001Okay. All right. Good evening and welcome. This is the regular meeting of the Suffren Central School District Board of Education for Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. We are recalling the meeting to order. Uh may the record reflect that all board members are present except for uh Tom Donnelly and Daryl Frasier. And uh we are fortunate enough to have our two new exeicio student board members with us tonight. Uh Mr. Robert, also known as Robbie Schwarz and Miss Joy Yin. Welcome. We're so happy you could be with us. And we are going to begin with the pledge of >> allegiance. 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. >> Okay. Our first matter is 1.07 7
002which is the public hearing on the proposed 2025 2026 code of conduct. Is there anyone who's here from the public who is here just to speak on the proposed code of conduct? Okay, it looks like no one is here for that. So we are going to close that portion of the meeting and we are going to move uh to our student board member report. >> And so before we start with the student board member report, we have to make them official here. Um, I just want to welcome Robbie Schwarz and Joy Yin for on to to be here as exeicio members of the board of education. Uh, the Suffren Central School District is thrilled that you are dedicating yourself to this service. It's very important because you end up being the voice for all 4,000
003students in the Suffentral School District. Um, you're representing them. It doesn't mean that you have to meet with all 4,000 students, but you are the voice and you're the opportunity for the board of education and the senior administration to hear what's on the minds of our students. Uh, and so we really look forward to this first year of having two, not just one, but two exeicio members of the board of education. And exeicio simply means that you are board members, but you are nonvoting board members. wouldn't be right to have you be able to vote because you would have to be elected by the constituents of the Suffren Central School District. So that's why you get to sit up here at the table. You get to offer opinions. You may be asked questions from time
004to time from board members to get student input and to be a part of the process. So we're thrilled to have you on board here. Um we are not getting rid of the student reports that our board of education really values. Uh so we are going to continue with that tradition. But before we do that, because you are going to be exeicio board members, we are going to swear you in. So, I'm going to ask our district clerk, Miss Heather Campbell, to go ahead and lead you in the swearing in. We both just need to come up here. [Music] Okay, you one at a time. Raise your right hand and repeat that. I, Joy Yin, >> I, Joy Yin, >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will faithfully serve >> as the ex official student
005board member >> of the suff central school district board of education >> of the suff school district board of education. >> Okay. in accordance with the Constitution of the United States. >> in accordance with the Constitution of the United States. >> The Constitution of the State of New York. >> The Constitution of the State of New York. >> The laws of the state of New York. >> And the policies of the Southern Central School District >> and the policies of the Southern Central School District >> To the best of my ability. I will fairly represent >> I will fairly represent >> the interests and concerns of my fellow students >> the interests and concerns of my fellow students >> with integrity, honesty, and dedication. >> I pledge to uphold >> the values of our school
006community >> to listen with an open mind >> and to contribute thoroughly to discussions >> and and to contribute thoroughly to discussions. I recognize the importance of my role >> I recognize the importance of my role >> in advising and informing the board >> on matters affecting students >> I will strive to be a positive role model and leader >> I will strive to be a positive role model and leader >> setting an example of respect responsibility >> setting a respons >> setting an example of respect responsibility >> responsibility >> and civic engagement for my peers and civic engagement for my peers. >> I will perform my duties >> to the best of my ability. >> Always striving to enhance >> the educational experience for all. >> Congratulations. >> Raise your right hand. Repeat after
007me. I, Robert Schwarz, >> I, Robert Schwarz, >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will faithfully serve >> as exeicio student board member >> of the Suffren Central School District Board of Education >> of the Suffren Central School District Board of Education >> in accordance with the Constitution of the United States >> in accordance with the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the State of New York >> the Constitution of the State of New York >> the laws of the state of New York, >> and the policies of the Suff Central School District. >> and the policies of the Suff Central School District >> To the best of my ability, >> I will fairly represent >> the interests and concerns of my fellow students >> the interests and concerns of my fellow
008students. >> with integrity, honesty, and dedication, >> I pledge to uphold >> the values of our school community. to listen with an open mind. >> to listen with an open mind >> and to contribute thoroughly to discussions >> and to contribute thoroughly to discussions. >> I recognize the importance of my role >> in advising and informing the board >> on matters affecting students. I will strive to be a positive role model, model and leader. >> I will strive to be a positive role model and leader. >> Setting an example of respect, responsibility >> setting an example of respect, responsibility >> and civic engagement for my peers. >> I will perform my duties >> to the best of my ability. >> Always striving to enhance >> the educational experience for all. Congratulations. >> So, I find
009it very interesting for for two non- voting board members, I think your oath um was probably three times as long as uh as regular board members, right? Like that was impressive the length of dedication that you have to uh to proclaim to the Suffren Central School District. But we know that you're going to do a great job. So, in all seriousness, we are thrilled to have you on the board of education. And that being said, I'll ask one of you to push the button to turn on the microphone, maybe move it a little bit closer to yourselves when you're giving the report, and you can swing that arm back and forth to whoever is speaking. And so now we'll turn it over to you for our student reports. >> Hi, my one, two. Hi, my
010name is Robert Schwarz. I'm a senior at Southern High School and and I'm thrilled to be here. Aren't we all thrilled to not uh have summer? Aren't we all thrilled to be here? I am. So, I'd like to thank Dr. Gunderson and the board of education for having us here today and have a good night. So, um, school started on Thursday of last week and of course the big thing is with the phone policy per New York state law. Students are not allowed to have their phones bell to bell. So 7:30 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. as opposed to the pouches where students were forced to just put their phone in a pouch and then just get it at the end of class and have it at lunch. Um so so far what I've seen is
011heightened student engagement in class. Lunch the aim so far is what I've seen is to be more social and it's a little too early but I think that we've improved on social ability. So, so far I think the policy has gone pretty decent so far. Um, so we've had our grade level assemblies on Monday and Tuesday, seniors and juniors yesterday and sophomores and freshman today where Dr. Adler went over expectations for the school year, attendance, and other objectives that we are expected to meet this year. So club meetings are starting to become more common. Sports are starting up. Tomorrow we have a USO meeting for anyone who wants to join or currently existing USO members and ballplay auditions for anyone wanting to be involved in clue. So that's fun. And I'll hand it over to
012Joy. >> Last week and this week sports activities started again at Sephron High School. at Suffford Middle School. Last Friday, the first football game occurred where many students came to support the team. This Friday, the football team plays again against John J. East Fishkill in an home game at Suff Middle School. Boys soccer also won against Pearl River yesterday. So, good job to that team as well. This Saturday, September 13th, the SAT exam will be offered at Suffren High School for our juniors and seniors. Um, good luck to everybody who is registered. Next Tuesday, September 16th, meet the teacher night is happening at 7 Suffren High School at 7:00 p.m. And before that, 9th grade um families will be able to meet with their guidance counselors at around 6:15 p.m. College visits are also starting
013Monday, September 21st, and TVs already have running lists of what colleges are visiting, and students will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from different colleges before applying and consider their options. Hokco tickets are also starting this week of September 21st with our homecoming dance being on October 4th. Thank you. All right, that was excellent. Thank you so much. Um and that was a a great job also on that really long oath. Um if you ever decide to just run to be a regular school board member, the oath is like um a fifth as long as that. So that's good. Um but very very good student board member report. You have anything else or should I continue on? >> Uh no, I have a superintendent's report, but when you're ready for that >> minutes first.
014All right. Okay. Uh next on the agenda is minutes of the regular meeting of August 26, 2020. I think that should be 2025. Um, so we're just going to do a little quick amendment there. Has everyone had a chance to review the minutes? Yes. Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? Mr. Shapiro. Second, Mrs. Brian. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? Okay. Superintendent's comments. >> Thank you very much. We're just trying to work out the beginning of school year kinks. And of course, I forgot one of the most important questions. So, just when you thought you were off and you could relax a little bit, uh, I forgot to ask you to introduce yourselves to the Suffin Central community and tell us a little bit about
015yourself. Uh, so Robbie, you want to go ahead and and start off? >> So, my name is Robert Schwarz. I go by Robbie, but if you call me Robert, I'll only be a little really mad. That's all. So, I'm involved in a lot of clubs regarding music and sports. I played football for 5 years and I also joined the crew team coming off a Rockland Cup championship win for boys and girls. And I also do a lot of music and drama activities. I've been in the Suffford Marching Band since seventh grade. I was in the pit orchestra for the spring musical in ninth and tth grade, but I've done the cast since 11th grade. I joined the fall play this year. I'll be auditioning tomorrow for Clue. I also do select choir and brass choir
016and jazz band. I play the trumpet. I sing and I also play the piano on the side. And I also was invited to All State for Voice in on the weekend of December 4th this upcoming year. >> Thank you. >> Very nice. Very. And now you're next official board member as well. So add that to your to your resume. Yeah. That's right. >> Joy. How about you? >> Hi, I'm Joy. I'm also a senior at Suffren High School. Like Robbie, I'm also a little involved in music. Um, I play piano outside of school, but mostly I am involved in our athletics as well. I am on the varsity, cross country, and track and field teams. And outside of athletics, I am co-founder and co-president of the Asian-American Cultural Club at Sephron High School, as well
017as co-vice president of our DECA chapter and co-president of our Best Buddies chapter. >> That's wonderful. Thank you so much, Joy. Um to begin my superintendence report, um I just want to say that we've had uh an incredibly smooth opening to the school year. I couldn't be more happy with uh the smooth operation of each of our schools. Our transportation issues have never been this low in the last 5 years. Um of course that does not mean things are perfect, but we have had a very smooth opening with regards to transportation overall. Our elementary schools uh were humming on the first day. If you recall back a year ago, it was our first day of the elementary school restructuring. We can check the box and say we are now officially restructured. Uh this is normal
018operations for us now. And you could tell teachers were comfortable, students were more comfortable, parents were more comfortable. Of course, every school had its set of new students and new parents as well, but um it was really a nice difference to see things moving very smoothly. Um, we have our new Suffren Middle School schedule in place, which we're very excited about, which is going to offer students a variety of additional opportunities for enrichment as well as some basic skills support to get them um really uh personalized to what their needs are. Our student reps mentioned the new cell phone policy, which has been in place in our elementary schools and our middle schools for quite some time, but it's new to the high school. And I just had a conversation with Dr. Adler today to
019see from his perspective how things were going and he couldn't compliment the teachers and the students enough for recognizing that this is something that we have to do. They're doing it and we're starting to see some of the positive benefits. So, it's great. Um, we have a huge uh logistical operation that took place throughout last year and this summer and that was rolling over into a new more modernized student information system where we are going to see the benefits. We've already seen some of the benefits of this student information system already, but we are going to be rolling out more and more features of this new what we call SIS. It'll benefit students and parents getting more timely information about student performance, attendance, grades, you name it. And it's uh it's going to allow us
020to analyze data in a much more efficient manner. So, we're excited about that. That's the synergy system. Um, we also been uh trying to finalize our blueprint. Otherwise, another word for strategic plan. Want to thank the 70 some odd community members that came out a few weeks ago to meet in this room here to provide their feedback. Everyone who's uh submitted their thoughts on thought exchange back in the spring and our administrative team just met with our facilitator just yesterday to begin to finalize action plans for how we can put this blueprint into play. And I'll be very excited to share what that blueprint looks like to the school board and community uh hopefully by our next meeting. And of course with the beginning of school and athletics, I was out there on some of
021the fields today. What a beautiful day for some competitions and Mounty Pride. We also have our meet the teacher nights coming up. So that starts off tomorrow with Cherry Lane followed by sixth grade and so on and so forth. We'll be having all sorts of parents walking through the buildings seeing how great it is to be a suffering central county. And thus concludes my superintendent report. >> Okay, thank you very much. All kinds of great developments. Um we are now going to move on to the second of our public participation sections tonight. Uh this is on action items only. Action items are on our agenda tonight at 2.01 through 2.14. Is there anyone who is here from the public to speak specifically on an action item? Okay, looks like not. So, we're going to close
022that portion of the meeting and move on to our action items. Uh, prior to asking for a consent agenda, is there any item that any board member would like to pull? >> Yes, I'd like to pull 2.14, please. >> Okay. 2.14. Anybody else? Okay. All right. Uh, in that case, do I have a motion for a consent agenda to approve items 2.01 through 2.13? >> Mrs. Hodgej second. Mr. Andert. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? Okay. Uh, moving on to item number 2.14. Do I have a motion to open this item up? Mr. Shapiro. Second. Miss Brian. All in favor signify by saying I I Oh, just for discussion. >> Okay. >> Yes. Uh and uh discussion on 2.14. This is Hodgej. Um I I I don't have um
023any issue or concern with the majority of the code of conduct. Um but to no one's surprise, at least in this room, I'm sure. Um I do have some concerns with 5300. 5 the dress code and not even all of it just certain parts of it that I believe uh could use some attention and perhaps uh adjustments with language. Um primarily the opening paragraph um where it's referred to teachers and all other district personnel should exemplify find and reinforce acceptable student dress. I think the word acceptable is vague. it's open to interpretation. I think it's troubling in the regard of it being like part of an actual code of conduct. And then to follow um that teachers and staff should help students develop an understanding of again appropriate appearance which I believe is undefined and
024vague and open to interpretation. Um then numbers two and three um I would like to see adjusted you know with the language associated. Number two it refers to extremely brief which again is open to interpretation undefined. That's a lot of responsibility on teachers and staff to make the determination of what is in fact appropriate um in a school setting. And then number two again ref I'm sorry. Number two refers to extremely brief and see-through garments. Um you know I could wear a tank top and then like maybe a see-through top over it. Um so I think that could use some adjustment in the language. And then number three underwear is completely covered. You know a bra strap could accidentally be showing or you know maybe a waistband or something like that. So, uh I'm not
025particularly fond of number three either. Um mostly it's the vague undefined um definitions of what's appropriate and acceptable. And um just to follow with the extremely brief um we all know statistically speaking and based on articles that are in somewhat of an abundance that um girls of color um girls that develop earlier than other girls and girls that are overweight are disproportionately targeted and really girls in general. So, um, although the rest of the code of conduct seems appropriate and even the rest of the dress code I think seems fine, those are my reasons why I'm going to vote no. Thank you. There any other comments, questions from board members? >> Okay, thank you. All right. Anything else? Okay, we're going to close discussion then and uh take a vote. Um all in favor of
026approving uh 2.14, which is a 2025 2026 code of conductify by saying I. I >> I Mr. Shapiro. >> I obain. >> You're abstaining. Okay. And uh Miss Hajj, >> No. Uh and is that to the entire code of conduct or just a 5300.25? If it could be just for the 5300.25, then yes, it's my only no. >> Okay, Mr. Shapiro, >> I'm abstaining because of this section because if this section probably should have been clean cleaned up >> and it probably was [Music] Uh I think Dr. Gunderson um has some comments. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Hopefully I can answer some of the questions here. Um so at our last meeting when we introduced that we were going to be um having to do the the yearly task of approving the code of conduct. code
027of conduct is essential for building administrators to be able to rely on when they are making sure that students are upholding certain standards. Um, and so I want to be careful that we are not just looking at one particular policy that a group of board members may take issue with because that is something that we can and in this particular case with the dress code policy, we've been talking about for quite some time and now we are in the last portion of our data analysis or data collection phase for the dress code. If the board recalls, the policy committee has been tasking particularly the middle school and the high school administration with keeping track of students who have been quote unquote dresscoded so we can analyze the data and then determine as a policy committee
028how we want to change the language of that policy. I would like us to maintain that position that we've started with, that we've told our building administrators we are going to be doing, and finish that study at the end of the warm season, if you will, uh, and adjust the language accordingly. But until then, until the policy committee potentially changes anything after looking at that data and has a first reading and a second reading, we really need to rely on our code of conduct. So, as I said in the last meeting, I've given permission to our building administrators to address students who have been quote unquote dresscoded from an administrative standpoint. Teachers are not involved and we are collecting data so we can analyze this. If we don't approve a code of conduct tonight based
029on an ongoing study, um that is going to be problematic for our building administrators. And Mr. Shapiro, you recall being a building administrator, you need to be able to rely on the set of rules and those set of rules have been deviated a little bit based on my permission and the support of the policy committee for the dress code. So, I would ask the board to reconsider and approve the code of conduct so our schools can function. And in due time, I think Miss Hajj has brought up this on a number of occasions, has some very good points that I know the policy committee is addressing, but let's go through the proper channels and changing that policy. >> Are we unable to vote yes on the rest of the code of conduct and only no
030on >> No, it's all or nothing. We need to be able to operate and as I've indicated at the last meeting, we have this if we want to call it data collection taking place right now. So that way at the end of the warm season when our policy committee meets that is when the policy committee is going to determine are we going to change the dress code policy or are we going to keep it the same. I'm assuming that the policy committee is going to adjust it and then it'll come to the board of education for a first and second reading and then we'll be moving forward in the direction that the majority of the board wants to go in. For right now, we simply just need to approve that these are the rules that
031are taking place right now. And Miss Hajj, as I've mentioned, we've tweaked the rules a little bit for the dress code policy to collect that data. If I may add, I am inherently concerned that if this is an ongoing issue and has been brought up prior in previous discussions, how much of a tweak has been tweaked? One. Two, I would prefer a definitive date versus an up in the airy fairy version of when it's warm season is over for when this can be addressed. Three. My question, can administration use this grandfathered in code of conduct to conduct activities and the board still vote no on the existing asis version. I find it problematic to say yes to an entire document and have that be law and not have any sort of fixed remedy provided moving
032forward to say this is the timeline. Something's going to happen as of this date. We're going to address this by the next board meeting. This will be completely cleaned up for us to move forward with. So I recognize your point. I can certainly provide the board with a specific date when I can bring this to the policy committee. But remember the policy committee has not to this date said that they want to change this policy. We have to go through the proper channels and it's the policy committee of the board of education that needs to make the directive to me to change the policy. So to to vote no for the code of conduct at this point is putting our building administrators in a difficult spot and it's also not going through the proper channels.
033So I can have we can call for uh a policy committee meeting for next week. We can call one for tomorrow if or two days from now if we'd like because we have to get 48 hours notice. We can certainly do that. But it still takes the policy committee to tell me what you want to change differently because policy is something that the board does decide. Tell me what the policy should read and then we move forward with a first and second reading. But that does differ from what the directive of the policy committee was at our last meeting in the spring which was keep collecting this data because not that much data was really collected where students were being dresscoded. So, we were looking to collect more data throughout the fall season so that
034the policy committee could make the appropriate changes, but we can speed that process up. I just need a code of conduct in order to operate the schools. >> What's the timeline for data collection to end? >> We'd agree that it was going to be through the warm season. So, I can see your point about a specific date. I can put out a specific date as October 15th and say that's when our window will close and then we'll convene the policy committee right after that. Okay. Any other comments? >> No. Okay. Well, yes. >> Yes. Okay. Go ahead. >> Okay. So I now will vote in favor. But it is this part of the code of conduct must be addressed. And if October 5 15th, I mean that's trying to think if that's a football game
035that weekend or something. No, that's the middle of the week. I think um I think that's fine. But I I I think that we should call a policy committee meeting um within 48 hours or c certainly, you know, very soon and um and start working on, you know, on the language and and and what we're really trying trying to say in terms of what this dress dress code should should be. And I and Jen, I don't know if you're on that committee or not. Okay. Are you in that committee, too? >> No. Well, >> I am. >> Oh, well, you are now. >> Okay. >> I'm on that committee, too. >> Hi, everybody. I guess I'm on that committee. Okay. So, um Okay. So, my my days are free or my evenings are free. And
036uh >> again, I just I just want to reiterate I I appreciate that. I want to reiterate the fact that we we really can't vote we can but to vote no on a code of conduct even if you're voting no because you disagree in principle with what the dress code policy is in that code of conduct then you're not pro we're not voting on what the alternative is. So what will the dress code policy be? Even if we were to agree tonight uniformly go outside the process that the policy committee is supposed to be the one determining this and then bringing to the board. But let's say the board said, "We're going to figure this out tonight in a in a meeting." We still have to go through a first reading so that the public
037then can have a voice, a second reading so the public can have a voice, and until then, we have no code of conduct. So that's why I completely respect and in many cases agree with the points that are being brought up about the dress code and that's why the dress code policy is being reviewed right now. But we need to continue to have a set of laws to be operating under. >> Right. >> Madame Chairman, what is the standard for approving an issue like this until October board meeting and have it revisited again and up for vote again in the October meeting? Like can can the policy be approved for an interim? So that administration is not left in the lurch. But still make a point of it that certain members of this board wants
038action on this clause effective post information from from the data that's being collected. >> Yeah. So the code of conduct is basically saying it's giving a check to the building administrators that you're able to operate under this these set of rules. Whenever the board after they have the second reading and they approve any new policy in the code of conduct or any policy in the district but specifically to the code of conduct, the code of conduct automatically changes. So, as soon as there's a a positive vote for whatever the changes are to the dress code policy, we don't have to go back out for another vote on approving the code of conduct. If midyear we're changing any of those policies as soon as as long as it goes through a first reading and a second
039reading, then it's in play. >> So, it's up to the policy committee to have this expedited for hypothetically, Miss Hajj, a October, November, December board meeting. Hypothetically, if the policy committee expedites all of this, hypothetically, >> Miss Haj, >> the sooner the better, >> the policy committee could tell me, "Let's have a meeting ASAP and you could say, forget the data collection. Forget the input from the administration that they're, you know, the data that they're gathering. this is what we want to form and we want to go out for our first reading at the next board meeting. You can do that too. So you can really move this forward as long as the two out of the three members of the policy committee are in agreement to bring it to the board and then of
040course the board has to have a majority vote to vote in favor of that revised policy. >> For for clarity and I apologize for my novice in terms of this. Um what are the repercussions to administration if this is not approved today? >> Then all the rules that pertain to students are not intact. So if we issue discipline on any student then a student or a parent can challenge that decision and say well that's not what the board of education has said. So it can be any sort of disciplinary action doesn't get carried over. >> Is that because the code of conduct has expired? It has not been approved. Correct. And in addition to that, remember we don't issue consequences for dress code violations right now. Right. And Miss Hajj, you've been involved in these
041conversations and you've been supportive of what our temporary administrative override has been for this while we collect data, which is teachers are not to approach students about concerns about uh dress code, but they are to refer those concerns to the administration who's handled those sensitively, has collected data, and has we've shared the data that we've collected with you. >> Absolutely correct. No doubt. Um but there were two separate lanes. One is the enforcement of the dress code which is being addressed with this process which is great but it still doesn't we still haven't addressed the problematic dress code itself. I appreciate what the administration has done and is doing with regard to enforcement of the dress code where teachers and staff are not to um mention a a girl's body or clothing uh on the
042spot in the moment because it doesn't feel good. um and that it should be enforced in a different way at this point in which that staff brings it to the administration etc. And that is fine. Um however, the other lane is the problematic dress code itself. So yes, you're correct. I have been part of that and on the policy committee since I've been on the board and I've been >> hoping to address these big undefined statuses or what wording um you know from day one. >> Yes, you have been adamant on that. Absolutely. Um I think perhaps some of the difficulty here is that the schedule to approve the code of conduct is different than the schedule of the policy committee and the schedule for data gathering. And so these things are falling at different
043times which is causing a problem for uh people who would like to see more information or more policies changed before the code of conduct is approved. But the code of conduct is a substantial document and it does pertain also to attendance and discipline and building safety and a number of other matters that are also um crucial to the operation of the schools. And we do need four votes to approve the code of conduct for it to be approved tonight. Um, I would also add that, you know, during the school year, policies are reviewed if laws change, if there's directives that come down from the governor or from the New York State School Boards Association. So while we approve this version right now so that the schools can operate, it doesn't mean that we don't reconsider
044certain policies as uh the situation changes or as we receive advice um from other organizations that we need to take a look at those so it does not keep the board from continuing to work on the dress code policy. And I know uh that many board members have been anxious to see improvement, revision, um better language, any number of things. And these are they very wellfounded objections and very reasonable objections to the way the policy is written. Um, so, um, unless we have any more comment, I think it would be good to take a vote on the code of conduct so that the district can, uh, can move forward and the schools can operate with the caveat that we're all aware that there are objections to the dress code policy as written, that it's not
045being enforced as written, that it is being enforced um, according to what Dr. Gunderson has advised principles and assistant principles to do and that the policy committee will be meeting uh very shortly to decide what the final version should be and then present that to the board for comment and approval. Does that sound good? Okay. All right. Uh all in favor of approving 2.14 code of conduct signify by saying I. I. Okay. Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm opposed. >> Okay. Very well. All right. Uh opposed from Miss Hodgej. So, we do have four votes in favor. So, the matter is approved. Okay. This, uh, concludes our action items, and we're going to move on to 3.01, which is board member comments. Do any board members have any comments tonight? >> Ryan,
046>> quick question. Um, the agenda remained as is. uh the the action items >> from our last email, M Dr. Gunderson, because I literally um action items one two to 2.13. I made a note in our email. >> Yes. Uh you're talking about the architectural um approvals. Yes. Those were removed yesterday. I sent a an email this afternoon to the board letting the board know that the contract was not um >> so it's here. >> It should not be on there. That's that's an outdated uh printout then. I apologize for that. >> Um yes, those architectural contracts were not finalized yet. Um as many members of the board of education know, but I'll share with the public. Um we have gone out um for um requests for proposals from architectural firms to talk about a
047potential um bond referendum work. And so um we were expecting to have that contract um for the architectural firm that was um that won the RFP, but there were some last minute details that our attorney felt needed to be addressed. So, we decided to pull back on the um the approval for the contract as well as for the um who was going to be awarded the RFP. So, those two were pulled back. I expect to have those on at the next board meeting. >> So, if that's the case and my second point in my email addressed the incorrect agreement date for Learnwell, then action 2.05 05 as well should be pulled until that agreement contract date for payment terms is fixed. >> Yeah. So when you emailed me I I emailed the full board to
048let them know and you know that there was a mistake there that we were changing it. I think it said in there 2025 and it should be 2026. So we've made that change and it's been updated on board docs. >> Thank you. >> And yes I recognize that you have a paper copy there that you don't have a device in front of you but it's been updated. Uh, so anybody in the public can see that that's been updated. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other comments from any board members? Mr. Shapiro? >> Yes. >> I keep on forgetting to put this on. Can you hear me without this? Okay. >> People at home. Oh, I'm sorry. The people at home, you should be here. Um just about the um lower Hudson Ed ed
049educational coalition ser survey which all the board members should have should have received. It's very important that you fill that out. Um Rocken County is part of uh LHC which is Westchester, Rockland, Duchess, Orange and Putnham. And um Westchester is a very large county, but whenever this survey comes out, Rocken County has about 85 to 90% of its board members who fill out the survey, while I think West Westchester is probably somewhere between 40 and 50%. Which shows you that we're better than Westchester. And um Orange County hadn't been part of it, but now now they are. Um but uh please as uh my fellow board members please make sure that you do fill out that survey. Um it'll probably take you approximately 10 10 minutes. Um there were some very important issues there that
050um they're asking you about and if you feel that it's important towards suffering um please mark it as such. And that's my comment. Oh no I'm sorry. Joy and Robbie, welcome to the board. >> And it's a pleasure to have you guys here and I'm glad that um we have a crew member and a track and field member. It's good to have Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other board member comments? S. >> Yes. I'd like to welcome Ravi and Joy too. We're so happy to have you here sitting up at the deis rather than the old days where our student representative sat and ran out after which was fine. Um but we're we're happy to have you up here with us and and joining the team. So welcome. Hey uh any comments from our
051student board members tonight? No. Okay, that's fine. All right. Uh yes. Uh welcome. Uh my welcome extends to you as well. We're happy to have you here and um uh thank you from the comments from all of our other board members tonight. Uh it's been a great summer. If you've been following along with anything in the news, you might see that the Challenger Center um awarded us a very substantial amount of money to the district as well as equipment. So, we should hopefully see that um going into place this year. Um we had our cell phone policy covered by LO Hood. So, all kinds of good things in the news about suffering um which has been great. And uh that concludes my comments. Um we are now going to move on to the public participation
052part of this meeting. This is our third public participation section. This is on any district related business. If you are here to speak about any district related business, please approach the lectern. Please give us your name. Uh please do not speak about any staff member, student, teacher uh specifically by name in the district. And please keep your comments to three minutes. Is there anyone who is here to speak from the public on any district related business? Yes, ma'am. Please approach the the lectern over there. There's a microphone as well. Hi, my name is Na Louch. I just wanted to bring to the board's attention that we're having some struggles with busing for non-public school transportation. So in our private school and and most of the private schools, we have different dismissal times at a few
053times a day. So the transportation is only providing um busing for one time a day per school. So that means that even parents who work full-time, we have to be transporting our kids back and forth at different times a day. So, we're asking if you can I don't know if it's a widespread issue, but if it's not, maybe we can have like a smaller van that could take care of that issue so we don't have parents, you know, we we got over the summer, but now we're like back to like, you know, a double job now of working full-time and then having to bust our kids back and forth at 3:00 at 5:30 at different times. So, if you can do anything about it, we'd appreciate it. Kim. >> Thank you, Miss Felch. Is there
054anyone else who is here to speak from the public on any district related business? Yes, ma'am. >> Hi, my name is Gety Tower. I'm nowhere near as eloquent as you guys. Nobody's staring at me. It's making me nervous, but um it's about the busing again. Um I just want to give you guys an example of what a day looks like for me. And I don't even work full-time. Um, I have a daughter who's 10, my son is six, my baby is three. Um, the we live on a culde-sac, so the buses don't come in. They have my two big ones have two different busing times, which means that we're at the corner with all three kids for close to an hour and I have to go drive through all the traffic and drop my son
055off. And um, I don't know if you've ever been with a three-year-old in a car. It's not fun. Um, so we what ends up happening is my husband takes my son to school and then we have to pick him up because he gets dismissed at 3:00 and not at 4:00 when school has busing times. It's it's a mess. And I'm I know I'm not the only one. Um, I don't know why there aren't more more people here, but everybody I talked to is just really struggling. And I get that there's so much logistics involved. Um, and I'm sure that this is not the first time you guys are hearing about this. Um I do want to suggest if we can maybe just something small um let let the parents track the buses because if we
056have to be waiting at the bus stop that and then suffering gives the buses like a 20 minute window it makes things really difficult whereas if we knew when the bus would come we can just head out two minutes before that. Um, sorry, I'm just going to look through my Um, and as far as the culdesac as well, I know this has been probably brought up like adosium. Um, my culde-sac in particular, the stop is on route 202, which is really unsafe. Um, my street is curved, which means that my like cars can't see if my daughter's walking. There's also no sidewalk, so she'll have to walk on neighbors lawns. um that doesn't I'm not even talking about the um like the animals and you know all that stuff. Um and the bus drivers come
057in past our house and make a huge turn and go back out every single one of them. Um there was a a story last year where it was pouring rain. It was freezing cold. The bus driver would drop my daughter off at the corner and she had to walk home while the bus driver passed my house. Um it's just little things that probably are not even like logistically that difficult to figure out. I feel like with the culdeac thing, um, for the sake of efficiency, maybe the families on that street can vote where the stop should be. Um, because if it's at the corner versus in the middle of the street, I'm saying like it's the same amount of time efficiency wise. Um, but yeah, that's Sorry if that was a little disjointed, but thank
058you for listening. >> Thank you very much. Is there anyone else who's here to speak? Yes, ma'am. Hi. Um, my name is Ricky Nyman. Um, nice to meet you all here tonight. So, very similar to what you've heard before. There are a lot of transportation issues, uh, very lengthy bus rides. The kids are on the bus for an hour plus. Um, one of my neighbors, the kid was on the bus for 2 hours. Since the onset of transportation, I know you mentioned that uh transportation has going very well without a glitch maybe for the public school students but not for the private school students. Um so I think that that needs to be that should be fixed. I think that the maximum bus rides for the kids should be up to 45 minutes and not
059not an hour and definitely not two. So that's a very big concern. And the second one is the also the staggered dismissals. Our school has different timings of when the students begin. Some students begin at 7:30, others at 9:00 and then dismissals are from 3:00 and on. And our kids are dismissed are dismissed at several times. So, I think that they should be be provided with more than one bus, not just a 4:00 dismissal. They should have a 3 and a 5:30. Those are my my two boys. I don't have transportation for either one of them. I have a three, I have a 5:30 and I have other little kids at home and I'm just constantly running to school to pick them up every day. It's um it's much. So, those are my two concerns.
060And I would would like for them to be addressed and help I I would like for you to help us. It's very important. Thank you very much. Is there anyone else here to speak on any matter, any district related matter? Okay, we're going to close that portion of the meeting. Thank you very much to all of our speakers tonight. Uh, and we're going to move to superintendent's closing comments. Um, just for a point of clarification on the architectural bid award, that item is empty, correct, on the agenda. Okay. Because there was nothing to include. Okay. Very well. So, there really wasn't anything that we approved because there was no item there. Okay. Superintendent's closing comments. >> Thank you very much. Um, I would like to to comment a couple things on on transportation. So, first
061of all, if you can make sure that um Miss um Heather Campbell, our district clerk, has your name and phone number, uh we'll make sure that somebody reaches out to you this week to talk about your specific challenges that you're facing. Um I would like to remind um folks here and the board and the public that the school district has been making significant strides to work with the non-public community to improve busing services for for schools. Um we have I don't know the exact number right now. Um, but we have a an ever growing number of private schools that have contracted with the school district to provide their own transportation to students in part because the policy of the board of education is that we have one drop off and and one pickup um like
062was referenced before, but many of our non-public schools have as many as three different drop uh pickup and drop off times. So, by partnering with the private schools where they're able to provide their own transportation, um those private schools are able to accommodate more of those um start and end times. But I look forward to having conversations with each of the three people here. Somebody from our the district office will be in touch with you to get specific information about your particular struggles so we can see if there's anything that we can do to address those. So, thank you very much for coming out tonight. Um and finally um I just want to mention that our exeicial board members are not only responsible for representing the viewpoints of the high school students but also the
063middle school and the elementary schools which may seem like a huge and is a huge task. We're going to make it manageable for them so they don't have to make visits to each of the schools. Um, but I'm going to be working with the principles to determine how um, student leaders in each of those schools are able to access you if they have a particular topic that they would like to have brought up here at a board meeting or if you're looking for feedback from students at the elementary or the middle school, how you can go about that. So, we'll establish some mechanisms for that in the coming days. All right, this concludes my superintendent report. >> Okay, thank you very much. Um, our next meeting will be September 30th. um right back here in
064Hillburn and we'll be welcoming our new staff members at that meeting which is always a really wonderful thing to um um meet and welcome them all in person uh by the board of education. Uh so at this time uh do I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? >> Mrs. Hajj second. >> Mr. Shapiro all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All right. Very well. We will see everyone back here on September 30th. Thank you.