001at 6:37 p.m. provide an opportunity for a discussion of the appropriation on not to exceed $480,000 from the district's repair reserve fund for the purpose of repairing one boiler at the Southampton Transportation Building, two furnaces at the Southampton District Office, the refrigeration unit for the walk-in box at Southampton High School, the sound system in the main gymnasium of the Southampton School, one baseball and one softball scoreboard for the varsity fields, 11 standard water uh fountains districtwide. The alarm the fire alarm panel at the high school, intermediate school, elementary school, repair the fuel oil um monitoring system at the intermediate school, junior high school baseball softball practice fields and repair the phone system at the district office. Um, we look for public input regarding the appropriations referenced above and board education comments discussed regarding the um
002appropriations above. So, I I think I got everything Marcus. That was a lot. Um, so before we start, I'd like to ask everybody to rise for the pledge of >> allegiance and for a moment of silence. standing for a vote. >> Thank you. Um so I may have your attention for a brief emergency um evacuation announcement before we get to Marcus over there. Um, upon fire alarm activation, the immediate evacuation is to the closest emergency exit if required. The emergency exits are located over there. Um, please exit away from the building so as not to interfere with the fire department and proceed to the evacuation areas. Please follow the school officials directions. Once assembled outside the building, everyone must wait until the school official has given it all clear to re-enter the building. Um, with
003that being said, the floor is yours. Good evening, President Eley, vice president, trustees of the board, Dr. Mor. Tonight we are presenting, can you guys hear me? Yeah. >> Tonight, uh we are presenting the 2026 repair reserve presentation. Um the goal of this presentation is to outline the outline the critical infrastructure projects identified by facilities department that require immediate attention to ensure the safety and smooth operation of our district. Before we dive into uh the specific projects, I want to reiterate the purpose of the repair fund. We use these funds to address infrastructure that has already failed or is in the brink of failure. Ensure we remain compliant in all safety codes. Replace systems that are outdated, unsupported by vendors or consumers. This is about operational compatibility, making sure our buildings work with our students
004and staff. They walk in every morning. This is a little overview of what we're looking for. We have identified 10 specific projects across the district ranging from the heating systems to life safety technology. You will see projects uh for South Hampton High School, the intermediate school, the elementary school, the district office, and the transportation building. Um let's look at the first project. So, the first project we're looking at right here is the Southampton High School main gym sound system. The current sound system in the main gym has significant wire faults and damaged hardware. Uh we need to troubleshoot and trace all the wiring, repair, damage fiber connections, and replace compromised speakers and receivers. Uh this isn't just about um music or the events that that take place in the gym. It's about restoring the functionality
005to microphones, uh bells, sirens, and time clocks. The repair will also allow us to seamlessly tie into the new video scoreboard for the fully integrated system. Just a quick little picture of like that is a microphone jack to the right that they do not work and we have some damaged outlets as well. So around the whole we're going to replace all of that. That's just a quick little receiver that's giving us problems. The next project is uh the walk-in refrigeration unit at the uh Southampton High School. It's failing. This is a critical component for our food service operations. We need to replace the outdoor condensing unit, the evaporator coil, and the associated line sets and heater cables. This will restore reliability and ensure we don't lose food inventory due to temperature failures. Little walk-in box
006picture. That's the rooftop unit we'll be replacing. Similar to the transportation um I'm sorry, I skipped that one. The transportation heating unit. The heating unit serving the offices and break room at the transportation building has failed and must be replaced. We are currently relying on a temporary heat which is not sustainable. The failed unit is over 30 years old. We propose replacing it with a modern energy efficient unit to ensure safe working environment for the transportation staff. That's the current unit right there that will be replaced. Similar to the transportation, the two furn furnaces heating the lower level of the district office require attention. We need to repair or replace both furnaces and critically replace the damaged duct work associated with them to ensure proper air flow and efficiency. the district office phone system. Um,
007our current Alpatel Lucent phones have been discontinued. Uh, what does this mean for us? That means vendor support is limited and parts for our phone system cannot be found. Uh, if this system fails, we lose communication. We need to upgrade to avoid the risk. Uh the this will be phase one of possibly three phases. The repair reserve request for the phone system will buy us time where we can either add phases two and three to the proposition on the budget vote in May or build it into the general budget. Um how will this buy this time? We address the phone system at the district office. We salvage the phones and parts to keep our inventory of the parts uh until we can uh procure funding to address the phone system at the high school, elementary
008school, intermediate school. Every building we complete, we gain parts to carry the system until the phone system is fully updated. the fuel oil monitoring system. Uh the driver of this one is this is a complianced driven project. Um a change in the health department code requires us to replace the fuel monitoring system at the intermediate school. The other buildings have been upgraded over the last couple years. The intermediate school has not. We must upgrade this system in order just to remain in code compliance. That's all. It's a couple of probes in the fuel tank that monitors fuel levels, leak detection, and it's a little computer that runs and identifies as well. The fire alarm main panels at the high school, intermediate school, and elementary school. They are at max capacity. We physically cannot add any
009new devices to these panels, but code changes require us to add more life safety devices. We need to replace the front end control panel to expand capacity, allow for future additions, and ensure full compliance with fire safety codes. That's the Simplex Fire Control Panel 4100. That's what we currently have. Water bounds. Uh restore service to 11 districtwide water bounds throughout through necessary repairs and replacements. ensure compliance with the new lead and water policies by installing filtration to unfiltered units, supplementing the district's currently operational filtered fountains. We do have filtered water fountains throughout both the district. We're just going to add more. This will bring several out of service fountains back online, ensuring students have more access to clean drinking water. That one to the left is at the elementary school. There's there's three of them
010that we're replacing over there. That hydration station is not functioning at the high school. That's also getting replaced. Just to show you a few. Athletics, varsity, baseball, and softball scoreboards. The current scoreboards are damaged and need replacement. The project includes installing proper steel mounting structures and repairing the electrical service. We will also repair outlets used for portable sound systems and batting cage equipment to support our athletic programs. That will be the new scoreboard. There'll be two of them, one for the softball field, one for the baseball field. As a quick summary of the project representing median needs, not nice to haves. Uh by approving these funds, the board allows us to be proactive rather than reactive. Fixing deficiencies now before they turn to expensive emergencies. This investment ensures a long-term reliability of our district's critical
011infrastructure. 10 projects. I mean, that's it's we're all over the place with that, but uh we did the you know, we did the takeoffs and we got our our proposals in place and uh that's the funding that we're asking for. Uh thank you for your time and support. We are happy to answer any questions the board or I happy to answer any questions the board. >> Does anybody have any questions? No. lights on. I just want to say thank you for the workout. That's very uh it's a big thing like we only have one good one and I think adding three more students and then the scoreboard thing like baseball games for a while that's like game. So, thank you for doing both those things. >> Thank you. Does it count? I I swear I
012didn't put them up to the whole thing was like anybody um I you know I just want to thank you Marcus you know um been sitting on the facilities committee and you know you're always prepared in meetings and everything and this is a great thing to have um like 10 projects like this going on. So, we we really appreciate the work you do here in the district and trying to keep up and it's it's not easy when you have buildings like this and I think you do a great job and thank you very much. You know, we appreciate everything. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> So, there's no more comment comments here. We'll um we'll adjourn the public hearing at 6:49. >> All right. Cool. So, um I'm going to reconvene the regular meeting at
0136:50. The board is returning from executive session. We're collective negotiations on the Southampton Teachers Association, Southampton Administrators Association pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law and employment history of the particular person and matters leading to the employment of a particular person were discussed. Will the clerk please call the role? >> Yes. Y >> here >> um does the clerk have any additions or deletions to the agenda? >> Yes, consent agenda item 12.15 and personnel item 13.0A have been added to the >> Great. Awesome. Um now on to president's comments here. Before I get into comments, um I just want to address something that was in news day um few weeks ago. So a few weeks ago, we were cited for being a district under financial stress as um according to the article and
014I think you got parents and stuff were sent out a thing to the the community. So the the way it works is you have ongoing reports that go into the controllers's office um as they go on. So the so it's a distress scale of zero through 100 100 would be the worst meaning like your district is awful and you know a lot of kind of stress. So anything over 25 on that scale um is um well cited so there was five districts cited on that. So um to everybody ease um we are not at financial stress. So the way they they get this information is off of a a form called the ST3 that goes into the controls just from time being. Um when we reported that information um two of the categories were actually
015put in as zeros where they should have had balances. So one was cash on hand showed that we had zero cash on hand when actually we have few million on hand. Um and the other thing was liabilities that were listed at zero. So, um, if usually our score is in the single digits, which is great. We're up there with all districts. If you revise the form and put those categories in, it brings us down into that um, singledigit thing. So, um, that was an error that was made on the part of everybody here. You know, they the controllers's office had reached out to us via email in December um, to say, "Hey, this doesn't look right." Um, one thing being another, a lot of emails come in, it was missed. Um, you know, I know
016people want, so I I always say is, you know, everyone wants to point fingers and who to blame and and ultimately I, you know, um, I always say is, you know, the the school board is responsible for the financial well-being and making sure that we stay out of the paper and that these reports are um, sent in right. So, I always feel myself as the president that I would be. So, if you got to blame somebody, you blame me. um as the president. So I I want to apologize for everybody for this happening. Um assure you that we are in great financial standing. Um you know I've said it again when it comes down to finances. Our job as a school board is to make sure that we are doing the right thing um fiscally
017and conservatively. I think that's something that we do well. um you know and again you know I say when when the teach you know if direct deposits go out wrong to the teachers or a bill doesn't get paid whatever it always comes back to the school board so that is on us as a school board so as me I'm president so you know this finger be pointed pointed at me um again I'm sorry this happened and um it has been cleaned up and we're going to move forward with that. So, I'm hoping this puts it all to rest, but I I wanted to let you guys all know that we're aware of it. And again, I'm sorry that we even ended up in a news day article like that. Um that's on us. So, um
018anyway, on to the president's comments here. Um the board of education will hold a work session meeting for the budget review session one on Tuesday, February 24th at 6:30 p.m. in the SIS music room. Um SCES has celebrated the 90th day of school today. Um they will celebrate the 100th day of school Tuesday, February 24th. SCES will hold the PSI Love You Dance on Friday um February 6 at 6:30. Um SHS will present the musical The Adams Family on Friday, February 6, 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 7th at 2 and 7 p.m. in the SHS auditorium for free admission for all. The wellness committee will meet on Tuesday, February 10th at 3 PM at the facil and the facilities committee will meet the um that day at 3:30 in the district office. The policy committee
019will meet on Thursday, February 12th at 4:30 p.m. in the district office. Um SIS will host a parent coffee club on Thursday, February 12th at 6 PM in the SIS library. a movie night um open gym will be held same time for students. SAHS will host the annual variety show on Thursday, February 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the SHS auditorium. The SCES will have the Oh, we already Oh, we'll have their PS I love you day on the Friday after the dance is the week before. the Friday after on Friday 13th we will do the um the day and the district will be closed from Monday uh February 16th and observation President's Day and there will be no school from February 16th to 20th for the mid winter break. Um and um we've had some
020exciting basketball games. I also want to congratulate Alex Franklin who's now our school's all-time leading scorer. Um, for some of you eighth graders that play sports, if you want to see work ethic and stuff, watch Alex in the gym working out every day, doing the right thing, working, it shows off. So, Cole, Lucas, Bryce, he want to play baseball. Lucas in the gym. Take a piece of advice out of Alex's work ethic in his book, and that's how you get there. So, um, congratulate to him. Congratulations to the basketball team. Hope the 90th day of school was great today. I saw some of the outfits. Um, and we'll move on to our presentation. So, you're up. I just want to take this opportunity to um >> I just want to take this opportunity to say
021thank you for all you do, your bravery. Um what you do for this community is unparalleled and unmatched. for you to take a chance on your on your own life and go and save a life is so heroic and is so admiraable and I'm just so happy to know you as a person. Um we're extremely proud of you on behalf of the executive team and our board. We're extremely proud of you and um all I can say is thank you. Thank you. Thank you. keep doing what you're doing. And here's a just a token of our appreciation for all you do. And not just, you know, as the chief of the fire department, but also everything you do around here for our with our building, our elementary school and the leadership in our building um
022with our operation unit. I I just, you know, you're just such a fine gentleman and I'm just proud to know who you are. PS is the chief of the fire department. He had a a save that was in the press. So, he saved life. So, >> um we appreciate it. We'll take one in front. Oh, thank you. Stay right there. One, two, three again. No, I didn't. >> Yeah. So, so polls is one I got I got a poll story. So, so last year, you know, we going back to school and I made a joke. Oh, the kids are back in here. Paul says goes, "What are you talking about? The kids are the best part of the job. They're smiles every day." He goes, "I come to school every day and I'm shocked that
023I even get paid to do this." Um, so that's kind of attitude Paul has. He's wonderful. My kids love him. So, we're we're happy to have you there. We we did try to stop paying you after that. Um, but he was unhappy with that as well. So, um, we Um, >> so now we have the um my islanders. >> all right. Good evening everybody. On behalf of the team, it was truly an honor to be part of the New York Agriculture in the Classroom Mac and Cheese Competition, an experience that highlights how powerful hands-on agriculture education can be for students. Established in 1985, New York A in the Classroom is a partnership between Cornell University, the New York State Department of A and Markets, the New York State Education Department, and the New York Farm
024Bureau. Together, these organizations share a mission to promote agriculture literacy and help students understand how food travels from farm to table. Our students are proud to win first place in the middle school division, which challenged them to create an original mac and cheese recipe using New York grown ingredients. The project went far beyond cooking. Students researched agriculture, developed and tested their recipe completely from scratch, and presented how their dish connected to farming, nutrition, and the local food system, including marketing. To succeed, students relied on many real life skills, including teamwork, problem solving, creativity, communication, and time management. This project became a full learning experience that reflected the goals of home and careers and agriculture literacy. Learning about agriculture and cooking is essential. Every student eats every day, yet many don't realize how much work goes
025into getting food from the farm to the table. Agriculture education helps students make healthier choices and develop appreciation for their local food system. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Mr. Benson, Mrs. Kimbuff, our food service director, Mr. D, their guidance counselor, my dad, a dairy farmer, and the lovable family of Mikos Big Dairy, whose support and encouragement helped guide the team throughout the entire process. I am most proud of our students, teamwork, and determination. They supported one another, stayed motivated, showed up, gave 100% effort from start to finish. Thank you to Cornell, New York a in the classroom, and all of the partners who make opportunities like this possible. Together, we are helping students see agriculture not just as food on the plate, but as a vital part of their everyday
026lives. Thank you. All right. Um, now I'm going to turn it over to the boys who are going to uh present the presentation, but I believe we're going to do the video. It's done. Okay. >> Mac and cheese with um forgetting the exact cheese. monster cheddar and >> a little bit of mozzarella. >> Um, smoked bacon. >> And we have Texas toast. That's >> Garlic bread and chicken >> and chicken. It was just like it was good. Something new, change of pace. So, of course. And especially because like this is the first year that this area has been like open to us because nobody else in the school can access this area except for the eighth graders. >> So it was cool for the first time being able to use and like cook in school.
027Also being able to cook something like mac and cheese which basically like everyone loves. >> The competition aspect of it was interesting too. Yeah, >> we had kind of just basic mac and cheese but with um a various different bi sauces like we triled across our group a barbecue idea or a buffalo sauce idea. So that was >> and then an idea that we did was >> that we actually made >> Yeah, we actually made was a buffalo mac and cheese balls. So we did those and they're pretty good but we thought we could do better. So we switched our idea. So like the whole point of this to me at least was like we got to get outside of the box not just normal mac and cheese that tastes good. Like it has to
028be something outside the box. >> And when we tried the buffalo it was like it was good but not all liked it and we just thought we should do better. And we also tried to get something that like sort of correlated towards Long Island and uh Southampton so that it like stood out to like the judges that like we really thought about like what we are putting into these recipes, not just what would taste good. >> All right, come on up. Matthew, Matthew, >> you the one. You are the spokesperson, Bryce. >> All right. All right. So, you the >> Bryce, don't be shy. We know you got a lot to say all the time. Now you can be quiet. >> I guess not. Um, so we're the M Mariners. Um, we participated in an
029event. Um, as said in the video, uh, hosted by Cornell. Um, and basically you had put your own spin on certain mac and cheese recipe and took a couple trial and errors, but eventually found our thing being the garlic mac and cheese pot pie chicken pot pie. And um, yeah, it it wasn't easy. Um but yeah and >> so uh yeah um >> so uh our garlic mac and cheese pot pie was a creamy mac and cheese loaded bacon and freshly corn topped with toasted garlic bread bread crumbs crumbs and crusted with a flaky buttery pie crust. Um all of our uh or most of our ingredients were locally sourced. Um our bacon was got we got it from Mikox Bay Dairy in Watermelon, New York. Uh we got our sea salt from Sea Salt
030Corporation and New York. Uh our corn was from Falcowski Farm in Bridgeampton. Our cheddar cheese and butter was from Cabbat upstate New York. And our eggs were uh from Braz. And uh here are just some photos of uh just the whole process, the marketing aspect of just putting this whole presentation together to be set off the competition. And uh here's some photos of us cooking. There we got Cole cutting some corn uh gra cheese. We got individuals. Um Kieran with his little sea salt. He loves the sea salt. Um there's more photos of us cooking. Charlie best chicken. I don't like that photo. Um me and working together to uh make the cheese. And uh here's a photo of uh the whole group. Um that was photo submitted to u. And yeah, here's just more.
031This was the final product. Now, doesn't that look nice? tasted better than it looks. Um, yeah, this was the t-shirt that we made. We made um and here's our slogan, a bite that hooks you cuz you know, Southampton Mariners, you know, for fishing. And, uh, we got fishing rod. There's our mac and cheese pie macarin with a little macaroni and the mac and uh, yeah. Um after we finished making the uh mac cheese pie, we actually went on a field trip uh to uh the Bay Dairy Farm in Water, New York. And uh we taste some cheese. We saw some cows. Um, and we learned a lot about, you know, the process of milking cows and how it comes straight from the cows to table. Not straight, like the process. Uh, this was the cheese.
032This was like Asian cheese that they had. Um, some of that sits there for up to four years. It's an interesting process. Um, we uh we taste some cheese. It was uh I'm not cheese guy, but it was still pretty good. >> Yeah, >> um yeah, they just showed us a bunch of uh bunch of stuff. Chris really liked the cheese if you can't tell. Um music cows. Yeah, those are adorable. Um, yeah. Um, so >> okay. So this is just the overview of the presentation workshop I guess um just the directors and the police uh this is the guidelines that we had to conform to um to actually have this like we were going to have this in the school lunch and we were going to edit this to be a part of that
033but uh this is just the final recipes nutrition facts and these were modifications that we made to conform to the schools. Did we eventually get it? >> Yeah. So, the edit the edits that we made here should um appear in the school lunch in a month. So >> um this is when we actually made uh went over the modifications. Um the food service director was >> Yeah. >> Mrs. Skimbach uh presented us with numerous um you know little changes that we could make to again conform to school lunch policy and make it healthier because I'm going to be honest. We added a lot of salt and a lot of bacon and a lot of things that you probably don't want to see in school. >> Just another photo of the planning and the suggestions. So,
034we have a little trophy from Cornell and New York in the classroom. stand right there. So, we're gonna present you with the official first. >> L should put it on. >> Yeah. There we go. All right, let's get >> it. >> Good job, guys. Good work. and they're here to answer any questions, culinary or otherwise. >> Anybody any questions? >> I don't have any questions. I just want to congratulate you all on this was a journey. This was a trial and error. You guys worked together. I want to be part of I always tell you that I want to be part of this area. And I also want to just comment I said the area is only open to the eighth graders right now. >> Yeah. Eighth grade. >> Oh yes. That's why. >> Okay.
035I was like I would love for that. I watch all the kids shows >> and you see that's why you turn around the movie. Um, it would actually be a cool idea program. >> Well, yes, Mr. Benson and I we're gonna we talked about doing a baking club, cooking club in spring, >> so that that'll be happening. I also just wanted to um say that I feel like it's really amazing that the students are involved with uh the renovations that you guys have been doing in the intermediate school for the lunch line and all of the uh renovations. So, I'm really glad you guys have worked with administration on that project. So, congratulations. I just wanted to say congratulations guys. You made us very proud and I hope you're proud of yourselves and I would
036love the recipe. I hope you get to post it on the website. Oh, good. All right. Awesome. Thank you. >> Um, you know, there's a saying, too many cooks spoil the broth. Too many spoil the broth. Um, but you guys have dispelled that saying and shown that working together and collaborating um can do extraordinary things. So congratulations. And my only question to you is, was it difficult to come up with the final recipe? Like because everybody's taste buds are different. So how hard was that to come up with the final combination? Um, I mean overall because we went through numerous recipes and because we've kind of got a general idea of what everybody wanted moving forward, the final recipe I think came pretty easily. I mean, people disagreed on a lot of things beforehand, but
037I think it was quite unanimous that we settled on this idea and that it was real stuff and we just wanted to go go for it. >> I think it makes everything taste better. So, >> I think >> um I just want to um say I'm extremely proud of each of you as well. I mean to have a designation from the state best macaroni and cheese in the state is an extremely tremendous honor and I'm I'm very proud of you and I just want to say thank you to Miss Serier for all the work that you did to get them there. Um congratulations. >> Thank you. I do you mind because I I know Bryce, I know Luca, I know Cole from baseball. You guys are ready. Can we introduce everybody? We haven't I don't
038think we know everybody's name, right? >> Yeah. Trish. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, we can This is Hector Collins. >> All right. Thank you guys. >> You were our spelling be champ. I heard too. >> So congratulations. Right. >> Residual. I thought I saw this cross. >> This is like the champion. I mean, lacrosse is the second to last. >> That's good because I can't spell either one. So, congratulations. Um, and then Miss Dur Miss Durier, I also saw an article that you got some kind of award from the agricultural society like a promotional. Do you want to >> Yes. >> Okay. from the New York State Agriculture Society and the conference was in Rochester, New York. >> So what was it? What I I saw it in the paper highlighted uh the work I've
039been doing over the years with agriculture bringing into the classroom um and highlighting school gardening with local uh foods from New York State as well as uh our local community. >> So congratulations on winning that award and enter the press and thank you for the students. We were missing Reed Bud, Chris Glorioso, Gabe, Nita, and and Kabir. >> And yeah, I think that was it. >> Yeah, but there was about 11 students in total. >> Awesome. >> All right. Thank you guys. >> Even with cooking, I think for me the most important thing is I think this project opened up uh passion for media like being interviewed was a big thing for a lot of people that are interested in media agriculture. there are people on the team that are interested in going into farming
040as a career and so like for everyone on this team there was something for everybody and it opened up a lot of opportunities and launching new doors and so uh this work started in September and couldn't be more proud everyone at the intermediate school is very proud of these guests CONGRATS >> thank Dr. Marley, you want to introduce our next resolution? >> Absolutely. At this time, I would like to introduce Miss Julie Williams, our director of multilingual and culturally responsive education for our dual language update. >> Good evening everyone. You hear me? All right. So, I'm going to give the dual language update for presentation. So, I'd like to go over the current program data, the dual language and opt out students. Right now, uh the current optout for each grade level. In kindergarten, we
041have a total number of students enrolled 57 with a total number of students that have opted out, seven. First grade, we have 64 total enrolled and four that are opted out. Second grade we have 60 students total and then nine students that have opted out. In third grade we have a total students of 65 with six students that have opted out and fourth grade 59 students total enrolled and 10 opted out. Looking at the current program data that was taken in January, you can see that the average I Ready early kindergarten the average grade is I'm so sorry I can't see is 389. And then you'll see for the dual language average early K 390 and then you see the opt out average of the kindergarteners and early K 387. Look down for grade kindergarten
042average I writing is 429. Students in the dual language program grade page scored at 429. And the students that are opted out grade K 432. Grade 1 in ELA average I ready 479. For ELA grade 1 in dual language 483. And then grade 1 for the students that opted out 463. Grade 2 I Ready 498 is the average students in dual language grade 2 scored at 499 and the OSA average for grade 2 was 474. You can see a big difference right there. So grade three the average ID score is 535. students in dual language grade three scored at 536 and the students that were opted out grade three 531 and you see also numbers in the average I ready for the math early K 361 is the average I already score students in dual
043language early K scored at 360 and then the OCTA average early K scored 362 grade K average I study is 386, math grade K scored at 387, dual language students and the students opted out in grade K 387. Grade one is pretty much the same. I'll go down to grade two average I ready 429. Grade two students in dual language scored at 431. And the students that were opted out grade two scored at 419. And then you see grade three I ready average 449 grade three students in dual language 449 and then grade three students that were opted out 451. So development of the dual language task force to provide shared leadership and voice related to the dual language program the program design. So the purpose of the dual task committee is to go over
044the program design for the 2627 school year, deadlines for the program participation and are exiting the program. Dual language district handbook task force members include parents, teachers, and administrators. There was one slide here that I wanted to go over. So this information I just went over. We're supposed to go actually after this slide. I do apologize. We did uh do a survey, a community survey that was given to the whole community about how they felt about the dual language program. And our responses were 201 respondents that answered the survey. This was given in January of 2026, early this year. You can see the feedback on the dual language program revealed the mixed sentiment among participants. 70% of the respondents were parents and guardians, while 65% of respondents understand the program's goals and structure, but only
04538% agree that it provides adequate instructional resources. Communication about the program is also a concern with 46% disagreeing that it is clear and accessible. Despite these challenges, 53% still believe the program supports student academic growth and 55% it aids language development. 48% of the respondents have had a positive experience with the program and 45% feel the structure and schedule do not work well for students. Equitable access to bilingual learning is also questioned with 32% disagreeing. Engagement opportunities for families are seen as insufficient with 43% this spring. The qualitative response highlights concerns about the program's effectiveness, resource allocation, and communication with some parents questioning the impact on core subjects and the long-term benefits for students. So the dual language program initiatives comes from that survey and it has to do with the upcoming dual language schedule
046setting which I know is a concern. The literacy pilot mosa and dual language supports strengthening family and community engagement. There was a lot of um misconceptions there and and just lack of knowledge what the program is about and what it's doing. So by creating avenues for parent input, the task force will also work on communication, collaboration, examples for district-wide newsletters through parent square, opt out process, timelines to register your child,formational night to parents about dual language. The strengths of the dual language program academic achievement by literacy and college career readiness supports multilingual learners. cognitive and social benefits. Strengthens connections by honoring students linguistic and cultural assets. College acceptances and career placement support bilingualism and skilled by literacy. The challenges of the dual language program scheduling and program design challenges resource allocation perception that the program
047may not be serving its original purpose effectively. community understanding that there be clear and accessible communication, engagement opportunities for families, and the long-term benefits. So, with the dual language, the reason we have it is because of the commissioner's regulations for part 154. Commissioner's regulation part 1542 establishes the legal requirements for the education of English language learners, LS, in New York State. amendments were adopted for the 215 2016 school year. Then we have CR 1542 English as a new language program kindergarten through 12th grade and the bilingual education program. Sut 154 just some of the acronyms that we commonly use. ENL English as a new language instruction is required to be offered. Bilingual education provides for 20 or more English language learners that speak the same home language within the same grade level. Hence how we
048start at the dual language parent orientation inform parents of ENL English as a new language services in dual language that will also allow L minutes of service for the multilingual language learner. So every student that comes into the district, if they are classified as an L student, there is a parent orientation that follows immediately after. This right here is deleat. It is the diploma to Spanish as a foreign language. I wanted to demonstrate this because these are tests that our students take in uh 8th grade and even in um as they enter 9th and 10th grade. The A2 is an exam that's offered by the International Spanish Academy. Students there scored high as you can see in 2019. So those are basic communication skills. These are students that can go out, travel to a restaurant,
049order something, speak the language, be able to feel comfortable in a social setting. Whereas the B1 is college readiness. This child is biterate, can communicate in a college professional setting, reading, writing, high literacy skills. Sometimes the students don't get to finish in the ESA program and I understand because they get to the high school and they have so many opportunities, so many courses they can take. We have the CLI literacy that second language acquisition, third language acquisition for some is not a waste. We have the seal of by literacy. Another opportunity. This is the New York State Seal of Literacy. It's an award given by a school school district or county office of education that formally recognizes students who have attained a high level of proficiency in two or more world languages. One of which
050must be English by high school graduation. These are the total numbers for the graduating class of 2025. You can see total seals total number of students with the seals languages uh Spanish we had 23 French we had 12 ASL American Sign Language we had three the student demographics here show out of the numbers that graduated with the sale by literacy we have white students 20 Hispanic Latino 14 multi-racial one student and Native American one students. I just want to emphasize going back for a minute, the skills by literacy students that graduate with that skill by literacy. I mean, it is a high recognition award. And when they're going to college, I know I'm paying for my daughter at now college and man, it costs money. But when she walked out and I got notified that
051she has six credits, that was amazing. Some colleges even accept up to 12 credits, but it's a full semester. International Spanish Academy. So, we had the representative come, Mr. Roberto Gonzalez, and we did a tour at all the buildings. Um, we started at the high school, worked our way down, and I have to say in we walked into Miss Medina's class, the AP Spanish class, what a pleasure seeing the post. I really would have preferred to be at to the end, but it was nice seeing this and then working our way down to the intermediate and the elementary level, seeing how that language acquisition, the benefits of it, the effects of it, and just being able to see these kids multilingual. There was no discrepancy. There was no miscommunication. These students were laughing, smiling, telling
052jokes, uh going over, reviewing their material in Spanish and in English comfortably. And you couldn't pick and choose one student that possibly could be Hispanic, possibly could not. And Mr. Roberto walked around the building talking to other students and the way they expressed themselves in Spanish, I thought of in my own native country. It was a pleasure. It was amazing. You don't see that quite often. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Thank you. I So when um what grade did they start Frenching here? Because I saw that we have 23 that got the Spanish seal by and then 12 that got French. What grade do they start Frenching? >> Usually start seventh grade. >> Seventh grade. Okay. So we are just looking at the numbers now there are and you know we have 11 more
053that have Spanish and we're doing the dual language throughout the whole system for >> I was going to say this one's before your time but when we went when we became a fully dual language school those students that looked down in sixth grade so I would love to see that data comparing it to previous sixth graders similar to what you've done for this because I think that really helpful in seeing the trajectory of our students performance how that's impacted. >> Oh, absolutely. I actually um I mean starting this task force, one of the things that I actually would like to do, I'd like to put on our website, Dr. Marl and I have been talking about it. Um I would like to interview students at the elementary level and then have a follow-up interview with
054them at the intermediate to high school. It's amazing to see the growth. I think sometimes we miss, we don't see it, we hear it, people talk about it. Um, and I always like to tell people, you know, it's kind of like when your child practices violin and the practice at home is like, "Oh my goodness, you know, are they really going to make it?" And then you see them perform on stage and they take a breath and you're like, "Wow, my kid could do that." >> Yeah. That's why I think that this data is really good to see because when you especially when you're in elementary school, it's really painful. It can be really painful going through for both for all families, not just not just the the the natural English language, the natural the
055native English speaks are difficult for English language learners. So to see um those numbers I think will be really interesting because you know elementary school is really really tough and they many many studies have shown that it all clicks by like fifth grade and that's where you really start to see progress and how everything starts to make sense but challenging years are elementary school that can be really difficult for families including my own when I went through it and when you're in the weeds it can be really frustrating. No, absolutely. And that's what I hope to gain from the task force, the committee, is all that input and trying to put something together where everybody in the community can see what their children are doing. Even the kids need to see it as well. >>
056Thank you. >> Hi. Hi. Thank you for this presentation. I have a quick question regarding the program data which shows that the um the I ready scores if I'm interpreting this correctly for ELA that for the most part the scores for the dual language students are higher the averages are higher than the opt students. So just wanted to point that out um that that's incredible and just to tie that into the survey that the community members filled out. what steps are you going to take can we take to correct the misperceptions that it does not serve them well academically because clearly um with the ELA scores the dual language students are outperforming the opt out students so again that um that's one of my goals to be able to put something together with the committee
057brainstorming I think the communication has to be worked on and like I said putting more out there Having a handbook for the district what the process is, what the courses are, what the class is, what's being taught. I think that's going to that's going to be able to tell the community and inform them how this is happening because it's a process. I just wanted to as a student I was part of the dual and I just think it's so important that we have it all and I just wanted to go off of what said about how interesting it is to see better because I know there's like beneficial and I think it's so important to be able to take there's so many other such a big thing and so I think it's really great it's
058a really good focus Oh, thank you. Absolutely. No, I like I said, I walked in the high school. It was such a pleasure hearing all these students speak this fluent Spanish wonderfully, beautifully. I could understand every word. There was no struggle. There was no embarrassment. There was this confidence. I was amazed and I was so happy that this um this gentleman came from the embassy to see this is what's going on. This is what Southampton is representing. I just want to thank you for your presentation and just say that this has been a journey um that we're on with the dual language program. But I think um some of the mis um misconceptions about it is one of the biggest cleanup jobs we have to do. um but also orienting orienting our families around what
059is available, why is it there, what are the regulations for our bilingual learners and so on. I think we need clear understanding. I think that handbook is going to really be um a powerful tool to use to bring clarity. Um but I like your idea about parent engagement around this. Um, and as we keep moving forward, that's what I'm hopeful and seeing a lot of parent engagement as we move forward. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> It's okay if I just say something back. >> I just want to say uh just kind of echo what Miss Williams is saying. I'm a former Spanish teacher and seeing the kids and speaking with the kids, they don't have to staff. I would never know that they went through the program. I would have just, you know,
060that they just learned a language since they were very little. But to see that they come through the program from elementary school up to the high school very fluent and speaking with the families as well. Some of our students are visiting Hispanic countries and they're even saying the same thing that I'm saying that they are very fluent in language, which is, you know, something that's very amazing. >> And that's K to 12. Uh, I noticed that at in the elementary school when I first got here just how fluent some of our third and fourth graders were are and I was just very intrigued by that. I haven't seen that anywhere else and so that was just really it's really powerful. So, how do we um in looking at that survey data that's our work to
061see how do we dispel misunderstanding but strengthen what we have? And I think that's what you're on a journey on and I'm here to support you. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next up, we have Miss Thea Fry uh to discuss our 260th uh commemoration of our country um anniversary of that. And she's going to just bring an update. Thank you. >> She brought Susan's thank you with her, too. >> Do the leg work and hand out the >> So, I did not do anything on the screen, but I did bring um a very nice thing that I compiled about everything. >> Okay. Um so, my name is Thea Dumbrski Fry and I'm one of the members of the Fourth of July parade committee. Um if many of you don't know,
062the Fourth July parade in the Southampton has been um going on for over 100 years. It's one of the largest um parades um on Long Island. Um so this year um I came on about a year ago of Lisa Frankenbach and Susan Seni um asked me to come on to the committee and um we are trying this year to make it bigger than it's ever been in the last 105 years. um some of the things that you're going to see in this packet. It's very thorough. I'm not going to go page by page. I'm just going to stick to the outline. You can flip through it at your leisure. Um but what's very, very important is we want not only the community to be involved, but all the school districts in the town of Southampton
063as well as all the committees, um community groups, uh civic groups. We want everyone to be involved in one way or another. You may not know that last year four of our high school clubs um joined the Fourth of July parade and they were collecting funds um that we had 22 high school students from 8th grade uh including 8th grade to 12 um that helped uh collect funds during the parade. They collected $4,400. That was the most money they collected in the two-hour period in over 10 years. So it was a great accomplishment for our high school students. We were so so very proud of them. Um, okay. So, I did my welcome introductions. So, you're going to see in the packet in part three, the parade planning and documentation, and you'll get your the
064in there is the original East End letter that all the school districts got. And we're trying to encourage them to do floats, marching. We want the clubs to really be involved in this 250th um celebration. You'll see in there they'll there's an appeal letter, the parade rules, the parade application, and the parade information sheet. The Fourth of July parade is doing a lot of fundraising. We have a fundraising event on February 10th at Deros and Hampton Bay, which is the old friendly. Many of our students from the high school will be volunteering and doing their community service hours there. Um, we're also asking um for folks to take a look at the federal programs and the state and um local county programs. So, there's America's field trip program. Um if the students the students go
065around and they um they can use a map or however they like and they start talking about different areas where they would like to go on a field trip and then they get all logged in and there's a lottery and they pull out names from all over the country and the kids get to go to like five to six they can go to five um different places. They get to pick where they want to go. It's a really wonderful experience. There's also um where you nominate a local hero and the fourth of July committee this year is nominating um Robert Grisnik and as you all know him from South 50. He's not only um a an honored and um medalled veteran but um he was in charge of the West Hampton Air Force Base, the
066Civil Air Patrol um for over 30 years. He runs a great business and he's a very big advocate for veterans and for patriotism in America. Um so we are asking that all the school districts in the town of Southampton um fill in fill out the form which that form is in there um on hard copy but you have to go online and because we hope that he's going to be one of our featured um war heroes um on 250 America and he will be featured if he wins on the federal website as well as the state and the local government. Um, also there is a essay contest that grades from 32 3 to 12 can participate in and it's called what does America mean to you? So we're also encouraging all the school districts to
067um in one way or another um try and get the students to um embrace this and maybe write an essay and um be part of this wonderful initiative. Um the county Suffach County is doing a pass book volunteer. It and what they do there is they it's digital and it tells you where you've gone to historical places or what events that you've been to. So for example um if all of our kids participate in the Fourth of July parade, they will get their digital passport um stamp and that's just part of the process. It's a really wonderful, wonderful opportunity and we're hoping that all the students and families and businesses in the town of Southampton and the East End are able to participate. Um there's also New York State through the New York State Historical
068Society is um they are their initiative is an American citizens project. So, anyone with a um valid green card um they're asking uh certain areas of Long Island and New York State if you would do citizen um classes to aid um people with green cards to become United States citizens. It's a really wonderful opportunity if you ever had the opportunity to help someone that um wants to become a citizen of the United States and you've um helped them study for the test and you've gone with them to the ceremony. I myself have experienced that on many occasions and it is an incredible experience not only for the person that becomes a citizen but it's also a great experience for yourself also. Um I don't want to keep talking but there's so much to talk about.
069Um, also the community contributions. I kind of took um 10 areas and tried to pick out um all the different um cultures that have contributed to um America on the east end and in the town of Southampton. So, we have the African-American community, the Polish community, um, Chinak Nation, um, uh, the founding fathers and early American contributions, the Latino community, Italian community, Irish community, and German community. And as you'll see in the outline in this packet, um, all of these communities have contributed to the East End and to the town of Southampton. And we want everyone in our community to participate in the Fourth of July parade and in all the facidities that are going to be happening until December 31st, 2026. Um, let's see. Oh, now which is very this is very important. The
070Southampton Mariners Patriot Club, as you all know, we do many many events. Um, and every year they get bigger and bigger and we are going to be participating and continuing to participate in as many of these um, celebrations as we possibly can. Um, as many of you know um during the veterans appreciation dinner, we highlighted World War I veterans from the town of Southampton with their banners. And we're gonna we'd like we're hoping that this year we'll be able to take those banners and put them on Memorial Day weekend around a circle. And we're hoping that the other schools will be able to do the same thing maybe with World War II banners or with Korean War betting banners. And hopefully that's going to happen. We'll see. Um so this is just the highlights and
071I know this is a lot of information, but it's really worthwhile to take a flip through it and to see all the work that we've been doing. Um, and I actually kind of like it very much myself. Um, but it is a wealth of information. So, please take um, a moment to take a look at it. If you have any questions, you can always contact me or anybody on um, the Fourth of July committee. And this is very important uh, which I did not mention is the volunteer across America. Um, I have volunteered to help with this. If any of the clubs or anybody in the school district does any volunteer work, if you let me know, I will log it into the federal de database and we get a certificate that we participated. South
072Andrew School District, I think this is so incredibly amazing and I'm hoping that all of our clubs will be able to participate in it. So, thank you very much um for letting us speak. I hope you can all hear me and have a wonderful evening and happy 4th of July and we hope to see you on February 10th at 4 o'clock. Have a great day. >> Thank you so much. >> Um yeah, well we don't have any questions but I want to say thank you for this amazing compendium of resources for us. Um, and we also know that in district we have quite a few things that we're going to be doing to honor our 250th. And um, in terms of the arts, we're going to again be working with the Southampton Art Center Museum
073um, and taking quite a few field trips there where they have their they will have their exhibit um, coming up in the spring. And as you all know, all of our students have will have free passes to the sack to see that. We also have um in July coming up several musical performances at the Southampton Village at the actual Fourth of July parade. And in November and December, um America 250 tributes during concerts and or other performances will be uh done by our South Hampton orchestra, band, and chorus ensembles. So, we're very excited for that. And we also have some other stuff. Dr. John. >> Yeah, thank you very much um Dr. Moral. Uh as Dr. Moral were and I were talking about Mr. Fry's presentation, uh we thought it was a great time also
074to highlight um a lot of the work that the district is doing with America 250 and um Dr. Thea referenced a lot from America 250.org which is really the main site of information. Um and one of the pieces that when you look at um America 250, one of the big um pieces of this is really promoting civics and civic responsibility and citizenship and volunteerism. So some of the goal we tied some of our goals to that as well. And one goal that we thought was um very very appropriate was for us as a district to launch the seal of civic readiness um for our graduates. It's another graduation um endorsement and seal that students can earn uh along the way to really separate themselves uh from others during the college and career application process. Um
075so this is one that ties directly into into the goals of promoting that volunteerism that work and again um really looking at the portrait of a graduate and how graduation decisions are changing the ability for students to earn these seals and endorsements is critical. So, we thought that now is the best time for that. Also, um to highlight some of the America 250 work, NICE has released uh the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Uh it's a great resource for our teachers uh that really covers it has great learning activities from elementary school, middle school, and high school, all centered on the 250th anniversary of of our country. So, this is a document that I'll be sharing with our teaching staff, with our leads, uh already sharing with our principles, and again, it's just a
076really great teaching tool that our teachers can use to help uh celebrate the 250th anniversary of of our country. And last but not least, we're not here in July 4th to see all of our students participating in the Fourth of July parade, which we know they're going to, but we are here um for Constitution, which takes place on September 17th. So, what we felt was um a Constitution Day is a great way as a district for all of us together um to honor uh the American 250 piece as well. And we have great events um being prepared uh for that day as well. So, a lot of stuff that's taking place with the arts, with the academics, with involvement from our clubs and activities, and uh we're really excited to celebrate America's 250th birthday. >>
077Thank you, Dr. Z. And thank you so much, Miss Fry. I look forward to all the activities. Thank you so much, and have a great evening. >> Thank you. And if we want to do Ro for Bob is in here, is it only students that can nominate? >> Anyone? Anyone can. We're trying to get as many businesses, um, as many civic groups, as many people as we possibly can. I mean, Mr. Krisnik is absolutely wonderful. If anyone needs his bio, I'll be more than happy to send it to you. Um, but yes, we're really trying to do this really special thing for him because, as you all know, he is such a wonderful man and he has dedicated his life not only to his country, but to the town of Southampton and the East End,
078and we really want to honor him this year. >> Thank you. And and again, thank you for all you do. I know with the Patriots I went to that veteran center. It was wonderful >> and all this stuff. And thank you to Susan and the Frank Stanky and the Frankenback family. You guys, your father started the parade and >> grandfather started to play and I I just remember your father belt and he was out there in the rain and everything else and he would announce everybody and stand out there and start Michael Banner and he was a staple in the community and he was missed and um just he also used to call all the football games on the radio um and I played with Susan's son Willie and Bill was his grandfather and he
079did a radio with my father and then every play Willie was wide open and I missed him with the ball because I was a quarterback and he would yell, "Ah, Willie was wide open, we missed it." Um, so I, you know, I still remember that. We still joke about that all the time. So, uh, thank you for all that you guys do. >> Well, thank you very much and have a wonderful evening. Thanks again. >> Thank you. >> All right, I think that's it for program presentations. Now on to the first part of public comment of the uh night. So public comments will be heard on agenda items only at this time. The board of education encourages public participation in school related matters at school board meetings. Any group organization wishing to address the board
080must first identify a single spokesperson. The presentation should be agreed if possible. Speakers will be 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 letter statements, threats of violence and statements advocating racial, religious, and other forms will not be tolerated. Persons making presentations to the board uh meeting will make remarks to the president. They may direct questions or comments to board members or other district officials upon approval of the president. So, is there anybody here that wants to talk about um agenda items? Yeah, come on up. Hi, good evening. Uh, my name is Petros. I teach social studies at the high school. I'm also the advisor for our Key Club. Uh, those you
081don't know what Key Club is, uh, the parent organization is Kowanas. Uh, and we are their high school version. We have a builder club. We're trying to get an elementary club. We're going to send some people your way. Um it is community service and student leadership. Uh and every year we take a trip to Albany for the leadership training conference and it's usually in March. Um and last year I found out we had a policy about 60 days. The only reason I got my stuff in on time is because Brian was looking out for me and took care of that for me. And this year, I would have been even more late if it wasn't for Derek sending out an email about that. And I want to just thank you guys for reconsidering uh letting
082our trip happen and not, you know, taking it away from the kids because of my adult brain uh forgetfulness. Uh I did bring a member to tell you why the trip is so important and what they learn at the leadership training conference and to say thank you to you guys. This is Kira Kinski. Uh she's a new member of the club and she's coming with us on the trip this year. >> Hello and good Hello and good evening everyone. My name is Kierani. I'm a student at Southampton High School and I'm a member of our club. I'm not the founder, president or an officer. I'm a member. Not that that makes me any less important because we value everybody equally in the club. I speak on Key Club's behalf today to tell you about our
083club in efforts to ensure the board's approval for our trip this year. I've only been I have only been an official member this year, yet still involved every other year. I have witnessed this club work hard every year to raise money to go on this trip, which has been which has been the successful result every year for the past 12 years. I've witnessed our 10th period pizza sales go from almost none to selling multiple pies within a 20 minute maximum. The money and work done this year alone has been extremely successful towards our end goal LTC which is our leadership teaching conference which is the trip we want to go on and talk about approving today. This trip is extremely important to not only me but every member in the club. Not only is it
084a very enjoyable trip that I've heard older members brag about for years after, but a tradition but a tradition and a great opportunity to learn the skills we preach in great length. This trip is a valued tradition and an opportunity to not only ever member but our club leader, Mr. Lud. Every member that I speak on behalf of would forever be grateful if our tradition would be allowed to continue this year. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on Key Club's behalf. Thank you guys. I appreciate you guys coming in. It takes a lot to come and stand in front of the board and give a speech. So, great job. And um just you guys know it's it's on later on the agenda at um a consent agenda item 12.14. So, we get up to
085that, that will be >> um that brings us on to the superintendent report. is pretty brief. Um just want to remind the community um just want to remind the community that um of First Light which is um celebrating all student artists of Southampton. Um that um exhibit opens up at the um Southampton um art center this Saturday for the community reception from 4 to 6:00 p.m. And all guests are invited to explore the exhibit of the student and teacher work and um to participate in interactive um activities. So that would be uh the community opening and then the student family opening reception will be on February 11th from 4 to 7 pm. And so um there will be you know it's a lively afternoon. There will be performance and hands-on creativity for families and visitors.
086And again just thanking the sack for their partnership and looking forward to all the student and educator artwork at first light. And yeah, that's uh that's going to be it for me. Um don't have much more today. >> Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you, Dr. Mor. Um assistant superintendent for business. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um so my first formal budget presentation is scheduled for two weeks from today but I wanted to um bring your attention to a few key items in the development process. Um so the budget development process is well underway. Um so far we have met with almost all of the stakeholders except for one which is scheduled for tomorrow. Uh in some cases we may have to have a secondary meeting based on items that were discussed and decisions that we
087may have to to make. Um again I want to bring your attention to a few key items. Um we are trying our best to remain fiscally responsible. Dr. Morel and I and Dr. on we have had several discussions about how to approach the budget and maintain a certain level of fiscal responsibility. Um again building a budget with minimal or no increase is very challenging and for many people. First we have uh what we call mandated operational costs. So there are certain services that are essential uh for the daily legal operation and safety of the school environment. Um special education services districts must provide mandated services based on the law the individual with disability in education act. Uh this includes having certified special ed teachers, teacher assistants, a support system with school aids, mandated services such
088as speech and language pathologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. In some of those mandated services, they are on staff. In some cases, we have to contract out for those those services. Um transportation uh as districts such as Southampton will provide transportation for all students. Um so we have to account for those costs. Utilities and maintenance we have fixed cost. So even though the um enrollment is on the decline that doesn't mean the square footage of our buildings is being reduced as a result. So we still have to keep those buildings. We have to electrify those buildings. Um so all the utilities which we know are increasing year by year we have to account for an annual budget. Um we have security and health services. We have to provide security services in the school district. We
089have guidance and health programs including state mandated health services that are essential for student safety. Uh we have financial and legal obligations that we have to account for. Uh these are rigid components of the district. Um they involve long long-term contracts. Um salaries and benefits. We have personnel course of course. We have about nine different collective bargaining units. Um the biggest of which is the STA. Um we have many individual contracts. We also have cost uh for health benefits um under NICHIP which is our health insurance provider. The family plan for the 2026 year is $43,965 for a family plan and $19,338 for an individual plan. In most cases, the district pays the vast majority of that. Uh about 80% in in most cases. We have pension and retirey obligations. Um the district's district is
090um required to make um contribution to the um pension funds on behalf of the employees. In our case, it's TRS, the teachers retirement system, and ERS, the employee retirement system. For this current year, uh the contribution percentage is 9.5% of salary for um TRS and 16.5% of ERS. I haven't gotten the percentages for the upcoming school year. I'm hoping to get that in the next couple of couple of weeks. Uh we have debt service obligations that we have to um pay. Uh we have about $4.9 million in that category. Again, those are non-negotiable costs. We have insurance and legal fees, property and casualty insurance. Uh I just received communication from NICER who who is our um um liability insurer that their um premiums are going to go up by about 11% next year. Again, that's
091non-negotiable in the budget. So as it stand currently we have approximately 430 total employees. Um the average salary for those 430 is about 94,000. That goes from the highest to the lowest employee. In terms of French benefits in total I projected for next year we're going to be paying about 21.7 million in French benefits. That's a that's an average of per employee of about $49,589. So on average for one employee between salary and frank benefits it's about $143,000. So again, it is very challenging to build a budget where you maintain the same level of um expenses year after year because some of the cost, a lot of the costs are non-negotiable. Um we have contractual obligations with all employees. We have contractual obligations with providers of services and we have fixed costs. um to not
092to to bring um attention to a particular group uh contract that we settled last year. We settled the teachers contract at a 3% increase for the upcoming year. But what we also had to account for is in the teacher salary schedule, they have step increases and they have scale increases. So on top of the 3%, we have to account for those as well. For the vast majority of teachers, they go up uh step seven every year. In many cases, they also go up scale. Um so yes, we have some teachers that are at the maximum steps, but for the vast majority of them each year they take they they go up a step. Um and that's not isolated to the teachers. However, the other employees don't necessarily have steps and scale, but they also have
093contractual obligations where we are increasing their salaries every year. So, we do have some challenges in in in terms of maintaining a static budget. We we have to respect the no contract settlements. We have rising operational cost. We have contractual salaries and benefit increases. So declining enrollment and state aid uncertainty. Even as enrollment drops, our fixed cost for facilities and staff remain. While changes in the foundation aid formula and lower state revenue projections um can be a challenge for existing of existing funding. As everyone know, this district is funded majority by taxpayers. We have very little in terms of revenue from state aid. For this coming year, we are projected to receive about $3.4 million in state aid. That's about 4% of the total budget. Um, we also generate tuition for the Native American students.
094to generate tuition from the Tahoe students, but that's also considered to a certain degree tax le. So again, a lot of school district rely heavily on state aid. So you if you see the state the governor's projection, many districts are receiving a significant increase in state. That's not South. So I just want to stress as I prepare for the first budget presentation that we are we do have some flexibility but not a whole lot. So we are making our best efforts. Uh Dr. Z and I we have met with the district the principles and look at their staffing. I think we have a second meeting. Uh Dr. has charged us with, you know, finding opportunities in the staffing and the budget to make certain cuts, but they are limited. And I want to make sure
095that, you know, I'm being transparent and that everybody is clear that, you know, we are making our best effort to maintain a facility. >> Thank you. Yeah. Um All right. On to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh just have a few updates for our community. During the week of January 19th 20th, that um signified our January regent exam. So we had over a hundred uh high school students sit for uh regent exams whether to retake for a higher grade or to take uh to ensure that you they are meeting the graduation requirements. Again we had many students sit uh many students again uh exceeded those those goals. So we had many students fulfill graduation requirements and were able to um also update some of their schedules based on that.
096scores for parents. Uh scores are readily available. You should have those now from your counselors and on report cards. If not, please don't hesitate. Um if you're still waiting for scores, all scores have been uh distributed, but with the end of with the January regions, it also coincides with the end of semester 1. So, we do have report cards that are now available for all of our parents. So I just want to remind our community members if you have not had the opportunity to review your child's report card. Please take that opportunity now. Again all of our report cards are available in our parent uh parent portal in the power school portal. But additionally we make sure that um students do have paper copies of those report cards to bring home as well. So again,
097it's really important that parents are reviewing um their children's academic performance on those report cards and communicating with teachers when when necessary. With the end of um semester 2 starts uh a new seme with the end of semester 1 starts a new semester. So semester 2 now uh has kicked off all students at the high school uh and also there were some changes at the intermediate school. Um all student schedules have been released. Again, this is an opportunity for parents to really um speak with their children about any of those schedule changes, any new teachers that you might uh have for a second semester. Just want to remind parents those those points. Uh moving on to our um elementary students and intermediate school students. Uh last week we did have the opportunity to provide our
098students with simulations of the um 3 to eight assessments and what we call our CBT assessments, our computerbased um assessments. This was a requirement from New York State, but we also used this as a teachable moment for our students and for our staff to make sure that we are all prepped and ready to go um for that. happy to report that all students um and staff really got through those um that those simulations very very well. Um so we will be absolutely ready for our 3 to8s that um come at the end of April. But I'm not going to let the opportunity pass without putting a a plug in for the 3 to8s and the importance of having our students sit for the 3 to eight assessments. I know you've been hearing parents um at
099meetings have been hearing us speak about this topic about the importance of students sitting for the three to eight assessments because we really need to know if our programs and our practices are working and the only way for us um to know that is by getting some of this data. Not only does it tell us about ourselves and um how we are delivering instruction, but it also gives us critical information about your children and our students because we want to deliver um intervention services or enrichment services when necessary, but we need that data in order to make those good critical decisions. So, I cannot stress enough the importance of all of our students sitting for the three to eight assessments in April. Uh and again you'll be hearing much more um from on that topic
100from us. Um another piece just want to plug tomorrow morning is uh Mar Dr. Tutill has done a great job of bringing back this bringing uh and forming the Southampton business alliance. So, as part of our um counseling program and the vocational efforts that we're putting forth, um having the business alliance meet with us now on a monthly basis and help guiding us uh with our programs about changing workforce and what we want to see with our kids is so important. We had a huge turnout for our first business alliance meeting. And uh I know we have another good one tomorrow. So, very grateful for all the community members and businesses that are joining us. And just a reminder that is tomorrow 8 am in the in the high school. And lastly, uh I do
101have to plug one more time. I know Mr. President, you did that, but please, please, please, our kids have worked so hard for the uh musical coming up of the Adams family. Three shows coming up. Friday night, we have a show at 7 o'clock and then Saturday matinea 2 o'clock and again 7 o'clock uh Saturday evening. So, please come out and uh enjoy the Adams family from Southampton High School. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> You wanted I did. >> Um I forgot my enrollment report. My apologies for that. Um the enrollment is maintained at the same level. we only lost one student from January 1st until uh February 1st. And so um we're kind of um maintaining the number at 11:52. 11:51 and there were six students exiting and five students entering
102for a net loss of minus one. So our enrollment is um becoming less um flu is not fluctuating as much at this time which is typical during this time of year. People have settled in. So, we're happy about that and as we make projections, we can have more accurate numbers moving forward. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Um, we are on to committees here. We had audit and finance met on 12726. Chip, you me >> we go over our uh all the reports that Jean gives us a couple things that stand out still. Uh we haven't received the money from the state yet uh for the uh uh the Shinnik tuition which is u I know put a little bit of stress on. We have that tan out but um we'd love to see that
103come through and I know um we have everybody working uh closely. Uh Trusty Smith I know is making some calls. Uh Zach, our president has made some calls. Um, so we're we're hoping to get that money in sooner than later. Uh, that'll help help a lot. Um, I think in the next few months I'd like to really I know Jean you had a good presentation there of how we have to spend a lot of money and there's a lot of fixed cost but I'd love to sit down can't wait to get there and find where we can cut um and keep that budget down to a minimum minimum saying I understand where you're where you're coming from and I'd love to see a list that list was mighty long that you had there maybe a
104list of things that we could crunch and we'll talk about those in in uh the next audit in finance. That would be great. >> Um couple of points of clarification. I will be reaching out to the audit and finance committee um in the next couple of days to set up a meeting um before I do that first presentation. And at that meeting, I should be able to give you a first draft of the budget. I want to emphasize it's a draft um but you'll be able to see some of the details as we build the budget. Um on the front of the Native American Jewish I actually received a call I believe it was yesterday from the state. So it seems like the lobbying is working a little bit because they just they had a
105clarifying question to me um as the process is moving through. Um the assistant commissioner needed to some information in order to push it to the next step. So there is some progress here. >> That's positive sign. >> Yeah, that's that's great progress since we haven't heard anything from emails or anything for months. So that is positive sign. >> Awesome. Thank you, Chip. Um, next we have the personnel committee met on 127 and Laura. Yep. >> Um, yes. The personnel committee met on January 27. During that meeting, the committee reviewed uh personnel items 14.01 which included items 1 through three as presented on the agenda. It includes the approvals, a resignation, termination, reasons of absences, and reductions. We also reviewed agenda items 14.02, items 4 through 41 as presented in the agenda, which include the approvals
106of appointments, tenure recommendations, and salary changes. All all supporting documentations are available on board docs for your review. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um next up we have merger committee there. Um we have not met but I know last night TCO also um approved at their board meeting to uh move forward with proposal from Meyer. So, um I know the proposal went over to both of our attorneys to overlook um because Mike had reached out. He's been in touch with touch with Tuckos. And then um I think the next step is we're going to be trying to set something up with Josh and um Bose is going to be involved with that and Taco and then um the attorneys too and see like what's next up. All right, we want to move forward. We like
107it. Looks good. And where do we go from here? And then once that happens, they'll be um be putting together some committees within the community and everybody um for every so right now that's a step in the right direction and um we'll go from there. Um the next one we had was facilities committee met on 114. Chip, anything you want to report that is uh facilities is going good. one of the best. Uh Marcus really has his stuff together. He he comes in with everything how he's going to lay it out. Um I'm very happy with uh with that committee. Pretty much I don't have to make uh many guesses. He's already already set it up. Really good. >> I agree. Yeah, Marcus is great. Um next we have wellness. Did you go to the
108mall? I don't know if we've had any. Okay. Oh, all right. >> Okay. All right. Cool. Yes. I know they told um All right. Cool. So, now we are on to policy committee. I know you guys are doing a lot. 115. We met on the 15th and we completed working on coloring policies to remove and we will recommend the board for first reading to remove. We also received the wellness committee's uh revisions of the wellness policy and almost finished but we only meet for an hour. So we have a lot of work ahead of us but we're making progress. We have a couple of policies on here for second. >> Yeah, it was um I sat in it as an alternate. I was very impressed about how many policies we're going through and updating and
109um you guys are doing a great job with all that and sorting through all the policies. >> Awesome. Thank you. Um so that brings us on to policies here. So we don't have any policies for a third reading. We have policies for a second reading. Um, so I'm going to go through. I mean, I have a motion to review policy 2420, administrative regulations. Policy 3310, administrative regulations. Policy 4317, a model, a model 100, tobaccof free school policy for Southampton School District. Policy 4410, grouping for instruction. Policy 4430, student schedules and course loads. Policy 4531, field trips and excursions. Policy 4531R, field trips and reg Re regulations. Policy 4531E.1 field trip exhibit district field trip approval form. Policy 4531- E.2 field trip exhibit parent approval form. Policy 4531E3 field trips exhibit um checklist and response. Policy
1104526.2 to webpage publishing publishing policy 5120 school census policy 5215 student government policy 5240 student performances at community functions policy 5253 um extra classroom activity fund uh return checks policy 560 student competitions and contest and policy 5640 student employment for a second reading as presented. Um there a motion >> second group. Um any discussion? >> Yeah. Discussion. >> Yeah. Um the field trip uh policy in in the field trip policy the old policy was taken a little bit of it was taken out which um I'd like to just I think it can be fixed with an end. Um but in the in the policy that was >> sorry is that um that's 5131 >> that is >> 4531 >> okay >> uh for the overnights um I know we've been having some issues with the
111overnight u policy and getting that done and in here it states that the it just uh it kind of contradicts itself that the superintendent has the ability to approve um and on a case to case basis and then submit to the board for approval. So I'd like that to say superintendent of schools and the board uh get a submitt for approval. right now kind of says that the superintendent can just approve it and then it comes to the board which is kind of contradictory because it really needs to come to the board at some point uh for an approval. So was that am I making sense there? Yeah, I think you're say it goes superintendent, it approve. If it's less than 60 days, it can go to her and she can sign off and say,
112"Listen, it's good." And then it comes to us. I think because it still has to come to us at some point, it probably should be like signed off before the trip leaves, you know, like we don't want it to come in >> 60. >> Yeah. you need 60 >> and and I think part of that we're looking we're looking at the policy now and the way the system set up is they submit it goes to Derek then it has to go to transportation and then it goes to Brian then it goes to Dr. Morell and then it goes in. So sometimes it takes 30 days to get through that approval. So like even though we're saying has to be approved by the board 60 days prior sometime they really almost have to start working on
113this three months in advance to get it to us. Um, so I think the point of this is to do so how do we word that a little better? So like it goes to superintendent and then comes to us by the by like before the trip happens. Oh yeah, >> I would like to go back into the policy committee and work on this because as we have come into issues with the field trip um the 60 days is really it's it's it's hard to do. It's just makes things impossible. Um, I would like for us to look at a 30-day uh notice because if you have um our teachers and they are planning for an October trip, they literally would have to plan that trip when they're off from work and even for um like
114a September trip. We had a couple of those. Um, and then also too, um, it really can lead to them having to plan out for trips for about 90 days. Um, because of everything that our president just said. By the time it gets to transportation, by the time it gets approved, by the time the funding is filled, it's just a lot of time in the life of a teacher to uh to to get all of that uh you know, to have to have that that much leeway, especially when some trips don't pop up until September or October and an opportunity comes up. So, I'm just hoping that um we can reconsider that 60-day to a 30-day and then on that point that you said about it coming to the board, one of the re one
115of the reasons why we were deciding in the policy committee is to let me have um some authority is because of the situations that keep arising and we wouldn't have time to come to the board for approval for all of those if there, you know, was a situation where you know the kids raised all this money um you know the parents expecting they're going and you know not that it would be cart blanc but there should be some authority I have in these oneoff anomalies that may pop up when a teacher who has been doing something for 15 years forget that it needs to be in 60 days >> the since I've been up here it hasn't been a one off. This has been a chronic problem. Um they just wherever the deficiency is. Um
116I don't believe that they're being told how to do it. That's the only thing I can come back with. Um it definitely is a problem. I think 60 days. I consider it 30 days, but is the 30 days then going to turn into 15 days? You know, we've got to have a rule. you got to stick to it and it's got to be enforced. >> The problem is is that the rule hasn't been enforced in the past. It's just now starting to be enforced. >> And so that's where you have some issue because it hasn't been enforced. >> But um we we should enforce it and and and we will, but I think it also needs to make sense for the lives of our students and teachers. Is it possible to send a memo or
117get someone to sign off on these clubs and these trips that hey, they're responsible for getting this paperwork in. It's not just >> it's not just an easy uh field trip. It's not easy. And all these field trips are there's no new stuff coming up. You might have a new trip here and there, but when I look back at where these they're all been doing these trips for 15 years, they know the teachers and the chaperons or whoever's in charge know what's coming. I don't want to. And we're not going to, let's face it, we're not holding the kids from not going to their trips. Uh that would be that would be terrible and that's not what any of us are about. But we have to have some kind of a rule and and follow.
118>> I think you're right. I think it is time to um one of the reasons why I kind of wanted to expedite this up to the top of the heat when um Dr. White and um Ruth and I and Monnique, we knew this was a problem and it it kept happening. So, we're it's we're timely because we're trying to make the edits that would be best for for our students and our teachers. And that makes more most sense to us because this, you know, this is a policy from 1989. And this is the work that I've been doing with some of the policy work with the committee is trying to get policies that we're using every single, you know, that we're using every single day to make them fit who we are right now. because
119I don't think the Southampton of 1989 is the Southampton of 2026. Um, but I think a new edict I think a new memo needs to go out because it obviously there needs to be some redirection. Um, I would love to have get this done so that when the memo goes out, it's this this is the this is the rule. This is the policy. We're not slanting on one side or another. This is it. Please follow it. you have 30 days or whatever we finally decide and and and let's go forward and then once that's but up until this point we have to still follow the old policy. So, I know um Derek sent some things out to his community, but I think that it's time to just send something out to the community reminding of
120his policy, but at the same time letting folks know there will be some policy changes to this and then we'll have to re send another um email around this or communication around this because this this does pop up quite a bit. But in speaking with some of our teachers, they're saying, "Dr. Well, we we never enforced it to this level. So, maybe that's where we need to change. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. And I I think it's all good. I think um I think the you guys the policy committee too going back and you know the one thing I would just say is look at how long the approval takes that 30 days almost to like get to us. So when we look at that six day approval and stuff but >> yeah
121so I think next Thursday this will probably be a topic that you guys are discussing. So, uh, I think it'll be good for you guys. And >> I was going to say I agree with Dr. It seems like because it's happening often. And, um, I do know that, you know, the the teachers are aware of the policy and the administration has said that they're going to enforce that again. Um, but we, you know, Miss Abadessa, you know, we have a 45 uh student speed truck leaving tomorrow morning with all their suitcases here in the school ready to go. Um, and that was just a simple, it wasn't like she couldn't get it in on time or anything. It was just that she forgot and she's been nothing but fantastic in terms of getting everything on
122the board. But I think everything else is just missing the deadline and then not having enough time. So 30 days would still be enough for us to consider the trip anyway and then give them more time to get their paperwork in and if I had some authority in a situation like this then I would I would be you know the board would invest in me and trust in me if I said if I met with Miss you know Abides or Miss who miss Mr. Mr. whoever and said like this cannot happen but I'm going to go to the board and I'm going to I'm going to vouch for you but it's all children safe is everything in order is all you know like chaper in place are we in compliance with the number of ch
123like everything would have to be in place I wouldn't come to the board unless I knew that for sure but I think giving me I think what we were trying in this policy is to give me a little power to make some decisions at the building levels. Um, when we can't wait for another 30-day board meeting, that's what But I think this third gets a little >> That's where it gets a little dicey. I being on the board, I want the approval from the board, right? I understand you want to bring it to the board. That's that's great. But I still would like to see the board have the final decision on it. Now again, tonight we're going to redone we're going to be going over these and approving them, I'm sure. But we got
124to we got to get that honed in. And it's I don't want to leave it up to the superintendent. I want the board to be left up to now. It's got to come to you first. I understand that. But for approvals, full approvals have to come from this board. It's our responsibility at the end of the day. Um, you know, our names are honored. So, >> I wouldn't take Yes, I wouldn't um try to assert the authority of the board. Um, I believe it has to go through the board as well. So, we're on the same page. So I think that when we get into this meeting on Thursday, we can look at a little bit more carefully to see exactly what best fits. So thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, I think on on
125Thursday, you guys really all stuff and like you know kind of echoing stuff is how do we speed up the process but still get it especially when students are leaving district overnight is probably something that needs to come in front of the agenda and stuff. So, um, how do we speed it up? We then get that approval before the trip and, um, you know, again, we're not missing no, but if we had to, we make sure that there's no money laid out on some of these trips, too, you know, and and things like that, like because there there could be a case of something happening where we don't want to say that. >> I just want to add what I'm hearing is that the policies, people not remembering things and we have When we have
126all of these school trips, there's a lot of fundraising that takes place and that fundraising is definitely more than 30 days. They a lot of these clubs and teams start a year before. So maybe it's how the district sends out reminders in the building to the different you know building wide to to remind them planning just more more than better teachers. We would never want to say no. Obviously, >> I agree. And I think that some of those tricks that we do over and over and over again, you know, all the fun, but at least you have so that we will send something out. >> Okay. Cool. All right, trying to get um All right, so we went over the policies. I have a motion to move forward with it. >> Second and um will
127the clerk please call the role to vote to move these forward? Approving just moving to the next >> Okay, sure. Um policies for a first reading here. May I have a motion to review the following policies for a first reading as presented? Policy 6500, miscellaneous monies, cash receipts, petty cash, and bonded employees and officers. Policy 6630, financial reports and statements. Policy 6720, bidding requirements. Policy 6720R, competitive bidding procedures, regulations. Policy 7310, educational civics. I'm not I'm gonna struggle with that word. I always have. Policy 8134, emergency closings. Policy 8240, traffic and parking controls. Policy 8414.6, fuel inventory. Policy 4326-ea, limited English proficiency instruction exhibit. policy 4326-E.1B. Yeah, the in there we go. Limited policy uh 4362-E.2A limited English proficiency instruction exhibited exhibit policy 6326-E.2B. uh instructional I'm not there we go there we go all
128right limited uh limited policy 4710-R1 Southampton high school requirements for graduation andor New York State region diploma do I have a motion >> motion second um will the clerk please call the role for vote Yes. >> All right. On to consent agenda items. Are there any consent agenda items on 12.01 through 12.15 that any member wishes to discuss or has questions about? >> Yes. >> Uh 12.15 You want them all? >> Uh, are they? >> Uh, well, two of them kind of went over 13 and 14 overnight trips. >> Well, you have 12. Okay. So, you have questions about 12.12, 12.13, 12.14, and then 12.15. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. So, we'll start with 12.12 through 12.14. Those are the three overnight trips. Um, Chip, I know we went over them. Do you have
129any >> No, we kind of went over them. Uh, I want to make sure that we're all on the same page. We're not holding, At least I'm not going to hold back on these kids, and I think enough's been said, but we did want to >> Okay. Yeah. So, 12.12 is the robotics trip. March 19. 12.13 is the ski trip that actually leaves tomorrow. And part of me wants to say no on that because half the baseball team is going and I don't want anybody getting hurt on the mountain. Um and um the next one is 12.14 which is the key club which Mr. Lubenoff is here for. Um I think we went over that. We're not going to jeopardize any kids and they're all good stuff. 12.15 questions about um Yes. >> Go ahead.
130>> Yeah. Yeah. 12.15. Okay, so 12.15 is the contract to the new school personnel officer. >> Yeah, >> this contract was received uh into my email this morning, and I haven't had a chance to even look at it. These things uh for this and the and the the actual school personnel uh appointment, which is 14.02, I haven't seen anything. I haven't been able to read it. Now, we got this morning, but I would like to hold off on this position and filling this position until I can get time to actually look at u these items that are provided again provided this morning at 7:30. The email came in as I'm off to work. I don't get to see it until I get back from work. And I don't think that's kind of fair to add
131these things where I have to make a decision on them and not to be able to read them. Um, so I would like to hold this position over until the next board meeting where I can actually go over the paperwork, go over the contract, and kind of make an informed decision on this position and this person. Good. Um, I'm going to open this up for a little on it. Um, so I know that you guys went over in personnel um with them and then I know we were holding for the contract on it that actually went in it went over yesterday um the contract to to get on there um by it was because we we released the board docs at noon and it went in before that. Um, and then I know on here
132she's supposed to start on February 17th. Um, but she has not gotten her fingerprinting yet. Is that is that something we've done before is approve people pending fingerprint? I don't I don't know. Well, that's what I want to I want to I want to ask Sunni here because she's been on the board for I'm not going to but uh and then I'll go to the personel. >> We have Thank you. Um I was approved pending fingerprints, but I do want to say that um the in the agenda, you know, in our time to prepare for bringing on um new staff, um we make commitments about when things will go on to the board doc to make sure that our board members have time to see it. And so, um, that commitment was 12:00 yesterday, but
133we had an emergency in our district office and that made things not go the way that we would we would have expected them to. And we also didn't um, you know, get it in there on time. I I could have just sent it myself, but I like to let people do their work and um, and so we had that urgency. So it is an anomaly that that happened. We're not just walking it on. There was an issue um that prevented us from using our regular mechanisms. When I meet with my board president, my board vice president, we make a commitment about what's going on, what is it, what can wait, what could this was approved to go on, but with that urgent issue in the district office, it became late. And so, so I want
134to just make sure that we're clear on that, that this isn't, um, you know, we didn't want to just push something through to you last minute and didn't give you time. I'm also um very concerned about not having this resource with um in terms of hiring, in terms of um evaluations. We're coming upon a time period where we have to have a lot of HR work done and the longer we procra you know the longer this position isn't filled and this is why I was asking for that uh generosity from our board president our vice president when we had our agenda review let's you know if we can get this expedited um because we really need this person in place um for what it's worth um we can't right now. I mean, we can't we
135can do a lot of this work, but we're very busy, but we can't I can't post anything. I'm getting ready to be taught how to post. Um, it's just that serious. So, um, that's why, you know, I asked, but I I do apologize that you did not get it until today. >> It was sent this morning. >> Oh, that it's in the email from this morning. 7:37 I think it was. And the other thing that really bothers me, right, is that we knew this position back in November was was coming and now we're here. We are in February and we got to hurry it up. >> You know, >> we have civil service rules with all understand >> and we have to follow those long enough. We we we've had to canvas. We had to
136canvas and we had to do the appropriate uh uh amount of canvasing and time period with so we're not sitting around on our hands by any stretch of the imagination knowing that we have this >> no it's not >> with this superintendent it's not >> I don't I don't sit around >> so not I doubt that >> height is not I cannot vote and I don't know how anybody else can vote on on something they get and haven't read. >> Well, I'm I'm gonna not receive that any of us sit around. I don't know a hardworking executive team and I take exception to something like that. We work ourselves off and um and >> yeah, >> that's not that's not fact. >> That's not fact. It is not last second. We go through the personnel
137committee. The fact is we got it this morning. That's the facts. And I'd like to know if any other board member has read through that contract. So, you know exactly what's in the contract. I got it this morning. >> If I got it this morning, I I definitely didn't have time to read it. I was working. So my question so the fingerprinting so I I'll put a personnel you guys were Laura you guys went over it Monique I don't >> when we reviewed it ago uh there the references hadn't been checked yet you know it wasn't ready to move forward for approval but we went over her uh resume and discussed you know she she's an excellent option But there were some things that haven't been turned in yet that have been checked out. So
138that's where we left it. >> Thank you, Dr. White. And we had since received her stellar um recommendations. Uh she comes highly recommended and I believe and I feel like this district would be blessed to have her. And I'm going to also state that I would never present to this board um anybody who I felt was not highly qualified or just trying to rush something through. But again, we're at the leisure of the board and whatever you decide, >> it's our decision. >> I don't understand that. It is your decision. >> Collaborative decision, right? >> It's our decision. >> But it's a collaborative. >> The final decision comes from this board. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Collaboration would be to send stuff on time so I >> collaborate. >> This way is not collaborating. This
139way it's just shoving it down my throat and saying this is what I want and that's not what's happening. >> Let's Okay, let's get back on task here. Um all right, so it came in yesterday. We the board didn't see till today. My question is with the fingerprinting, we want her to start and get her going by the 17th. Um, so fingerprinting is Thursday. The one thing if we were to put it off would be to calling a special meeting to approve her to make sure she is here to work on the 17th is that would then be up to the board as well. Um, on that I don't Thursday is the Okay. >> All right. So, I'm not on policy. I can make a meeting on Thursday if you guys so we can review
140it. We can get the fingerprinting done properly. We can get her started on the 17th and we'll be all good here. Um what we'll do is on the 12th we'll call a special meeting. You guys can hang out after policy. Um you guys want to come and we will go in and we will approve this and then this will get her >> will those fingerprints be done? >> Yes. >> She will go in for fingerprinting on Thursday. Uh it may take up to 24 hours for the state to clear that. So I can't give her assurance that it's going to be >> well that she's going this Thursday the 5th, right? >> Yeah. So this will be the following week on the 12th. >> Oh, the 12th >> cuz she's not starting till the 17th.
141>> Yeah. >> The challenge is um she has already given her employer. Um, I negotiated that she the contract was going to the board tonight. Now, just to go back a little bit, um, we met in personnel and I was given the go ahead to go and get the contract. It took a couple of days for Tom's office to generate the contract. Um, I received the contract on Friday. I forward it to the candidate for her review. She had a couple of edits to make. By the time I got it back to Tom, it was already the weekend. Um, I got it back, I think, from Tom either late evening on Friday or on Saturday and I sent it to her on Sunday. She again took um the council the next day to return it
142to me with this the appropriate signature. I did speak with um or email Amy letting her know that it was in the working that I was still waiting for her to sign and return. And as soon as I received it yesterday, I forwarded it to Dr. Morel for her review and I believe Dr. then give the green light for it to be added to. >> So I >> So we've had a meeting with our vice president and our president and in that meeting there was a commitment that those documents would be um sent to this board by noon on Friday. That was that was the commitment and I'm sorry Monday because we had explained all of these issues in that agenda review. That's what the agenda review was for. And we did our part and
143we sent we we were ready to make sure they were in by noon. our staff member who is responsible for communicating that to the board was unable to send that at that time. So, we had said when I woke up this morning because I still realized, oh my goodness, the board doesn't have this >> and sometimes things happen in district office because contrary to popular belief, we are working like the dickens to make sure that this is a well-run district and it is and and and so we we do our part to the best of our ability, but I you know, that someone gets sick. You can't >> Yeah. I don't know where because it got in and um we're not. So, what I um my fear is just proving anybody before their fingerprinted as
144well. I just want to make sure that's not not a precedent that we're setting on this. I I think Sumi said we done it before. Is that something I don't >> because I know because usually the personnel stuff always says hold for fingerprinting on there and then we wait for the fingerprinting to come in. I just don't know um because I'm not sure because we were we were holding for fingerprinting holding for contracts. It got in. It got over today. Um because it was it was sent over to be put on the agenda yesterday and stuff. So I'm okay with that. My my biggest fear is just proving somebody that is still holding for fingerprinting. Um I work in a business where every one of our employees has to be fingerprinted through New York State
145to work at Sefield. Um and I know that I can't move forward anything until that fingerprinting comes back all clear from the state. So whether we're approving pending or not, um I know she's putting in notice to her job and that that shows good faith to me that she knows nothing's going to come back on this fingerprinting that could could screw her. But um so that that is my my biggest fear. I don't I don't know if that's something we've done before. >> What about um I mean the 17th is a week before our next start. >> Yeah, I think part of it was trying to get her start on the 17th so she can get that week while no one's here to kind of catch up on stuff. So, I would be open to
146being okay to just doing a special meeting on the 12th. Let the fingerprinting come in and then we're we're going with that um going forward. I don't I don't know how you guys feel. If if not um I I refer to you guys on Okay. All right. So, what we'll do is we'll call a schedule meeting on the 12th. We're going to hold 12:15. Um, I don't think that's going to slow up any of the process here and she'll still be able to start on the on the 17th, but that will allow time to come back and the fingerprinting to be done. You guys are cool with that? And then everything will be done on time and um All right. Awesome. So, we're going to take 12:15 off the um table here. So, I'm going
147back to consent agenda items. Um, so can I have a motion to approve consent agenda items 12.01 01 through 12.14 as presented in the agenda. >> Motion approved. >> Second. Um will the clerk please call the role for a vote? >> Yes. >> Um financial items 12.01 through 12.09. 09. Um, any member wishes to discuss? >> 1402. >> No, we're not. >> We're on 13 financial items. All right. Um, there's no financial items 1301 through 13.09. Any members discussed may have a motion to approve financial items 13.01. 01 to 13.09 as presented in the agenda. >> Second, will the clerk please call the role for a vote? >> Yes. >> All right. Um, personnel items. Here we have personnel items. 14.011 through3. Does any member wish to discuss? I don't think. Um, so can I
148have a motion to approve personal items 14.01 through three as presented in >> second. Laura. All right. Um, the clerk please call the role for a vote. Yes. >> Yes. >> Um on um is there any personal items on 14.02 4 through 41 or A that any member wishes to discuss or has questions about? 14.02 number 41A. I'm going to assume that we're going to hold that. >> Yes. A is all. So, it's going to be 14.02 through 4 through 41. >> Yeah. Um Yes. So, A will be held until the 12th when we we meet. Um, I also need to hold up action myself here. Um, 13 as a volunteer. Um, so may I have a motion to approve personal items 1402 4 through 12 14- 41 as presented in the agenda. Monique is
149a second Ruth. Um, will the clerk please call the role for a >> vote? >> Yes. >> Um, so may I also have a motion to approve personnel item 14.02 13 as presented in motion. Is that a second? Okay. Will the clerk please call the >> Great. Um, on to action items here. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the 11326 regular meeting um and the 127 special meeting as presented? Second >> second. Um, will the clerk please call the >> RO? >> Yes. >> Um, we are on to our second public comment at this time. Public comments will be heard at this time. The board of education encourages public participation in school related matters and board meetings. Any group organization wishing to address the board must first identify a single spokesperson.
150The presentation should be a brief as possible. Speakers will be 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, letter statements, threats of violence, and statements advocating racial, religious, and other forms of page will not be tolerated. Persons making presentations at the board meeting will address remarks to the president. They may direct questions or comments to board members or other district officials only upon approval of the president. Anybody have any comments? Over. Want to come talk about your fantasy seasonal parent? Leave that alone. >> All right. Uh if we have no other comments, that takes us on to new business here. Um, I don't have anything. I know I'm up to speak. I
151just want to thank you guys for sitting through this meeting. We have a lot of presentations tonight. Got a lot of good things coming up in the school with the PSI. I love you stuff at the elementary school and, you know, some of the other stuff. So, um, looking forward to 100 days, 90 days. We're halfway there, right? Halfway there today. So, that's that's very exciting. So, go on. Um, Chip, you got anything you want to add? >> Uh, yeah. I just want to thank um Noah for inviting me to lunch. Uh came down, we had a uh nice lunch together, took me through to school, uh told me a lot of his thoughts on uh what he's thinking and uh looking forward to do it again. And we I'll I'll hit you up and
152we'll go to lunch over there and you give me your views. >> You got anything? history. And I also want to um just highlight the changes in the festivities that we're going to have in the district. Can somebody else say them? I can't remember. >> I I know we have a reading coming in. So, uh somebody's reading out. >> Thank you. Thank you for reminding me. Yes. Happy Black History Month. Um, we have the African-American reading on February 5th, which would be Thursday, being led by Miss Williams and myself. I keep want to call you doctor, so it's going to happen. >> Um, and um it will be um reading reading the Earnest Just story um over at the uh intermediate school and all united together at the elementary school. Um so that that that
153would be really nice. Then um also on the 27th of February um all the schools have uh black history programs and we'll be using uh uh genius potential that bring black history to the schools in a very fun and engaging way. And I've been taking some notes from my cabinet members, my board members there about engagement and excitement. So I hope they like it. Um, and uh, then you know, of course, you can never have a Black History program without some drums. So, we'll have some drums and we'll get the kids engaged and dancing and up and should be a great time to pay tribute. Thank you. >> Oh, and I just want to say happy Valentine's Day. >> Awesome. Um, you got something? hour. Any thought here? Lori, you got anything? >> Yeah, thank
154you to those of you in the audience that are hanging with us tonight. But a special thanks to Julie Williams for your presentation tonight on the dual language program. I think whatever we can do to hype it up and reconnect with the community and and bring it, you know, restore it to its former glory. Anything we can do is is is your biggest advocate. And um thank you for that presentation. It was really great. Yeah, I had the pleasure this weekend to attend the concert some Saturday night, the Hampton's Music Educators Association. And we've had over 20 students attend, I forget the number, sorry, 26. Amazing. And each performance there was jazz band and orchestra and band and the chorus. It was they were all fantastic. And it was I just want to say thank
155you to our music department because I know Mr. T and Miss Kane and Luricio, they work so um well with our students and it was really evident that night. And then we got to see the jazz band play again at the South and Cultural Center on Sunday. And the kids had so much fun. It was great to watch and it was a really proud moment for a mom and a board member. I saw he got a haircut for he was >> Noah you awake over there actually it's not it's not that last night I attended the basketball game and I could leave here and I could not say anything or I could speak up about it. Um, unfortunately last night there were three fights that that happened at high school. Um, one of them was
156brutal. Um, one one of the guys that come in the parking lot in the parking lot. So, we cannot here that it's necessary. Um, I didn't play basketball this year on the basketball team, but I think it's necessary to address fighting fighting matters. Um, and then there's also another thing that I'll probably get you about four in school or whatever, but there's a product we use right now school um that kids are using in all grades from 8th to 12th grade. Um, you guys probably figure out what it is. Um, and if you don't know what it is, it's concerning because it's uh damaging young lives and um I just I'm very concerned about those two two things that have happened. Um, so yeah, it's really >> Can you elaborate? >> What's the thing? >>
157You stick in your mouth. I know. >> Yeah. It's just ridiculous. I don't know. I mean, I know people use them like that or 18 and above when you're young and especially in school tonight that um that like back free zone. But um I I see that we're not I go to the bathroom. I can't go to the bathroom without sins being all over the euros. Um and it's it's it's disgusting. Like I've stepped in s all over the bathroom and it's something that needs to be addressed on a higher pattern and like I go to people saying stuff but you know sometimes you have to address things that are going to help >> you for your bravery. Sorry. I thank you for your bravery for speaking up on such a issues and I hope
158that we it's my hope we will fix this issue. We will work to fix this issue. >> I actually I was going to draw a plan today. went speaking Mr. Pazo just about like some some stuff like my class like how I finished out through and passes my grades and everything and I was going to write out a plan of like how we get orchestrated. We have a huge team of police officers and we expect a rivalry game against another school rivalry game. We can deploy police officers in the parking lot and also in the gym and deploy security outside of the school. So it gives us future lesson this time. Now we can down send one team on the other side of the gym because there was a scuffle that happened in the beginning
159of the game and send one team to the other side of the gym. These would be stopped. We just need to address the issue and then just never have just not try not to let it happen again. >> I want to um I was at the game and I saw the first skirmish. I didn't see the second one. I don't know about a third, so I'll be speaking to security. But what stuck out to me because I was standing right in the middle of it and I was just watching everything as it unfolded. And in my mind, I said, "If our kids get up right now in any kind of way, there's going to be bit in this gymnasium." And I was struck by the fact that with all of that commotion, because it was
160just a couple kids that got into it from the cinema school district, if our kids would have gotten up in any kind of way and engaged, then that would have been horrific. What I was struck by and what I was proud of was that our students stayed seated. Our students, they stay seated. >> So that was powerful to me because it shows it showed me that our kids, they know how to behave in public spaces. They've been well trained. They've been well groomed because it could have been very different. And I just want to highlight that part. And the other piece I want to highlight, and I did share this with Franklin at our administrative meeting today, the expedience with which they squashed that situation. Did you notice that? I mean, it was Matte, you
161were there. I saw you. I mean, it was it was immediate and they got the per the person out of there. And you know to bring that situation under calm then it was thought about move separate them. I didn't even know they were together. So you're right >> we should never have you know had um rival fans you know with us um mixed like that when the the tension you could feel the tension when you walked in. you could feel it. And so that would have been a cue to me to say, "Hey, they can't sit together." But we learned from that. But what I was really touched by was the fact that our students stay true to how we have groomed them, how we have tr you know, how they've been raised by their
162parents. And it it just that was remarkable to me because I just kept looking at our students like, "Don't you dare, you know, and it was just remarkable." And then the SRO's came in and the security and they it was real fast for the inside. I did get a call on the way home that another skirmish occurred outside and that they were dealing with that and that I was going to hear on that, but I didn't hear about a third, but I'll I'll definitely check into that third. So, the first one was the JV game and I thank you for highlighting the um the topic that you talked about. The first one was the first one was the JV game. There was like a little scuffle. Second one was in the crowd before the game.
163That was unprofessional. And the third one was outside outside of the gym. I was walking and Isaiah Johnson was behind me. And he I took the right, my dad took the left. My dad was in his car. He called 911. He saw it happen. Like my dad's 61 year old man. He can't do anything. And that that someone getting seeing someone getting beat down for a minute straight. Five guys on top of one guy. as that and that's very scary. So I I am I like you said if you applaud the students we're not um taking it to the next level but I think if we have another game like that I think there be precautions that will be taken in place or we're going to have to set more police officers and more security
164officers and so we don't have that happen that's >> I appreciate you thank you >> thank you Is it okay? Yeah. No, first I just want to say no, I I appreciate definitely bringing that with regards to I think one of the unique challenges we're facing now in high school. Before it was vapes and before vapes, cigarettes, marijuana, you can smell it. But now even the vapes became very hard to kind of detect that they had a smell. But now with the Z, there's no smell. Uh so the kids could just have it in their mouth. And uh it's that's one of the challenges that administrators down in high school with other administrators that were facing. Um so we are trying to address it but there's some new challenges that we're facing now. >> What
165do they have in them? >> Nicotine >> or >> Okay. Yeah. >> And some have caffeine, you know. So it's it's a mixture of caffeine, tobacco, and nicotine. >> Oh boy. Okay, >> we need to we will definitely put a plan together. Thank you. >> You good? All right. I think that bring Oh, Patrick, >> one thing. Um, hopefully they're all asleep and they're not watching, but it is counselor appreciation week. So, I know on behalf of the administrators here, we wanted to thank all of our school counselors, all the clerical that work in the counseling offices and our director of counseling, Mark. Thank you guys. That's Mark Martha and they do a great job and everything. So, um with that, may I have a motion to join the meeting? Motion second. All in favor?
166>> All right.