South Country Central School District Board Meeting 08/12/2025 part 2

001We've completed executive session and there's nothing to report from there. So, we're going to go into our uh regular business meeting starting with the pledge of allegiance. And I would ask Trustee Felisetta if you would please lead us. I 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. >> Okay. Emergency evacuation. In case of an emergency, please leave through the door you came in and leave to get outside the building. There's another door at the back of the room if you need to use that. Um, this is a smokefree building and district. It's also a bullyfree and hatefree school district. So, no smoking or smoking devices, bullying or hating takes place anywhere on any of

002our Okay, we're going into C, which would be board consent agenda. Yes. The administration recommends the approval of board consent items reflected in schedule C1 through C6. >> Is there a motion to approve the items C1 through C6? Trustee Feliz. Trustee Felicetta. Any questions? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I don't know. Yeah. Go ahead. Please go ahead. >> No, go ahead. >> Uh item four that why do we have minutes from April on the agenda? that was um looked at. I think it was being revised uh back and forth with uh district cler. >> It was revised. Do we know what the revisions were? Are they called out in the minutes or no? >> It was never approved. >> Oh, so there was no there wasn't changes. We just missed approving it. >> Yeah, because

003it was asked the district clerk to explain. >> There there was a some comments changed um in a trustes report. >> Oh, so there was some changes. Okay. >> Yeah, but it was never approved before. Got it. Okay. >> It was pulled. >> Oh, got it. Understood. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. And Trustee Feliz, you had a question also. >> Yes, ma'am. M madam chair. Thank you. Um, with respect to the treasur's report, this is the last treasur's report we'll see before the June uh report. The June report sometimes takes a long time longer time to get to the board because uh it gets held up uh in uh with waiting for the audit for the final audit. And so in speaking with the superintendent, I thought it would be a good time and a

004good opportunity for the new trustees and a refresher for the for the sitting trustees, long-term sitting trustees to um to to to have the to have the actual treasurer present this report to us. He suggested, let's have a special meeting just on the treasures report alone. We'll approve it for tonight because really it's nothing more than data. Uh we we can't change the treasures report. it is what it is and that's history of all treasures report. Um uh I know this from all the organizations I've been in. Uh and he's right about that. But I want to spend more time on really knowing just what the treasury report each section of the treasury report is for the new trustees. a refresher for us sitting trustees and um I accept his uh suggestion of of holding

005that special uh meeting sometime in the near future for that purpose. So I stand in support of of approving it tonight and uh we'll come up with a date for this for the special. >> Okay. So, your comments with regard to the special meeting and some training on the treasures report, that's something that um the superintendent will put in on your list of things to bring before the board um to have a training session. >> Yeah, I thought it was a good idea. So, >> so that's a separate issue. But with regard to approving the the minutes in particular, >> originally I guess I should should state I should back up and state originally I wanted to table the report to the next meeting to have the treasurer actually present it but in in speaking

006with the uh with the superintendent prior to the meeting he suggests is better and I and I support his suggestion. We will approve because this is the consent agenda. The number of items are on the consent agenda including the treasur's report. I stand in support of the consent um with the caveat that we will have a special meeting about this particular May's treasures report because it is inclusive of all the incumbrances that take place by the end of the year. it will tell us that we're tracking that um you know that we're meeting our budget you know demands for the rest of the year prior to that last meet that last >> the purpose is so of this motion >> yes >> it's a motion to approve C1 through C6 and we've had the opportunity

007for questions and discussions about it >> yes >> any other questions discussions all in favor of app of approving C1 through C6 It's unanimously approved. And next we have communication and announcements with the superintendent reports. Got my everybody. Sorry, a little delay. I'll get right to it. Um, welcome everybody to our board meeting. Um, a lot of people who are don't work for education often say, "What do you do over the summer?" So, I'm hoping to capture some of that stuff in my superintendent report this evening. So, I'm going to get right to it to go over some of the capital work that we've been doing uh all over the district. First and foremost, um we had to replace the roof over at the Head Start building over our family engagement center. If you look

008at the top right hand corner of the slide is our strategic plan. That strategic plan is going to be formally introduced to the board at the August 27th uh board meeting and to our district staff um who participated in it at our superintendent conference the same morning. The reason I bring it up is because these capital improvement really did speak to some of the things I spoke about by getting community input uh with regards to our strategic plan in terms of our facilities and ensuring our our facilities are up to date and continually upgraded. Um that's one example. We've also been working on honing on the the floors. So basically this process where plates have to wax the floors every year and the floors are sort of situated that they maintain the shine um for

009the duration of their lifetime. So we've completed honing in the entire um high school at Frank Pong. We're about 80% complete at the middle school. But these are just some photos of what the finished product looks like. And again, this isn't the absence of any wax or polyurethane. It's just basically a process that uh shines it down. I'm not a facilities person, but it looks beautiful. But again, this speaks to the operations component of our strategic plan. This was a boiler at Frank P. Long that kept misfiring. If you look at the left, you see some of the the evidence of some of the flames shooting out. Believe it or not, this c this boiler is in a cast iron boiler. That's very valuable. So, we were able to um refurbish it and fix the

010components that were not functioning correctly to increase its efficiency. We're proud of the work that we've done at that boiler because again it would create some more efficiencies for Frank Py long. Um we also did some plaster repairs that needs a little bit more aesthetic but we want to make sure we have pride in our facilities. And then I want to thank our custodial staff which I would I should have said um in the beginning of this presentation for all their work. A lot of the work that's done that's not beyond their scope um is being done by our internal team and they've been doing fantastic work and taking pride in their work and and it shows in our in our facilities. But this is just one of the examples of some of the plaster

011work we did at the middle school. We also replaced one of the HVAC units uh that was non-functioning from the middle school auditorium. It had not been functioning for some time and that needed to be replaced. And so again, instead of doing patchwork over and over again, we're learning to replace units at a less cost over time. It also increases the efficiency of the overall system. So we're proud to have that have that been installed at the middle school. Um, we also replaced some vents at the west gym at the middle school. If you look on the left, the vents were disrepair. When you have a big gaping hole like that, middle school kids are very tempted to throw throw projectiles into them. So, we um sort of uh fixed those things and this also

012improves the air circulation in the space. So, have to have that work completed as well. Um, our music hallway, the high school was also redone. If you look on the left, the cabinets were kind of in disrepair. And again, we want to have uh pride in our facilities and that those images on the right show some of the finished product again done by our internal staff. Um we also uh made really nice enhancements to our cafeteria or the east comments at the high school by adding some um sort of spirit uh verbiage and wall decals in the cafeteria just making it a lot more appealing uh for the students. Um if you look on the left, you know, the cafeteria was sort of in disrepair. Uh we also changed the serving lines to make them

013a little bit more functional. So, we're excited about that. And this also speaks to the student experience, and I'll talk about what that means in a later slide, but all these things are consistent with the strategic plan that we're hoping to adopt uh at the end of August. Really, the the the flagship uh sort of project is our high school auditorium. That just kind of shows a progress report. Um the auditorium has been gutted. Uh the floors have been prepped, it's been painted. Um so, the next steps are basically ceiling paint, uh the flooring and seating that we have in our possession. So, it's a matter of installation and then finalizing our our lighting and sounds. We didn't go we weren't so ambitious with lighting and sound, but what we're doing is creating an infrastructure

014to expand on it. So, we wanted to make sure that whatever renovations we do now are are going to leave us with the options in making enhancements in the future. I don't mean to make any promises, but we're looking towards if all goes well, and I'm not saying this uh to don't hold me to it, but a completion date end of October, early November just in time for our winter concert. So, I'll keep the board posted with that progress, but this is one of the projects that we're really sort of excited about. Also, moving forward, um we're about to embark on our energy performance contract, which represents almost $10 million worth of work that is going to update our infrastructure, so we have better controls and efficiencies when it comes to our energy consumption, LED

015lighting across the district, rotor efficiencies. Uh we'll be voting on the financing for that contract this evening, but we're excited to break the ground and we're pretty much set to go. Um, the South Haven PreK vestibule will be completed u prior to the start of school this year. Our security upgrades, that's the door access and cameras are almost complete. The cameras have been upgraded, the software has been upgraded, our locking mechanisms are upgraded. That's going to be um finalized by the start of the school year. The oil tank replacement at both Brook Haven and uh South Haven are on pause because we have to wait for Department of Health approval of the project. So, the state has approved it. We're waiting for approval. So this probably won't happen till next summer, but we have the

016approvals at least from the state. And the window replacements of earn wits are scheduled to begin to end the summer throughout the school year. We contracted with a contracted that we'll be able to do this work when school's in session in the evening hours. We're just waiting delivery for the windows. So it's all approved and ready to go. So as soon as we get the deliver the windows, that process will start in the upcoming school year. All of these projects were approved um through capital votes or our transfer capital line and our building a are aidable. So aside from improving our facilities, all of these projects will ultimately start generating some aid for our school district. Approved in May of 2025, we already started the approval process for all these projects. It's the high school

017track renovation, the visitors bleachers replacement, Belpor High School window replacement that's in the gym. The windows continually leak and cause damage. and we're going to be replacing two of the three boilers at the high school uh for the next couple months. So, those are uh new. They're in the process of uh being sort of drafted out by our architects. But again, all of this um is aidable work and we're excited to finally engage in these capital improvement projects, not just the repairs that we're able to do out of our own budget, but to continue to enhance our our district facilities. Um, also this summer I had the privilege of attending the uh South Country Education Foundation's uh auction and fundraiser. For those who are not familiar, the South Country Education Foundation donates over $100,000 to

018our school district on annual basis, enabling our students to engage in wonderful experiences from field trips to purchasing equipment that again speaks to the student experience as part of our strategic plan. Um it was great to see the trustees there and trustee Hayes, trustee Calderon and um Trusty Police were all in attendance with a bunch of our staff. It was a great event. So I just want to share my gratitude to all the staff members representing the BTA, our administrators who came out to support and of course our South Country singers who always do a fantastic job providing some entertainment and they actually used some of the equipment that was donated by the South Country Education Foundation which is pretty cool. In addition to these grants, they also helped fund our sum summer summer music

019camp that took place this summer. Unfortunately, it was away for the culminating concert, but I know the students had a great time as well as our summer art camp that just was culminated this past Friday. So, I want to thank the foundation and all our wonderful talent art teachers and student vol that students that work with our younger kids in each of these programs. It's great to see the kids active and engaged in our school districts, especially when we're promoting uh fine and performing arts. Again, this speaks to the student experience as part of our strategic plan to create more and more opportunities for our students to thrive. Other district-wide summer school programs that speak to our student experience and academic excellence. We have summer school, of course, which is credit recovery for our high

020school students. That's ongoing. There'll be administered regions exams starting next week. We'll have the summer school graduation on August 26th. We also hosted the extended school year and those are for our special education students who receive u their education uh continued throughout the summer. So I want to thank all of our staff participating in those programs. We're also able to host the Empire summer summer program at the middle school which is really well attended. Kids do everything from STEM activities through athletics to arts and crafts all operated by the ELC. So we're very thankful for their participation. And of course we had the K to5 enrichment program which this year was housed at Kramer. I had the good fortune good fortune visiting when our mobile library uh visited and these kids were super excited to

021get some free books which I love seeing our students actually engage in reading actual books and this young man that I'm with basically said I had drip and I looked it up. It's a good thing. So I appreciate the little compliment I received from the young learner. But it was great to see the kids enthusiastic about books. They suggested a book for me to take home which was called life is fun. And sometimes I have to remind myself. Um, next we also engaged in one of the first ever summer administrative leadership retreats and the retreat centered around our strategic plan and it included all of our administrators. We met at um Agerman Firehouse. We want to thank them for availing their space to us. I really thought it was a really productive two days of

022working and brainstorming collaboration. Again, we talked about our three overarching goals, which I'll talk to more specifically in our next meeting, but academic excellence, the student experience, and operations. And the goal was basically to chart a clear path for the district, establishing a focused direction and actionable plan for our journey ahead. So, when we start embarking on too many sort of uh projects or initiatives, you tend to kind of spin in the same spot and you move in direction. And the idea is to steer the proverbial clipper ship in the right direction so that we see market gains in our just basically in our student achievement of course but also of how people feel about our school district. My entire cabinet also uh participated in the two days of trainings. We had Mr. Gee talk

023about our financial outlook and what we're uh facing in the year ahead or the years ahead I said. So Hagen talked about our instructional initiatives and what we're trying to accomplish in the next couple years. Mr. Hunson spoke about things and how best we can celebrate our staff and work collaboratively as a collective. And I basically kind of talked about sort of what are theatic elements want to be because this year coming up really is going to be a year of healing on the cusp of having to lay off people and having to make really hard decisions. How do we move forward with the same type of pride and that we've had always in South Country? And I love this quote. It says, "The winds and waves are always on the side of the aimless

024navigators." So regardless of what comes our ways, as long as you have a steer path and a clear trajectory, we'll be able to overcome whatever challenges come our way. That image is small, but I have to confess that's an AI generated image. That clipper actually says South Country on it. So we've been playing around with some AI on our end as well. So, I'm really excited about this meeting and really the input from all the administrators who who attended and I want to thank my cabinet for um being an integral part of planning that um along with our strategic plan and some of the things that we um talked about and the feedback we got from our stakeholders, community members, staff was um sort of feedback on the middle school. So, we're engaging in kind

025of a restructuring of our middle school for the upcoming school year. Belport Middle School will introduce a sixth grade academy. Um the rationale behind this is that pivotal time as students adjust to the expectations of middle school. So by creating a standalone academy, we're looking to provide targeted academic and social emotional support, build strong routines, and ensure a more developmentally aligned experience. We've already shifted the classroom to one section of the building, so the kids in this parade, I don't want to say they're going to be in isolation because they're going to go to the same cafeterias, same music rooms, and have PE together, but they're more sort of secured at one end of the building. Um to Brian Ginty will serve as a principal for the sixth grade academy as a separate and aside

026school within a school but again it's going to be a collaborative effort as far as our seventh and eighth grade is concerned we're trying to benefit from increased leadership focus on these grade levels uh through collaboration and helping to strengthen their preparation for high school and beyond. you know, we'd love to see more participation in our state assessments and engage in student achievement and just the overall sort of climate of the building. And that's to um to continue in terms of making enhancements toward our school district. Sorry. Uh we'll be hosting our sixth grade academy orientation on August 25th at Billport Middle School at 11:00 a.m. I know Dr. Ayalo will be there. He'll be serving as an acting principal uh for the seventh and eighth grade pending board approval. It's where there's a asterisk

027by principal. um and he'll be president at that meeting too. If we have any new uh students who are new to the district who will be entering 7:3 opportunity there for them to sort of get acquainted with the building and finally Dr. Coulson will be working along the district cabinet um first supervising our prek center at South Haven working collaboratively with Dowbert and the YMCA um and and also supporting our home instruction program to see how we can sort of improve our home instruction program and he'll be engaged in independent observations and we look to start refining our APR plan participate in that process too. So we're excited about his new role as well and being a part of our district team. So we're excited about this. Um, you know, I'd like to say that

028shift happens sometimes and sometimes shifts are necessary to propel a district forward. Um, still a same thematic element of our strategic plan. A huge piece of it was cell phones and as you all know, uh, the governor mandated that we provide cell phone free or internet enabled devices free schools for the upcoming school year. Why? Well, there's plenty of data to support this decision. Whether it's the adverse effects on mental health, kids being distracted, addiction to the phones, I think most people are in agreement that this is a good choice. And to highlight some of the key uh elements with an updated policy, um no students are going to be allowed to use personal internet enabled devices in our schools uh from the start of the day to the end of the day. That's from

029period 1 to period 9 and secondary kids secondary schools. Um, and this includes all times within the day and that also includes smart watches, anything that has the ability to log on to the internet. You will still have access to their school issued Chromebooks. Elementary school students are not permitted to bring except uh devices to school and I'll explain an exception in a minute. Middle and high school students are strongly encouraged to leave their internet enabled devices at home. the school and uh the student in grades 6 through 12 needs to bring a device uh to school, they're going to be instructed to store those devices in their lockers and the devices are going to go into the lockers at the start of the school day and they'll be retrieved at the end of the

030school day. Of course, there are exceptions to the the prohibition of cell phones at schools which includes administrative approval with appropriate documentation which may be granted for example students with medical needs. We have students who are diabetics who have to monitor their glucose using their device. Um we have students in high school that have family care responsibilities that may be taking care of an elderly relative. Um and we have students in grades four and five who walk homes unsupervised. If I were a parent, I would not want my child to be sort of walking home alone without having to fix. So all these um sort of exceptions are written in our policy. Um and again I want to emphasize that in case of an emergency uh parents should be contacting the school main office. And

031I know part of the concern is going to be like how do we respond to an emergency should it happen during the school day and really what's practice has shown is the best way to respond to emergencies to have our students respond single prompts from the s for the adults who are in their supervision. Um because what happens is with cell phones sometimes those cell phone lines get flooded, parents rush school districts and and it just yielded bad results. Um so we think not that we think and we know and law enforcement agree it's best to deal with situations where everybody's on the same page and re receiving directions from trained staff and um devices without approval are going to be held in the main office for kids. So again, the idea is not to

032start looking for the devices, but the child uses it appropriately or take it out. They're going to be asked to go down to the main office and have their device held there till the end of the day. And I know this is a lot of information. And so what I'm doing is I will be hosting a community meeting on August 25th at 6 p.m. It's a Monday at Delport High School in its library to answer any community questions, concerns they may have about the cell phone policy. I will be sending a mobile email via Pirate Square um in the next couple days announcing this community meeting and kind of summarizing our cell phone policy for our community. I didn't want to do it too early in the summer because a lot happens in the summer.

033So, I wanted to make sure it was close enough to start a school um to not only send out the official notification of what it's going to look like for South Country, but also give an opportunity for community members to come out and ask any questions or express any concerns that we have. So, that'll be coming on August 25th. Um, and finally, we have a great new website. Please visit it. I'll navigate it really quickly to just show you um where you can access my superintendent corner. So, this is a popup which is amazing. So, when I post my little blurb about the cell phones, it's going to come up as a popup like our athletic announcement. We'll close that out. Uh, but if you go to the menu district, unless I tell it Scroll

034down. Sorry. This keypad. Um, sorry. Bad liquid. There you the menus are accessible. Um, what's amazing about the new website, I can get something out more. You look at here, instead of having to translate things, if you just click on the button on the top, it just translates it automatically. But you'll have access to superintendent's corner um, my daily messages and all of our schools. So, switch it back to English are there and each have our respective pages. We have our mission vision statement. notice and we'll always have some current events, news and events that are current and some highlights from our program. So I I encourage everybody to visit the website at their convenience and peruse around. Finally, um please visit us on social media. Um, we're always kind of posting. It's got a

035little slow in the summer, but if you All of our social media platforms are available on our website. And in terms of South Country happenings and community happenings, we're happy that our unity day will be held next Wednesday, August 20th um at Robert Raleigh Park. It goes from 4 to 7:00 p.m. So, I encourage community members to come out and be a part of this um uh event that's um sponsored by the fifth precinct. It includes a lot of uh the organizations for participating. And that concludes my superintendent report. Thank you. If there's any questions, >> did you get a new podium? >> Uh I think we did. Yes. >> Makes you look taller. It's shorter. >> I appreciate that. >> Just going to ask for questions or comments. Yeah, I do have a question.

036>> Yeah, >> you're going to take them from over there. The um the the cell phone is What are they referring to is the distractionfree? >> Um >> yeah. >> Okay. Did we have to we had we had to submit our plan to the to the uh state? Did we do that? >> No, we don't have to submit the plan to the state, but there but there is we have to report data in terms of how many kids violate by cohort. Yes, >> we had to have we had to have a plan in place by a specific date, right? >> Correct. >> We didn't submit it to submit it to the state. We just had to have it by a specific date. >> Okay. And we obviously do, >> but we had to adopt a

037board policy which we did July 1st, right? >> That had to be done by August 1st. >> So the bot the policy is basically the plan when you read through it. Um and when I send out my message, there'll be a link to the actual policy. It discusses our plan which includes enforcement, etc. >> Okay. >> All right. So So we're in compliance. Yeah. >> All the So does every building have a different policy or is it a policy for the whole school? >> There's a policy K to five and that's 12. >> Okay. >> You know, high school students um have jobs. So the policy has to be somewhat different. I can't imagine a high school student, even a middle school student to a certain extent not having >> That's interesting that what you

038brought up about the walkers. >> Yeah. >> Um >> I wouldn't have thought about that. >> Neither would I. I I have. But fortunately what I did was I um invited uh BTN members participated our administration participated but I had people uh solicited people for committee to discuss concerns and we kind of discussed it and our staff from Frank B. Long may have even been Shannon um mentioned that there were some walkers at Frank Bong which I didn't realize I thought from all of our elementary schools and that's not to say kids who are driven to school but that we do have kids in fourth and fifth grade that walk home. So, how are you going to monitor the um program as you're going going uh forward throughout the school year? >> You're really just

039monitor by violations. So, if we don't see the cell phones or the smartwatches, and this includes earbuds, which kids are also addicted to, um then it's, you know, that's not we're not going to report that piece. It's going to report the violations and how many kids are using it. Um for school districts that have already piloted these programs, they they said there's a little bit of resistance in the beginning, but that kind of subsides. And what people are noticing is that the the stakeholder group that's most appreciative in the end are the students. So when you think about, you know, the distractability and even when I'm driving, I make this confession. I think about my cell phone and I shouldn't. And so um you know, there are going to be challenges for sure. There going

040to be bumps in the road, but it's going to be a fluid process. And we'll reconvene our committee, you know, after a couple of implementation to see how it goes. >> Yeah. My uh my last update to my iPhone disconnected me from my watch. >> So, it automatically took me off my phone for like an hour a day, like without me even trying, without me even trying. And it made a big difference. >> Well, yeah, technology is could be finicky. >> So, I don't know. I don't know what I did, but >> comment. Um the I know there's a laundry list of exceptions from the governor who can and can't we have a procedure in place for students that are families that are seeking exceptions. >> Yeah, it's in our policy which I have here

041um that have specific policy but there has to be appropriate documentation. So there's got to be some note from a doctor or psychologist. You know, one of the things that someone wrote up is what if a parent says, well my child is anxious and they need to have their phone. Well, we have apps in our Chromebooks. And again, the idea doesn't necessarily necessitate the need for the phone. They have to demonstrate the absolute need for the phone for us to approve it. So, >> is that a document that we providing them to? Do we have a formal document that's a like a general document or do they provide their own? >> They'll provide the level like almost like a 504 accommodation. >> But yeah, the whole range of possibilities is really broad, but the policy

042itself kind of narrows it down. It'll say medical reasons, but you can't, you know, possibly list every medical reason. Um, and even caring for an elderly person or child care issues. If you're a high school student that's in charge of supervising someone that look at that, >> but you're having a meeting um at the high school, I believe. >> That's for everybody. >> For everybody. >> So, that would be K through 12, >> correct? >> Any more questions about the report? Thank you. >> Okay, trustees. We'll go around the table and see if trustees have any reports to make. Trustee Calderon. >> Thank you, >> Trustee Feliz. Yes, thank you. Um, since we last met, I had the pleasure of attending the South Country Education Foundation, but the superintendent covered it all and everybody who

043was there. So, I'll save the uh I'll save my comments. Um, on July 15th, I supported the 50th anniversary of the Belport uh football program at their golf outing uh at Middle U middle Country Club. On the 25th of July, attended the fundraiser for the Bport uh Gateway. our just and I want this is a question for the superintendent. Our uh our district used to have um a partnership with the theater to introduce our students to to uh the stage and I believe it was through mistletoe. They had uh they had uh our our students were able to go to the theater. They they did a performance. I don't know if that partnership still exists. So if we could check on that and if not because the the last director that they had the director

044of de of development has left and I I don't know if some of those partnerships were lost. So, if we could check into that and if it has, if we could renew it, um, I think was very beneficial and I know that they enjoyed it very much. So, if we could look into that. >> Yeah. I'm not sure if we still have a partnership. I knew the kids visit the gateway, but I'm not sure if it's in any official capacity. Okay. Look into it. >> Yeah, let's look into that because I know it was very beneficial. Um, and they raised a lot of money. They started raising a lot of money. Again, they were on they were having some difficulty, but this last fundraiser was was uh really wonderful. And I uh met Trusty Ross

045there, too. We had an I know I had a nice time. I hope you did too. Um uh July 29th we had a board retreat which uh I enjoyed very much and I thank the superintendent for putting that together. On July 30th uh I registered for a lunchtime uh webinar through New York State School Board Association on federal advocacy with a primary focus on the title one grants which were at risk of being lost because of a federal uh freeze and shutdown of the education department. By attending this meeting, it opened up an opportunity for South Country to be invited to attend a Zoom meeting with New York State uh US Senator New York, I'm sorry, the US Senator Sen uh Kirsten Gillibrand uh and her office held on Tuesday uh August August 6th. Um

04610 slots were opened up for uh comm for board members out of uh 672 members statewide. Um and sadly only five districts accepted. Sullivan Sullivan West, Lancing County, um Unionale, um uh uh Sakodak, and South Country. I don't know if it was the uh just a lack of interest interest because of what's going on in Washington or that it was a night's stay or it was just complete apathy and and and faith. um or that this meeting didn't end up being with the senator at all. It's just a representative from her uh from her staff. But I can tell you it was um the deputy director of government and external affairs Carolyn um uh Buick was uh really engaging and looking for letters of specifics from each district of what the title one funding entails

047and what it would mean if we would ever lose lose this funding. She also went on to say that the media tends to sensationalize the partisan bickering that goes on in Washington but minimizes the bipartisanship accords that are reached in the middle of the night which was done in this case when the title one funding was restored at least for now. Um, and finally on August, Friday, August 1st, I got to see some of the results of the tremendous efforts on the sights and sounds of the South Country Education Foundation from their summer music program with the band concert that was held right at our middle school. I also like to thank the foundation for their continued success with the summer art camp. This year, they were generous enough to include the children of the

048South Country family who just lost their father a short time ago. Their mom got in touch with me to say their children very much enjoyed the summer camp as a way of uh dealing with the sudden loss of their dad, proving that it truly takes a village, the one that we have right here in South Country, >> trustee, >> I attended um the summer art, I guess culmination. Um my daughter was privileged enough to attend the camp. uh another full circle loan for me uh while attended and seeing the art show. Um my elementary art teacher was the one that was in charge. I haven't seen her in 30 plus years. So um it was a nice sign to see, you know, the community is still well invested in the arts. Um my daughter absolutely

049loved it, is already excited for it for next year. So it's it's a really nice thing to see that this is provided to our students. >> Trustee Ross. Um, nothing significant to add other than to uh sympathize and commiserate with those parents and teachers as the chaos of the new school year uh is upon us. I wish everybody the best of luck and uh please have some patience as things like the cell phone policies and those things are put in place and everybody tries to adjust from us at home as parents as well as those teachers who we harass and beg to take our children from first period to 9th period. And along those lines, Trusty Ross, I'm curious to see five years from now if people are going to be saying, "Do you remember

050we used to allow cell phones in schools?" And that might seem like a crazy concept. That's my hope. We'll see. Well, I attended the summer law conference that the New York State School Boards Association provided on July 31. It was in Albany. And then that was followed by a two-day leadership conference on August 1 and two. The summer law conference had a section that was particularly interesting to me because it was it was called exploring health insurance options. And given the difficulty we had with this year's budget, um, where the premium increase leaped up at the last minute on top of the premium increase from 6 months before. Um, I I thought that it was very interesting to hear about options that might be available, things that we could look into. So, I'm I'm hoping

051to be able to share that with administration in the business office to see if there's any information out of that session that would be useful to you and to us. Um the leadership and education event started with a panel discussion where they started out with a caution about budgeting for next year because revenue may be down given all the changes that have been going on in the state and nationally. So that's uh to be determined. They also focused on um New York State's portrait of a graduate and all the changes in graduation requirements um that may be coming and uh pointed out quote our kids need a future and we have to figure out what they need to have that future. So, I was real gratified during that panel discussion to think about our district

052where we've already um set some things into motion through the strategic plan and um other other things that the superintendent has been telling us about. Another topic is the uh state requirement now that there be a student exeicio member of school boards. This is nothing new to us because we've had a student on our board, but now it's required statewide. Had an interesting presentation by the college board about AP courses and um of course they're in the business of promoting the sale of their various courses, but there were a couple that they mentioned uh that sounded um interesting. one was AP cyber security and they said that it's considered uh a fastest growing career field nationally. Um and it's also qualifies for CTE credits. Um in addition they have an AP business course with that

053includes personal finance. And I know that's something that I've heard our uh teaching and learning committee talk about. So, um it was interesting again to me to hear that my district was already thinking about things like this. They uh I mentioned the portrait of a graduate and they're looking into how regent exams affect grades and exceptions to regent exams. And um they also mentioned locally developed seals, seals on diplomas. For example, giving a seal to a student who had done community service for a certain amount of time and effort. This one was particularly interesting to me. This section was called the power of unity strategies for effective collaboration and decision makingaking. Considering that that was only two three days after our retreat which included some of some of this information u about how important it

054is for each board member to have shared commitment to student success and I'm glad to be serving with six other people who have expressed that commitment. Um it stressed having open communication between all seven of us and con consensus building. Um they talked about how that's so there are different kinds of decision making. Um one is for routine decisions like our cons our business consent agenda that's pretty routine. um that majority rule is fine for that, but for um some of the other issues that we have to deal with, you know, particularly dealing with our vision and our long-term goals and exercising our moral imperative of a school board, which is to do right for kids, we really need to build consensus. And consensus is different than compromise. Um the consensus decision making means that

055we establish norms and standards of ethical conduct and that we enable each of us to express ourselves that we learn to listen to each other to understand what's being said not listening to respond that we be able to discuss pros and cons of issues re using relevant information and data. and challenging any bias that we may bring to the table. And if there are any external factors that can adversely affect the process, then we need to resolve that in private individually or if need be with a neutral mediator. Um, this sets a it really means that all seven of us are going to have to be on our best behavior because we're going to have the student exeicio at the board table with additional um responsibilities this year over what the prior exeicio members had.

056Um because the intent of the law is for the exeicium student member uh to be engaged in the civic process and to be able to engage in discussions and bringing things up um on the agenda that affect members of the student body. Uh there was a session that talked about ways other districts handle the student exeicios. Um and that'll that'll be something that we can talk about in the future. And the final session that I went to that was so eyeopening had to do uh it was called unlocking opportunities the role of Boseies in preparing future ready students and the presentation was by Dave Wixs from Eastern Suffach Boseies that we're associated with and I'm hoping that we can have a a presentation at one of our meetings by BOSI so we can learn more

057about what is available to us, you know, when we we've talked in the past about use of school buildings and um other services that are available through Boseies as well as the financing opportunities that can be shared. So, I'm I'm looking forward to having that happen if we can get them on our schedule. >> Absolutely. I spoke to Mr. Wixs about this already and you know, one of the things that they provide and a practice we've started since I've been here under the direction of Mr. G is a lot of our contract services are done through Boseies because we receive aid on it. So uh that's one of the things we shifted you know whereas in the past when we purchase Chromebooks we were purchase them from an independent vendor instead of purchasing them through

058Boseies when you purchased you get some of that revenue back. That's just one example >> one example and there plenty more. >> Yep. So, >> so with uh with what uh is being said, should we consider having the exeicio on um on some of our committees? that was um suggested by some of the school districts and the panel discussion toward the end included some student exeicio members from different districts and they stressed how getting the members appointed they felt should be a so self-motivated process and um not necessarily limited to student council and I know that's different from the process that we've followed, but um this will really be the first year when it will be on a more expanded basis. And so I think we'll just have to keep some things in mind and

059see how that works and then going forward discuss it. There was even one school district that had as many as five or six exopicia members. Only one sat at the table. The others sat in the audience and the one at the table would speak and give reports and ask questions as appropriate and the ones who sat in the audience could talk during public session. They could each have three minutes if they wanted. >> So there there's a whole variety of how other districts have done it. >> Very well. Thank you. >> Okay, we're on to public commentary. Okay. Do we have cards? None. All right. Items for discussion. Let's back to the superintendent. >> Mr. So, I'm really excited to welcome Elite Towers. Um, we're going to be doing a presentation on the possibility of

060um installing some cell phone towers in our district, which um I'll let them explain what that means. Um but excited to have them here. >> Would you like to stand at the podium? >> Yeah, I'm going to bring the controls for you. Is this the same presentation we have in four dos? >> Yes. >> And what I'm handing out is it differs from what's up there. Got it. It just has more detail. >> Got it. >> Which is why I'm handing it out. Thank you so much. This would be uh for your being pleasure as a leader. >> Okay. Oh, sorry. >> That was very smooth. Um, I'm not sure where the >> arrow is. >> Okay, we will avoid that. >> All right. Good evening members of the board. I'm Tanya Negron with the

061Lake Towers. We will do a brief presentation of what we would like to discuss with the members of the board. We um have a proposal in front of you which has more detail. It explains who and what we are and projects that we've done throughout Long Island. Um I have been doing this since 1998. started in the paging business where I would negotiate leases to place antennas on existing structures so that doctors and EMS and whomever else would utilize pagers. So I'm dating myself here. Uh so as we progress on to other projects that we've done throughout our experience um we now have infrastructure that we put up which is the cell phone towers. It doesn't necessarily have to be a freestanding structure. This thing is not working. Hold on. >> Oh it's the down

062button. I got it. Um, so what we do is our structures will utilize the major wireless carriers. They pay a rent and then that rent and that revenue is split with the district. So regardless if it's an existing structure which is like a rooftop or you might have stadium lighting or anything like that, there are other structures we can use. If there isn't any available, then we would propose to put something that will actually hold their antennas within it, which looks like a flagless flag pole, which I'll show examples to you. Uh, actually, I think within page 16 of the proposal in front of you, you'll start seeing examples of photos and a bunch of them are here as well. Um, so our project costs, we take care of all the costs to permit, develop,

063construct the actual um, structure if that's what we go with or if it's for something on an existing structure. We'll make sure that we do all of the engineering. We have experts in every facet of our industry that this is only what they do. And so we're able to provide all the background information about all the projects that we've done. I've personally done probably over 3,000 sites throughout Northeast uh just because I've been doing it a really long time. And Justin, who is standing next to me, he is has extensive knowledge in where we have placed these uh facilities throughout Long Island to make sure we have seamless coverage. The coverage also uh when we discuss that is It's also for EMS. And I know it sounds kind of weird, but it actually works almost

064in the same fashion where the antennas would be on the tower, it propagates. And so, believe it or not, when a fireman is getting dispatched, they have their own frequencies. They have their own antennas. And so, these facilities are important because we work handinand with, let's say, police, uh, EMS, and for us it would be, uh, Herman in this area, probably too. the east end of the of a district that would be prohib. So, you know, even though we know they have facilities, there's not enough to repeat the signal throughout our district. And we say our district because our children actually attend the schools here. We have three of them in the schools here. Um, so we're really familiar with how these systems work and where there's deficiency here. Um and so just looking at

065the bigger picture obviously it's a benefit because there's a revenue sharing with the district but also there is um I guess we can explain AT&T uses firstn net uh that is a priority network for EMS or any emergency service provider. Uh, and so what happens is if there's an case of emergency, what happens is anyone who's trying to make a phone call, you may not get your calls through, but the police, the fire, and everyone else will. So, they'll be able to get their, it's called FirstNet Network working up and running. So, New York State is opted into that, which you guys probably don't know. This is projected cash flow. But as we go through um what these facilities look like, I'd like to uh bring to your attention that if there's not an existing

066structure, each uh wireless carrier has its own uh footprint. Let's just say, there's cabinets that go on top of just concrete or they're just like file cabinets almost. They have radios. That's how actually the site works. And so where you see the circle on the bottom right, that's the freestanding structure. That would be the the tower, let's just call it. Um, and then all of the other pads will house, let's say, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Dish Network, and Firecom. So they all have separate equipment because they're all separate frequencies. And all this is at our cost. By the way, this is the freestanding structure here. Uh, all the antennas are within it. Everything's hidden. Nothing's on the outside with the exception of the emergency service provider. When you look at the very top of that proposed

067structure, there's a whip antenna. That's reserved for emergency services. And we do that in every facility. And so the reason why we do that is because, believe it or not, we do I know you guys think that the we have seamless emergency service provider service here. We do not. And and I'm not sugar coating it. we have actually uh data that we can provide and show that there is deficiency. Um this just is a general thing where it says proposed site. It could be in any of your district properties. There's nothing specific that we discussed. This is very general. This is just opening up a discussion. We're not saying that we know exactly where we want to put all the antennas and so forth. No, we're here today just to say please allow us to

068do a little homework. uh bring it forward to you and say we think there's a deficiency Brook Haven Elementary or at the high school. We just have not had given the opportunity to discuss it any further. We bring it to you today so that we can discuss it in detail in the future if you choose to move forward. So these are different facilities that we've have that are existing on Long Island. This is Shelter Island Fire District. Um, as you can see, everything is within the pole with the exception of a whip antenna on the very top. >> And then everything is enclosed at the bottom, which is secured by a fence. And then we can put landscaping around it. >> This picture is pre-landscaping. >> Yeah. And you can see some of the stuff

069there. The village of Beltter, this is the only facility there. The village had approached us after Sandy. Um they had a couple of residents that just couldn't get calls out and they had a couple people who had a real issue with just access, no power, no no communication. So we were there and finally did uh a cell tower there so that they can communicate especially with the hospitals nearby. Uh, Ambassad Hall is another facility that um doesn't have the landscaping at the bottom, but this is an aerial view so you can kind of see what that looks like. And again, everything is inside. Manitup Fire District, they had a challenging um situation where they didn't have enough ground space for the equipment. So, the equipment went up on the rooftop. So, you see a kind

070of a cable bridge that goes across and up until that rooftop. That's Verizon Wireless there. But that tower had about nine antennas for >> nine fire antennas. >> Yeah. So we had to This is one of those rare cases where they had zero service and we had to provide nine antennas on there for them and that's not really common. Sony fry district, Kings Park. This is what it looks like where you see the where the antennas clamp on and spine on the top there. As you can see, the panels are not on or the antennas, but that's what that looks like there, where we actually adhere the antennas to it and then we put covers on them so that you don't see them. This bridge, I don't know if you guys know, it's it's it's

071to the north as you're driving out east. It's at a what used to be a potato bar of Lake Grove. This is one of our most recent projects. Springs Fire District, Cherry Grove. So within that Koopa up on the top there, there's antennas behind there. So again, existing structure, they didn't have the space, but they needed to have an ability to um have their fire comps to work in Fire Island. And so we have Verizon in there. Inwood, these are antennas that are up on top prior to being painted. You can see the white on the bottom. Those are the panel antennas and then they're painted to match Laurelstone and Manatuck. That's a double uh Blue Point Fire District. Also, we'll move it up this year. 6 months ago. >> Yeah, this one's done about

0726 months ago. It's for the fire district. Manville ESM. So, this is at a high school. This is one of our most recent projects on >> still under construction. >> It's Yeah. Or >> Verizon's installing. Verizon's is going now. So, what um our emergency service providers do, and I don't know if you guys are aware of this, they have iPads within their um emergency vehicles so that if they need orders dispatched from, let's just say a local hospital, that's how they receive them. They everything about the patient, everything that's that needs to be dispatched and talked to between um let's just say EMS and the hospital, it goes through iPads that work off of Verizon. And so a lot of people don't realize that it's not just their firecom but the iPads, the actual devices

073that are within their vehicles that will dispatch. So in this school, they were worried about just safety dispatch and and all of that. The revenue was a plus, but it was not the focus. So for this facility, they were just really worried. It was they have a lot of kids there. It's high school. They get injuries, >> lot of sports, >> a lot of sports. So, in this instance, um, we were able to put the tower up and right now we're getting Verizon in as the anchor tenant so that the emergency service providers can actually get their dispatch orders. >> That's the other side of the tower. >> Yeah, they have they put sharks on the you you could put whatever you want on the tower, but they wanted sharks and ESM on the other

074side. So, that's just the photo showing that that's what they wanted to do there. And then these are just a few projects that um in which we're we're already have pulled some permits and so we have a bunch of other projects but these are the ones that are up and coming but I'm trying to keep that as short as possible but uh I'm here for any questions unless >> I have a couple. Could you go back to the page on projected cash flow >> now that I know how to use this? Sure. >> There. No, there. >> Yep. >> So, is that showing a million dollar coming in in year one or after year 49? >> Accordingly. Yeah. So, the term on the left, you see it says 49 and then that's what it shows

075you what the potential is. And again, these numbers vary on the type of structure that we have. So if there's an existing structure, that number is much better than what you see here. This is very conservative numbers because we'd like to present to you the worst case scenario in which when you look at the projected um annual class cash flow, but what we want to do is be able to beat that for you guys. We want to maximize what we can do there. >> So that would be cash flow to the district or cash flow that is split between district and you? No, just district. >> So, and that you're saying it's an inverse from the the more money that's required essentially to build the site versus the facility or the structure used on site

076defers the cost and therefore is a greater greater share >> 100%. >> So that million dollars is one carrier over the term of over 40 years or >> well projected. Yeah, correct. >> Right. The million dollars divided by 49 is the annual cash flow that's coming in there and on one carrier. So for a typical area such as ours, what is there your Like you mentioned ESM where is one carrier what's a typical antenna say the one in bluepoint that's constructed versus one in ESM how many carriers are sitting on that tower >> so right now it's only one carrier we just built it so in both bluepoint and in ESM they're new facilities and they all don't go on at the same time meaning the carriers >> Gotcha >> they kind of stagger within

077their >> budgets got so then on on a on the on that same what what's the typical buildout time when you put we agree what's the buildout time to the time you put uh a site up and what and then from the time the site is up through the course of that 49 years what's typically the time frame if more than one carrier is taking it so that those numbers can be realized >> right so like in the example of >> Albertson or village of Lake >> any one of those >> yeah so the village of Lake Grove we built two years ago >> two years ago Albertson's >> and they have three carriers on already. So depending on again location, we have to do homework, right? So we'll look at the data. We'll show

078you what that data looks like. You'll see it it's either black or red. That means it's just drop calls. We know for a fact that all the carriers and we can check every carrier, all the carriers needed. At that point, we can tell you within a year to two, we probably would have three to four carriers on there. However, as you look on here, it says first carrier, second, third, fourth. There's only four major carriers. However, we have carriers that rent two canisters, two levels. So, that's double the rent. And so, all of our facilities, we make sure that we can at least lease out seven spots on the tower, not four, because T-Mobile will rent two, AT&T will rent two, that's already four. And then now you you have obviously >> what's the typical

079timeline from the day first cash flow starts flowing until you reach the capacity that the area is going to take. So you build a tower. It's going to take got seven compartments. We can take seven different carriers. AT&T taking two. What's the typical space or time frame that it takes to fill that to service the area? Do you guys usually see that over two years over 20 over 48 months? >> The average. Yeah. So the average I would say is between one and two years. It's it what happens is once we build a tower, we kind of again >> locks up the area. >> Yeah. So there's a tower cooperation act that allows you to only build one tower within a mile and a half of each other. >> Right? >> So you So if

080we build one here, there will not be another one built within a mile and a half of us. >> So they force you. So if anybody comes, whether it's two weeks from now, 3 months from now, a year from now, and says, "I need to get coverage in the village or wherever we're going to put it in Brook Haven." They'll turn around and say, "Well, there is a tower here. You're forced to use that property." Right? >> And it actually makes them go on the tower. However, once we do build it and they know there's an location, you know, listen, we don't build these towers where there's, you know, where there's tons of coverage. We build them where we know there's coverage deficiencies. So, once they know that there's a tower or an opportunity to

081build a tower in an area, they pretty much jump on pretty quickly. So, AT&T and Verizon are in direct competition with each other. So, once one finds out in the other, obviously, we solicit all of them at the same time. They almost immediately go on together. Dish Network and T-Mobile are a little bit different. They wait for them to be built and once they're built then they'll actually go on. It just saves them money going through the permitting processes. >> So from permit permit to availability what's usually the time frame >> usually I would say about a year at most to have all of them on and that's only because Dish Network is in the middle of a funding issue. >> Okay. So, it's roughly so if I from one end to the other, it's

082a three-year swing from the time we agree it permits go into place to the time that towers fully operating and performing and providing full available funds or cash flow to the district. And at year three, then we're running year three out for the next 46 years that's going to generate that revenue. >> It's a little different for every every year as well. There's an annual increase that's built into the sub. >> Okay. So, the so the cash flow is not stagnant. you have whatever percentage that's going incrementing over that lease over the course of those 46 or years. >> A couple quick questions. Um, so the the presentation we have versus what's on the screen have different cash flow numbers. So is there this is what it is though. I should know this. And >>

083so >> this is like double >> right >> what that is, >> right? >> So this is like I said extremely conservative. >> Okay. meaning we're we're doing like rock bottom worst case scenario here on this, >> but I know we can do better. >> Okay. So So I understand when you say one canister, $1 million projected cash flow, that's over the course of 49 years, not one year. >> Yeah, I know it says annual up there. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It says annual and then it says 49. So I just want to make sure. Okay. So divide these numbers by 49 and that's our conservative estimate as to what it is. >> Yeah. The best way to look at it is that right now most of the towers are out there make

084about $100,000 a year. >> Got it. >> That's what that's what they're averaging right now. >> Some a little bit more, some make a little bit less. >> And that's fully operation with four carriers. >> Four carriers. >> That's not that's not the addition of the double carrier that she's talking about. >> Got it. >> So how does upgrades to technology keep up? How does that pace? What happens there? Right? Because this is >> modifications. you know, you go from 3G to 4G to 5G, different generations of antennas and use on your cell phone. What happens is the carriers go back to us and they cannot modify or do a thing to the tower until they go through us and obviously we'll ask for an increase. >> Most of these towers are built with a

085what they call a either a triport or or a quad port antenna, which actually has the ports in it already for the uh the additional uh revs of the different antenna models that they have. So if they're going from 4G to 5G, there's already ports there. So basically, if they have all all the coaxes already ran, they change the radio at the bottom, they're actually on air, so it's already ready. Got it. >> And if um and and that same um exclusivity, I guess you'd call it for you said the mile and a half noticing build tower, that applies regardless of the technology issue, right? They can't say, "Well, you don't have the latest technology, so we can build this one over here." >> No. Okay. The village actually has an ordinance. where you actually

086can't use what they call something called ODAS. They stopped that. So that that was actually put in wait maybe 10 years ago. >> Yeah, >> probably about that. So they can't I'm sure you've seen them because they're popping up all over. There's these little antennas >> South Country Road if you guys see them. >> Actually there poles >> on the poles as you go through right there. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. So >> by uh North Derky and the uh floral property, >> right? That's right in front of my building. >> Yeah. So, as you can see, there's something that's called ODAS. It's an outside distributed antenna system. And that is T-Mobile trying to get around the fact that most um you know, it's the speed of deploying antennas. So, if we're going to build a

087tower, the tower could take anywhere, depending on what town you're in, 3 to 6 months to a year, two years. This we have towers that we're building in Smithtown. We're they're 9 years in the burning process. >> So, just certain areas a lot harder. Brook Haven's totally different. Brook Haven has a wireless code. can adhere to it and usually within 6 months to a year this whole thing is built and done. So >> and and if I'm not mistaken the school districts are have some exemptions in regards to the permitting process. >> They do. So in the case with ESM we we have a different process in which they wanted us to just build it but with the carriers we have to be conser conservative. We have to have something written saying that we can

088build it. So, even though we had a lease agreement with the district, the the stance of the town was like it's, you know, they're exempt. And we said, "No, we need to be we have to play nice. We want to do everything by the book." And so, we went through an administrative review. Um, and that was kind of what we do even with the fire districts. So, they treated that school as if they were like a quasi municipal entity basically. You don't need to go to New York State Department of Education to get for it. >> The way the attorney did it for ESM, and we can share that information with you guys as well. He did bring it up to them, but they basically said, "You you guys run the district. You deem what

089is appropriate." And they put it out to a a vote basically, and they moved forward with it. >> What's the lifespan of of a structure? So if you if if you create the structure, what's the life what's the lifespan of that structure? >> So I've been doing this since 1994 and the 3600 plus structures that I built all of them are standing. So >> and up to what level? What how you said there's level for expansion? So I can expand to 4G 5G >> that's antennas inside >> right no that part I understand but but how so how much more expansion is going to be permitted on the technology before the structure has to be changed? So the the way the tower is built, do we have any pictures of the tower in the construction?

090>> Under I think only in here probably in the second to last page maybe. >> Yes. If you look at the second to last page, you'll actually see you'll see the tower how it's constructed. >> So it's actually if you think about it, it actually goes up almost like an erector set. >> It's a tube that has actually little what they call uh bulkheads that are actually bolted together. And if there's any change in that inner spine, whether a change in the tank gets either big or small or whatever, we actually can actually take that bulkhead apart and replace it top. Right. >> So it actually >> like Legos I guess is the easiest way to >> So and even the bottom section is bolted in the same way. So >> all it's erector sets

091>> basically. Yeah. Basically what it is. >> Couple questions. The has there been any conversations with the neighboring fire departments as well or is this first? >> Yeah. So my my son happens to be in one of the fire departments. My brother's actually in the Patrick Fire Department. Um we have I've have I have people that um that I work with. There's vendors for it who do fire cons for all the fire departments on Long Island. So, I've had initial conversations with them about issues that some of the fire departments are having now. Um, Brook Haven happens to be one of them. Brook Haven has an issue with their cover deficiencies. Uh, I'm sure you know like through the postro area, uh, where Brook Haven Elementary School is. Uh, there's parts of that whole area

092of Deer Run. There's just zero cell service and they have their own issues with their own fires. They were discussing possibly doing something, but they know their own property is too far north. >> So, they've been asking us if we had something further south is what we're working on now. >> Got. And then I guess this kind of for more for us, those funds that would come where where would they be allocated towards it would be general fund. Are they how do they where do they go into use from the district stand? >> Miscellaneous revenue. >> It just becomes >> well, you know, it goes into the general fund, right? So, it's not really targeted for a specific use. it just go gets added to the pot. >> So then to that uh point, is

093this considered a capital project? >> It's a great question. I don't think it is because it's um so in other words, this would not be the question is whether or not we can receive aid from the school district. Well, it's not necessarily if we can receive aid, but if we're if we're entering into a lease agreement and there's an expense, the question is probably for council and I don't expect you to answer right now, but my concern and it's on school district, so I'm guessing it's not an issue, but I feel comfortable understood what the issue is there in in regards to capital project. >> Are you you guys are are you treating this as a as a pad lease? Is that the way it's typically structured from the legal jargon that you're leasing that

094square footage? So, you're erecting that on our property and we're simply leasing that square footage to >> our own revenue, right? >> But we don't but don't we have a stake of the game here in regards to the initial cost? >> All you have to do is your attorney is actually your attorney >> to review the agreement. >> Okay. So, this cost to build the tower site is all you. That's not us. >> Okay. So, then that I can withdraw it. I would think that it wouldn't be because a capital project. >> That's why I said I ask a question. I haven't gotten to ask a question yet. >> Okay. You go and then I will. Okay. How did this arrangement uh um develop? >> It was approached by Mr. Saber who saw that we're

095going through some financial uh challenges. It was like two needs. There needs to be more cell phone coverage in this area. We need revenue. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, this isn't the only district we've approached recently. We've gone to a number of Since East Port South Matter went on air, we've had multiple school districts actually contact us. We've been doing these same meetings with every one of these boards. So, um, >> and a lot of the same I will need subject to our tax base as you resigned here. So, you've known firsthand with our floor. >> Thank you. I I will agree there is a need for cell phone coverage in the in the Brook Haven area. However, there's also a big a big push back with with Brook Haven area where they don't even

096want street lights. So be careful where you want to erect the the cell phone towers, but you've already again in uh conversation with people from Brook Haven Hamlet. >> There's a there's a bunch of different properties actually in Brook Haven actually already contact us about providing some on their property >> on on personal property. >> Um they're organizations >> on organizations. >> Yeah. So some of them have >> Did I hear you say Post Marorrow? >> Post Marorrow is one. >> Post Marorrow is interested. >> They were they were interested. However, uh not everyone on the board agrees. So that's why believe that. >> Okay. >> Well, because that was part of my question before, right? Like if if that's the case, but with the zoning, I don't think we need anyone's approval. Correct. >>

097That's correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And most of these Well, the last project, you have already had support through multiple legislators and council people. Ed Roma actually wrote a letter of support to make it go faster because he wanted it up quicker. >> Yeah. But to Trusty Pacini's point, you don't need anyone's approval, but you don't want to just go whole hog without the community support either. We I mean we tried that when we were even looking at just putting the illuminated uh sign in front of the uh high school and we got push back on that. >> So >> what was that? >> But for construction >> three years ago >> and maintenance of the tower or any of the structures that you put on our property. There's in you indemnify

098us in case the tower falls over or >> is that part of the will never happen. But yes, it >> is part of the lease agreement. >> That's correct. >> And what about health issues concerning people uh you know alleging concern about health issues with towers. >> So with that uh there is the telecommunications act of 1996 and what happens is they they already have done extensive research on it and so we have experts that will provide an explanation. Right? So you have microwave and radio wave. They're completely two different things. And so we're able to provide that information to the public if they ask. You know, the microwave oven in your house heats up food, but when you turn on your radio, it's a different transmission. It's a different frequency. And that's what we

099utilize. We use it's like radio frequency. It's not microwave. So when you talk about health issues, um it's the same as having, you know, the radio. >> You you will, Mr. superintendent, you will need that public relations information as well, I believe. >> Yeah. And again, I think that initially this is just to see whether or not we're interested in pursuing this and seeing if it's a possibility for the school district. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And we do we have the information to provide and it could be sight specific wherever you want to um do the research. I'd be interested to see in some of the other areas that you have obviously the many areas that you have already um developed uh their PR campaigns if you know of any >> and the perception has

100changed a lot from when we first started doing this. I've been doing this since 1994. >> Yeah. Obviously. >> Yeah. We used to go to some of these meetings where there' be three 400 people standing there just screaming no >> but also at that time maybe two people that were standing there actually had a cell phone. >> Okay. So now you know that everybody has a cell phone their perception is completely different. So now everyone's like when are you going to bring cell coverage? So >> if you go into Belore Village some of you may have cell coverage and some of you may not. If you have Verizon you probably have your phone that works. If you do not it will not work. >> So you get you get um you get you get a

101difference of opinion of whoever you know who's ever interested or not interested. So if you have people who do have a vested interest in a kid that may be in school they want to get in touch with after school sports or whatever someone walking home from school they want to make sure they have cell coverage and then the person who really doesn't care who's more worried about uh you know oh I live so close to it I don't want to see it you know that's the only two different things that you have it's either someone who doesn't want to see it or the person who really wants it >> and most times our pro you know the constituents within the area have the hearing in order to say hey this is my concern and so

102that's where our experts are there answering the questions. And so in this instance, uh you don't have to have a hearing, but that's basically what we go through. >> Yeah. So ESM actually did a public did a public meeting in in their auditorium. >> And I went to the first one and I walked in and there wasn't a standing. There was nowhere to stand. You couldn't sit. There was nothing. I'm not going to lie. I was a little nervous. I was like, "Wow, this is crazy how many people are here." They got up, the board said some words. Someone stood up and said, "Congratulations on the the volleyball team or somebody won the state championship." Everybody clapped and everyone walked out. So, there was literally two people standing in the room after me. I did

103a presentation. Everybody says, "Well, how fast can you put it up?" And that was the end of it. >> So, I mean, I I was I was getting ready to have to answer a million questions, but that's not what they were there for. They didn't care. They just wanted to make sure >> Your corporate office is in South Country School District. >> Yes. >> Do Do you live in South Country School District? You do. The both of you do. >> Yep. >> Okay. So you're familiar with South Country. They also all three are guilty. >> So you know we've got seven different school buildings. >> I went to most of them. >> Okay. Which of them are you targeting? >> So what happens is that it's um it's a little bit of a mix. So

104you could kind of do an angle. So, when I kind of looked at the cover deficiencies for, let's say, Brook Haven, uh, a tower at Brook Haven Elementary would cover pretty much that entire area by itself. However, if that is something that is off the table, if there's something that you don't want to move forward with, the high school is close enough where we can kind of get a similar coverage using antennas somewhere there. Now, I know ground space is an issue at the high school, so it could be a possibility of putting antennas actually on the roof. So, you could kind of do you could do kind of one or the other. Um, so that's a little bit different than just saying, "Hey, this is the only option there." With the middle school, uh,

105you can have an Andor as well. Now, you can say, "I can put up a tower there." I wouldn't I wouldn't uh ask for now. I'm sure you know the um the uh I just went blank. The Belleville Country Club has a cell phone tower on the property. It's been there 20 something years. >> The Ospreys live on top of it. >> Yeah, that's been it's been there forever. I actually have a house at the end of that street. So, and I don't have cell coverage from that tower, believe it or not. Um, so where was I going with the subject? So they don't they're not built to go far. So in the village you could put a tower that could cover the entire village and have everybody on it. So right now Verizon has

106antennas that are actually on the fire department. So it really doesn't cover that far. It covers basically the four corners, but if you go in any direction, you start losing cell service. You start heading west, you pick up the country club. But as there's rumors that uh that the fire department, I'm sorry, not the fire, the south country analyst is potentially putting that cell tower up over there as well. Um we haven't heard really anything about further I talked to is actually not on their property. It's going on town property to the north of them and it kind of just stalled and we haven't heard anything else about it. So there's another way around that. So if we did want to put a tower at um the middle school, we could potentially put antennas on

107that roof as well. it would kind of serve the same purpose and you would have three carriers instead of Verizon because Verizon wouldn't move over because they're not getting really any much additional height. So if it did a tower, they would potentially move over but then the fire department would lose revenue. So we kind of look at it in two different ways. >> So the benefit of using the middle school, >> yes, >> is the village itself would have improved cell phone coverage. >> Correct. And the benefit of using Brook Haven Elementary is so that the area of Brook Haven Hamlin would have better cover cell towers themselves only cover about a mile to a mile and a half with what they call reliable cell service. So that means if you take your phone and

108go sit in your living room, you would be able to make a phone call when they when you go too far away from it. That's I'm sure I'm sure most of you already know this. When you're sitting in your house or you go to your basement, your cell phone just doesn't work at all. So depending on how far you are away is how how much better your phone will work and that also includes speed. It also shows how long your phone will last. So if you're far away from a cell tower, I'm sure you notice your phone will die a lot quicker than when you're sitting in your house on Wi-Fi. So the proximity to a tower actually has a lot to do with speed and service reliability. >> Can I ask just on that

109question? So from tower it's a mile and a half one way. So, for example, if you're at Bro Haven Elementary, that may reach Belford High School. >> Well, the high school guys, not the middle school. >> Reach the fire department. >> It's a one and a half mile each direction. >> So, it's either the high school's roof. >> Yeah. >> Or the or the elementary school, >> but but it goes in each the one and a half miles is not a, you know, it's not a >> radius, but Yeah. But it's going out in each direction. >> It also has a lot they call clutter loss. That's hills, trees, buildings, whatever else is in the way. Is there a height of general height of the tower >> or the height? >> So in that in

110that area you actually would want to maximize height, right? But we also want to be cognizant of where we are. So we don't want to put up 150t tower there. So 150 ft is the maximum what we could build without having to grow light on it because of FAA. So there we'd probably go anywhere between 100 to 120 ft. That's what we that's what we would ask for. That would be able to put everybody on it and double their height improve the >> distance. more height, more line of sight. >> If we got a lot on our calendar tonight. >> Yeah, I just got one more quick one. Right. If Brook Haven is is is an area that needs a terror, is does is there not a need for one in East Patchog as well?

111>> East Patch where >> Crits like like I'm wondering why we're not talking about doing one two two you know towers >> because Heyman already has a tower. >> Heman has one. Got it. But the question could be multiple towers. >> Yeah, >> correct. >> You could if you could find the mile and a half distance between all the towers and it sounds like we may not we probably don't have that unless the middle school and Brook Haven got to be a mile and a half part, right? >> Oh yeah. Yeah. So we already know that we already know that either Brook Haven or the high school whichever one is an area that has to be covered. >> The middle school is another one that we know that could be at least covered by three

112carriers that also need that area. >> Got it. >> The South Haven school. >> Yeah, I was just going to say why don't we mention South Haven? I think that would be the easiest place to put one because we don't use those grounds. >> So, South Haven is something we can discuss. It wasn't actually because what happens is it goes by funding, right? So, the carriers actually lay out what they call tier one or priority tier uh locations that they're looking for, which means is that they have already allocated funding either for this year, next year, or the year after. So, we already know that they've been looking in Brook Haven. They've been trying for years to get something. Um even though that is a major going through right through south, right through the South

113Haven and actually be practiced there. Um, we did practice down to the ticks, but other than that, um, >> it's the worst field in the field, >> but after the tick is uh, situation. Um, we could definitely look at it to see if it it's something that we can look, you know, do something there. I it wasn't actually on the plan. U, but we could definitely look at it. >> I just would think for space reasons and not being an encumbrance to our operations, South Daven would make the most sense. But >> yeah, I have a I actually have a program that actually tells us exactly where they have to go. >> Got it. Cool. Thank you. It's all I got. So this was on for discussion today. Um do we um >> basically does

114it require a vote is whether or not we should look to see more information >> to get more information. >> Well um do we have to have a vote or we can just kind of poll the board members to see if we'd like more information? >> Um I see heads nodding. Um so I think it's a yes for more information but um >> yeah follow >> reserve the discussion for another time. >> So next is a specific proposal correct from you guys as to what >> and which location or locations depending on >> and we can provide that >> and you can provide that. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Sorry for the lengthy. >> Thanks guys. Thank you. In regards to the kids. >> I'm going to bring this over to

115you. >> Oh, thank you. >> Thank you. >> A good one. Appreciate it. Thank you. >> No problem. >> All right. All >> right. All right. >> Okay. Next, we're doing advisory committees. So, let's have as much enthusiasm about this as we had about the cell phone towers. You're asking for a lot. >> So basically the purpose is in your court. >> There we go. So the purpose is to um seek out uh trustees that are going to participate in our currently we have four standing um advisory committees to strategic planning health and safety finance facilities church teaching and learning. I provided descriptions the board via the update and it's in your board docs as to what the uh sort of the charge is and the purposes of each of the advisory committees. We also

116uh trusty police brought up the idea of reinstating a budgetary advisory committee which we had already. So I don't believe that would require a board resolution. It's already existed. It's whether or not we want to uh host one again. Uh but I think it's really it's um you know I don't know if you had opportunity to read the descriptions but strategic planning basically is going to go over our strategic plan and then give periodic updates in terms of the progress and participate perhaps making amendments to it as a year progresses. health and safety. I have all the descriptions here, so I don't know if I want to take up more time to do Brad or if we want to start by expressing specific interest in specific committees. The only caveat is that there has to

117be three or less board members in the committees because otherwise if there's four of you, it's a quorum and then it's open meeting. So, um you know what we've done in the past typically is assign two trustees to a committee and then like an ex official who will attend should those people not be available. So, and also we've got the mandatory audit committee, but we'll talk about that separately. >> So, I put this in the update. So, everybody's had an opportunity to read this >> and it's in board docs as well. >> Board docs also. So, um >> I had some issues getting it. It just popped up on mine. So, >> and I still don't have it >> even in board docs. Yeah, >> you're not able to see the committees at this point.

118>> No, it wasn't either until it just it just popped in. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah, it's on mine. >> Oh, completely empty. >> Hey, dumb question, but you logged in. Is it possible when you move over and logged out? >> I I did just I did at least >> go to board docs if you >> I logged I completely logged out and then logged back in >> the hard copy. >> Did you do it under join meeting? Yeah, that's the problem too. >> Yeah, you do it under join meeting >> because then you might just be under um >> the public portion. Where's Vinnie? Can you go just check on how they logged in? >> Yeah, that's what I did. >> Could you check on and see how those two logged in? >> I

119don't know. >> I'm good now. >> Okay. >> I wasn't there a minute ago. >> Business meeting. >> Did you have it? >> Yeah, I have it. So the idea tonight was to see who is interested in serving on which committee, >> right? >> And um I think I already know which one everybody else gets a chance. Um >> well, if I just may add, you were on strategic planning from the beginning, >> right? So, I personally as the board member would like to see you stay on that committee because you put so much work into it. That's just something I'd like to throw out to the board as I think would benefit all of us. >> I'm sorry, which committee was that? >> Strategic plan on it. So, I think that's first and foremost

120would benefit all of us if you remain on strategic planning. That's just my two cents. >> No objection. I agree with that. >> Okay. Um for the history. All right. Good. How how about if we >> can we go around the the room? >> Accelerate. >> Um Cheryl, >> our trustee Feliz. Um >> I'll go wherever because we have three new members. Okay. And um the only my only problem is I have to look at the calendar because one of the meetings conflicts with my second Thursday of the month that conflicts with my Lions Club meeting. That's the only thing. >> Okay. Well, you figure that one. >> I think that's health and safety. That's what my problem was. >> Okay. >> So, I would like to stay on financing facilities, but whatever works. I

121let everybody else choose and then I'll I'll fit in wherever. >> Okay. But I would like the budget, the new budget. >> The new budget. So you would like to do that? >> I would like to do that and then I'll but I'll fit in anywhere else. >> Okay. >> Um Trustee Calderon, do you >> do you want to be on one or more? >> One or more? Yeah, I want to be on two. >> Which ones would you like? So, I'm pretty flexible, but I have a strong preference for teaching and learning, specifically a focus on supporting equity and instruction. >> And then I'm also interested in strategic planning as well. >> Okay. So, I'm going to >> and there can be three on a >> Yeah, there can be. >> So, it's not

122restricted to just >> Yeah. But why don't we just get people to say so trusty feliz other than budget advisory was there another one you wanted >> it really doesn't matter >> all right so you'll hold off till >> trusty pini >> no is in years past I'm not going to participate >> okay trustee >> I would like um if possible u finance facilities as a first option >> okay >> um and then depending on the commitments of everyone else I'd be interested as well as teaching and learning. >> Teaching and learning. >> Okay. Um Christy Ross >> prioritizing one over one of two, but finance and facilities being one, strategic planning being two. >> Okay. Ros Ross. And then we'll have Trusty Dilo. So it looks to me like the choices that everybody has

123expressed can probably be met. >> Correct. >> Because Trusty Dilo it she'll fit in anywhere. And um I can also as board president this year be exeicio on any of these. So I could go to any meeting I wanted to in order to learn what's going on. I just um would not be voting. >> But I say that in recognition of we don't really vote on the committee anyway. So it's more I've been going because that's how I learn what's going on in the district and I can hear great presentations from the like teaching and learning committee or the equity committee subcommittee. Finance and facilities has been really an interesting one this year under our facilities director where he's giving talks about how he's able to save money like how he's dealt with the different

124boilers and taken usable parts from several of them to make one functioning boiler. Well, it's saved us a lot of money. So, if it's okay with everybody, if I just take this information, talk to Trusty Dilo, and then let everybody know because I don't think there'll be any meetings until after there won't be any committee meetings until after our next board meeting >> just for and we do know that the the meeting schedule is incomplete based on the list of committees. >> Yeah. So, we would have to add the budget advisory committee meetings. It was also the policy. >> So policy is different. That's a subcommittee. >> This is listed as well. >> And is that a subcommittee of strategic planning? Yeah, >> it is. Okay. >> And actually, if I could get somebody else

125to sit on that committee because there's really not been a lot of participation. Um, I've been going, our our clerk goes and we've got >> two. >> Yes. Shannon. Yes, back there. >> She's always there. But >> you'd like to do policy as well. Great. >> Okay. So, um, >> we have Annne Hayes and Eric for policy. >> Okay. >> Um, and >> Trusty Feliz, any other >> Um, she's on, she said budget advisory and others that she would >> think about. Anybody? >> You let me know after Trusty Dilla and Vice President Dillo selects hers and then wherever there's vacancies, you let me know and we'll work on that. >> Okay, that would be great. >> Okay, >> so I'll send a reminder the update um this week and then for the next board

126meeting, we'll have to ratify the committee members. >> Okay, >> just a quick comment on the budget advisory committee. In the past when we've had budget advisory committees, we did not have trustees on that committee. >> Can can you show how can you demonstrate how that committee was made up? I was told that uh trustees >> a long time look it up. >> Yeah. Would you let's go back and look at how it was made up. >> It was 15 years ago I think. >> Okay. It's my first or second year on the board. So it's about 12 13 years ago. Okay. It was headed by Roco Devito before he became trustee >> and I think it was co-chared by Tony Huffine >> and also why it was uh disbanded >> the board there was

127too many people they just couldn't function. Well, >> I mean, that's what happened, right? I mean, they they tried to they couldn't even do a presentation of the work because >> Well, there was and in addition, I think that the information that they were dealing with really wasn't the budget advisory information that we need today that you know, I think what we need it's very different. >> So, um >> Okay. You may want to give second thought to be on that committee. Okay. We can talk later. >> Listen, I have my personal issues with the committees. Like I've said before, I I I don't believe board members should be on advisory committees. The committee should be to advise the board and give outside influence. And I think when we're there, I don't believe we get

128the best information from staff and it could be used as a way to intimidate staff or micromanage the district. So that's my listen, that's just my opinion. You can have your own. That's just my opinion. It's happened in the past. I have I have to say I've had some of those thoughts myself, >> but I think that if board members are staying within their role, it can be beneficial because it it does give us a sense of how well certain areas are working. >> Yeah. Listen, I just disagree. We have a different opinion. >> Okay. But to to your to your point and and you mentioned it before about learning about boilers and what parts even though they're broken of boilers, you know, we can you know we make money on in in you know

129turning in those the scrap metal from from boilers that are deficient. We learn that at these committee meetings. We learn the um the expertise of our staff members who save us money when we don't have to per we don't have to hire outside contractors because they have the expertise to do tile work for example at some of our some of our schools >> the floors and and the walls and the tiles that they repair. Um and we learned that at the committee meetings. I have never experienced any time that board members intimidated anyone on the committees. I take I I take personal exception to that. >> Well, we have >> So, the the the the point is it's it's happened before and that's why board advisory committees should take their findings and name an example

130of that. >> Whoa, but that I think Chris makes Chris makes a fair point in that there, for example, as a as a practicing attorney, I'm supposed to stay away from the appearance of impropriy and the fact that a board member sitting in a room and there's the ability, not that they actually do. I've seen you sit in rooms. I've seen you shake hands and be very nice with people and affect nothing. That doesn't say that they're not affected by you being in the room. They're they behave differently. They act differently. They do something different. And that creates that appearance that you're affecting the conversation. >> But when I got on this board, these committees were already in place. So then, so then why weren't they corrected when I got here 8 years ago? >>

131Wait a minute. So you're just you're justifying >> just because it was important doesn't mean >> the fact that we did the practices in the past and I'm not disagreeing. >> Just hold hold stop speaking under your breath. Speak in the conversation here. I've said it before. Just cuz it didn't happen then now doesn't mean it didn't happen then. >> Don't don't speak when I'm speaking. No, I'll correct you. Don't if you want to correct something, then wait till I finish. >> Wait, hold on. I'll say this. Why are we talking about it? Listen, I personally don't want to participate. Go have your system. I'm not asking you to change the system. I'm just saying I don't want to participate. And I have specific reasons why you chose to chime in and try to correct

132me in what my issue was. >> You said the system it you don't want to participate. >> I said I don't agree with the system because of what could happen. >> It doesn't matter. I don't I don't believe the system works. easier. I think that >> let's dial this back because the whole question of whether to have board advisory committees is one for the board to decide right now. I don't think that I'm hearing anybody saying we need to scrap all of them. >> Correct. I think that what we need to be considerate of is that when we go to these meetings, we be on our best behavior and demonstrate how we're able to listen and observe and not um not provide overt impact that you're talking about from your experience as a lawyer. And

133avoidance of impropriy is if any of us are picking up that we're having some impact adverse impact in a committee meeting then we should just take ourselves out of it. >> So I got here >> can I just >> I have no I have to finish what I what I have to say. I got here I am the second in seniority on this board. So in all effects, you are my mentor. You served as board president for three times when I when I was here. No, but three times that I know of. Were you three, were you not three or four times? >> Four times. >> Mhm. >> Three times when I wasn't here, one year when I watched you, and then one year while I was here. So if you wanted it to change,

134why didn't you do something when you were board? >> I'll answer that. That's very simple. Okay. First of all, for the last three years, I brought this objection. I've mentioned my objection to these committees. It's not my decision, nor is it the board president's decision whether these committees function or that. That's the board's decision. I But I'm So, you just talked about talking over, right? So, my point is, okay, I'm not here to to disrupt the process. You all want to get involved, have at it. I have an issue with why I don't, and I felt the need to explain that to the folks that are listening so it doesn't look like I just don't want to do my job. I have a fundamental issue with the makeup of this. And to to further your

135point, I was part of the group, the board that created the committees. I think they have outlived their usefulness. I've seen them fall apart. I've seen them during COVID provide not much. I mean, like I I just I don't I just don't agree with it. I'm not here to disrupt it. Have your committee, have your meetings, and go do what you want to do. I'm not telling you to stop. So, where we are tonight is we've we've got the committees. We've got people who've expressed interest in serving on them or attending them. It's not mandatory for any board member to have to go. So, we've satisfied all that. We do have one item of business that we have to do because it's mandated and that's to have our audit committee because >> that's >> the

136next >> so >> the next uh discussion item. >> So I'm going to do a check for understanding as an educator and say that um we're going to proceed forward with our advisory committee. Something I did different this year for the uh for the trustees is I created descriptions of each of the committees that include purpose, the charge of the committee and practices. So each of our first meetings this year, we're going to review that for the respective committee so that we're all on the same page because I get I think everybody's making valid points. You know, it's all about perspective. Two things can be true at once. So I agree with Trusty Ross and that yeah, when trustees are around, people act differently. Just by the nature of fact, you're a trustee. Not because

137you're doing anything explicit. This is by nature. But at the same time, I've sat in in committees where we've had very candid conversations and I don't believe that our employees or committee members have held back their opinions. And so, um, you know, I think both are true. So, I appreciate both perspectives. >> We're supposed to be a team. We're all supposed to be a team together. And and we can't all share the burden of our job here if we're not all doing it together. So, I think we should examine it. It's either mandatory that we all be on the committees or we don't. We have so >> why didn't you have the same objection for the last five years that to participate >> because and yeah and it's getting tiresome >> it's getting tiresome that

138you don't participate on the >> Hold on just a minute >> it is >> the committees are functioning >> the district >> the committees are going to be reporting to the board on a regular basis that's a new change that the superintendent is going to make a presentation at every meeting by one of the one >> that's the committees but different >> right different topics so that way everybody at the board table is going to get a sense of what teaching and learning is doing what guidance is doing um what the facilities director is doing we'll all hear it ourselves I think that's an improvement and you're putting that into place I think that also takes care of um your concern about trustees meeting their obligations of basically staying informed of what's going on. >>

139That will be helpful. >> And it takes care of that. And it it also um enables any trustee who for whatever reason can't go to a meeting um that's still in place too. So I think that we're going to follow up with regard to the people who've said what they're interested in. We'll check with Trustee Dillo, fill it, fill it out, come back at our next meeting, and then people will will go forward. If we're going on to audit, do you need to introduce this any further? >> No. >> Okay. Because we've got we're mandated by state law to have an audit committee. And what that does is meet with both the internal and external auditors and then when the audit reports come in, the audit committee determines whether or not to recommend it to

140the entire board and the the auditors will actually come in and make a presentation to the entire board. So, um on the audit committee um last year um I was on it and Trustee Feliz was on it. Um does anybody have a particular interest in serving on that committee? >> Yes. >> Trustee police? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I have a conflict. I won't sit on the committee. >> You won't >> I have a conflict. I will not sit on the committee. I'll listen, but I will not submit sit. >> Well, you'll get the benefit of hearing the report. >> Absolutely. But I'm not I won't participate with the with the committee itself. >> Can you can you explain what the conflict is? I use the auditor on a regular basis through my practice for

141me to have for me to have financial interest and obligations connected to that firm which provides a uh service to the school that is meant to be uninfluenced. It's not appropriate. >> Okay. Thank you for sharing that. >> Um I would like to stay on it for continuity purposes. Okay. >> We could have up to three. Anybody else? >> If anybody else >> Okay. You're you'll still >> Okay. You still can come to meetings as long as there not three other board members there. If you get particularly interested in something, >> you can come. All right. So, that one. Um, again, I'll check again with Trusty Dilo. And um we'll bring that back at the next meeting. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> All right. Next is the updated uh board meeting schedule. There was one

142proposed change uh I believe the Wednesday September 17th meeting was was a conflict to move that to a Tuesday, September 16th. >> Didn't we already change that one? >> No, that was one we just >> we did move it around when it came once we agreed on the date. We came back to it because that 17th date that we had originally discussed is also a student teacher um sorry parent teacher conference evening of which the vice president who is not here specifically has a conflict and as do I although I my don't always attend for that evening but m Debbie does. >> So is the conflict avoided now by moving it to Tuesday? >> That's what I understood. >> Okay. And yeah, because I already have it on the Tuesday, >> right? I did too,

143but that had not been on. >> We did discuss it at the retreat >> informally and said at that time, but we this needs to be >> voted on. >> then we had a discussion that you could do the Tuesday meeting by Zoom. >> I am, but I can join by Zoom, >> right? >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, you can do Zoom on Tuesday. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. >> All right. Got it. So, I think that takes care of that. Do we have to vote for motion? >> We have to do a motion. >> We have to vote on that. >> Okay. >> I have a motion. >> Is there a Sorry. >> Are there other items in this section that we have to vote on? Should we do them together? Do we

144have to vote on the policy at six and the board priorities? >> Um, >> I would say we still >> Let's just do this. We're right We're almost there. >> Um, is there a motion uh to approve a change in the board meeting schedule? Motion >> for this September 17th meeting to move it to September 16th. >> Motion to to approve the updated BOE meeting schedule. >> Okay. Motion by Trustee Ross, second by Trustee Felisetta. Questions, discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? Uh that that change is approved. >> Okay. >> Um next I shared the board priorities um which we annual basis. Um I had shared it in the update a couple times actually over a couple weeks and looking at it and having a very brief conversation with uh Trusty Hayes or President Hayes.

145I feel like the language there is broad enough to capture exactly what our priorities are and I don't think that they have really changed and the priorities are also aligned with our strategic plan. So I don't know if anybody has any recommendations or >> I just had a basic question after each one you have ts were those >> that's old. So I'm going to remove those. There was a strategic plan that was never implemented and that referred to the pieces of the plan that these priorities spoke to. But to me the priorities are independent of the strategic plan. It just basically is a guide as to how what we prioritize in the school district. And the other change would be um in the caption take the year out. >> Correct. >> I wouldn't I would

146suggest not even >> having a year there at all. That would be board priorities >> because normally at our reorg meeting we establish priorities. So going forward that this would cover us until next July 1. Correct. Does anybody want to like reorder these? I although I don't think that the order makes number one any more important than number six. >> Right. >> Correct. >> So >> all right. So since we I don't think that on our first our July one meeting I don't think we >> we vote or we voted. >> We didn't vote. >> No, we didn't. >> We didn't vote at all. need to vote just to >> we continued them, >> right? >> Okay. So, we could vote tonight uh that these will be our pri priorities with the change in the

147caption by deleting the the years and by deleting the references in the parentheses or do or should we bring it back at our next meeting? >> No, we could motion with those >> motion with the changes. Okay. Is there a motion um to approve board of education priorities that are uh shown on our agenda uh with the correction in the caption to delete the year 2024 to 2025 and in the body of the priorities to delete everything in the parentheses. Is there a motion to approve Trustee Ross? Second by Trustee Feliz. Questions or discussions? Seeing none, all in favor? These will be our priorities for the year going forward. >> And finally, we have a second reading of policy 8113 with regards with regards to the extreme heat condition days which is supposed to be

148adopted by September 1st. in summation. Uh the board has had an uh an opportunity to look at it, but basically gives us our protocols for our actions taken when it's 82 degrees in a classroom at 88° and so on and so forth. >> Okay. So, is there a motion to approve policy 8113? Make the motion. Motion by trustee Calderon, second by trustee Felisada. Questions or discussion here? >> Question. >> Yes. >> This has nothing to do with athletics, just the classroom. >> It's classroom. >> Classroom. And and athletics is completely governed by section 11. >> That is correct. So, in other words, when they take their heat breaks and temperatures and heat advisories, that's all governed by section 11. >> Okay. >> Does that does that apply to say gym classes and and those or

149is this included in those? So, no, when when the kids go outside, we typically follow the section 11 rules. So, um if there's a heat advisory, we typically don't take the kids out. This pretty much is exclusive to classroom spaces, this policy. >> Okay. But there there are rules in section 11 that govern like when there's a heat advisory, what you can or cannot do in terms of like >> No, that I understand. But a gym class is a classroom setting, is it not? the gym itself. >> You saw the gym itself. If they go outside, he's saying they follow section 11. >> No, no, no. That I understand. I'm just that it does follow when you say class and that does I'm I'm >> the gymnasium. Yes. >> Is considered that's >> the whole

150school building. >> Gotcha. Thank you. That's what that I was missing that part. >> So, I'll call for a vote. All in favor? Um it's unanimously approved. >> Next, we're on the board consent agenda on curriculum. G. >> Yes. So, the administration recommends approval of curriculum items reflected in schedules G1 and G2. >> Is there a motion to approve G1 and G2? >> Motion by Trustee Felisetta, second by Trustee Ross. Questions, discussion? All in favor? Okay, it's unanimously approved. >> No cheat. Now we're on to H. The administration recommends the approval of agenda items reflected in H1 through H9. >> Is there a motion to approve H1 through H9? >> Motion. >> Uh, Trustee Ross, second by Trustee Calderon. Questions, discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? Unanimously approved. So before we move on, I want

151to thank all of our guests tonight for their patience in the meeting and sitting through a lot of information, but I want to congratulate Mr. Gavin Rogers who's going to be our new AP at Brooklyn Elementary School. Really excited about joining our team. We also have Cassandra Morrison. Wave. There she is. She will be working as an English language uh teacher or ENL teacher. We also have Caitlyn. Did I say that? >> Abby. Ebiki. >> Ebiki. >> Yes. >> How are you, Kaitlin? Welcome. So, Kaitlin's gonna be joining us as the art teacher at birth of the prince at Billboard Middle School. We also have Gianna Clefani Zamora. There she is, Giani. Giana, we get into a really interesting conversation about rocks and geology. So, I'm excited to see what she brings to our high

152school. >> Welcome. Um, we also have Sarah Risenberg here, who will be our reading teacher at Brook sitting in the appropriate spot. with her colleagues. And finally, we have Devon Koxai >> Caresy. >> Carnesy, who's joining our music staff, looking forward to seeing what you do. So, congratulations to you. And finally, Bill, not new to us, but will be assuming a new role as an acting principal of Bport Middle School. I want to congratulate Dr. Anthony. Move on, Mr. We're going to move on to business items. The administration recommends approval of business item reflected in schedule I1 which requires a roll call vote. Thank you guys for coming. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> I feel like I said something wrong. >> Did you do something? >> Come on. Uh so um anyway so the

153the first business item is item one. It requires a roll call that's to approve the financing for our energy I can speak energy performance contract motion. So there >> somebody has to read the motion right or the motion has to be read >> or do you read it can read it or can the president >> I'm sorry >> it's one of you that needs to read the clerk or the clerk. There's no attachment. >> You don't have an attachment here to read. >> It's in the It's in the the body a minute. >> Oh, there it is. Sorry, I already clicked on it. >> Do you want me to read it in >> the resolution? Okay. Resolution of South Country Central School District application school district declaring the findings in the school district with respect

154to the pro proposals received for the financing of the school district's energy performance contract with energy systems group LLC and making certain other determinations in connection therewith of the board of education of South Country Central School District of located Suffach County, New York hereby resolves by a majority vote of all members of the of said board as follows. Section Following this institution proposals, the board of education of South Country Central School District at Brook Haven the school district received four proposals to provide financing for the cost of the energy conservation measures to be implemented under the energy performance contract dated August 28, 2024. Uh the agreement between the school district and energy systems group LLC. Section two. Based upon the recommendation received from fiscal adviserss and marketing a school district's municipal advisor, it is hereby

155determined that the proposal received from TD equipment by April subsidiary subsidiaries unless or is accepted subject subject to the negotiation of one or more lease purchase agreements. approved by council. Section three, the president of the board of education, the vice president of the board of education, superintendent of schools, the assistant superintendent for finance, management, andor district treasurer, collectively the authorized representatives, and individually the authorized representative acting on behalf of the school district and the advice of council are hereby authorized to negotiate, enter into, execute, and deliver one or more lease purchase agreements. the equipment lease with the less or andor its assenee. The authorized representatives are hereby further authorized to negotiate enter into execute submit project requisitions and deliver such other documents related to the equipment lease including but not limited to esro agreements as

156the authorized representatives deemed necessary and appropriate with the advice of council. All other related contracts and agreements necessary and incidental to the equipment lease are hereby authorized and such documents shall be filed in the office of the district clerk and made available for public inspection. Section >> do you want help reading? Are you losing your voice? >> I'm just froggy always. >> Do you want me to take over section four? >> It's up to you. >> Okay. Section four. The aggregate original principal amount of the equipment lease shall not exceed 9,665,291 and shall bear interest and mature as set forth in the equipment lease. Section five, the school district's obligations under the equipment lease shall be subject to annual appropriation or renewal by the board of education of the school district as set forth in

157each equipment lease. and the school district's obligations under the equipment lease shall not constitute a general obligation of the school district or indebtedness under the constitution or laws of the state of New York. Section six, the proceeds of the equipment lease may be applied to reimburse the school district for expenditures made after the effective date of this resolution for the purpose for which said proceeds are authorized or on or prior to such date if the board of education of the school district has adopted a prior statement of intent to issue lease obligations for such purpose. The foregoing statement of intent with respect to reimbursement is made in conformity with Treasury regulation section 1.150-2 of the United States Treasury Department. Section seven, the authorized representatives are hereby authorized to take any and all other actions necessary

158in connection with the agreement, the equipment lease, and all matters related thereto. Section 8. Upon execution of the equipment lease and accompanying escrow agreement, the school district designates Webster Bank National Association as a depository of school district funds for purposes of the equipment lease and further designates the Bank of New York Melon as a third-party custodian for purposes of holding eligible collateral in a custodial account established for the benefit of the District section nine this resolution to take shall take effect immediately. So have the clerk having read that um is there a motion to approve the energy performance contract finance >> for a motion? I I actually have a practical question which >> I have a motion second then discussion. >> Yeah, that's correct. I have a mo a motion for discussion, please. >> Well,

159you make the motion. I make a second. I ask if there's questions or discussion. >> Second. >> Wait, you made the motion? >> I have I have a motion to to enter discussion. >> Questions or discussion? >> Wait a minute. I'm sorry. He keeps saying he's making a motion to disc to have a discussion. He need a motion on the floor for the for the resolution >> and then a second and then >> Yeah, but he said he was making that motion. He was making a motion for discussion. I'm just saying the wording might be problematic. >> After that, >> didn't you say you were making the motion? >> Making a motion on the resolution. >> Yes. >> Yeah. He made it. She seconded. Now we're back to you for your questions and discussion. >>

160Um isn't section three is adding independent powers and authority to the president and the vice president of the board of education. Is that within our scope or our ability to do and is that appropriate? >> We had we actually made some changes in our policy with regard to things like this. Um, so that anytime there is financing or anything where the president or vice president is going to sign it, there's notice given to each of you to make sure it's within this principal amount here. And that's because of the problem we had some 15 years ago where that we had the bond the bond issue um where it was advertised to the public that the term of the bond would be the same as the state >> reimbursements building aid >> um and then the

161president of the board at that time instead made it be a 20-year bond even though the building a payment was team. So, we worked with our uh financial advisors and our council and had a change made so that now there has to be notice given to each board member anytime the board president is bonding or lease agreement. >> That's all it says though. Like I have the same objection. >> It does not. Number one, the the the section does not say that it authorizes the president or and this is adding the words in by the legal the way it's being read. It really reads the president of the board of education or the vice president of the board of education or the superintendent of the school or the assistant superintendent or management and or district

162treasurer can all enter into it. That's number one. But number two, that us as a board have no independent authority on any subject. >> You're giving the vice president and the president independent authority outside of this boardroom. >> Okay. >> So I think >> I agree with why your circumstances why why policy was changed, but that's not what this says. So that's my concern. And can we get this resolution to match the >> practice and the policy that we have with regard to bonding? Can that be fixed? There would be a another motion within this to amend the resolution to require notice to the board following any actions taken under section three. Then you would approve that amendment and then approve the whole resolution. >> Wait, wait, but I I don't know that I agree

163with that either. You're saying you're saying that the board would have to vote to give them the authority instead of the board voting on what the issue actually is. >> And and my question my and with that isn't that a conflict because now you have members of the board who are asking you to approve what they did that us as an as a as a a body are meant to approve. I agree with the philosophy as to why the policy was changed, but in this particular instance, it should be the take out the board president and the vice president and any of those other individuals should have to come back to the board to approve that vote or to approve that lease. They should not be the parties authorized to enter the lease >> or

164negotiate >> or to negotiate it further. >> Yeah. And that was and that was what was um that was the rationale behind the change that we made with regard to bonding. And so I think you're absolutely right that that ought to be incorporated in here. >> Right. But I'm saying take out the president and the vice president because you're the who approves the signing of the of the lease. >> Well, the board would the board approves signing the lease. >> That's not what it says. So, this would allow those individuals with advice of counsel to negotiate and enter into the lease. Uh, my understanding is that this was drafted by bond council. It's, you know, standard. >> You can speak up a little bit, Barbara. I can't hear you. >> You have to talk to

165me. Just the whole board has to hear you. >> So, in terms of this, this resolution is drafted by bond counsel. uh it is a um provision to allow you to act expeditiously on this um and those individuals titles listed would have the authority to engage in the activities as necessary to get this done in a timely manner. So I spoke with Bill Jackson earlier today not about this provision. Um it is standard language. Uh if you'd like to go into exact session to discuss some of the reasons that it might be there, I'm happy to do that. Um I did not draft it though, so I can't speak to bills. >> I'm a no vote on this as is. >> So this may just forewarn the trustees that we may lose some we can

166go into exact session and get it straightened out >> maybe. Okay. >> Well, that number three has to be rewritten. >> Yeah. And Barb, but Barbara did say that we can make a motion to amend the paragraph. >> Yeah. Well, we just we got to figure out what that amendment is. >> I think we should go back into exact session and listen to what Barbara has to say because >> All right. So, um, how do how do how do we deal now? We had a motion and a second and a discussion and We're going to have a motion to >> either withdraw. Why don't we withdraw? >> That's fine. You can >> a motion to withdraw it. >> We'll start from scratch, go into exact session to discuss it. >> So, do you have a

167motion to withdraw the the motion to approve? >> Yes. Is there a second? >> Yes. Uh, Trustee Pacini. So, all in favor of withdrawing the underlying motion, raise your hand. Um, that's unanimous, I assume. >> I'm sorry. Yes, I'm Yes. >> Okay. So, that the the motion is withdrawn. Let's finish >> um >> the rest of >> Let's finish everything else and then go into executive session. So, this will be the only thing left. Okay. >> Yep. The administration recommends the approval of business items reflected in I2 through I9. >> Is there a motion to approve I2 through I9? >> I'll make the motion and then I have a question. >> Okay. Uh motion by Trustee Feliz, second by Trustee Vetta. Question, discussion, >> question on UPK. We're staying at South Haven this year. Thank

168you. Okay. So, all in favor of I2 through I I 9. Um, yes, it's unanimously approved. No, no discussion items. Uh, we're not going to close the meeting. I'll know. Does anybody want to say anything? Because I'm thinking we'll go into exact. We'll straighten out the uh the financing resolution >> and come back and just take a vote on it >> and there won't be anything else that anybody wants to hang around for. >> Okay. >> Remarks you want to make? >> No. >> All right. >> So, >> can we stay here for the exec? >> Sure. If everybody leaves. >> Thank you. >> We need a motion >> uh a motion to go into exact session in order to receive advice at council with regard to energy performance contract financing. Motion by uh trustee

169Calderon. Second by trustee Feliz. All in favor? Unan unanimous. So, we're now um in exact session.