001to mine and Mrs. Waynefield's last board meeting and you're all wearing my favorite color, black, the color of my heart. Um um I reconvene the regular board meeting at 6:46 p.m. The board is returning from an executive session where the employment history of particular people and matters made confidential by federal and state law were discussed. If everyone would please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for a moment of silence reflection. Thank you. May I have your attention for a brief announcement? Upon fire alarm activation, immediate evacuation to the closest emergency exit is required. The exits are to the back and to
002the side. Please exit away from the building 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 a school official gives an all clear before re-entering the building. Will the clerk please call the role? Cara Confield here. Robert Zachary here. Bodie Pro Cap here. Jaclyn Robinson here. Susie Sherwood Dudley here. Jermaine El Smith here. And Ruth B White here. Thank you. Does the clerk have any additions or deletions to the agenda? Yes. Consent agenda items 12.20 and 12.21 and financial item 13.01 have been added to the agenda. Thank you. The board of education will hold a reorganizational meeting on Tuesday, July 1st at 6:30 p.m. in the intermediate school library, immediately followed by a regular board
003meeting. SCES field day will be held on Friday, June 20th. Grades 3 and 4 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Kindergarten from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and grades 1 and 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The junior senior prom will be held at the Parish Art Museum on Wednesday, June 18th with photos at 6:00 p.m. and the dance from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. I hope all of the juniors and seniors have a great time. That's such a nice event that we have for them. The district will be closed and there will be no school for students on Thursday, June 19th in observance of June Junth. The summer reading kickoff event will be held on Monday, June 23rd at 9:00 a.m. at the elementary school. There will be early dismissal on June 23rd to
004the 26th. The elementary school will dismiss at 11:30 a.m. on June 23rd and 24th and at 10:30 a.m. on June 25th and 26th. The intermediate school will dismiss students at 10:45 a.m. on June 23rd and 24th and at 9:45 a.m. on June 25th and 26th. That will be on the website. Right. That's a little confusing to read and to remember. The eighth grade moving up ceremony will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday, June 24th in the high school auditorium. The annual ringing of the bell will be held on June 26th, the last day of school for students at 9:30 a.m. at the elementary school. The class of 2025 commencement ceremony will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the high school turf field on Friday, June 27th. Thank you. Um, Dr. Moral, would you like
005to introduce our presentations for the evening? Yes, Madam President. Thank you. Good evening. This evening, I would like to start with our presentation from Dr. Martha Tilliel, our presentation of our junior awards. Um hello everybody. Uh tonight uh we're really excited to um award our junior students with um awards that come from colleges and it's a nice opportunity for us to recognize um our student achievements. It's a nice um accolade that the students can use um for their college resume. It's also um in some cases an a monetary award from colleges um if the student chooses to go to that college. Uh so uh we'll get started with the awards. Um, the first award is for Maggie Gland, who could not be here tonight, but I just want to recognize her and um, announce that
006she received the University of Vermont Citizen Scholars Book Award. And um, this recognizes Maggie as an outstanding engaged citizen with a strong sense of cultural awareness on her road to the pursuit of higher education, wherever that may lead her. Um, the next [Applause] Okay, the next award is the Alfred State Pioneer Leadership Award. The Alfred State Pioneer Leaders Award goes to Savannah Quinn Smith and Aubrey Diamond. [Music] [Applause] This award honors top academic performers who have the passion and integrity needed to become successful leaders. Um the next award is the Simmons Jr. Book Award program and this recognizes Gail Sharperi. exemplifies the quality of a Simmons University student. Um, she exemplifies the quality of a Simmons University student which includes leadership, community service, caring for family, passion for all social justice, climate change, and acts
007of kindness. Congrat The next award is the Rochester Institute of Technology Computing Award and this goes to Ralph Garbal. Ralph is Ralph was selected for this award um for his cumidal GPA which is well above 93 for pursuing a rigorous college prep curriculum. And Ralph is also a valued member of our SHS robotics team. So if it was a fishing award, Ralph, you get that. Um, okay. The next one is the Rochester Institute of Technology Math and Science Award, and this goes to Riley Moroc. Okay. Riley was selected um for this award because um for pursuing a rigorous college preparatory curriculum having a cumulative GPA well above 93. Riley is very interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare science field. [Applause] The next award is the Rochester Institute of Technology Business and Leadership Award,
008which is awarded to William Dupri, who is pursuing a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, has a cumulative GPA well above 93. William has been honing his business skills at the family farm, the Milk Pale Orchard, while earning high school credits through the workbased learning program. William is also a 13th generation farmer in Southampton. [Applause] Okay. Um, the next one is the Rochester Institute of Technology, Humanities, and Social Sciences Award. This goes to Isabelle Feno Morphogan. [Applause] Isabelle is pursuing a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and has a cumulative GPA also above 93. Isabelle has spoken to the general assembly at the UN about women's and girls rights. Um, [Applause] the next award is the Rochester Institute of Technology Women in STEM award and this goes to Sarah Barrow. [Applause] This is awarded to Sarah for pursuing a
009rigorous college preparatory curriculum. having a cumulative GPA um well above 93. Sarah is currently president of the SHS robotics team and has worked with the local animal shelter to create a prosthetic leg for a shelter dog. [Applause] The next award is the Renolier Medal um which was first presented in 1916 with two purposes to recognize the superlative academic achievement of young men and women and to motivate students towards careers in science, engineering and technology. Steven Morales is this year's recipient. [Applause] Stephen is also a valued member of the SHS robotics team. [Applause] Okay. Um, congratulations to Valyriia Nto for receiving the Clarkson Leadership Award. Valyria is recognized as having been a positive contributor to the SHS school and community for her academic achievement which is above well above 93. Okay. Um okay the Clarkson Achievement
010Award goes to Anna Ooa Marchel for demonstration. [Applause] Anna has demonstrated outstanding leadership and academic success. Anna is recognized as having been a positive contributor to the SHS school and community and also is recognized for her academic achievement and GPA well above 93. The next award is the St. Michael's book award which who this one is awarded to Llaya Cerio and Bailey Brown [Applause] their academic success and exemplary community service involvement. Laya and Bailey's accomplishments embody the St. Michael's commitment to intellectual achievement, social justice, and concern for others. Um, the University of Rochester Bow and Long Honorary Science Award is awarded to David Morales for high achievement and rigor in science and math classes and his contributions to the SHS. [Applause] I'll give you. Okay. And last but not least, the University of Rochester George
011Eastman Young Leaders Award is awarded to Beatatrice Perez for her strong leadership experience at school and in the community, her high grades and challenging courses, and extensive involvement in her extracurricular activities. apologies [Music] [Applause] and so thank you very much. I would like my apologies. Um I would like at this time for Mr. Christopher D. Rosa to come up. Oh, Dr. Zan. Oh, my apologies. The Hyman Award. Is that right? I am so I am so sorry. We will now present the prestigious Hyman Award uh presented by Dr. Zan. Thank you. All right. Thank you so much, Dr. Morurell. Um so we are so happy to learn that a Southampton student was awarded an additional scholarship even though we had our um scholarship night. We had some outreach come to us um and we were
012so thrilled about this. So let me explain a little bit on how this award came to be. In 2017, the Hampton Bay School District started a scholarship with the Hampton Bay's Ancient Order of Hiburnians to honor the Grand Marshall of the Hampton Bay St. Patrick's Day parade. Um, the scholarship is called the Unsung Hero Scholarship. Uh, and it awards it awards it to a student who didn't necessarily lead from the front, but was always present, quietly leading by example, always dependable, and always there to do the right thing. This year, the grand marshall of the Hampton Bay's um St. Patrick's Day parade was Joe Fellingham. Well, we kind of happen to know um Joe a little bit because Fellingham is here in the village of Southampton. So, because it was here in the village of
013Southampton, the ancient order of the Hiburnians felt that it was very important to um keep one of these scholarship awards for a Southampton student. And what they asked us to do is to find a student that u really embodied what um Joe's schol what the scholarship represented. So in this case we we kind of struck gold because not only did we find um a student that the scholarship uh really represented but we also s found a student that works um and has worked at Fellinghams and is very near and dear to the Fellingham family. So, it is our pleasure to present the Ancient Order of Hiburnians Unsung Heroes Award to Arist Gonzalez. Congratulations. A $1,000 [Applause] And I love the fact he's wearing his um Southampton volunteer ambulance shirt because he's been with the volunteering
014with the ambulance for how many years now? Almost. Amazing. So, thank you so much. Thank you. Now I present Mr. Christopher D. The Rosa and students for the Hulk trip report. [Applause] Good evening, Dr. Morurell and the board of education. Thank you so much for having us here tonight. It's hard to believe that just three years ago, Miss Lopez and I were standing right here asking for your permission to take our students on the Hugs trip. Since that moment, we've led three life-changing trips. We've had 15 different student leader selections from our school, and we've had the privilege of bringing over 100 Southampton students into this experience. And now, [Applause] And now here we are back again for the third time not to ask for permission but to share our story. Tonight seven of our
015students were chosen to present. The only requirements we gave them were tell your story, speak from the heart, and as always to thine own self be true. What you're about to witness is more than a presentation. These students are sharing a piece of themselves with you. And honestly, what could be braver than standing in a room full of adults and speaking from your heart? Speaking about the things that we often keep hidden, our feelings, our struggles, our growth. And that is what makes this group so special. They are trendsetters. They are getting comfortable in the uncomfortable. They are speaking up for those who haven't found their voice yet. And most importantly, they are making talking about mental health cool. So before we begin, a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Zan and Dr. Mitchell. This trip
016wouldn't be possible without you. I know it's not every principal's dream to have a group of almost all untenured teachers take away 30 kids for a weekend, but thank you for your trust, your support, and your belief in this work is the foundation that allows us to keep building. [Applause] A special thank you to Southampton student leaders from this year. Jillian Suitocha, Leilani Escobar, Christian Dugalo, Nishawan Williams, Eric Mahia, Chase Rodriguez, and Carlos Zamarano. They dedicated multiple weekends to student leadership training, preparing themselves to take on this important role. Throughout the year, they led community circles, facilitated meaningful and sometimes difficult discussions, and made sure that everyone felt seen, heard, and valued. It's also worth highlighting that this was the second year serving as student leaders for Jillian, Leilani, and Christian. And finally, to the
017incredible adults standing up here with me, Miss Vidilich, Mrs. Steve, Mrs. Kain, Miss Lopez, Mr. Repeo, and Mr. Emma. Thank you for giving your time, your hearts, and your steady presence to help our students grow into their best selves. You see, the number of students you get to bring on the hugs trip is ti is directly tied to the number of adults you bring. And because we've had so many trusted adults willing to show up and build real connections with our students, we've been able to bring more kids year after year. And for the past three years, Southampton has been the largest group by far. And that's something that we're incredibly proud of. The more caring hands we have, the more doors we can open. So, thank you. [Applause] And first up is M. Mr.
018Dickerson. [Applause] How's everybody doing tonight? Uh, good evening, Dr. Morell and Board of Education. My name is Amomar, also known as Anthony or Tony, and I'd like to share my experience on a HUD trip that took place just about a month ago. One thing I've noticed as I grow up is that life will continuously get harder no matter what. And you'll be dealt with different challenges and emotional misunderstandings. And then over time, as we face those challenges with a firm mentality and an emotional understanding of life, you'll soon realize it gets easier day by day. That's how this trip felt to me. At first, you arrive on Shelter Island knowing almost nobody except for the kids you've arrived with from your school. But as the trip went on, we soon realized that we only know
019a shallow perception of who someone really is based off of what others say about them and what we hear in hallways. However, this trip allows you to truly get to know the people who you may see every day in the halls. And I've realized that the people I've seen in the halls have their own story to them and their own progression. This trip also allowed me to understand the true feelings within others. It allowed me to truly be myself around people I've never met before. I know I'm not the most liked person. I also know I'm not the most hated person either. But this trip gave me a chance to be whoever I wanted and that was myself. Having the capability to open up about my feelings and my journey to people I've never met
020before, though it felt like I've known them forever, is a kind of unique experience this trip has to offer. At first, a lot of students felt it was a little weird that we had to turn on phones in for the whole weekend. But soon enough, that became an obvious opportunity to truly connect with others heartto-he heart. I enjoyed the endless comfort and love I felt from the people in my family group. I knew a few of them since, as Mr. Rose said, Southampton is a big group, but majority of them I've never met before. And by the end of the trip, they truly felt like family to me. Accepting me for me, creating inside joke that only we would understand. And as Mr. Rapo knows even the egg we had to keep safe from breaking
021and sadly suffered a traumatic death due to faulty engineering strategies. Being that we're on topic of family, I currently live with my stepmother and three of my younger brothers. Down south in the lower regions of Virginia is my biological mother. With her is my other brother and two of my little sisters. That's six younger siblings in total. And as and as I stated before, everybody has their own story. Six siblings means six more stories yet to come that could be shared through programs such as HUDs. And as some may know, storytelling is the most powerful way to get uh to put great ideas into the world. And great stories happen to people who can tell them. Thank you for your time and have a great evening. Good evening everyone. My name is Alexandra Gonzalez and
022today I will be discussing my experience on the HUD trip. Let's start from the very beginning. At first I was very uninterested um in the whole concept of HUD um the days following the HUD trip. I began imagining how awkward it would be to um talk to new people and how isolated it would make me feel if I failed to make new friends. Um, the feeling followed me from the day I was told and completely stopped the day I arrived. When I got off the bus, it was completely different from what I had imagined. The laughter, the smiles, and the constant unity that was felt throughout was unexplainable. Although we did have our phones taken away, it was something truly needed. I made many I made multiple friends from my own school that I would
023have never made if I had never gone. The amazing leader Kim Lob was the was the icing on top. Her story and amazing attitude was the constant motor of the whole weekend. She made sure that everyone felt loved in and safe. One moment that sticks out to me is the impactful speech that she gave. She discussed situation that many people experience addiction. She informed us of she informed us of statist statistics of who recovered for laps and even those who continued addicted. Sadly, 43.5 million Americans aging from 12 years on continue addicted and only 22.3 million recovered. The recoveries helped those who were addicted. She explained this topic with such importance and intensity that it stunned many when she revealed that she too was once an addict. After she disclosed this information, she began diving
024into her childhood which wasn't too pleasant. She grew up in West Hampton, moving from home to home. She was a lost teenager until and she was a lost teenager addicted to substances until her counselor urged her to to participate in HUD students. Confused, she decided to give it a try and instantly fell in love with the HUD environments. The HUDs environments greatly impacted her life. But now she is the executive director of HUDs Corporation. Now, I may not be the executive director of the Hugs Corporation, but I too can say that it was an eyeopening and unforgettable experience. Thank you. Good evening, Dr. Morell, the board of education. Hi, Mom. My name is Brooke Dunn. A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to attend the Hugs Retreat on Shelter Island at Quinnip. To be honest,
025I thought it was going to be just a fun weekend away with my friends and cool teachers from our high school like Mr. D. Roza. I mean, who wouldn't want to be caught in intimate sharing sessions with your AP and orchestra teachers, Mr. O, Miss C, Miss B, and Miss Kane. I am graduating soon and was looking forward to putting the past two difficult years behind me. I have been in and out of school due to three surgeries and have been so grateful for the support of my family and school community. However, upon arriving at the Hugs Retreat, I soon realized that many others have dealt with their own traumas and hurdles. We spent two days bonding with peers from all walks of life and from all over Long Island. What amazed me the most
026was the empathy expressed without judgment. During the hugs weekend, I was able to share about one of my personal inspirations and heroes, Louis Zampirini. Louis Zampirini set records in track and field and ultimately went to fight in World War II and survived unbearable conditions in P camps in Japan. He inspired me when he said, "If you try to stand alone, you're going to fall." Over the past two years, I would have fallen many times if it weren't for my surgeons, crutches, my brother's shoulder in the school hallways, and my friends. While at Hugs, I was deeply moved by the way everyone was open, curious, and compassionate towards each other. My takeaway from the retreat is the comfort that people I have never met can understand me and my story. And therefore, I know there will
027always be people to lean on. Thank you for inviting me here today. [Applause] Good evening. Um, my name is Sarah and I'm a junior. Over my duration um at the hugs trip, I said that phrase more times than I ever had in a weekend. And I'd like to share why that was so important to me. The Hugs Weekend is an informative trip that focuses on damages of alcohol and drugs that they can have on our communities. That message is something that most of us have heard before at school from parents and health class, but I had never taken the time to look at from the perspective that hugs gave me. What stood out the most was the focus on relationships. Like I mentioned, I met a wide range of people from all different schools, backgrounds,
028and experiences. The only real expectation going into the weekend was to have an open mind. And honestly, at first, I didn't. I gave this trip the same assumptions I've given to most other drug and alcohol prevention programs. We all know this the the statistics. We've heard the warnings. Um so, I thought I knew what to expect. But what changed? What changed quickly? Um while we did talk about the health risks, the leaders encouraged us to dig deeper to ask why substance use is such a problem in our communities. Um that shift in focus led to some of the most honest and eye-opening conversations I've ever had. We weren't just talking about drugs or alcohol. We were talking about mental health, stress, trauma, and grief, and feeling isolated. We were talking about the real reasons some
029of us do drugs. And so to circle back to all the people I introduced myself to, it wasn't just about meeting new faces. Every time I said, "My name is Sarah and I'm a junior." It was a small moment of putting myself out there, which I rarely do, and opening the door for connection. What I found was a space where people felt safe enough to share things they usually keep to themselves, and I was reminded of how rare that is. The hugs trip emphasized to me how important it is to create those kinds of spaces where people feel comfortable being honest, where mental health is taken seriously and where no one feels like they have to go through something alone. We need more of that, especially in high school. I left Hugs with a new
030perspective, not just on substance use, but on the importance of support, empathy, and community, and more confident to say, "My name is Sarah. Nice to meet you. Good evening. My name is My name is Evelyn Gutierrez and I will be talking about my experience at first and foremost I would like to address a relevant topic that connects with us immigration. This isn't about politics. It's about people, about kids who are scared, families who have been torn apart, about communities who have done everything right just to live in fear. Anyway, my mom was nervous about sending me on a trip, especially since my phone was getting taken away. No direct communication with me. Eventually, with the meetings Mr. Da hosted and all the circumstances we would be in, she was more comfortable about me going. This
031ties in with the amount of opportunity we miss out because of fear, especially during this time period. Mrs. Dza and Miss encouraged me and would non-stop talk about the trip because of all the positive outcomes that come with it. I didn't know anything about the event and thought it was going to be awkward throughout the whole weekend. I wanted the whole weekend to be over already without even giving it a try. But in reality, it was nothing like I thought it was going to be. It was a great experience to interact with the many people I would have never crossed paths with if it weren't for hugs. At first, I also thought not having my phone would be a complete torture, but it was a good detox. I didn't feel the need to be on
032it at all throughout the whole weekend with the countless activities we were doing. The big theme was in general about addictions and the numerous activities all related to that. I didn't know that this event would cover the aspect of addictions. If I would have known, I would have been sure that I wouldn't want to participate in any way. I tend to avoid that topic because of my dad. When our director Kim portrayed her personal experience, that's when I knew I wasn't alone. Hugs made me comfortable about my personal life. All the people surrounding me were in similar situations, which made me feel safe to express my own personal experience. Hugs is truly the home away from home. I'm the oldest of three and I would love for my younger siblings to experience an organization just
033like this one. I have learned many valuable lessons from my experience in Hunt. Thank you for your time. Good evening Dr. the board of education and my baseball coach. The hugs organization did a wonderful job creating an inclusive and safe environment environment for everyone. The purpose of the trip is to be social with other teenagers specifically the ones we have never met before which was most of them. teachers. Kids along with teachers were expected to speak in small groups and even all together. The idea of the trip is to create teams with stronger mindsets which allows them to become potential leaders. Merging leaders is exactly what our world needs for our future. A little bit about me. I grew up on a farm. I've been helping since a very young age and I plan to
034major in agriculture and possibly engineering and come back to the farm and possibly take over it. The the point of that is the hug trip and its overarching theme has nothing to do with my future and anything I've ever been involved in, which is why when Mr. D. Roza asked me to come, I agreed, even though I thought it would be a complete waste of time. I was completely wrong, though. Over the weekend, I opened up to more strangers than I ever had before and met a bunch of new people. Probably the biggest takeaway was I learned how much we don't know about new people unless we actively talk and socialize with them. I'm now going back next year on the same trip to be a hugs leader, something I never thought I would have
035any interest in. Since it is June, I would like to talk about men's mental health. Men are taught that expressing emotion is weak and that they should never do it. Because of this, they never reach out for help or very few do. 525,000 a year, 10,100 per week, 1,500 per day, 60 men an hour, one man every 60 seconds kills themselves. This is simply because they decide to end their own lives before asking for help. Opening up in a social event like hugs teaches not just men, but women open up and speak to other people about whatever is going on in their lives, potentially stopping them from ending their own. [Applause] Thank you. Any questions? No questions. But I'm sure you know that I like to tell all of the students here that I went
036to HUGS when I was your age, which is a really long time ago. We won't get into that part, but um I'm so proud of all of you for going and opening yourselves up and for coming and being so brave to stand here in an absolutely packed room, which anybody that went on the trip last year knows this was not the situation last year. So, um I'm so proud of all of you. uh those that are graduating, good luck in your future and uh those that are going to be around again next year. I hope you come and tell the board next year what a great time you had. Thank you. [Applause] There's a lot of seats open up if anybody wants to come in and have a seat. If any of the scholarship recipients
037um need to get home for anything, you're welcome to leave as well. Otherwise, please stay and go home and study for the regions. [Applause] Now that everybody, we have one more student presentation. Sorry guys. time we'll have our ex official school board member presentations ma thank you [Applause] all right good evening again everyone um so several weeks ago uh actually several months ago we were here at the board of education discussing u the implementation of an exeicio student member of the board. Our school district has adopted board of education policy that now um allows two of our students to be selected as exeicio members of the board and we spoke about what that entails at um at some length previously. So after the board of education adopted um that policy, we went to work u
038to really kind of seek and recruit students who would be interested in serving in this role. So, not too long ago, we put out an interest form to our student body and the requirements were quite simple that you the students had to be enrolled in our school district for a set amount of time and they had to be of of a certain age uh at high school level. With that, we were pleasantly surprised to see that we did have a great deal of interest in the position. So, Dr. Morel and I spent some time interviewing students for the position and we asked them two simple questions. One, why do you want to serve as an exopicio student member of the board of education? And two, how would you engage our diverse community of students and
039gather input to ensure that all voices are heard? And we were so impressed with the student responses. And it was a very very difficult choice for us because it it truly was. We wrestled with these decisions because each of our students were just bringing incredible ideas and visions and understandings for for this role. But there were two students that um certainly rose above that group and and were shining for us. So, it is my distinct pleasure to present to the board of education our two exeicio student members of the board of education. And I would like to present rising senior Noah Kent [Applause] and rising junior Mattea SA. At this time, I would like to uh welcome Noah and Mattea up to the podium just to introduce themselves, say a few words, and really talk
040about um the experience and why they want to serve. Noah, hello everybody. Um I would just like to say over there, I was um I've been to like five board meetings. um in like last couple months every time I come here I always get goosebumps because I feel so strongly about I don't know if it's s I don't know if I'm sensitive or emotional but I really feel these students and I really like that they um that all these new programs are here for the kids and it's really helpful. So my name is Noah Kent. I was elected to be on the board of education. Um I'm very excited because there's so much progress to be made and I'm thrilled to start working with with the board and my co-president. I am ready to take
041on the responsibility of this position. I am determined to help the community of students throughout all three schools so they feel included. And by the way, I'm always ready for a nice conversation. I always plan on advertise I also plan on advertising the board meetings in school, hanging up flyers, announcing when they take place, and encouraging students to attend board meetings. One of my other goals is to make Salon High School improve on the beautifification goal and collaborate with landscape companies seeking donations and trying to get approval from administration from administration to make the front of the school have more plants and stuff like that because I love agriculture as well as William Deree. So that's my passion and I hope it uh hope it goes through. You've been already doing it like you've been
042doing if you haven't seen what's happening in front of that school. That's because of because of Noah's work. Thank you. During my time here, I'm hoping to address the school start time, come up with solutions so kids can be more attent uh at school. I had an amazing school year thanks to the board, teachers, AP Superintendent Dr. Morell. We have students smiling and excited to come to school with our great field trips and workshops. I just want to thank you for appointing me and I won't let the school down. Thank you. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Good evening everyone. My name is Mata Hera and like Dr. Don said, I am a rising junior. I'm so excited to be here with you all tonight and I really just feel I can speak with my peers and be
043able to really make their voices feel heard. I want to make people want to talk about school, want to be excited to go to school and ready to learn. And I really feel that me being here and with Noah, of course, I can make that change occur. Um, I'm so excited to just make school really a place where everyone feels welcome and heard. And yeah, thank you so much for [Music] [Applause] anyone heard Matt's MCing skills up in the microphone in that auditorium. I mean we have we have a good one coming too. She how many people are at the um the talent of the variety show. I think you heard. All right. So you heard board of ed members uh our two students here. So I'm not sure if there are any questions or
044comments that you'd like to share with our exeicio student members of the board. I don't have any questions for you. I just think that it's such an exciting opportunity to have students on the board with us and I am sorry that I'm going to miss it but um we're going to have to get a bigger table and figure out uh where you're going to be if both of you are coming to the meetings or one at a time but um it's very exciting to have your voices join us. So thank you for wanting to do it. Anyone else? Okay. Well, thank you. [Applause] Sorry. I just wanted to say um uh that I wanted to thank all of the students that actually applied and congratulate Mattea and Noah for taking on this responsibility. It is
045a huge responsibility and we look forward to having you join us at the table [Applause] [Music] and just like the other students uh Noah and Matte are here with some scheduled exams tomorrow. So we are going to let them go home and study for those exams. So thank you very much. Um I would just have to say to Noah and Mattea, it truly was an honor listening to your voices. those interview processes. It was just amazing to see such brilliance at such a young age and I welcome you to the board. Thank you. Um, at this time we'll have our retiree recognitions and we'll start with Dr. Zan my tracker. Thank you, JP. Well, I think it's um no secret and no surprise who I'm starting with here. And at this time, I would like
046to call up my longtime partner, my um the one of the greatest professionals [Applause] We already made a cry and and I'm going to miss that. I'm like, ain't you crying again? It is my profound honor to speak on behalf of and celebrate one of the most important and outstanding members of our school community, my partner, Mrs. Amy Davis. We're going to express the impact that Amy Davis has had on Southampton High School for the past 27 and a half years. For those who did not know, Amy has spent all her time at the helm of the ship here in the main office for her entire career. So just think about the importance of the role that she played in the organization for almost 28 years. Everything happens in this school and runs through that
047main office, which means that Amy has been there through all of the highs and lows. She has seen it all and been through it all. In fact, Amy's experience, grace, historical perspective, mild mannerism, commitment to the school, her enormous heart, her ability to think quickly, ability to solve problems, and her steadfast loyalty that has helped me and my former predecessors meet those daily challenges that come with leading a school. and we certainly would not have been able to do it without Amy. Um, I've had the pleasure and honor of spending my last 13 years with Amy. In addition to being the greatest professional teammate that one could ever ask for, I've also seen the amazing mother that she is to Rachel, Sammy, and Jonathan. And they're here. Where are they? and how devoted she is
048to her husband Mike and her family. Mike's here. Where did he go to? [Applause] Although we at the high school are completely devastated with the thought that of not seeing Amy in the main office, we're so happy that Amy is now going to get to spend all the time in the world with her children and Mike whom she loves so so much. Here in Southampton, we also have experienced Amy's loyalty, commitment, support, and positive spirit and dedication. And this is why we are so grateful for having you in our lives, Amy. Amy, you are the real life Wonder Woman. No matter the challenge or the curveball that was thrown our way, you were always ready to jump into the fire and find that solution. When things in the school or office were hot, you were
049always focused and ready to help calm the waters in any way possible. Your contacts, relationships, and outreach to members within all of our diverse community help to carry the mission of the school, solve problems when needed, and most importantly, support our students. Amy, I cannot thank you enough for your 27 and a half years of service to our high school and to the Southampton Union Free School District. You have exemplified what it means to be selfless, humble, committed, hardworking, and loyal. The impact that you have had on our teachers, students, administrators, clerical, custodians, tech department, security staff, bus drivers, and of course me cannot be understated. You have already left an an a mark and a lasting legacy in all of those that you have worked with and helped over the years. Although Emily, our
050new partner, has only been with us for two years or so, working alongside you during that time has been the best form of professional development that anyone could have ever received. I am personally so grateful for the time that we have spent together and will cherish the memories of leading a high school together. I still have not come to terms with the with coming to school and you not being there. And I think some of them are out there, but we have to put our social workers on standby right now for that day. But in all seriousness, on behalf of all of us in this room, we thank you for your 27 and a half years of service and wish you the very best in retirement. [Applause] [Laughter] A anything you want to say or
051it was it was hard enough to get her here. So, but there you go. [Applause] All right. It is now my honor to celebrate an exceptional educator, coach, and community member, Diane Guida. [Applause] Unfortunately, Diane could not be here with us tonight. Um, but as Diane embarks on her well-deserved retirement, we cannot let this moment pass without acknowledging the profound impact that she has had on Southampton schools and our community at large. Dian's career as a science teacher has been nothing short of remarkable. Her dedication to her student success has been evident in every aspect of her work. Diane wasn't just a teacher. She was a mentor, a guide, and an inspiration to countless students who passed through her classroom. What sets Diane apart is her unwavering commitment to her students. She consistently went above
052and beyond, sacrificing her evenings and weekends to provide additional support and guidance. Her contributions extend far beyond science life. Her involvement in our school community has been truly exceptional. She has recently served as well not recently but she served as basketball and tennis coach but I guess recently and where she instilled values of teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship in our student athletes. In her role as science lead teacher, she elevated our science curriculum and supported her colleagues. Her work as curriculum writer and bossa teacher further demonstrated her skills, versatility and commitment to education. If Diane had her way, I would not be standing here talking about her accomplishments. Actually, she's probably going to be very mad at me for doing this, but uh there was no way, no way we're not going to let this happen.
053Um she has always shied away from recognition, preferring to let her work speak for herself. However, Dian's impact on Southampton schools has been way too significant to go unmentioned. Her humility only adds to her character. Diane, your legacy will continue to inspire future generations of teachers and students. While we miss you dearly, while we will miss you dearly, the compassion, dedication that you've planted will continue to grow and flourish. It certainly has in your students and many of your colleagues in this room tonight. On behalf of all the lives you've touched, I thank you for your 23 years of service to our community and we wish you a happy and healthy retirement. Congratulations, [Music] [Applause] Dr. Z. Dr. Fernandez. Good evening everybody. So we have three retirees at SCES. Our first one that I was
054going to recognize is Vera. Is Vera out here someplace tonight? Um, she's not here, but she was coming tonight. Um, so let's start with Elizabeth. [Applause] Really? You have to She has dedicated 30 years to Southampton and for that she needs to be up here for a huge round of applause. [Applause] [Music] The first time I met Elizabeth, she came into my office as the building rep. And as soon as she came in, I knew that she was going to make sure that I knew that contract and that I would follow. And it was from that moment forward that I respected her and appreciated her not only as a teacher of somebody who holds her to really high standards, but somebody who protects her teachers and make sure that she's doing right by her colleagues.
055And I will always be respect you for that. Elizabeth runs a very structured classroom and knows how to push her students to ensure that her students excel academically. She is straight to the point. She knows her contract and she made sure that I know it as well. Elizabeth began as a TA for Barbara Kibler who I don't know. However, her first year teaching was actually the first the same room that she's teaching in currently in room 112. So, she is getting to retire in the room that she started in. And there's a closet full Siberia as well. I don't know that closet, but I might have to take a peek and see what's in there. A sweater. I think room 112 holds many fond memories, and it is where she will say goodbye to the
056last class that she teaches. She has taught with many teachers, Mrs. Delore, Mr. Post, and many others that I haven't had the pleasure to meet. Her colleagues describe her as trustworthy. She is a friend to turn to in need and someone to listen to listen without judgment. She's a wealth of knowledge about teaching and she will be greatly missed. During her retirement, she is planning to travel. She's also looking forward to a trip to Ireland with her daughter Carrie and she has a large family, many siblings, and she's hoping to spend time with that. She has a grandson and another grandchild on the way. Um, so she's hoping to spend time with her, but she has dedicated so many years here. She is compassionate to her students. She pushes them forward. She holds that FAR
057high and those students rise to it. I can tell by her writes. I watch them thoroughly. Um, and we thank you so much for all your years of service. [Applause] So, our last two retirees are not here tonight. Um, our next one that I will mention is Veratric. Um, she is our resident prek aid. She has been with the Southampton School District for 10 years. Um, and in those years she has taught prek. Um, right now she currently teaches with Mrs. Moran, but she also taught with Mr. uh Mrs. Moran, but she also taught with Mr. Post. Um, they were a dynamic duo. In fact, when I first came here, I was getting all these parent requests and I hadn't met her yet and I thought, who is Mrs. Trick? Well, who is this person
058that everybody is is talking about? Um, and when I met her, she was genuine, kind, she was funny, she advocates for her children. She loves them fiercely, and she prepares her babies for a kindergarten. Her colleagues would describe her as a person who is true, honest, and sincere in her interactions and relationships with everyone in her building. Vieira has a way of empowering both her students and staff to be their best. Her closest friends said that Ver is caffeinated, energetic, and caring. She sings all day, mostly classroom instructions, Broadway style, which I have heard myself. She comes, she becomes very attached to her little prek kids, and she gives them the best every day. She was called the closet queen because she has the supplies organized for the following year, and prek teachers do not
059know what they're going to do without her. What I will miss most about Ver is her words of wis w words of wisdom, encouragement, and spunk. You can always count on VR to either volunteer to have a dance off with students at an assembly or speak up at a meeting to advocate for her students. She's extremely knowledgeable and inspired by her passion and care. Vera, congratulations on your retirement. [Applause] And last but not least, we have Gina Hernandez. She is a been a TA at Southampton for 17 years, and she probably has been in everybody's classroom, I think, who is here currently right now. From what I understand, she taught in every single grade level. Um, although I was told that she had to pick her favorite grade level, it was going to be kindergarten,
060which just goes to show you a testament to her personality because it takes a certain kind of patience and kindness to to truly care about those kindergarten kids. Um, and I will tell you that she's the type of person that back in February, she was supposed to retire and she came to me with tears were in her eyes and because she loves her students so much, she said that she wasn't able to retire mid year and she had to see the the the the year through. So, she has been coming in as a sub staying with her students to make sure that she's spending her days with her. That's just shows her compassion and her dedication for her students. Gina can be described as kind and hardworking, dedicated. As I said, she is a passionate
061and faithful teacher. Whenever you walk in her room, you wouldn't know who's the teacher, who's the TA because she commands her classroom and takes over the class and helps support the teacher in her room, not only on Spanish lessons, but all the students in all subjects. She's a master teacher. She's authentic, passionate, and caring. And she will be deeply missed. for her retirement. She is planning to continue working part-time with children and dedicating the rest of her time with her beloved children. Juliet and Jos Josiah um a colleague of hers said, and I quote, "It's rare to find someone who not only teaches but inspires, and I couldn't agree more." Do you know people missing? So, I I'm here to uh recognize Ricky Taylor. Um Ricky um did 30 years of service here in in
062Southampton. Uh graduated from Southampton. Uh as some of you may know, when he finished college, he actually played on the Washington Generals uh and got out to travel with the Harlem Globe Tri for a while before settling down and teaching physical education here at Southampton. Ricky spent time as a PE teacher in both the Southampton Intermediate School as well as SCES. Um during his time here, he coached boys volleyball, boys tennis, boys basketball, which was his favorite obviously. Um and during his tenure also helped volunteer with the many Mariners program. Um I just want to thank Coach Taylor for all he's done to enhance our physical education program and athletics program here at Southampton. He couldn't be here tonight. I think he's been traveling since February, since he retired and um I just want to
063wish him an enjoyable and deserving retirement um and all he's done for Sah. So, thank you. Hey everybody. So, um I have the honor of honoring uh two SIS staff members that combined have a total of 65 years of service to this district. I'm going to start by honoring Amy Lester. Amy Lester actually retired this past winter and I'm sure she's enjoying her best life after 30 years of service to this district. Amy Lester, wherever you are. And the word service is the word that I think sums up Amy Lester's tenure best as a teacher. First and foremost, it was her service to her students. She had a soft spoken way about her and a calmness that many students loved her class because of it. She worked to ensure that her class was accessible to
064all of her students. A former class of her students just today told me that she always tried to make science fun. She always wanted to make the class fun. Class frogs may or may not have eaten each other at one point. Who cares? Class frogs. Uh Seymour the skeleton. Uh no shortage of projects. Those are just some of the ways that Miss Lester tried to connect science with her students. Her former class also told me that she routinely always worked to find multiple opportunities for her students to be successful. So that's something that Mark of a great teacher never giving up on your kids. And that was 100% Miss Lester. Uh Miss Lester also served her community. She loved educating students about local ecosystems. She took her classes to the wetlands and local beach habitats
065to open up many students eyes to the importance of being a steward for the land that we live on. Her community service also extended to her passion for sustainability and gardening. Her long-standing advising of the SIS garden club uh brought the importance of local food to her students. Miss Amy Lester also served her department. She was a proud member of her grade team and of the SIS science department. She worked collaboratively to navigate the changes that have happened in science over the last few years. She's worked to make fifth grade science that is grounded on standardbased pedagogy that um she stockpiled resources to make sure yes she stockpiled resources. A true story. Amy Lester's replacement has probably spent I mean it's been about five months still unpacking all the resources that Miss Amy Lester has
066stockpiled. So fifth grade science is good for the foreseeable future over the next 30 years. Who knows? Um it's I joke already. Miss Amy Lester's retirement means that she can now serve her own passions and her own projects. So, we do wish Miss Amy Lester a great retirement uh years of tennis field days with her friends and family. I hope wherever she is today, she knows how much we miss her and applaud her for her service to the Southampton Community Free School District. I also spent some time talking to a group of students uh just this week that were in my next honores uh class. So, uh, Mr. Jim Nolan's not here today and he would not want me. I'm sure he would shy away from this, but I did go to the source and
067I said, "Tell me about Mr. Nolan. Tell me about his class." And to my shock, they said without hesitation that Mr. Nolan was one of the funniest teachers they have had this year. And then I said, um, they described his humor as subtle, but that Mr. Nolan loved to mess around, which you think, well, it's wood shop. Be careful. They said, "No, no, no. It's not what we mean." Uh, he definitely advocated for safety first, but um his energy was always positive, and it made working in the wood shop a positive place to be. Uh they highlighted all the great projects they worked on this year. Then they're they acknowledge that they're leaving this year proud of not only the projects, but learning the new skills, stepping out of their comfort zone, doing things that
068they don't normally get to do in the class. Those projects that they've worked on are the same projects for the last 35 years. Students have worked on. I'm sure so many homes in this community are furnished by furniture. Allah jin technology class. They're there. They're everywhere. I know you have them. They're there. I'm more than confident that generations of families in this community have SIS technology projects still proudly displayed in their homes. uh but more than just a home furnishing company. These 35 years of skills, these are 35 years of skills that students have now taken with them and moved on as they've grown up into adulthood. So this is the legacy that Mr. Nolan has left behind. Mr. Nolan has come a long way from answering a one ad in the New York Times
06935 years ago that brought him here. He's touched thousands of lives over the course of that career. In his career, Mr. Nolan oversaw so much transformation in career technical education. But through all the transformations, Mr. Nolan's command of the classroom and his ability to connect with students has transcended curriculum shifts over the past three decades. He spent a good part of this year making sure that that legacy could carry on. His feedback in support of finding the right replacement has been instrumental towards that end. But it's now time for new adventures. Mr. Nolan is a doing husband and a loving father. I know that there are so many new projects ahead for you and your family. Mr. Nolan, please know that the SIS wood shop is in good hands and the memory of your exemplary
070service to the intermediate school will live on for an additional 35 years. Congratulations. Good evening everyone. Good evening. On behalf of Mr. Marcus Silva and the facilities department. I'm here in recognition of Mr. Richie Height. Um I have the privilege to honor Mr. Richie Height for his extra extraordinary 50 years of dedicated service to the Southampton School District. [Applause] 50 years of service. I don't know if that will be duplicated, but congratulations to Mr. Height. Uh, Mr. Height began his career with the district on August 26, 1974 as a full-time custodian. From that day forward, he has exemplified the very best of public service, bringing to his work an unwavering commitment, steadfast reliability, and quiet professionalism. Over the span of five decades, Mr. Height's deep institutional knowledge, strong work ethic, and generosity in mentoring new
071staff have made him a cornerstone of our facilities department and an invaluable member of the Southampton school community. His service consistently extended beyond the responsibilities of his position. Mr. Hike was always willing to step up, often responding to urgent needs outside of normal hours, without fanfare, but always with purpose and dedication. His humble leadership and profound sense of duty have left an indelible mark on all who have had the pleasure of working with him. A lifelong resident of Southampton, Mr. height is admired not only for his remarkable contributions to the district but also for his warmth, approachability and gracious spirit. He has created and maintain he has played a vital role in creating and maintaining the environment in which generations of students have learned, grown and thrived, often behind the scenes but never without significance.
072On behalf of the Southampton School District, we extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. Height for his exemplary service. We congratulated him. We congratulate him on a well-earned retirement and wish him health, happiness, and fulfillment in his ne the next chapter of his life. Congratulations. [Applause] Good evening everyone. Um I'm here to honor two people who are not present. One who retired in December and one who's going on Friday unfortunately. Um it's an honor to recognize and celebrate the retirement of someone who has been a cornerstone in our district's technological backbone for the past 26 years, our network and systems administrator, Peter Walter. Peter joined Southampton at a time when technology in schools was just beginning to grow. He became instrumental in shaping and evolving our systems into what they are today. His calm demeanor, tireless
073dedication, and incredible depth of knowledge have kept us running smoothly through decades of change and innovation. From staying late to to troubleshoot problems to answering calls while on vacation, leaving on a boat in the middle of a hurricane, Peter has always gone above and beyond. He's led us through every major technological upgrade, including multiple phone systems, firewalls, wireless networks, and even the legendary Osiris to Powers School transition, a feat many of us are still Melro today. One of Peter's many unofficial talents was his famous desk filing system. If you ever needed a document while he was away, he would walk you through it with uncanny precision. Look under the plastic bag. in the end left side third pile torn blue posted and there it was every time brilliant mysterious and uniquely Peter Peter's quiet leadership
074unmatched commitment and behind the scene heroics have made a lasting impact on all of us on behalf of the entire Southampton community thank you for your incredible 26 years you are deeply missed but your legacy lives on in every system every server in every stop help desk ticket. Congratulations. We wish you nothing but the best and the well- earned retirement. The next honore is Joanne Robinson. Joanne Robinson has been at the district for a little more than 24 years. Um that she's dedicated to the Southampton Unifree School District. She came recently to the technology department about 8 to 10 years ago. She was at the district office in various capacities over there. It's hard to imagine the district without her right now. She has really done whatever I have asked her to do. If I've
075asked her to move an office, if I've asked her to do this new task, if I've helped her have me clean the closets that are a mess, she always steps up and is ready to take it to take it on. I have been trying to celebrate her for the past three months. And every time I go to do it, she starts crying. She's like, "I'm not coming." I'm like, "Last night I got a text at 10 o'clock at night. I'm like, "Are you coming today?" And she said, "Listen, I'm hard on the outside, but listen, I'm soft on the inside and I'm going to sit here and ride." Okay, little tears might help. Anyway, um it's going to be hard to imagine the district without her. While the rest of us scrambled to keep up
076with passwords, paperwork, and the everchanging technology tools, you were a steady force. quietly. Well, sometimes not so quietly, keeping everything running smoothly. You've been the translator of student device claim forms, many of which look like they were written in emojis and cryptic abbreviations. You bravely unraveled the mysteries of Tom's method of inventory tracking, a system passed down more through storytelling than documentation. And you furiously tackled the storage closets filled with boxes dating back to the last century. You mastered the wonders of Google Drive, often with a side, and just click the little triangle. You were always first to lend a hand, even if it meant digging through a tangle of unlabeled chargers, to find the one that worked. You brought consistency, patience, and quick glitch, to your work. Qualities that made a lasting impact on
077everyone around you. Your contributions were solid, your presence steady, and your humor always welcome. We are not planning any big changes to our to your job, except of course the noticeable absence of your laugh from the outer office, your trademark snark, and your uncanny ability to locate that form you swore was just here. Your legacy is one of organization, reliability, humor, and heart. And now you leave behind a workplace better for having had you in it. As you step into the next chapter, may your days be filled with joy, relaxation, and plenty of time with your family. Congratulations on your well- earned retirement and thank you for everything. [Applause] At this time, I would like to take a uh may I have a motion to take a recess of the meeting to celebrate with our
0782024 2025 retirees at 8:06 p.m. We'll take a 10-minute break. I may have a motion. Motion second. All in favor? I so carried. Okay.