001Good evening. Today is Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. Today's a regular meeting of the board of education. Motion to convene the meeting. TZ. Second. Scott. All in favor. We're going to go into executive session to discuss some employee matters. Motion to executive session first. TZ. Second. Scott. All in favor. Thank you. All right. Good evening. Uh today is Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. The regular meeting of the board of education. We already opened the meeting at 6:45. I went to executive session and just came from there. Apologize. I mean, we are so no need to open the meeting again. We just move our next Right. First up, we just have this in a while comments by the board. I don't know if anybody has any just voted tonight. Please vote yes budget transfer of funds. Um sounds
002like it's a good turnout. Thank you for coming out tonight. It's a great event to get people out. Um I look forward to the election. Thank you. Good luck to the candidates vote if you haven't already and good luck to them. Um just to echo what Scott said to everybody, the proposition is of no um tax burden to taxpayer. So please support transfer of money, authorizing that transfer of money, so no additional cost. Um, today was signing day, so that was excited. Um, we have four of our seniors going on to play sport. Thank you. And, uh, there's a lot of exciting stuff coming up with varsity dinners and end of year activities. I hope everyone is bracing themselves. what's about to happen to you. I'm going to be real. I mean, for me, you
003know, what everything said about the vote and everything polls close at 9:00. It's about an hour. So, if you're watching this and you haven't voted, turn off the TV and go, but other than that, um, I just wanted to change up a little bit. I just wanted to just say a special thank you appreciation board members for the amount of work you've been putting in the last few months. really since March it's been a grind it really has been really the busiest three months I've ever had so I just want to say a real thank you to my fellow I just Okay. So, um, good evening everyone. I want to reflect on something we did this morning. It was our annual Memorial Day tribute, a powerful and warm ceremony that brought together students, staff, and
004community members who served all together to honor the men and women who give their lives, who gave their lives to our country in service. This condition stands as one of the most profound events of our school year. In remembering our fallen heroes, we reaffirm the strength, courage, and values that define our nation and the responsibility we share in passing those ideals on to the next generation. Today is also school election day when our community passed vote on the school budget and electives to the board of education. Participating in this process was more than fulfilling a civic duty. It is a powerful demonstration of our collective commitment to education and the future of our children. Thank you to everyone. out and vote. And if you haven't come out yet, come on out. Your engagement is vital
005to the continued strength of our schools and our democracy. Earlier this afternoon, we had the privilege of celebrating four incredible scholar athletes during our signing day ceremony. These students have earned the opportunity to pursue their academic and athletic goals at the collegiate level. Matthew football Catholic University and Jack Ry baseball. Their achievement reflects not only talent and drive on the field but also a strong commitment to academics. They are role models for what it means to be a true student athlete and we are incredibly proud of them. Tonight I also want to shine a spotlight on exceptional work of our taco theater works program. Our high school spring musical production on the group has received Metro Award nomination which is really an outstanding accomplishment. The Metropolitan High School The Bureau Awards recognizes excellence in musical
006theater across more than 70 high schools. So whereas we may compete in athletics, we compete based on the size of our school. These awards go across West Central, Rockwell, Putnham and Bergen counties, 70 high schools large and small. So to be nominated alongside these schools is a tremendous honor and a testament to the talent, dedication, and creativity of our students and our staff. The award ceremony will be held at Sunni Purchase on Monday, June 2nd, and we are cheering them on every step of the way. As we near the end of the school year, the pride and energy throughout our district never getting stronger. Go to Codle tonight. It's just a great celebration over there. Over the past few weeks, we experience celebration of the arts with a series of unforgettable spring concerts from K
007Elementary to our middle and high school. Our student performers and music educators have filled our school with energy, emotion, and inspiration. I hope people got to see the artwork at Codle tonight and tomorrow night at the most high school. These events have lifted our spirits, filled our halls with music and art, and reminded us of the power of community through music through music. athletics, civic engagement and celebration. We are witnessing the best of our students. A district filled with pride, purpose, and connection to our faculty, staff, families, and community members. Thank you. Your partnership, passion, and support continue to shape this school district, and I really appreciate all of you coming out for us tonight and always. Let's finish this school year strong together. Next up manager comments. Okay. All right. No comments and next
008up is by Okay. So I'm going to use that time for one more com. I want to know just I mentioned um all hard work and trying since March that we've been doing as a board but behind all that is you organization and getting everything squared away and overseeing it all. I just feel like since March. All right, great. So, next up Next we got first the audience for agenda item only. Just want to remind you we do have a three minute limit. I think it's Yeah, I think it's on. Um, hi. Uh, I'm Leah Vander. um a parent and um I know you can't discuss personnel at the podium, but there are personnel um matters you're like accepting tonight. Um and I saw that there's another administrator leaving the school. Um, just wanted to
009express my concern as a parent that we work as a district to stabilize our leadership and study what it is about our leadership and stability. Uh, because it seems to me that it's unusual and would be concerning in any district. So, just wanted to encourage that stability and also encourage the board. You know, I appreciate all the hard work and I know hard you guys work. Um, but parents often feel that there's not transparency and maybe they don't understand the things you can't be transparent about, but there we need a better communication strategy. Like we should be hearing these things when it's public and ready to be announced and not through rumors. So, thank you. Thank you. Okay, next up is a consent agenda resolve board of education group consent agenda items three motion discussion
010on these items. All in favor accepted business from the board approve the board of education meeting calendar resolve board of education approves board meeting calendar for the 2025 2026 school year on this in favor cooperative purchase purchasing contract whereas data is a shared service organization located in the state of New Jersey whereas data offers cooperative solutions to public sector organizations throughout New York State. And whereas school district desires to use time materials cooperative purchasing contracts through contract the following vendors theatrical incorporated for stage curtains and draperies. Trior landscape maint agreement. Whereas the school district has turf field facilities that are not that are not needed or utilized by the during your summer. And whereas country club needs additional facilities to operate it summer camp program. And whereas a school district grant country club can license
011to utilize a portion of the William. Kyle Elementary School turf field in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. Now therefore be resolved that the board of education accept the school district approve and ratifies the facilities license and operating agreement with sky country on a non-h holiday week on nonh holiday weekends from June 30, 2025 through April 8th, 2025 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. for a fee of $2,500 and be further resolved that the president of the board of education and the superintendent of schools are hereby individually authorized and empowered to execute above reference facilities license and operating agreement contends and business manager are authorized and directed to take all actions necessary to affect purposes of this resolution and to cause compiance with the above reference facilities license and
012operating agreement. discussion on this. Go ahead. I just want to say this um because of the construction in our buildings this summer, there's no camps operating. Um the site I will not be in the building, they are strictly using the turf field. So, um we did offer this option to um the other camps that run. It wasn't going to work for them, but they will strictly be on the turf field with no building access. something. You know, we've been talking to them about this. You know, I think it's great. I think it's something that like for homecoming, you know, multiple fields to go back and forth. I think it's a great idea and we talked about that and I do think it's a low. So, that would be a nice It's on our radar. I'll
013say that. I don't like it. I like it. I think we know. I think we know All right. All in favor? Okay. Next up settlement resolved in the matter of proceedings by LLC and for 97 Lake Avenue real estate partners properties located at 97 and 103 Lake Avenue. Town of Eastester designated as section 32 blocks four and six. Board of Education hereby approve the proposed pedal as recommended as recommended by the talent of each tester which will result in estimated tax refund of $14,58 on that in favoring services agreement resolve that board of education approves transportation transportation services great event trip event at an amount not 2167. Yeah, it's the class. They're going they're going this way. All in favor? I have a transportation services agreement resolving the board of education approved saddle river tours
014for transportation services for the varsity softball team's trip to Binghamington New York for the 2025 James Case or Memorial Invitational High School Tournament at an amount not to exceed $2,900 a motion second question there in favor of that tournament uh approve payments educational school district by approved payments to four umpires listed below for officiating the Kansas memorial invitational high school varsity softball tournament not to $5 per umpire David James Fletcher John Carrian and Tom those are easy all right motion motion Scott second. All in favor? Okay. And lastly is the personel recommendations resolve that the board of education approves personnel recommendations A through D. Uh have a motion second. Any discussion on this? I mean just just to comment on your comment. You know I understand the concern but when it comes to personnel matters
015we really just can't talk about it. It's as simple as that. I mean I think we try our best to be transparent where everywhere we can but no matter just happen to be in an area that we just um often times can't sit. I know that's frustrating. I understand it, but it is what it is. So, uh all in favor can I get a motion for that? Is it right? Yeah. All in favor? All right. Second recognition of the audience for any item, please. Thank you. Um, I'm just coming here because I know the board and Amy and Rodney Oh, Michelle Nitty, Michelle Nitty, the uh the board and Amy and Rodney Arthur have um really pushed the agenda forward and gotten a lot of AP classes approved and a lot of activities and a
016lot of athletics and our kids are taking advantage of it. I'm just concerned that they don't have a lot of time to take advantage of a lot of it. Um, specifically our varsity athletes. The time commitment is huge. Um, so what I'm asking for is something that other schools do, which is if you're a varsity athlete, instead of taking gym, you can have a study hall that'll give them an extra 40 minutes a day to study, to get their work done. And that 40 minutes they can desperately need. They desperately So, if all the varsity athletes could get that, you know, they don't have to opt into it. If they want that time to get exercise during the day, that's great. But if they need that time to study, it'd be great to give them
017that time. And you guys have given them so many good opportunities, and I really appreciate that. And the parents of this district have really appreciated that. We just need to give them more time to participate in those activities and those academic classes. Thank you. Thank you. And comment but we have talked about this. So this is something for our policy committee. Thank you for bringing that up next to not necessarily change but something good for the policy we have to talk about. Is it the principal can institute well without policy. I think because of gym and because people needing a certain amount of PED but I do think that a lot of schools have that where if you take a sport but you have to what would be good is decide what grade you're going
018to do this for you know and it becomes complicated in terms of gym classes and scheduling and all that but certainly for you know 11th 12th grade I'm not saying how you might how you might do this because it's up to the person but I think Right. So that's all and and it will a new committee or the committee will be meeting the policy committee maybe get some input from the community and decide how we're going to do it. We have talked about it. I think maybe you were the one who brought it up. No, I I brought it up a couple years ago. Okay. I heard it brought up. Yeah. Okay. I think that we're getting I think that this is something that we should have like a work session on and that we
019should talk about it and talk to our attorney about it. There is a certain amount of PE that students have to take to graduate, but that can certainly take place. School districts do it. We should see how other school districts do it and are here now. This is something that I believe classern I should have answered because we're not supposed to do this back and forth, but thank you for bringing that up and the board will take that up. Sorry. I think we would have to have it stakeholders. That's why we have a board committee. Yeah, it's something that we're very much interested. Hi Leangelo again. Uh so I want to echo support for um what Michelle brought up. A lot of parents are really interested in this. I know uh my student athlete would
020benefit immensely from it um because she is taking advantage of the sports and the academics. Um the other thing I wanted to mention is I would encourage the board uh of course within your rights uh to please address as soon as possible with the community uh the resignation you accepted in March that we still don't know about and parents are very concerned. So, I know you can't discuss it, but I'm just encouraging you to address it, even if it's just when will parents and the community be notified of whatever change this is. Um, second thing I wanted to mention is, um, also something parents, it has to do with athletics. um next year when you know the the work that goes into the budget is incredible and parents do try to follow along and go
021through the budget presentation. Even when you try to be engaged, you can lose track of like what went in, you think it's happening and you don't realize it came out. And the example of that this year is the indoor track. People understood it was happening. I happened to notice that the strength and conditioning coach was added which is something I know my daughter is looking forward to, but I have no idea that it seems to be switched for a sport that from what I understand many, many kids were interested in. So, I think the information you put out there is great, but it's it's hard for parents to like they think they saw it. They're like, "No, I I heard that was happening." So, they're not paying attention to say, "Oh, something's coming out. I
022need to voice my support for this." Again, even parents who are very engaged, right? So, I'm just just a tip that I don't I'm not saying you were trying to pull a fast on anyone, but people thought it was in and then we're like, "No, no, it was out because this thing got added." So, um that's it. Thank you. Uh last thing I just wanted to mention is if there's any way next year, and my understanding is it can be done. Uh as you can see, there's not a lot of parents that are able to come to this work, child care, etc. Um I do think parents would participate if there was a Zoom option. Um, you it would enable you to see who's tuned in, who's participating, and there should be a way for
023people to virtually address the board if they wish to. Yeah, my understanding is there still has to be a live meeting happening. Um, I'm just saying that, you know, in order for us to address the board, we have to come here, you know, No, not the whole thing. I I mean obviously I know what you prefer, but for people to participate via Zoom, my understanding is it can happen. I don't know if you get data on how many people tuned in, but I I think it might be good to see who's tuned in and and frankly, especially if you want to address the board, but you can't get here. Um it just might be something. Um just com about the change in the budget. We did discuss that I expect you to watch every single
024meeting. It's difficult. I understand. But but but the point is that we did actually discuss that change. Yeah. I just want to say that things happen and I I really know what you're saying. I try to be as transparent in um the happenings and all that. Maybe that could be a place where that could go, I'm thinking. But, you know, the board and other people said, "Well, I thought it was too expensive actually to do a conditioning post and we figured out a way to do it and that's how that switched." But it was discussed at a board meeting. Right. Right. You couldn't fill it. I I I understand that but but understand that that is budget season process budget is not something we really discuss executive session. So we have workshops and meetings. So
025the first budget's presented as a tenative budget when early in North January January and then we all of our meetings basically up until today have a budget presentation or discussion and it's meant to be a work in progress. So so the first um budget presentation is just a starting point. It's usually 85 90% down anymore because you because the superintendent has already done her stakeholder research and putting forward the board and then we have this series of public meetings and things can get changed because that is the process. So you know it's like I said before everybody has you know stuff going on it's not easy to watch every meeting but if you really want to be in you do have to watch every meeting because it is meant to be a process until we
026get to the point when the board adopts the budget that it is We certainly listen to the to the community. We always listen to the community. We really do. And that doesn't have to necessarily be there. It could be emails, too. The board committee emails during the budget process meeting. I watched yesterday last night's meeting. I'm concerned about the track being pulled. We we'll take those emails. Doesn't have to always be here. could be there too but there could be emails as well any form of communication we're taking we've been trying to also that way those options programs for the nutrition but you know really it's for the athletes and nonathletes right something for the nonathletes too hard in this school if you're sport what do you do maybe you can start working in those
027options and I just want to say one thing um this was our most thorough budget process I think we ever had thanks to faith and the work that you It plays out providing pretty much information, making sure our website had tons of information. I know it could be kind of overwhelming because there is so many numbers, but we really tried to make sure that things were always, you know, even in in things I wrote to you that you could click on it and find it. I know it's hard, but um I think most of what we talked about was Yeah. I mean, the reading teacher was that was a late ad, but the board said it Sometimes things better next year. Yeah, you got to stay tuned throughout the entire process. It's just what it
028is. Those meetings are our opportunity as a board to discuss or suggest So it really is it's a process and we are incredibly really proud of our kids who are in track. I mean that's a very new team really started few years ago and we're winning so many competitions and everything. So it's not like it's not something that's going to continue or something that you all are going to talk about continuing to add to. It's kids are incredible. We didn't follow our rules at all tonight. You certainly got the because you showed up until you did. Very good. appreciate appreciate dialogue. We do also offer offer help not scared but intimidated talking at the m and I just um want everyone to also know that if you have a concern you don't want to put
029in email or writing you can ask to meet with the board and that can only two more but in my time here nobody's ever done yeah but I do think that's a good option too 30 35 minutes left until the polls close so go vote we didn't we didn't No, we're done. We'll we'll post but we'll post it online. Yeah. Yeah, we'll post it online and we're gonna All right. So, I have a motion to Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you.