Special Meeting Minutes, September 29, 2009

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Special Meeting Minutes, September 29, 2009

WESTWOOD REGIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, NEW JERSEY

MINUTES OF SPECIAL PUBLICMEETING OF NOVEMBER 10, 2009

Present:President Liddy,Vice President Mosolino, TrusteesFirriolo, Gregory, Hanlon, Mandeville, Mountain,Superintendent Geoffrey W. Zoeller, and Assistant Business Administrator Michael Halik.

Absent:Trustees Koch, Schaadt, and Board Secretary Keith A. Rosado

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. in the Hurley Theatre,Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School, by President Liddy who led the salute to the flag and read the New Jersey Open Public Meeting Law statement.

Mr. Liddy, seconded by Mrs. Mosolino,that approval be given to Michael Halik, Assistant Business Administrator, to be the acting Board Secretary at tonight’s meeting

BOARD POLLED AND MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY: 7-0

School District Reconfiguration Report

• Dr. Zoeller summarized the events leading up to tonight’s special meeting including the results from surveys and focus groups expressing a desire to move towards a model closer to a true middle school, Board of Education committee meetings, and public meetings presenting the proposed reconfiguration of the district to the Board of Education and the public.
• Mrs. Eckel spoke about her belief in the middle school philosophy as both an educator and a taxpayer.
• Michael Bieri of FKA Architects and Jeff Morris of Boswell Engineering presented a PowerPoint presentation of the fact-finding study of the Brookside and Ketler facilities and grounds, exploring the possibilities of growth/expansion at both sites. The presentation may be accessed on the District’s website at

PUBLIC FORUM:Started: 8:01 P.M.

Ended: 9:10 P.M.

The followingis a list of people who spoke regarding issues pertaining to the proposed reconfiguration of grades in the district. Dr. Zoeller, members of the Board’s committee, and administratorslistened to and/or addressed the concerns brought forth by the public.

• Katie Yankowski, Lafayette Avenue, Westwood
• Joanne Iwaskiw, Roosevelt Avenue, Westwood
• Christopher Montana, Cypress Street, Westwood
• Ingrid Gerber, First Avenue, Westwood
• Francis Costello, Goodwin Terrace, Westwood
• Gail Burke, Goodwin Terrace, Westwood
• Rusty Miller, Kennedy Terrace, Westwood
• Heidi Sandiford, Garden Place, Westwood
• Cari Brandon, William Street, Westwood
• Sheila Hunter, Cleveland Avenue, Township of Washington
• Carrie Donegan, Prospect Avenue, Westwood
• Tammy Visich, Princeton Place, Westwood
• Joseph Blundo, Second Avenue, Westwood
• Laura Merkle, Honeysuckle Drive, Township of Washington
• Danielle Sammarco-Bortz, West End Avenue, Westwood
• Louise Miller, Kennedy Terrace, Westwood

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Gregory, seconded by Mrs. Mosolino, that this meeting be adjourned.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY: 7-0

Meeting adjourned at 9:15P.M.

The preceding is a concise statement interpreted by the Assistant Business Administrator/Acting Board Secretary and may not indicate theprecise intent of the Board Members. The minutes of the meeting are taped and are available at the office of the BoardSecretary for a period of thirty (30) days.

Respectfully submitted,

MICHAEL W. HALIK

ACTING BOARD SECRETARY