001public hearing to order at 6:40 p.m. Notice is hereby given that the board of education of the Southampton unfree school district is holding a public hearing in accordance with general municipal law section 6D on April 1st 2025 in the Southampton Intermediate School Library 70 Legal Lane Southampton New York for the discussion of appropriation not to exceed $1,600,000 from the district's repair reserve fund for for the purpose of repairing three HVAC rooftop units one, two, and three at the high school and repair one pot washer in the Southampton High School kitchen. Public input regarding the appropriation referenced above. Board of Education comments and discussions regarding the appropriation referenced above. Does anybody have any questions or comments or Mr. Dilva is here. Always nice to see you, sir. Does anybody have any questions? Or Mr. Dilva, do
002you want to elaborate on anything for us? Sure. I have a quick little PowerPoint just to identify what all that meant. Uh, good evening, Southampton Board of Education, Dr. Morell, Mr. Ringo, community members, and colleagues. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to uh hold the repair reserve hearing today. I'm here to request the board uh request the board of education's approval to use the 1.6 million for the repair reserve from the repair reserve fund. The funding will be allocated to replace the three 30 ton ATV uh AC rooftop units for Southampton High School as well as the pot washer in the high school kitchen. um RTU one and two they control the heating and cooling on one's on one is the east side cafeteria and two is the west side cafeteria and the third
003one does the band and chorus room um the total cost to replace those units are estimated at $1,560,000 um a little background on these units uh the HBAC units are were installed called in 1996. So they're approaching 30 years old of service. Uh over the past three years, we had to put more funds than we would like to to keep them running. Um these are the last three units that need replacement at the high school. The other four 30 and 40 ton units have been replaced over the past four years. Uh just as a quick little picture of the corrosion. So this slide shows the buildup of rust and corrosion on the units which has contributed to the decline in performance and efficiency. Uh here we have an image of the frozen dampers caused by
004corrosion. Additionally, the coils inside the units are severely corroded impacting the functionality of the unit. I didn't know what a pot washer was until Rean identified that for me. So, uh, this slide is the pot washer. According to, um, our service contract that works on this, this is beyond economical repair. Um, when I work with Rean, Rean says that they use this piece of equipment quite often and they need it replaced and the the estimated cost to replace that unit is $40,000. That's what I have for the return reserve hearing. If anybody has any questions on all of that, I have a question for you. Sure. So, I realize that our um units are 30 years old, which I think is good lifetime for the heating and cooling units, but do we find that our
005units um corrode or rust more because we're so close to the ocean? We do. And uh with the unit that we're replacing now, we are trying we are installing the thing called a sea coast package on it where they coat the coils. So they have to get through the coating in order to get to the aluminum and the uh copper for it to start deteriorating. So we are taking some um some extra steps to get more longevity out of these units. But 30 years is quite a sign is amazing. Yeah, we have replaced the compressors in them over the couple years. Um there is constant maintenance that we're dumping into these units. Um but uh 30 years is not not bad. Yeah. Not too bad. Um does anybody else have a question? Well, thank you
006all for your time. Do we have any public comments on the presentation that was just presented by Mr. Dilva? No. Okay. Will the clerk please call the roll call vote? So sorry. May I have a motion to adjourn the public hearing at 6:45 p.m.? Motion. Second. Second. All in favor? I. Motion carries. I reconvene the regular meeting at 6:46 p.m. The board is returning from an executive session where the employment history of particular people was discussed. Everyone, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for a moment of silent reflection. Thank you. May I have your attention for a brief announcement? Upon fire alarm activation,
007immediate evacuation to the closest emergency exit is required. The emergency exits are located to the back and to the side. 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 a school official gives an all clear before re-entering the building. Would the clerk please call the role? Hon, Robert here. Monctor here. Jaclyn Robinson here. SH here. J Smith here. And here. Thank you. Does the clerk have any additions or deletions to the agenda? Yes. consent agenda item 12.18 has been added to the agenda. Thank you. The next board of education meeting will be a work session meeting and the board will vote on the Eastern SuffK Bosey's budget and
008board election on Wednesday, April 23rd at 6:30 p.m. in the SIS library. Please everybody note that we are moving the meeting from a Tuesday to a Wednesday um so that we don't have to meet specifically for the Eastern Suffach Bosey's budget um and election nominating pick petitions to two to elect two board members for a 4-year terms commencing July 1st 2025 and expiring on June 30th 2029 to succeed Cara Conkling Wing Field and Jacqueline Robinson, whose terms expire on June 30th, 2025, are now available by contacting the district clerk. Completed petitions must be returned by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 12th. 21. So, Monday, April 21st. Absentee and early voter ballot applications will be available beginning on Monday, April 21st, 2025. Please visit the district website or contact the district clerk for more information. The
009high school job fair will be held tomorrow, April 2nd, at 12:30 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Dr. Dr. Morell's book study will meet on Thursday, April 10th at 400 p.m. in the intermediate school library. The high school spring arts festival will be held on Thursday, April 3rd at 6 p.m. at the high school. Friday, April 4th ends the third quarter marking period. The community resource fair and silent disco family night will be held on Friday, April 4th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the intermediate school for students in in grades prek to 12 and their families. ELA state testing will occur on Wednesday, April 9th and Thursday, April 10th. The district safety fair will be held at the high school on Friday, April 11th at 10:00 a.m. Spring recess will be uh will be
010from Monday, April 14th through Friday, April 8th. District offices will be closed on Friday, April 18th in observance of Good Friday. That was a lot of announcements. Dr. Morell, may I give it to you for uh presentations? Absolutely. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Good evening, esteemed board in Southampton community. Um is uh gives me great pride to introduce our um principal Dr. Zan, principal of the high school, as well as our scholars from the high school. Um we have Noah and Davon. Na Naa, my apologies. Naa, um who will be presenting tonight, we know that effective July 1st, um the New York State, uh education department has u mandated that a student be selected to serve as an exeicial member of the board of education. And so tonight um we want to talk a
011little bit about what why it's important, why we think this is such a good initiative and some of the steps and protocols we will take to select the student. But we just want to talk about how elevating student voice around issues of concern um and especially to help us on this board understand what they feel is important and things of that nature, why this here role is going to be so critically important. So without further ado, I would like for Dr. Don Lea and Noah to please um come forward. All right. Thank you so much, Dr. Morel. Just as we're getting ourselves um sorted here, Noah is going to hand out just a few documents that um he's going to be talking about when he is up at the podium. So, we'll just give Noah
012just a couple seconds to hand those documents out and then we will begin the presentation. What's this? I don't know. All right. Thank you very much everyone. So, uh, what we'd like to do, uh, and again, by the way, my name is Brian Don. I am very proud principal at Southampton High School and joined by two amazing students in our schools. So, we do have a current sophomore with us, No Bell, and a current junior, Noah Kent. Um, and these students are also members of our superintendent cabinet and of course involved in many, many, many other things as well. So, we are here to talk about um some of the guidance that we received in regards to an ex officio student member of the board of education. So, what we're going to do today is
013just really break down some of the state guidance that came to us. So, um the board is is aware of the guidance from the state and requirements from the state and we can discuss some of the options within that regulation. And of course, more importantly, you're going to hear about the importance of student voice from our amazing students behind me. So, uh, in in regards to the guidance, effective July 1st, 2025, um, school boards across New York State are required to designate at least at least one student as an ex official member of the board of education. Um so with that said the the best way to describe some of those responsibilities is that the student board members can be present for all the public sessions of the board of education. Um so they are
014invited to attend the public meetings participate in other responsibilities at the direction of the superintendent or the board of education. Um but student uh student participants may not participate in any um executive sessions, personnel matters or anything else that would not be public uh in nature for that. So before we even get to July 1st, there's a couple of items that um boards have to take into consideration and districts have to take take into consideration. Um so a couple of things that also need to be vetted out is the fact that um a student member of the board should be governed by board of educ education policy. So um certainly they would need to be policy um language that's discussed um brought about to some readings for public discussion and then acted upon. A some
015other items that um the boards may want to consider while writing that policy is um the number of participants or student board members that uh would like to be on the board. Uh if there are any conditions for student alternate members just in case of an absence. Uh there also are a couple of options for um just participation in there as well that we'll we'll we will speak about. But just know although this um session is really meant to just explain uh the regulations and the guidance that are on there for the next level of work to to start up or continue on. Um so most importantly why is it important to have our students um participate at the board of education level? Well number one it's really important as you will uh hear from
016our students. Student voice um is everything and our students are the ones that we are here to serve. They're the reason that we are all here tonight. And when we are working at the policy level or at the district level, it's important for students to have that voice and take ownership of their education and participate in the board decisions. Um secondly, it it allows the board of education um to have student voice or really to solicit feedback from the student body as well. And so now the board of education will have uh an opportunity to have not only just work through the administrators but work directly with our our student body and members of our student body to solicit information needed to help drive policy and and decision making. Uh it also gives an opportunity
017for students to involve in a civic duty uh uh in regards to governance and school leadership. So again, it's a phenomenal opportunity for students that participate in this level just to gain that type of insight uh of the decision-making process and at the policy level as well. And of course, we here in Southampton are very much always um striving to have an inclusive environment that uh really students feel welcome. They feel uh valued and they're part of the organization just not as receivers of information and everything else, but really part of of that community and of our community. So, there's a lot of reasons why we should um have a student board member. So I discussed a little bit about the student uh responsibilities but just wanted to clarify a little bit more about that.
018Again students are available to be at the in the public session here. So again some of the responsibilities that we would ask of our students is one they provide the student perspective to the board of education on various issues. So you can hear directly from our students. Um the other piece is that students also um and I have the awesome responsibility of working with our students and hearing the good and the bad. Um not only what we're doing really really well, but also some areas from the student perspective that we need to improve upon. So having a student board member also allows the board to um hear that perspective as well because nothing is as factual and as honest as it is when you hear from our students. Um so it's really really important that
019student voice is heard. Um the other piece is that they represent the student body on the board. So again, our student body has um someone that from from their perspective they can lean on to help the information flow up to the board level and back. Um students would be responsible for not only bringing information to the board but then when we are leaving the board meetings also relaying that information back to students. So, it's uh it's definitely a great way to have the information flow um you know be more effective and again just have our students part of that process. And lastly, of course, is when the board needs to solicit information um from a student perspective, you have that mechanism here and you can work directly with our students on that as well. So
020um you heard some of the board student board member um responsibilities and reasons why student voice is important but I think it's important that you hear directly from our students as well. So at this time what I'm going to do is I'm going to invite some of uh our two students up here to speak from their perspective why student voice is so important. So what we'll do is uh I guess we'll go alpha here and NA I'm going to have you come up first and just share a little bit about um the importance of student voice. Hi good evening everybody. My name is Na Bal. I'm a sophomore at Southampton High School. Um I play go hockey in lacrosse varsity for both and I am also a part of black girl magic and superintendent cabinet.
021Um what we do in superintendent cabinet is we attend a lot of leadership trainings and we learn how to be role models for our school and be better um and to learn how to um make our school better. Um, so I'm here to talk about the importance of using students opinions to better the district of Southampton. So some reasons why I think that we should have a student on the school board is because there wouldn't be Southampton High School without students. So, we do need their opinions. And a lot of students in our schools are very scared to tell their opinions to adults because they feel like their opinions aren't valid. And I feel it's more sure this works. There you go. I feel like it's more effective if kids talk to kids about their
022opinions and what they think about school so they can like Dr. Zan said, bring it up to the higherups so we can um address the situation. Um I saw a quote today and it said, "It only takes one voice at the right pitch to start an avalanche." And that really um inspired me because if we all if kids use their voices to make Southampton High School better, then we can all come together as a very supportive, inclusive, and positive community. And a lot of the students in our school will be very much happier to go to school and be motivated to go to school every day. Thank you. So now we're going to turn it over to Noah who um certainly again will share his perspective of student voice and some of the work that
023he's done with that. So go ahead Noah. [Music] Hello everybody. Um, my name is Noah Kent and I know this is probably just a regular Tuesday for you guys, board meeting and everything, but I would like to make an everlasting impression about what I think is right for the school. Um, so I have some notes here about the board meeting on Tuesday. I'm going give a background about myself. I used to play baseball, but I play basketball and golf now. I work for the Son Village Parks and Recck Department. And um, I just attended a Southern County legislator field trip and it was in the I was on Instagram. I loved it. Um, I I'm really inspired by all the people that want to make change and I really like it and sometimes they get
024emotional about it. So, if you hear my voice cracking, that's why. Um, so having a student representative or two on the board of education would entice our student body to participate and attend board meetings because their peers have a voice. This would create a great school community. So today I gave you guys a piece of paper and it's uh I conducted a student survey and usually the response for a for a survey is 20% I heard from Dr. Z my dad and just in one day our school has answered uh 33% of it. So we've had 216 responses out of I think 580 600 kids and that's incredible. Uh I was running around like a chicken all day today trying to find kids and uh I was really just encouraging them helping them out. Um
025so so I found my voice during an assembly. Um we had an assembly during Black History Month where Jordan Pierre came to speak about your voice and him coming here inspired me to voice my opinions and thoughts on what can be done for the school community. So after that I put together a meeting with Dr. Z and Dr. morale about accessing accessing the available outdoor spaces using the courtyard for lunch and study halls also using the peace garden as a place where instructional time can be taught so teachers can apply for using that space and I feel like it would just change kids perspective on school. Um there's a peace card where we can walk during passing periods outside locating the high school in the social studies wing during the warm months of the year.
026We can walk through there. Um and it would just give a different like um atmosphere or like a way to get through the school. Um yeah, so that's cool. Uh I've spoken with 20 plus teachers in my free time and other staff and they're all on board with what I'm trying to accomplish. Um, as Nevada said, superintendent academy meetings are very beneficial. For example, one of my peers, I'm actually gonna name him because he's a varsity basketball player. His name is Josiah. He suggested that we go to a men's basketball game and that seemed like a stretch, but sure enough, a couple of weeks later, Dr. Merrell and Dr. Zan collaborated with the uh child care center, invited another school. So, that's incredible. I mean, these guys are bent over backwards for us and it
027was just amazing. Um this made me feel that that our mentor is doing the right thing and is taking our voice seriously. We meet once a month and discuss events and educational opportunities. We have had assemblies and workshop focusing on life skills and adding social emotional learning days which we're having another one sometime in May and that's great. Um this allows us to communicate with kids we have never talked to before and we work on conversation skills. Um, so opening up to new students is a great way to seek uh seek new friendships. Um, I've never seen uh this shows how important I never seen the school take us so seriously and this is pure leadership. This shows how important the students voices and great cooperation and understanding from our leaders. Superintendent cabin meetings are
028highlighting some of the many student uh leaders in our school. These students have become role models and inspire other students to do the same which has started a chain reaction. Dr. Mer and our principles have given these students confidence and a voice by bringing people in to help uh inspire inspire our students which is great. We spend seven hours a day in school and I think that's amazing because we can take we can take something out of it and instead of just focusing on academics we can also focus on becoming a great person succeeding in life. So, I'm a prime example of that because I never thought I would be up here in front of the board publicly speaking, but um you know, I just I I feel strongly about what I feel strongly about
029like being able to take kids outside and um showing them I I work for work I do workbased learning with Mr. Little and if he hadn't come in my high school career, I probably would have dropped out. Uh so, he saved me. Um I work for the garden and uh I'm also uh um incorporating workbased learning for the uh courtyard which Dr. Z has worked very hard with me and has made it possible. Um so I made a morning announcement. I'm only like one more minute and I'll be done. I made a morning announcement this morning about the student survey and I help kids fill out and encourage them all day. Um, starting school as you see on one of the uh as you see on the survey is um as so pull this up
030real quick. So the first question I have is because it's the most important question. Um I hate waking up I I dislike waking up at 6 a.m. in the morning. Uh it's it's really brutal. Um, my dad is just like brutal at that time. He doesn't want to talk to me. He doesn't take a shower. His hair looks like he just got out of a crying oven. Um, so today I asked him, I was like, "Are you okay, D?" And he was like, "You know, it's really just too early." And, um, I give the teachers credit every day. They come in to school, they're up at 4:30. It's amazing. Um, so if the school will change the start time, would you prefer 7:25 a.m. stays the same, 7:45 a.m. or 8 a.m.? Um, so I
031would actually like 7:45 a.m. because that just makes it seems more human. Uh, 51.9% picked 8 am, which is not a surprise. Um, 25% picked 7:45, which I like, and 23.1% 7 said 7:25. Um I do know it had a lot of controversy and that the school um has to get done at a certain time for after school sports but um I'm want to relay something from um the meeting that I spoke to them about with Dr. Z and Dr. Merrell about how early is uh how early is too early for school and that students are on one schedule and what schedule will your school be on? Um if the school were to make outside lunch spaces available, would you take the opportunity to go outside? Um 76% basically said yes. So that's that's great.
032Um so offering that would be great for students. It would just have them it would just make them rejuvenate throughout the day. Uh no said no said um what's this? So that one is 5%. All right. So, uh, 5% of the kids said no and 17.1% said maybe. So, that's, uh, 95% of the kids want to go outside. So, I think we got to listen to the students right there. So, we're also opening the beast garden, um, which is located Mr. Z's room in the high school. Uh, it's like little like they have trees and have mulch and stuff like that. And, uh, the school picks an okay job taking care of it. And I talked to Dr. Z about power washing it on a Saturday because I'm very passionate about it. I go above
033and beyond. Um, and this just started this year in ninth and 10th. In ninth and 10th grade, I felt alone and lost. And 11th grade, I I look for better opportunities for myself and I just took it upon myself to to speak because I speak with my family every night and I know how important my voice is and they inspire me to come up here um and speak to you guys. And then it says, would you like to see an option to spend study hall periods outside when the weather allows? So, I know this is um also a big big topic about uh study hall periods are a waste, you know. Um I don't really learn that much during study hall, but I try to do my work when I can. Uh and I also
034take on different projects um such as building flower boxes, building my dad a lawnmower shed in Mr. Diaz's class and building my aunt um a chicken coop. So basically what I want you guys to take away from this meeting is how important school uh student voice is because I guarantee in the past five years I don't know how many kids really came up here and spoke. So when I go back to my school tomorrow I'm going to make sure four 400 more kids are going to fill out the survey. I'm not going to stop until 600 kids fill out the survey. Um, that's my that's my type of like commitment to you guys. Um, I I take it seriously and I just hope everything works out and I hope that I can make change and
035improve Southern County. So, thank you. [Applause] So, I think you can see why we chose u Noah and Novea here to to join us and to join me at the portion. It's just um it's been an absolute pleasure working with them every single day and just seeing the growth uh from both of these two amazing students is just incredible. So, it's important as as you heard that, you know, for us as school leaders and board of education members, it's important that we hear from students because I am not kidding when I tell you, they're going to tell you straight up um the good and the bad. How strong I feel. So, this opportunity that New York State has given us is just amazing. us and and it's important for us as school leaders and board
036members um to be willing to sit down with our students and partner and sometimes you hear things that you know makes you a little uncomfortable but if we're committed to improvement it's absolutely necessary. So congratulations to uh amazing these two amazing students that their voice and I could not be proud of them. Thank you so much. I am so proud of you. So, please feel free to stay up here. We're not we're not although there portion is done. We'll remain up here just for any Q&A after as well. So, really quick um in terms of qualifications and selection process, there are um qualifications that are very clear based on the guidance. Um one student has to be enrolled in the actual school in the high school. For us, we have one high school in the
037district, so we don't have to worry about the other regs. So as long as the student is enrolled and enrolled in the district for at least one year prior to the selection, not the start but prior to the selection process, those students are eligible. Now um in terms of recommendation for the selection process, again this would be something that's governed by um policy, but certainly we recommend that um we would encourage our students to complete an interest form. That interest form would come to us. We would like to hold um actual student interviews for this process to hear about the amazing um ideas and just ways that students would connect and engage in the in the governing process with our board of education. Um after that interview process, we would then go ahead and make
038a recommendation um for to the board of education. Um, and lastly, just some additional considerations is that again, we spoke about the the the guidance stated that it's at least one student. So, we do not just have to have one student in this role, but you have to have at least. So, we ask ourselves, is it important with the busy student schedules and sometimes emergencies come up, should we have more than one student? Should we have an alternate um board member position for just in case someone's absent? Um, I would certainly recommend uh just as we do in the high school, community service is very important and it's something that's very important for our students when they're earning trying to earn their legacy diplomas as well. So, I would encourage that we tie into commu
039community service hours into our plan. Um, and again, we have to establish communication protocols uh with the board and the students and and what that would look like and again should there be more uh members. So, with that said, um certainly we will turn it back to Dr. Morurell and the board and and we're here to take any questions as needed. Well, before I open it up to the rest of the board, I just want to say that um I love the passion that the two of you have for this. I think it is amazing opportunity that the state is giving to have the student voice on the board. I'm sorry I won't be here next year to uh work with either of you or whoever, but um I think that you're doing an amazing
040job already. Um I always think that you can have all the money in the world and throw your money at problems, but your time is the most valuable asset ever and you're already showing that you're giving your time freely to office. And I'm very proud of you. No, I've known you for a long time and I'm not surprised you're up there. Um, so um I wish you all much success with everything. I want to give everybody else a chance to um speak, but thank you for giving up your time this afternoon coming to the meeting. I sure um so thank you so much for presenting and um it was super exciting and I think it's just like so long overdue. It's about time that student voice is here at the table where decisions are made
041that affect students lives. And this past summer, um, Mrs. Proctor and I went to a leadership conference where two school districts presented about their school board members. They were one district connected. I could never say that. The connectity connectedity has been doing it for many years and they have more than one board member and a whole bunch of processes in place that I think will help us like a handbook and uh guidelines for being inclusive and listening. And um there was another district who was in their first year, but that was by far the most exciting schoolboard training I ever had and it was clearly transformative for those boards and for those students. But I want to know what you think about there being more than one. Each of those schools had more than one
042student and they kind of rotated through. So a student would serve two years. That wouldn't this wouldn't be possible in the first year. They would each be starting, you know, but that you'd serve from one year to the next and always be mentoring a new student and they alternated as they could. Sometimes both coming to meetings, but I'm just curious what you think because we're ina. Okay. So, um I believe that um when making decisions, it is important to have more than one opinion so we can kind of have different perspectives on the situation and come together as a whole. I feel like sometimes just having one student per year, it would be effective, but you know, it would just be one person say and sometimes stuff can be miscommunicated. Sometimes stuff can be misinterpreted
043and said and then the students will be unhappy if you know they're not heard. So I feel like it is best to have more than one student on this on the school board. Thank you. I think it would be crucial to have two students on the um on the board as a representative because those two students can go to the school next day and they can be like oh yeah we met with each other last night and now they can talk to each other for 30 minutes or whatever at the end of the day and be like oh this is what we're going to share with students this week you know instead of having one person then they feel like you're not having anybody bottomless. So, I think it would be very beneficial to have
044two people and if someone's sick or someone has a has a sport they have to play and they just can't make it all the time, that's I think that's probably two people, you know, two in some cases. Yeah. These other schools also had um kind of like a council student board members had a council, but we might have existing structures that'll work that way. And I see you're already effective at getting student input. So that was important to have a mechanism for the students to get input. But I think you're well ahead of us for that. But thank you. Just want to bring you back up. Um Trusty Conqu we both attended um the school board convention and it was absolutely it was the best part and hearing from you guys your passion, your compassion
045and your drive. It's making my voice crackle right now. Okay. It was This was the best the best day of the board. Thank you. Oh, I just I just want to say great job and and Noah, you forgot one important thing off your resume. You're the go-to umpire for the league. You got to really put that up. You're the number one guy there resume. But great job you guys. That was unbelievable. Thank you. Thank you. And I just wanted to echo the sentiment. Thank you for taking your time to come here and show your enthusiasm and your support for having a student voice on the board. I know this board has been talking about it for many years and it's taken the state to mandate it for us to actually, you know, look seriously at
046have it come to fruition. So, thank you so much for your time and so proud of you guys. Well, I guess it's time for you to go home and do homework. Thank you again. And if elected, they'd be here for the whole time. Thank you again. We're just talking about how Mr. Mingo gets to follow up that way. He's kind of missing the budget presentation loaded. I see the parents. I want to thank um Na's parents and Noah's parents for doing such an amazing job with these young leaders. Thank you so much. You should be thanked also because you got that superintendent group started and I noticed a big difference. I live with him noticed a big difference from last year when he said I hate school to this year where he's excited he's turned
047on has voice and I hope to see that happen with all the kids you know. Thank you. You should take credit for that. Thank you. huge team but thank you team thank you huge team Dr. and the team and all the other principles. Um so we want to um move on to the budget um adoption report. I would like to open by just expressing a few of our district pride points. Well, first and foremost, we see the fruit of our labor. You just saw you see the fruit of our labor in the Vea and um Noah. Um, and there are many, many, many, many Navea and Noah's out there. I mean, they there's some great leadership amongst our students, some compassion, um, and some heart. And our teachers are just doing an amazing job, um,
048at cultivating the minds and hearts of our students. I'm very proud of that. But I'm additionally proud of the fact that we have offer 14 AP courses at Southampton High School with a 13% increase in student enrollment. Several students have also challenged independent AP exams for courses not offered. Southampton, we have been recognized as one of the best communities for music education and for the years of 2020, 21, 22, and 23. We are waiting announcements for 24. Um the district participated in regional and New York State honors music festivals inclusive inclusive of NYSSMA, HMBA, Scamia, All State and NYSS EDA music associations. We have 46 regions diploma meaning all the kids took all five regions. We have regions with advanced designation, meaning students are taking our higher level rigorous regions courses, but taking additional courses
049to what they would have to take to graduate. And then we also have 7% of our students with regions with advanced designation with honors, meaning they are not only taking more regences, but they're getting at least the 90 on those and taking additionally a foreign language or another science. So um our kids are are are our pride and they are doing extremely well. Um we have work but we have some pride points. Um 40 students in the class of 2024 graduated with a skill of biiteracy demonstrating by the New York State Education Department but um liter being biiterate in both reading and writing in two languages. Um there were seals for Spanish, French, um and um Dutch and American Sign Language. And I know that so many districts wish they had that ASL. Um I've
050heard it from my uh co superintendent colleagues. Um we have 10% dual enrollment in college courses offered at Southampton. And I don't know um if anyone was there when we o opened the clinical medical assisting program doc Dr. Martha Tutill Dr. Zan and uh in partnership with Stonybrook another another partnership that is a pride point of our district that's elevating and opening and exposing our students to various roles and work related uh responsibilities. Um and it's their education. They're there all day. We have 17 community service clubs for students. Community service is huge here in the Southampton schools. We're very proud of that. And um we have so many clubs that do that. The Lions, the Rotary, and um and many others. Expansion of the school to work program including the workbased learning program. Um
051I had an amazing conversation with Mr. Little today about all the internship opportunities and work-based programming he's doing. and I actually had an opportunity to go to one of the construction sites. We are doing amazing things with our young people and exposing them to the building trades and all the various trades that they can be involved in here in Southampton or where we were in um East Hampton upon graduation. Um, Eastern Solo Boseies, uh, we have an in district model and I talked about that. Um, and we want to continue to expand the clinical medical assisting program and partnership with Stony Brook Southampton. They have been our partners in many regards and we are looking for more partnership around social emotional learning with Stonybrook in the upcoming year. Um it was great but great pride
052and honor to attend um our first robotics team um that competed in the regional tournament at Hostra University uh in March. And it was our kids were on fire. They were amazing. They were engaged. They were just second to none. And and these opportunities under Dr. Melissa Mitchell and Mr. Ruiz and Mr. um uh flu, Mr. Flu, it's just amazing what what's going on in terms of coding in terms of analytical thinking and critical analysis. Um and of course our AAA financial credit rating from MUI continues to be triple A under the dynamic leadership of our business official assistant superintendent Jean Mingo. And as we look at our pride points and we continue to talk about how our students are thriving and how they are elevating, we see that um last year 23 24 um
05350 of our students of Latino descent were enrolled in AP courses. However, this year 62 of them are enrolled. only uh and and seven of our um Shenikov children were enrolled in AP courses and this year nine are enrolled. Um we see that um our multi- our multi- um racial children also um were ticked up by uh one student. Um so our enrollment in 2324 for AP advanced courses which is our which are which are an indicator of college success we had 163 students and now we have 185 and we're growing and those are some of the things that we're working collaboratively with to ensure that we move our students forward. So, those are just some of the five points and those are some of the ways that we are using our district dollars to
054move our children into uh college careers, high leverage spaces and other extraordinary learning opportunities that they otherwise would not have. And we are considering a reduction in positions because we are while we want to ensure the best for our children, we are also fiscally responsible. And so we um we have a few retirements and we plan and Mr. Mr. Mingo will go into this a little bit further, but we plan to not uh we are considering not rehiring those positions to um ensure that we meet that meet the budget and that we save dollars and we save the taxpayer dollars. Um and so with that, I would now like to turn it over to Mr. Mingo for his report. Thank you, Dr. Thank you, [Music] Dr. I'll start by um making a promise. I won't
055be anywhere near as dynamic and exciting as Noah in the I apologize in the in advance, but I'll I'll try. Um, so before I start, in all seriousness, I want to first um say thank you to Dr. Morell for her support throughout the budget process. I know without her collaboration, without her support, you know, we wouldn't have this budget to present to you tonight for adoption. I also want to say thank you to all the collaborators on the budget process and that includes Dr. Zan, Mr. Benson, Dr. Fernandez, uh Dr. Bach sitting next to me and all the directors. um you know, we've had multiple meetings where we had very um you know, dynamic conversations about the budget, but what we're presenting to you tonight is an effort that included everybody input from for from
056everybody um at every level of the organization, but also that is student centric. Uh we want to make sure that you know we retain all the essential programs for the schools, all the clubs and extracurricular activities, you know, all the classes, all the offers so that our students can graduate with you know diplomas, high regions diplomas and etc etc. So we can continue to elevate um you know ouru student success and for that you need the resources that is provided in the budget. Um, so you've seen those slides before. It's basically are the first one is the revenue sources that the b the budget is built on. So you have the New York state aid at uh over $3 million. We have what we expect from the Tahoe tuition 5,350,000 uh native by American um
057tuition projected at 5,500,000. um the appropriation from the reserves um 890,000 and other categories of um budget revenue which I'll go more in detail in the next slide. Um you also had the tax levy which is being set at 64,8396 for a total u projected revenue of 82,236,46 as I mentioned in the previous slide. Um the other category and thank you to uh Mr. Smith for requesting a breakdown. Um the majority of of it is made up of the interest income as you're aware. Um the interest rates are pretty high right now and we do our job in of negotiating with the um with the banks to make sure that we get the highest um interest rate possible. We also have tuition from other districts. We um take on a few special ed students from
058other districts uh in the area. So that's the tuition that's the projected tuition um for next year. Health services from other districts. So O is the private school that is located in the boundaries of the Southampton school district. So we build the other district that sends students to OH for health services. So we we provide nursing, we provide a number of services that under the state uh regulations, you are able to build them for those um services. Uh transportation, we service uh I believe we service um Sack Harbor, we service their buses, we also provide some transportation for Taco. So uh we're expecting to generate about $130,000 in revenues for those services. Building use is um you know the fee that we charge for the use of our facilities um approximately 65,000 the sale of
059equipment. So we usually um auction off old equipment. I know Mr. Dilva have a couple of vans that we're going to put up for auction. Uh some of our old school buses we put up for auction and various other um equipment. Um insurance recoveries. Again we we get money for um based on um you know our insurance policy. So in some cases if there is damage or equipment loss we get recoveries for for those as well. And we usually get uh some refund from Boseis for prior year services. And um there's a category that we label as unclassified income which is various incomes that we get from a number of sources. And is another category of um um income that we receive um based on per sale submitted for some of the equipment that we
060purchase are subjected to a refund from the government. Here is a five-year look back of the budget. That includes the overall budget which at this year is 82 million plus uh which is about 2.3 million increase from last year's um or 2.88%. the tax levy 64,8396 which is an increase of 1.9 million from the prior year or 3.02%. Again you have the previous budget from the past five years to give you a sense of how the budget been growing over the years. The next slide uh is what we call in my world the threepart budget analysis. It's a breakdown and it gives you you know the the operating budget which is the budget minus the capital borrowing. Those are the outstanding bonds that the district has currently. Uh we have two bonds outstanding uh with
061payment of $1.8 8 million for one, 1.75 million for the other one. We also have the um two energy performance contracts that we make payment on um at 218,249,000. The um assessed valuation for the district um as of September it stands at um 30 billion just over $30 billion. So basically it's the assessment of all the taxable properties in the district and the tax levy portion of the budget as I uh previously mentioned is um 64 million8396 which is 1.9 million over last year's tax. The next slide gives you a breakdown of the estimated tax rate for uh the upcoming year versus the current year. So the current tax rate is 2.0977 um dollars and the upcoming tax rate if it remains that way will be 2.161 uh which is again 3.02% year-over-year increase. Um,
062and that rate is per thousand. So it it gives you a breakdown of the home assessed value. So for instance, if your home is assessed at $2 million, your estimated taxes for the school portion of the taxes for next year would be $4,323 or an increase of $126.6 from last year or from this year, this current year. And this next slide is pretty much the same thing. Um, it gives you the tax rate of this year versus the upcoming year. Uh, it also gives you an estimation of what your school tax would be uh if you your your home was assessed at $2 million. Next is a breakdown of the um different components of the budget. You have the administrative component um the capital um and the programs. The program is the majority of the
063budget. That's what covers all your teachers, all the classroom supplies and equipment. Um everything else u the capital obviously is the budget primarily that um that Mr. D the Silver operates under and the administrative budget take care of all the administrative cost. Again this is a more detailed breakdown of the revenue slide that I previously presented. Um this one actually breaks down the uh appropriated values for the reserves from the reserves. Um we are appropriating from the compensated absence reserve, the ERS reserve, the CRS reserve, um the unemployment reserve, the self insurance, and the workers compensation reserve. Um I'm primarily I'm making use of those reserves because if you recall we did have an audit by the state controllers's office that actually um kind of guided us on making sure that we make use of
064those reserves. Yes, we have them in place and um they are set up for a purpose. So every year you'll see the proportion certain amount toward the budget to make use of those those reserves. Again this is a graphical representation of the different revenue sources. As you can see the vast majority of the revenue for the district come from tax levy uh 75% of it. Um the New York state aid makes up about 4% of the budget. the Taco tuition around 6%, Native Americans um tuition 7% and you have the other category at around 3%. We are going out with propositions um to use several of the reserves. Uh the first one has to do with the uh bus reserve. Um we are projecting to use about $350,000 to replace uh one of the large
065buses and two smaller buses uh from the Capitol reserve. Um we can have another conversation. I don't know if Dr. Morel wanted to speak about their coach bus or this is a topic you wanted. Yes, we want we can speak I can speak about it now and I would like for the board to consider um the sports bus. We've been investigating with other communities that have sports buses and we think we have plans on how to make it clear and equitable. Um and since these funds can only be earmarked for transportation, we would like for that consideration. And just to clarify, the cost is not significantly more than the regular big buses. And the other piece to consider is it's not a coach bus in the sense of, you know, the Hampton Jney coach buses.
066those type of coach buses for the schools is basically a school bus um equipped with a bathroom and um a section to carry luggage. It's basically a school bus. It's the same size. It was designed by actually the the Jericho school district in collaboration with the bus company because they needed something to go um transport students long distance so that they wouldn't have to make stops go back. Essentially the um 66 um passenger large bus would cost the district anywhere from 165,000 to 175 versus this coach bus which would cost we have two quotes one at 190,000 and one at 28,000. So, this um proposition allows for the possibility of buying the coach bus. Yes. I just saw it wasn't like specifically written there. And I just wanted to say after thinking about actually I
067I did um remove the the so I forgot to put it back and the amount should be 500,000. Okay. So that is I just I don't know if we're gonna discuss this now, but um I just also want to make Mr. Mango aware that he did not tell me he was going to be putting it back in. And so the legal notice also has to be updated and that has already been released in the paper. So just notice that I can I can do that with amendment by the board. But that is a consent agenda item on the agenda today that the agenda item needs to be amended if you are going to put that back in. That was not communicated to me. Okay. Uh I would like to apologize for that, but I knew
068we weren't going to have to discussion and if it was the wish of the board. So I would like to open it up for discussion. I know that I expressed my opinion at the last meeting. So, I just want everybody else to weigh in on it as well. I wanted to say something. I was thinking about it in the last week and um I do know other districts do it um equitably and um I was thinking a lot about our students who travel far and I think everyone knows that those sports schedules include places like West Babylon, Babylon, Elwood, John Glenn, sometimes Brentwood and that's an hour ride each way. And um I talk more in a bus. And for our for our students safety and wellbeing, I'd like us to consider the coach bus
069because they could rest on the way home, potentially do homework. That's the perspective that I was. And there's a bathroom, which is important. Is is that true? they can rest easier on the coach bus and do homework versus because I thought you said it's basically a regular school bus with a bathroom in the back and luggage under. Yeah, the I believe the seats are a little bit more comfortable than the regular bus. It um we were supposed to um they were supposed to come by with the bus so we can um take a look at it, but we didn't get a chance to um set it up. But we certainly can't have them bring it back. So we can't pick up people. And one bus is quoted at you said. So it's about 30,000 more.
070It's about And the other quote was an additional 23,000 on top of that. So like 53,000 more. Correct. So it's Yeah, we had two quotes so far. Anybody else? Yeah, I think that if if it's money that is set aside for transportation purposes and we have it in the budget, I think it's definitely worth discuss discussing. And um yeah, especially with the traffic on Long Island these days, it could be beneficial to our students if it's not, you know, we're not looking at an additional $150,000 for a bus or $100,000. I think it's definitely worth discussing if the money is there in the budget for transportation. And I think that there are ways to be equitable with the usage as far as sports teams and sports whether that's alternating um you know during the season
071during the season when there are multiple sports you know happening in and long trips or just looking at the schedules and I think we have enough uh intelligent people in the room to come up with uh decisions and you know athletic director on how the bus can be used equitably. Just to echo what everybody else is saying, like I think I think it's um it's a back on the bus for these kids along rides. I think it's a fabulous idea. Um but I I guess I would like to know a little bit more about the bus. It seems like we're not 100% clear as to whether or not it is an upgrade like as far as comfort and that allows kids to actually relax and do homework and stuff like that. I don't know if
072that'll apply to all kids because some kids get motion sickness, but I would just like to have a little bit more information about the coach bus and then a broader discussion about how it gets used because I know that we have so many teams that have distant games at the same time and everybody's going to be fighting for this bus. So, if we could just have some clarity on, you know, the utilization of the bus and how it would be allocated um different teams, you know, I think that's a that's clarity on that would be helpful for me. Can I ask one more thing? The um accessing funds from the capital reserve, can that only happen once a year? Yes, because it has to be voted. Okay. But you can also well you could also
073put it on the ballot and not use the funds because it would just go back into the capital. I just wanted to touch on the electric bus situ. You know, it's have they moved those dates? Are we I know we don't the infrastructure for it and stuff, but as you know, we look at purchasing some of these. You know, I don't want to start purchasing new buses that will all of a sudden have to be obsolete and taken out of service. And how long do the buses usually last that we take that we get? They're what, 10 years? Yeah, they they have a 10 year warranty on most other parts. Yeah. But in as far as the electric buses, um the schedule from the state is for districts to start electrified buses um in the
07420 2027 school year. And all buses should be electrified by 2035, which I believe is totally unrealistic based on infrastructure and the availability of those type of Yeah. And that's my my fear is not just the 2027 start date, but is they don't move that 2035 and then all of a sudden we have to purchase, you know, we're replacing five a year, six a year, trying to catch up, but then all of a sudden that last year we're have to purchase 20. I hopefully they're moving the dates on all that and I I think they will because there's just no infrastructure for it. Well, that should be something they're looking at. Yes, actually we're planning on engaging with a company that will be consulting with us on that. They were supposed to actually be here
075tonight to present to you, but because I know there wasn't fully um there wasn't going to be a lot of time. So, I'm proposing that they present at at the main meeting instead. So, they will be here to give more more information to board about the whole process with the the transition. Yes. About the transition. That's about a 10year transition. Yes. But there's a lot of push uh from all the school districts for the government to push the timeline because again the buses are not available. The cost is prohibitive because those buses cost anywhere from 400 to $500,000. So if the state is not going to subsidize them, it's not realistic. Um we also I spoke about it at the last board meeting that we had to reestablish the bus fleet reserve because um it
076really expired back in 2009. No, not 2009, 2019. Um so we can spend out the funds that is in the current reserve but we going to have to re reestablish the reserve to put new funds into um we also have going to have a proposition for the capital reserve for Mr. the service department uh for several um projects um including the parking lot resurfacing and cracks repair. Um, we also going to do um a renovation of the bathroom at the elementary school, renovation of the kitchen at the elementary school, the refurbishment of the Southampton Intermediate gym floor, um the purchasing of a roll on freezer and single door rolling refrigerator. Um the installation of digital scoreboard at the South African gymnasium. um district office elevator, first floor air conditioning installation at the Sacramento High School,
077which I believe is the last piece of the air conditioning for the district and um district office sign and the elementary school kindergarten bathroom floor structure over here. Oh, also the soft fence netting protection system. Uh the next item, the next proposition will be um to spend the balance of the property reserve, capital reserve for the um district property reserve. So there was about $860,000 left in that reserve. Mr. Dilva has planned to spend out those funds to finish out the work at new district office. And finally, we have the proposition for the capital reserve for the technology of purchase and replacement uh with Miss PCEL to purchase some smart panels and LCD monitors, workstations, servers and printers, iPads and Chromebooks, and the sound system for the press box at the South. And now I
078will take any questions from the board. Thank you, Mr. ago for going through this once again. I know that you're probably very tired of going through it, but tonight's the last night. You'll have to do that until next year. I want to make sure that everybody's well, and I appreciate that. Um, we're all here, but the community doesn't always tune in every time we have a meeting. So, um, if somebody missed it and they got to see us tonight, that's all that matters, right? I understand. Um, so thank you. Does anybody have any questions for Micro? Okay, I don't have any questions, Miss Domingo. I just wanted to um note if we go back to slide three um when we were talking about the great things that we're doing here, I just noticed in the
079AP courses. Yes. Um I don't see any students of color in any AP courses or Native American as well. So I would love to see that improved. Says zero. Zero black students, right? Yeah. Is indigenous. No. Yeah. Yes ma'am. Okay. We will work on that for sure. Thank you. Thank you. One question about um about slide four on the position reductions that are under consideration. Yes. Is the reduction reflected in the budget or that's a possible like savings or is it the replacement in the budget? It's a possible saving. Great. Thank you for sharing that. Anybody else? I just have one question, but it's not in here because I know that we're talking about position reduction, but um I thought I saw somewhere in the budget stuff that we're looking to add some positions. So,
080it's not really kind of a wash maybe. Um, yes, that was in the previous budget. We spoke about possibly uh hiring an occupational therapist and physical therapist. I' I've had some conversation with Dr. Duo. Um, I don't think that's going to happen. At least not for the next year. Yes. The rationale is that we currently pay a daily rate that is really astronomical in my opinion for um our OT and PT. Those rates are extremely high. Yes. And they do a really wonderful job, but it would be wonderful to have our own staff that do that because then they could do other things. And when you look at the salary, it would almost be the same, if not even less, if we hired a full-time person. So that's where the thinking is on this. So
081it would be a wash in terms of dollars for dollars. You're still, but now we have a person who is Southampton. Yeah. No, I I I don't argue that. I just we had talked about it. Um I just didn't know if that why that wasn't like part of the you know the plan for the additional I just is that did we abandon them all or Well I again I did an assessment last year I believe we spent about 350,000 contracting out for OT services and about 80,000 for physical therapy services. So the the discussion did take place but um I don't think it ever materialized into a decision. Okay. But it's still the possibility because if we were to hire the position that mean we would have a reduction. It would be a wash because
082it would be a reduction in the having to contract out for those services. Okay. So you still have the ability to do that scenario within this budget. Yes. The possibilities you decide is the best. Correct. And and we may not be able to find the person at once, but maybe we just for next year just did one or two. We need to start building on that over time to cut costs and to get people who are committed to self camping from 8 to four like all the rest of us. Yeah. Not just two hours. Thank you again, Mr. Sure. Um we'll move on to public comments. Public comments will be heard on agenda items only at this time. The board of education encourages public participation in school related matters at board meetings. Any group or
083organization wishing to address the board must first identify a single spokesperson. The presentation should be as brief as possible. Speakers will be permitted to speak for up to three minutes. The board will not allow in public session discussions involving individual district personnel or students. All speakers are to conduct themselves civily. Obscene language, lialist statements, threats of violence, and statements advocating racial, religious, or other forms of prejudice will not be tolerated. Persons making presentations at the board meeting will address their remarks to the president. They may direct questions or comments to board members or other district officials only upon approval of the president. Good evening. Um, please give us your name. And I just wanted to reiterate that this is on agenda items only right now. I just wanted to make a comment. My name is
084uh Rod Pearson uh from Southampton taxpayer. My one comment is on this bus. Um I've been to three of these meetings now in a row. Everybody was caught by surprise on this bus on the last meeting. And to the taxpayer, I'm thinking, okay, maybe they discussed it, maybe they didn't, but it really appears like no one up here has discussed this bus, and now it come it was on the on your proposal, now it's off your proposal. It's a terrible look and it should be discussed then put on then goes to the taxpayer. It seems like you're shoving this right down the taxpayers's throat. And I don't like it as a taxpayer. Everybody should be discussing it. It should be discussed well before it's on any proposal to go out to the taxpayer. And I
085think that's your responsibility as a board to discuss these things. I'm not against it, but I'm definitely against how it's been pushed down the line with no one really knowing about this bus. And that's just one little thing. How many of the other little things or big things are not being discussed up here that should be discussed before the taxpayer and everybody has to hear about it on the street? So, I appreciate your time. Thank you. Any other comments on agenda items? We will move on then to our superintendence report this evening. Yes. Thank [Music] you. So I just have the involment report and were minus five students from our March report. Um those students are exiting eight students exited our district and three came on for a net loss of of five. And again
086um we know we have consistently seen that the housing is really driving a lot of this and the inability to um find housing to stay in housing. It's not for many of our families unfortunately not affordable. Um so that's where we are on that. Um, I know there is conversation about um the graduation, the summer uh the graduation being outside and I um would just like to have any conversation about that because we we are moving um forward with an outside graduation and Dr. on. If there are any questions, um, something we're not miss, not seen, or something you have questions about about the upcoming outside graduation, we would like to have that address, please. So, um I just um I mentioned it in agenda review to you and um the other people that were
087in agenda review um a few years ago and you wouldn't know, neither would our new board members. A few years ago, we had up till the last second deciding whether or not um graduation was going to be outside because of the weather and there was a lot of time and effort moving it into the gymnasium. At that time, the board that the sitting board at that time had decided that um we wouldn't have outdoor graduations any longer because of the um stress and the demand that was put on um the staff and you know, just the it's so much pressure. I mean, it's basically a wedding every year that we have at the high school. um and the additional costs of having it outside with having to rent different things. But again, no one would
088know if you weren't on the board then because we didn't memorialize it in any sort of way. Um I didn't expect to have graduation outside this year. Um it is um I know that the numbers are on somewhere. Um I think that it's highly underestimated. Um, I would never want to say no to a child that asks for it. So, you know, of course, we'll make it happen for you. Um, and then I also noticed in the budget that next year, I think budget for graduation next year is $60,000. Um, so that is a big number. Um, I also noticed that like piano tuning is falling into graduation somehow. But, um, it's just my thought again, you know, it's up to each class every year, I suppose, where they want to have it. And, um,
089just like having the prom, where are you going to have it this year? Um, but again, you weren't aware of that conversation. I remember the conversation, but um, that was my question about graduation. But I do think that what um we're predicting is a very low cost into comparison to what it will actually cost once over time and Mr. M you did provide those numbers today. Um but there always ends up being a lotment. Well, I I think some of that high cost that you may see with the 60,000 and correct me if I'm if I'm wrong, but some of the we're trying to um take care of some of the legacy costs associated with outside. So, right now, we don't own our own audio system. We own one, but it's not very good. you
090can't do outside graduations at a level that everyone can hear. Um, so I think some of that cost you're seeing is us trying to address not having to keep buying the same thing over and over again if we have our own. Um, am I making is this Yes. Part of their budget has to do with acquiring some of the equipment uh such as purchasing chairs. Uh looking at purchasing two um um containers to store some of the equipments that we purchased for graduation. So and staging and staging. Correct. And also um we in that year where it was so horrendous um and the last minute had to move it inside. Uh this year Dr. Zan, we have a contingency plan. Yeah. So why don't you talk about Yeah, sure. Um thank you Dr. Moral. So
091in regards to uh contingency plan this year. So, graduation is set for Friday, Janu uh Friday, June 27th at 6 PM. Um, in the past, we really were very limited with our contingency planning. Um, because of the equipment outside and working with the company, if there was any sort of u predicted rain or anything well in advance, we had to make a decision. Last time we had to make a decision, I believe it was over three days in advance before everyone started um working. this here in terms of of the contract that is up for vote tonight. Um this issue was addressed with the contractor. This contractor um provided a couple of different contingency plans and options for us. Uh ideally if we're going to be outside, we want to remain outside. Um so we
092did build in um that piece of a rain. The only tricky part of the rain really is something that's a one-year issue that uh ultimately is because of the Zan family. So, I do have a senior this year that is also graduating high school. That doesn't seem it's uh even to me it's uh please. So, I'll try and get through this without thinking of that. Um but in any case, with our Friday graduation, ideally you want to rain up the following day on Saturday. Um but in this case uh we would not be available because of my son's graduation is that day. So we did uh we do have a proposal for a Sunday rain date um on that on that proposal. This company that is here would require less lead time for that. We
093would actually be almost able to go up to the day the rehearsal day before we have to make that decision. So we can certainly um plan that. uh we don't have to really predict it as many days out as last time. The other piece um did say if discussion happens and that rain gate does not uh we are not satisfied with that of course this contractor can uh make anything happen within at least 24 hours. Uh meaning that if we do have to move inside if that's the the decision that is there. We can certainly do that. But we do have a proposal for remaining outside the additional um rain date and that provision in the contract was a $1,500 provision on top of that. So it's not a big number in terms of the
094the rest of the contract. I I don't know the will of the board for um next year, but I do have constonation around the size of the class on that stage for this year. As you all know, we are in a bubble class. We have about 180 80 students. 80 87 almost 190 students graduating this year and last year on the stage we had approximately 160 and it was tight. So now we're adding another 130. Um, I just would like us to consider that we also would have to have uh very limited tickets for this year if we go with the indoor piece because families 180 190 families if they all brought just two, you know, we're tripled in that number and we haven't even started to think about staff and stuff like that. So
095we will do what you want. But those are some of the things. And Dr. Morel, I just feel I need to add on the importance of we spoke a lot about student voice and certainly our seniors this year. We're this is a very important issue to our senior class this year and to our um parents. So, I've been engaged not only by our students on this topic, but have been working with um the SHS PTO, the parent groups, um and just even parents outside of that who um certainly I would say this year more than ever have been very vocal about their their wishes for the uh for the ceremony. Yeah, if I can. I was just going to say this is this has been an ongoing conversation with Dr. on who's been so helpful
096and supportive. This class my son is one of is a huge class and there's been a lot of restrictions over the years for these students because of that number and I think Dr. Zan's been involved in conversations with the parent group since the minute last year's graduation ended simply because there's no way families are going to see this graduation and no one wants to be in satellite rooms watching on a TV. We live in a beautiful environment and other neighboring schools make it happen and we're so grateful for Dr. Zan and Dr. Morel and everyone for considering moving graduations outside. And I love the idea of a contingency plan outside um using, you know, tents or whatever we can, but I just appreciate the effort and the whole senior class does as well. Thank you.
097And again, I I I want to say I don't ever want to disappoint a child. If they want graduation outside, that's fine. It's just something that we hadn't budgeted for this year. Um, it's in the budget for next year to, I guess, have outside. Is that what it said? Or just as for graduation? Yeah. I I believe what we discussed was really just as Dr. Morel said, how can we make this so it's not as every year we're renting material and because that drives the cost up. Absolutely. So that could be but it was just in the budget for this year. So this year we we had it as an indoor we I worked with Mr. Mno and had to find some solutions to that and certainly I think we're able to say that we
098found those solutions. I just have a question. Um it's not a question actually it is. Um can you just speak on uh how we had conversation about we're making investments and how we could also use that for advancements for the students like teaching learning and different stuff. Absolutely. Yes. Thank you so much um sponsor. So one of the pieces that also uh here is to know that we invested in our video scoreboard that's been outside. So along with that investment, we actually started a new class at the high school which is our broadcasting class. Um and that class has been very much to um committed to the marketing and what they can do to produce the imagery and marketing for athletic events and not just athletic events but anything that's taking place in our school.
099So um this class uh led by Mr. Z has been working really hard on on learning the new system um for the scoreboard the electronics um system as well. I would say at this point um we the kids are doing amazing work. You'll see that if you are attending our games or any other events that we're using at screen we're just we're just scratching the tip of the iceberg um for that system. There's so much that we can do. So along with this plan, if we were to pursue, we also want to tie that to our course curriculum to make sure that our students are very much at the center of this um in terms of working the broadcasting systems, working the video screens, coming up with the imagery and marketing of it, everything in
100terms of our video production. So it's very much a goal that would be tied into our our student work and our our curriculum, our courses. And I can tell you staff and students are very excited about that. That's fantastic. Thank you for bringing that up. I think that was all I had to say. Did you have anything else with your report? I'm sorry. My apologies. Um I'm I'm done. Okay. Um with my report. Thank you, Madam President. You're welcome. Um so Mr. Mingo, you're back up. Do you have anything you would like to add this evening? Um, well, you have several items on the agenda for approval today. Everything was vetted on at the committee meeting last week. So, if you have any questions on on any of the items, you know, I'll be happy
101to answer them. Okay. And Dr. Botcher, good evening. Um, I just had a couple of um updates or information to share. So, Miss Robinson, you mentioned the state assessments. They are coming up. We are swinging into state assessment um testing schedules right now. So, the date of uh April 9th and 10th is actually for the elementary school only ELA. the intermediate school will um they'll start their ELA assessments on April 29th and 30th. So there's um different dates for each school because we are doing CBT and we are staggering it because the state as you know is requiring requiring New York uh New York schools to do um computer-based testing. So we do have to stagger some of that. Um so that will start next week. Um in addition to that we are having I
102am having a parent meeting next Monday at 7 PM. parent squares went out so that parents can um join virtually to so I can answer any questions they have and I also have presentations prepared. There will be an interpreter. Um we also will have the presentation translated and put on the website so parents if they want to take a look um they can. Um and in addition to that we are starting our district and SIS school improvement committee meetings. Um that starts next Tuesday at 3:45 right here in the library. So, we're very excited. Also, that information went out as well. Um, we do have some a lot of parents uh quite a few staff members and parents interested in participating. Um, so we'll be sure to give you updates at the next meeting so
103that you'll hear exactly what's going on. Thank you very much. Does anybody have any questions for Dr. Botcher? Uh, we'll move on to our committees. Uh, the audit and finance committee met on March 28th as Mrs. Proctor and Mr. Mingo mentioned. Does anyone have a report they'd like to give on the audit? All right, we will move on to personnel committee met on March 25th and um most of happenings in personnel is not for public discussion. So, we'll move on to our merger committee report. Um, Mrs. Wfield, do you have anything? Yes, we met on March 27th. Our um bar committee and admins uh jointly with representatives from Taho's board and administration. It was a really good meeting. We're working on um developing a shared vision for the feasibility study and also uh putting together
104an RFP to um that we could potentially send out and hopefully have a firm that would like to help us with this study. So, just to answer something that was brought up in public comments a couple weeks ago, we haven't spent any money on this yet. for um you know working on the vision and um some of the protocols for what the study might be. Thank you. You're welcome. Um the policy committee met on March 20th. We have a policy on for first reading and expedited adoption. Um it is policy 6700 purchasing and policy 6700R. Um, does anybody have any questions that they would like to ask about the policy before we approve it? May I have a motion to review policy 6700 purchasing and policy 6700R purchasing regulation for first reading and adoption as
105presented? Second. Second. All in favor? I motion is carried. The policies we currently have under review are policy 9240 recruiting and hiring and its um accompanying regulation. Policy 2245 exeicio student member of the board. Policy 5695 students and personal electronic devices. and policy slated for committee review. Policy 4531, field trips and excursions with its corresponding regulation. Policy 4531E field trips district field trip approval form. Policy 4531E2 field trips exhibit parent approval form. Policy 4531E3, field trips exhibit checklist and response. Policy 5300, code of conduct. Policy 5420, Student Health Services. Policy 5420R, Student Health Services Regulation. Policy 6640, Inventories. Policy 8414.6, idling prohibition for buses and other school vehicles. Okay, there's a lot to read here. So, are there any consent agenda items from 1201 through 1218 that any member wishes to discuss or has questions
106about? I will hold out consent agenda items 12.01 through 12.03 for separate action with a roll call vote. Are there any consent agenda items from 12.04 04 and 12.18 that any member wishes to hold out for separate action. May I have a Oh, right. Sorry. May I have a motion to adopt the following resolution? Resolved that the board of education of the Southampton Union Pree School District adopts the annual budget of the south of the school district for the fiscal year 2025 to 2026 in the amount of 82,236,46 as presented. Second. Will the clerk please call the role? Cara Confield, yes. Robert Zachary Epley, yes. Monique Proctor, yes. Jaclyn Robinson, yes. S Sherwood Dudley, yes. Jeremy Smith, yes. And Ruth Bunn, yes. So, Carrie, congratulations, Mr. Mingo. First hurdle cleared. Congratulations to everybody. Um 12.02.
107May I have a motion to amend the notice of public hearing, budget vote, and election of the Southampton Union Preschool District, Suffach County, New York, for the 2025 budget vote and election to change proposition number six to read. Shall the board of education of the Southampton Union Free School District be authorized to appropriate and expend an amount not to exceed $500,000 for the replacement of one passenger bus with two 24 passenger buses and the purchase of an active activity coach like bus from the funds currently on hand in the Southampton bus fleet replacement capital reserve established by the voters on May 19th 2009. Motion second. Will the clerk please call the role? Carson, yes. Robert Zachley, yes. Monique Proctor, yes. Jaclyn Robinson, yes. Si Sherwood Dudley, yes. Jermaine El Smith, yes. And Rey Dunn, yes.
108So carried. May I have a motion to approve the amended notice of public hearing budget vote and election of the Southampton Union Free School District, Suffach County, New York, for the 2025 budget vote and election and to direct the district clerk to to submit the notice to be published according to education law section 20041 as presented. Second. Will the clerk please call the role? Carrie Ktonfield, yes. Robert Zach, yes. Monique Proctor, yes. Jaclyn Robinson, yes. Si Sherwood Dudley, yes. Jermaine Smith, yes. And Ruth White, yes. So carried. May I have a motion to adopt the following resolution? Resolve Board of Education of the Southampton Union Free School District hereby declines the invitation from the state education department to participate in the following field testings: 3 to8 English language arts and mathematics and high school regions
109exams during the spring semester for the 2024 to 2025 school year and authorizes the superintendent to take such steps as necessary in that regard. Motion second. Please call the role. Karen Confield, yes. Robert Zachary, yes. Cracker, yes. Jaclyn Robinson, yes. Son Sherwood Dudley, yes. Germaine El Smith, yes. And Ruth B. White, yes. So carried. May I have a motion to approve consent agenda items 12.01 01 through 12.18 as presented in the agenda should be 120 sorry yeah 12.0 Oh, sorry. 4 through 12.18 as presented in the agenda. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? The motion is carried. Are there any financial items from 1301 through 1317 that any member wishes to discuss or has questions about? Are there any financial items from 1301 through 1317 that any member wishes to hold out for separate action?
110May I have a motion to approve financial items 1301 through 1317 as presented in the agenda? Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Are there any personnel items from 1401 1 through 3 that any member wishes to discuss or has questions about? Are there any personnel items 1401 1 through 3 that any member wishes to hold out for separate action? May I have a motion to approve personnel items 14011 through three as presented in the agenda? motion. Second. All in favor? I Any opposed? So carried. Think I'm losing everybody up here. We need to get up the stretch. This is why kids need to go outdoors. surprise he wants to say. Are there any personnel items from 14024 through 24 that any member wishes to discuss or has questions about? Are there any personnel items
111from 14024 through 24 that any member wishes to hold out for separate action? May I have a motion to approve personnel items 14024 through 24 as presented in the agenda? Second. All in favor? Any opposed? So, okay. A much better reply. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the April 11th, 2025 regular meeting budget review session one and the March 25th, 2025 work session budget review session two meetings as presented. All in favor? Any opposed? Carry. We have now reached our second round of public comments for the evening. Before I read the whole paragraph, does anybody want to come up and say anything? Public comments will be heard at this time. The board of education encourages public participation in school related matters at board meetings. Any group or organization wishing to address
112the board must first identify a single spokesperson. The presentation should be as brief as possible and speakers will be permitted to speak for up to three minutes. The board will not allow in public session discussions involving individual district personnel or students. All speakers are to conduct themselves civily. Obscene language, lialist statements, threats of violence, and statements advocating racial, religious, or other forms of prejudice will not be tolerated. Persons making presentations at board meetings will address their remarks to the president. They may direct questions or comments to board members or other district officials only upon approval of the president. Can you turn your microphone on, please? Thank you. All right. Um, yes. Okay. Uh I just I want to thank Laura and he's not here but I will personally thank tomorrow about what the presentation that
113you made tonight was really um I don't talk what I've been talking about more recess more for the children. Okay. Um, seriously. Um, that was serious. That was cost. That was really serious. But more recess and more lunch time for the children. Uh, and more for social emotional learning. Um, I really would love for you to really look at the schedule so that we can better serve our children. Okay. Okay. Uh secondly, uh last board meeting which was last week, you talked about the elementary school sound system and you talked about the windows. Uh so are we taking care of those things uh as well? Um I didn't hear anything in the budget or anything concerning those things. Uh, so I would like to see something or hear something or know something or Well, I'll
114just tell those weren't just my thoughts that I was rattling off at the in the moment. Um, they would be something that would have to go on to preparations next year for the following year budget. Okay. So, uh, the needs come, you need a new uh, sound system in the elementary school. We need new windows. We need a new sound system in the gym in the live in the disc. We need um resurfacing of the tennis courts. We need there's some needs that need to be done and we need to address those needs as well as you know we spend money. Let's make sure we spend money for the needs of these. So we want our kids to be safe. We want to be healthy. We want to be safe and we want to make
115sure some of these needs are taken care of. Well, all the needs are taken care of and everything else comes later. Okay. So, I think that's about it. It's time to go home. I'm sorry. All right. I'll finish. Thank you, Jack. Any other public comments? Um, is there any new business or items not on the agenda that anyone likes to would like to speak about? Um, just to kind of expand on um Jackie's comment, um, I really miss having a facilities club, facilities committee, but also we haven't we weren't very good with the transitions this past year about doing a tour as a board. Um, we haven't had a tour of the facilities, the grounds, and I think that's something that I would like to get on the, you know, on the agenda more this
116coming year so that everybody sees just what we have and says good. I mean, Marcus is really on top of everything. Totally trust you. Um, but I think it's good for all the board members to see what the district's about. Yeah, we we can certainly arrange for a tour for the board and Mr. Dilva and I already had some conversations about next year reestablishing the facilities committee maybe not meeting as suggested once a month but quarterly would be a possibility. Sounds good to the list of the um the gymnasium air conditioning. Well, yeah. As far as the uh items mentioned by Miss Lamb, uh we also had some discussions and definitely would be a consideration for the next year's capital projects. Um in addition to that, we spoke many down about the expiring bonds and
117the list of projects that we could add um to put together a package. But it is true everything that we have now is important that we're doing for next year. So the list was an ongoing and you're constantly evolving, but there's a lot of stuff happening the next year as well. Yeah, I I would think waiting to have the walk through until next year when you have two new board members, we don't need to try and squish it in the end of this year. Unless you want to walk around, Marcus, happy to go with you. We'll go on a field trip of those in a while. I think a good time is when uh right before school opens. Like it might be a little hectic, but it's nice to see everything and you know, ready
118for the school year and tour and it will be exciting for our new young members as well to go back to where it all started in the elementary school. Is there anything else? And I would like to ask for a motion to adjourn this meeting at 8:36 p.m. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? I'm so carried.