm. Sayegh: There is another activity – back-to-school night.

Ms. Muhammed: Right, but we couldn’t get in the front doors here. We had to come all the way around and thank God Sister Jones was back there and let us in that side door. But I want you to look into that. I am really expecting big things from you guys and I really appreciate your putting yourselves out there on the line because we know we can’t always be polite but we are going to do our best to help you to do what you came to do. Thank you very much.

Ms. Irene Sterling: Good evening, my name is Irene Sterling and I am Executive Director of the Paterson Education Fund. I am here tonight on two issues. I’m sorry because I usually come with paper for you all and I don’t have it tonight because it got to me too late to make copies. But I would urge you all to go out and buy this month’s issue of New Jersey Monthly magazine because there is a report in New Jersey Monthly on schools in New Jersey who are making strong progress. It is very exciting to see that two Paterson schools, School No. 9 and School No. 18, are on that list. It ought to make every one of us happy. Yes, that’s the article. It should be a beacon for all of us. We know that all our kids can achieve and this particular situation just points out the work that has been done and the work that all of us can do. Secondly, Paterson Education Fund in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision is holding a community forum on Monday evening, May 24th from 6:00-9:00 at Passaic County Community College. At that event, we will be discussing the book Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges. It talks about Ruby Bridges’ experience as the first child in New Orleans to integrate the public schools of New Orleans. We want to talk about it because it is through the eyes of our children and through their acts of courage in seeking an education that all of us are included in the educational process. It was African American families who really pushed on this country, pushed on its’ conscience, and pushed on its’ actions to make quality education available for all children. The fight that we are fighting right now to implement fully the Abbott vs. Burke decision is simply another historical part of that decision. What we want through this discussion on May 24th is to really draw the lines clearly. It is significant that Ruby Bridges’ last name is Bridges because bridges are what we need to have everybody understand. Not just African Americans should celebrate this but all of us should celebrate this because it is on the bridge that Ruby Bridges created for us that we are educating children with disabilities, that we are educating women to an equal status, and that we are educating immigrant children regardless of where they come from. We need to really celebrate that and work on how we are going to continue to move that forward until all of the Paterson Public Schools are on that list of outstanding

Page 77 04/28/04 achievement in the State of New Jersey. Thank you very much and I hope I see you on the 24th.

Comm. Sayegh: May I just ask Ms. Sterling to restate the time of this community forum on May 24th?

Ms. Sterling: Sure.

Comm. Taylor: Where?

Comm. Sayegh: Passaic County Community College.

Ms. Sterling: I passed out those for you and there are some over there. Everyone who is on our mailing list will get one and it will be on public channels. You will hate us before it’s over. It is Monday evening, May 24th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Passaic County Community College.

Mr. Leo Renaud: Good evening, my name is Leo Renaud and I have been here before. I would like to say that I got a commitment from some of the new Board members and some of the old ones to see what we can do about getting the playgrounds open in the summertime for 50 days in Paterson. I think it is a good thing to do and I think it would help our children to get them out of the way of the crime and drugs, and have some people monitoring them in the summer. It’s good education and I think I would like to ask you all to consider it and work on it. I am going to try to get some financing for the job if you will all work together in that effort. I am getting a little mixed up here because this is just talking without a speech written. Anyway, I would like to remind all of you that our first goal is the children and their education. Let’s all work together towards that end of doing a good job for the educational system in Paterson. Thank you very much.

Comm. Hodges: Mr. Renaud, which playgrounds were you talking about?

Mr. Renaud: Well, originally I was trying to get the Dale Avenue School playground open but I would like to see all of the school playgrounds in the City of Paterson open like they were 40 or 50 years ago. Some of the old-timers may remember that when we were children we went to the playgrounds and we had people there organizing the play in the playgrounds and helping us. Some of us even had help learning to spell and to read while we were in the playground. We were off the streets. There is a lot we can do to improve the educational system and recreation is a good educational tool for children.

Dr. Duroy: Mr. Renaud, if you would just follow up with my office, we will have a conversation this week or early next week.

Mr. Renaud: I am willing to do anything to accomplish this mission. I will go anywhere and talk to anyone. I will be getting in touch with you. Thank you very much.

Comm. Hodges: Doctor, I will request that you make some sort of report in about two weeks.

Dr. Duroy: Sure, at the May meeting.

Comm. Hodges: Right, at the May meeting so that we can find out what transpired from your conversation.

Page 78 04/28/04 Mr. Renaud: I’m sorry but I am a little hard of hearing.

Comm. Hodges: I requested a report to the Board at the next meeting as to the results of your conversation and Dr. Duroy’s review of the situation.

Mr. Renaud: I am having difficulty hearing you but I understand. I talked to some of the Board members and they are in agreement that we should try to work something out in that area.

Comm. Kline: Mr. President, I concur with Mr. Renaud. As one of the young fellows on the team, I can recall the playgrounds being open in Paterson. I can also say that when the playgrounds were open in Paterson, our youth in the city from kindergarten through high school had opportunities to be involved in arts & crafts, sports, and whatever. So I would suggest that the representatives from the Board of Recreation also be included in that meeting that you may have so we can get coordination.

Comm. Hodges: I don’t want a lot of conversation but Mr. Sayegh.

Comm. Sayegh: I certainly concur with Mr. Kline and Mr. Renaud. But I also don’t want to discourage any child in our city from going to the library. That should also be an option as well.

Ms. Norma Gonzalez: Good evening Dr. Duroy and Board members. My name is Norma Gonzalez and I am a concerned parent. I have heard a lot of negativity about Dr. Duroy and I have not heard anything positive about him and it’s not right. He has done a lot of things good for the district. He has done a lot of things good for the children as well. We had School No. 1 in Ridgefield Park and he brought School No. 1 back into the district. He has also built new schools for our children. We have academies that he has built for our children. He has also helped expand classes. We have an annual report that Dr. Duroy has done everything for the school district and no one has spoken about this. I don’t think it’s fair. I don’t think it’s right that we can criticize him but not talk about the good things and the positive things that he has done for our children. He has brought technology to the schools. He has also helped with the science. He has also helped build new academies for our children. In the past, when we had the Superintendent we didn’t see any of these new things. Dr. Duroy comes in and we see all these things that he has done for us and for our children. And he has furthered our children’s education and I don’t see anyone speaking in that behalf. I don’t think it is fair at all. I don’t think it’s fair that we can dump on him and not see all the good things that he has done for the district and for our children. He has educated our children.

Comm. Hodges: Please conclude your remarks, ma’am, because your time has almost expired.

Ms. Gonzalez: Excuse me.

Comm. Hodges: Your time has expired. Would you please conclude your remarks?

Ms. Gonzalez: Okay. I am not the only one that feels this way. We have parents that feel the same way, too. We feel that he should be credited for all the things that he has done for the district. He has worked very hard to help our children to further their education and parents as well. His door is always open and that is my concern tonight.

Page 79 04/28/04 Ms. Aracelys Cruz: Good evening everyone. My name is Aracelys Cruz and I live at 474 Park Avenue, Paterson, New Jersey. I am here to let Dr. Duroy know how I as well as many other residents and parents of Paterson feel about all of his accomplishments as Chief Administrator of the Paterson Public Schools. We believe that the education that our children receive at School No. 30 Martin Luther King has been an excellent, productive and rewarding one. When it came time for my children to attend high school, I admit that I was very nervous. However, thanks to Dr. Duroy, my children were not simply left to decide between Eastside and John F. Kennedy High School. Thanks to Dr. Duroy, my children as well as other qualified children of Paterson have the opportunity to choose to attend many different academies. Our children can take advantage of these opportunities because of the education and foresight of our Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Duroy. Dr. Duroy and members of the Board, I have seen outstanding changes with respect to our Paterson schools. These changes have occurred during Dr. Duroy’s tenure and will have a lasting impact on our students. As a parent and an educator, I am grateful for all the hard work that you have done for our children Dr. Duroy. I am so proud to be affiliated with the Paterson School District. Thank you.

Ms. Rosa Mejia: Good evening everyone. My name is Rosa Mejia and I live at 906 East 22nd Street, Paterson, New Jersey. I am the president of the 8th grade class of 2004 at Martin Luther King, Jr. School. I am here to let Dr. Duroy know how I feel about his situation. Eyes have not seen and ears have not heard all the wonderful things that happened in the Paterson School District in the last five years. New academies opened. There are about 2,700 students enrolled in the academies and doing well. The dropout rate is the lowest in more than 20 years. The test scores are improving. New schools are being built. Dr. Duroy is always visible and accessible and has demonstrated initiative and goodwill. But for political reasons and hidden agendas, many attempt to destroy the reputation of a good and decent man. This is wrong. If you care to see and care to hear, admit that you have been unjust and unfair with Dr. Duroy. Few people can accomplish in five years as much as Dr. Duroy did. Thank you for listening.

Mr. Vigi Cruz: Good evening everyone. My name is Vigi Cruz and I am an 8th grade student in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School. From what I understand, Dr. Duroy has brought to our school district educational possibilities beyond our expectations. His support and careful planning has made it possible for myself and other students to attend schools of higher learning beyond our expectations. Because of his support, I am able to not only plan but also look forward to a bright future. Thank you, Dr. Duroy.

Ms. Elvina Reese Hart: Good evening, my name is Elvina Reese Hart and I am a parent at School No. 12 in Paterson. Along with me is Karen Mayo-Hogan and we are parents of School No. 12 who had the opportunity to attend the 16th Annual In-Service Training Conference for parents and community. Knowledge is power and when parents attend these conferences and workshops, they enable us to return to our districts and impart knowledge to parents who were not able to attend. We will be sharing this valuable information at our next home school council meeting on May 16, 2004. I also hold the first vice president position at School No. 12. We hope to see more parents next year attend this conference. Not only do you get information, but you also have a spiritual enlightening. We would like to thank Ms. Taliaferro and her staff for addressing this information and passing it out to the parents of Paterson. Thank you.

Mr. Errol Kerr: Good evening, Errol Kerr, Paterson. Let me first congratulate you, Mr. President, on your elevation this evening to the presidency of the School Board. I truly

Page 80 04/28/04 believe that you are deserving. You have worked very hard and you have challenged a lot of us. You have challenged the school system, you have challenged the administration, and I believe that with God’s help you will do a wonderful job for the children of Paterson. I also would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the newly elected Board members, Andre Sayegh and Daniel Vergara, and the reelected Al Moody. I believe you fought well and you are all deserving of your positions on the Board. I would also like to say thank you to the many Patersonians who came out and supported my candidacy. In this race, I was the unknown quantity. However, you have braved the weather and you have committed to me your trust. Although I was not elected, I will certainly wage my war for the development of education from this platform. Mr. President, I have just one issue this evening although I am not sure you will be able to answer this question this evening. Comm. Kline spoke about it. Economics are very important to the development of a community. Paterson as a community has been hemorrhaging for years. The School Board is almost the GE of our community in terms of its power to employ and the amount of money that it controls. Can I get a list of the minority contractors that does business with the state? I believe we need to know because we need to be able to maximize the utility of our dollar so that our community can truly be developed to its fullest potential. So we need to harness every dollar and put it back in Paterson so that it can generate employment and so on and so forth.

Comm. Hodges: Please conclude your remarks.

Mr. Kerr: I will just stop right here. I want to thank you and God bless you all.

Comm. Hodges: Before you leave, Mr. Azzara, can we answer his question in terms of a list?

Mr. Azzara: We can get the information.

Comm. Hodges: In about a week or so?

Mr. Azzara: I will have to talk to my purchasing supervisor as far as all the contractors, but within a few weeks.

Comm. Taylor: We need it, too.

Comm. Hodges: We will get back to you within a few weeks.

Comm. Taylor: The Board needs it also.

Ms. Crystal Vergara: Crystal Vergara, 249 5th Avenue, Paterson, New Jersey. I would like to congratulate the candidates that have been elected for the School Board. I would like to thank the voters for giving them the support and for making this possible. If it weren’t for the voters that came out to vote, these three candidates would not be up on the Board right now. I would like to say to Mr. Andre Sayegh, Mr. Moody and Mr. Vergara that I know you are going to try your best for us children. Thank you to the girls and for the military scout troupe that put this banner together. Thank you for coming and giving the support. I know the candidates tried their best during this election so you deserve what you need. Thank you.

Ms. Kathleen Rivas: Good evening, my name is Kathleen Rivas and I would like to congratulate Mr. Moody, Mr. Sayegh and, most honorably, Mr. Daniel Vergara, our

Page 81 04/28/04 scout leader. To Mr. V, I would like to thank you for giving me advice through my difficult times. Thank you, congratulations to all, and have a good evening.

Ms. Lillian Gates: Hello, my name is Lillian Gates and I live at 37 Ryle Avenue, Paterson. I want to congratulate the Commissioners Mr. Moody, Mr. Sayegh, and especially Mr. V. I am sure you will do a good job. Thank you for the girl scouts that came out here. Thank you and have a nice day.

Mrs. Green: Good evening Dr. Duroy and Board members. Congratulations to those elected candidates. We are the elected home school council of Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Complex. I am home school council president and I am here along with Mrs. Johnson-Secretary, Mrs. Pierce-Treasurer, and Mrs. Beamon-Second Treasurer. Unfortunately, our vice president wasn’t able to make it. We are here tonight to request that at least four Board members along with a member from the Marilyn J. Morheuser Center meet with us and the administrators at MLK to discuss bylaws and other issues that we feel are very important. We need an unbiased group of people right away because they are not accepting the bylaws. So I would really like this addressed with Board members along with the administration.

Comm. Hodges: Who is not accepting the bylaws?

Mrs. Green: The school.

Comm. Hodges: The school is not accepting the bylaws that you voted on?

Mrs. Green: Yes, that we voted upon in a parent meeting. So I would appreciate if this is discussed at the school and not here tonight. Thank you.

Ms. Aracelys Cruz: Excuse me, Mrs. Green, I am here. I am working with these members, too. I’m sorry but she forgot me.

Mrs. Green: I’m sorry. I apologize. This is Ms. Cruz, our elected translator for our home school council. Can we possibly have this meeting before May 12th?

Comm. Vergara: To Mrs. Green, was this brought to the attention of the Assistant Superintendent?

Mrs. Green: Yes, it was sort of. How does that sound? I have also sent out materials to the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent.

Comm. Hodges: Mr. Vergara, Dr. Duroy, myself and the Assistant Superintendent of MLK are somewhat aware of the situation. This meeting appears to be an additional request over and above what has apparently not been resolved.

Mrs. Green: Yes.

Comm. Hodges: So I will make myself available as soon as I possibly can to meet with you.

Comm. Vergara: I would also like to take part.

Comm. Hodges: We will try to sit down and arrange that a little bit later.

Mrs. Green: Thank you so much. Mr. Santiago said he would also come.

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Ms. Shirley Torres: Good evening, my name is Shirley Torres and I live at 139 North 7th Street. I had some other issue I wanted to discuss today but I am going to leave it for next time. I want to know why Mr. Roberto, the Principal from John F. Kennedy High School, did not let me see my child in her classroom just to observe her class. He did not let me in to see my child and I want to know why he didn’t let me.

Dr. Duroy: I would ask that you meet with Mrs. Lyde. She had a death in the family so she is not here but Mr. Sevano can take the information and we will follow up with Mrs. Lyde who is the coordinator of the high schools, which includes Kennedy High School.

Comm. Hodges: Dr. Duroy, before that, can we state what the district’s policy is regarding parents seeing their children?

Dr. Duroy: Again, I think the specifics of the issue would need to be discussed through the assistant first and then we will be able to understand where the policy lies and whether there is a violation or not.

Ms. Torres: I have the policy here. I think it’s No Child Left Behind and I think it was on page 43. I didn’t bring it up here because I forgot but it is right here and I can go get it. It says that we are allowed to observe our child in the classroom as long as we don’t disturb the child and the teacher. All I asked was to let me observe my child. I didn’t go to work that day to do an IEP on my other child and I wanted to observe my child – just a peek and that’s it.

Dr. Duroy: Again, I would ask that you meet with Mr. Sevano. We will get the information and we will do a follow-up with you on that.

Ms. Torres: I have one more thing to say. I did speak to Mrs. Lyde and she spoke to me on the phone. I asked her if there was a law that I could not observe my child and she said it goes by each school because they have a policy in the school. It’s not a law – just a policy for each school that they make up their own self in their school.

Dr. Duroy: Again, we will do a follow-up with you.

Ms. Torres: Okay.

Comm. Hodges: Dr. Duroy, I do think that we need to clearly state that we are in compliance with the No Child Left Behind statute, which gives parents access to their children. Without commenting on this parent’s particular case, I believe that is the policy of the district.

Dr. Duroy: Again, No Child Left Behind is regulation so that is why we need to look at it very closely.

Mr. Charles Ferrer: Charles Ferrer, Friends of the Paterson Falls. I am requesting five minutes. Through the Chair to Mr. Azzara, during the campaign I heard so many things about the figure on what came out in the audit. Can you clarify for the public what was the amount that they said was misappropriated?

Mr. Azzara: Well, the audit actually questioned about $20 million in expenditures but the audit is ongoing. So I do not have a specific figure to state but we are continuing to look at other vendors.

Page 83 04/28/04 Mr. Ferrer: I heard during some of the debates that it was a figure of about $1.3 million but from what you just said it sounds like a little more than that. We need to be clear on what we are putting out there.

Mr. Azzara: There is no definitive number at this time.

Mr. Ferrer: So if there is no definitive number then…

Mr. Azzara: The initial audit questioned about $20 million. We are still even looking into pinning down a number in that audit and we are extending the audit to other vendors.

Mr. Ferrer: It’s good to hear that we are extending it to other vendors because I am concerned. I am here on a very simple note. It is my understanding that many students on the high school level and possibly on the elementary level are being honored to attend different enrichment programs throughout the United States and some abroad. The problem that our students are running into is the financial end of it. Princeton has a program. I know one young lady has been honored to attend a program abroad that will take her to France. A former student of mine has been selected to go out to Silicone Valley in California for a technology forum. They are concerned that they might not be able to go because they don’t have the $2,000 or $3,000. Are there any programs or funds within the district to assist our students? If so, how might they obtain that information? I always seem to somehow find interesting articles and we were talking about legal bills. I found an interesting article in the Hoboken Reporter dated April 18, 2004. It talks about a journalist who won first place for his news writings. It speaks about a law firm that has done work in this district, Kenny & Florio, and how an email that they sent to the Board attorney for the school district somehow got into someone else’s hands. It broke down who should be appointed to the presidency of the Hoboken Board of Education, the vice presidency, who should receive the no-bid contracts, and it also implied that the current Mayor was aware of this email. I find it strange because it made me wonder if things of this nature could have been going on in this district since they had a hand in here and since there were other attorneys that have been dismissed. So it is very prudent that we pay attention to what is going on with our legal bills. We are finding out that some of the lawyers that we are using here have a little history with them that we need to be concerned about. So I just wanted to bring that to the Board’s attention. We need to very much stay on top of what we are doing with our legal representation. We should have enough in house that we don’t need outsiders. If we are going to use outsiders, let’s make sure that they are squeaky clean. Thank you very much.

Ms. Malikah Abdullah: Good evening, Malikah Abdullah. I would like to say congratulations to Dr. Hodges for having been chosen as President of the Board, and to Mr. Kline for having been chosen Vice President. I think they are excellent choices. They have proven track records. Once again, Paterson has an opportunity to have this Board do the right thing for its children. I would also like to thank the voters that supported me in the election and that supported Mr. Kerr. We did not win individually but Paterson’s children won and for that I would like to…

Comm. Hodges: Excuse me. We are trying to hear the speaker at the podium.

Ms. Abdullah: I was saying that I would like to thank the voters for supporting me and Mr. Kerr. We did not win as individuals but Paterson’s children did win in having chosen Mr. Sayegh to sit on that School Board. He is a dedicated person. I have gotten to know him as a dedicated person and an energetic person, and I think he brings a lot of

Page 84 04/28/04 expertise and will be able to work with the Board to try to make things better for Paterson’s children. Again, thank you very much.

Mr. Hani Awadallah: Good evening, I am Hani Awadallah, President of the Arab- American Civic Organization in Paterson. I would like to congratulate the new Commissioners and to congratulate Dr. Hodges and Mr. Kline for their election to the leadership positions. In this vein, I would also like to thank all the candidates who ran for the position of Commissioner in Paterson. All of them have shown up for our forum, the Arab-American Civic Organization Forum, which we held in South Paterson Public Library. I really think that shows leadership and responsibility. We really don’t leave any community left in Paterson because I really hope and I know that you look for all the children in Paterson regardless of where they are and which community they come from. That showed leadership and I thank you for that. I also would like to thank you tonight for the constructive meeting we had tonight. It really was very refreshing to have this meeting.

Comm. Sayegh: It’s not over yet.

Mr. Awadallah: But we can respect each other and deal with each other in a very civil, respectful manner and that was the tone tonight. I congratulate all of you ladies and gentlemen tonight because the children in Paterson look for you. You are their idol for leadership, whether you like it or not. You are seen on television. You are seen here. You are seen by the whole public and we want you to be the good examples for Paterson and the children in Paterson. Ladies and gentlemen, we heard a lot about the 4-5 ratio, the 5-4 ratio, and the 6-3 ratio. I really think the children in Paterson do not really care for that. They want you to be 9-0 for the children of Paterson. All of you for the children of Paterson! That is what we hope we are really going to be seeing in the coming months and years. Thank you.

Ms. Pat Lynch: Good evening, my name is Pat Lynch and I have worked in the public school system of Paterson for more than 22 years serving in Martin Luther King School. I rise to tell you that over those years, I have seen the negative and the positive side of our school district. I am pleased to say that I favor a sound, progressive school district. Indeed I appreciate what Dr. Duroy has contributed to the positive growth of the Paterson School District. We may have different views but let us not judge one without proof. Let us rise above narrow-minded, selfish interests. Thank you.

Mr. Eric Lowe: Good evening everyone, my name is Eric Lowe, Paterson, New Jersey. First of all, let me start out by congratulating Mr. Moody, Mr. Sayegh and Mr. Vergara. I also want to thank the citizens of Paterson that came out and actually voted in this election. It has been my message that it is a new Paterson under new leadership. Tonight you guys started out very great and I have to commend you all on your professionalism and your ability to work together in the best interest of our children. There are children here tonight who I hope over the next year will continue to come to these meetings and see progress being made in their best interest. Don’t let tonight’s inauguration of a new regime be the only chance you have to prove yourself to our children because we private citizens are watching. You guys and ladies are elected to represent 27,000 children that can no longer be allowed to fail. We have to equip our children with the necessary tools to compete tomorrow. So I hope that tonight is not just a mirror that will be cracked and tomorrow you go back to the way it was. We can no longer allow that to happen. We have to move this district forward. We have to move our children forward for a better Paterson. It is a new Paterson under new leadership. Let’s get the job done. Thank you and have a good night.

Page 85 04/28/04 Mr. Gus Penaranda: Good evening, Gus Penaranda. I would also like to congratulate Comm. Moody, Comm. Sayegh and Comm. Vergara on your wins. I also must repeat some of the words of Mr. Eric Lowe. It has been a very, very impressive first meeting of this new gathering and I hope it continues on through the rest of the year. I also would like to thank Comm. Kline, Comm. Sayegh and former Comm. Anna Maria Vancheri who came up to William Paterson University on Friday, April 23rd for the Middle School Model UN Program where 175 of Paterson’s children from five different schools competed. Everyone that was there was very impressed with what the children were able to produce as far as negotiating, communicating, presenting, and finding resolutions and solutions to the world’s problems even though it was only for a day. This program is now going on its 5th year and I have provided information to several Board members. I hope that in the coming year for the 2005 Middle School Model UN Program we can work together with William Paterson University. The program has grown exponentially in three years and working together with the Paterson School Board will help alleviate some of the problems that come with holding so many kids who want to compete with each other. If you read the front page of the Saturday Herald, that is all I need. That is the gratification that I know that I am working for a better tomorrow and it’s the kids. If you listen to what they say and if you give them what they need, they will amaze you every single time. I just want to end by talking about another program that is going on. The internship program from Silk City Academy students just received a phone call where 800 kids have already scheduled to take the tours in 2005. 800! These interns are trying to do whatever they can to pass on Paterson’s history and not just the history that we read in textbooks, but the history of the people who made the city what it is today. They are from all walks of life and these kids are doing it because we gave them the information, we gave them the freedom to present it as they wanted to, and they are doing this. I just hope that the Board of Education can work together with the teachers and instructors in these programs now and in 2005 make them the best because we are the best here. We have the best kids in this district and working together with these programs and other programs that are being sponsored by other organizations and other community leaders can expand also. Thank you very much.

Ms. Vivian English: Good evening, Vivian English, 499 15th Avenue, Paterson, New Jersey. I came up this evening to congratulate the Board members that were elected in this last election. I am disappointed that I didn’t win because I would like to be up there to help to make this a better system in Paterson. But I believe that you will all do what is right for the children. I hope that you do keep the children in mind first and foremost throughout this term that you have as a Board member. The reason I ran was because I am a concerned citizen of Paterson and I care for these children. I will continue to speak out for things that I believe are right. I want to be able to watch these meetings and see individuals there. During the campaign there was a lot of talk about the 5th vote and I don’t believe we need that. I think you should all be individuals and make up your own minds. Make the right decisions for these children and don’t have your own personal agendas. So we will be watching and speaking out. I am not a person that likes to really be the center of attraction but I ran because I thought it was the right thing to do. I am not somebody that has to be up here every month but when I believe I need to be here at this microphone I will be. So, congratulations again and thank you.

Mr. Kenneth Perkins: Good evening, Kenneth Perkins, Paterson. First of all, I would like to congratulate Mr. Al Moody, Daniel Vergara and a special congrats go to Andre who I believe is a man of integrity. I believe that he will always in the future, in the past, and in the present voice his own opinion. I don’t see Andre as being a 5th vote but I see Andre as being a man that can stand up and say what he strongly believes. He is a man of strong integrity. I am glad to see Dr. Hodges and Mr. Kline as Chair and Co- Chair but there is a flip side to that also. I would love to see Ms. Willa Mae Taylor as

Page 86 04/28/04 Chairperson or Co-Chairperson because combined she and Mr. Kline have close to or over 80 years of experience in the Paterson Board of Education. I believe that under her tutelage… You know what I am trying to say.

Comm. Sayegh: They are going to get you Kenneth.

Mr. Perkins: I’m just tired right now. But you know where I am going with that. I believe that under her direction… How’s that?

Comm. Hodges: May I quote you on that daily?

Mr. Perkins: Strike that. She will definitely do the right thing. I just wish all of you former and present Board members and those newly elected God Speed. I know you will do the right thing. Mitch, I must say that you and I have been friends for umpteen years and I wish you God Speed on your new appointment to the Sheriff’s Department. Like someone said last night, everyone has a past and no one should hold their past against them. Everyone has a chance to redeem themselves. I have a past and my past isn’t squeaky clean either. With that, Mitch, I say to you again that I wish you God Speed.

Ms. Aracelys Cruz translated the following remarks of Mr. Lopez: He is worried about the bilingual department. The bilingual department right now needs help. We need teachers and instructional assistants because our children are growing 100% for him. He needs someone working with our teachers and instructional assistants for our children. Right now the teacher certification for the bilingual department is a little bit hard. Please help those bilingual parents to get their certification to qualify for the job. He is proud of his daughter at Martin Luther King. He needs somebody to go over there and help with the problem. He is looking for the resolution with the problem that Martin Luther King is having right now. We need more people over there to speak Spanish for the benefits to our children. We can’t have a difference with any kids. If you are in the school, you have to work for everybody. When he says bilingual students, he is also talking about Arabic, Chinese and other foreign languages. He is talking about for everyone. Good night.

Dr. Duroy: The point that was raised is one that really more recently as a district we are looking at very, very closely. About three weeks ago, we had representatives from the Department of Education in Trenton and they reminded us that Paterson schools represent the largest single bilingual program in the State of New Jersey. So we have the largest number of English language learners concentration in the State of New Jersey. We have more than Newark and Jersey City, which are both larger districts than Paterson. So our responsibility and the role and the challenge that we have are certainly ones that we are looking at very closely. We recognize that students that come to us that are limited English have to receive that transition into the English and they are, in fact, mainstream. I want to emphasize that we are looking at that very closely and we are going to be seeing more of a focus, which is what Mr. Lopez is saying that the program needs. So we will be looking at the curriculum and where necessary we will be expanding the staff and modifying and adjusting the curriculum so that we can get our students that are limited English speaking to succeed.

Ms. Aracelys Cruz translated the following remarks of Mr. Lopez: He asked me to read this letter in English. I want to apologize to my Spanish parents.

Comm. Taylor: It sounded to me as if he was trying to ask for some help for interpretation for parents to understand in the school also and not just for the children.

Page 87 04/28/04 It sounded as if he needed the grownups to get help in English so that they could communicate better with the schools so that they can help their children. That is what it sounded like to me but I don’t know. But we will check on it.

Comm. Vergara: From what I see here and being a bilingual parent myself, I think he is looking for more literature on what is going on within the school system and what is going on with the district. There are many children that are suffering right now throughout the school district due to the language barrier. So maybe we can find a way to study that a little more.

Comm. Santiago: Don’t leave because during Other Business I am going to answer them what they need to know.

Ms. Anna Taliaferro: Good evening. First let me say congratulations to you Mr. Kline for hanging in there and coming back and offering your services again. I believe that service is the rent we all pay for living and you have done a fine job. Your history denotes that. Jonathan, to you my dear friend, you have an awesome task in front of you and it is not about being popular but it’s about right. I do believe that you are one of the best Board members this community has ever invested in. I know that you are going to set the tone so that we can get about the business of educating children. I listened to the young people come to this microphone tonight and I am always impressed by young people who will speak from their heart and not by pre-scripted notes written for them. That is a disgrace because now you are exploiting children and that cannot be tolerated. Andre, I have just come to know you in the last couple of months. I believe that Paterson did the right thing when they elected you to this Board. I look for you to display the same talent you have displayed both as an alternate and as a community leader. I am hearing a lot of good things about you in the community and if you slip up, I am going to deal with you.

Comm. Sayegh: I hear you.

Ms. Taliaferro: But congratulations. You are to be commended for being willing to serve your community. That is a lot. Some people claim they want to serve and don’t serve but you are not one of them I hope. Mr. Vergara, you and Mr. Moody have a chance to redeem yourselves. You have now been reelected to the Board. I am asking you on behalf of many people who approach me all the time to keep the youngsters in mind. No one who has been elected to this Board is anointed or appointed. You are elected and I hope that your heart will guide you and honestly take a look at what is not going on in Paterson, New Jersey. I just returned from a city in our country named Virginia Beach. When I looked at their school system down there, we are way behind and it is the most diverse city in the nation. If those youngsters can make it, then we ought to be able to. Yes, the statistic just came out. Virginia Beach is one of the most diverse cities in the country and they have thousands of children in their school system. So what is wrong with us that we can’t get our kids to perform on a high basis? I believe in what Dr. Tyrone Powers said, who was one of our speakers at the conference. The Frankenstein theory is a cautionary theory. It says to us that whatever we create we will eventually confront. We will confront those youngsters in our community. We will confront them in our businesses. We will confront those youngsters in our hospitals. So if we miseducate them or uneducated them, we will be in the same kind of trouble we are now. It is not enough for us to talk about how many kids did not drop out because we know the statistics up on Marshall Street and it ain’t funny. So I am cautioning you to be mindful that we are talking about our children and not about robots moving around. Also, you need to keep in mind, and I’ll wrap it up…

Page 88 04/28/04 Comm. Hodges: I was going to say that anxiously.

Ms. Taliaferro: I said you were my friend. Remember and keep this in mind. If we fail the children, we are all responsible. We need to take it from henceforth. Failure is not an option. Thank you.

Ms. Rosa Saez: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Rosa Saez and my congratulations to all the new Board members. I work for the public school system in Paterson and I work with the children at the 14th Avenue Early Learning Center. I was listening to the parent about needing help in the other language but I am a witness that the principal of my school is sending information in both languages, Spanish and English. I know in Paterson there are a lot of Hispanic countries. We have Columbians, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans so the information goes out to the parents in Spanish and English. Sometimes we see the folders of the children that their papers come back and the parents didn’t even look at the papers. So we have to tell the children and send them in a special envelope to the parents again and tell them to please give this to your father and make sure they get to their hands. Sometimes we have to tell the parents they are responsible to look in the children’s book bags to find out what is the information that the schools are sending to them. Sometimes they are very important things that we are letting the parents know - any different issues and any different things that the child needs in the school to get to inform the parents. It’s just that we have to let them know that they have to be behind whatever is in the book bag of the children. Thank you.

Ms. Katrina Alexander: Good evening, my name is Katrina Alexander. I just want to say something. I am sitting here in this meeting and I don’t mean any offense. I am tired of hearing bilingual, bilingual. If they understand what the word bilingual means, it means every language that is in our school system. We have Spanish, we have Arabic, we have Bengali, and we have a lot of people who speak a lot of different languages. They need to stop saying bilingual is Spanish. Bilingual is every language that we have and they need to understand that. The parents need to understand that bilingual does not mean just Spanish. Any language that is not English is bilingual. Thank you.

It was moved by Comm. Vergara, seconded by Comm. Taylor that the Public Comments portion of the meeting be closed. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried.

OTHER BUSINESS

Board Member Comments

Comm. Atallo: I have just a couple of points, Mr. President, and I shall be brief. First of all, a number of parents mentioned the parent conference that was held this month in April and I want to publicly commend Anna Taliaferro and her very professional staff for doing an outstanding job. I personally attended the conference and I had an opportunity to participate in a number of the workshops. I just want to thank Anna Taliaferro and her professional staff for a very informative conference. Hundreds of Paterson parents participated and it was a very good event. That needed to be noted and I want to thank the other Board members who took the time to join us. I mentioned the review of legal services and bills. This is very critical and I will just briefly highlight it again. In my opinion, I believe it is out of control and excessive. We talk about Leave No Child Behind but apparently in Paterson there has been a policy adopted of Leave No Lawyer Behind and that needs to be addressed. I was out in Newark at that administrative law hearing, which in my opinion shouldn’t have even been going on. But I am not going to

Page 89 04/28/04 comment on that because I think it’s wrong. You have two law firms being paid and billing time, plus in house counsel. I think that is inappropriate and excessive. When these bills start coming in, I think we have to review them very judiciously as to what is going on as far as legal bills. I have to walk past the legal department to pick up my mail and every time I walk past that department I see more and more lawyers. That is a concern and that needs to be addressed by this Board with the Commissioner’s office. Before the meeting this evening we were addressed by an Assistant Commissioner and we want to thank her for attending. We were handed a one-page piece of paper with five state statutes dealing with state operation. These statutes were written, I believe, in 1989. It talks about what happens in a school district with a takeover in the third year and the fourth year. But ladies and gentlemen, we are in the 13th year of state takeover and the time has come for this Board to come together. There is one issue we all need to come together on. We always say we are for the children and for the taxpayers, but our next issue should be uniting to move to local control. This is very important. When we look at all the problems that have occurred, they have all occurred under the purview of the State District Superintendent. All the problems that have occurred regarding the $20 million that was misappropriated and which was highlighted tonight by Mr. Azzara, and we want to applaud Mr. Azzara for the internal audit and what he has done with the staff, the $17 million deficit, the facilities fiasco, etc. Everyone in this audience is from at least one school. Are you really happy with the quality of work that is going on? Are you really happy with the repairs that have gone on? There has been problem after problem. At the workshop we had to pull a resolution to pay for an elevator at School No. 13 that was put in less than two years ago. The warranty ran out and the company had the audacity to want to charge the Paterson School District $20,000 to repair an elevator they didn’t properly put in from the beginning. This is wrong. We have had environmental issues dealing with asbestos and PCB’s. We are concerned about the safety of the children and the staff that are in the buildings and we speak out on this constantly, even when there is leadership in the teacher’s association that stays silent. Board members do speak out. This is a concern. We want a safe work environment and an educational environment for our children. We look at poor test scores consistently. They are not where they should be and this has all happened under the purview of the State District Superintendent. One person spoke tonight and asked for proof. The proof is overwhelming. There needs to be a change in this administration. Mr. President, everyone says the children come first. If they really, really believe that then I am asking you, Mr. President, to let us begin anew. Let us stand behind you and I am requesting that you contact the Commissioner of Education of the State of New Jersey to ask for a meeting with this Board of Education so we can address the shortcomings of this administration, the problems we have had, and the direction we want to move in the future. Thank you, sir.

Comm. Brown: First I want to send my sympathies out to the Lyde family and also a co- worker of mine who had a death in her family, the Bouier family. Also, I would like to congratulate my new colleagues on the Board. I look forward to working with you very closely. Also, I want to congratulate you Mr. President and Vice President. You have a very daunting task ahead of you and whatever I can do to support your mission I will be here for you. I hope in the coming year we can spend a lot more time on policy assessment, development and implementation. While we have set our priority by the issues that have been discussed on this Board, I hope that we can take those into the policy committee and finally bring about some change to put these issues to rest. Thank you very much.

Comm. Santiago: I would like to congratulate Al Moody for getting reelected to the Board, Danny Vergara and Andre Sayegh. Go New York Giants. I also would like to congratulate Dr. Hodges and Comm. Kline. To those who ran for the School Board and

Page 90 04/28/04 didn’t win, you are not losers at all because you just tried to make a difference. It shouldn’t just end there. You should continue your fight for the children. Your heart is in the right place. So I would never look at you that you lost. You never lost. The difference between winning and losing is victory and knowing that you tried. I do want to say that my daughter attends Martin Luther King. There was an article that came out and sometimes credit should be given where it is due. The Panther Cheerleaders of Martin Luther King, Jr. School No. 30 joined a competition of cheerleaders that was sponsored by the city recreation department. The School No. 30 cheerleaders scored 972 out of 1,000 possible points. Out of all the schools in Paterson that entered, School No. 30 won the competition. Congratulations to School No. 30 for winning the competition. There is one thing I would like to say to you, Dr. Duroy and maybe the state and Mr. President. I believe that anybody who runs for the Paterson School Board and is dealing with our children should be screened. Sometimes we don’t even know who we are putting up here. We don’t know if a person has been arrested for molesting a child. We don’t know who we are putting up here. We don’t screen anybody. Anybody can run for the Paterson School Board. We don’t need something to happen with one of our children behind closed doors and later on we say we should have found out. If we screen our security guards, our staff, our teachers, and our principals, then anybody who runs for the Paterson School Board should be screened. That is my recommendation to the state and to you, Dr. Duroy. We don’t know who we are putting up here. I also would like to give my condolences to the Lyde family and to the Barbie family. You are always in my heart forever. To the Hispanic community, one of our largest populations here in the City of Paterson is the Hispanic community. We have Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Panamanians, Costa Ricans, Peruvians, El Salvador, and Columbia. And second after us is the Arabic community up in South Paterson. What we should do is whatever we have said in the School Board in English, Dr. Duroy, should be provided in Spanish. We should have a translator in the Arabic language to educate our Arabic community up in South Paterson about what is going on in our Paterson School District. Literature not only should be given in English. It should be given in every single type of language of all the diverse individuals we have in the City of Paterson. We have to work together. If we don’t work together, we are not going anywhere. I am here to serve you and everybody else in this community. Thank you and God bless.

Comm. Moody: Earlier a speaker indicated that with this reelection I have an opportunity to redeem myself. But I say to that speaker and the rest of this Paterson community that I don’t feel I have to redeem myself for anything. The parents and the young people that I have worked with over the last 35-40 years know that I am most sincere and I tirelessly work in their best interest. I don’t feel… I am definite and positive that I don’t have to redeem myself for my actions on this Board. Everything I have done on this Board has been done in good faith. Some people think that if you don’t think like them and if you don’t do what they do, that you are not a thinker. Anybody who knows me knows that whatever I do I have thought about it. Thank you.

Comm. Kline: I am not going to speak long because it has always been my belief that actions speak louder than words. So I am not going to beat my drum or say what I have done or whatever. I just pray that God will give me good health and strength to work for the children of this city to try to make things better for them so that they can make a better future for themselves and for their parents. I would, however, like to congratulate the persons who won in the last election. I will be willing to work with them on every issue that is in the best interest of the children. I want to congratulate Dr. Hodges for being elected President. I think we couldn’t have chosen a better person to lead us and tonight’s meeting was not a fluke. This is an excellent example of what we can expect in the future. We have always believed in order and civility and given the opportunity to

Page 91 04/28/04 be orderly and civil under Dr. Hodges’ leadership we will do just that. I want to express my condolences to those families that have been mentioned this evening. Also, we recently lost one of our principals who served this district for many, many years. His name was Mr. Aaron Braverman. I am also particularly grateful to Mr. Braverman because when I was 13 years old he wasn’t much older than I was and he formed an organization called The Students For Democratic Action. It was a young organization and the activities helped prepare us probably for doing what I am doing right now. So I give Mr. Aaron Braverman a lot of credit for starting me off on the right track when many of the young guys that I hung around with were getting into things that didn’t sit well with the community. I am sorry that he had to pass away because he served this district for many, many years. Tomorrow night I will be going with a group of students from Rosa Parks High School to participate in an oratorical contest. It is important that our children be able to express themselves creatively and speak off the top of their heads without necessarily having to read from a piece of paper. These students will make speeches without notes and hopefully one or more of them will be going to Atlantic City in order to compete for $1,000 scholarships in June. So I wish those students from Rosa Parks High School well and I want to thank the principal and the staff for helping them get ready. With regard to the parent who came down here tonight saying she did not have an opportunity to observe her child in the classroom, I want all the parents to know and become very, very familiar with the No Child Left Behind law. The No Child Left Behind law allows, encourages, and insists that parents be as involved in their schools as possible, including being able to observe their children in the classroom. However, we expect that when parents come to the building they follow the rules of the building, go to the office, sign in, and indicate where they would like to go. They need to present themselves and behave themselves in such a way as to be encouraging to their children and also to be encouraging to the school. It is important that our parents get into the schools so that when you hear something coming from Board members up here, you will know whether it is true or not. So I strongly encourage parents to visit schools. Again, as a Commissioner, during this term of office, as well as in the future, I will support good management and I will support fiscal accountability – watching the money. I want to make sure that whatever resources are purchased for the students are used by the students, and that the resources those students use are top-notch resources and supplies. I think this district has been second-handing our children for far too long and it is time we give the best that we have and the best that money can buy to our children. Concentrate our money and our spending on the children and don’t worry about taking care of all the lawyers that want to make some money or whomever. We have to concentrate on the children if we are going to improve the test scores and if we are going to be able to provide the kind of education that will make all the graduates of our schools prepared to go to work or college and make something of themselves. So, in that light, if any Commissioner supports those kinds of ideas, I will work with you 100%. Thank you very much.

Comm. Sayegh: Once again, I would like to thank the people of Paterson for entrusting me with the responsibility to serve on this Board as an elected member. I am immensely appreciative of the widespread support that I received. I think it is a reflection of what I attempted to do in this past election – to appeal to every member of this community. We talked about bilingual programs. Well, we are a multicultural, multiethnic, multiracial community and we should all be proud of that. Last night I stated at the City Council meeting that Paterson is known as the Home of the Great Falls but it should also be known as the Home of the Great People. I thank everyone, whether you are Dominican, Puerto Rican, Black, White, Arabic, or Bengali. I thank you all for putting your trust in me. I also want to congratulate our President and our Vice President. I pride myself on being progressive-minded, a forward-thinker, and at times somewhat liberal. But I am still somewhat old fashioned and I believe in the old

Page 92 04/28/04 fashioned way. Mr. Kline and Dr. Hodges, you did it the old fashioned way - you earned it. So I commend you on that as well. If you have been reading the Herald & News, particular attention has been paid to my arrival on the Board. In fact, there was an editorial that said my election would change the equation on the Paterson Board of Education. I would like to make the following abundantly clear. I am only one out of nine. In fact, if you look at the records, not once was I the 5th vote tonight. I am a watchdog. I predicated my entire campaign on the fact that I am watching the money and specifically how it is spent. I am an independent thinker. No one can tell me how to think and no one will ever tell me what to say. Service requires sacrifice and I have made many sacrifices. I could have accepted a reappointment to this Board and sat right next to Dr. Generals but I prefer to sit next to Willa Mae Taylor. It’s a better option. I resigned from Congressman Bill Pascrell’s office. I left a paid position for a non-paid position. I did it because my commitment to this community and my commitment to the children of this community is unwavering. I want to bring professionalism to this Board and I want the focus to be on policy. Tonight I am impressed with the spirit of collegiality and Dr. Hodges I am not going to go so far as to say this is an era of good feelings that we have ushered in. But we are on the right track. I have a specific agenda I would like to pursue. I would like to see public school uniforms become somewhat our policy here in Paterson. I believe that kids should be competing over what they know, not over what they wear. So I am going to take that message to the parents of Paterson because of the parents I have polled, it is immensely popular because it is a cost-effective measure and it instills a level of discipline that is necessary. I also believe that we must look at our menu and what our kids are eating. You are what you eat and our kids are not junk so let’s stop feeding them that. I am making an effort to be a more health conscious person and let’s give our kids more options than nutritionally bankrupt food. Comm. Taylor and I served on an ad hoc committee and that process is ongoing. We will issue a report and continue to look into other options for our children. I am also a strong believer in character education courses because it was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said intelligence plus character is the true goal of education. We must start in the classroom but obviously it starts at home as well. Another item I would like to see implemented as a part of our curriculum is cultural awareness courses so that everyone in this multiethnic, multicultural, multiracial city is appreciated. As far as watching the money is concerned, Mr. Azzara you say that the audit is ongoing. I will continue to follow the progress of this specific audit. I would just like to close by saying that before I was sworn in I was approached by a number of concerned parents and there is one particular issue that I would like to bring to the attention of the Board. Regarding Alexander Hamilton Academy, a number of concerned parents have asked me to make comments and hopefully pursue this endeavor to see that a crossing guard is stationed at Alexander Hamilton Academy. We don’t want to be a reactionary society. We want to be preventative and we want to be proactive. There was an incident that occurred at School No. 13. By all means, we want to avoid that. Last night Shirley Alexander, a respected member of this community, came forward and requested bedside assistance for her grandson. I contacted Assistant Superintendent Dr. Fulmore and that is being taken care of. Thank you. My last point is don’t forget to vote. Just because April 20th has come and gone, there are Ward races, City Council races, on May 11th. I am supporting and endorsing three candidates in three competitive races and at this time I would like to endorse Councilman Anthony Davis for reelection in the First Ward.

Dr. Nuccetelli: You can’t do that.

Comm. Sayegh: Thank you very much. Let’s focus on professionalism and policy. That concludes my comments for this evening.

Page 93 04/28/04 Comm. Taylor: I just would like to congratulate our town for the few votes that did come out because you made a difference in the lives of some people that were running. I am still very upset that for a town that has 50,000 people eligible to vote, we can always just muster up about 5,000 to 8,000 votes to get people elected in our city. We need to seriously think about voting or we will lose the right if we don’t begin to use it and use it properly. I would like to acknowledge all the people that were elected on the Board. It is not an easy task. We kill many trees and we are going to try to work on getting them a little more ahead of time than we usually get them so that we can be more comprehensive and better informed. We will have gotten to Dr. Duroy and the different divisions in our schools to get the information and have it centered in our minds so that we can stay focused and not focus on just getting it yesterday or tonight. So at those times when we come to you in the future, we hope to have had enough information about every one of our schools and all the things it takes to run the school. Yes, I am concerned about the money and the curriculum. We need to work the curriculum the way it is to be used properly. There are some areas that worry me because during this election there was some information put out in the public that was misinformation about our stand in the Board. But we will try to address that and get it out to the public so we can better understand why certain entities in our community wanted to have a slanted view of what is going on here at the Board. I congratulate all of our people – Mr. Moody, Mr. Sayegh, and Mr. Vergara. I know you all and I know you are all capable. We are going to work together. I don’t care what anyone else says. We are going to do the job that we have been elected to do. We will work with Dr. Duroy because he has been hired by the state for us to work with and he will listen to us because we have a lot of good ideas and we work well together. We know a little bit about education. I would like to say that I will miss Mr. Braverman. He was a well-educated man and he was a writer. He used to write to the newspapers about education many, many times and he encouraged the children in our district to learn how to write compositions and write well so that you can communicate by paper and pencil. The old art of writing a letter to a friend and having a pen pal, he used to consider that one of the best exercises for us to do. Mr. Braverman was a child’s person, an educator in our district for over 30 years. Mr. Kline may know more years. There is another person who passed who worked with me. We worked very closely together, Mrs. Holmes. We worked at School No. 28 for many years together and she passed away. She had retired a year or so ago and she went back to Alabama to help with her family and be a caretaker. She passed a couple of weeks ago. We are planning to have a memorial for Mrs. Holmes so please listen out for it. Many, many children went through her at School No. 28 and through her at School No. 20. We will be thinking about that. For the rest of us that are at home, all children are important to us no matter where they have come from, whether they have a home or shelter over their heads where they pay rent or that they own, or whether they speak another language. All children are our children. We care about each and every one of them. This district has to make that the foremost in our mind when we are thinking about money, about curriculum, about facilities, or about any of the areas that affect children. Please let us all work together on behalf of our children for the total community. Thank you.

Comm. Vergara: First of all, I would like to once again thank all the voters that came out and gave me their support in returning me back to the School Board. It is going to be a great honor working with this Board. I salute Mr. Moody and Mr. Andre Sayegh for also being elected. To the runners that attempted to become Board members and did not get elected, don’t feel that you lost. You are a good product of Paterson. Hopefully you will hang in there and join us in the future. To the Barbie family and to the City Council President Mr. McKoy, my condolences. To all the families in the City of Paterson who have lost a loved one, my prayers are with you. To Mr. Gus Penaranda who I see in the audience, keep up the good work. You really do care about the

Page 94 04/28/04 children and I see the outstanding work you are doing not only with children but also with senior citizens. So I salute you for that. To Mrs. Vancheri if you are watching, you will be missed. You served for 16 or 17 years on this Board. You really care about children and I know that someday you will return. Again, you did a great job. The Benchmark of Excellence has been achieved by School No. 9 and School No. 18 and I salute both of the schools, especially School No. 18 which my son attends. I am very proud of both of those schools and I hope we have other schools also achieve the same Benchmark of Excellence. I would like to say thank you to Ms. Betty J. Brown who I see in the audience. She has been like a mother to me and a mentor, and if it weren’t for her I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today and being able to achieve many things that I have achieved throughout my life in the City of Paterson. Again, thank you Mrs. Brown. We need more parents to come out. Today was a nice showing of parents. I saw a lot of Latino parents out here and I hope that wasn’t just because I was being sworn in tonight. We need you here every School Board meeting. If not to bring up any issues that are going on with your own children within the school system, just to sit here and listen to all the issues of the district and to see how all the Commissioners feel and vote on certain issues. So we need more participation. I would like to thank the students of Troupe 911. These are not just scouts of Troupe 911 that I am the leader of. There are over 80 of them that attend all our schools in the City of Paterson. They are doing their best to keep their grades up. They are doing their best to stay off the streets and off drugs. They do tell me about all the peer pressure that they go through in school, at home, and in their own community. So I salute and take my hat off to them. Continue your quest to better your education. Mr. President, I salute you and Mr. Kline as Vice President. I hope that we will all work together in a form of unity. An outstanding job was done here like you heard some of the speakers say. This was a smooth meeting. I believe someone mentioned that it is not over yet. Well, I had my fingers crossed and thank God nothing went the wrong way. That was an outstanding job. Redeem myself? I believe everybody is entitled to their own opinion. I also believe that being a reelected Board member for the second time, as being a Commissioner on the ? Leveling Board, as a Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, as a Troupe Leader of Troupe 911, and for the second time being elected as the President of the Puerto Rican Day Parade in the City of Paterson, I volunteer my services to this community in the best interest of the community and in the best interest of our children. Everyone is entitled to make mistakes and everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I personally will do my best on this Board to work with the rest of the Board members to try to achieve our goal of returning to local control. If I fail in any way, please come up to that podium and let me know because I believe that there is a time for change and there is also a time to listen to people and to have those people guide you in the right direction if they feel you are committing an error along the way. Last, but not least, I would like to say to Comm. Juan Mitch Santiago that you are successful in achieving many things in your life. As a family man, I salute you. As a Commissioner and as someone who cares about children, especially your own, I know you dedicate your weekends to them because I try to call you sometimes and you wouldn’t return my call. But I do not appreciate the way that certain Councilmen try to destroy your morale. I think that was wrong on behalf of Councilman Rooney and I say to Comm. Santiago to continue what you are doing and keep your head up high. I salute you as a Sheriff’s officer and as a Board member. I would like to thank everyone. Dr. Duroy, it’s an honor being back. Thank you and good night.

Comm. Agard-Jones: I would like to also offer my congratulations to the winners of the April 20th election. My congratulations to the winners of tonight’s election for the officers, that is to you Dr. Hodges and to you Comm. Kline. While I was sitting here, one of the things I have often talked about was the fact that we ought to honor our students and we do get these Blue Notes that talk about the accomplishments of our

Page 95 04/28/04 students. But I am not sure that the community really understands some of the achievements that our students have been making in Paterson. When you hear a speaker come to the podium and talk about the Model UN, or when the Commissioner spoke about the cheerleaders, or whatever the event may be, I don’t know that the community really fully understands what that is all about and what our students have achieved. So I am going to suggest again that we try at each Board meeting to at least honor those students or some students at each Board meeting. I do have a concern. I have several concerns but one of those concerns is this evening the meeting went very smoothly. In the middle of the meeting, and what our concern is, A-9 curriculum approved every curriculum in this district and I would guess that most of the Commissioners have not read 30% of those curricular that were approved. So the same kind of tenacity that is used as it relates to the budget ought to be used as it relates to the educational experience that the students in this district receive. I also want to say that in terms of collegiality, tonight was a very smooth night and I would look forward to sitting here and seeing that progress as we go along. Last, but not least, if I may be so bold as to suggest that the Board come up with a resolution honoring the service of Mrs. Vancheri so that those individuals who give their time and their energy freely in this district recognize that their efforts will also be honored. Again, congratulations to those who won on April 20th. Congratulations to the Board President and the Board Vice President. Hopefully we will have a good year. Thank you.

Comm. Generals: I know our new President is determined to end this meeting by 10:00 and establish a record and a pace for the rest of the year. So I promise to really keep my comments brief. I would echo Comm. Jones’ comments regarding former Commissioner Vancheri’s service. I think that it deserves recognition from this Board and I would support whatever effort is due towards that. Someone mentioned the accomplishments of School No. 9 and School No. 18. I would suggest to the Superintendent that if in fact the schools are demonstrating best practices we should see them. It’s helpful to go to other states and other districts to look at best practices but if we have them right here I would like to know about them. Maybe there is some way we can either have the principals or the teachers come and have a real discussion about curriculum. I would also echo Comm. Jones’ comments about that. I think that would be very beneficial to the rest of the district. I would like to congratulate all of the winners. I would like to congratulate the new officers. I would like to especially congratulate my former colleague on this end of the Board, Comm. Sayegh. While I may take him to task on much of his soliloquy, I will support his notion of sitting next to Mrs. Taylor as a better position on this Board than on the end nearly falling off the stage. With that, I would like to say good night and hopefully we will have a good year.

Comm. Hodges: First of all, I want to congratulate Mr. Moody, Mr. Sayegh and Mr. Vergara on their election to the Board of Education. I also want to thank the members of the Board who voted me to this position. However, I think that there was a cynical intent there because this keeps me quiet for most of the meeting and I am sort of wondering about all of this. So I guess the saying is true to be careful of what you ask for because you may in fact get it. As you know, it has been hot up here and tonight it got a little hotter for me but I think I will adjust. I heard a lot of nice comments and accolades and I sincerely hope that I live up to them. I certainly intend to do my best. It has always been my intent to further the educational agenda. I am uncompromising, as you know, in my position that educational excellence is a must here in Paterson and anything less is unacceptable. That has been what drives me and it will be what continues to drive me. I will work even more fervently to see that that is achieved in our lifetime. I heard the public in their discussions talking about bickering, talking about harmony, and talking about working together. This meeting tonight gave them, I think, more of what they wanted in terms of the absence of bickering and the presence of

Page 96 04/28/04 what seems to be harmonious operations. But I caution you not to be fooled because we didn’t discuss new measures of accountability. We didn’t discuss test scores, their impact on our children, and ways to improve them. We didn’t discuss business operations and needed changes and progress. We didn’t discuss facilities – old, new and planned. We didn’t discuss consultants. We didn’t discuss personnel. Those are all very weighty and, at times, contentious measures that have to be addressed aggressively by this school district and improved if we are to move forward as we have said we all want to do. For instance, Trenton, another Abbott district about one half or one third the size of Paterson, has seven schools under construction. They are not planned. They are under construction. The shovels are in the ground. They have three more that are scheduled to go into construction by June and they have three more in addition to that scheduled and approved by the end of this year. We have two. So these are some of the things that we have to address. By the way, the facilities money that the state is ordered by the Supreme Court to supply this state is running out and they have stated quietly in some circles that it is going to be a first-come, first-served approach. If we only have two schools in the ground and only eleven intended, and Trenton has 13 that they are going to have in the ground by the end of the year, we could be in some trouble. So we have a huge agenda ahead of us that we have to address. Some of those things may not come about as pleasantly, as pleasing, and as contention-free as we would like but it has to be done. This Board has to address Board operation, policy production, and Board operations have to be tightened up substantially because I reject personally the notion that we are powerless. I reject the notion that we can’t advocate aggressively and successfully for our children and bring about substantial change in this school district. Thirteen years is long enough. We have to do a lot better than we have and we certainly are capable of doing that. I am going to be directing my efforts to doing just that. In the area of committees, I would like to see a few changes. I would like to see the committees adopt a schedule or a set of purposes that they design for themselves. They will define their own committees and define what they would like to do overall, on a monthly basis, on a yearly basis, and over the next three years. And they will report their progress each month to the community so that you know what is happening on this Board. In addition, we have got to be aggressive as a community to return this school district to local control. That won’t come from exchanging pleasantries all the time. Sometimes we are going to have to roll up our sleeves and get dirty, and make sure that the laws that are passed down in Trenton work to this community’s benefit and do it now. Lastly, regarding the Abbott monies, and I say this advisedly, you need to understand that we have gone from roughly $5,000 per pupil expenditures ten years ago up to over $13,000 now and still our test scores are sub par. From $5,000 to over $13,000! There has been a steady assault on the Abbott decision by the State of New Jersey because of budget shortages and that assault isn’t going to end. They are getting more and more successful at interfering with the original court ruling. If we don’t show substantial change and improvements soon, we stand to lose all that money. If you think that you are in trouble now, try going back to $5,000 per pupil expenditures. So we have an enormous task ahead of us. I sincerely hope that by the end of the year we will have made tremendous progress. I also hope that we can all say that we had a happy time along the way. Let me just say for the record that there is a split in this and that I am not going to be the author of it later on when it is reviewed.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

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