001The regular meeting of the South County Board of Education will be called to order. Roll call. Thomas Blakeley >> here. >> Brian Casey >> here. >> Stephanie Kogan here. Vincent Barenzo >> here. >> Rose Gigglello >> here. >> Jennifer Hulahan >> here. >> Michael Keane >> here. >> David Keel >> here. >> Jennifer Larabe >> here. >> And Robert Misik >> here. Please stand for the pledge to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Agenda item number three, approval of the minutes. These are the minutes from the regular meeting of December 9th, 2025 and the special meeting of January 6th, 2026. Please look them over if there are any
002edits or comments. Talk about them now. Hearing none, I'll take a motion. Miss Giggle, seconded by Mr. Blakeley. On the motion made by Miss [clears throat] Giggleello, seconded by Mr. Blake likely that the minutes of the regular meeting of December 9th, 2025 and the special meeting of January 6th, 2026 be approved. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries 9 to zero. Agenda [clears throat] item number four, awards and recognitions. Up first is the 2025 NISMA zone 7 area all state musical festival. eight high school or Colony Central High School students pres participated in the 2025 NISMA zone 7 area all state musical festival at the historic Proctor's Theater in Skenctity on November 21st and 22nd. Students selected to participate based on high scores from last spring's NISMA solo evaluation as well as teacher recommendation.
003All Colony Central High School students performed at level five or six and scored well. I'm going to turn this over to Mr. Peter Kennachi. Mr. Canrachi, >> thank you so much for having us. Um, and thank you for inviting these music students to be recognized at this meeting. If you haven't met them because of their musical abilities, you will meet them because they also excel in academics and athletics and they are presidents of every club you can think of. And um, so they're just all around wonderful kids. But today we're going to talk about about them for music. So we had eight students selected to participate in this year's area all state music festival which was held in November at the historic Proctor's Theater in Skenctity. Hi, come on in. Um the opportunity for them
004to perform in such a magnificent concert hall is such a great experience for them as a young adult. It's one that I did not have until I was, you know, grown, a teacher myself. Um, so for them to have that experience as a young adult is just awesome. This is sort of the musical equivalent of regionals for athletics. For athletics, we talk about sectionals. That would be sort of like our suburban council music festival. Regionals would be this area all state. And then the the next would be all state for the entire the entire state um which is held every year in Rochester. So this is the the regional level. And this all starts with the students doing a NISMA solo last spring. That's when they prepare a musical solo to play by themsel for
005a judge, an adjudicator, and they received comments and a score. Based on how they did at that last spring, they are invited for other opportunities such as area all state. And as you said, Mrs. Kogan, all of these students performed at level five and level six, which are the two highest levels of difficulty, and all of them received scores above a 90. So, they they certainly did very very well. There were 330 students involved in this music festival from 41 school districts in northeastern New York. Albany County, Skenctity County, Saratoga and Warren counties up north, Washington and Rular counties to the east and to the west, Montgomery County, Fulton County, and even going up into Hamilton County. So, this is a very select event and we were thrilled to have eight students from Colony High
006School. I have six of them here tonight. There was some kind of swim event that was happening tonight. So a couple of them could not be here. So the first one I want to introduce to you is Argam Algazuli who played violin with the orchestra. [applause] Tiffany Dub who is a string basist could not be with us tonight due to a lifeguarding course that she is involved in but Tiffany D plays string bass. [applause] Nicholas Kohley who's a senior who plays string bass also played with the orchestra. [applause] Grace Nadia, who is a senior, played viola with the orchestra. [applause] And I want to give special recognition to Grace because when many of the students arrived at the Ariel City Music Festival, they had to do a seating audition to determine where they sit in
007the ensemble. They had to play a small excerpt of music that they had been preparing. And then based on how they did, they were ranked and seated accordingly. and Grace was seated first chair in the >> Wow. [applause] >> Obviously some excellent training, right? [laughter] Bryce Pengra, a senior, played Tuba with the band. [applause] Grant Pollock, another senior who plays viola who tonight could not be. He's at the swim meet in Saratoga. [applause] Aiden Paca who plays Tuba a junior but played with the band [applause] and Abby Sansbury represented our school in the chorus. She is a [applause] also wanted to give recognition to Abby. I I know at one of your previous meetings you were talking about the Melodies of Christmas concert at Proctor's Theater and Abby is the one Colony student that was
008involved in the chorus for Melodies of Christmas. So [applause] I was watching I believe you got some [laughter] air time this year too. >> You looked [clears throat] great. So that was awesome. So those are our eight students that were involved in area all state this year. Thank you so much for inviting them to be recognized at tonight's speech. >> Very good. Congratulations. [applause] take a picture. >> Yeah, we will take a picture. But first, I do want to say uh congratulations. This is quite an honor for all of you kids. And as as a mom of of two students who went through our music program, kudos also to the parents. Um I know as a mom of a chist who had to drag that cello along to all the the events and of a
009violinist, um thank you to the parents who who put many miles and filled up the gas tank and and went to all the restaurants and did all the stuff for your kids. Congratulations to you, too. You deserve kudos also. Yeah. If we'd like to take a picture, we can certainly do that. Sure. >> Right up here. Right up front. Sure. >> So, six of you, why don't you come forward here? Have a quick picture. [clears throat] >> And let's not forget trying to fit base into the into the car every time. >> [clears throat] >> two. One more. >> Congratulations everyone. >> [clears throat] [applause] >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Canra. >> Thank you. >> Next up, we are celebrating our Toys for Tots. Our district has celebrated our 19th year for Toys for
010Tots. The board of education would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our district volunteers whose outstanding efforts have made a meaningful diff difference to our community. Our 2025 volunteers, Amber Lanigan, Amber, [applause] Cara Granado, [applause] Jana Lens, Jana, Samantha Moore, [applause] she's here. Samantha, hey Samantha, thank you. Brian Sim, [applause] Steve Gary, Les Decker, [applause] Jason Pervvis, John Kelly, Rebecca Hardigan, Elena Spew, Dave Coin, [applause] Darian Goldman, Bob Stalker, Tammy Stalker, [applause] Ray Cox, Frank Wat, Stacy McGrath, Dan Dan Wrightenberg, Ken O'Brien, Stephanie Blood, Sam [applause] Bertrand, Heidi Dusso, Tracy Boyco, Aaron Scott, John Baron, Kathy Oliver, [applause] Victoria Valentino, Sue Tazone, Steve Tuarog, Teresa Tran, and Dick Gilligan. [applause] Thank you all. >> A real applause. >> I think we've taken enough pictures. I think that's what Mrs. Lanigan said to me
011before. Folks, thank you all so very much. Dr. Perry, would you like to extend your thanks? >> Yeah, I just uh it's phenomenal to see the growth over the years. It's not just the collection of toys that our community participates in, stuff from the bus, but our drivers and our communications staff have worked together in collaboration to help deliver meals. Uh, Mr. Borman, our our school social workers at the building level helped to u reach out to our families in need and our drivers uh transportation staff helped to deliver those on their own time uh to our families. And so, I really want to extend our heartfelt thank you for another successful year in helping our communities out. Well, thank you all. Appreciate it. [applause] >> At this point, if you would like to take
012your leave from our meeting, you you certainly may. We appreciate you coming in. Thank you so very much. [applause] >> Except for the government. >> Government kids have to stay. [laughter] >> We'll make it worth your while. [laughter] All right. Agenda item number five, superintendent update. Dr. Perry. >> Yes. Good evening. Uh couple uh updates. Our state of the district uh presentation. Uh this will be our sixth annual state of the district update will come out at the end of January. We uh were working behind the scenes to film a little bit different uh highlight presentation for this year. A little bit of a Phil Donahghue for those who've been around for a while or maybe a little Oprah. I don't know which one it might be. But wanted to uh have a little fun
013with it, but also get that message out highlighting what we've accomplished throughout the 2025 year and what to look forward to in 2026. Um just some tremendous work going on academically, socially, character-wise. Um and uh just want to thank our our staff. We're looking forward to that school calendar. This is the time of the year where we're where uh we are drafting our school calendar. Um the the process goes through uh several different uh groups on uh later this week I'll present it to the professional council which is a group made up of of teachers and administrators to to look over the uh school calendar draft for 2026 27. uh we try to align with the uh capital region uh boseies and area schools as part of that process but um we will bring it
014back to the board uh after uh several uh sets of review on February 3rd for anticipated adoption. So those that are looking forward to that 26 27 calendar, we'll we'll bring it back for February 3rd. So stay tuned. Uh coming up um January 20th through the 23rd is our uh high school regions exam week. So students will be finishing up their first semester of studies, taking some midterms, taking some uh regions examinations. Um and then at the end of that period, the following Monday, the 26th is the start of our second semester. So for those that are wondering about report cards and when things are on the portal, it's usually the first week in February when uh grades will go out there. So parents that are wondering uh there's still few weeks left in this
015in the second quarter first semester but that information will be going out. Um the my ride bus app we've been piloting a piece of technology with our transportation department and some of our um PTA uh officers trying to get information on an app that will help uh families track the departure and arrival of the school bus. So uh so far during this pilot period which is running from mid December through midFebruary the feedback has been positive. Um we're looking forward to gathering that uh making some adjustments and then presenting it to at least one full school for the spring and then hopefully for the fall we open it up to the entire district. So just something to be aware of. Um it is progressing. It is a piece of technology that should help uh both
016students and and parents know when the bus is arriving or if it's running a little bit late. Um and finally, just a shout out, I Care Mac and Cheese and Chili Cookoff, uh Friday, January 23rd, the end of Regent's week. So after your studies, bring your appetite. Um Village Community Center, 4 to 8:00 PM. So looking forward to that. and a lot of hard work's going on by our student leaderships uh groups behind the scenes and uh looking forward to a good night. >> All right, >> Dr. Perry, I think it would be interesting for the students that are here today to know that we're some of us are going to go you're going to go to the you see the legislators. I think if you could uh >> so um part of our budgeting
017process which we're we're beginning the process now is to work with our representatives uh both the Senate and the Assembly side to voice what our our priorities are for our our individual district but also what their regional priorities are. So some of the things that we're looking at obviously are foundation aid and and the um support for schools to sustain programming. um members of the board of education and myself will will join a few other uh neighboring districts to go down and talk to our representatives in their offices in Albany and talk about those legislative priorities. Um regionally uh I'm also part of the cap region Bosei superintendent uh legislative committee. We recently held a breakfast for the area representatives um to talk about those priories and um I think it not only provides us
018some face-to-face time to collaborate but talk about issues that are important [snorts] to our schools. One uh issue that continually comes up is how do we support students um in their their daily studies with the portion of the graduate and how do we support them in the mental health side of things. So, our our representatives are are uh there. They're they're helping to support our schools in a variety of ways. And I think it's a a great opportunity for us to participate in government for those students that are doing that. It's that next stage of trying to continue to advocate for your individual communities. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Very good. Thank you very much. Agenda item number six, new business board members. Mr. Blakeley. >> Um, I [clears throat] wanted to start off
019because if you notice in the agenda today, there's some retirements. Uh, Miss Eicolser was a teacher of mine when I was at Colony. Um, probably one of my favorite technology teachers. So, I want to congratulate her on a wonderful career and thank you for your impact in my life as I'm sure as well as a number of other students. Um, additionally, uh, just some community things going on, but, uh, Junior Wolfpack is doing a girls flag football spring season for, uh, kids in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. Um, it starts April 2nd. It's an 8week long program. Um, if you if you're interested or your students interested in playing, it's a, you know, it's a really upand cominging program at the high school level. Love to see more kids at the younger level get involved
020to build it. Um, you can register online at colonyoot.org. If you have any questions, check out the Facebook page or you can reach out to Ed W, who is the president and current commissioner of the Junior Wolfpack, or Coach Wagner, who's the varsity girls flag uh coach. [clears throat] >> Great. Thank you very much, >> Mr. Larby. >> Sure. I have three things. Uh, I'd like to congratulate uh, senior Liv Hoffman, uh, Libby for, um, being selected as Channel 13's prestigious first selection for girls basketball uh, this last week. Um, and uh, secondly, I would like to uh, bring up to a sport that uh, sometimes doesn't get its just due, but they all they all are important. Uh and that is uh some people in this room might still think that the pool that
021we have is on the third floor at South Colony. No, we combine with the Skenctity for a varsity swim program. And congratulations to those athletes of the week that won that recently. And lastly, the most important one, I was able to see uh in today's social media posts from the district and uh our local government that uh South Colony was able to complete the first in-house EMT program. Um that was done [clears throat] in our district. And congratulations to all those students that uh were able to receive that. I think is an amazing thing. >> That's fantastic. >> That is that is very cool. [clears throat] Thank you very much. >> Anyone else? >> Following off what Dr. Perry said, Magusley cookoff is on January 23rd and pre-sale tickets are available on the district website
022and on IARE social media pages. Um just a reminder for everybody, packfest this year will be on May 16th. There'll be more information. Um the district and I care coming soon and we're looking to change things and keeping things the same. is going to be just as good as but um in the in March line and Q's holding mama mia on March 12th 13th and 14th that's on the district website also and there'll be more information coming from line and Q soon um payless the dress is going to be on January 29th this year and we're accepting donations for all men's women's um dresses suits shoes heels anything from now until 29th which is the day of the podcast and also the class 2027 is promoting a parents night out for elementary school students on
023January 30th. Um there's more information on the district class and um just where you can register your child. And lastly, next week is midterms. It is going to be a hectic week and next week for all our students and good luck for everybody. >> I do have a question with the uh pay less for the dress. Somebody was asking Brian's made dresses. Yes. >> Um, you know, pretty pretty and pink. That's I remember you [laughter] know. So they can they can >> What time is it broadcasting? >> I believe that our students get there around 4:30 in the morning and I think they start broadcasting around like 5:30ish. >> Yeah. >> 9 to 11. Yeah. >> I went last year around 10 and they >> Yeah, >> broadcast is probably done. >> Why don't you
024meet us there at 4:30 then? >> Okay. [laughter] Us. Mr. Case will pick you up now. >> Absolutely. >> I'm up that early. You know that >> when we get all the information about dates and times and when they're going to be there, but I'll let [clears throat] >> Oh, is that an early student day, too? The students come in that time. [laughter] >> Students I care kids are in that early in the morning >> and that's a lot of hustle, >> but they're great. >> Pretty energetic. >> So, >> Mr. Um, you know, I know we recognized some of our transportation folks earlier. Um, but I know, you know, a group of us had the opportunity to go out and, um, sing some holiday songs for our elementary students and there was a great
025Mr. Sim was our driver. Um, and many of his drivers joined us. Um, so it was a great day, good, good energy. Um and then the next day I know they were delivering um donations to families in need. I don't know if that was the same as um but I know that was highlighted and certainly that's um helpful. Um we also had the opportunity to um visit the education program at the county jail. um little eye opening um to hear the paths and and plightes of uh the these young men and not not everyone was you know um they some were older than than I had anticipated and you know approaching this. Um, and then we followed that up with a visit to um the community program at Colony Center um through our sorry through
026uh through through our sped program [snorts] um and watching, you know, hearing about their their activities each day, the work that they do at Bosovs, the work that they do at Market 32. um you know living you know it's great to see that opportunity for kids to broaden their their skill set beyond the traditional formats that some of these programs have have delivered for them. >> Very good. Yes. Thank you very much. Anyone else? >> Yeah. I would just like to add to what Mr. Keane said about uh being at the jail. These are uh it's a class taught by a South Colony teacher, Mrs. Brazil who teaches these in this kind our our the people we visited were young gentlemen who are incarcerated but they're working on their GED or their regious diploma so
027that after well and we talk to them there and ask them uh not why are you there but um how can we work with other students so that uh we we pro provide for the uh the betterment of all of our students. So, we got some good hints on attendance and uh what makes school good for for them. Why are they doing it where they hadn't done it before? >> Yeah. The the parenting program that they talked about, right? having that opportunity to read a book to their child through essentially YouTube and then the the jail will uh mail the book to to the family so that the child, you know, it's parenthood is a is a tremendous thing for for me. So, I can only imagine what it's like to miss out on that
028opportunity to watch your your child grow and and thrive. So, >> and it it was it was true that most of those young gentlemen were fathers. And we're talking 18 years old, 18, 19, 20 years old. >> And then >> and their message to to our kids is uh stay in school. >> Yeah. >> I mean, you know, and I appreciate Vincent joined us. Um I think it gives a unique perspective. >> I see it sitting as a 50, you know, 52 year old. You're seeing it from, you know, 16 year old. So >> um curious if you have anything to add. It was uh sorry, one of the out of all the things I've done so far beyond the board is probably one of the best things I've gotten to experience. Just listening to
029those gentlemen and I the parenting program is probably one of the one of the best things I've heard. That's truly like one one of the most beautiful things that I think the the jail offers for their parents. >> And again, that's Mrs. Brazelle who does the parenting portion of it, too. It's not just it's not just teaching. It's >> and Kim's doing such a great job there. I think it's was it's great opportunity for those um gentlemen and boys and I [laughter] really do it's their perspective and what they told us really I think that will help us here on the board. >> Very good. >> I've just got couple we we together can talk about the uh winter concerts. >> Yes. >> That uh well first of all back back up. I did attend
030I as I told just in a previous meeting I attended the uh concert at Proctors that uh our young people attended and and that was super but these guys these these concerts are as good >> what uh Mr. Connistrachi and all of the staff do the singing and the music. It's it's it's wonderful. So I only got to go to one of them. Did I don't know if you got to do more than one. >> No, I did. We went to the a very great one though. That's true. >> Yeah. Yeah. Where they do the hallelujah. [clears throat] >> It was as good as usual. And Mrs. >> Oh, she's back there. She knows she knows how great they are. >> Very good. Miss McGarth. >> And I'll just I I just want to mention
031one more thing. Since uh I've been on the board, uh I've been meaning to do this, but I now have about a it's going on five pages now. I have compiled a list of all of the educational acronyms. So, if you want to know what uh the GAO is, just just contact me and I'll tell you what it is. Um because we come up with those those acronyms all the time. And uh >> that's going to go that's going to go on the web for [clears throat] parent. >> Well, eventually we will do that >> and I think it needs to go into your onboarding book. >> That's right. That's right. >> The the list is uh [clears throat] ongoing because every time I go to another meeting, I get four or five more. >>
032Yes. >> Speak. >> Well, anyway, that's that's if anybody wants to know, I got my list here. >> The accounting office for those that are wondering. >> Yeah, exactly. [laughter] >> Thank you. All right, last call. Anything else? I I can't believe my sports guys missed this. Uh, our own Vincent Mastriani and continuing to burn up the wrestling world. >> I thought so. Hey, Ben. [laughter] >> Hey, Ben. Can can you uh can you tell us what you've been up to lately? >> All right. Well, I'm currently 29 and two this year. >> I won Thomas Chanis up Hudson Falls. I won Saratoga. I won Mid Hudson. I took second at Eastern States. We don't talk about the finals match there, but it's been it's been going pretty good so far. Uh states are next
033next month just about. I have a duel tomorrow. D on Friday at Col Center. You guys should come. >> It's gonna be fun. We're going to beat Shaker this year. >> Yeah, you are. >> When is when is the battle at the mall? >> It's going to be Friday. It starts at 6. >> All right. >> Friday and Saturday, right? >> Uh Saturday would be youth in the morning. All right. So, Friday. >> Yeah. Don't worry about Shen. That's not a good one for cell phones. >> All right. Well, congratulations. Keep up the great work. >> Thank you. Question for Vince sitting in the back row. >> Tell us about the Eastern States. Give it give us a little history on that. How big is that? How many schools, etc.? >> So, this year, I
034think it was about over 200 teams went and uh Eastern States in the wrestling world is the hardest tournament in New York. pretty much it's harder than our actual states because we have two like brackets. There's going to be big schools that are like us, Shen, CBA, Saratoga, and small schools that are like Salem, Cambridge, Dwayneburg. And so they combine both of those and they make one big bracket. And uh I had a 64man bracket. I wrestled six matches. I went five and one. I beat state finalists in the semiis, three state placesers along the way, and then in the finals, I had two time Virginia Beach national champ. He's currently ranked ninth in the country, committed to NC State. Uh, yeah, I kind of knew what was going to happen going into that night.
035[laughter] It It went well for a good 30 seconds. I took him down and then he stood right back up. And then I tried doing a Matt return, which is where like I pick him up and put him back down. it. It's a lot of wrestling, but he rolled. It didn't go well for me. I smacked my head. He reversed me and pinned me, but every other match before that was a dog fight. And uh I was able to win, you know. >> Good for you, >> Mid Hudson. That's another tournament. I won that. I got most wrestler there for beating uh CBA's one and only Luca Papuzia. [laughter] >> But yeah, I think you guys are tired of hearing my my wrestling [laughter] now. I will go forever. You go get him this weekend.
036I will. All right. [clears throat] Thanks, Vid. No problem. >> All right, everyone. Moving along, we are up to agenda item number seven, communications. We do have one. Do we have any on online? Okay, we do have one request to address the board. This one is um Kimberly I'm gonna just check outside. >> Okay. You're going to check outside. [clears throat] >> Hello, Kimberly Hi, I'm Stephanie Kogan. You'll be addressing me. You've read the the rules here. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, okay. Go right ahead, please. >> Okay. So tonight I'm here to address the concerns that I have regarding um instruction during January 20th through the 23rd for the life skill students at the high school >> uh students. >> And during that time period that's when the region's exams are given. Um, and
037I'm concerned because classes aren't in session and it's, you know, my daughter counts on school as they, because this is my daughter, Shiloh, she counts on school as like the center of her world. She looks forward to seeing the bus drivers, the teachers, everybody. Um, >> I'm not 100. and she doesn't take part in any of these assessments at all. So, she's not going to be going to school during that time period. So, my question is, what is she going to be doing? Um, I'm going to be taking time off from work, my husband's going to be taking time off from work, and why can't these kids be in school during that week? And I I don't understand because their teachers won't be proctoring the exams because they are in the life skills program. So,
038um I've been told that it's been a past practice that, you know, kids aren't in school. And just because it's a past practice doesn't mean it's the correct practice. Things need to be revisited. I'm a teacher myself and in my district, Averil Park, we constantly are looking and seeing as needs change, needs grow, we have to adapt for the kids. That's what we're here for and no one else but the kids. And I see I teach middle school all day and I come home to my second job at night and it is a huge challenge. But, you know, we're coming off a almost two week Christmas break. We're back in school for two weeks. She's going to be out of school for another week. For kids like this who thrive on structure and routine, it
039is throwing her off greatly. And it puts me in a difficult position because number one, she can't be left unsupervised at all, not even for five minutes. Whereas her counterparts, we could leave a typical 15, 16 year old because she's 16 and a half. A typical 16-year-old could be left home alone. And we all know that a lot of us are parents, but she could not. So, I'm going to be taking time, my husband's going to be taking time off. um this decision seemed to be a top- down approach versus a shared decisionmaking which concerns me because I don't think you know input was taken from the parents at all with regard to this and you know we're important we're with these kids all the time and we need to be heard my next concern
040is for the region's week in June from the 10th to the 26th I've already looked at the schedule that's when they What happens to these kids from that time period from the 10th to the 26th? That's two weeks and two days. What happens to them? Do they stop attending school from that time period? Because the extended school year doesn't start until after July 4th. So that means she would be stopping school July, June 9th, and not starting up again until after July. So July, July 6. I mean, that's a long time for her to be out of school. And as a teacher preparing to give I give regent exams myself to prepare a hundred students to take the regions, I have to be there. I can't be out of work prepared. Honey, I let you
041finish, please. Okay. I love you. All right. I need to be there. And so there needs to be a plan come coming up. These kids haven't even been in school there. I'm I'm pretty sure there is an attendance requirement. I have to be in school 180 days. I'm sure the kids have to be in school a certain amount of days. And if they're out for, you know, regions, which she doesn't take part in, how is that attendance requirement being met? I mean these are questions I pose to all of you on the board. Can this be looked at before regions gets here and we run into this problem whether it's a past practice or not that doesn't matter the needs are growing there are more of these kids every year and things need to be
042addressed. >> We don't have any help. It's just Kim and I that that are raised in China. We don't we [snorts] don't have a respbit. Um her her mother is elderly and can't help us. So when she's not in school, we have to take away from our vacation times and be home with her. We cannot leave our home for 20 minutes. I mean, >> it's very difficult. And for those of us who use um it's called self-direction through OPWDD, we can't access any of those services because it's considered a school day. So we can't access any of our money to pay for help because you're considering it a school day. So we can't get any help because we're in a bad spot. We're in school technically even though she's home. So, I mean, >> like
043we're on a vice group, literally. So, like I said, something really needs to be done because we have no relief. So I I I just pose this to you that we really need to come up with a plan before June gets here because obviously this decision has already been made and you know it was I talked to many parents of students in her class and they're pretty much all on the same page and we've communicated with Dr. Perry um through several emails but I wanted to bring it to the board of ed because I think everybody needs to be aware of what's Just to let let you know, we have made changes uh last year for the June regions exam period. We anticipate those same changes. So, our students in our life skills program will
044have a extended school year. I believe that when exams start, it's a reduced day, but we do have plans and we'll make sure that's messaged out [laughter] to families. >> Okay. This is the first I'm hearing about it. So, I just want to make sure. And also will it be addressed that next year during the January region? >> We're going to look at that partner. I I think I've shared before, but I'll follow up with you personally, let families know um as how we can look at adjustments in future regions exam. >> Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Mori. >> [clears throat] >> Agenda item number eight, board committee reports. Letter [clears throat] A, audit and finance. This is Mr. Blakeley, committee chair. [clears throat] Mr. Blakeley, if you'd like to make any highlights
045or if anybody has any questions regarding the report of the academic achievement committee. Oh, excuse me. Shouldn't this be audit and finance? audit and finance committee meeting that was held on December 9th, 2025. Not to give you the old switcheroo, [laughter] but the audit and finance committee because I don't know that you can have uh answer questions on the academic. >> So, audit and finance and it is hyperl so you can take a look at it. Just uh in relation to audit and finance in the district, budget season is coming up and every year I encourage our parents uh and our students to attend board meetings from now till the budget vote because it's really important to know what you're voting on future voters and future students who are going to be eligible to vote.
046Um know where your money is going, know how the budget process works. It's an in-depth process and we often get to ask questions a lot of times about that process. So by going to those meetings, you do learn and get a little bit more insight into how the budget is built and what's going on. So it's really usually my message this time of year is come to the meetings, especially as the budget stuff comes out. It's important to be here. >> Good everyone. [laughter] >> Anyone else? Thank you very much. Letter B, transportations and facilities. This is Mr. Casey, committee chair. if you have any highlights or if anybody has any questions on the transportation facilities committee meeting that was held on December 11th. Thank you, Madam President. A couple of things have concerned me.
047The number of vehicles going past the stop school bus is mainly occurring on Central Avenue. And when Mr. Sim, the director of transportation was here, he shared with the committee uh some staggering numbers. Um September 197 vehicles went past the stop school bus. October 312. In November 194 as far as I'm concerned that that's really unacceptable. People got to pay attention >> for those doing the math. That's 703. >> That's quite a bit. >> I I had a note so I'm glad you're talking of it. >> That's that's quite a bit. Um, when you see that big yellow submarine stop and the lights come on, you got to stop. Period. I would hate to think what could happen if you didn't and we won't even go there. So, that's one of my concerns. Uh, the
048other one Dr. Perry mentioned a little while ago, My Ride app. Um, I would strongly urge people to start taking a look at that. We had a a presentation, we were brought up to speed on this my app, My Ride app. Um it's it's interesting. Um you're going to get a real time location of the bus whether it's late, whether it's early, etc. So take a look at that. Um get on board if you will, so to speak. Uh the other one that I think is pretty exciting also is we will be receiving our first electric school bus this coming year, 2026. Um it's going to be pretty exciting. We got that through a grant if I'm not mistaken. Didn't cost us a dime. We got the mechanics all ready to go. So, that that's
049going to be kind of interesting to see how that works. Um, the other thing uh as far as the facilities, I'm sure you've seen all the things being built around this the district in the building, the high school, etc. But I think the one that has me really excited is the new library being built up at Veer. If you haven't been by there, looking at all that wood structure that's being built, uh that's that's I hate to say this, but I think some of the other elementary schools are going to want their library taken down, one built like the one that's being built at Beer. It it's cool. I think the kids are going to get a real kick out of it. So, if you go by there in the next couple of months and
050watch that being built, it's exciting. A lot of things going on. Um I'll answer any questions if anybody has any. Uh we've got some bids going out for Sand Creek uh in January this month. Um transportation center. Some changes are coming uh at the old Boseies building. That's that's another exciting piece. So I will certainly entertain any questions that you have. >> I I think my question may be more for Dr. Perry. Um, you know, but you mentioned the the tickets, and if I calculated correctly, $73 at $250 a ticket, assuming it's the first ticket, >> is $175,000. And I know there was a contract that came with this. I'm just curious about the timeline of the contract. >> Yeah. So, originally was a five-year uh agreement, but it's between the county and bus patrol
051company, >> right? Um, school districts do not uh receive any of the revenue from that. The law strictly forbids it. >> Forbids it. >> So, uh, all we're looking to do is try to improve safety for [clears throat] students and staff, community members, um, advertising that. We've worked closely with Albony County. Um, they've done advertising, they've done radio ads, they've, you know, continue to do campaigns every year. Um, and they are doing some of the revenue has helped uh, some of our programs. So they actually have given back to driver safety by helping to um fund the uh educational component for a couple of our faculty members to go out to become driver's ed instructors. >> Okay. >> So although we don't get the direct money back uh [clears throat] >> but they can grants
052work with us on that and they're trying to do things that are promoting but uh yeah it's >> several years in at this point in time and we're still seeing you know hundreds of pass buses each month. So, no, that's helpful because I know just trying to understand if you know we we talk about and the just the speed cameras that they have at $50 a ticket and you know um just where where [clears throat] that money is going and and what it can support. So, is you know we won't talk about the county ad. It's a different story. >> The thing to understand too with this this school bus thing is that the first time it's 250, second time it goes up and the third time as in baseball, three strikes you're out, you
053lose your license or you can do some time in the county gym. Plus, [clears throat] the other thing is you get on that school bus is every a lot of folks um pride and joy. Mhm. >> We certainly don't want anything to happen to any kid on any bus on any street, whether it's here in this district or across the state or across the country. It's devastating. So, get off your phone. Not you folks. Get off your phone. Turn down the music. Pay attention. You're driving a a rocket ship. Be alert. >> Thank you very much. All right. Letter C. Policy. Um this is Mr. Laravees and you have final reading and approval of several policies. Mr. Laravey, >> does anybody have any questions on the board uh over the four five policies that are
054uh up for final reading and approval? >> Well, if you if you do and you don't want to talk about it now, there's the link right there and you can take a look at it afterwards. Uh on behalf of the policy committee, upon the motion made by committee chair member Christopher Larabby, recommendations that the revisions made to the above stated policies be approved as presented. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries 9 to zero. Thank you very much, Mr. Laravey. Agenda item number nine, reports for information. Letter A, 2026 2027 preliminary budget discussion. Mrs. Mallister, it's all on you. >> Okay. Um tonight we're going to go over some um brief things for getting ready for budget and then we'll dive into a little bit of the uh transportation on and m and
055operations and maintenance. So our facilities department and then our athletics department um heading into our uh 2017 budget. So our priorities this year are um academic equity and opportunities for all students, structure and sustainability program, continuing exploration and implementation of portrait graduate and enhancing our facilities with our next generation colony project. Um our financial terms we have revenues where we have to look at um how we get our money in. So where do we get our money from? We get state aid, federal aid and our tax um our tax revenue. So most of our budget comes from our tax revenue and this year we're expecting the CPI for our tax cap to be 2%. Um state aid we're looking at uh with current law of the formula an increase in our state aid or foundation
056aid. So we will see those projections as the federal as the government does for um executive runs as we get that going um soon. And federal aid we will see um could see some changes. So we'll need to adjust for those. Um overall our revenues for 2526 and our expenditures has to have a balanced budget is 139,550500. So we will be looking at increasing that for the 26th 2017. Um on the expenditure side we have our inflation to account for which relates to our tax cap. Um health insurance is looking at some increases this year for our um Highark CDHP. We have two plans for our staff to choose from. Both are seeing a a pretty significant increase. And then our prescription drug plan, which is separate from our medical plan, is looking at a
057lower increase um that we've seen in the past few years. So, we're we're leveling off there, which is great. Um salary trends, three to 5%. You'll see that as we go through, we're looking at 3 to 5%. All of our contracts, our collective bargaining groups um are current, and it is early for retirement. There are some on this agenda. So, as those come through, we'll look at that um as we go through where how that impacts our uh budget. And then pension contributions. We're still early for pension contributions of what those percentageages will be for us to contribute to our teachers retirement system and then our uh non-eing employees are employee retirement system. Those are our expenses. Um a little early to find all of this, you know, buttoned up, but um we'll look at
058some expenditure budgets. So, as we look at our athletics budget, beautiful picture of our brand new stadium from homecoming, um some program updates. I'm just going to quickly go through some of these. If you have any questions, let me know. Uh field hockey, we added field hockey uh this past uh year. We're looking at uh JVM, we have JVM modified programs. We're looking at adding a varsity level for our students in 26 27 and adding unreals of St. Creek and LE. So that'll be program ads. Um flag football as um TJ mentioned earlier, we have a great program for our girls, our varsity program. Uh next year we'll add a mod nine program and this year the local program is picking up the um that grade level. So, um, seventh through and ninth graders can
059play on the MOD 9 program. For 2627, we would add a a coach and an assistant coach. We're looking to add a second assistant coach for the varsity program to help manage all of the students. So, with that coaching request, um, we have our points are assigned to each position and that equates to dollars based on the teachers contract. So, as we look at each points that we have assigned to each position, um, that adds up to about a $15,000 ad for coaching requests at the base level. Um I mentioned all these as we were looking at program updates. And the great thing about this is that um [snorts] Mr. Ror brought it to our attention that we are pretty much equitable on all of our sports. So all the number of girls sports that
060we have and the boys sports that we have um with all of these program ads is is a is a great um equity builder that we have in our district. So um all these additions that we're doing um adds a lot of opportunities for our girls. Um other requests as we look through our um equipment budget, we're looking at a neutral budget change from 2526, updating some windscreens, some glass backboard replacements, um increase some some supply budgets to give our unified sports a supply line, and for any of the new programs that we're adding, being able to supply um balls and you know um uniforms and all those things for those students. Um facilities, we would like to continue to upgrade some of our gym floors. We have beautiful new mug gym. So, we want
061to upgrade some of the um older outdated gym floors. The picture on the right is the camera in the pit. Um and we want to upgrade the black backboards to more modern um usable glass backboards. Those would be future capital projects that we'd work with the board on. Um those are $100,000 projects that we build into the budget every year where we get aid on the annual portion from the state for um our 65% of our uh building a um on the horizon. We may have a girls ice hockey merger in the future. Um the southern side of the of section two would be looking to combine all of the teams together for a girls ice hockey merger. This is our current boys ice hockey team which is a merger with Shaker and a few
062other schools. Um and then adding a girls modified wrestling program if the section does. So that would be something in the future that if these are if the section adds these, we would add these ourselves um to to match what the other schools are doing. So if we add these, we would add those in the future and something we would need to budget for in the future. Um overall, the athletics budget summary has a 5.46% increase. I did um add some additional funds uh for the referees, the the new contract. So, thank you for bringing that up at our last meeting. Um, a little bit ad there brought us up a little bit percentage, but um salaries that includes our coaches, our athletic director, our athletic director, um athletic trainer, our strength and conditioning coach,
063and all of our coaches. Um equipment includes the the things that we buy that are over $1,000. We have to equipment lines are specific for any item that is over $1,000. contractual where we include our any um contracts that we have to pay for and also our uh officials supplies or our program supplies and then Boseies. We have um the huddle cameras that we have to pay for for our families and our teams to be able to use the film. So that is just an increase to catch up to all the cameras that we have all the additional sports that we've added. Uh any questions on Netflix? I'm going to go into our transportation department. We have a bunch of our drivers here tonight. Um this was from our school bus rodeo. Uh some great
064drivers that we have in this room. Um the priorities are technology upgrades. Um adding tools and safety for our EV in the future. And then [clears throat] safety overall. Um our equipment budget. We have GPS tablets that we're looking to get additional ones that help our drivers navigate around. Um we have 20 currently adding 20 more. Equipment budget neutral. So, the um no change in adding additional funds there. Uh radio upgrades, laptops for office staff, door entry badge scanners, we don't have those at the bus garage. We have them at all of our academic buildings, but bringing the bus garage up to stuff there and we can move those to any new transportation facility that we have. Um and then safety tools for EV. There's extra things that we need to have for the new
065EV bus that we're getting um or electric school bus. So, we need to make sure that we're doing that and some staff room upgrade just until we get to the new um facility to keep our staff um feeling good about coming to work. So, software, we want to add a new software that allows our 19A trainers 19A is the is the law that governs what we have to do for our bus drivers. So, we have our um a monitoring software which helps us file and you know file cabinet there, but um helps us keep track of what trainings our staff need, you know, drug tests, physicals, all of that stuff. in the software. It just makes it more easy for our trainers and our supervisors to keep track of all of our 85 plus bus
066trips. So, um contractual transportation, increasing that athletics shuttles, you know, increased charters a little bit um just to cover some additional trips, additional programs that we have. We need to make sure that we're covering those. So, increasing those. Um this also allows our drivers to stay on their regular routes. So, keeping our afternoon drivers on their routes and then we have a shuttle go and drop the students off and then our drivers will go later and pick them up. So, it helps keep our drive regular drivers on their regular routes. Um, bus replacement plan, just continuing our regular 8-year cycle. Um, adding six six passenger buses, two 24 passenger with three wheelchair, one 16 passenger, one minivan or suburban. And then those would all be um gasoline diesel until our mandate comes in in 2027.
067Um the increase this year is so minimal from last year. It would be about it would be and our aid is uh 63.5%. So they're aided over five years. Um and for the board if you'd like to see the full robust replacement plan when our vehicles are expected based on when we ordered them. Um Mr. Sim included that here. Uh overall our transportation budget summary is about 3.63% 63% increase with all of the items that we uh discussed and the one um we the contractual is where our our transportation goes in. Um insurance is our liability insurance like to to ensure all of our school buses. So we need to catch up there a little bit but salaries is pretty minimal just our contractual increases. No not adding any positions. Um any more questions on
068the transportation get through us quickly. Uh facilities and m so operations maintenance um is our facilities department. No budget impact again on our um equipment. This is our beautiful maintenance department as they went through their holiday party. Um continue with our truck replacements. Now we have some old trucks. We're trying to get to the new standard. Uh so we would be of our equipment budget. would be replacing one of our old maintenance trucks and one they would get recycled into a salt turn. Um other maintenance equipment, we just have some small uh pieces of ground maintenance, some snowblowers that we're trying to split out into some um a replacement for. We did half this year, we'll do half next year. Um begin a replacement cycle of our clock systems. We have a a system that
069manages all the clocks and the base units of them is are failing. We're at the replacement cycle of them. So start managing that. We want to make sure they're doing that. Um, custodial equipment, some vacuums are important. We need to keep our schools clean. Um, adding some mini scrubbers, uh, some steam cleaners, a microf continue our microfiber and cleaning microfiber cleaning system and getting washer dryers to to help support that program. Um, that helps us uh be able to manage that inhouse at each of our buildings. Um, we would continue with our seal coating and striping program with this with the maintenance department. Um, extend seal coding is important after we've done a lot of work on our our new roadways. We want to make sure that we're seal coating them to make them last
070longer. So, we want to make sure that we're doing that. And then continue maintenance projects identified by the board and staff um as they arise. And the O andM budget summary is a similar um minimal increase based on inflation and some um supplies, utilities, items like that. And what's next? We have another budget meeting uh budget discussion on our February 3rd board meeting. Uh then we have another board meeting on February 24th where we'll have our special education and student support services uh team join us. And then we'll have a budget workshop on the third prior to our first draft. and that the rest go to vote May 19th and that is all I have tonight. >> Before the presentation about [snorts] the uh special ed, >> will we be getting information? >> We will
071be emailing it to you. Yes, and then we'll we'll happy to discuss >> part of the workshop leading into the instructional budget. We'll talk about it lead into the presentation the 24th. We'll provide most of it between [clears throat] the 3rd and and the >> a lot of that presentation has historically been a program update and I think that that's really helpful for everybody and then we can talk about any additions or anything that we need moving into each year there seems to be some new place we're going with a new person to be uh to add it which is I'm I'm positive about that but I >> we'll definitely give you a heads up on that for sure. Absolutely. Um any other fee version of budget? All right, I'm going to transfer over to
072[snorts] Thank you very much. Any other questions? We're good. Agenda item 9B AI update. This is Mr. Jim Love, director of technology data privacy officer. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Mallister. [snorts] >> Mr. Very Teacher tools. tools. >> All right. Apologize for having my back to people. Um, it's exciting to be uh back presenting. Thank you for uh inviting me. So, uh, we could spend three hours going over AI. We will not do that. We will not. The voice of Mr. Bakus never leaves my ear. [laughter] So what we are going to do tonight is we are going to do an overview uh with the hopes of maybe being invited back to academic achievement committee or another where I can actually run a live demo and show you some of these tools that are
073amazing. So um sometimes paper is best. Uh there are a ton of tools available to teachers and to students. So, I figured it would be easier to hand them out that way so that you could review them on your own time or just kind of get a look. There's there's honestly we're going to talk AI and we're going to talk specifically Magic School. It's it's an exciting exciting program. There's just so much in it that it I just hope I can do it justice in the short amount of time that I have. So, um in 20 spring of 2024, Mr. Mr. Kachadorian and I sat down and we started reviewing goals of what we may or may not want AI to look like in South Colony. Um, this is kind of it was kind of
074early in the game and we were looking at policy and what we wanted this to look like. And in the summer of 2024, I went to a CASDA hosted AI um PD session. Uh, it was phenomenal. I I can't recommend that particular I hope they're still running it. It was great and I do thank them. They did allow me to adapt parts of that presentation. I then use that presentation in some of my staff trainings. Honestly, some of it is is in here. It really it was excellent. Um we then moved forward with kind of narrowing down where did we want to start with introducing AI safely to our staff members. So one of the ways that we did that in faculty meetings is to introduce what exactly AI is in education. It it's it
075seems to be everywhere and it can be daunting and it can be intimidating. And so to just narrow it down for our staff because the goal was to make things easy. They our teachers are already stressed out. Their their pedal is to the floor. And so what we wanted is to be able to make their jobs easier, be able to make personalization of learning much easier, to be able to differentiate lesson plans, to uh provide remediation to some of our struggling kids or enrichment to some of our high flyers, to be able to differentiate assessments, which is highly beneficial to some of our kids with IDs and 504 plans just to make that sort of creation u much easier for them. So the ability to differentiate quickly um to be able to uh convert documents
076to be able to do text to speech, speech to text and a big one was language translation. We were dealt a blow um by Google by the Google decided that they didn't want to be Ed Law 2D compliant and we had Google Translate ripped out from underneath us almost overnight. and the fact that we were able to and I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but Magic School was there to uh allow our kids, our our ENL kids to be able to not lose access to translation on their Chromebooks. Uh it's been phenomenal and and Mr. Borman actually grabbed me today and said, "Make sure you you mention that." Um and what is educa what is what is AI not in education? It's not going to replace teachers. It is not going to replace
077sitting at a kidney table listening to a kid read. It is not going to do that. that it is not going to solve every problem. It should not be uh another uh something that uh box that teachers have to check and it should not be a separate assignment that is going to steal valuable instructional minutes from an already tight teacher schedule. Okay, it's just the whole point is that it should make life easier. So I could double the amount of popular AI platforms when I built this. I just tried to keep it somewhat clean. Uh so some of the heavy hitters in pop in AI in the upper left you got chat GPT claude in Canva. Uh Gemini is a a big one kind of an upandcomer it's a that's Google's product um PI perplexity
078and co-pilot which is Microsoft and then the aforementioned Magic School which um again if you can't hear the excitement in my voice about Magic School it it really is awesome. >> [clears throat] >> So again be before and this is Mr. catchorian coming through uh in me it's the why you know what what is our why and so our seven principles for AI and education what is our goal why are we doing this we're not just doing this to do this what is our goal um within that we need to make sure that we stay within because again we're trying to AI can be scary and it can be used for bad so we want to make sure that we're we're staying within board policies state policies um our existing goals and our visions for
079instruction. Uh we want to continue to promote solid digital citizenship and AI literacy. Um be able to address the risks and the benefits of AI. Uh maintain our academic integrity, not lose our human touch. We're going to hit that again as we talk about the 8020 rule. We cannot forget because AI is only going to spit out what you put into it and it's not always accurate. Um and then circling all the way back around evaluating the what is our why. Okay. Okay. So jumping from the what is to the magic school. So magic school is a K12 specific AI platform. Um we had [laughter] 110 plus teachers run a pilot for us starting about a year ago. It went uh amazing. There were people jumping in on that pilot all the way up through
080I did it asynchronously and I was getting emails straight up through I actually extended the deadline of when it needed to be done because I had people in April and May saying, "Can I jump in and do this three-hour PD?" Of course you can. So, we we kept going with our um asynchronous PD. Our pilot just kind of became a a program, summer trainings, and we just we just kept rolling it out. And uh so there's 80 plus teacher tools available for our staff. Again, on your sheet, there's lesson plan generators and rubric generators and text proof readers, which I can't tell you the number of times I use the text generator in a uh text proof reader in a in a week. You know, the number of observations that we write and emails that
081we send, just run it through the proofreader and all of a sudden I'm a good writer. It's crazy how that works. Um [clears throat] uh and there's also the studentf facing tools which is where we're starting now. So in this spring we will start rolling out our magic student element and the way that works is teachers create a room and they add students to the room and they add tools to that room. So of your list of however many four pages full of student tools, the teacher will add the appropriate tools that they feel will benefit their curriculum. Some are silly create a skit but also could be valuable. So as teachers create rooms and that's how the translate side works. The ENL teachers have created a room and added the translate tool. uh we
082will continue to roll out magic student which is exciting and look forward to all the developments that we can come across um through that again because it is K12 specific it is going to be compliant with Ed Law 2D with Furpa with Kappa and um integrates with Google Classroom single sign on are those in your book >> not yet >> okay [laughter] so we want SIPA kappa furpa okay [snorts] those are all those are good ones So, uh, we and I'll note that I'll sign those for you if you want [laughter] to leave. Okay. Um, and it integrates with Google Classroom and single sign on. And so, there's a security element. Again, we're talking about an AI platform that is built for the K12 environment. Okay. Okay. So, as we kind of round third and
083and head fur home because I know that there's going to be questions, the um best practices are [clears throat] as we as we noted in our kind of seven key elements to always be checking for bias in accuracy. As as much as AI is everywhere, it's still kind of new and every time AI gets information put into it, it learns. But that doesn't necessarily mean that everything it produces is correct. So we have 500 professional teachers who know content inside and out. And so what we are training them to do is when you get an output from AI, use your professional judgment to is that what you actually meant to have um exported out of is that does that meet your goal? Is that accurate? The 8020 approach. So use that 80% of AI for
084um developing and then make sure the final proofread the final context is human. It comes from you and prompts and this is true of chat GPT. This is true of any what you put in is what you get out. Garbage in garbage out. So, for something like a magic school, entering the standard, the audience, uh, how many questions if you're doing a quiz generator, the more you can put in, the better information you're going to get out. And from there, you can export to Google Docs. And it's just it's it's really outstanding. We are encouraging our staff to explore the teacher tools, all 80 plus of them, and star their favorites so that they become um more readily available. And uh the Raina chatbot essentially it has um you know chat GPT where you kind
085of type in and it that's what Raina does in Magic School. So if you log into Magic School and you're overwhelmed or you're not sure how to do something or you know if you're looking for an exemplary prompt, you can go into the Raina chatbot and say you know what would be a good prompt to to spit out this lesson plan and it will point you in the right direction. All right. So, five slides for now, six slides for now. Um, again, I I would love to come back and be able to pull Magic School up and like run a live demo, [snorts] maybe bring a teacher, maybe bring a student, I don't know, however you guys want to do it. But, um, questions. >> Can you talk to like focused on Magic School, but
086like Gemini was on there, Gemini is a Google product. Is that Edlock compliant? >> It it is currently. Um we don't actually I believe it is currently. Okay. Google is going through some new licensing and I don't want to misspeak especially while it's being broadcasted. I believe it is but I would want to double check that. >> However, what we have done is we want to we're using magic for for students. Okay. Our staff can use chat GPT. they can use. But for students with PII, Magic School, >> right? >> Yep. >> Within school within the school building. >> Yeah. >> From home. >> We just don't we don't want if you're going to be, you know, entering student information, >> right? >> Test information. We we just want we're going to keep it to
087magic school. We know that's safe. We know that's compliant. We don't want to have them doing six different tools. We're going to magic school and all the tenants of if it's a best practice in Magic School, it's a best practice in Gemini. >> Yeah. And I sorry I know one of the things you know working with my my own IT team is like when they when the system doesn't update you sometimes have to retach it. >> Is that similar here? >> Not so much. >> Okay. >> No, not so much. Nope. It's kind of just always always up to date. >> Will there be anything on the I mean let's be honest. Students are using AI to write reports and do their work. shouldn't be. >> It's all blocked in school, right? We Yeah. So,
088>> so theoretically [laughter] >> that's some honest answers. I like that. >> So, so theoretically, we have tried to limit again, we want >> we don't want to rush into this because of the dangers. We're we're trying to do this slowly and correctly. And there's there's there's no rush into this. I guess my question is on the teacher side, will there be tool maybe there is I'd have to read through the whole thing uh and I apologize. Will there be tools for them for teachers to say like mass check students reports for any indications that AI helped create this or is like that's something >> so that so that gets built into like the Google classroom side or in you know the schooly canva that gets built into to like those plagiarism checkers. Yeah, that
089get that gets built in. Um, that being said, there are there are other AI rel so there are other AI related tools that teachers can use things like human reader and and essentially what they all do and this is good for you guys to know if I know college professors if you're going to use can um canvas or something like that the way a lot of times what they'll check for AI is um in Google Docs when you sub when you upload your document it will play a video of the document being created. Okay. So if it goes from nothing to copy and pasted, you're caught. >> Oh, >> right. So you it's going to show all of the typing, the backspacing, typing, the proof reading, and then there'll be a little this sounds like
090a this is a natural human tone, and this is this is casual, and as soon as it skips over to mechanical, you're caught. So, and and it's a good le this is exactly the type of lesson that we are trying to teach our kids as we do this slowly. >> Thank you. >> Jim, you want to talk about summer work and our October? >> Just to tease it. >> Absolutely. The the plan for our October superintendent conference day is to do an AI summit. So, we are doing um curriculum review board work. We're going to put together a small group of teachers to take these teacher tools and do screencasted. Here's how you use this. Here's how you use it. Here's how you use it in your classroom. Um and then for our our summit,
091we're looking to have a a guest speaker. Um honestly the sky's is the limit for for October but the plan is to make it an AI summit >> modules to have it quick impact just like we're trying to to plan for March right now and in our tier one instructional focus it's going to be 45 minute quick hit best practices by best practitioners we're building toward that >> we have a wonderful audience here that I'd like to ask do you have any comments about AI anything in general or anything you'd tell us about it. Good, bad, indifferent. [clears throat] >> They all know their way around it. I can promise you that. >> I'll stop. >> You guys know what I'm doing. >> No, >> I have a question. Um, what do we do this
092uh teacher AI summit? What are we going to do to There's going to be teachers that will not want to do it. There's going to be students that think it's people think it's ethically wrong. What do we plan to do to combat that? How do we are there going to be exceptions? Teachers have to do [cough] well student uh the the the day that the summit happens the students won't won't be in school. So in in terms of teaching teaching teachers, it's it's going to be just about information about best practice um just giving them the information that they need to make their own decisions within their classrooms. There is no mandate within it. We're not collecting lesson plans and then running them through an AI checker and say you didn't use magic school, you're
093in trouble. That that's not what we're doing. The goal of this is to make life easier. If there's a teacher who doesn't want to put this in play because it's just not for them, then then that's okay. We can talk about their why and but we're not we're not going to go around and arrest people for not using magic school. That's absolutely not what we're gonna try to do. in my free sight conversation been for everyone that the greatest commodity that we can rescue back for teachers is time. >> Y thank you. So, I'm curious [clears throat] about kind [snorts] of building off of the concept of, you know, ethics and philosophy of AI, how we're attending to teaching students how to use AI responsibly and not necessarily just through these tools, right? Like, um,
094my son just completed his freshman semester at ULB taking three classes that were centered on AI and was he was just told he just had to site he had to site what he used. Um and >> and AI doesn't do that well. >> Yeah. And so um the the children are are very far ahead [cough] of the adults um in a lot of ways. So I'm curious about even the you know the naysayers and the folks who have both ethical and philosophical concerns or just um are just very entrenched in their ways. Um which is fine. But how are we ensuring that the system is built in a way that all children get to learn about how, you know, how to use it responsibly, how to use it effectively. Um, and not and by design
095and not by chance based on what teachers they have because some folks are saying like papers and pens out because I can't even let you use your Chromebook anymore. Um, versus those who are because the children are are going out into the world and we'll need to know how to >> it's a it's a bigger it's a it's a conversation that isn't necessarily just AI. It's a digital citizenship conversation. And so this just becomes a part of the digital digital citizenship conversation that we're trying to improve that every day. We had digital citizenship built into many of our library programs um and and and a lot of our our our classroom programs. And can it be improved? Of course it can. As things change, we have to change with them. But that that conversation about
096AI could be used for Google Docs and it could be used it's it's always going to be something that we're going to have to work on. It's it's part of my job to just constantly be evolving that digital citizenship conversation. It was one of our seven pillars to um you know maintain academic integrity and be aware of the bad that you can do with AI and you know with some of the image generation stuff that is going it's it's not only I mean it's it's illegal it's so scary that yes it's a very big scary conversation that we always have to keep in the forefront. We're gonna be we're going to be fighting that fight going >> what >> where is it woven specifically in the curriculum? It's currently built into the library curriculum. Um
097it's not necessarily a a pull out. So that's an elementary then >> in specifically in the elementary and then in the middle schools in the um the um Liz Bell J classes >> the libraries are doing the omen's work right now and as we move forward what that vision is going to be they're helping to shape in conjunction with Jim but just like personal finance just like climate education just like the iterations of what we're going to do with Fortune Graduate our leadership studies class that's emerging there's going to be an ethics and AI course that's going to have to be ended story I feel as we're making our way in the right direction for digital digital citizenship. It's it's on the horizon. >> Yeah, it's a great question. It's a big problem. >> Very
098good. Thank you. I think we would be interested in seeing something at the committee level level. >> Thank you for having me. >> Very good. Thank you very much. >> All right. Agenda item number 10, reports and recommendations for actions. These are [clears throat] letters A through J. Goes on to page seven. The superintendent recommends approvals of the following. Please take a look. Should you have any questions? >> Question on letter E. >> I'm sorry. >> Question on letter E. >> E. There's a 6 to 8% [snorts] charge on top of the fee for their utilization of a third party. >> That's insane. Sorry. >> Yeah. Doesn't matter what credit card or check. >> Well, no. And they charge you more if you pay by cash or check, which even more insane. But >> okay.
099And I know that's not that's the third party that they connect with. I'm just curious if you know if we have that many request for this type of service that could be handled uh athletic events. So football games. >> No, but for them that are there that many requests that they can't handle it at the town level. >> Uh I think throughout the town from businesses to um the school districts and things of that Yeah. You get thousands of requests going off to be involved. Did that answer your question? >> Yep. >> Anything else? As always, a special thanks to the donations. Always appreciated. Need a motion? >> Yes, I need a motion. Thank you, Mr. Keane. Second, Mr. Misik. On the motion made by Mr. Keane, seconded by Mr. Misik, that the above stated
100reports and recommendations be approved. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries 9 to zero. Agenda item number 11, personnel instructions, pages 9 through 14. Mr. Rabalotti. >> Thank you, Mr. Hogan. We've reached that part of the cycle in the year where we start to get retirement notifications or bargaining groups. Um, we did make a change last year where we actually have an event where we acknowledge the retirees, which makes me feel a little bit better about kind of rushing through the fact that these individuals have combined for 313 years of service. >> Wow. in the district. And if you say it backwards, they'll 313. >> Thank you. >> Six of the 11 individuals that are on this list were high school teachers. They worked in high school where I spent the majority of my career.
101So, I've known them in a couple different capacities. One of these individuals was a student teacher in 1996 when I was in a class as a high school senior and then was hired that fall. Has been here for 30 years subsequent to that. I would love to talk deeply about majority of these people and what they've done for that school and the students in there, but that's not good use of our time right now. We'll use that time in in June when we meet with our retirees. So, I just want to thank all of them sincerely for all of that service to the district, to our families, to the community. Um, it's really impressive and I thank them from as deep down as I can thank them for being great people and mentors to me
102but also great teachers to all you guys. So, congratulations to them. This is um there's 11 here. I have seven more that didn't make the cut for this agenda and I'm sure I'll get a couple more in the next few days. So, >> because what's the window? >> 15. >> That's tomorrow. That's for the retirement incentive. Teachers can notify at the end of the year if they are not interested in that or not qualify for it. >> Uh beyond that someone starting their career with us. I like to recognize Miss Liz for welcoming her to the district in the second semester uh to teach chemistry. There's certain professions and certain areas that we we don't always have a surplus of candidates in. chemistry is one of them. So, we had to be patient with Miss
103Nons, but we're glad to have her with us and picking up some of those sections. So, when you look down, those are not new overages. Those are revisions to overages based on the new staff member who will be taking on those sections. So, congratulations to our instructional staff on their retirements. He's welcoming Miss N. The rest is just normal business. >> All right. May I have a motion? Miss Gigglyello, Mr. Casey. On the motion made by Miss Gigglyello, seconded by Mr. Casey, that the instruction personnel changes listed on the attached sheets dated January 13, 2026 be approved. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. 9 to zero. Agenda item number 12, personnel support. This is pages 15 [clears throat] to 17. Mr. Ravalotti, >> we could back up for one second. Uh there are a
104lot of things worth mentioning, but I do want to mention Miss Carrian, the the varsity girls field hockey coach, which is on there. That was a discussion that we had prior to this, but we want to welcome her as the varsity coach and building that continuing to build that program up. Um, Miss Carrie is a teacher with us, but now a varsity coach. So that I did want to spotlight that because it's unique that we put a fall appointment on now, but it's so she can start doing that work throughout. >> All right. Support um, we have two retirements. Um, not as many years because there's only two, but this on the support side, the deadline extends itself to midFebruary for some groups. So that those will come in time too soon. Um Bonnie and
105Holly will be deeply deeply missed in both of their their buildings. They put a tremendous amount of time 26 and 24 that's 50 years of service to the district. And um sometimes our support staff are just taken for granted and overlooked, but they're just as integral to every part of the school day as our teachers, as our administrators, you know, our bus drivers to get you there and our support staff who answer the phones. Um talk parents down when they're nervous about something that's going on or they're in the classroom with your students supporting them. They are not often commended as much as they should. So congratulations to Holly and Bonnie on their retirements. We hope they have an enjoyable next six months. We certainly have have this uh time. >> It's true. The rest
106is business. >> Thank you very much. Any questions? Take a motion, Mr. Casey, [clears throat] Mr. Blakeley. On the motion made by Mr. Casey, seconded by Mr. likely that the support personnel changes listed on the attached sheets dated January 13, 2026. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries 9 to zero. Agenda item number 13, resolutions, Africanamean History Month and National School Counseling Week. Mr. Catchadorian. >> Yes. I provided a nice summation that we uh collected from all of our schools. Um, of note, you know, we're going to revisit what typically runs out of Lysa Kill because that's where Jack Becky Macallan is homebased, but she usually sells shirts [clears throat and cough] of Black History Month and uh that that money goes to support primary school in Guyana each year. So, they're looking to continue
107with that initiative. Um, I highlighted a specific thing that Miss Kuno leads with our librarians, particularly in the elementary schools, but there's a variety as you read through there of very intelligent and insightful ways in which we want to make sure that we celebrate that month thoughtfully. But not only that, as Melissa Judge had pointed out to us, we don't just celebrate it during that month, but we celebrate it all year all throughout our curriculum and we're continuing to make strides at uh getting more voices um that reflect the students in front of us there in our education. So, it's a good list. It's good information for you to read through and certainly we want to make sure that um I I take a moment and say thank you to all those who responded to
108my queries as to what's going on. it was uh it was hit back with me a little bit quicker than normal. Um which is nice. It means that they're thinking about these resolutions and they're planning forward which is a good thing and they're doing it collectively which is also any comments questions hearing none take a motion. [snorts] Giggle Mr. Mis on the motion made by Miss Giggleello seconded by Mr. Misik that the above resolutions be approved. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries 920. >> Agenda item number 14, future meetings. Any questions? All right. Excuse me. Did is it March 3rd? Did we add that on? Is that That's a new thing. >> That's it was part of the budget uh calendar. So we added that so it was highlighted but it's part of
109our March 3rd it's a >> not a regular board meeting it's just a workshop so we'd encourage people to attend but [clears throat] >> you just got over >> any other regular business for the board. [clears throat] [snorts] All right it is anticipated that the board will enter the executive session at this time for um personnel item. Thank you very much. May I have a motion? Miss Giggley, Mr. Larabe, on the motion made by Miss Giggleello, seconded by Mr. Larby to enter executive session to discuss the employment matter. Um, all in favor? [clears throat] Any opposed? Motion carries 9 to zero. The time is 8:03. All right, that concludes our regular session.