001Good evening and welcome to the December 16th, 2025 meeting of the Spackman Killer Union 3 School District Board of Education meeting. Uh I would ask that you rise and recite 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, liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Item 2.01 is comments from the public on consent agenda items only. Do you have public comments on consent agenda items? >> Any board discussion on any items? I just wanted to know a little bit more about um agenda item 3.12 federal grant. >> Sure. Um so the district receives federal monies uh for special education and what happens is those agencies like uh preschool and private agencies send us bills. So we're basically reimbursing
002uh reimbursing them for those funds. Um so it's called like the pull through. So, it's just sort of like keeping the money um flowing through. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Okay, with that, I will entertain a motion to accept the consent agenda as written. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I passes 50. That brings us to 6.0. 01. We have some presentations from our elementary administration. There we go. >> All right. Hi everyone. Um, good evening and um, so have a have an update from Nassau. Um, we had a a really busy couple months and we're in a probably my favorite week uh, of the year, but I'll I'll backtrack a little bit. Um, last month we had um a planetarium visit us uh, at Nassau for our
003first graders that was in the gym. Uh, that was wonderful. Uh, also we had a former student at Nassau um from the 1970s who is now an author and I know that that was featured in the newsletter. Dr. Fanuelli was there uh for the presentation, but she read a book that she wrote um about her childhood when she was in early elementary school and it kind of centered around bravery. So, it was really neat to have her and one of her classmates from that time kind of walked the hallways. Uh they took a they reenacted a picture that I know was in the newsletter from the same spot that they took when they were in elementary school. Um and that was really wellreceived by our students. Um we had our first P2 assembly which was
004awesome. Um shout out to all of the uh the teachers and students involved with the AVID program. I know when we first started uh inviting them to Nassau to help with assemblies for P2 um you know rightfully so they were in middle school and needed a lot of help and support from Mr. Shanks and from us and I know Mr. Duza and I debriefed afterwards and they're to the point where we have seventh, eighth, and ninth graders like basically running the assemblies and with confidence. And so that's um really pretty neat for us to be a part of. Uh update on play club. So for for those of you who don't um I know we've talked about MTSS, but that's our process for kind of um looking at students who are struggling and and finding
005supports to fit them. and the amount of times that play club has come up. Um, so right now play club is two days a week to either come on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. And we have teachers asking us as an intervention to add extra days for play club because of the difference in behaviors that they're seeing from students in the morning when they have play on days when they have play club. So I think that's as high of a compliment as we can kind of give uh the group that's doing that. And so hopefully we can expand that. Um last week we had parent teacher conferences. Always amazed by the turnout that we have. We have um almost all parents uh come and really uh that went really well. Uh also holidays.
006Um you know quick quick update on that. So, we do a couple things uh involving I feel like we advertise from Macy's every year, but um we read a book called Balloons Over Broadway and we have the kindergarteners kind of parade through the hallways. Um that was really nice this year. And then Debbie Boyce um for several years has been partnering with kind of the lead uh designer from the Macy's window displays and we paired that with our traditions unit and this week they're inviting different classes to come in and kind of look at um their different windows displays. Uh today was Grinch day. Uh Mr. Duza will probably speak about that. He uh from what I understand uh made it into a Grinch outfit. Um, turns out Mr. Duza and I are different sizes.
007Um, I did not wear the Grinch outfit. I was uh the Grinch's bodyguard today. So, but that was that was pretty fun. Um, the students don't know who the Grinch they like the idea of rhyming Lynch with Grinch, so they knew it wasn't me, but they are certain that it's Mr. Herrera. And it and it was not Mr. Herrera. So, we'll keep that a secret. Um, couple more things for this week. Uh we have our parties on Thursday. Uh the Girl Scouts always do carolling in the hallways on Thursday. Um and then we uh will get up on the roof for our traditional Friday if it doesn't rain. If the forecast holds >> we're going up rain or shine. >> I don't know. I [laughter] I'd rather be up in the cold on on Thursday
008afternoon. But uh we will get up on the roof whether it's Thursday or Friday. Uh maybe we'll have an umbrella this year for a different look. Um, and then the last thing, just an upcoming event that will be new uh, this year. Mr. Duza and I are working on planning. I I don't know if we touched base on it last year, field day was cancelled last year at Nassau. And we always we we schedule a date and we always schedule a rain day. And if you remember in in June, we had rain and then on the rain it was incredibly hot, like too hot to be outside. And so it it was awful to kind of end the school year like that. So we said, "All right, what can we do to kind of still
009have a fun day next year for these kids and invite Hagen as well." And so the idea came about um actually from the the party company, we're going to have a winter carnival uh that'll be January 30th. It's an indoor event and it will be all of the the traditional blowups uh from field day games carnival style. Um, so more to come with that, but uh we're excited to be pointing that. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. Um, feel like I could do a lot of ditto to what he said with the play club, P2 assembly. Um, we did have the PTA come and run holiday shop, which is a great time because the kids get to will take their parents' money and buy gifts for everybody's. But they're they're super excited. They come in
010with their list. they have a very pro programmatic way of they're doing doing things and they leave with their gifts wrapped um for the holiday time. So kids are pretty um animated that week for that for that. So thank you to the PTA volunteers. Um one thing that is not new to Hagen but has been a while and John may know the history better. It's been at least over I would say 10 years since we had a drama club at Hagen. I remember we had a young Tikeke in Nassau doing Oliver Twist uh the play. I wasn't Oliver, but um we we haven't had a drama club in a while. So, and talk about student advocacy. I had five fifth graders meet with me um and kind of present why they wanted drama club back
011and they were very convincing. Um and I thought, all right, so let's let's see how we can bring this back. U put it all call to staff, had two staff members step up and and willing to take it on. It's a huge undertaking. There's a lot of moving parts to running a play. Um we have 73 fourth and fifth graders signed up and they're going to be putting on Matilda Junior um at the end of March. So we're we're really excited for that. They they rehearse on Tuesdays and Thursdays and um they're they're ready to go. So kids are really pumped about that. Um so we're happy to have that back. It is concert season at Hagen. So we we've done two of the three. The last one is tomorrow. It's our third grade concert.
012Um, always a lot of nerves for the third graders because it's their first time performing ever. Um, but they have done an amazing job. Our music, you guys know our music program is uh, bursting at the seams and our teachers do a really good job. Um, in fact, Mr. Andreas just brought the fifth grade course to the mall yesterday to do his annual uh, caroling in the mall. So, kids had a blast there as well. Um, you've probably heard Mr. Lynch talk about the sensory wall, the sensory mural last year at Nassau. Well, this year it's Hagen's turn. Um Joe Pimementel, our muralist, finished up a couple weeks ago and now Mr. Sone along with her husband are working on putting the sensory material to the wall. It looks amazing. Um and it's coming out
013really nice. Uh they asked me what my thoughts were. I wanted a Spartan added and the way the muralist added the Spartan was was pretty amazing. So once that's all kind of wrapped up, we'll bring each class outside, show them how they can access the wall. Um it's right where kids line up for lunch. Every year kids touch the wall no matter if there's a central wall there or not as they're waiting for lunch. So it kind of gets dirty and re each year we repainted and same old. Now we want them to do it. Um and it'll be a nice kind of sensory break as they get into their lunch um line and she's going to show them how to use it. So it's going to be really cool. Um, and then you know
014the holidays are here and it's been fun and I got to hang out in the lobby as the Grinch this morning and sit behind the desk and pretend pretend I was answering something as the Grinch. But it it was a good time and the kids are having a blast this week. So, um, always a fun time in elementary world during the holiday time. >> Thank you. That brings us to 7.01. 01 board for response. We have none. So 702 comments from the public on non-aggenda items. Okay. 703's comments from the board. Any comments from the board? Claire, it looks like you're chomping up a bit. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I have nothing to say. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Oh, sorry. It looks like you did >> had a very busy afternoon. >> Yes. >>
015Involving a lot of extracurriculars. >> I am. >> But she got here on time. >> Thank you. >> Just a quick quick comment. Um >> I wasn't able to make the last Duchess County School Board Association meeting in December. Uh week before Thursday. It's the one it's one of the two uh inerson meetings the year. So I was fortunate that I couldn't attend, but Dr. Fanny while he was there. So I'm going to defer to him to share share any thoughts that he'd like to about that. That did happen. Uh but I will represent that. Should I jump in now? I don't want to steal the boards. So I I did go uh the traditional meeting sense wasn't as much traditional where they would go over like school board stuff. we had a guest speaker
016uh and his title uh was uh his presentation was under the surface we're more than just our personalities. So I found it very interesting and you talk a lot about uh some personal stories he has within his family but just how um you don't know what someone is dealing with um either uh something that is figured out or or you just do today but very comprehensive a lot of examples uh spoke with passion um but it was nice and is one of the few ones that are in kind of see not as much as the report because there wasn't a lot of business. He actually spoke so long at this, you know, they wanted to do some business. Um, seems to be right. Um, now, uh, for our elementary school principles, I I love this
017time of year. I'm a little jealous of both of you. Like, my my kids are now out of that elementary school age, that magical time is kind of, uh, starting to go past. So, the fact that you guys get to do it every year is uh is really really great. Um, I I I miss being in elementary schools cuz you just see the sparkle in their eyes for whether it's Christmas or Hanukkah or whatever holidays that they're celebrating. It's just a lot of fun to to be in school during those times. So, and you guys make it extra special with the uh and so do is your teacher and staff uh with all the decorating that they do, the activities that you do. Um I'm really excited to hear more about the winter carnival when
018that happens. That sounds like a great idea, great community event to bring everybody in. It's uh that's going to be something really cool to see. Uh one of my favorite parts of the tour that we took a couple months ago was a sensory wall. So hearing that the sensory wall is being redone is uh uh that that should be fun to check out especially for uh for the kids. Um and I appreciate the uh the advocacy that the uh the students came forward with the go for a drama club. The fact that they uh they banded together, came forward, were listened, were heard and uh you took uh the initiative to to make sure it kept on going forward from there. So I applaud that that's uh coming back. That's exciting for them to know
019that they uh they were involved in making that comeback and uh I'm excited for that as well. Um and the bike club just just taken off. It sounds like it's a it's a great success. Um like teachers asking for for more. I think that's uh that's even better. So, thank you guys for the uh the report. That's uh that's all great stuff. >> Thank you. >> All right. With that, I'll go to 704 comments from the superintendent. >> Echo what uh Mr. Cohen said, but also the joy that they get out of wearing the outfits. So, I know Mr. Lynch is probably upset he couldn't have been the Grinch. Uh, but uh I know that he'd be wearing something special on that Thursday or or Friday. So that's it is it's the best uh watching
020the kids get off the bus and look up and always try to figure out how he got up there which is one of my favorite questions and some of the answers that they come up with are good stuff. Um we talked about it in the uh community the update but we did have uh one of the board of regents uh visit us at Cran Wills. Um amazing visit uh I know Claire wanted to be part of it uh very much so I couldn't take uh unfortunately but uh she toured uh the high school walked around a lot walked into a couple classrooms and students interacted with her. she like came to life. Um, you know, she's a former superintendent, so she was she um three students spoke with her and and that's really where she
021came alive. She was talking with her and then uh we went to uh NASA to give her a different feel and give her both things. Um we had a nice lunch with her and she uh she just just was awesome. I mean, I don't know. uh John, Lori, or anyone any comments on the on the visit? >> She's been involved with the portrait of her graduate, the changes that are coming our way with the new diploma status. So, she gave us a like a manual or a liner, which was a nice little gift. And she just said she felt inspired and she just thought that she could feel the culture and the energy of her school district. And she felt energized to keep going in what she does. So, it it just was one of
022those feelgood things. She she definitely enjoyed it. So it's good. I mean that's the first I've had another district or first here come so that was kind of nice. Um other than that uh it is Tuesday a couple more days which will be on break after Friday for a couple weeks. I want to wish everyone uh a happy holiday and get some rest and some time with make friends and we'll get enough snowies the rest of this week playing through. I know Claire agrees with that. Um, but we did use one already, but that's okay. And, uh, supposed to warm up as the week goes on, so that'll be a little too far, but definitely. So, thank you. >> Thank you. All right, that'll bring us to 901. Uh, entertain a motion to adjourn the
023meeting. We >> have a second. All in favor? I passes 5-0. Happy holidays and enjoy the break.