001Good evening and welcome to the November 18th meeting of the Scott and Kelly School District Board of Education. I'd ask that you rise and join me in reciting 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. Just over here Sounds bad. >> I get blind. >> Okay. Item 2.01 is comments from the public on consent agenda items only. Do we have any public comment on consent agenda items? Can you all hear me out there? Yeah. Okay. Any board discussion on the consent agenda? I had a question on 3.12 the budget transfer for the high school water damage. >> Okay, we can we can pull that one out. >> Any other anybody else
002>> have a question for 3.11 and 3.1 >> 3.18 I'm sorry. >> Yes. 3.11 and 38. >> No, it's nothing important. Okay. So, uh, first I'll entertain a motion to accept the consent agenda less items 3.11, 3.12, and 3.18. So, >> do I have a second? Second. >> All in favor? >> I cast is 50. Okay. Joan, you want to start 3.12? >> Yes. So my question was um there's a budget transfer for for the 21,8493. Um what was the total cost of that repair? What was covered by the insurance? And why was there a leftover balance for us? >> That wasn't a leftover balance for us. That transfer reflects um damages that had to be paid for that insurance did not cover. >> Got it. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Is there a
003reason the insurance didn't cover? Um, it was labeled with them as incidental damage. It wasn't in the room where the actual roof was, but it was in the adjacent room where you had to remove tiles, ceiling tiles. So, you had to remove ceiling tiles from the entire suite in order to repair. Uh, for 3.11, uh, one's a clarification, one's a question. It says uh approved the transfer of a total of 61,000 from the operation plant equipment account and the maintenance of plant equipment account. Is it $61,000 from both accounts or in total? >> In total. Okay. >> Um and um for that is there a reason we're doing a transfer on it instead of a uh a repair reserve fund or a cap project down the future for that? It was a replacement of new
004bites, so it would qualify as a repair and we're just doing a transfer so it's reflected in the proper account. >> Okay. It's not uh something that we're looking down the road for a capital project on the floor. >> What we did was when we evaluated what needed to be done, we ensured that this would still be usable and in place even if we did a capital project down the road. So it's not anything that's going to have to be redone or it's going in. it was sort of an emergency that the lights wouldn't work properly and uh in order to get that done, but we wanted to make sure it would match with anything that we learned from the needs assessment. Um it does um we have much choice with either the amp or
005the lights. That makes sense. An emergency. >> Okay. And uh for 3.18 um probably just gonna actually I just don't know um a difference between a teacher's aid and a teacher's assistant. >> Sure. So the aid position they um they can't do instruction with the students. It's more of like helping with um staying on task refocusing sometimes toileting or with the teaching assistant they can work under the supervision of the teacher. So the needs of the students have changed in that class to reflect more of a instructional need than a more of a refocusing need. >> Um and from what I got from Dr. Ben, this was we we had a teachers aid that had um that isn't with us now and we're going to get a teacher's assistant instead. Is this replacing that teachers
006aid position completely? So it's just getting rid of teachers aid position and we're getting the teachers. Right. Like recategorizing it. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. With that, I'll entertain a motion to accept 3.11. You >> have a second. >> All in favor? >> I passes 50. We have a motion to accept 3.12. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I and a motion to accept 3.18. >> That one. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Okay, that brings us to item 6.01, recognition by the New York State Board of Regents for Academic Excellence. You want to introduce and we'll show the video or >> I can I can give a So, we were alerted there. What was this? Uh back last school
007year. um that uh Spectro High School uh was nominated with an honor um that that's really one of the best honors uh you can have. So it's called used to call the Blue Ribbon Commission um and it was uh Blue Ribbon Award. It's given to schools throughout the nation. Um was sponsored by the US Department of Education. Um and it's been going on for years. In Duchess County on one hand, schools have won it. Uh I do not know any high schools that have ever won it in Duchess County except for Stackure about seven or eight years ago in 2018. Um so when we got the news it was very exciting. Uh very rigorous application process. Uh Ken was very helpful in that and Steve is now retired very helpful. Mary is over here. Lori
008very helpful putting all that together. Um, and it was nice and it was we're going to win and when you win you you get invited to Washington DC and it's a whole big uh nice thing. Um, unfortunately uh we can probably learn in a quick video here uh the US Department of Education is under uh reconstruction or deconstruction whatever you want to say and uh they cancelled the the award process end of end of August. So, we found out maybe in the beginning of September uh that they weren't going to do that. Usually around September, you find out the plans and then but the New York State Board of Regents took it upon themselves to really honor uh the New York schools that were um honored and we're here tonight to kind of talk about
009that and and show what it is. So, we have the short video that probably explains those even better than what I just said or at least will supplement it. So, we'll watch that and we'll turn it over uh to Mr. Lewis and a lot of the audience here to really celebrate um uh this accomplishment. So, good morning, Chancellor Young, Commissioner Rosa, members of the board of regents. >> Good morning. Oh, see that's what I was waiting for. Not the slides. I was waiting for for you. So, as many of of you know, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program, which was established in 1982, has recognized over 9,000 schools nationwide and over 800 schools right here in New York for overall academic excellence and progress in closing the achievement gap. It's long been one of the
010most visible and respected federal honors for schools across the United States. And each year, the New York State Education Department identifies potential candidates through a datadriven process using student performance and graduation outcomes. Schools are ranked by the Office of Information and Reporting Services vetted by multiple program offices, including special education, bilingual education, state assessment, and the charter school office for final certification. Um so as they're getting the the slide deck up um many of you know unfortunately in late August the US Department of Education abruptly and without notice or consultation informed all state education agencies including ours that it was formally discontinuing the national integrated schools program effective immediately prior to the program's cancellation. The commissioner had already submitted the formal nominations from 19 incredible schools and sent out graduator materials. The 19 schools that
011the state education department nominated also had already completed the federal government's time inensive and detailed application and pulled together aluminum supporting materials and the US Department of Education had indicated that these schools would be honored this fall. Unfortunately, that did not come to pass. We share in the regret of school leaders, educators, and families, many of whom are watching today via webcast, who work diligently on their application and who work so hard day in day out to support our students. The state education department along with many of the nominated schools and their districts expressed that disappointment publicly and directly to the federal government. Despite this, the work of the incredibly dedicated and talented educators and students here in New York continues and serves as an exemplar nationally and across the globe. In fact, at a
012recent CCSSO meeting uh conference out west, senior deputy commissioner told me that many states are eagerly watching how our schools implement New York New York in Aspires and are in awe how far our schools have already come. Despite the cancellation of the blue ribbon schools program, New York State remains committed to recognizing the achievements of these schools and others. State is currently working on how we can continue to recognize the exemplary work of our schools moving forward and we'll have more news in the future after consulting with schools and other stakeholders. So in front of you today uh all of you have a handout and on the screen is a full list of the 19 schools nominated this academic year for blue ribbons representing district and charter schools across every corner of the state. Although
013I will say Regent Fer and Regent Thomas Williams certainly have their fair share of schools on that list. In your materials and soon to be posted on the region's website is a photograph and language that we worked with each of these schools to put together. It represents what makes their school community unique and responsive to students, families, and of course the communities that they serve. These schools embody what's best about New York education. Academic excellence, innovation, equity, and opportunity for every student. So, while federal recognition and support have been withdrawn, New York State will not allow this moment of excellence to go unseleelebrated or the accomplishments of these schools and all schools across New York to be diminished by Washington. On behalf of Commissioner Rosa and the entire state education department, we recognize these schools,
014their teachers, their students, leaders, and of course, families and communities for achieving the highest levels and we reaffirm our commitment to celebrating the success across all of our schools and for all of our students. Thank you, Chancellor, and members of the board for taking this moment to honor these schools today. I just want to add something here. Um, in the past, uh, I've been encouraged to go to all of the, uh, schools that have been nominated and and won this award in the past. And it the schools themselves usually have a wonderful celebration because they should. This is this is a tremendous amount of work that goes into the application and the uh process that that it takes from a school to win this this award. I would hope that the schools themselves might continue
015their celebration of the great work that they've done by having a day or or celebration of assemblies uh and invite the regions uh from that area to to join in because it's a significant achievement that they need to celebrate that >> and we will be giving each of these schools a certificate so they'll be sent out shortly so they'll also have something formal that recognizes that they were one of the nominees. >> So that ending is all true. Uh on December 1st, uh Regent Wills will be uh coming to Spacken Hill. Uh board is invited. Uh we'll send out more information. Uh it's a Monday. I believe it's 10:00 a.m. and uh she's gonna take a tour of the high school and she has time to go to another school. So, she is a region
016that represents our geographic area. Um she's been amazing uh uh regent. I know her personally and she said a lot for our area. So, she was very excited uh and wanted to come. So, we will um we'll be following their advice. So, Louis, you want to take over? >> Sure. >> It's going to getting feedback. Oh, you can leave it. I'll try to um I can do this. >> No pressure, but any students, I would love for you to come up here and join me because it's really about you. >> Come on, students. Come up. >> You know, the teachers are welcome to come up, too. >> I know how much they like the line. I mean that you don't make Come on, I'll teach you. >> I'm going to speak about you. Yes, but
017>> come on over here. >> I think I'm going to hear about that one in the morning. >> All right. As principal of Spack and Kill High School, I am incredibly proud to recognize our school for earning the National Blue Ribbon Award. This achievement is more than a distinction. It is a reflection of the heart and dedication and pride that define our entire school community. Every day, our students, teachers, staff, families, and supporters demonstrate what it means to strive for excellence. And this award celebrates all of those collective efforts. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of the stakeholders involved who continue to believe and support the work that we do at Spackenkill. Your partnership truly strengthens our school and this honor is something that we share with each of you. I'd also
018like to personally thank Dr. Fanieli, Dr. Molford, Mr. Frell for their steady leadership and commitment uh throughout this process. A very heartfelt acknowledgement to all the teachers in this room and in the building especially the students and also I want to acknowledge Mr. Malcasher for all of his exceptional effort and persistence in making this nomination possible. Our staff's dedication has been instrumental and I'm sincerely grateful for the time and care they've invested in this achievement. Congratulations to our entire spac community. It is a privilege to serve as your principal and I could not be prouder of what we've accomplished together here. Uh 19 schools and I think that's really important to recognize 19 schools in the whole state and I always say Spack and Kill is not a utopia. We're not perfect but we really
019strive for excellence and I think we do a great job and this is uh one of those moments that we can recognize that and you know really students you're the reason for this award. So, thank you all for being here, especially the ones that are here. There's only a handful of high schools. We have a couple uh people that might want to say a few words. Also, >> thank you so much for inviting us tonight to continue. Uh this is simply amazing and it's really a testament to the families, the teachers, the students who really go above and beyond. In fact, Senator and I just left uh Boardman Road uh library where some of your students and one of your teachers is here that won our recycling art challenge. So, that was pretty amazing and
020I have to just give a shout out to Caroline Sotile who has the voice of an angel and does so much for us too. So, thank you. But and when you think about it, this is what you're only one of 19 schools across the state. But I think what's even more amazing is you've earned it twice. That's wonderful. And it's kind of disappointing if if I heard it was hard to hear if they were cancelling this bloom. That's a shame, right? Because this gives so many kids, teachers, everybody, the family such incentive. So, I just want to say thank you very much to everybody. So tonight I congratulate all the Spect and Kill High School students, the whole team, teachers, administration, faculty and staff on carrying on its proud tradition of excellence and leadership. And
021I will just read um this in in the two 2025 ratings, the Spack and Kill Union Preschool District ranked number one among Duchess County school districts received an overall grade of A and placed in the top 3%. That's huge. Of more than 10,000 districts nationwide. So very impressive. Everybody, thanks for all your hard work. And I have a proclamation for you, Dr. Panuelli. So I will uh leave it here maybe. Or do you want to come up or principal? Whoops. Here we go. Oh, you know, I think we're going to take a picture together. Is that all right? Sorry. Here we go. Standing. Oh, come on, guys. It's all about you guys. There we go. Thank you. You can leave this with you. Thank you. Great job. Thank you. Thank you. >> We have another
022speaker. So I I have to tell you I'm I am of course thrilled to be here as a Spagillan alum and uh I was telling the superintendent uh shortly after arrival I about two weeks ago out of nowhere I found this thing which I never knew that I had and it is officially designated me as someone who went to spat and kill and um as some of you may know >> students will be getting it when they graduate. Yeah. >> Wow. And I know you're going to wear it with pride. I mean, it took me since 1976 to two weeks ago to wear, but I'm glad I'm wearing it. I am absolutely glad I'm wearing it. Um, of course, you know, a proud Spangle alum. Uh, always a Spartan, always. Uh, I grew up in
023this community. I was a cop in this community. And you know, my wife said, "Just have a little fun today." So, I was telling her um they was going to the schoolboard meeting to present this Senate proclamation on this unbelievably well-deserved award on excellence. And she said like this. She said, "Well, Rob, you know, based on your report card in 1976, of course, they went up in." And I I you know and I said to her I said well you know I mean I I I get that because I really wasn't a great student and um but but many of you know the education that I got here at Spath and Kill has helped me do all the things that I've been able to do. Without that it probably would have never happened. I didn't
024if I wasn't part of Spangel I wouldn't have been a fireman. I wouldn't have been a town cop. than having a a career as an elected official would not have happened without this school official and being the first class that went through the high school for four years. We we started in nth grade and we went all the way through. We were the first to do all four years there. So, as the county executive said, you know, shame on the federal government, shame on whatever reason that they found not to continue to do what they're doing there, but that gave us the opportunity to do something here for you. This is a official Senate proclamation that is prepared in Albany and we only get a few per year to do. And this one was done
025with pride uh to be able to give it to the school district that I love. And uh I'll say there's a bunch of different whereases of course and they they talk about as at the board of regents meeting on November 3rd in Albany that Spangle High School was recognized as an exemplary high performing school and formerly known as the national blueber schools program is the only school in Duchess County one of 19 statewide to earn this distinction. And that is the second time the second time which is a really big accomplishment that Spankle High School has qualified for this prestigious award and it's only high school in Duchess County to have done that twice. Lots of big things happening here in Spack and Kill. I give the credit to of course our students, the staff,
026the teachers, but to the board of education for for making sure that you're giving the resources to the school district educate our children who of course are. We always say this, but it's so true. You know, the future of our communities uh and our country. So, thank you, Mr. Lewis. This is for you. >> Mr. Superintendent, please. >> Can I get one, too? I'm going Sorry, I'm trying to share the camera. >> Thank you. There's more. >> Thank you very much. >> Yes, of course. >> So, Rob, are you going to tell we we have a lot of students here that don't know that you have the high school without your father? You want to say something about that? >> Well, just just briefly, there there was a there was a point in time where
027wanted to build a high school. My dad was happy. >> Yes. So uh we're got the story that so um so they my dad passed away in 2007 and passed away suddenly but prior to that they named the library after my dad. It was a plaque there. >> What is that plaque? >> Yeah. And um so it really was was it was a great honor for my dad who was a person not ever seeking honors or or recognition per se. So we go there uh uh in 2007 and my my son who I think was 14 or 15 at the time. My sister aunt who went back was a very good student uh who graduated I think 8 to I was 76. She was 82. So she was up from Virginia and my war was
028there of course. And so they're they're doing this for my dad and my great dad says, he says, "You know what, Rob?" He says, "One of the greatest things about this is I I know now actually you were physically present inside this library like that day. At least one day, at least one day you were actually in the library." And I said to him, I said, "Dad, um, that really isn't accurate because I said Miss Harkkins was the school librarian when I was there. So obviously I had to be in there mid twice, but really just so so great. um appreciate all the hard work that you do because as as M said this would not happen if students were doing the work and and making that distinction. So the board of divisions it's all
029education. Thank you. I appreciate all. >> So I can just say I'm steal and thunder again that um the class of 7475 raised $16,000 for the high school and the third graduating class 1976 coming right up. Oh, you're still looking for some change. >> Well, so we're supposed and I don't know what's happening, but there is we'll be celebrating 50 years next year and there hasn't been a lot of chatter on uh reunion. Who better than you? >> Julie Taylor, Brown. I could go right on down the list, Ste. Um, but if we do have it, we'll make sure we do raise a little money for the school. >> Yeah, everybody heard that. >> Challenging game on. >> Thank you everybody. >> Teachers, >> thank you so much. >> Thanks, Adam. Appreciate it, bud. How
030nice was the uh if you'd like >> but now you're standing would be a good time. Mr. Lewis is going to facilitate a picture outside and feel free to come back and hang off until everyone is getting a picture. We're going to continue with the meeting. Uh but then you can come back in. >> Thank you everybody. Have a great meeting. Thank you so much for coming. Thank you so much for coming. for then you'll go on and you'll go on with >> IA dinner. >> Oh, so that's my >> I thought it was Halloween. I'm like Mr. T, you're >> never know. They were they were so >> we go from Blue ribbon blue ribbon to middle school. >> I think officially I have to say move on to item 6.02. >> All right,
031here we go. We're there. >> Well, good evening everybody. Uh, as always, it's great to be here. Um, as you can see, um, we did not give you ribbon. However, uh Todd Middle School is right now as we speak having our uh world language international dinner. So, um I was one of the servers along with the entire world language department from the middle and high school. And it is an event that um we were doing every year and then we had the pandemic and we did it I think two years ago um but we're trying to get back into the swing. We used to do it in the spring and actually I like it better in the fall. It's kind of a nice get together. where it's cold and dark and uh so we had
032foods from all over the world. Uh basically almost every continent was represented and um I'm still eating my dessert here and uh it was a just a great event. So when I told Dr. Fanueli that well first I asked if we could do it the same night as a board meeting and uh and he gave the approval and then um I asked you know could I you know as as you know we we present every uh board meeting I said it was okay with you I'll present on the on the international dinner so I just figured I'd leave my apron on and can I come? So, um, anyway, it's it's a great event. Um, and, uh, it if I some of the board members, Dr. Fanuel were able to swing in for a little bit,
033so they saw it. There was, I counted about, uh, over 30 dishes and also probably about uh, half a dozen to 10 desserts. Uh, it is just the eighth grade. So, uh, as you, as you probably are aware, uh, the eighth graders are, uh, they receive a high school credit at the end of their world language, uh, either Spanish one or French one. So, it's a bit of just kind of like all the hard work they put in because, you know, they started, um, their their world language in sixth grade, which is, you know, it's two and a half years. It's a long time because they do it every other day in sixth grade. Uh we're probably I think we're one of the only or maybe the only school in uh school district in Duchess
034County that has a sixth grade world language. Most of the time just starts in seventh. So we're proud of that and we're proud of the world language department and um yeah that's that's my want to swing I I if it ends soon we can swing down there and see some. So thank you. Anybody has any questions or >> Thank you for doing it. I went down there before. It was was quite the spread all the way wrapped around the whole cafeteria. That was and a good turnout, too. A lot of nice dishes. Great. >> Yeah. And everybody mingling stuff. It's nice. Some music. And I was missing that, but I think they're doing some trivia over there now and stuff. A couple games and stuff. Very nice. >> Looks great. Great. >> Thank you everybody.
035You >> I'll be quick. I promise. Uh so this is the uh posting that went out on the state for the blue ribbon award. Uh so you can actually pull that up on the uh on the state website and we are recognized by acknowledged. So thank you everybody for your supporting and thank you to the staff, the students and the families that came here tonight. Um just I just wanted to highlight a couple things that have gone on in the last uh month or so at school. So you'll see a little bit of a collage as I talk about some of the events. I can try to point out some of the pictures. Um just as far as our AVID program, we have a quarter 1 newsletter and some of those highlights. Uh excuse me.
036Uh we have an AVID mentor meeting running at Hagen. We did a PD with the staff at our extended faculty meeting which is in that center bottom picture um increasing collaboration through inquiry and we had our AVID students participate in that professional development. We'll continue doing that throughout the school year. Uh the staff is introduced to some AVID strategies and the students also get to experience working with professionals in that setting which they uh wouldn't really do outside of this opportunity as in a faculty meeting. Um, we've had speakers from Beta Bionics, HR Professionals, Duchess County Youth Council, COO of Belleather, and Angels of Light, which I know Miss Moy is, uh, spearheading a program with Angels of Light and AVID. Uh, I'm not going to put you on the spot right now to talk
037about it, but uh, AVID program student of the quarter, Dylan Wallace. Want to shout out to him. That's 7 through 12. And our Spacken Hill High School student of the quarter, Savannah Hardgrow. Congratulations to them. and we celebrated them on Monday. Uh we had the shirt off my back tradition and NHS wear it a pink day for breast cancer awareness. So the shirt off my back tradition is up in the top right hand corner for our uh varsity football players who give their jersey um on senior night to a staff member in the building that has um that they've felt a personal connection to. >> Uh we staff members here tonight. >> Yes, absolutely. And we're still here. We had our fifth annual college essay boot camp on October 8th. Approximately 25 seniors attended. Miss
038Oakley and Miss Shivet happen to be here. They uh they run part of that along with other English teachers. Uh they received feedback from the English department and they're now ready to revise and submit applications which actually just happened in for early decision in November. NHS created greeting cards to send to a recent spat high school graduates who completed basic training. They also had successful soctober where they partnered with Hope on a Mission to bring clothing into shelters in the country. Our positivity club provided and served breakfast on Saturday, November 8th for Hope on a Mission. Rainy Young girls was a hit. Awesome job. Congratulations on that play. Uh we have James's Warriors coming tomorrow for our high school staff. Uh in the bottom right hand corner, I just wanted to feature some things that
039our teachers are doing as friends have conducted a fish printing exercise in and principles of physical science. They practice guataku, which is Japanese art of fish printing. Uh and students made their own and then they created a bulletin board in the classroom which is still up right now. Uh in the top middle is our de de los muertos day of the dead. Uh our Spanish classes celebrated that in our library. Typically families build altars in their homes or at cemeteries in honor of those who've lost. Spanish teacher Senor Buzzi, Senora PK, and Senora Nulkin built an altar in the high school library and invited Spanish students to participate by creating a frame uh after school for a picture of a deceased pet or loved one to add to the altar. And we had that throughout
040the month. We had our coffee house, the art literary club. Mr. Romani happens to be here tonight too, uh who runs that with Mr. Calone. That was a huge success. That's in the bottom lefthand corner. We have a huge turnout for those students. All types of art and uh performances go on in that time after school. We had a really wonderful multicultural dinner uh that is kind of in between oh uh right side middle uh that on uh November 10th. Huge turnout, lots of students, lots of families, tons of food. All the food left. There was none left over. I am going to put him on the spot. Mr. Marty, you want to come up here real quick? Uh, since he's here, I'm going to have him speak real quick about another award that happened
041about 45 minutes ago down the road. Hi everybody. How's it going? Uh, Mr. Ronnie here. So, I've uh came with Rob Wilson and Senator Sue Sero because they just presented uh two of our students with an award and then we came here and they presented school with the with uh the award. So, these are two projects we look on on the board. Um Lexi Stevens won first place uh and uh Sophia Bean won second place, but to me they're both first place. The uh I want to explain to you a little bit what you're seeing. Um both those two pieces of artwork, a sculpture to your left and a and a a very large almost actual size uh artwork with a dog two dimensional were done completely out of recycled materials. Okay. So the the
042uh department of sanitation uh and senior's office puts together a contest. This I think is the second year they they did it and uh we swept for the high school uh categories in first and second uh place. the the uh amplifier, the guitar, the foot pedal, and a miniature sculpture of the artist were all made. It took her about a month to to to make that out of completely recycled materials. And if if you were able to look uh really closely at the dog, it's made out of completely cut out scraps. It's not paint, okay? It's like found a bunch of yellow things, found a bunch of blue things, there's plastic items in it. The tongue is made of shoelaces that they had to go. It I talked to mom and dad. This was a
043family kind of thing. We'll be fine for the dog. The dog is a dog they had that passed and they missed the dog. And it's about this big, you know, it's not a small kind of thing. Both of these kids are part of the National Art Honor Society that I run. Um, and uh they they wholeheartedly put their heart and soul into this uh project. These two artworks are going to be on display at the uh presidential library uh at the FDR Presidential Library in High Park, I believe, starting tomorrow for about 2 weeks, which is kind of a big deal because, you know, that library has made a decision for people all around the world. Um and and I'm very proud of them. They they work really hard at being the best they could
044be and they they very passionate about making art and expressing themselves to it. So, I think that's great. Um, coming up soon, uh, to give fair warning, uh, Mrs. Romani, my my wife, and also the middle school art teacher, uh, we donate, my wife spends from August to now making ceramic cups to to sell. Uh, some of you guys get the email, they sell out in 24 hours. I put a slideshow on and I look at the thing the next day and it's all sold out. the money that we raise um the same group the National Art Honor Society students we do portraits of students from around the world um of kids around the world generally they're they're they're underprivileged kids sometimes orphans in different countries so the money goes to sending the portrait to
045the child to create a positive memory for the kid because some of these kids in different countries that we we uh send artwork to don't have digital cameras. They don't some of them never really seen an image of themselves until uh this project and so there's there's administrative costs about cost us a little bit to do it. So it's fully funded by uh the cup donations that that you know we donated and the kids help to make the beautiful far. Um anyway so few things to look forward to in what we do and I a few more minutes. I always take longer. Thank you. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. Thank you everyone. Uh it's a lot to celebrate. I'm proud to be uh a figurehead that represents this school, but it's
046really students and the staff that make it what it is and I'm happy to be part of this. So, thank you everybody. Thank you. Great. >> Okay, that brings us to item 6.03. We have a presentation from our school lunch director. I'm going to I'm going to do a little For those of you who don't know me, I'm Lisa French. I'm the child nutrition director here in Spack and Kill. I've been here for over three decades. Have to click and read at the same time. Tonight's menu is meant to give you a good start in understanding nutrition department and how the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program operate. To condense this, prior to when school feeding programs were established, children would go home and have peanut butter and jelly and milk and take a 2-hour
047nap. Educators felt this time would be better used for education. However, the boards of education would not assist financially with funds dedicated to education. So, they improved the operation of school lunch as long as it remains self-supporting, which we still are. As you can see, we've come a long way in the meals we serve from boiled cabbage and bread and jam. funding. This gives you an idea on the minimal funding we received. And while we're grateful to the governor for fighting to feed all children females in New York State, at this time there is no additional funding. Currently, our participation has doubled from last year and we anticipate it will continue to increase. As you can see, the total reimbursement for a lunch is 4 6. And after covering health insurance for employees, labor and
048food purchases, and supplies, we are left with just around $2.90 to make a meal. So, I ask you, where can we go eat lunch tomorrow for $2.90? Putting together a meal. Whoops. In addition to being sparssely funded, the state education department requires us to follow strict guidelines in order to receive funding. Guidelines include serving a five component meal, completing a nutritional analysis of the menu, creating and implementing standardized recipes, and keeping daily production records, which tracks participation, compliance, waste, and portion control. The menus are created using a nutritional software approved by the state education department which accurately calculate fat, sodium, vitamins, and nutrients. In 2010, the Hungry Free Kid Act was established and some of the provisions included creating menus with low sodium, no trans fats, whole grains, and low fat. This also forced vendors
049that provided school lunch foods to recreate their product to meet the new requirements. Smart Snacks was enacted shortly after the Hungry Kid Act and requires programs to enter snack food labels into a calculator for approval on the requirements to limit fat, calories, sodium, and sugar. So, fun fact, our snacks have a different label than the supermarket version. For example, our Doritos are whole grain rich and have been reduced in the requirements accordingly. This is an example of the changes vendors had to make to the original versions of their foods to accommodate the mandate. Offer versus serve is the name of the program. You can see that the five components are whole grain, fruits, vegetable, milk, and protein. We must offer five components listed above. Students must take a minimum of three to complete a meal
050and for us to receive funding. If a student does not take the required component, the meal becomes alocart. What does that mean? Let's take pizza day for example. If a student wants just a slice of pizza, there is no funding for that meal because it does not meet the requirement. Therefore, it is not free and chargeable. federal commodities. Years after feeding programs were approved for public schools, the government contracted with nationwide farmers to supply and supplement the feeding programs. Food was offered to schools at $1 per case to offset the struggling budgets. Some of those current foods are listed here. Our current allowance for commodity foods is 67,800. That number is calculated by the office of government services based on the lunches we serve in the prior year. So that money right now is for
051last year's lunch service and a little increase. Getting creative. As you can see, we must get creative with the food surplus to provide a variety of meal options. Some uses include the ground beef is made into tacos, meat sauce, chili, and meatballs. Chicken strips are used for fajitas and quesadillas. The cheeses are used in tacos and salads. Fruits for crisps and turnovers. A few years ago, we discovered this fluffy fakey puff pastry, which, as you can see, we use to make some fun and delicious lunches. down there on the right hand side. Some of our top sellers are listed. And what's important to understand is that we are here and dedicated to student taste. Creating a meal that is pleasing to students while meeting funding requirements is always the main focus. It's generational foods. While
052not uncommon for folks to compare school menus, let's remember that they aren't always better, just different. Food is a very personal subject. It brings us together in celebration and love. It can also create tension as we sort through our own personal opinions of what a good food versus a bad food is. In addition to my formal education, I am a master sanitation instructor. I teach surf safe to spack and kill food service staff. Equally important is the staff in their charge to keep students safe and nourished. Staff are required to attend annual sanitation training, successfully pass all health department inspections, keep multiple records for inspection by the state education department, and they are trained in civil rights and our registered civil service employees. We're also proud that 70 70 to 80% of our staff are
053Spack and community members. For the past three decades, we have successfully passed all of our annual local health inspections, state education, child nutrition audits, and internal New York State school audits. We are required to provide special accommodations for students with medical documentation of allergy related dietary restrictions. Parental restrictions are also accommodated. Parents can place personal restrictions on their child's account at any time. In addition to serving nutritious meals, there is a heavy concentration on safety, storing, preparing, cooking, and serving. Food can be a dangerous task if not properly executed. Every aspect of food service from purchase to plate is documented accordingly. Not only do we believe Farm Fresh is best, but we support our farms by purchasing locally, our produce supplier is located in the Black Dirt region of Orange County. Farmers in that area
054participate in a local exchange with other farms. We offer multiple green and red fresh vegetables weekly. We also have a variety of fresh fruit choices. We also have introduced lagoons to students in the form of homemade soups. We are part of a countywide director's group that contributes to buying and bidding. We share recipes and recommendations and we are mandated to buy American. Some of our breakfast includes warm jumbo muffins, whole grain breakfast rounds made of oats and cinnamon, a variety of cereal bowls, and cinnamon toasted bagels. All of the breakfasts come with low-fat string cheese, milk, and fresh fruit. A while after national school lunch programs were developed, breakfast programs were started with exception to lowincome areas. It took a while for them to take off because breakfast was still a family gathering, if you
055will. Today, we see an increase in participation for this program as well. I think it's important to note that as you can see on the left, we offer 10 lunch choices a day and nine on the elementary level. On the right are a few of our lunches we currently serve on our menu. Every lunch comes with fresh fruit and vegetables and milk. That's the five components that we presented in the last few slides. These are actual pictures of our fruit choices taken over a few weeks. In the upper left, a fresh beaten apple salad. Our fruit and yogurt parfets. Fresh garden salads with grilled chicken. You can also get it with cheese. Roasted butternut squash. Triple deck of peanut butter and jelly and apple turnovers. In the upper left corner, that's the puff pastry we
056talked about. During past conversations with middle schoolers, one suggestion was to serve hot pockets. This is our homemade version of a hot pocket. On the bottom right, that's our homemade hummus. This lunch was originally created as a vegetarian option. Now it's popular and we serve it on a whole grain wrap. Fresh baby spinach monthly. Beautiful seasoned pears and roast chicken and rice peel off. In an effort to continuously improve school lunch choices, we are looking at adding additional salads and soups, increasing seasonal themes, and we've already listed the daily fruit and vegetable and aloc cut prices on the menu. We would also like to include a frequently asked question section on the food service website. We hope to include additional subsidies to the program. We will continue to submit the annual 30% New York initiative.
057We'll definitely have to look at staff since our participation is increasing. And we're exploring tech options such as the meal viewer to to display menus online which would break down the caloric and um nutritional analysis of food. I recently met with student government and I hope they will welcome me back for further discussion. I also circulate throughout the district cafeterias and find that students are not shy in expressing their opinions on what they want for lunch. Typical responses are burgers and fries, pizza, chicken fingers and tacos, and General S chickenles. Thank you for having me. I hope you will come away from this presentation with a little more knowledge on the operation of school lunch. And I welcome your questions. Who wants to go first? Got >> a quick question. Uh, I appreciate, you know,
058the presentation and all the detail. Certainly a much bigger and and more detailed picture of school lunch than I uh ever had and of course for children go through things. It's come a long way since my >> boiled cabbage. >> Yes. Right. Yeah. Those days. Um do you have now that everyone you know has access to this food uh do you have a rough sense of how many of the students percentage wise you know actually eat the lunch uh lunch provided by the school versus bringing their own lunches? >> Right now we're serving close to a thousand. I believe our enrollment is about 1450. >> Yeah. So 2/3. >> We do expect that to increase. Um typically we're in a provision 2 at this point. We're not a C yet. We will be next year.
059Hopefully, if we can continue to have the universal feeding, um the number can >> you explain that? >> Yeah, those terms. >> We're provision two, which means we're the newbies. It's our first trip around the block of having universal feeding opposed to the schools who currently have C. They've been feeding for quite some time. We have to have a one-year buffer. And the state education department does that because our community and families who rely on benefits after school uh summer benefits they have to calculate that somehow through the provision too. So we're almost the serving lunch and receiving lunch applications the same way we originally did. Does that mean? >> No. No. >> Next year we won't take any applications and we won't be able to track our families that that require assistance in the
060summer. So they give us a year buffer. So we we have less than when we are a permanent free program. Is that is that helpful information? Is that >> you're in a sort of the transition? >> We're in a transition. We're called provision 2 rather than a C. >> Thanks. >> Sure. Just by clarification by free you're speaking about a reimbursement that we get. Is that accurate or >> Yes. All of our meals if if the components are correct are reimburseable on a free level. Correct. >> And that's a federal and state money federal. >> Federal and state combined. Um, so with a student having to take three components in order for it to be reimbursible, do we know how many of those students eat all three components or how much is wasted? We don't
061know how much they eat and and there's probably a waste. Absolutely. Um, the state has their own picture of of how to feed kids. And um when we first started with the the mandate of of one of those three components had to be a vegetable and fruit. Originally a student could take a pizza and a chocolate milk and that would be a grain, a protein and their milk and go out the door. Um 8 years ago the state changed that and said one of the components had to be a fruit vegetable. So the custodians conveniently set up garbage pales outside because the students would come out and just throw that out. Uh so we sort of encourage I bring in different fruits, you know, that are more exciting than others and and try to encourage
062them. But there is waste. >> Okay. And do we know how many students take only one item? >> They have to take all three. You need one. >> So they're required to. You do not even get an option to take just one. >> There's five components. They have to take three. One of those three has to be a fruit and vegetable. So they could actually take a pear, a salad, and a chocolate milk, and that would meet a meal, >> right? So you're requiring they take three. >> Like someone can't walk in and go, "No, it's I don't care. I don't want the three. I'll just take the one in the milk and call it a day." >> Right? Then they would go to an alocott and have to pay, >> right? And are they
063they're told this, right? So like they know that they have to take three in order to do that or they waste the pay. Okay. >> Um and I think you asked the percentage of that. Did you originally ask what the percentage of that was? waste >> waste. >> Yeah. >> It's it's getting less, but um it's there. >> Okay. And is there a reason we use uh farms out in was it Orange or Olter >> in the Black Dirt region? >> Yeah. >> Well, I I did at one time use fishill um uh I'm sorry, it was vegan. We had they had their as you know when you buy from a farm the the fruit is not perfect and shiny and beautiful and um we had fruit that was not shiny and beautiful and um
064we we tried to um encourage it as a the ugly fruit program because you know ugly fruit has to have a home too and is much more delicious than the perfect fruit. Uh but it didn't quite work out and and I and I was asked not to have ugly food. Fishkill farms. Fishkill farms are um I think just about one and a half times more than my current local farmer in Orange. And they do a farmer interchange. Yeah. They do marboral and you know they have an interchange. So if farmer A doesn't have an apple, they get it from farmer B and and then my delivery comes and is build through my produce vendor from their farm exchange. Okay. So we have original your original question we have used more local farmers. Okay. The fish
065skill and we Okay. Because I believe 50% of uh Duchess County farmers lost money this past year. Yeah. >> So just wondering if we don't reach out to any of them. Well, I'd love to bring ugly fruit in. >> Um, again, you know, there there's a real thing called ugly fruit and it's delicious and nutritious. It's it was just picked off the tree rather than the Washington apple that's been sitting on the truck for 2 weeks. So, but it's not there's a visual >> it's not appealing visually and so to compete with that it's difficult. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. >> Sure. Um, first thank you very much for the presentation coming here tonight and doing this taking the time to do it and putting all that together. That's uh it's quite a process to go
066through. It's very detailed. Um, I really applaud you for what seemed like an impossible task to come up with um, you know, good meals, not only nutritionally, but something that the kids really like with the heavy restrictions that you have and um, the budget that you have to to work with on it. not only the state gives you or the feds give you that the district gives you and um you know doesn't seem like it's an easy task for you to see how you manage with the other amendment board um I do like some of the initiatives that um you know exploring the new ideas 30% New York state initiative I've seen a lot of the schools around you said you guys are in communication with other districts around here and menu exchanges stuff like
067that >> yeah belong to a countywide there's 45 of us. >> Okay. Um >> and we we sort of get in a group and you know, first we complain and then we eat and then we share uh we share our you know what's happening, what was successful, what wasn't. Oh my goodness, the kids love this or oh they turned that down. And um in fact, I did steal the puff pastry from another district several years ago. um could be steal ideas and we interchange and we also not that that's not important but equally as important is we all collectively create our bids and what that means is we have a Duchess County cooperative bidding system and we determine okay look we want you know we want chicken tenders and we don't want the dark meat
068we want the white meat so we put together what product we want to serve to our students and that forms a bid and then >> for the other schools or other districts? >> Pardon me. >> There's 40 other schools or other districts. >> There there's 40 in our group and there's, I believe, 27 that are part of the cooperative bid. Now, they don't have to. I know that Wingers opts out of doing some of the cooperative bidding. We can do our own private bidding, and I have done that in my tenure here. Um, but we get a better price by by going cooperative. So, there's 27 in the bidding. Not all participate. they might look and say, "Hey, you know, I'm going to deal with my guy." Uh, but collectively, we put the bids together,
069we put the product together, we put the specs together, we send it out to the vendor, they bid it out, and then they're awarded. It's a long process. In fact, it's beginning in in the end of January and February for the following school year. Do >> you know how many, if any, are doing the uh 30% interstate initiative? >> Yeah, you have to be really, really low. Although we're there. In fact, we almost qualified for the C prior to the governor suddenly saying free meals. So, we might make it next year on the 30% initiative. Um 45 to 50%. >> And what is that? That just means that you have to get 30% of your products from New York City. >> Yeah. >> There's some kind of a a discounted price when they do that.
070>> Yes. >> And and not every district qualifies for that. >> Correct. >> Um Yeah. I mean, I know you say every district uh has a a different menu is not necessarily better. It's just uh different. Um but you know, I have gone through a lot of them and they they have a lot of uh different offerings and I uh see, you know, actually the the rice elo one, my my kids came home and ranted and ra how much how great the chicken was and the uh the rice was that day and they were excited to to see that stuff again. Um, so I I like that you're trying to make some new changes to the menu and trying to make some adjustments to it. Um, I mean, you have my my support 100% of
071whatever you need. Um, I know that the >> Wait a minute. He just said whatever I need. Everybody, right? >> Fine. Mine. I can't speak for I would I would really love to say that I could give you whatever possible because it really I think it is an important thing that we do here is some kids this might be the best meal that they get. Um but regardless just getting a nutritional good meal every day that kids want to come in and eat um and sit around and talk with each other and enjoy together um is a big is a big thing. Um, one thing I did like that I saw in another school, I'll just throw it out there. Sure. >> Was um >> um I don't remember which school it was. It might
072have been falling or might have red, but they uh it was kind of like what they were doing tonight at the uh at the middle school here where they have a a cultural meal once a month. I know that just throws more on you to have to figure out, but there was, you know, was they'll have one meal a month uh that is a different culture, whether it was a Greek food or an Indian food or a Jamaican food, just to let all the kids try something different, whether they, you know, get ever get to experience again or not, or they find out they really love it and maybe go home and talk about it. >> Sure. Like that. >> Absolutely. >> I like that idea. I'm going to steal it. >> Well, I still
073bear. We actually used to have um different uh themes if you will. Um we had to get away from a few of them. You know, some of them were were religious orientated, so we you know, had to be careful on that. But no, I'm I'm would love to do that. Greek. >> I like the uh the meal viewer as well. I think that's a that's something to really look into and feeling that um you know I think that's a big thing for parents to be able to see what their kids are going to go in and eat each day. Not just be that you know a Google image of it but you're like you've done here actually taking the images of what you're creating with conditions >> and uh and letting the the family see
074this is what you tell me today. That's a definite we're working on that the meal viewer >> and I think it's important my my meeting with the high school student government they've recommended and suggested we do that. So we still >> yeah look for that in the next in the next uh probably in the new year. Um, I just like pulled up the menus and I noticed like the the menu for all the schools are the same. >> Now, I know you talked about like generational food and like how like people like the same things, but I don't know if like the palette of a kindergartener is the same as a senior in high school. >> Is there a way to do different things at different schools in the same day or do you try
075to keep it the same for a reason? >> They are the same this month, but often they are not like a spagel. Do you know what a spagel is? Have you had it or have you seen? You probably haven't had it cuz you eat salad. >> A spagel is was created a spack and bagel. What? Did you create that? >> Okay. Maybe I think Scott Samford probably created that. And uh we won't serve that in in Nassau because the kindergarteners, you know, some of them don't have any teeth. They're losing their teeth so they can't fight on the bagel. And the breakfast bagels we serve are mini ones for them. So we do change out, you know, for for different these menus are the same, but we do change out the elementary. In fact, it
076was different, I believe, in September. >> So my daughter laid debac. >> Yeah. She was like, it was so good. I was just like, okay, so close to you for >> Yeah. That was our November football theme. Yeah, a sixoot sub only. It's really a three-foot sub cuz you can't fit it on. And we did serve it with some chips. >> Oh, Mr. Dy's not here. Oh, yeah. There you are. You're going to come and cook for me tomorrow, right? >> Cuz you know I'm short to cook. So, >> thank you for that. Great quick question on that sub actually because my son mentioned it today >> but he was he was hesitant to take it because >> he has a tree nut allergy >> and >> excuse me >> historically you know there's some
077sort of a meat that has pistachios in it. So we can't ever just go to a regular deli and have them sliced meat and then take it. I asked him, I said, "Did you know who to ask about potential allergy information on that?" And he didn't know, but um it'd be nice if we could when you have those types of things if there's a way to make sure that the students are aware of the allergies. And you know, I I know that you guys have a very good handle on who has allergies, but uh for that one particular, it's not like your normal. You wouldn't think about it, but >> we do all the time, unfortunately. Um, the cook will always know if there's something in what she's serving that that someone with an allergy
078can't have. Um, and do you know how our point of sale system works? Um, we have the computerized system where students plug in their personal IDs and before they can do anything, a big box appears and it immediately states any allergy that a student may have. And a cashier cannot complete a meal and get a reimbursement before she reads that out and agrees to it. And so she has to identify the lunch and make sure that there's nothing on there. My staff are trained in this. And only then can she dismiss the box. Oh, and also in that box is you don't want your son to to buy chips or a parent doesn't want their child to have three slices of pizza. So everything that we want to know about the student is in that
079box. It's a very very important tool. >> And do you guys consider the things that I just mentioned? >> Yeah. Um now the meal viewer the reason why we we are choosing the meal viewer is because that too will give allergy related information. It'll be extensive. So it'll give the nutritional analysis and anything that's um in fact we have a student who who um should not have had the sandwich today that had a sesame allergy. Anything that comes from the bakery, Rockland Bakery, fantastic bakery, Rockland Bakery, they cannot guarantee that there isn't a sesame or a poppy. So students that have those allergies cannot have any bread from the bakery because we can't be guaranteed. So that'll be listed in what we're what we're creating in the next cycle, next year's cycle of the meal.
080Thank you for asking that. You mentioned some potential budget adjustments. Um, you know, I think historically since I've been on the board, we've had support in terms of uh making sure that you have staff and some improved equipment. That was an issue recently. Um, I would say I do appreciate the improvements in the menu as well as as Jeff was mentioning. like to continue to see that development. I've it's no mystery to the folks at the table around me that I've wanted to have a better program in terms of maybe some of that farm fresh um farmtotable type of of thought. even mentioned about the students using that as an educational component as well because the a industry is really under some massive attrition and joy just mentioned about Duchess County farmers and the struggles
081that they have and I think that there's not really that appreciation for where the food that we eat comes from and I think if we can incorporate that into our program with the food and kind of whether it's even field trips over because some of the farms or whatever uh the black farm the black dirt farms or margo or whatever they come from >> I think it would be a nice point to to consider. >> I can I can work with the principles on that and I'm I'm not sure if you know that for many years could you tell me the name of um the classroom that we had the Mrs. Rogers >> Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Rogers >> Mrs. Roger's class that has um part of the greenhouse and her own uh greenhouse in
082her room and they grow a variety of of herbs and I would go in and speak to the students on their herbs and then I would take them and use them in the in the menu and then I would put on the menu Paul's uh basil is in the tomato sauce today and we would make a menu and the kids just were so excited that the herbs they grew were in our you. But we unfortunately Mrs. Rogers changed her student class and so I understand what you're asking and absolutely. Yeah. >> Is there an opportunity for students that are interested in voluntary to volunteer or work in the cafeteria? >> We have students, graduating students working for us right now. Um and by the way, we also have money for students to go to college.
083We have a grant. our director's group uh supplies a grant uh for any student who wants to use it in the culinary area. So yeah, absolutely. >> The the 10 items that you mentioned um are always available in all of the buildings or is that more of the high school? >> 10 items in the high school, nine in the elementary. Uh the item that's missing is the yogurt parfait. The yogurt has to be a certain amount of fluid to meet the protein in the specs in the requirements rather. So the cup is literally 20 ounces. So while the kindergarteners the visual of that like oh gosh it looks like an ice cream sundae the strawberry they would take two spoons and and it would wait it would waste and then they would come in hungry
084wanting something else. So we found it was better not to have the yogurt parfait. So 10 items in the high school, nine in the elementary. Every day, all day, free. All of them include the fruit and vegetable. >> Assuming they take the three. >> Assuming they take the I may have missed what you had mentioned. You said we're close to being >> I'm sorry. >> You said you were close to being >> um last year we were close. We were so close and then I just breathed a sigh and said maybe next year and then our governor was like yeah universal feeding. Um 28 and a half. Yeah. Okay. I mean it's sort of a bittersweet because our culture is changing in the district and when you know we have we have more of a
085need. There's times that uh um by the end of the lunch day, the last period that's coming in, some of the 10 options may no longer be available. Is that um what is there that we can do to try to make sure that somebody walks in and they want to sandwich with all the turkey sandwich? >> I don't support that. Um what the first student gets, the last student should get. and my staff know um simple things of course if it's something complicated but nothing's really complicated that they will step aside and make the turkey sandwich. So that should always be the case. Of course there could be circumstances where it's not a salad is easy to throw together because we try to stay ahead so the salads are all washed and and ready for
086for tomorrow. So there's no reason to not pull it and make a salad or the sliced turkey is ready for tomorrow. Pull it and make a sandwich. So my position is that whatever the first student has, the last student should have. >> Um just to touch on what uh Dan had said about the farm to table stuff on the uh Pine Plains being a very agricultural district. I mean they have an entire a week that they just celebrate agriculture and have you know pigs and cows and stuff on the school and then their barn they have their own barn there and it's uh it's quite the production. Uh but looking at uh at theirs, they they have a lot and they I want to say they not to speak badly, but you know, they probably
087are one of the more potterish uh districts in the in the district. And I think they have one of the best uh menus in the district. Um changing every every I I don't know if they have the same thing in one month um on on their menus. Um, and that was really the one that had gotten me was uh was looking at flying planes and and you know the they they they're obviously ones that have the uh the New York 30% because they put New York in front of uh all the options that are part of that New York 30% one. Uh but they really have a uh a robust uh menu option for their students uh every single day. And that that's really what I love. And they they have some of the same
088stuff as we do as well. I mean, they have the Bosco sticks, they have sticks, but um they, you know, they do the orange chicken salads or the, you know, meatball subs or the ranch smash burgers, Alfredo, and you know, they just have a lot of different menu. >> I am. >> Can you send it to me? >> Oh, yeah. Excuse me. >> Uh, but they have >> Send it to my email so I can look at it. I'll take a look. >> Absolutely. Is that one of the ones that is in your 40 people group, your 40 >> Pine claims? >> Yeah. >> Okay. pine bushes. Pine bushes. >> Okay. >> But I have no problem, none of us have a problem with calling one another up and saying, "Hey, what's happening here? What
089are you using? What's it costing you?" Absolutely. Sure. >> So, I'll look for that in my email tomorrow. >> Thank you very much. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Thanks very much. Thank you. Thank you. >> You bet. >> Okay. Item 7.01 is board correspondence. We have an email addressed times and we also have an email with regard to a student matter that is being handled by the administration. 7.02 comments from the public on non-aggenda items. public comment on non-aggenda items. >> Okay. >> Just uh state your name and address if you will, please. >> Um I'm not going to give my address. I'll say my name. Um hello, good evening everyone. Hi, Miss Mford. Most of you guys um probably know who I am already. Um I am a parent of a student from
090Hagen Elementary School. Um unfortunately, I'm not here to celebrate accolades and things like that, which you guys were able to celebrate today. I'm here um with something different. Um my child is a student at Hagen Elementary School. um and he has major anxiety about returning to school right now. Unfortunately, um there is a teacher in the school whose name I can't mention um who felt that it was appropriate to put her hands on my child. >> Um >> yes, >> we do have certain rules, >> okay, >> with regard to the discussions that we're allowed to have in public format. Mhm. >> Personnel matters not allowed to be discussed. What I can offer >> I can barely hear you. Can you put the little mic thing on please? >> Terrible. >> What what I could
091offer to do is if you'd like you can come up here and I can take your phone number and your email address and then I can help try to facilitate a meeting with the appropriate personnel that can handle the issue with you. >> Okay. So, we already informed the principal that we would be here. That's why I'm I'm sure you guys knew that I was going to come because I've already did that. Um, I was never notified that this was not something that could be discussed. I was told that I cannot name names, which is what I'm I'm doing. I'm not naming any names um in regards to but I've never seen any rules or anything that states that I can't discuss what has taken place. Um, so if if I can continue to to
092say what it is that I need to say about the situation, then I'll be I'll be done. I suppose I have to ask, you know, legal opinion on that because if it is still content with regard to specific students. Yeah, like I said, I didn't name a name of the student, nor did I name the teacher, but I would like to make everyone here aware of what has taken place in the school. We we will be if you go through the avenues of going through the principal and ultimately potentially with superintendent, he will inform us of how those discussions went. Again, it's I'm sorry to that that is the rules of the public hearings and that we don't discuss students. >> Do you have paperwork um showing that because like I said before I would
093not have been here right now if I was informed that earlier. I did make them aware that I would be here and they said that they would notify everyone that I would be here. So, I'm just a little thrown off that I'm here now. I'm being told something different. Um, >> I don't think anything is going to make it better other than me saying what I need to say right now because it's it's it's kind of a big deal and there's so many other ways I could have went about handling the situation as I know other people would have if it was their child. But I just wanted to say what I needed to say and say that I am very disgusted with what has taken place. My child has major anxiety about going to
094school. My son has a IEP. This is a special education teacher who um we're dealing with with this situation. Um she had to since you're here, I mean >> I've already spoken to Boston. >> So So the next avenue is Dr. Okay. >> And and I appreciate it if you just follow through with that and >> we will be informed of how that discussion goes. >> Okay. But do you have paperwork those days? But I cannot discuss that right here. >> I it's still in policy. >> It's in policy and and it's also just trying to find >> cuz again I would not be here. I I've already discussed it with the principal and he knew that I would be here today to discuss it. So if it was in the policy, it would have
095been very good to have brought to my attention at that point in time and not have to be here right now. We have given a lot of grace as it pertains to the situation. An extreme amount of grace to the point to where things have occurred over and over and over and over again. >> Yeah, I I do not have a policy from this, so I apologize for that. >> I can get that. Thank you. Okay. I I would have preferred to just do it here with you guys, but there's other avenues to get the information out. So, thank you so much for your time. Have a good day. >> Thank you. >> And I'll say if you want. >> No, thank you. I'll I'll talk to you another time. >> Would you like to
096reach out to tomorrow or you would reach out to me? Um the process is going to be we're we're going to follow through with everything. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> So I I'll I'll wait for your comments. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Uh do we have any other uh public comment on non-aggenda items? >> Okay, we'll go to 7.03 comments from the board. Board comments. I'd like to say thank you uh for putting together Val and uh and everybody having the uh having this French come in and speak with us. Uh that was a lot of information and it's really informative. Uh thank you for it. Um congratulations on the ribbon. That's uh that's great stuff and uh so yeah, thank you. appreciate you following up with us on >>
097I'll just add too it's it's been said multiple times but really appreciate the work that whole administrative team has done in working toward this really signature achievement. Um very proud of the district and very appreciative all the work that's gone into this cuz uh yeah we only see the tip of the iceberg here but a lot of work going on is gone. really appreciative to Lauren and John Paul very proud very all the writing right >> not not least at all >> all right anyone else okay with that I'll turn it over to 7.04 04 comments from our superintendent. >> Glad we did have that. I know Jeff mentioned school lunch in the summertime and we did have a little detour, but um um we did we did get to it. So I was glad
098that the full discussion thought it was good. There's a lot lot of stuff I learned through the process to um so grateful for that. Um just quick comment. I mean uh again sour here but just just awesome feeling with uh winning that award and you know Ken just get on the job immediately award uh you were part of it. You were there the whole time uh for both awards. Uh just thank you for that and just we're not here. secretary or county exe. I was very appreciative when he said how they only get a few of those. He chose to to try one for us to actually work for the legislator for that. That was definitely pretty cool. Um, I was privileged. I was the principal uh in 2007 when we dedicated the library to
099to Allison's uh father. Um, meeting him was was very special for me because he was very heavily involved with high school. Um, he did pass soon thereafter. So, it was a nice satisfaction that we're able to dedicate a lot of information there. Um, And I remember he was a wheelchair. So we were going up there and uh just uh he was a whippers snapper. He was very uh alert and uh quite a meeting. So that was I'm glad he brought that up. Um but also just thank you to uh Dan for the world language dinner today. That was pretty cool seeing everyone and they had team shirts. I don't know if everyone noticed that. All the the foreign language teachers wear the same shirt. caught a picture of it. Um, that was a nice, it
100was actually perfect timing so the board could actually come in and see that a little bit. Uh, probably couldn't meet because we had a meeting, but maybe next time be able to do that. Um, so, uh, thank you for that and thank you for the presentation. >> How'd you get all those students to come? That was terrific. >> Very worried this morning at Professional Development is >> I don't know how many students are coming. I said, "But I know Claire will be there." >> That was a very good turnout. >> Nice to see. That was what we were hoping for, and I appreciate that. >> That's great. >> Okay. Thank you. That I'll ask for a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Second. Second. All in favor? Thank you. We'll see you next time.