001Order at what is it? 651 provide an opportunity interested parties and citizens be heard regarding a proposed resolution related to partial real property tax exemption for South uh the school property tax proposals for qualifying enrolled members of the Southampton Village Ocean Rescue pursuant to RPTL section 466M authorizes that the district to partially exempt up to 10% of the assessed value of the primary resident residents of an enrolled member of the Southampton Village Ocean Rescue reside in the area um served by such ocean rescue squad. Um, so before we get to that, can we please rise for the pledge of allegiance of America to the standy for standing for a moment? >> Thank you. >> Um, we go. May I have your attention for a brief announcement? Upon fire alarm activation, immediate evacuation to the closest
002emergency exits are 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's official directions. Once assembled outside the building, everyone must wait until the school official gives it all clear before re-entering the building. So, um, it's time for public hearing. I know we got some members of the ocean rescue. I see them out there with their shirts on. Can't be missed. Um, so I uh I know Chief King was here to do a presentation. So I'm gonna give you the floor here to talk. You want to come to the podium and tell us a little about and everything. I know we have some questions. >> Press the button so the red
003lights on. Hi, this is Al. I'm Alex King. I'm chief of Southampton Village Rescue. Um, we have a video for this presentation. Can we play it first? Y >> So we have 70 members. We're on call 24/7. We're volunteer first responder. This is our junior lifeguard program. We have 75 kids this summer. We have a grant for high school students so they don't pay for any of our courses or I can't I'm stuck here watching TV. It's not what you want. just wanted anyone any financial district will will cover your house. So different from the lifeguards, we operate year round. This is during her the last we had. So our we were doing patrol. We we sent guys out on death view and we we pulled we pulled a lot of people out of the
004water or were off the beach where they were in danger of being too close to the uh storm surge. So this is a training with coast guard. We train with coast guard, TV, police, fire, EMS, depth county helicopters and we train year round. A window of ice, icy water. And we stay at night. They work fully operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And let's go with the fire department. This is a multi- agency drill fire. We rescued six victims that were a/4 mile out within 10 minutes. This is a helicopter helicopter. Um we they they we use them to locate um victims also. They used to deploy victims and we would we would work with them to to bring the victims to us. Now they apparently they can't deploy. So when we
005go with them they help spot the victims and then we use them to locate them. Um way offshore we train um pool lifeguards and pool and bay lifeguards. Um high school students are in our program and then we move to ocean right after that. We certified over 50 guards this summer. When it was too stormy and rough and you say, "Oh, I would never go in." We go in like it's nothing. We're used to it. We stand all the time. So this is the safety fair at the high school. We we present scholarship to high school student >> for the library high school day at the beach. Middle school day at the beach lunge. >> Uh we will swim with autism program. We have the milestone and we are >> the life and we do
006the plans other activities but we we're volunteers. The biggest question that everybody always has is what is the difference between lifeguards and ocean rescue. So we are ocean rescue and lifeguard certified lifeguards. We certify lifeguards and we are certified. Um we certify people we certify many many students in CPR. We ran eight CPR courses this year. Um so we have the same certifications. However, once you're certified as a lifeguard, that's the beginning of our training because we train at night. We train in hurricane. We keep training. We get just certified. So, there's a lot more certification and a lot more training that we have than just a standard ocean rescue lifeguard. We also have to train with other agencies so we know how to um how to act appropriately in in an incident with multi-
007agencies. That is that is of itself a a unique situation where life somewhere lifeguards they jump in and save someone. We get to the scene and we have to deal with all the other around. So you know so our training is we take it really seriously and we we we train twice a week all through the year besides the the certification training. So um we are currently currently cold plus at point cold diversion training. So we're acclimated to winter water. Um we do that Wednesday nights and we swim Tuesdays. Many of our members are swimming today. We swim Tuesdays and Thursdays. So um yeah, we don't stop. Um, and now I wanted to question. >> Thank you. Um, >> uh, not really a question, but a a big thank you to you and your, uh,
008and your team. Um, volunteering is not easy, especially in the rescue, uh, uh, department. Um, I'm I'm a volunteer fireman for 35 years. I know what you guys are doing and I just want to give you a round of applause. You guys do a great job and we appreciate that. >> Does anyone else have a question or a comment or anything? So in 2022 um because so we're ocean and we operate independently of firing EMS and there aren't really other organizations like us in New York State except for East Hampton. So be because of that we're not protected by the laws that other first responder agencies are protected by. So in 2022 um we through state legislator state state legislature we we got accredited as a first responder agency by signed by governor hog. So
009that entitled us to other rights like the one that we're also trying to get to the 10% property tax taxes that's just that's offered to EMS and fire. So basically, we just have to fight for the same rights that they already have because they've been in existence longer. But we operate the same the same way and that is the reason that they they the state approved this exemption. Um anybody else? Oh, one more thing I wanted to add is we have some exciting new programs that we're working on and um we like one of our missions is to pro to prevent drownings in the community. And um one of the things that we realized is that um in the minority sections um there are there's there's a vast number of people that don't know how
010to swim. So we're reaching out and we're we've initiated a program that's cured for shinikos and the minorities and it's a learn to swim program that we're offering and this program there is no cost and um I think I believe that um um I think I think that it's in discussion so that this is going to happen and anybody else anything anybody Um, I always wondered about the waters and who saves people if they get in trouble in the water. >> I think about that a lot. And to find out that we have an amazing ocean rescue team in place. It just warmed my heart and I just thank you all for what you do and and saving people and things like that is so critical. uh especially on an island and um the work
011you do should be appreciated as much as any other people. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. And we also whenever a whenever the it's very there's a huge storm surge or um there's the rip current, we have a career that does huge as well. So, we're out there, you know, we're pretty under the radar, but we're out there. But yeah, thank you. Yeah, I just like to thank you for everything and come in tonight for this. So, the way this works is we have to hold a public hearing um vote on it and what we'll do is we're going to end up closing the public hearing and then um it's something we can vote on during our regular meeting. So, it's on right now as a consent agenda item um 12.01.
012So, you guys are more than welcome to hang around and watch the band play and then we actually have some writing editions and we're going to break, but it's on the agenda to be uh to be voted on tonight. So >> personally I'm in favor of it. I think it's a great thing. Um I thank you guys for coming in and I know how important the volunteers are. So anybody more time I'm going to close the agenda. I'm going to close the public hearing. Um >> I think one more person. >> Sorry. So I actually I have to open up for public comments on a public hearing. Makes sense. Um, so, um, I'm gonna open up for public comments now in this time for anybody here that wants to voice favor of it or or
013speak in >> Sure. Hey everybody, Father Con Lesn. All my kids are either Southampton graduates or one student. I just wanted to come tonight and say that I think that um that the ocean rescue are first responders of the first degree and often overlooked first responders and I think if we can extend the benefit the first responders get in our town to them we definitely should. It's the right thing to do. >> If not, um going to close the public hearing and adjourn the public hearing here at 7:07. >> One more. You got one more. All right. No, you can do it from there. You don't need to go up there. Hey, you're up here with the mic. every time we get up and go like this is kind of last minute but it's on
014he's a senior at Southampton High School he's been involved with um Southampton Ocean Rescue since uh he when he turned 15 he finally became old enough to read so my name is Rob Kavar I'm a senior in high school I have been involved with SB since I took finally becoming old enough to become still water certified with the introduction through my school. I had the opportunity to train and and do my American Red Cross still water uh full certification after experience of this water. I was decided to continue training with hopes and achieving my ocean certification and 16 in the spring of the following year. We began the theoretical part of the certification. After completing this, our ocean training spanned across multiple weeks where we learned the skills necessary to pass the test. Finally, in
015June, we took the test and received our certifications. This test streaming and rewarding test. After receiving certification, we moved on to uh to work at Ocean. SB continues to present me with countless opportunities because there's community service and scholarship for college. So as you can see this is very um important to him and uh I guess in a way life changing. So yeah with no further questions here we're going to this public hearing at 7:10 p.m. Oh yeah. So >> yeah. Okay. Um so I'm going to reconvene our regular meeting now at 711. Um the the board is returning from executive session. We're collecting negotiation. This is the Southampton administrative association pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law and the appointment issue particular person were discussed. Um will the clerk please call the
016role? here. >> Here >> does the um clerk have any additions or deletions to the agenda? >> There are no additions. >> Thank you. Um president's comments real quick. So, the the board of education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 13th at 2020 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the SIS music room. The policy committee will meet on Thursday, December 11th at 4:30 p.m. in the district's office. The high school winter concert will be held on Thursday, December 11th at 700 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The intermediate school winter concert will be held on Tuesday, December 16th at 5:00 pm in the high school auditorium. The uh elementary school winter concert will be held on Thursday, December 18th at 6 pm in the high school. The intermediate school will host a parent coffee
017club on Thursday, December 18th at 6 pm in the SIS library. There will be no school for winter recess from December 22nd to January 2nd. The district offices will be closed from December 24th, December 25th to December 31st and January 1st. The audit and finance committee will be meeting Tuesday, January 6th at 3:30 p.m. in the district office. The personnel committee will be meeting Tuesday, January 6th at 4:30 p.m. in the district office. Uh, Junior Science Night will be held on Thursday, January 8th at 6 PM in the high school science wing. And I believe there's a gingerbread decorating night on Friday night for middle school and elementary school. It's encouraged. Everybody ready to go. Um, it's a great night. Santa will be there. Special guest. Um, so that's encouraged. And that's all we got
018for president's conference. So, um, I'm gonna pass to Dr. Morell and she's going to introduce our first presentation. >> Oh, wonderful. At this time, I would like for um Mrs. Kane and her wonderful students to come forward. Uh they will play a musical selection tonight. Um, and so we're looking very uh forward to hearing box ear on the G string. Hallelujah. Happy birthday. Hallelujah. You are here. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Godlujah. Hallelujah. That was wonderful. Thank you. >> What an amazing beautiful rendition of Fox here on G. Let's give them another fingernail short because my wife had just came and she said she remembers you got to keep the fingernails short for string. >> M. Thank you for all you do. Such a beautiful instrumental. Thank you so much. And now we have um Mr. Artaglia
019and his wonderful choir members will be singing the song I Dream a World with music by Andre Thomas in Distinguished Text by Langston Hughes. video. My soul might go My soul. Such a I dream. So I dream. will bless the earth rivers forever. I dream whatever to be. Share the bounties of the earth. And every man is free. Such a dream. The best of the dream. Such a dream. Such I dream. >> Happy holidays. Thank you, Mrs. Thank you scholars. Excellent job. >> Great job. >> Cool. So, now we are going to move on to um some tenure tonight. Um one that teacher got uh tenure last meeting and two that are up. So, um some you guys would like to um Uh, good evening everybody. I have two amazing candidates that I will be
020presenting to you all for tenure tonight. Our first one that I have the honor of presenting is Stephanie Moran. to receive tenure as a bilingual speech pathologist. Stephanie Moran is a beloved member of the South Hampton School community for all that she provides inside and outside of the classroom. To all of us experiencing a little deja vu, no, you are not wrong. This is the second time that Stephanie Moran will have received tenure by this esteemed body. Uh she's always wanted to help people. In another universe, she might have been a fantastic nurse, but she had an aha moment when she was included in a cousin's speech session. And she realized that through play and rapport, you could have such a powerful tool. And she used that to ignite her spark and she looked into
021a career in speech pathology. She completed her BA at St. Joseph's, her masters in communication disorders from LIU. Miss Moran under the guidance of our very own Dr. Cordova and uh Dr. Martinez Fuentes, actually the teacher of bilingual extension here in the College of St. Rose. She is a nationally accredited speech language pathologist from the American Speech and Language Association. She's highly talented, highly vetted, highly qualified in the classroom. Uh her students on her case load love Miss Moran. Miss Moran has an ability to fit speech goals into whatever class she's pushing into. I've observed her supporting life skills students at stock and shops as they were making their holiday lists and shopping for their Christmas parties, helping with prices and talking to the clerks. I've seen her there. I've also seen her in a
022circle discussing the latest novel that the eighth grade uh English class was read or the history class was working on. Her adaptability is what makes her is what makes her teaching so strong around Southampton school community, especially in the intermediate school. Stephanie Moran is a resource and an essential member on countless teams. Her evaluations and her reports are integral in ensuring that students receive the most appropriate and essential interventions and supports. Her value as a resource extends beyond the intermediate school. In her time in her career, she supported bilingual speech evaluations at all buildings in this district. That's the kind of human Stephanie is. Where do you need? How can I help? Let's get it done. Outside of the classroom, Stephanie Moran means so much to so many. Her strength as a mother to her
023precious Sebastian inspires so many of us sitting here tonight and watching at home where she is now watching at home with Sebastian. There is nothing Stephanie would not do for her son and there is nothing the Southampton community would not do for Stephanie Mar. We are all standing with Stephanie Moran today. I'm not going to get choked up. All right. and we pray for her continued strength and for her son's health. So with that, I would like to formally present to you Dr. Mor Stephanie for she at home with Sebastian, but she did prepare um an audio message to thank everyone if you'll allow me to play. Please, I am deeply honored to be receiving tenure here in Southampton, this amazing district for the second time. Some of you might be asking, well, what happened?
024I did a brief stint in another school district and it just didn't feel like home. When I was able to return, I learned where I was meant to be. This experience, along with many other experiences in my life, have taught me the value um and appreciation for what I have. It has been an honor to serve this community and support our exceptional children. When you work from the heart and do it with love, it isn't work at all. I have been embraced by this district and appreciated so much so that the colleagues I made feel like family. When I have been at my lowest point, I have been met with compassion and care by some of the very people in this room. Thank you to the board, administration, the STA, and my two amazing principles,
025Mr. Benson and Dr. Eckley. Also, thank you to my colleagues which have molded me into who I am as an educator today. When I walk through the doors of the school, I feel blessed to be here. I'm excited for this new chapter at Southampton. And I'll leave you with this quote. One day, you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else's survival guide. I hope to guide all new educators along my path here at Southampton. Thank you to all and have a great night. Still here. All right. So, I have another candidate that I'm also very excited to present to you guys tenure. Miss Riner. Uh, Miss Reiner knew that she wanted to teach at Southampton from the very beginning of her career in education.
026Uh, she actually began her professional career in sociology and social work. She knew she wanted to support children. Uh, they were always at the forefront of her mind, but she had this nagging feeling that she could have a bigger impact uh, if she could go back to school and pursue a degree in education, which is what she did, attending Western Governor's University and getting her mers in childhood education. Uh, Miss Riner did her student teaching right here in Southampton under the guidance of Jan and Nean and Katherine Karco. It was here that she felt a connection to the Southampton community and where her passion for going into special education was born. Upon completing her student teaching, she was offered a probationary position not in this district but in a neighboring district where she worked for
02711 years. She was tenured. She was seen as a trusted veteran in that district. But her experiences here at Southampton still pulled at her and when a mid-year opportunity came calling, she jumped at the chance to come back. Since that time, she's continued to grow her craft. And she currently holds certifications in early childhood, childhood education, special education, K through 12, and as a middle school generalist. She can do anything and everything, and we often ask her to. So, um, she's been thriving in the classroom since her appointment. As a co-teer, she has supported all math classes in grades seven and eight, including algebra. She's a resource for her co-teers, providing insight into her students and enriching curriculum and instruction. She makes math accessible and less scary for her students and for her administrators. Uh
028she makes math approachable with equal parts, visuals, and scaffolds combined with warmth and patience. She shows up for her students and she shows up for her colleagues. She has additional responsibilities. She's a case manager with a keen attention to detail. She's a valued member of her grade level teams, but and some of her biggest role, she's also a proud mother of two great daughters, Adeline and Devon, who are here tonight and a devoted wife to her partner Grant. I know they are just as proud as her of her as we are at the intermediate school. So, Dr. Morell, I am thrilled to present to you Crystal Rhinard for 10. I HAVE A PRESENT. And if you do want to say anything, you can tell. I don't have anything prepared like this branded, but I do
029want to thank um the board, my family, um Mr. Benson, Dr. Epil, um for welcoming me back into this district. Um I felt this is where I belonged almost 15, 20 years ago when I did my student teaching here. I knew I belonged here and I was just took a longer path to get myself back here. So, thank you everyone. Good evening, Dr. Morales, student board members in the South community. Tonight, I would like to share my recommendation for our very own Ashley White FOR 10 YEARS. MISS WHITE IS A DEDICATED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, having earned her high school diploma right here in Southampton. Since her employment began in 2017, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional flexibility and growth while serving our students in various capacities. She began her career with us as a teachers
030aid and provided summer support for extended school year program and her adaptability was further demonstrated when she stepped into the crucial role of a P&L teaching assistant. Her diverse educational background, including studies of cultural anthropology and early childhood ed at the University of Costa Rica, provides her with a valuable and culturally responsive lens that directly benefits our student body. While Miss White currently serves as our bilingual teaching assistant for second grade, where her contribution is profound and collaborative, she works seamlessly alongside classroom teachers. As Senorita de Samro shared, Ashley has been such a meaningful partner in our classroom, consistently showing up for students every single day. She utilizes her knowledge acquired while living in Costa Rica to confidently support status instruction and bring strength in content areas like studies and social studies. Together with the
031classroom teacher, Miss White built essential systems from the ground up, including vocabulary, pocket charts, comprehension routines, and fun projects that truly support her students learning. She encourages students to be problem solvers every day and she lives by that examples. If we ever have a problem, she's the first one to help solve it. Miss White doesn't just teach. She builds deep relationships with students that change lives. Her impact is tangible. She was credited with teaching students how to read from the very beginning and celebrating each milestone with them. Miss White is someone the faculty trusts completely with all students, all lessons, and all behind thes scenes things that make classrooms feel special and organized. Miss White's exemplary service is truly highed by highlighted by the voices of her colleagues and our students. She is recognized not
032only for her reliability and instructional support, but for her extraordinary care. Senora Torres noted that Ashley comes in each day with a smile and is always ready to step in and support our students and de. She is praised for being flexible, caring, and wearing her heart on her sleeve, adding, "Even in the busiest moments, she notices the small things. a child that needs a jacket, a pair of shoes that no longer fit, or a student who simply needs comfort and reassurance. This genuine care is why students heal him, too. When Miss White is not present, the children immediately ask for her, demonstrating just how much her presence means to them. I was able to ask some of your second graders, "What makes you so special?" And a few of them said, "So Susan said, whenever
033someone is sad, she helps us feel better." Roxanna is said, "She makes us laugh." And Campbell says, "And she's not here. I pretend she is." >> Miss White's dedication, heart, and willingness to take on anything have made our classroom and our school significantly better. She embodies the commitment we seek in our tenure staff and demonstrates the value of retaining talented members in our own community. It is for all these reasons that I fullheartedly recommend Ashley White for tenure tonight. Thank you. So do not have anything prepared, but um I'd like to thank my amazing colleagues and co-workers for uh making work a fun place to be every day. um to my administration for supporting me, friends and family and my community for really it's a full circle moment that I have here. So, thank you
034very much. >> Yeah, it's cookies cake. Um, we do is we're going to I think they want to take a vote on it first, right? It's bedtime, right? When I get home. Anyway, um, so may I have a motion to approve personnel items 14.0277 and 104, the granting of tenure to Crystal Riner as a special ed special education teacher effective December 18th, 2025, and to Ashley B. White as a teaching assistant effective as January 2nd, 2026 as presented in the agenda. >> Second. Um, will the clerk please call the role for a vote? >> Robert, >> yes. >> Pearson, >> yes. >> So, congratulations, GUYS. AND NOW MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO BREAK for some cookies and cake um to celebrate tenure uh candidates. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> All right, we'll
035take a five minute break here. Come back.