That the upgrades and improvements and renovations we're talking about hoping to do will directly improve the student experience in our district. whether it's improving educational outcomes, the learning and athletic experience, and also their physical and emotional safety and well-being, all of that. So, I I view this as ultimately the most student centered decision we can be making, which makes me feel proud that we got to this point and that we've kept students at the center of all of these discussions for the past two years and will, you know, moving forward. So, um if there's no other questions or comments for the team, we are um moving to call to vote to call for a bond election. >> Oh, wait. >> Oh, they'll go. Okay. >> Let's let this team sit down and then I'll invite uh Oh, >> okay. Got it. Got it. Thanks, Joining me at the table is Eric Creech. Uh he is a partner with Gilmore and Bell. They have served as bond counsel for the school district for numerous bond elections. And Eric is the person responsible for drafting tonight's resolution. Um, so if you have any questions, he's the best one to ask those questions to. He's the answer man. What you have before you though is a resolution that would authorize a ballot measure to be on the April 7th, 2026 municipal election date uh seeking voter approval of a $135 million bond issue.

Um let's see. >> Staying on schedule. >> If I can, I might I might add to that that um one of the important decisions that the district has made and John described it earlier is the bridge >> Yes. >> So when a project like Glen Ridge Marramac and you know captain when that happens >> the you know Glenn Ridge let's just talk about that one. It's it's a very invasive project inside the existing building and so without ha have you know having the kids not on site having them learning someplace else during the academic year one of the benefits of that is it gives BSI and their team I won't say free reign but they don't they don't have to worry so much about you know student safety on the campus during construction. So that's a that's a fairly substantial consideration um that actually helps in a positive way the construction schedule because in other words you know we've done you know we'll use one of your neighbors Leoo school spy elementary there's a leaprog process that had to happen to phase that construction in that made the overall timeline for that quite a bit longer as a result. >> Okay. Anyone else? Uh Nina you have any questions or comments from them in addition to what you said? >> Yeah, I don't have any questions, but I just want to say how much I really appreciate your commitment to making these improvements really centered around students.

Anyone else? Uh Nina you have any questions or comments from them in addition to what you said? >> Yeah, I don't have any questions, but I just want to say how much I really appreciate your commitment to making these improvements really centered around students. I mean, in my opinion, all of the improvements you guys listed would greatly benefit learning. So, thank you so much. I really appreciate that you're keeping students at like the center of everything you're doing. Um, and I would just like to say kind of in closing, all of my fellow board members had great questions and comments, but as a board of education, every decision we make, whether we're voting on policies or approving budgets or reviewing curriculum or approving staffing decisions, every decision we make always is a student centered decision. And I feel like what we're about to vote on, which is calling for a bond election, is an absolutely student centered decision. That the upgrades and improvements and renovations we're talking about hoping to do will directly improve the student experience in our district. whether it's improving educational outcomes, the learning and athletic experience, and also their physical and emotional safety and well-being, all of that. So, I I view this as ultimately the most student centered decision we can be making, which makes me feel proud that we got to this point and that we've kept students at the center of all of these discussions for the past two years and will, you know, moving forward.

He's the answer man. What you have before you though is a resolution that would authorize a ballot measure to be on the April 7th, 2026 municipal election date uh seeking voter approval of a $135 million bond issue. Um the approval of that requires a 47s majority and um we're looking forward to uh a positive outcome. Eric, would you care to add anything? >> No. Despite uh Leo's uh eloquent discussion earlier, people don't usually like to hear lawyers talk too much. So, um I will refrain from saying anything. Um unless you have specific questions. Um I will also note I am going to also be a voter on this. So, it will be exciting. I get out of here in time. I will get to talk to uh our Clayton graduate who is in Chicago for college tonight. So, um it's be nice to get to talk to her to her in a couple weeks. So, successful Clayton grad. >> Buttering up the board. Are you >> Well, thank you um for all your help here. >> I wish I had pictures. I mean, having one [laughter] and more people >> um for >> It's hard to compete with that big team and and the and the graphic design. >> That's right. any questions or comments? >> Oh, we should need to move forward. Read the motion first. Right.

Read the motion first. Right. Yeah. >> I move that we adopt the resolution calling an election to secure voter authorization to issue general obligation bonds for the purpose of improving school facilities as set forth in the resolution. >> Okay. It's been moved and seconded. Now, does anyone have questions or comments, >> Jason? >> I do. >> Okay, great. >> I'm sorry. Sorry. I thought I we were talking during this time. So [laughter] >> that's >> um but I'll I'll be quick. First of all, I I thanked the team earlier. Um but that is not the only people that I thought it was worth thanking. Um want to thank first of all, I want to thank Nina, who I guess supplied a lot of the bullet points tonight. So way to go, Nina. >> Um I want to thank my fellow board members. You know, this we spent a lot of time getting to this point and um everyone at this table made this process better. Uh there are things that I never would have thought of that a lot of you guys did. Hopefully I thought of a couple things too and so I think that helped and and states your leadership was helpful. I also just want to thank the administration for keeping us focused and keeping the ball moving down the field so to speak. Um you know this is just I think the leadership and Dr.