001We have a hiring policy. We had time to do this. It wasn't followed. I would like to see this tabled, the policy followed, and then the hiring commence. So my vote is none. >> Monique Proctor Shirley Dudley. >> Yes. >> Jermaine Smith. >> Yes. >> Laura White. >> Yes. and wide. Yes. >> Thank you. Um, do we have any more personal items here? We're we're through it, right? >> All right. So, I'm going to give it over to Dr. Morell here because we um just had two new we have one new approval and we have someone that we approved at a special meeting. Um, our new principles here. Um, so I just let Dr. where I'll take it and then um we'll we'll go from there. >> This is a fun part >> for all
002of us. >> Oh, this part um it it just >> gives me great pride and uh joy and honor to um to seek out and find such highly qualified uh educational leaders in our community here on Long Island. And I'm just so proud that uh Melissa Denowski walked through our door and really showed uh just what extraordinary talent, promise, compassion, and passion for students what it looks like. Uh I welcome her from Pataw, but she uh has her last position was assistant principal in Middle Country and I welcome her as the newly appointed principal of our adorable elementary school. Let's welcome Melissa. Do you have a few words? [Applause] I just want to say thank you to the Southampton community for welcoming me with open arms. Um, for many years I spent summers out here
003working in hospitality, been serving families um as a nanny and uh to be back here is such an honor. I this past weekend, as uh Mr. Emily shared, we had a um a car wash and I have never felt more part of a community. It was so beautiful. So, I just want to say thank you and I hope to be here and and serve everyone well. Thank you, Dr. room. >> Thank you. >> Melissa, I think you have some people here, right? Thank you. >> Can you stand up, please? Will you see the family? All right. Behind every great leader is an even greater family and support structure. So, we thank you and we'll take good care of her. And now it gives me extreme honor and pride to again recognize just the extreme depth
004and breadth of talent located here on the island, but right now we have them here in Southampton. And I would ask that our newly appointed principal coming from Isl uh currently in Petro Medford, I'm still working with these names. Let's have let's have Iceland. Okay, some people say Iceland, some people say Islam. I don't care. This is an extraordinary young man. And when he graced each of us, each panel, he just came through with fine color, so elevated, so intellectual, such promise. And I and I'm just really extremely proud to have you here in Southampton. Can you please take your seat as the newly appointed principal of Southampton High School Mr. Garrett Robinson and he has his family here again behind every amazing leader is an even more amazing family structure. Can you please stand
005and be recognized? Thank you. We're so proud to have you here leading our high school. Um, can you say do you would you like to say a few words to the community? [Applause] >> Yes. I just want to say first, is it okay if I just stand? >> Sure, absolutely. See what I mean? >> I'm just going to turn this back to Facebook. Um, Good evening. Um, first I just want to congratulate our students and give them a round of applause for I look forward to uh getting to know you both, of course, all students here in the district and getting a chance to work together. I want to thank the board of education and district office for this incredible opportunity. I'm honored to be appointed as the next principal of Southampton High School. I
006want to express my sincere gratitude to the community and everyone here tonight for your warm welcome and support. A special thank you to my family who are here this evening and have always been my greatest champions. I look forward to continuing the outstanding work of Dr. on and building upon the strong foundation already in place at Southampton High School. My goal is to work collaboratively and build a strong trusted relationship with staff, students, and families of Southampton to embrace a culture of care and celebrate a diverse community that makes Southampton so special. Together, we will continue to support our students in achieving their educational and career career aspirations. We will continue to provide a safe and supportive learning environment where all students are equipped with the knowledge, values, and skills to become responsible citizens in
007a dynamic global society. Thank you, and I look forward to working with all of you and officially today being part of Southampton. >> Thank you both. Um, I I got to meet Melissa at the car wash this weekend and I got to tell you, she worked her butt off. She was the whole time out there uh washing the cars. Um, so that was great. Um, see and Derek, welcome to Sally and Pepper. Wonderful things. So, um, I'm sorry. Is this this your daughter as well? >> Yes. Tell tell your dad to bring you blueberry after this. You had to sit through this meeting for 2 hours. Tell her you he owes you at least some ice cream there. Um before we move on, we got one more person here that wants to approve that. Dr.
008>> It gives me great pride and honor to tonight introduce our interum director of pupil personnel services, Dr. Carlen Mars of Sak Harbor uh comes to us with over 20 years of educational leadership in pupil personnel services. We are so proud, honored, and happy and and blessed to welcome her back to Southampton schools. I would ask if she could please come forward and say a word. Uh let's welcome Dr. Mirs to the leadership of people personnel services in Southampton. >> Good evening. Here we go. >> Good evening. I'm I'm very excited to be here. Um I'm uh honored. I I'm excited to uh be a part of the community again. Uh I'm dedicated to the Southampton community. Um as I said to Dr. Moral earlier, I lived in Sak Harbor, but I was on the
009Southampton town side. So I'm here. I'm 110% in and I can't wait to get started. Um, welcome both of you and welcome to the new um, student representatives and thank you to the board of education and community for your support and uh, my door is open. >> Thank you Dr. [Applause] So welcome. Um, let's move on here. We got some action items. Um, may I have a motion to approve the minutes of the uh 71 reorganizational meeting and the 71 regular meeting and the 721 um 2025 special meeting as presented in the agenda. >> Monique second. Ruth, will the clerk please call the role for a vote? >> Robert Zachary, >> yes. >> Rodney C. Pearson, >> yes. >> Monique, >> yes. >> Sherwood Dudley, >> yes. Jermaine Young Smith. >> Yes. >> Laura White.
010>> Yes. >> And Lucy White. >> Yes. >> Awesome. Um, we have a little unfinished business here. We just got to do the board of education committees. Um, I know we we talked about last time Germaine wasn't here. Um, so I'm just going to run through. We have audit finance. Um, right now Chip and myself are on it. Germaine, you were on that committee. Do you want to you want to stay on that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Um so Germaine and we got Sunni as the alternate um facilities committee new we have Chip and Ruth on it. Um still opening I kind of left open I can join whatever ones you don't want to be on it's up to you on that one or no. Okay. So I'll I'll fill in there. Um
011and then Mo'Nique is our alternate um personnel committee. Uh we have Laura and Monnique. Um, one more spot. I was on it. I'm happy to to not join your You want to join that one, Germaine? Right. >> Y. >> Um, get Termaine. We need an alternate for that committee. Um, I guess I'll be the Okay, I can be the alternate, too, if you want to. Um Um, the Yeah, perfect. And Ruth, too. So, we'll figure that out. Um policy committee we have Laura Mon'nique Ruth um officer Sunni um merger committee we have Sunni myself we have an alternative chip we have a opening >> uh Mr. President >> I would I would like to be on that committee um not as an alternate but as a uh member >> okay >> um if you see
012fit >> sounds good to me. Does anybody want to be the alternate on that? the alternate. >> Okay. Laura's going to be the alternate. Um wellness committee. I know we just kind of left this open. We have Monique Sunni. Um Laura is going to be alternate. Um do we even need a third for that? We'll just leave that as is. But know that's a school rant committee. We'll put that out. Um all right. Um do you have that all? Okay. So now I got to make a motion to establish the following board of education committees for the 2526 school year. Audit and finance committee, personnel committee, merger committee, facilities committee, wellness committee, and policy committee. Do I have a motion to >> Mr. Yes, Mr. >> President, before you do that, I just want to
013um um in the past uh correct me if I'm wrong, um Amy, we listed who was on the committees and we didn't break those committees up until the final committees were approved. So, this is done a little bit differently this year. Um I just want to probably make everything that you know is here is is is fine. But in the past, we gave these city members the opportunity to say whether they wanted to stay on them or not. And it it was done a little differently this year from my recollection over the last two years. >> Okay. Yeah. So I that's all right. So we're >> we're good. >> Okay. All right. That's make sure we're all good. Yeah. Cuz we went over it last time and some of the stuff is new to me
014too creating it. So all right. Um do I have a motion to establish the committees? >> Motion for Do I have a second? Second. Second. Chip. Um, and he's do we would the clerk please call the role for the vote? >> Robert Zachary Edley, >> yes. >> Rodney C. Pearson, >> yes. >> Monique Proctor, >> yes. >> Si Sherwood Dudley, >> yes. >> Jermaine Smith, >> yes. >> Laura White, yes. Andrew White, >> yes. >> Um, >> okay. So, I I hereby appoint the board of education committee membership for the 2025 2026 year as we had just went over. um we'll do is with Amy, we'll get in touch and we'll try to keep some of those times and adjust and we'll reach out and and set stuff. So, um yeah, looking forward to it.
015Be good. Um at this time, um we're going to go to our second round of public comment. Um public comments will be heard at this time. The board of education encourages public participation in school related matters at the board meetings. Any group or organization wishing to address the board must first identify a single spokesperson. The presentation should be brief as possible. Speak speakers will be permitted per permitted to speak for up to three minutes. The board will not allow public session discussions involving individual district personnel or students. All speakers are to conduct themselves civily. Obscene language, life statements, threat or violence and statements advocating racial, religious, and other forms of prejudice will not be tolerated. Persons making presentations at the board meeting will address remarks to the president. They may direct questions or comments to
016the board members or other district officials only upon approval from the president. So, do we have any other press button? Yeah, there you go. Good evening, dear members of the board of education, Dr. Moral and Southampton community. We are open. Our names are Victoria Nava, >> Pablo Major, Juana Himenez, and Cruz >> and absent today, Diane Moreno Rener, and Elizabeth Diaz. We're here today representing the Latino parent organization in Southampton. We have taken this given platform to express to our community and the board of education our most sincere appreciation and gratitude to two different members of the school district. First, we would like to thank Dr. Morell for her dedication and opening the door to Opel. We fully recognize and deeply respect the significant responsibilities and transitions you're managing as our superintendent. We're witnesses to
017your dedication and leadership during this important and transitional time and we sincerely appreciate your continued efforts on behalf of our district to provide equity and inclusivity within our own community. We appreciate your effort in allowing the Latino community to have a voice that can not only be heard but also present within the district. Secondly, we would like to highlight Dr. Dr. Anna Martinez Fuentes, director of ENL dual language, world language and diversity, equity and inclusivity and her work supporting the diverse community of Southampton, including the Latino families. For the past 17 years, she has been much more than an educator, administrator, and leader. She has been a steadfast pillar of the Southampton community, especially for our Latino families. Dr. Martinez Fuentes has exemplified exceptional leadership, cultural competence, transparency, undeniable work ethic, and professionalism in every
018aspect of her career here in Southampton. She tirelessly advocated for our children and families, building meaningful bridges between the school and the Latino community. Her presence brought pride to our families and created a celebration of cultural identity that had long been absent. She gave us a space to feel seen, valued, and heard in ways that few others have. Our district moves through this period of changes. Her absence will be deeply felt. We are immensely grateful for her years of service and wish her the very best in the next chapter while serving other diverse communities on Long Island. Dr. Anna Martinez, your work has no limit. [Music] Thank you again, Dr. Moral, for your time, your leadership, and your continued partnership with our Latino community. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with you and the
019district. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Is there any more comments, Tommy? No. Um, all right. So, at this time, we'll go on to um new business agenda items. Um, so when we went over the stuff, I I wanted to do this a little bit differently. Um, I feel that everybody up here should have a a voice. Um, so what we're do is under new offic um, going forward. So you guys can, you know, if you want to thank somebody, whatever you want to do, tell a joke, what? So go forward. Um, you know, so you guys, everybody has a platform here to speak and everybody's listed on the agenda. Um, so I'm taking the first one here. It's all listed alphabetical order. Um, I got nothing. Chip. >> Uh, yeah, I have
020a couple things. Uh last month I asked for uh the board action to be provided uh for the Native American contract. Um and I have yet to receive it. So I was just wondering uh if I could be provided that or when when that might be coming. Um, at this point we're still waiting on the um controllers's office to draft the actual contract to then send down to us to approve. Um, that's um, we've been in touch. I know Jean, Dr. Morell, we've we've gone back and forth um, and the states been dragging their feet on that and um, as you probably aware, we have not received any tuition money for the 2425 school year. So, it's been leaving a little bit of a hole in our budget. Um, but we are working on it.
021They said that it's flagged and um hopefully we'll have it soon. >> Uh, the appendix D for that was sent was was gone over and sent up. So, there must be a action on that. Is that correct? >> Um, technically not. There is no action on that. um we look that was something that was drafted up by the lawyers gets sent up for their review in their eyes and then what happens is that appendix D then comes back to us with the actual contract and at that point we will make an action on all of that and review it um and hopefully approve it and then that that contract will then get sent back to the state to be signed. So until we receive it back, um there's no action to be made. >> Got
022it. Uh one other thing, uh just want to follow up on the last month's uh building use uh to our um was everything handled? Was there a memo went out? Anything that was uh for our administrators to kind of go back to everyone and make sure that everybody's on the same page with that policy? Yes. Yes. So, we sat down with the uh head of facilities, Marcus Dilva, as well as the head of athletics and um the assistant superintendent for business and operations. And we talked about protocols for using our our facilities and the steps that may be must be taken and the forms that must be filled out for that to happen. So I think now that everything will go through markets um that we should be fine for ensuring those protocols are followed
023moving forward. >> All right. Great job. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Um all right. Thank you. Chip Monique. Do you have anything that you would like or anybody you like give a shout out to? >> Yes. >> You got you turn it back on. >> Yeah. First and foremost, I am so excited. As I've said a zillion times, congratulations to our students members that are representing the body. Okay, that's a huge responsibility and thank you for stepping up to the plate and doing something that even us as adults can be nervous about. So, we got your back. Um, and then I had the opportunity um to sit on both on a panel for the um hiring of our new elementary school principal and our new high school principal. And when I tell
024you You guys blew me out of the water. I'm excited. I'm excited for the new freshness coming into our elementary school. You have the enthusiasm that that is needed there. The newness, the freshness, just and the wealth of knowledge. and to you the wealth of knowledge around all of the different aspects of Southampton, not knowing much about Southampton or not coming from here in itself, but then the intelligence and all of your knowledge and so many things that this high school can expand upon to help our children to be able to navigate from K to 12 and into adulthood. So, I'm really like just blown away by the both of you and I wish you the best. And we as a board and Dr. Morel as your superintendent, we are here to support you and
025we wish you the best. And we have Patrick here, you're going to go back. >> It's all better, right? >> Yes. And I have one more thing. Um, as for our students, I wasn't sure if we received like a like a student board pamphlet. Do they get mentors, which I feel like would be something amazing just just to show you like what are we even doing with this? You know what I'm saying? Um and also for them to be informed about um the NISPA trips, the national the New York State National School Boards Association um conventions where I don't know if you've heard I've mentioned many times about um my experiences there with students that were already on the boards in their respective schools. And I wanted to know are we going to be opening
026this up to our students? We have parents here as well and just to give our students the best opportunity to learn all that that I myself learn while I'm at the school. >> So there's a series of trainings for them. There's one on September 17th that we have to make sure they go to and then they will also be um going to as they can >> um a couple of those conferences. So um I will provide the uh board with the handbook in them as well for student board members and then um the board will have to decide who will serve as mentor for these students because they have to have a board member. So that's going to be a board decision. But I think that we need to get the handbooks first and read
027those things and then see who really wants, you know, really commit to that cuz that's a really important work. >> Um, but it needs to be done. >> Yeah. So, we'll get the handbooks out to everybody um this week and then think about you want it and we'll discuss it and pick we'll pick a mentor at the next meeting for you guys. So, >> awesome. Thank you, Monnique. Um but um Jermaine, you got anything? >> Uh yes. I just want to say welcome to our young board members. Can you hear me? Welcome to our young board members. Welcome to our new district um employees up there as well. Um and great idea Mon'nique on the mentorship and on this board there's no one in such a short period of time who have done more of
028these NISBO events than Monique. So if you have any questions on it, she would she would help you out with that. But welcome back to the I'm ready to go. Let's do this. You guys already have the voice and it's necessary. And these experiences show things that are not just in Southampton. You see if you see people maybe as possible then you can come back to the table and say you know what I learned this I make school and I actually skip there. So um I was I checked next to the names as I was going on. I checked you before. So, do you have anything you'd like to anybody else? >> I'm just going to echo everybody's words. Uh, I think you can tell that the board is so excited to have student representation.
029So, we're thrilled to have you. Um, it'll be a great learning process for you and we look forward to all the contributions that you make both in the conversation and decision making process. So, welcome and welcome to our our new principles. Very excited. I was able to sit in for your uh second level um uh interview. So, I saw some wonderful things and I've heard wonderful things about you. So, very excited. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi everyone. Congratulations, Mattea and Noah. Welcome. I'm also a newbie on the board, so we're going through this together. If you have any questions, don't ever be afraid to ask and just take time to listen. We're here for you. Um, this is my second official meeting, board meeting. So, um, it's been a pleasure getting to
030know the board, our administration, and our superintendent. And it is an honor to be here. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> By the way, I want to say one more thing. I'm sorry. I just wanted to thank all of our the parents here um for speaking about Dr. Fuentes. Um, she will be missed. She made a huge impact on our communications and building relationships in our Latino community. So, she will be missed. So, thank you for taking the time to recognize her, expressing your gratitude for her work that she did the last 17 years. >> Wait, why? >> Madame Vice President. >> Yes. Thank you. Great idea, Zach. Thank you for setting this up. I just wanted to reflect on the summer of hiring that's gone on in the district, not just at the building
031levels, but at the district level. Um, we've been interviewing constantly. And I just want to thank all the staff. It takes a lot of time and it's not taken lightly what we have to do. And I want to thank all the candidates for submitting their applications and sitting with us. I also want to thank the community because without the collaboration of the community we wouldn't have um you know vetted such excellent candidates and they volunteer hours of their time to make sure that we come up with quality candidates and I just appreciate the community support for sitting on interview committees. We're talking hours a day, often without a break or lunch. And um we really appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um No, Ted, you're not going to get out of here without saying
032a word. So Noah, first maybe you want to tell people that your mom does make you dinner. Start with that. >> We always stop at McDonald's. Um, I just want to say thank you to my mom and my parents and my dad for uh coming to the meetings all the time and supporting me. And I also want to say thank you to Dr. Z for the continuous support um in the in the um ending of the school year in the middle of the school year with all the um support with the courtyard making kids really happy out there. Um and I and I can't wait to keep working on that with our new principal at the Talent High School. And um thank you for everybody that's doing a really good job during the summer and
033I can't wait to get back to school September 2nd. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Nice to meet you all. Um I'm really excited and thank you for being so wcoming. So thank you so much. I'm excited for this week. >> Awesome. Thank you. We're excited, too. >> All right. So, if there is um nothing else here, um may I have a motion to adjourn the meeting at is that 8:30? Oh, >> can I just say >> yes, >> all those meetings, all those interviews, Dr. Morurell, thank you very much for facilitating them and taking us to such a high standard and maintaining that level. uh everybody who participated in the candidacies left feeling like yeah I really do want to be here >> and so I want to acknowledge everything that you've
034done Zach you're a great person to sit next to >> we had fun it was it was a long day but we had fun >> yeah I just want to say thank you everybody >> thank you Denise and thank you for sitting on committees I know it's you're volunteering your time to take a whole day and sit in a conference room for eight hours >> but then look what we get >> we quality. So, it's good. So, um thanks and um with that I have a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30. Motion. Motion. Second by Mon'nique. Um um no. All in favor? All right. Thank you guys.