21-December-2023
On
Tuesday-19-December the Bogota Board of Education held their final meeting for
2023. During his reports Superintendent Mr. Damian Kennedy first introduced Student
representative Ms. Ashley Urena reviewed the latest events that took place
in the High School. Then Superintendent Kennedy announced that
a third Fourth Grade classroom will be added in Steen School. He continued
saying that over the Summer of 2024 the District will hold a
re-registration for all Students attending Bogota Public Schools. This
will ensure that all Student attending Bogota School are legal resident of the
Borough. Superintendent Kennedy also
informed the Trustees that additional vaping and smoke detectors will be
added to the restrooms in both the High School and the Middle School. Then he
introduced Arborist Ms. Elizabeth Stewart. She is also the Arborist of
record for the Borough of Bogota and has been hired by the district
to oversee and advise as the tree specialist for the
refurnishing and reconstruction of Fiegel Field and the ball field on
the eastern side of Olsen Park. Ms. Stewart evaluated 36 trees in the
study area. This was up from 32 on the original survey. Her findings were
that 29 trees need to be removed. The reason ranged from the change in
grade that will occur to raise the elevation of the ground to be placed out of
the flood plain. Also, many trees were suffering of physical damage,
disease and infestation that causes them to unsafe in a publicly used area. She
added that four Weeping Willows on the edge of the park could be retain if
proper landscaping and maintenance is use. In Ms. Stewart report it
is said that about 70 new trees of native species, will be planted. The
full report can be read at: https://www.bogotaboe.com/domain/641
After this presentation and Public Comment that followed the
Trustees voted on the Consent Agenda. All resolution were passed
by unanimous vote. Items of note were the approval of the 2023 Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Grant,
which will provide books for the school's libraries. Other
grants approved will go for School Based Mental Health Provider
activities through a partnership with Fairleigh Dickinson University. Along
with an American Rescue Plan grant to fund afterschool programs.
Also, the creation of a Student Activity fund.
Another item approved was the hiring of Ms. Stephanie Pontidis as a Vice
Principal in the High School. She will enter the district in the Spring after
her current commitment has ended. She will be a second Vice Principal in
the High School joining current Vice Principal Dr. Malcom Lash. Dr Lash was
approved to be the Athletic Director at the meeting on
Tuesday-21-November stating in January of 2024.
The final order of business was to thank out-going trustee Mr. John
Ortega. Mr. Ortega is an Alumni of Bogota High School Class of 2015. First
Board President Mr. Frank Miranda thanked Mr. Ortega for his three years
as a Trustee. Along with being the youngest person to be elected to the Board
of Education. Mr. Miranda continued by saying that Mr. Ortega brought a new and
younger voice to the Trustees. Superintendent Kennedy said
he was honoured to be a Principal, Superintendent, and then a colleague
all while watching him mature as a person.
In his remarks Mr. Ortega thanked everyone who helped educate and guide him as
a Trustee. With that the meeting was adjoined for 2023. The next meeting will
be on Tuesday-2-January-2024 at 7:00p This will be held in the High School
Cafeteria located on the second floor of 2 Henry Luthin Pl. and online. This
will be the swearing-in of the trustees who won the seats during the 2023
General Election. Videos of this, and other Board of Education meeting can be seen at; https://www.bogotaboe.com/Page/2145
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