001All right. >> The regular meeting of the South Colony Board of Education will be called to order. First roll call. Thomas Blakeley >> here. >> Brian Casease here. >> Stephanie Kogan here. Vincent Fenzo >> here. >> Rose Giggleello >> here. >> Jennifer Hulahan >> here. >> Michael Keane >> here. >> David Keel >> here. >> Christopher Larabe >> here. >> Robert Misk >> here. Will you please stand for the pledge to the flag? >> I pledge algiance 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. This is to look at the minutes of the regular meeting of August 26th, 2025. Are there any comments or questions? Hearing
002none, I'll take a motion. Mr. Blakeley, seconded, Mr. Mis. On the motion made by Mr. Blakeley, seconded by Mr. Misk, that the minutes of the regular meeting of August 26th, 2025 be approved. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Nine to zero. Agenda item number four. Dr. Perry, superintendent update. >> Yes. Thank you, Miss Cohen. Um, first of all, I just want to welcome everyone back to the 25 26 school year. Uh, starts off with a fury and, uh, we do uh, enjoy having the kids back and the hustle and bustle that's going on every single day. So, uh, to our families, welcome back. Hopefully, we're off to a good start. Overall, uh we got to where we needed to be to open up our classrooms. Uh if you had seen some
003of the imagery mid August and even in Labor Day weekend, uh it was a work in progress, but um I'm happy to report uh we've got some some real good uh improvements that are going on. Some are still in progress, but making some uh good headway. And we'll show a little bit of that later today with the summer project update. um the cell phone policy implementation, just give you a little update on that. Uh majority of the action is in high school. Uh but it's relatively um positive. I think we're trending in the right direction. It's obviously a work in progress, but what I see on a daily basis is students talking in the cafeteria, students uh being respectful in the hallways. Um, we've had uh a minor list of of infractions where devices have
004been uh taken away and returned at the end of the day, but that's to be expected in any any school year, but um certainly manageable. So, we appreciate uh our families and our students for their support and the middle schools. So far, I think there's still zero um issues of cell phones. So, um haven't heard anything at the elementary level. I'm assuming no news is good news. Um, you never know, but things are are working out pretty well overall. So, um, we'll work through some of the the the challenges with u late buses. I appreciate uh families. Our transportation department has done really a good job uh minimizing any uh disruptions and things like that. So, thank you to Brian Sim and his his staff. Um, to Annette uh and Maddie and our food service
005department. Off to a good start with our meals and things like that. I was talking to students today. Uh, one of the highlights last week was cowboy caviar which is kind of a salsa but uh uh you know doctorred up and looks good and that some beans but good taste and we're trying to get our kids to eat a little healthier and try some new things. So kudos to our food service department for implementing that as well as some of the fresh vegetables that they're working on to implement in our in our school cafeterias. Um defer a little bit over to Mr. catch you uh talk a little bit about um middle school updates on music. >> Sure, not a problem. And welcome everyone on behalf of Friends of Music and just supporters of our
006students and advocates. Um last night I was receiving emails as was Dr. Perry and I knew today was going to be a day that I I was going to dedicate to making sure that I had a lot of conversations with individuals. So those who have reached out either directly to me to the board of education, Dr. Barry, I spent the day trying to engage in thoughtful conversation to make sure that we were able to hear each other and and listen and see what the concerns were, see where they stemmed from and had 11 conversations today, all around a half an hour or so. Um, just great discussion of what people were understanding to be kind of rumor turning into truth as narrative sometimes goes and learning about the origins of things. I was very curious
007as to to where some of the information came from. And as we kind of make our way through all the conversation today, a bit of the telephone game came into play, which is understandable when you don't have, you know, a full picture or all of the facts. But at this point, um, I'll I'll skip through the all of the why because there are a lot of wise that go into place. But I had asked um Spazioli, the music department specifically to take a look at our our lesson structures and to see if at all possible we could try and preserve our core courses and what that would mean for our student experiences. And they had done dutifully as best they could to put together what that would look like and specifics to um how that
008was structured at Sand Creek was a major concern because as we know Sand Creek is the larger of our two buildings. the title one building has some needs and it also has a very diverse population that we have to make sure that we're being thoughtful when we're doing our scheduling. Um so as we did that um and the information was presented to be by Mrs. Fazi on Friday um the information as she looked at me and I looked back at her she said it doesn't work and and it was very clear that it didn't work uh in regards to kids being pulled out of both math and ELA. And I'll say on paper it certainly does work, but we all know and as I've said today multiple times, on paper and in practicality are two
009very different things. Uh and that's what we needed to make sure that we kind of lend the the human common sense to and made sure as we keep working through the iterations of this. What does it mean if you know if if ELA which we know is a common binder for all of our success rates in something like science and something like social studies if that is remain as an untouchable area in which uh a lot of our students are are going to remain in there stay intact have full heterogeneous groups and make sure that our instruction is sound for all students to be part of that and then we add back in math add in a consideration of pulling from lunch what does that look like for the student experience overall and as we
010did that iteration and I spoke to Mrs. Fazioli about it. She said, "Yep, I'm on it." She was going to work with the music department today on what that and or yesterday, I'm sorry, on what that meant, come up with some more data, look at the structure, work with our counselors as well. So, we have multiple voices lending their perspective to see what is reasonable. Um, and she was supposed to, Mrs. Fazi, report back to me in regard to that today. She did. And I said before we even got into that when we finished our conversation on Friday, no matter what, we need to get going with our lessons. Obviously, fifth grade is a little bit styi because it takes the full full first 10 days before they begin. But sixth through 8th, you know,
011if we we miss a one and six day cycle, okay, we can make up that, but we need to make sure that we're cognizant on getting back on track for our student population. So, we're looking that's our timeline. We're looking to get as many started tomorrow. that causes a little bit of stress for our teachers, which I don't want to do. I talked to Mr. Ryan about that today. Um, so whatever is reasonable, if it's not tomorrow, let's try and get these kids scheduled for our lessons. But the endgame as we looked at what that data um was presented to me as today with Mrs. Fazioli and we both looked again and shook our heads and said it doesn't work. It it can work on paper. It is better than both the math and the
012ELA as you would imagine. Um, but it's not something that I want to invest in and the student experience is going to continue to deteriorate in some of our elected classes where it's just not reasonable enough. And this is all considering what we need to maintain within our music lesson instruction. You know, small groupings, um, like skill, like instrument, and just making sure every time we do it, we plan it with a robust experience in mind. Sometimes the groupings are one, two, three. Sometimes the groupings might grow up to to five and six. But what we want to avoid is like wholesale losing student population. Um our compromise in all of this is is looking at that professional discourse between our core courses like we already have existing with math and accelerated math. You know
013if students can not be pulled from there preferably that's what we try and do much the same when we look at our ELA classes. Let's say the example that I've been using today is if it's the beginning of a research paper and that is a very important foundational lesson for our students to participate in. Then that ELA teacher should work with a student, work with a music teacher, and we should try to make sure that all of those students are part of that first lesson so they have the foundational work to move forward intelligently and thoughtfully. Um, so that's where we are, professional discretion, making sure that we have open discourse and dialogue. And certainly none of this was meant to take away from an experience that we know is tried, true, traditional, and something
014that we're very proud of. It was meant to try and look at it from a different way where I say, you know, in an ideal world, if we can keep all kids in ELA but still have the same experience of the other end of music without there being a deterioration of other electives, is it possible? Again, possible and practical aren't always going to be head. So, we had to, you know, look at everything from a whole sense and then be able to pivot as we needed to. And that's essentially what it was. Some conversations that that happened unfortunately may have been a little bit of the card ahead of the horse and now we have to make sure that we correct all of those conversations as we move forward. It doesn't mean that we might
015not revisit this and look at other structures and other school districts to see how they're able to provide more music lessons and not interrupt as much of the daily experience. But that's to be determined and that's currently where we are with the state of things with music and the resolutions we're able to work through. it needed to work through itself. Um, as far as the data analysis and the conversations that had to >> Thanks, Tom. And I just want to reiterate um I think some of the messaging got out there that we're cutting programming. Uh there is no cutting of programs. Um staffing has been the same as it was last year. We'll continue to be that. We'll look at ways to continue to enhance that. We're looking at ways to maximize classroom time as
016well as lesson time but not at the uh expense of any one subject area. Um the other thing right now for fifth graders which has happened traditionally is this is kind of the recruiting period. We want to make sure that they're getting an opportunity to visit uh the band room, the orchestra room, the the coral room so that they can make an educated um you know choice in terms of the the type of musical performing program they want to be in involved with. So they would not be in lessons right now, but we are working on some adjustments and appreciate everybody's input. >> Thank you very much. >> That's all I have. >> Yes. Thank you very much both uh Mr. Patrick and Dr. Agenda item number five new business Mr. GL. >> So I
017was able to go to our varsity's first home football game and I want to give them a uh really big congrats on a successful season start at 2 and 0. So congrats to uh coach Le Point on starting off his head coaching career 2 and0. That's awesome. Good for him. Uh the vibe and the the turnout was amazing. We had our junior Wolfpack parents there um and kids. Uh the town showed up in mass, the kids showed up in mass. It was it was really awesome environment. So fun to see for those kids to get to experience that for their first Friday Night Light game. Uh which was nice. Um and uh I also want to say uh you know, welcome back everybody. I'm My kids are saying they're having a good year so far
018at school and I have to say that you they're telling me that that means we're doing things right. So glad to hear it so far. Thank you very much, >> Mr. Luckily able to attend the uh very nice and I've been a few years to the 911 ceremony at the the high school on the the Hill of Heroes if anybody hasn't been through the high school to to to drive over there and take a look at that. Um and just a shout out to um high school um grade level principal Tess McCarthy for stepping in and uh in a last second uh singing the national anthem when uh when the singer uh was was late to the event. So, um, phenomenal this >> I mean, >> unbelievable. >> How can she do that >> without
019a warm up? Just >> didn't even stepped right up. Just ran right up there and and sang it and uh and on the same thing about the the telephone stuff. I was great to hear my son the other day didn't even bring it up and he said, "You know what? It's it's really helping me uh >> pay attention a little more." And uh so >> to say I was I was really thrilled to hear that. >> Very good. Thank you very much. >> Miss Julian, >> I wanted to lift um something that I intended to lift at our last meeting. I really want to applaud the district for the summer meal program >> um and the volume of meals served um this summer. Um it exceeded what I thought it would be maybe in a
020year one. And I'm looking forward to um I don't remember the exact numbers off my head, you know, top of my head, but >> it was over 30,000. >> Yeah. >> And I think that when we're talking about like our title one schools and we're talking about food insecure families, I think that that's really critical and I'm looking forward to, you know, what possibilities year two holds um for folks. And so I applaud the district's effort to ensure that our kids are fed over the summer and their families. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Fenzo. >> Um, on behalf of the students at the at the high school, I would like to say that the phone policy is going much better and going very well than I think any of us
021thought it would. And it's going phenomenally and I' I've been seeing personally a lot more communication between students. I've learned so many new card games during lunch because we don't have our phones. >> You mean somebody brings a That's terrific. >> Along with that in between during classes, I've seen far less people in the hallway, a lot less bathroom use, um unnecessary bathroom use. Um overall, the start of the school year is going very well. And the only issue at the high school right now, it's not an issue, construction. The classrooms look great. It's just moving along, but we're getting through it. And lastly, I want to congratulate one of our board members, Miss Gil Yellow. Her she had her granddaughter on August 28th. And I want to congratulate Eric for and her daughter >>
022and her daughter um Julie who I got to know last year through I care. Another lovely amazing person. Congratulate the entire Julia Calder. >> Very nice. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Mik. >> Yes. I just wanted to recognize a 2024 alum. Uh a week before school started, the uh facilities uh committee had a chance to tour uh Lexill and Ver and we had a chance to see Maggie Van Dyk. Um she's interning with our contractor, our GC schoolhouse, and uh it was good to see her. She had a hard hat on and student internship. She goes to Hudson Valley and uh she told us what she's going for, but I forget. It's been a couple weeks. >> Construction management. construction management and it was cool to see all the subcontractors calling her by her first
023name and just treat her with a lot of respect and it was great to see. So congratulations to her and she has a bright bright future in skills and trades. So >> excellent. >> Very good. That's true. Very good. Mr. Keane >> um also got to do the 911 ceremony. Um kudos to the eyeare team for for helping guide and um lead that. um attended both football games. The Saturday was kind of a test run cuz about a third of the crowd that was there last week. Um but uh folks have been well behaved. >> Um there's a good energy and and such. So exciting to see where the season goes. Um got to attend the PTSA meeting last Monday. Um, always interesting to hear things as as the kickoff um echoed the phone policy
024has been going well. Um, Mr. Burl did mention card games include things like Uno is coming in. He he's purchased some items. Connect for some different activities that don't have to be done um virtually. And I did want to plug something because it can uh impact our our community. Um, on Sunday there's a special needs expo at the Albany Marriott put on by uh Jennifer Fog who we inducted into our Hall of Fame this past June. Um, I'm I have buy in for my own. Um, but it's a really great opportunity for folks to see the different resources that don't always find when you go to a life plan meeting and some of that. So, it's kind of one-stop shopping for those that have some varying needs now and and uh for their future planning.
025>> Very good. Very good. Thank you very much, Mr. Casey. >> To back up what Michael just said, she was on channel 10. They did an interview today with Jennifer and know it was well received. Very nice job. I have to uh commend the transportation department for getting all those prized possessions, the schools, mostly on time, but everybody got there. Um, so kudos to Brian Sim, the director, and all his people. And I have not heard, unless somebody can uh tell me differently, we didn't lose anybody taking them home. I think all the kids that went all got home. maybe not an exact time period, but they got home. Um, so kudos to Brian and and his folks at the transportation department to transport all of those kids uh on the first day of school.
026I can only imagine I can only imagine. So, thank you to Brian and and his team over there. Thank you. >> And the transportation department is doing a a bus road together. >> Mr. Kane, >> I I'll defer to Madame President. Can I add on one more comment? Um, uh, SEPTA, since we're talking about the special, SEPTA is hosting a picnic in the park at Cook Park on the 27th. All are welcome. Um, it is not just for special education families or 504 families. It's for everybody um, who are seeking an inclusive and welcoming space in the >> Shamrock Parkway. Poleborn. Polebar. Correct. >> Pbar. >> And I I think this is our our annual reminder, too. We've all been invite involved with the PTA, parent teacher association. By the time you get to high
027school, it's a parent teacher student association. Please join one. Please join all your your membership. They're not going to come out and drag in, make you do stuff. I promise you. If you want to step up and do stuff, that's terrific. But this just shows your support. This is educational. I always call it the educational booster fund. All right. So, we have all of that stuff on our website. You just go to the school specific and you click join the PTA. All right. Um, the other thing I was just saying, have we had a board meeting since our O andM picnic? >> Yes, >> we have. Okay. I thought I was I had talked about that. Okay. Thank you very much. And then October 3rd, and I'm sorry, I was Oh, October 3rd is the
028big hall of fame game and the excuse me, and the the induction of the Hall of Fame, athletic hall of fame folks. And that's going to be starting at six o'clock, >> uh be five o'clock in the high school auditorium for the inductions. >> They'll transfer over to the field around 6:15. uh introduction of the uh new inductees at the midfield around 6:30 and then we will have the unveiling of the press box and naming the press box around 6:40 kickoff. >> Yeah. And I'm just checking Mr. Keane the bus rodeo going to have the first ever bus rodeo at Creek Middle School. That'll be October 18th. So we still have a board meeting to talk about that. >> Okay. get people psyched and you know maybe some folks will want to >> do their
029own test drive beforehand to try and win the rodeo. >> We're always >> well and and um yeah there'll be a special driver there. I don't know if she will or she won't make it. It all depends if I can get some practice in before I actually >> I told Mr. Sim San Creek was a great spot to teach my kids to drive. >> That's right. The big yellow. >> Now I get to you know now it's my turn. >> That's right. That's right. All right. Thank you very much, Mr. Ke. >> Yes, I was uh at the tenure teacher >> Yes. >> reception today, which is very nice. And I everybody I spoke to was so positive and they were having a good start to their year and they're so positive about teaching our
030youth. So, uh that was wonderful. And uh Vince, maybe you can fill us in. Maybe maybe we talked about this before, but anyway, the uh freshman orientation, you were a big part of that. I I was only there for the one meeting, so I didn't see all the other activities. Can you tell us what it's wonderful because they get the the two different schools uh middle schools together as freshmen and could you tell us something more about it? >> So, Monday through Thursday is freshman orientation. They go in through they come in in the morning then they leave about half day but they do different workshops with different teachers and one of the workshops is about mental health and talking about not only mental health, physical health, all that and going to the high school
031and the changes um that um you'll be experiencing mentally because it's a different experience than middle school of course. And then there's another one where there's a panel of uh high school students. Uh normally it's like juniors and seniors that uh answer questions and talk to the uh freshman and just give all of our information about the high school to the freshmen. And then we at the end of the week we uh invite all of them to come to the freshman day of service which is um this year was sponsored by IARE. We worked with IARE's charity of the year. It's Al Housing Coalition and we got to um go to one of their locations and help their um their cost and it's a amazing program and like a lot of our board members said
032um at our last meeting it is a program that hopefully we'll able to we'll be able to grow more and I've been I'm so lucky to have gotten to work with it. I'm looking forward to next year. >> Thank you. Yes, it was it's I I think there's roughly 400 new freshmen roughly and I think something like a hundred was that the number >> that participate you know >> we have close to almost half of the freshman >> really okay about 180 >> wonderful >> it's great >> so it's it's a great uh great thing because as I said coming from two different schools they didn't know each other they get to know each other and they get off to a great start on the year so it's a great program. >> And just one
033more comment. Um, as everybody knows, the members of this board of education, we are not paid. This is a volunteer position. We put a lot of time in and it it really impresses me how much time each of you spends in our school community and I really thank you for that. That's great. We are plugged in. You want to be right there. You want to be there. You want to be accessible. So, thank you all for your dedication to our board of education. All right, agenda item number six. This is the public commentary period. We did have we do have four in person and we have 10 um online comments. Now, every single one of them are about the music program, correct? Nobody else had this is about the music program. you are welcome to
034speak but as Mr. Catchadorian what he did he explained the issue he discussed the problems and described the fix so I think a lot of your questions were answered if you have other questions you are more than welcome to speak to them uh we usually keep it just very brief uh if this is all about music we can have about 15 minutes of time total uh the online ones Dr. Perry is going to send to the board so we could all read them. But again, they're all on the same exact issue. All right. So, saying that, I will I will call up whoever is here and would like to speak. If you choose you don't want to speak, just just say so. All right. Thank you very much, Jennifer McDow. >> I appreciate the clarification
035that you gave and I don't need to speak at this time. Thank you very much, >> Sarah Diodado. Did I say that right? >> Yes. >> Thank you, Sarah. >> Um, yes, I would like to speak, >> of course. >> Um, first of all, um, I'm the president of South Colony Friends and Music this year. Um, this is my first year as president. Um, and first I want to address, uh, Dr. Perry and Mr. vegetarian and I want to thank you for uh reaching out to people who contacted you today, myself included, and explaining what was going on. Um, I'm here on behalf of the parents that came to our meeting last night with some frustration and confusion. And I'm I'm happy that you addressed that information, but I do want to just take a
036moment to reiterate that um if the thought of re um visiting this decision comes up again, um I do have concerns that when you talk about restricting lesson times, it might be part of a bigger trend that could lead to decline in music in the district. Um, and by trend I mean we're already a district that starts our kids in performing groups later than other districts. So if you talk about also restricting lesson times, that sets us back even farther. Um, fourth grade orchestra was eliminated during COVID and it has not been brought back. Other districts have brought their elementary school performing groups back. Um last year, um I heard a story from a middle school parent who was told or whose daughter was told that if she wanted to take accelerated sciences that instead
037of taking band, she should take a study hall. Um, and now if we do revisit the idea of restricting lessons time, making it so that kids have to be in larger groups, where there's less differentiation where stronger kids are paired with kids that are still trying to get the basics down, that's going to cut into um their ability to kind of progress in their um in their um musical instruction. And that's going to down the line cut into their abilities and time to pursue things like NISMA area all state um suburban council and stuff that we tout as an example of musical excellence in this district and also helps them in college applications no matter what major they're planning to pursue. And this is an important issue to me. Both of my daughters, I believe
038they've graduated, but they really thrived in the music program here. I don't think their lives would have turned out the same if they didn't have some of the opportunities they had in this district. And when they were here, I always told them they were very lucky to be here. That this is this is lightning in a bottle what you have here. Um the opportunities that are available to students, not every kid gets. So, I just want to say I want I really want to see us to continue to be a best community in music education. That's all I have to say. >> Thank you very much, >> Carolyn Kelly. >> Yes. >> Um, also wanted to thank you for Mr. Peter for replying to my email as well and we've had a good conversation and
039happy to hear that you know the music lessons will continue as usual because it was difficult for the teachers to kind of schedule around that and look forward to you know the district and the board you know supporting music in the future as she has said. So thank you. Thank you very much, >> Michelle. She right. Um, I also want to thank you and the conversation that was had between Mr. Kurian and Dr. Perry, it really does make us feel heard. And so, we want to make sure that you understand that we are coming from a place of um striving for the best for our children. And as an educator myself, I know how hard it is to be under the weight of a test score. And I understand that completely. Um we you know
040I know that you have phenomenal um teachers in this district and like what Miss Kelly was saying we are a lightning in the bottle like I we garden in gold like I lived here I grew up here so I love our school district and I just want to maintain that rigor but also to keep the love of the children because yesterday my daughter came to the meeting and she's like every time she's like can they really do that mom can they really and like I'm like we're trying hard not to but the kids want to show support as well so like um if you have a seventh grader really wants and thrives and really does love music and at first she didn't love music the way that she does now. It just speaks volumes to
041the educators you have in your district. So, thank you for being for hearing us and for commenting and coming back to us about it. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. And I will say you're preaching to the choir here. My two out of my three kids where the music continues to be a huge influence of their lives. I think a lot of the board members are the same. Um, and it also goes to explain things aren't decided willy-nilly. There's always always something and it's always for the betterment of the kids and you have to seek out that answer and if coming to the board meeting that's fine but I will tell you too ask >> ask you can always you can always find out what the explanation is and it does make sense. We
042are doing the best we can. You all know everybody's on a fixed income. Not just senior citizens. Everyone's on a fixed income. We only have so many resources. We're trying to do the best by all of our children. And uh by being an excellent district for music is we're very very proud of that and we're doing the best we can for everything in our district. And our our only goal is to provide the best education we can for our children. All right. Thank you very much. Um, at this point we're going to continue on with the board meeting. You are more than welcome to stay because I think it's very interesting and exciting. But if you'd like to leave, you may take your leave now. And I thank you all very much for coming. Agenda
043item number seven, board committee reports. >> Thank you as always for your service. Thank you. All right, board committee reports 7 a transportation and facilities. Mr. Casey is here if you'd like to make any comments on that or if anybody has any questions. That was on August 20th 25. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. I'm surprised that they didn't all want to hear the report on Michelle. >> You and I >> talk electric buses. >> A couple of things. Um, again, I'll entertain any questions that the board has, but a couple of things have jumped out at me here, and I don't think a lot of people will really understand what this transportation department does here in this district. >> We transport kids. This I'm going to just read these rather quickly here. 62 different schools,
044326 field trips, 767 athletic trips, 734,000 miles were driven. Uh there were a couple of accidents. Two of them were staff's fault out of the seven. Um the buses get inspected every year by the New York State Department of Transportation and 98.4% of the buses passed. A little low this year. Usually it's 99 and above. anyone that is listening um or watching on TV, if you're looking for something to do, uh we have 11 open spots for drivers, a place for a mechanic, and a couple of monitors. One of the disturbing things that um and I think everyone in this room has a has a concern with this passing to stop school buses in Aubony County. I believe this is is last year 3,700 tickets were issued by Albony County for passing stop school buses.
0453,700 tickets. October was the highest month with 580 tickets. That That's a lot. That's u unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. Um we do have a electric bus on the way. It should be here if it isn't already. Not yet. >> Not quite. >> Okay. Sure. We're still waiting. We're all going to take a ride on that one. Um, and we're still waiting for one of our diesel buses from last year. >> And that's about all I have unless there's a question. >> And that stop I won't forget. What's the electric bus? It's a 16 passenger, right? >> It's a 24 passenger, right? Yeah. So, it is a smaller bus. >> And what's it going to be used for? >> Uh, it'll be used for our special needs runs. Uh it may be used for
046a smaller field trip or athletic trip, but predominantly for >> shorter runs are >> well I mean within within district I mean it should have a mileage uh transport ability to go close to 200 miles, but they do estimate um is that for a fullscale bus um and our fleet would have to charge a full bus would have to charge midday in order to complete all of our runs. So, this is kind of a dip our toes in the water to see how it's going. I have talked to some neighboring districts uh that were ahead of us with purchasing and they've received three new buses and they're all in the shop. So, we're half happy that we're buying diesel still and uh we are going to work through the uh EV and and hopefully uh
047continue to progress in that area. >> Dr. Perry, correct me if I'm wrong. This the bus electric bus didn't cost us anything. Uh well, because of grants uh between uh the federal and the state government, the net cost is $0. The overall cost the bus is over a few hundred,000, but we do have grants through uh uh two different areas that provided it. >> This would be the test bus, >> correct? Yeah. >> Okay. >> And even the charger, the fast charging station is uh grant funded for this particular bus. That won't be the case for every bus moving forward. Um it's kind of that you know buy your first one at the grant funded no cost and in the future that the cost will be there. So we get aided about 55% on every
048transportation dollar we spend. So uh if we have a bus that's $400,000 we'll get about 55% of that back. But there's still a significant increase in cost compared to the diesel buses which are about 230 $225,000 each. So is there is the uh is there a training that must go on for our mechanics to uh >> uh there will be most of the diesel buses are um serviced in house with the exception of some of the body work. Um but the EV buses will have to be serviced right now at Matthews uh bus uh depot up in Saratoga where uh they have the equipment and they have the uh staff that can do that. We're hopeful that the future our staff will be trained. will be able to do that. But it takes two individuals
049to work on the EV bus compared to one mechanic working on the diesel bus due to some of the safety concerns that are involved with it. So, not only is it training, it's also having the right infrastructure for that with our new transportation facility in the future. We'll have that built in. Um, we'll have that hopefully that training going in regionally. I think we're working on those things as we progress up. Well, and you mentioned regionally because as more districts, Matthews seems to be the only location really. >> They are for um Thomas build buses that we use. Uh Bluebird's another company. There's other companies that handle that. Matthews is the um uh Thomas representative in this area. So, they get them from the factory in North Carolina. And when they're brought up here, then
050they're um stickered and provided the New York State requirements for the lights and all that kind of stuff, which sometimes different different states >> just worry about the backlog with, you know, others. >> Yeah. I think one of the challenges, Mike, is when they um break down, they're they're having to be towed to uh um Saratoga, which is where Matthew's facilities out of. That may expand or change in the future. Um, some of the issues, you know, ironically are electrical. Uh, they're not necessarily, you know, a bad frame or anything that it's just the software and electrical is what I understand. So, I I I, you know, I don't want to discount. I think, uh, this is a good starting point for us and hopefully this bus will work well for us. Um, but they
051are out of service more than diesel buses just by the nature of their upkeep and the type of upkeep that that goes into them. So >> Chris, you had a question. >> Oh, yeah. Uh, for all you drivers that have been either driving for years or new to the roads, that is both sides that you need to stop for the buses. >> And one other thing I saw at pickup the other day, I just wanted to do a quick congrats >> on those staff members that I saw this student drivers uh or driver's ed program has has started up. I saw them the other day when they were coming out of the uh out of the vehicle or or going over the vehicle with the staff. And congrats to those teachers or staff, whoever signed
052up for that. Um I know it was a rigorous um to to do >> teachers trained and thank you to Albony County uh from the bus tickets that they've had. Albony County uh County Executive McCoy and his office helped support our teachers being trained and paid for the cost of training to allow us to run that program. And uh we use our own vehicle. Our transportation department puts the second set of um brakes and mirrors on. >> Um and then we have two teachers that are working through. I think there's 16 students. >> Eight for the first eight and eight will be the piece. So starting off hoping to expand it next summer with additional staff being trained and uh >> it's a good good starting point to refresh a program that unfortunately was dormant
053because we didn't have a staff train. >> Thank you. Any further questions? Thank you, Mr. Casey. >> 7B communications that is Mr. Keane. >> That is um questions. Everyone have chance you know one of the takeaways um Dana Lensith has joined our communications team. Um Dana's got a press background which has been beneficial. Mr. Kadorian, Dr. Perry both made appearances on uh opening day and um so I think utilizing some of those relationships to be able to build positivity on on things that we do because positive message does not get reflected as much as the negative message. >> That's for sure. >> Um but >> thank you. Any questions for Mr. Key? >> All right. Thank you. Agenda item number eight. These are the reports for information and action. First up is a NISBA resolutions
054and discussion. Dr. Perry will lead a brief discussion on the proposed bylaws and resolutions for the New York State School Boards Association which is known as NISBA annual business meeting which will be held on October 16, 2025. Dr. Perry. So yes, there were uh 23 proposed uh resolutions that are supported by NISSBA. The uh annual meeting is on October 16th. We are looking for board representative uh to vote on behalf of South County's board. Uh it is a virtual meeting. Uh Mrs. Kogan has done it for the last two years and um you know can fill you in on the details of that if you were interested. But uh I did share with the board uh our uh review of of the proposals. Um for the most part uh they're um pretty pretty routine oriented.
055There were a few that were not recommended by NISVA due to either ambiguity in the language or potential impact on other other uh school districts. So by and large u pretty routine this year. Um, but if anybody has questions, I can certainly answer them offline, but uh the comments are there as well. >> As the policy chair, I'll step up and and do that. >> Wonderful. All right. Thank you, Mr. Larry. >> I do need a backup though, just in case. >> I need a backup because what will happen is that you get a personalized link because there will be voting. You sit at your computer. >> Oh, I have to have a computer at home. Stop. >> You don't need to be home. >> You can do it from your smartphone or >> you
056can do it from your And only 20 24 >> 23 I mean years before it's been like >> Well, yes. You had the eight hour plus day. >> I had the eight hour last year though. They didn't It was under eight hours last year. >> It was only four last year. There's 24. Holy heck. >> Hopefully it will. >> Gee, thanks Chris. >> It's four. It's no problem. That's where >> it's for five minutes. >> It's very It's interest. It is interest. >> Um the next part if I can transition >> summer project update. Um just to give you an overview our high school. We are still in the process of renovating the F-wing. The F-wing is our English and social studies wing. We have about three classrooms that are still in progress of getting
057their windows and the framing put in. uh those uh classes have been relocated to library since the start of the year, but we anticipate uh I think by the end of this week getting back in there and having those classes functioning. Um they're working on um some of the odds and ends related to like the uh door swipe system. So the locks work making sure the door swipe system is functional and then uh the AC uh central air will be online uh in the next month. Um probably by the time we don't need the AC but uh a good thing it'll be uh a work in progress in getting that there. Um our locker room renovations have gone well. Uh we are back into the team rooms. They've been functioning since mid August. We are
058currently renovating the mug uh locker rooms which are the uh mug physical education locker rooms. So we're using the pit locker rooms which were renovated last year and turned over to the district in February and right now we're working through the mug locker rooms at the high school. Um Lysa Kill Auditorium uh about 99% complete. I just want to show you uh kind of a photo of that. Um, you can see uh this is from a few days ago, but uh uh a great venue uh carpeting uh seats are back installed. Uh both front and back of the house improvements uh the the soundboard was installed this week. There's training going on uh this week and then again uh for all staff on our staff conference day on October 20th. So we're going to bring
059staff over from S Creek which will have a similar system in the future. they're going to come over and train so they get an idea of what that's like and we can make some adjustments. But really a a wonderful area. It took us a little bit while longer than we wanted, but uh I think the outcome uh is uh is pretty impressive. So they have um plans to to utilize that for some student activities in September and we'll continue to go from there. >> A lot of progress since we were there late August. Wow. >> Yeah. August we had the the facilities meeting. We did tour and there was a lot lot of work still to be done at that point in time. And uh Leysa the classrooms at Leakill right now are being utilized.
060They are continuing to work on six classrooms at a time for the exterior facade window unit. So if you look at the uh front of all those uh uh exterior has been renovated uh new windows and and uh much uh more um heating and ventilation improvements. The main wing of the building is still work in progress. So those classrooms are being utilized. There is a temporary wall um that is uh available so the contractors can work outside and the students can be inside. Uh we are working on six of those at a time. Uh those uh classrooms that are out of occupancy are relocated to the library and some neighboring um classrooms that are close to the library. By October 10th, right around Columbus Day, we should be back in those six classrooms. We're going
061to take another six classrooms. They'll go to the library and we'll be renovating those spaces. The goal is by the end of uh November uh that all the classrooms uh in that uh frontfacing part towards the tennis court side of the life skill will be renovated up and running and and and new um that includes uh brand new window framing um central air and heat upgrades as well. Um on the courtyard side in the building, those classrooms uh are fully functional. We're dragging on like shades right now. So, they've been measured and ordered. We're hoping to get those in in the next two weeks. So, really good progress coming along in life skill. Other things that are ongoing that you may not see, um the uh bathrooms uh that are outside of the auditorium are
062being renovated as well as the nurses suite. Um that that will be something that will be completed uh late this fall. Um, and then the locker room areas u gutted and will be retrofitted somewhere that we're doing at the high school. So that's all stuff going on while um school is in session. We're on second shift. Uh if it's noisy, they'll work second shift so we're not disturbing class. Um so I want to switch over to Shaker Road. Uh Shaker Road classrooms are in use. If you were there on August 20th, uh you would have doubted the the contractors. Hey, we're still putting up uh sheetrock and walls and stuff like that. Um we got in uh just after Labor Day. Our teachers were exceptionally patient. Um kudos to Mrs. De Marino's daughter who's senior
063at high school. I don't know her first name, but she came over and um took some um cart paper and drew um the teacher's name and a uh pencil and made it really look like an elementary classroom, not only in her mother's classroom, but all the other classrooms in that wing. So, she spent hours doing this. The next day, the contractors were in there and ready to put the walls up, but we saved that that paper. So, it really um was a temporary solution, but want to thank her. Uh really made a big impression on the first day. But, u just to show you where the classrooms come. So, these are cubbies that are now installed inside the classrooms. Up above the cubbies are storage for for the teaching staff. Uh there's 24 cubbies per
064classroom. Both uh a little um kind of a mailbox type area, place for jackets and coats, and a place to store your your boots during inclement weather. This is what the typical classroom looks like. Modern furniture, lighting, um, and uh, new technology in there, >> and they can also break apart. >> They uh, in this particular room, they're they're fixed tables. They can move those around as needed. the younger uh classes we did were the fixed tables at the request of the teachers. Um the older ones we do have the tables at Vincent experiences of the high school. So So just wanted to give an idea of what it's looking like in the plan. Again, these are the model classrooms that will lead towards renovations in buildings like Saddlewood in the future and and uh
065all of our elementary schools that we'll eventually get there. But our sister school to shake a road to Saddwood. saddle will be the next school that uh will have that and not this is just kind of a picture from the doorway going in. So, but overall uh some really good progress. Thank you to our contractors uh worked really uh hard throughout the summer. We had some delays uh for products and delays for unfound uh materials and things like that, but uh they knew they needed to get our our kit back in in action and we were able to get it done done safely and uh we're continuing to make progress. So, we're thankful for that. Appreciate the community's support. Um and looking forward to more more progress on these classes. That's all I know. >>
066Very good. Thank you. Any questions, anyone? Oh, and one thing that we're going to do at some point during the year, we're going to have an open house. Yes. >> For our public so they can come and see how things up close and personal. >> I know uh Lisha Kill's um open house uh is going to be moved to later in the year. I think it's November, December. >> Yeah. October 29th and then early. >> We wanted to make sure the classrooms are ready there. Uh for the high school, we're going to do a kind of an open um community day uh so that people can come through and take a look at not only the the locker room facilities, the classrooms in both the F and B-wing, the library renovations. Uh if you haven't
067been there in a couple years, you'll you'll be impressed with some of the the changes that have gone there. Mr. Ryan, I think we were working in your room today after I spoke to you. >> They did. They stopped down. Yeah, >> we got some ceiling tiles we got to fix in John's room. It's best small. >> Um, thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. There's this might be something too that I care would want to to help out with with the open house. And >> I know um Miss Bulock has there's colony ambassadors that um work with Miss Bullock, one of the secretaries of high school. I know there's a large majority of students that help volunteer at those. Great. And I will also be involved. >> Yep. Thank you very much. All right. Agenda
068item number nine, reports and recommendations for action. This starts with letter A and this goes all the way to letter L on page six. I invite everybody to take a look and if you have any questions, now is the time to ask. >> Dr. Perry letter H surplus bid. That's a pretty significant jump, isn't it? In the uh those prices on the buses, >> the used bus market uh with Auctions International are starting to average between about four and $6,000 per bus, which is uh above what we had gotten, you know, four or five years ago. But um yeah, it's uh they're hot commodities still and I I believe they are purchased and then shipped out of state, but we're thankful to get that for uh for the buses. >> Uh any info on bus
06951, why the low mileage and they're getting rid of it? >> Uh I don't know exactly. Um >> I thought they usually get rid of them at 100 105 10,000. Guess in the the perhaps the year of the bus it was uh death to find out >> that would be number 10, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Six grand nothing >> really. Once they're out of warranty they start to have part breakdowns become more costly. So >> yep. Thank you. And of special note is letter J J donations donation from the NextStep Federal Credit Union co Joe Wy and those were eight backpacks filled with school supplies valued at $200. Thank you Nextstep Federal Credit Union. Anything else hearing? None. I will have a motion. Miss Gigleello seconded by Mr. Laravey. On the motion made by
070Miss Gigleello seconded by Mr. Larby that the above stated reports and recommendations approved. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 9 to zero. Agenda item number 10, personnel instruction. Mr. Robalotti. >> Have you ever been overwhelmed by an agenda before? >> Take a look at this one. A lot going on. >> There's a lot going on. >> I do wish any of the res um best luck on their next endeavor. Um, there's a lot of different types of appointments in here. Not going to go through them all, but it's the business part of what goes on in my office. Making sure people get paid for club's activities. There's some overages in there. There's some LTRs. A little bit of everything. >> LTR, please. >> Long-term replacement. >> Thank you. >> And um, subject coordinators.
071Just a lot of different things. A lot of business been going on since we last met forward. Chris, are the U point twos off several of them there? Are they for >> um additional classes for individual teachers or is that >> it's a little bit of both. Um if it's designated for virtual learning academy, you'll see the CBLA next to it. If it's not, then it's an in-house course where we do have some areas where an individual's on a lead. So, we're temporarily covering those classes for that individual. And then we also are still seeking out chemistry teachers. So there's some overages in chemistry. Okay. There's some two years overages in chemistry managing internally. A majority of what you see here I believe are going to be CDLA mixed in with some of our own.
072>> I'm wondering um how much is the point 2 then >> 20% of their salary. Okay. And then how many stu I notice we have 10.2s for CVLA. How many students do we have enrolled in CVLA this year? >> So our numbers for CVLA is about a dozen but we're um working regionally. So these classes average about 18 to 20 students in them >> and it could be anybody in the components. What is the I guess average contribution that each district makes relative to the point 2s? >> The um depends on the level of the student. So an elementary level that goes into a CVLA full-time uh is about uh 12 to $14,000 cost for tuition. At the high school level, it's a percentage of that. So if it's one cl class, it's about uh
073two to $3,000 per per class. As a district, the cost for CDLA is is zero for us unless we enroll a student in there. So the staff uh monies that go out here is really money coming in from reimbursements from Boseies uh that is collected from other districts and then forwarded to South County to pay the staff here. Um, so we get uh not only a about the value of $100,000 on a full-time teacher, obviously it's prorated in 20% increments here, but between the state aid and the contributions from neighboring districts, uh, that's basically what comes to South County. So, it's not a money maker for us, but it's not a loser either. We do have advantages that when our students need CLA, they tend to be South County teachers. not not fully at the
074elementary level um but uh we do have an elementary teachers involved and at the high school level I would say we probably provide if not 90% 70% plus that are south county teachers supporting neighboring districts that um so our cost uh Jen is really only if we enroll a student in CBLA and right now I would say at the high school level that's about a dozen kids the elementary level was eight to 10 last year um it's pretty consistent the last two years and it often flows a little bit one course or another at the high school level. >> So somewhere else the money comes back to us >> for the staffing. It doesn't go back for the students. So when we make a decision programmatically to allow a student to attend CBLA there is
075a cost to the district to doing that. Um sometimes it's a lot of it's medical. So rather than have home instruction they're able to manage it through CBA. So, you know, more consistent instruction and more better quality uh instructors than we may have at a substitute. >> The benefit is it follows our school day block. >> Anything else? >> I just wanted to ask a question about and this is an extension of personnel. Like I'm noticing that San Creek does not have in its club listings esports and I also understand that there's an esports change of hands at the high school. I'm just that's probably over here. I'm wondering what the plan is for that. Is it reaching a demographic of students that other clubs and activities don't always >> I'll have to find out.
076Uh I would imagine um we're probably recruiting somebody for St. Creek if there's been a change over. I'll try to get an answer for. >> Okay. Thank you. I I wouldn't say I would say that these lists aren't final. It's just what we have now. So be a small there be a St. Creek section next agenda with only two things. >> It's a work in progress and there may be more CDLA continue to grow this time of year. >> All right. Anything else? Hearing none. I'll take a motion. Mr. Kee second, Mr. Casey. On the motion made by Mr. Keane, second by Mr. Casey, that the instruction personnel changes listed on the attached sheets dated September 16th, 2025 be approved. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries 9 to zero. Agenda item number 11, personnel
077support. Again, Mr. Robot, >> I wish Tim Bower the best in his resignation. Second retirement for him. He came to us several years ago and just did a great job in high school. Great kids, just a awesome guy. We wish him the best. Uh two, just want to point out two probationary school bus drivers. So you can tick down 11 and nine open positions, Mr. and our support staff. You know, they they really keep us moving in so many different ways. So I love seeing appointments on the support side. Any questions, comments? Hearing none. I'll take a motion. Mr. Blakeley seconded. Miss Giggly Hello. On the motion made by um Mr. Blakeley, seconded by Miss Giggleello that the support personnel changes listed on the attached sheets needed September 16th, 2025 be approved. All in favor?
078Any opposed? Motion carries 9 to zero. Agenda item number 12, memorandum of agreement, United Public Service Employees Union. That's UPSy. I always like to say that name. Upsy. Um Dr. Perry. >> Yeah. This was a resolution to grievance matter that Upsy had claimed right to uh a particular job function. um resolution um was reasonable and the district decided to make the settlement offer in lie of additional attorney's costs and things of that. So this employees no one with us but it was a way to resolve the the conflict. >> Very good questions hearing none take a motion Mr. Casey Miss Giggley on the motion made by Mr. Casey seconded by Miss Giggleello that the above settlement agreement with the United Public Service Employees Union be approved. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries 90.
079One of my favorite parts of the meeting number 13, the resolutions, Mr. Catch Durian. >> So trying to establish tradition last year and sticking with that this year provided a document with you all to peruse at your leisure. I saw some of your icons popping in on the Google doc earlier. So, you are paying attention. Thank you very much. Uh, a lot of coordination between our different buildings. Certainly, some things might stand out more so than others. Fire prevention week, it's a little bit more of a hit when we talk about our elementary schools rather than the high school, but still topical in nature. A lot of things are covered in morning announcements. Um, there are some specific to uh, we'll say grade levels that focus a little bit more attention, and we always love
080Mr. and what he shares with uh citizenship and constitution day one of a kind. So enjoy those if you haven't had a chance to take a look at them and we'll continue to push forward our resolutions and make sure our buildings are you know paying respect to the things that the board is has resulted here these five meetings. >> Sorry about the Chicago fire >> new tradition. Miss Julian. >> Hi. >> Um, I want to shout out Sand Creek and Leia Hill for what seems to be a new event coming, a shared Hispanic celebration next month. >> Um, which is amazing. And I am really applauding the effort to build community um, for our families that are um, Hispanic and those that are not. And I'm assuming welcome to join, right, and learn more about
081um, their cultures. I am curious about Roselleville's notable absence from the list since they have 20% of their students are Hispanic and Latino. >> I can only report what's reported to me. >> So that's a yeah that I think they're double all of the other elementary schools in terms of who they're representing. Um so I would love to see that and >> there will be a follow-up reminder that goes out. And to build on that, um I also would encourage us to think about um integration for Hispanic Heritage Month that lives and breathes through the curriculum for the example of third grade example that is referenced in one of the buildings. Um a lot of it is sort of ancillary like morning announcements and blah blah blah. And I think um our children need to
082see their likeness in their teaching and learning um and not just morning announcements and stuff. So, I would really like to see um some uh increased attention to that curricularly and I applaud, you know, we heard from Mrs. Judge earlier and I know that we're working in knowledge building and I think that that's a critically important component of that. So, thank you. >> Yes. And a shout out to April Mi obviously. >> Of course, >> always Hispanic Heritage Month concept and celebration off the ground and making it an inclusive experience. >> Yeah, for sure. Yeah. But I think systemically, right, like we have to it we lift a lot of individual people >> and systemically I would like to see us thinking about how our children of color experience our system because of us and
083not in spite of us as a system. >> Very good. Thank you. Any other comments? Hearing none. Take a motion. Mr. Blakeley second. Mr. Mix on the motion made by Mr. Blakeley, seconded by Mr. Mik that the above stated resolutions be approved. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries 9 to zero. Agenda item number 14, those are our future meetings. Please take a look and if it comes a point that you cannot attend, you can um you can contact me, you can talk contact Dr. Perry, but please contact Miss Lanigan because she is the the keeper of the keys in the name. >> Thank you. >> I will not be at the uh September 29th uh meeting. I'm going to be out of town and also preparing for the October 16th meeting. wanted to
084let everybody know that >> somebody's going to as committee chair >> if we need to >> one thing on the future meetings at least on my copy says November 24th that's that's a typo that's not a meeting at all >> okay >> November 12th is a board meeting it's a Wednesday due to Veterans Day >> just to keep in mind there 24th is not a meeting >> okay I was That's >> where that came from. You're telling >> I knew it wasn't I'm like that's like 3 days before Thanksgiving. I purposely didn't have one. I thought maybe people the policy committee is still shaping up the agenda and everything. >> Yes. Yeah, we're still working with u it's the 9,000 section which is personnel. Um so uh we'll work through that. We're trying to get
085some feedback from NISSBA on that, but I don't see any changes in that should be pretty mostly review of what we had in there. >> Very good. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Can I just The academic achievement committee meeting is >> also November 12th before >> but 5:30 that day. >> Okay. >> Yep. So, we'll get that corrected. uh academic achievements at 5:30 and the board meeting follows at 6:30 on the 12th. >> Gota topic you miss Mr. K to get back to you on that is going to be high school update, pathways update and portrait of graduate. >> Good. >> Any other business before the board? >> Do we need exact for >> We do need an exec. Yeah, >> because we are going to be just discussing the Hall of
086Fame candidates. Yeah, that moves by >> that are not made public. Yeah. All right. To enter the executive session, I will need a motion. Excellent. Mr. Blakeley on the motion made by Miss Gigleello, seconded by Mr. Blakeley to end executive session to discuss our Hall of Fame nominees. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 9 to 0 time 7:39. Thank you very much. At this point, our regular meeting is over.