001Good evening everyone. Today is uh Tuesday, December 9th, 2025. This is a regular meeting of the board of education. Um can I have a motion to call the meeting to order? All in favor? First order of business is pledge of allegiance. Okay. Um, next is to convene a public hearing. Can I have a motion to convene the public hearing? Second, Joel. All in favor? Um, any public comments on the districtwide safety and emergency plan of 2025 2026? A motion to close the public hearing to adjourn the public hearing. Second, Joel. All in favor? Okay. And now we are up to our student recognition. It is my pleasure to um recognize the students in the arts and athletics who will be recognized for their achievements. >> Great. Thank you, Madam President. So, we're excited to have
002a number of special guests with us this evening to celebrate their outstanding accomplishments through the start of the school year to this point. Uh this time I'm going to ask that one of our teachers, Mr. Charles Dto, if you would come to the podium and start to recognize some of our outstanding students in the arts and their achievements. Thank you, Mr. D. I have to go first. Okay. Uh good good evening everybody. I'm thrilled to recognize some of our outstanding student musicians tonight. Um, first off, we have our area all state chorus students, Ari Shaheen, KG Nakco, and Maya Sarma were all selected by Mr. Fernandez to represent Tahoe for their exceptional musicianship and leadership in chorus. Yeah, I don't we maybe come up here at the end, but uh also in area all orchestra.
003Um, seats there are earned strictly by your NISMA score and competition to get in is incredibly fierce. Our own Vincent Handy, also a member of the football team, achieved the impressive distinction of he was principal or assistant principal second violin in the orchestra. So, he was like right there in the middle of it all. So, congratulations to Vincent. So the these students it was a demanding they had in a short amount of time they had what was it three fourhour long rehearsals which is pretty four hours is a long a long time to sit learning challenging music alongside peers that they'd never performed with before. They all rose to the occasion admirably and represented Taco beautifully. So a big hand for all of them. Also, just uh a few other things. I'd like to recognize
004the entire cast of the Middle School Musical Diary of a Wimpy Kid. A show that honestly was much better than it had any business being. These kids were amazing. Um and a special recognition goes out to the two stars Kaden Grande and Jack Tarter for their standout performances as Greg and Rowley. They were amazing. Uh this past weekend, some of our students were featured in the Conservatory just around the corner. They have they do a holiday musical that they it's a new musical every year that they have written. Um and Taco High School Middle School students we had Colin and Gemma Chalk as well as Meline Manion along with college performers Hudson Axel Hudson and Maya Buzzio Cameron and Elliot Horowitz and Zoe Hug all represented Tuco wonderfully. and I had the pleasure of serving
005as the music director and was proud to showcase Tuahoo in our region for the arts. So, uh, that was terrific. And of course, it's December, which we know that means it's concert season. The middle school high school chorus performed wonderfully last night and tomorrow night is our middle and high school band and jazz band performing. Codle chorus is Thursday night. My strings, middle school and high school, will be Monday the 15th. And then we finish out uh Wednesday night with the cotle band and shrimp. So all of our students are working super hard and we hope to see many of you at these events. So I will say again to our area all state students and maybe you guys want to come up. We have if you're here we get your own uh certificate here.
006So congratulations to all of our music students. We're proud of your artistry, dedication, and the spirit you bring to the district. And I would say And I would also just say thank you to our administration and to the board of education and to our community for supporting the arts in Taco. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you very much Mr. And thank you and congratulations to all of our students and student athletes that uh perform in the arts. They're on the athletic field and they're rock stars in the classroom as well. Uh at this time I'd like to invite Mr. Kano our athletic directors as the principal to come up and we're going to recognize some of our student athletic teams. Good evening everyone and thank you for being here. Um before we begin I would
007like to thank Mr. Chatau for his leadership within our music and performing arts department. Um the middle school musical was incredible this year and your leadership really shows throughout and how well our students perform. So um so tonight we're here to recognize two um teams that had great great playoff runs and really made history for So, first it's my absolute pleasure to stand before you to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our varsity girls soccer team. This group of athletes has not only represented our school with skill and determination, but truly made history this year with their achievements. So, last year, this this really all began last year when our team achieved um something truly special by winning the section for the first time since 2002. And what makes that story even more remarkable is
008the full circle nature of that. Our head coach Stephanie Martino, who was a standout player on that very 2002 championship team, was now able to guide a new generation of athletes to that same success. Um, she did that years ago under the mentorship of our own Miss Heinson, our high school history teacher, who actually coached Miss Coach Martino back then. So, it's a great example of legacy and dedication in the P community here in Tug. That incredible accomplishment last year set the stage for this fall season, which filled with many challenges such as a very difficult regular season crossconference schedule which had us playing teams well above our size. But our team truly hit their stride at the right time. Their season ending 33 tie against Bronxville was a thrilling game to watch and truly
009one of the best high school soccer games that I've ever had the pleasure of watching. This was the moment where I really started to see the huge potential that this team had heading into the playoffs. Our team didn't stop there as our girls repeated as section one champions, captured the New York State regional championship for the first time in school history, and then went on and defeated the heavily favored Byron Bergen High School in the state semi-final, which was also a first in school history. While the outcome of the state championship game wasn't what we had hoped for, our team battled to the very end with heart, focus, and determination. They should be extremely proud. There's even more history, good news that we got this week that three of our students on our girls soccer
010team, for the first time in school history, were named to the all state list for girls soccer, which our school has never had students make that list before. So, third team was AA Roano and first team was Brook Mazo and McKenna Jones. If we could please give them a round of applause. So just to coach Martino, coach Leapor who couldn't be here this evening and to our players some of which couldn't be here as well. They had a change in their um practice schedule for their outside team. Uh Superintendent Roberts and the school board. I want to thank you for your support. Um our team has made us all proud and this these trips really created memories that will last a lifetime. Um I also want to thank the board for the addition of this
011year's JB girls soccer team and I went undefeated. So it was really the future is bright and a kudos for that addition. So thank you. So at this time I'd like to call up coach Martino to assist me with some certificates for our girls. So first I'd like to present coach Martino who is also up for coach of the year. So I will send out a link to vote for her. So when you your name if you could please come down and uh receive your athletic achievement certificate. Jacqueline Algaba, Cory Angelo, Isabella Corins, Kaza, Reagan, Old third athlete McKenna Will you want to hurt me? Repuno walking. Nicole Moranoi Cecilia. Sophia, Mora, Olivia, Sophia, Roberto, Effect Michael, GA and Yamada. Well, our next team that we have here to honor this evening, um, another remarkable
012season for our varsity football team. So from the basketball game, um this team demonstrated a lot of courage, a lot of determination, and a lot of heart. Um in that they were facing a blended schedule for the first time in decades, which included class B, C, and D opponents, many of whom were double or even triple our size when it comes to enrollment. Game after game, our players truly prove that size alone does not define a team and that skill, preparation, and grit are those core elements. This season, our team finished with an outstanding record, repeating as section one champions and advancing to the New York advancing to the New York State Championship game. The team captured the New York State Regional Championship for the first time since 2019. And then after a hard-fought semi-final,
013they earned the right to compete in the dome at Syracuse University, a stage that our school has not seen since 2012. This season also represents a remarkable example of legacy and tradition. such as what we just saw with our soccer program where our head coach John Deco was part of the 2012 team as an assistant coach and two of our assistant coaches Ryan Mitchell and Kevin Tren were integral members of the 2010 state championship team for Taco. Watching this season unfold was a vivid reminder of how dedication, mentorship, and community can inspire new generations to reach new heights that many thought might have been impossible. Although the outcome of the state championship game was not what we had hoped for, the effort and resilience displayed were extraordinary. Every practice, every game, every moment reflected the
014pride and spirit of this tradition program. The support from our fans, family, and community amplified that spirit, creating energy that carried the team throughout the season all the way to Syracuse. To coach, coaches Mitchell, Chen, and Watkins, to our football players, our athletic staff, many on the sideline. Superintendent Roberts and the school board, thank you for your continued support. Your leadership and encouragement really contributed to making this an unforgettable season for our athletes. So, first I would like to call up Coach Darco, Coach Tanning, and Coach Watkins to join me as we hand out the certificates. So, as I call your name, I'd ask you to please join us in front. Max Reyes. Ronald, James, Logan Baghetti. controls. Justin, Jacobski, Andrew Delo, Mars Jack Eric Watkins Jr. Alex Mars, Jakash, James, Winston. windows. And then
015we do have we do have four individuals um that come to every game uh almost every practice. um no matter what the weather conditions are, they're always there supporting the team and you know support and so we do also want to acknowledge Angelia Lee excuse me and then I don't see them here but John and Justin also Thank you again. I appreciate, you know, having us here and go Tigers and we're looking forward to a great winter season. Thank you. >> Open it up to comments and I'm going to Um I just want to say that to our um NISMA and our musical students um that's an honor you know very few students reach um to be selected for NISMA means you stand out among amongst the best of the best represents your excellence um
016commitment and deep love of music and have chosen all of your performances um I've had the opportunity to see many of you perform And it always amazes me the talent that we have in this tiny little school. You guys are really fantastic and you really show us and you deserve your recognition. I also had the opportunity to see the Diary of the Wimpy Kid Show and it was truly entertaining and fantastic. The amount of talent we have in our young performance makes me really excited for what we have coming up um throughout the years for the high school. Um so thank you Mr. Gateau, Miss Rey um all of the work that you guys put into our music um department. It's really it's it's just great. Thank you. Um girls soccer, you girls had a
017really difficult schedule. I know there was a ton of angst about that. Um however, you girls worked and played your best at every game. You became better a better team because you played harder teams. I hope that your biggest takeaway from this season is that when you are challenged and you work harder, you will always come out better in the end. You guys really you you worked hard, you played hard teams, you succeeded, and you made history for our school. And that is really the best thing that you can get out of a season. Doesn't matter what the outcome of that final game was. You girls did you girls learned that you can and that's one of the best lessons that you learn. So, thank you. And boys football, um, near and dear to my
018heart, obviously. Um, I loved watching you guys at every game this year. You guys, this team is so talented. Um, you guys are just great on the field and also off the field. The camaraderie that you guys have amongst your team is something to really be admired. You guys played great all season and this weekend was no different. You gave that team a run for their money. Um you went there, you played hard. Um they didn't play so nicely and you guys still stuck it out and you you guys really performed. You made us so proud. So thank you um for doing that and thank you for taking us back to the dome. It was a great experience. And um lastly, I just want to recognize that all of tonight's recognitions for all of our
019students is what it really means to be part of Tahoe. The reason that we are such a great school is because you can be so many things. You can be on the football team, you can help out at at soccer, you can and you can still be a musician, you can still be in the play, you can be whatever you want to be at home. And that is what's so school. You don't have to be the very best. You can just be part of the team and still have a meaningful heart in our community. So, thank you to everybody. >> So, I'm not gonna I'm not going to say too much because I'll probably cry. Um, but I just want to say as as a parent, I think I speak for all the parents that
020we've lived the last five months through your journey and your experience. you know, see the small little pools of everybody. So, thank you for that. Anyway, thank you to the coaches as well for a great season. Believe it or that arts department and music department again, mighty but powerful. Thank you very much for all you do. We look forward to rest of the concert for the rest of the year. So, thank you athletes. Let's bring home basketball. Okay. Um, any other board comments about anything else? Okay, students, I know you guys have a lot of homework to do, so if you would like to leave, you can. Thank you so much for coming. Thanks for your season. Okay. And now we're going to move on to superintendent comments. >> All right. Thank you, President Howard.
021I think our president's comments really summed it up in terms of celebrating all of our students, the many facets of their success. Uh the ability to get involved in so many different after school activities, the arts, sports, and one thing that wasn't mentioned really statements the other day. We got an email today that all eight of our qualified scholarship is the standard we want to continue to set here at Tahoe for the outstanding academic performance as well as what we're doing in the arts and so kudos to all of our coaches, student athletes and families following our athletes and our performers celebrating in their success those performances. is to Syracuse the dome to Portland watching all of their trials and tribulations and as they grow as a team they've they've met the bar at every
022turn and they've represented Tucko in the most poignant way with such grace and sportsmanship being competitive athletes and performers at the same time doing such great that's the standard that we have here and it's kudos to the families teachers and our leaders here in the support our students in that matter. So greatly appreciate it and it's been a tremendous part to be a part of that journey. So bring our students more to come and look forward to that in the future. Couple other updates. Uh wanted to share a few things a little bit about some some agenda items. Um, one, I wanted to congratulate uh all of our boards and also the TCA leadership team. Um, for all that you've done for our teachers for coming together and ratifying a new four-year contract that'll be
023on the agenda this evening for the board to to approve. was a collective effort to come to terms on a fair and fiscally responsible new collective bargaining agreement that allows the district to continue to our pursuit of excellence in education where we're all committed to supporting our teachers and continuing to bring outstanding educational experiences and opportunities for all of our students uh now and into the future. Looking to begin negotiations as soon as possible with other remaining units and continue to get those finalized very soon. It's very exciting and and again kudos to all who came together. It was a lot of evenings with the boards for all your leadership and late nights and working diligently to come to a resolution to that. Also on the agenda tonight being recommended is Miss Lisa. She's here
024in the audience tonight. So Lisa, we're pleased to have you. um excited to have her on the agenda to recommend her to the board to serve as our interimm director of curriculum instruction and technology uh this evening. As I shared at previous meetings um of our journey this year, we did have a director who was appointed over the summer an unfortunate unexpected resignation for personal reasons uh late September and then since then we moved forward and looked to secure a probationary position. However, we didn't find the right candidate that we felt was for tuck. So, we're going to be reposting eventually later in the spring going through the voluntary process. We're very pleased to have Miss Weber here with us today. Uh send out anformational bio to the community once approved tonight. Look forward to
025Lisa is an experienced educational leader with a proven record in Q12 systems improvement, instruction, innovation, and technology integration. She previously served as sovereign southern central school district in multiple leadership roles including assistant superintendent of instruction and was also acting superintendent uh for a period of time overseeing curricular instruction for over 4,000 students. Uh she has a rich background leading initiatives in project based learning MTSS artificial intelligence computer science visual fluency standards while developing professional learning for hundreds of staff members. Her leadership has also guided districtwide planning, school reconfiguration, and effective use of state and federal funding. This has a number of accomplishments and awards that she's accumulated throughout her career, but we're very excited to bring her to Chucko to be a part of our important curriculum instruction and technology initiatives this year and to
026provide some guidance leadership for our teachers and be a part of our team. We look forward to that. That's it for my opening remarks. comments from the business. Okay, next we did not have a report since we did such a big student recognition. Um so um okay so next is comments from our community partners. Hi everyone. I'm only here with you briefly tonight. I'm on a a break from my shift as a chauffeur. We have uh PTA dance and basketball um practice tonight. So um I'm only here for a few minutes, but um I'm really happy to hear all the updates that I've heard. I do want to congratulate on behalf of the PTA all of our athletes and all of our performing artists. Um I didn't get to see Diary of a Wimpy I
027was really bummed that it didn't work out in my schedule. I love going to all the plays and people are like, "Wait, you don't have a kid in the play?" I'm like, "Nope, I just love coming to school plays." It's kind of one of my things. I'm a little bit weird like that, but um I I just love it and I congratulate all of them for their great work. Um I want to also just uh say that we're really excited about the new SEPTA being um uh officially chartered last week. And even before the charter um SEPTA and our PTA um diversity inclusion committee were already starting to work together and this week is actually um know I think you've seen some flyers around the school but it is um uh inclusive schools week and
028so they did a project down at where they invited the kids to um decorate a little hand print um template with the answer whatever they wanted to say of what makes me special and then the committee along with the SEPTA together to put them all up on a bulletin board down at Codle. Um there is a picture, I don't know if it's up yet on the on the PTA um social media, but it's such a cute bulletin board. It's just such a great celebration of, you know, pride in yourself and pride in all of your fellow students. So, um I do encourage everybody to to try to take a look at that. It's um it's exciting to get to start to work together um pretty much immediately. So, more of that to come. Um also,
029this week at Cuddle, we have our holiday boutique. So, all of our little shoppers are work finding things for everybody on their list. Um the PCA is proud to be partnering with um the high school administration. We're um are working together on an SAT prep course where there will be a discounted rate. I think it's um been put out to the junior parents already for an SAT prep course. Um so I want to thank Mr. Fiori and the guidance counselors for for working so hard on that and um for uh including the PCA in that planning. Um we do want the same kind of a discounted something um prep course. It won't be the same exact thing, but for kids who are taking the ACT instead. So, um in case you are, then just contact
030Mr. Fiori. We're working on something. Um we just need to get a sense of how many kids that will um you know, will be for. Um then I also want to mention the first ever u about a year or so ago in one of the PCA meetings, it was brought up that oh, how come we don't have a sweetheart dance or a special person dance? you know, like the daddy daughter, mommy, son, and that kind of a thing. Um, so we are on um Friday, January 23rd, actually here at the high school, we're going to have a sweetheart dance where parents and parent guardian um and their children in third, fourth, and fifth grade can come up to um to the dance, DJ um photographs, treats, activities um that's being planned by our Ways and
031Means Committee and their and the winter fundraising committee. So, we're really excited about that. Um and then the other date I wanted everybody to All are welcome, but it tends to be a little bit female heavy, I will say. But the handbag bingo is on Friday, January 30th um at the American Legion uh this year. So, there'll be more details to come, but that's always a really hot ticket. Um so, I hope everybody can um keep their calendar clear and join us there. So, that's it for me and thank you so much foresum. really just a reminder the board of education allows for for public participation at its regular monthly meetings. The first recognition of the audience period is reserved for comments or questions related specifically to items on the current public meeting agenda. Each
032speaker is permitted one opportunity to speak for up to three minutes. Responses from the board or superintendent may be provided later in the meeting during the board and superintendent comment section or may be followed up at a later date as needed. The board and the superintendent will not engage in back and forth dialogue during the public comment and question. Anybody for recognition of the audience, president of TTI. I'm here to thank everyone. I'm here to wish the athletes they did a great job in resistance. We have a lot to be proud of here in Taco Bell. Um and I'm so happy that I could say I've been part of it for 26 years. It's been an amazing journey. So has this contract. So it started with Mr. Cass and Miss Banky and we got some
033stuff done and board changed and we had to continue in that vein. Um Mrs. Howerin and Mr. Buletti certainly spent less hours um trying to get this contract going. I will tell you that the one thing we agreed on right away, Mr. Howard and myself, was we need to find the time. Um so I know all of you took a lot of time away from your families. I know that you spent countless countless hours on trying to get this contract done. Joel, I mean, Ben, it's it's been a journey to say the least, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting it done. Um, we can all get back to the business in hands, um, which is doing what we need to do to the students here in Tahoe.
034Um, I'd also like to thank my exec board, Danielle Iverson, Jeannie Heinson, um, Miss Richtor Richtor, John Garco, and of course, Michael Craig was the chief negotiator. I'd like to thank the TT membership, um, the administrators and the DSEA. There wasn't a day while this was going on that I didn't walk in the pool and feel like I was supported by everyone that I saw. So, that was a great feeling. And that's what makes PCO taco. We're all family here. We're all here to support each other. We all got orange berber daisies. And the reason you got those is because they mean something. Wasn't just for a flower. Sober daisies is a flower that expresses warmth. I think we feel that when we walk in the doors of this school. I think that we've all
035been through the happiness and the the winds as well as we've been through some not so happy times here. and we've all banded together and done what we needed to do for everybody in this community. It represents energy and enthusiasm. We expended a lot of energy. We certainly expended a lot of energy to get this done. Um and the enthusiasm that I know I feel now and I hope you all feel now that it is done. And what it really what it really says at the end is the support and the happiness that again is so much part of what Tahoe is. that everybody supports one another here. We may disagree a lot. That's okay. That's what families do. We disagree a lot, but in the end, we come together for support and happiness of
036the people we're here and that's for the kids. So, thank you. It was a journey and I'm happy I got to go through it with all of you together and I'm happy we came to a really happy conclusion. So, thank you all very much. Next is the approval of the consent agenda. Board of Education of Taco District Consent agenda items through. Do I have a motion? Second. All in favor? Um, approve business of the board. Adopt the amended districtwide safety plan and emergency plan of 2025 2026. Resolve that the board of education of the Tucker School District hereby adopts the amended districtwide safety and emergency plan for 2025 2026 drive. Approve resolved that the board of education of the Taho School District hereby approves the MOA dated November 26, 202 appendex C of the TTA
037CBA and direct superintendent to execute memorandum. Do I have any discussion? All in favor approve an MOA result that the board of education of the Taho school district approve an agreement with. Oh, yeah. I just skip the page. Okay. Okay. Okay. My finger doesn't work so good. I have a hard time flipping. Okay. Sorry. Um, result that the board of education of the Taco school district hereby approves the MOA dated December 1, 2025 by and between the district of the technical teachers association hereby extending the CBA for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30th of 2029 and authorizes the superintendent and his or his design to execute said memorandum of agreement. Do I have a motion? Scott second. Any discussion? All in favor? Approve an MOA. Resolved that the board of education of
038the Tuo Unifree School District hereby approves the MOA dece between the buying between the district and the Tahoe Administrators association hereby consents to the assignment of independent contractor services for the position of curriculum instruction and technology and authorizes the superintendent or designate to execute memorandum. Do I have a motion? Any discussion? All in favor? Approve an agreement. resolved that the board of education of the Tuckville Union Preschool District approve an independent contractor service agreement with Lisa Le through LSW Consulting to provide curriculum instruction and technology services effective December 10th, 2025 at a rate of $1,100 per day not to exceed 100 days as scheduled by the Superintendent of Schools and authorizes the board of education president to execute set agreement. Do I have a motion? Any discussion? Approve an agreement. Resolve that the board of
039education of the Toko Unifree School District approve an agreement with top youth speaker and the and to provide two 60inut assemblies at the William E. Codle School at an amount not to exceed $2,500. Do I have a motion? Pink second blue. Any discussion? All in favor? Approve professional service agreement. Result that the board of education of the Tuco Union Pree School District approve a professional service agreement with Lonnie W for photography services for the Tahoe Middle School in Tuco High School's 2025 2026 winter prep rally in an amount to save $300. Do I have a motion? Second. Any discussion? Approve a transportation service. Oh, sorry. All in favor. Approve transportation service agreement. Uh resolve with the board of education unit school district approve river Tours LLC for transportation services as follows. Varsity football New York
040State semiinal game in Middletown on November 20th, 2025 to exceed $1,800 and 10 varsity football team championship game in Syracuse on December 5th, 2025 and one to exceed $3,600. Do second. Any discussion? All in favor? Approve budget transfers. Resolve that the board of education of Takana preschool district approve the attached budget transfers. Um the budget transfers can be seen in the public um section of the agenda. Do I have a motion? Second, Joel. Any discussion? All in favor? Approve treasurer's report and extra classroom activity request. that the board of education of Taco Unifi School District approves the treasurous report um revenue report appropriation report and budget transfer report and the extra classroom activity report the period ending October 3120 do I have a motion all in favorel recommendations approve personnel recommendations resolve that the board
041of education of the Taho school district app Personal recommendations A through. Do I have a motion? Joel second Pete. Any discussion? All in favor? Now we are up to the second recognition of the audience. And once again, the board of education allows for public participation at its regular monthly meetings. The second recognition of the audience period is reserved for comments not associated with the current public meeting agenda. Each speaker is permitted one opportunity to speak for up to three minutes. Board response may provided later in the meeting during board comments or by the administration at a later date as appropriate. Responses from the board or superintendent may be provided later in the meeting during the board and superintendent comment section or may be followed up at a later date as needed. The board and the
042superintendent will not engage in back and forth dialogue during the public comment and question portion of the agenda. Anyone for second recognition of the audience? Hi, how are you? Alisa 4J on 37 Ridge Street. A couple of things I just wanted to mention that I also was in Syracuse this past weekend and I just wanted to say what a great turnout we had there. Really, it was amazing to see how many fans showed up for our players and how many family members and how many people of the community and how many alumni. It really was heartwarming to tell you the truth. And um you know, the team we played was only an hour and a half out and we were four and a half hours out. We I think we doubled their fan base. I
043really do. It was amazing. So kudos to us really for showing up for our players and for our students. Um the other thing is is I want to thank Mr. Roberts because we had a conversation about drop off and you know I'm going to bring it up today because I think it's a security issue and I'm sure he's shared it with you guys is is that you know as I'm driving up and I happen to drive up later because my son is a second period student who comes to school in second period. I pull up to the right like you're supposed to drop off, but there are some people who think it's a one-way street in front of our school. And what they do is they pull up behind me, but they pull to the
044left and they pull into oncoming traffic and park on the opposite side of the school facing oncoming traffic. So when I drop off now, I don't just have to worry about the people who are coming toward me. I have to worry about the people went around me and are now about to pass me. So, it's it's it's actually it's it's concerning to me because I have a son who gets out of the car and he's half asleep and I'm like, "Wait, wait, watch this car. Watch this car." Because it seems like every single morning with the It has gotten better. I have I have to say, I don't know if you if you made a announcement has gotten better, but it was like every single morning who somebody in front of me or behind me
045was pulling up to the on the left hand side of the street. So, I just want to bring that to everyone's attention because I think it's dangerous. Uh on another note, you know, as you guys know, the reading program in the school is very near to near and dear to my heart and I sent you guys out an email uh where wherein I shared a link to a company called reading roadmap which is based in the science of reading and I'm I'm an advocate of the science of reading for our school district. I know it's helped Mississippi come from the 50th in the country to the middle of the pack in a in a matter of a handful of years. And so I implore this school board, I come here every basically every time I
046step up here, I say something about the reading program, but I'm going to say it again. I implore this school board to make a significant change in the reading program within the classroom. It's not that these kids need more services. It's not that they need to go out and get more it's that they need the instruction within the classroom to be better, faster, and more on target. And so I I really believe that the science of reading is a proven um reading program. And and in your email, you can see if you scroll down, you can click on actual examples of preK, kindergarten, first, second, third um instruction. So, I hope that you will take a few minutes to do that. And if you have any questions, I know they're very responsive over at the
047reading road mapap science reading program. And I also know that the best one of the greatest things about their program is that they offer teacher training and it's all kind of wrapped up with a little, you know, kind of one inclusive price per teacher. So I I know that the reading program is changing this year and so I would just hope that you would look into either this program or something comparable to it that's science of reading based. Thank you to the second round of comments. So just contract I do want to thank for initiating this last year as a good headway get some things accomplished that led to where we are today. And then obviously we had a board change and we had a superintendent change. So a lot of things got moved around
048and became president vice president. We just kind of took it over from there. But um this outcome was definitely a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone on this board involved and and the TTA as well executive committee. So I do want to give a special thank you to all my board members especially uh who correctly negotiations. Thank you to the GTA and our executive committee just to name John Gray as they were heavily involved um in countless hours. I call it the boardroom. Let's say Ben's conference room basically to uh to kind of get this over the finish line. And uh when I say hours, it was basically it was a five and a half hour meeting. So, uh, we put the time in as the board and we're on calls that
049night and, you know, attorneys and just to really this was on drain. I'm kind of happy to eat somewhat over, but the outcome was was amazing. So, um, it was a mutual respect and a focus on our state mission, which is providing the highest quality of education for every child in our district. So, to the members of the TTA, I want to thank you for your professionalism and your unwavering dedication and to the public for your trust on his board um superintendent for the process that took I would say less than a year but it was you know months and uh we look forward to the beginning of this new chapter of a partnership the next four years with TTA I also want to just put a there's a rumor mill out there addition there's
050a a misunderstanding I was told there was a belief that our dedicated teachers were not running after school clubs because they were working cont. I want to be absolutely clear that it was not the case. Um, everything is running, but I'll leave that. I'm not going to go further on that. Um, just on a facilities front, myself and L on the facilities committee. We had a meeting last week. Um, we are evaluating bringing in a full-time uh landscape company to manage both buildings for these own maintenance. This is something we're working with our superintendent and faith on to see if it can be done there some maybe some obstacles but if it does happen hopefully in the next couple months maybe um this outfit will be directly involved the outfit I guess the contract will
051be directly involved in the beautifification project that was desperate both but definitely the hospital for sure um we had a conversation with the missing lights on the entrance so there's two missing lights in the building by the high school football field in the front. So, we were in touch with a company that makes replica mold for these lights and the quote that came back. I almost fell off the back of my chair when I heard the quote for these lights and Ben and Faith were on the call with us and I I couldn't believe it. So, what we're doing is we're going out to get some new companies. We're out there to get additional pricing to see if we can, you know, get these We have one to try to really get the other one
052up soon. Um security to Mr. Forio's point regarding the cars. We do have a security meeting um this Thursday. This Thursday morning um again we can raise that police department of the concerns of the cars and see what their thoughts are on that as well. But after that meeting we can discuss any outcome of security anything that's not confidential children's risk. Hopefully next meeting I want a little security update but again thank you to this board for the these negotiations are not easy and just doing what I do for a living and negotiate I can tell you this was somewhat harder than that this was uh a lot of give and take on both sides reasonable and doing what's right for this district for the next four and beyond because we looked at this concept
053to see what how this district will be positioned in 10 years 15 years from now and it took a lot of give and take. So I do want to again thank this board and superintendent faith for everything all the time. It's not easy. So, I'll just thank you for the comments, Scott. I agree with everything you said. Um, I think it's great that we came to a conclusion. I think it's a good conclusion for both sides and I'm very happy about that. Um, I did I don't know though if I agree with your comment about the clubs being fil and that's very disappointing to me and I don't want to put a bummer on this good night because it is a good night. It's a good night all around. Uh how we started and and
054and certainly with the contract coming to a conclusion, which I do think was a good contract all all around. But but I I I just wanted to say I just I wasn't going to say anything when you mentioned that. I felt like I now feel like I need to say something and I just I do feel a little disappointed and a little bit frustrating quite frankly um about that aspect of this whole negotiation that I do think that club participation by teachers was withheld as well as learning didn't happen yet based on that and that was very disappointing to me very frustrating to me by the TTA a lot over the last couple years weaponizing our kids against us very good outcome with the outcome I want to move forward I wasn't going to say
055anything but I just couldn't let that go because I do think that was the dark side of this whole thing forunately was um not everyone has been used in my time and I think it's very depract but I also just want to second your your comments about all the effort that was put in all And I do want to commend you and Alison for the work that you put in the last second half of this negotiation. You guys led it. You guys put a lot a lot of time in as well as and and so thank you for that. Congratulations. Thank you for bringing up the traffic advocacy. Um it wasn't too long ago that I was on the other side of that table talking for years about traffic safety and street safety. Um so
056thank you and also um I did see the email regarding program for us. I did um I'm going to look into it and just see um what you've been talking about qualified to make the decision but it is interesting just to see what um as far as negotiations um I do wish that was still here because um I didn't want to make my comments so I do want to thank the TTA um particularly deputy Mike Gray and the entire Bush team executive board for all of the time that they put in to meeting with us and for the um and for agreeing um terms and working with us. It was hours and hours and days and days of work. Um and we really appreciate come together um for this contract. I do believe it is
057a really good contract for both sides also. I do want to thank everybody who worked on it. Um certainly Superintendent Roberts for their work um Pete and for starting all of your work and I really hope that you know we I am proud I'm proud of the work that got done this and I think we are all proud to this contract. Um, we value our teachers and I hope that this contract shows that. Um, and you know, I just look forward to all of the work that we're going to do together in making this district really great. I'm really happy that we got over this hurdle. Um, it was our number one goal is to set up all of our contracts, but we're really happy that we got over this one together and that we
058can move forward. And I really just look forward to four years. So, thank you to everyone. Um, we are going to executive session. We're going to convene sessions. >> Oh, superintendent. Sorry. Sorry. Um, I am often obviously sorry. >> So, thank you. I'll keep it brief, but just to kind of echo the same sentiments. I think I said it during board appreciation week. One of the stats was that this says the average board member may give six hours a week of volunteerism. I think our board was upward of 20 hours plus a week as we went through this process. And it wouldn't have wouldn't have happened without their their dedication and fortitude to kind of make sure that we provided a fair contract that worked for the district and was also supported by the TTA.
059Um so great job all you know getting across the finish line and now it's a necessary thing that has to happen every few years. Uh but now we can really focus on teaching and learning and celebrating our students and that's what you know we should be highlighting every day investing in opportunities that we want to see come forward. On that same mark, just kind of a little update on our strategic plan. The committee, our our district steering team is moving along. We had our second work session last week and the team was looking at specific data that we have as a district uh to help us craft our upcoming surveys that we'll be sending out to the school community families. our anticipated launch for next week and then we'll give about two or three weeks
060after the holiday break to allow some feedback from families in the community to respond. Additionally, followed up by a number of town hall meetings that we're going to schedule in January so that we can have different forums for our school community to come together, parents, teachers, our students as well to talk about our strengths of our district, where we want to go for our priorities and all that coupled with the the new changes from the state education department on the portrait of a graduate and the changes of the graduation measures. So, it's a great time to be looking at a strategic plan and paralleling what the changes that the state is moving forward with so that we can stay ahead of the curve and kind of craft our our pathway to success for our students
061at this time. So, looking forward to that and I'm going to really send a lot of reminders out to encourage participation. We want to hear from all of our stakeholders to hear your voice, your input, parent, every committee member we can engage with. uh your voice matters. We want to make sure that we we focus on the priorities as we craft the mission statement look at our priorities district and then we develop the pillars that are going to drive instruction our facilities and the long range strategic vision of this whole district. So good things to come and look forward to sharing more later on this year to cover that. So last thing for me is really it's our last meeting before we'll head to the holidays. We have a lot of uh great student events
062coming up yesterday. We have other events coming up this week with with the the band and the strings planning later this week and some different events at Codle next week to celebrate the holidays. So look forward to that. So I just want to wish everyone a happy holiday season and happy healthy and safe new year. We look forward to a great >> and welcome Mrs. Weber director. Congratulations. >> Congratulations and we look forward to great things for the rest of the year. Thank you. >> Um one last thing is that I forgot to thank the TTA for the they gave us um in recognition of settling the contract. It was very thoughtful of you especially um once the meeting of the flower was um explained and we really appreciate your so thank you. Okay. Um
063a motion to convene to executive session in favor. Thank you everybody.