Recap of the August 26 RIH BOE Meeting:
Ms. Shauna DeMarco was present as the Superintendent.
NJGPA scores were presented. While the scores on this particular test are not perfect, there are multiple paths to graduation, and there is no concern that the scores are leading to lower graduation rates.
The 2024-2025 Curriculum was on the agenda to be approved. New Board member Audrey Souders, who from the audience had been very critical of the curriculum, (citing poor test scores, depressing readings lists, and embedded CRT), announced she is no longer concerned about the (same) curriculum, because she thinks we 'have the right team in place'. With no significant changes, the Curriculum passed unanimously.
Based on the vague discussion at the Board table, it seemed clear that item P14 pertained to a settlement agreement related to the search process (Dr. Tarchichi), as I had previously speculated. As the document the Board voted on was not made public at the meeting, I OPRA requested it. The public deserves to know where their taxpayer funds are going. Brian DeLaite and Aaron Lorenz voted no. All other Board members voted yes.
Several board members said they thought the $2.1 mil cost for the Indian Hills snack stand was outrageous, but they voted for it anyway because they thought 'the kids deserve it' because Ramapo has one. (The Ramapo concession stand, to my knowledge, was paid for by donations and not by taxpayer funds). The snack stand spend passed unanimously, as did the $670,000 for video cameras and video surveillance upgrades.
Lastly, Kim Ansh motioned to table the Board Minutes for 'further discussion'. All Board members voted yes, with no explanation or discussion. Clearly this had been discussed somewhere behind closed doors, otherwise wouldn’t at least one Board member have asked WHY the changes were not being discussed right now, in public, as required by both Robert’s Rule and the Sunshine Act? This is yet another violation of the Sunshine Act by Kim Ansh’s Board.
The minutes of June 24, 2024 Closed & Regular, June 27, 2024 Closed & Special, July 1, 2024 Closed and Special, July 11, 2024 Closed & Special, July 22, 2024 Closed & Regular, August 7, 2024 Closed & Regular have all been withheld from public view due to Kim Ansh’s continued tabling.
Board Minutes are the public record of the meetings, and should be promptly approved to give the public access. Ask yourself WHY this Board is trying to delay and hide the public record of what they are doing?
Link to the livestream meeting archive: https://www.rih.org/board_of_ed/meeting_calendar_livestream/board_livestream_archives