Middletown Board of Ed. Meeting.

On November 20, 2007 I went to the MIddletown Township Board of Ed. Meeting. At the start of the meeting the audience was 75% students and 25% adults. There are 11 board members, 8:women, 3:men. 1 man wasn't present at this meeting.

(the sequence of events)

• The Pledge was said
• 2 representatives (one from each high school) came up to the podium and talked about their schools extra curricular activities for the next few month's like dances, sporting events, plays, bottle cappers.
• The 2 principles (one from each high school) and an advisor took the podium and handed out civics awards that students from both high schools had won.
• There were 30+ awards handed out.
• MHSS Principal Kelly announced and gave out awards to MHSS girls soccer team.
• After that many students left.
• MHSN Principal Cartier handed out an academic award to a student.
• Then the same principal handed out awards to the girls gymnastic team.
• A MHSN student got a singing award.
• Another student got an award for running a marathon.
• MHSN received an award for their field hockey team.
• All students where dismissed from the meeting.
• There was an open mic to any town member that wanted to say soemthing.
• One person came up and asked why two janitors got fired.
• The board then explanned why.
• closed open mic.
• Moved to the treasury and secretary report about Oct. 2007
• A Bill Lists was approved.
• The approval of Budget transfer was approved.
• The upcomming plays at both high schools were talked about.
• Mentioned that someone donated $25,000 to the library.
• Announced Thanksgiving football game.
• Talked about State Test Assessment
• Voted on weither or not they would except a foriegn exchange student. It was approved.
• Voted for 15 items on a town bill.
• Then there was confussion and argueing between two board members because they were holding two different policies in their hands, so they were argueing about nothing.
• Voted to put agenda items online.
• Presentation of the 06-07 finace report.
• 19 new policies were announced to the board for review. One of the policies talked about the presence of HIV and AIDS and how to spread awareness.
• The board then debatted as to wether parents should be notifiedor that students life illness shold be kept private.
• Talked about school drug and alcohol policies.

It was very interesting to see what goes on at a board meeting first hand.