08/26/2025 BOE Regular Meeting 2

001that goes into this onboarding. They'll be creating their advisory committee, working with business and industry, and creating those kinds of partnerships. Michelle, can I just interrupt you for one second? Sure. I'm told that the live stream went down. So we're going to, is that correct? Yeah, so the cloud-based work is down. We're able to record, but it's just not being live streamed. Okay, are we sure we're going to be able to work up? You know do you need like five or ten minutes? What I'm saying is you want to take a recess for five or ten minutes to see if you can Does anyone have an objection to taking ten minutes to see if Are you okay with that sir? Just in case people are listening in I hope so. I need a motion to

002come out of recess. All in favor? Aye. Okay, motion carries. We have switched platforms, I understand. So will this still be recorded as one meeting, just two different streaming platforms? So we're on? Oh. Sorry, Mr. Technology. Sorry, Mr. Technology. So our current streaming platform, Vimeo, is down, so we switched to the YouTube channel. So the link is there. The meeting as a whole, when we post it, will be the whole entire meeting from one platform to the other combined. Okay. Does that make sense? Okay, very good. Thank you. Thank you. Excellent job. Okay. Joe Lynch, thank you very much for your... your service there. Okay. Okay. If you are. Sure. Some highlights from the summer. We had our STEM Circuit 4 camps. Those were through Griffith Institute. They were really, they were held at Albany

003School and they were one week camps for four weeks. They used to be offered at Griffiths, and they were very coveted camps, so I think they filled up within less than a minute. So the mom or dad that was on the computer got their student in. So to take away those barriers, they offered it here and wrote Utica City School District into the grant. We had biology, chemistry, drones, and coding. The students really enjoyed it. Here's some pictures on the bottom. I frequently visited those, and I think they went over very well. The Macney's Annual Magazine, you do have a copy of that. I believe you all have a copy. On page 32, the advanced manufacturing program here that will be offered in the district is highlighted under future... future proofing the workforce and it

004talks about school and business alignment for manufacturing we also had a nipa and dot pre-apprenticeship second and third cohort offered this summer the students are really you can see the picture on the left that's the department or the dot they're offering to give us this house if we care to pick it up mr ferraro but the students built a mini house there we hired teachers we filled our building with Furniture, equipment, supplies. We also had the CTE summer PD that we offer. It was the third time, so it was cohort three. We introduced teachers to AI, computer science, digital fluency standards, project-based learning, career-connected learning, all things CTE. On the data page, I think it's been 287 teachers who have gone through that professional development that we offer. We created more industry connections. We've aligned

005with New York State certified apprenticeships. We offer pre-apprenticeships, all that align with our pathways. In New York State, some businesses have certified apprenticeships and some have kind of like a mentoring, shadowing experience, but we're aligning with the New York State apprenticeships that are certified. That was our summer. And we have our ribbon cutting September 18th at 4 o'clock. The building will be open to everyone who's invited. We have our vendors who will be there. They'll be demonstrating some of the equipment. The teachers will be there. We'll have some of the ninth grade students there. So we're very, very excited to showcase the building. And it's really a beautiful space for learning. It's a labor of love. I did get teary walking through that building for many reasons and all of that hard work. And I'm

006hoping that it does affect children in a very positive way and really impact the community. And here's some more pictures of the students at the camp and our pre-apprenticeships. Any questions? Yes. I do. We printed some. Do you have an approximate enrollment number of ninth graders that would be entering the CTE wing? This fall? Yeah. Yes. So it is 569 that are scheduled for this fall. Okay. And if a student does not get into the ninth grade exploratory, it's due to scheduling. Ninth graders have a really heavy schedule. And like I said before, it's really the education of everyone in the building. We'll make sure those students have an opportunity to get in there, see the pathways, and make sure they have exposure. They've really had the K-8 exposure all the way up. This is

007just the one course that may not fit into their schedule, but we will accommodate them and make sure that... they have the opportunity to go over there and see that. And they just, it's one class, right? Or is it two? Yeah, it's one teacher, and there's four CTE pathways within that class. So they're getting exposure to four pathways. What did you say? You answered all my other questions in the presentation. All right. Anybody else? That's a half-year class? It's a half-year course. So the 569 is basically the full year, not just 569 for the fall? So that's the total number of students throughout the full year. Okay. Yeah. So semester one, there's 309. Semester two, there's 260. And that's only ninth graders? Only ninth graders. I'd like to commend you for all of the work

008that you and the rest of the CTE staff have done over the past several years. It's very exciting for us to see this come to fruition. And I think you're owed a round of applause. Thank you. Thank you. I'm just going to back that up, too, and I just wanted to reiterate, like, this was a huge undertaking. And to watch the growth that's happened, Mr. Cooper, myself, and Ms. Padula have been on the CTE committee, and it's just been a pleasure to watch you work, to watch the team work, and to continually educate us on the process of everything that is happening and just to watch us be on the cusp. of this big transformation at such an important time where we're starting to see education switch, what we're bringing to these students. I'm just

009so excited. The building looks beautiful. I've already seen it. I drive by it constant. It looks great. I got to watch it, you know, every day as I took the kids to Proctor from the ground up. And I just can't wait to see what's going to happen. I think I always joke, like, with my two oldest, that my biggest regret is that this wasn't here sooner when they were here because I know that they would have loved this. So I'm really excited to see. what's going to come out of this for our new students that are coming in. So again, kudos to you. Thank you guys and your entire team. This is beautiful. Thank you. Thank you for everyone's support, too. We really appreciate it. And you've allowed us to come up with ideas, think

010outside the box, and then implement that here in the district. So I appreciate that as well. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Up next, the Director of Physical Education and Athletics, Eric Patterson. Good afternoon, Dr. Spence, Mr. Fauci, the Utica City School District Board of Education, and the district cabinet members. My name is Eric Patterson, and I am the Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics for the Utica City School District. I am very honored, privileged, and it is a pleasure to be here tonight to speak to you about our district priorities as it relates to the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics for the Utica City School District. The first area I would like to start off with is our district mission. As you know, this is our district mission. This

011mission is tied into all of the different academic areas where we want our students to be physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and academically prepared for the world when they leave the Utica City School District. Out of all my years of education, I've been in education for 33 years, 29 years in the Utica City School District, three years at BOCES, and now I'm back home here as a proud 1988 graduate of... Utica Proctor, it is an honor for me to talk about this today with you. When I look at all the different things as an athletic director, I'm always looking to ensure equity and distribution of resources at all times. In addition, if we look at the mission. Students will attain knowledge, skills, and character necessary to become productive members of society. Physical education, health, and athletics.

012When I was an athlete here, it was always important for me to be involved with sports. One of my specific sports was martial arts. But however, it was always important. I always had great mentors and leaders. Ms. Bertha Whiteside was a great leader pertaining to physical education. Mr. Panisha as my track and field and cross-country coach. Miss Chaney, who was my seventh and eighth grade teacher, she was a very, very important person. All these individuals are important for me to get involved with education. So as I am coming back to the Utica City School District, as a coming back from all these years, it is always for me to be an implement way of making sure that our scholars, that I do the best to support our scholars, my coaching staff, and all my teachers

013and the students and the faculty of Utica City School District. So as you are asking. Well, how does physical education relate and work into that? Well, for physical education, my job is to develop physically literate individuals that are able to develop lifelong wellness and health skills. So they're able to care that outside of school when they leave. In addition, to empower competence in diverse physical activities, develop personal fitness, motor skills, and specific sport activities, develop self-confidence, teamwork, and respect for others and recognize that physical activity is a role in enjoyment and self-expression and cultural understanding. We ensure that these are all equitable access to all of our students whether they have a disability or what have you and also continually and ultimately evaluating the program at all times. So this ties into our district mission

014and vision. So what I'm looking for the ultimate goal is to develop individuals that are prepared have a high level of participation and are well-grounded scholar athletes. Not just athletes, but scholar athletes because we're looking to develop individuals that are being able to be competent. So when they go into the workforce, if they go to college or what have you, that they are well-competent individuals that can move throughout society in the United States or the world and also be able to come back and give to the Utica community. The SMART goals, when I look at our SMART goals of how we can enable and help our students, these are the two that I'm focusing on. The first one, the SMART goal during the 2005-26 school year, increased average daily attendance. The next one is reduce

015chronic absenteeism. Now you're probably wondering, well, how does physical education do that? Well, if we develop programs that allow our students... to be actively involved, that they are able to say, we have an intramural program that offers specific sports, that kindles that interest, that will allow our students to be able to think, hey, I can come to school and do what I need to do. This is what is offered to me, and I will be able to come to school and do what I need to do. If we have, what we know, effective teachers that bring that, the individuals that I had, the mentors that I had, that will bring our students to school to do what they need to do. So that's how we combat and help and produce with the chronic absenteeism, and

016also, with an increase in average daily attendance. When I first went to Proctor and first went around, I went around to all of the schools, the two middle schools and all the elementary schools and also Proctor. And what I did was I called life space interviews, which are informal interviews. And I went around and I interviewed and asked staff some major questions. How, as I as the director of physical education, health and the legs, how can we help your department? One of the major things people talk about was attendance, especially at the high school. Kids arriving late. What can we do? I said we can look at the code of conduct, which is something that we're going to be looking for towards the school year and stuff. So with that being said, these are some

017of the things that I when I look at trying to improve with our department and we can help improve and motivate our students. So how do we do that? Well, the first thing, exposure, visibility of scholar-athletes. First by starting with a monthly newsletter. So in the second week of September we will be starting with a monthly newsletter that will highlight our mission and vision as a physical education department aligned to the district mission and vision. In addition, we will also make sure that we start every month highlighting our athletes, basically rebranding them. Rebranding and looking at how our athletes, how we can get them more sustained because guess if we can get our students, younger students in K through 8th to look and see, well, hey, at the high school level, we have these athletes

018going here or we're doing certain programs. Let's say the Raider Rally that we did in May with our students with disabilities, or if we do our fifth and eighth grade track and field invitationals with our students and we do the Phoenicia Conventional Run, which will be coming up in October, that and putting that, aligning that, that will help develop our students and that will get our students to be more participation and more prepared for what they need to do when they go to the next level. Also, live stream athletic events. I'm working with Chief Ferraro and we're making sure that we have all of our events being modified, JV, varsity, are televised with the huddle. So we're going to be looking, we're going to have a meeting this week related to that with Mr. Ferraro,

019and then we're going to work on trying to develop things with our coaches so we can get that out. The more exposure we give our programs, the better it is. Because many times I know being a parent, being an educator, many of our parents work two and three jobs. Sometimes they're not able to be able to reach different venues and look at different types of things. And so this allows them, at some point in time, they are able to look at... their scholar, their child out there performing. Sometimes our parents, I know, are not able to make all of our events, but this is one way that we can help that. And again, with our students, our little scholars, if they see that their bigger brother or sister, hey, they're on TV, hey, that little

020small inclination, that can help drive our athletic programs. And lastly, equity in sports and athletics, relating to Title IX and students with disabilities. So in April, and hopefully it gets passed tonight, I am hoping that we are able to take our girls softball and boys baseball teams during April break, are able to go to the KSA training event for baseball and softball. I've already gotten it cleared through NSFA in Section 3 related to that. So that is one way how we deal with the equity and inclusion of everyone that's involved. With our students with disabilities, again, work with my director of special education, again, offer our radar rally that we did before. uh this spring which was an awesome and excellent event related to that Next, enhancing student athlete branding and preparation. So, apparel by

021student athletes. In conjunction with Mr. Fauci and Superintendent Spence, we are working on developing, and also with Ms. Maude and Ms. Mandel, we are working on developing an apparel. I know that we've been looking at the blazers. That's been kind of a difficult option based off of the price, but I think that related to that with the apparel, if we have... A warm-up every athlete has that is going to help promote our program and it's going to help promote our students because being a former track and field coach, I remember being a track and field coach at Fowler High School and I had a girls track and field team of 20 athletes. We had uniforms that were from four or five years old and we had no warm-ups and I remember going to many schools

022and they had professional warm-ups. I had to fight to make sure that we got those athletes because I knew when you look good, you feel good, you dress good, that is going to bring out that extra spirit. The following year, we got warm-ups. We started to win. We also started, the athletes started developing confidence because guess what? Now everyone looks the same, they have the same items on, and now everybody feels the same and is looking towards the same goal, which is to be the best that they can be. Also, the last thing. intramural development and implementation. So one of the things that I've been working on since I came here March 3rd is trying to develop an intramural program based off of 10 sports. Based off of the fall, winter, spring. Our fall sports

023would be flag football, soccer. Our winter sports would be cheering, which is Rhythm Raiders, which I started this year, basketball. We also would have for the middle schools, martial arts, walking club, and then for the springtime we would have baseball, softball, track and field. So those would be the different areas that we work on. Due to time constraints, I think this year what we're going to be trying to work on in October and December is working on developing our basketball program. Now when I talk about all these different programs, we're looking at a few things. Time frame would be that 4.15 to 6 p.m. time frame during red program. Next thing, we would be looking at eight-week programs. Eight-week programs that would deal with four weeks of fundamental skills, four weeks of gameplay. So, for

024example, if we started with basketball, which is a winter sport, we would start with boys first. They would go from October to January. Four weeks of fundamental skills and then four weeks of gameplay. Same thing with the girls. They would go from... the end of January to the beginning of March. This would happen at all of our 10 elementary schools. We'd have to hire 10 coaches. And with that being said, also related to that, once we would do the four weeks of fundamental skills, then we would work on the gameplay. The gameplay would be between different schools. So, for example, Albany School against Columbus, Columbus against Kernan, and so on and so forth. It would be a round-robin tournament related to that where we would have a championship. Sort of like a little sections in

025a championship related to that. So that's how that would work I am working with the Wattis Foundation. I will know in November if I got a game-changer grant related to that inclusive programs So for this fall we are working on We already have a boys combined wrestling program that is combined with Sequoia and also New Hartford in addition We're also now are going to introduce a girls combined wrestling program, which is going to be housed at Proctor It's going to have our girls, and we're going to be doing that program. We already have a boys combined golf program that is with Notre Dame and ourselves. And then also we are looking at doing a sports performance program at the high school, which would be, quote, unquote, I know, look at it as weight training. But

026originally the plan was we were going to work at. For our student athletes, scholar athletes that are on athletic teams, that they would be part of this program, we would have a physical education teacher. We do, as a physical education credit, we work with scholar athletes on our sports teams. In checking with New York State Education Department, we're not able to do it. It has to be across the board. So some things that we are looking at, I'm working with Ms. Palladino. It's been busy, but... We're going to meet and we're going to talk about offering some type of credit course where our physical education teachers would do, one would work based off of an A-B schedule, but they would work with our high school athletes related to this particular type of program. The reason

027why this program would be instituted was, first of all, getting kids, again, towards that lifelong fitness module. We know that I'm 56 years young, but however... I'm getting older. I can't do the things that I used to do when it comes athletically. But we're trying to develop with them also with that area of lifelong fitness. So we spend a lot of time, I think, in our country trying personal trainers, which there's nothing wrong with that. But we should also be trying to work to help our scholar athletes and show them different ways that they can attain and work their fitness for a lifetime. Considering that I'm also an individual that, with sports, I've been involved with martial arts for 45 years. So it's always a lifelong experience of learning. And of course, we develop their

028strength and conditioning and skills. Thank you. I'd like to say one thing, and then if you want to ask questions. I believe in this adage, without struggle, there is no progress. I know coming into this job, there was going to be a lot of different things that... are gonna be put upon me, but I'm up for that challenge because I always remember this words by Dr. Ronald Luther King, the ultimate measure of a man is not where they stand in times of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of challenge and controversy. And I'm saying this as an alum, I'm here for these kids, I'm here for the staff, I'm here to do the greater good, to do the best that we can to help our students. I come from a time where

029I remember my siblings being on the, when you heard about UFA, Proctor, and JFK, that's where your athletes came from. That's what I would like to bring back. That's what I would like to bring back to our kids. We have over 3,000 kids at Student Scholars at Proctor. We have athletes. I see it every single day. I talk to the kids. The kids are very respectful. I've been to most of the elementary, all the elementary schools, by the way, and I've seen the talent, the track and field. I've got some kids six foot two taller than me sitting up in sixth grade. You can see that we have the talent. It's trying to nurture that and work with that. I have a great team of physical education teachers, health teachers, coaches, people that want to

030help our kids, and I'm here to do the best that I can. Thank you. Thank you. You said the magic words to me Utica free Academy Does anybody have any questions? Okay, who wants to start I had a I just have one question you're talking about intramural and elementary basketball in the time frame Will that conflict with Dick Miller? Well, I spoke with a gentleman from Dick Miller chat. It would not They wouldn't be two separate programs I understand two separate programs, but are we pulling the same? No, because I'll be looking at third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. But those are our Dick Miller kids. That's Dick Miller age. So are our Dick Miller kids not going to be, or are they one and the same? Are the Dick Miller kids going to be

031part of this intramurals and then part of Dick Miller as well, or are we looking at a totally different group of kids? Totally different group of kids. And I ask that because I know we're having difficulty fielding teams at some of our elementary schools for Dignalick. So can I just jump in for one second? Because I think I have one of the same questions as James. I think the problem with... Dick Miller not that it's a problem, but it's very late in the evening a lot of practice are like 637 o'clock Games are at 6 7 & 8 on Monday night So I think it would be up to the families if they're two separate programs if your kid is involved in both but I think the Beauty of this program is that it's available

032already after school during red But I think it has to be up to the parent if they want their kid and They can be involved in both, I guess, right? There's no conflict there. Well, you're talking about it being during the REDD program. I thought the REDD program was about improving education. And then, you know, is this going to interfere with our efforts to improve reading scores and other educational... improvements that our kids need. I think this is timing. I think the gym time is prior to Red coming into the gym. My concern is we do not want to weaken the Dick Miller League, which allows it's another outlet for a lot of kids. So we really have to be conscious when we're setting up our times. when we do things so that we don't

033weaken the Dick Miller. Can I add something? So when I was listening to all the intramurals, and I love it because it answers this question, right, that we're starting to see in sports of how quickly do we get our youth involved. Have you also considered possibly adjusting the times so that basketball doesn't start until October 8th and moves up so that we're getting those kids prepped and excited and then encouraging them, right, to do Dick Miller? Same thing with baseball, instead of if we're getting them ready, pre-baseball, and then coming in and saying, hey, here's Utica Little League, here's all the things that you can do there, right? Prepping them so that it starts almost, like, not working with the season, but almost before it, so that we can get those kids excited, and then

034funnel all of those city programs that we have that we're already seeing, right? I don't think that there's a sport in the city that we're not seeing numbers go down. So, right, maybe consider, too, if we're doing advanced, and then bringing in, hey, here's the leagues that you can join, that might be something that's helpful too, and it wouldn't interfere with Dick Miller. Thank you for your feedback. Yes, I would definitely like to do that, definitely. I think that would be great, and I think you'd get a lot of support too from the other community organizations that would come in because that's literally what everybody's looking for. From baseball to football, they're looking for kids, for soccer, for everything. I know for the Red program, they said they would do the academics between that 3

035and 4, 15 time. So just that time to check here. So I think that, Mr. Patterson, you received a lot of good feedback that you need to bring back to the team. And I think that would be timely and relevant for our weekly discussions as a cabinet to consider this feedback as to how we operationalize this concept that we're talking about. So there's a lot of different things to consider. As part of 100-day plan, I met with the big check who ran Dick Lindler, and he actually encouraged this type of program to sort of build up capacity as a city. So we have institutions to work with and build from, but I think this warrants further discussion internally before we can commit to anything here. I love the idea. I think it's fantastic. Thank you.

036Another question. Girls flag football. Is that on the table? I'd have to speak with Dr. Spence and talk with Fauci and the district cabinet and go from there related to that before I make any decisions. Thank you. Yep. Live streaming and the huddled cameras. Do we have, is that infrastructure already in place now or what's the... So we're currently installing the fiber in the middle schools for the huddle cameras to be installed on the field permanently. In the meantime, we have these portable, we call them rigs, that the coaches set up to stream the games live in the meantime. We probably got another month or two before we get the rest of the infrastructure in. The field houses were in kind of like tricky spots because you have to have fiber, and you can only

037run fiber. um date off that fiber you know 300 yards and we're 500 yards away so we're putting all that infrastructure in now kennedy's just about complete we're moving over to donovan next so we're anticipating before the fall hopefully we'll have most of that in place Definitely by spring for baseball so we're trying to put the I don't know if you guys been at the same the huddle came at the stadium We're putting those all on the regular regular baseball softball and football fields and all the other locations We want them to be permanently installed so we can you know, just click the button and live stream all those So that's the goal. We've known that's been the goal from the beginning. So we've been working on the infrastructure has come first And we've been

038working on that for about a year and a half. It's not that easy because let's just say Northland's got to design the fiber run from Herkimer Road to Deerfield Drive East, from Deerfield Drive East to the switch in the field house, the switch in the field house, the football field, baseball field, softball field. So I think we've made great strides just getting Kennedy done in probably six or seven months. What about the huddle cameras themselves? So the huddle cameras have already been in so they go in the the RIC coaster for Funding that's already been allocated in the budget this year. So that's all ready to go in order We're just waiting to finish the infrastructure so we can order the cameras to order. Right. How much are they? I don't have the exact cost

039on me right now, but they were in there in the RIC commitment that you guys authorized in the public vote 25 This year's may vote. Sorry To jump on that too. So I'm sorry just just so we do that because it's an a double expense to BOCES So it was already appropriated for Correct. We did that ahead of time knowing that this was the path we were going down So it was in this year's budget that was passed and we ran it through the BOCES for the obviously the aid And this has been something that we've worked on for the past two years in the communications committee that we've constantly bugged about having these cameras here. So the question comes back to when we're talking about equity, I'm hearing baseball, football, basketball. We've always known

040those are the sports that always get the most, but what are we doing about tennis? So that's the plan for the rigs because tennis, you know, there's no tennis court. Like a lot of times they don't play it. Proctor, right? They'll play at the Parkway. So that's where the rigs come into play. So they're not just using them for now. They'll go to all the other sports that we're playing. Golf, right? We're not playing golf at Proctor. They can take those rigs with them, set them up on the first hole, watch the kids tee off, put them on the 18th. So we planned all that out, and that's really the vision, I guess I would say, for the streaming for the sports. Okay. Beautiful. Thank you. Mike, I have one other question. So going back

041to cameras or putting huddle cams where the fields are not typical, right, the parkway, et cetera. Correct. If there is in the future the baseball team going back to Murnane Field, is that conversation going to be had with the county to say, hey, can we work on this? You can, but it would be a long process. You know, we can't run infrastructure to something that we don't own. The state won't allow that. But is that worth it? Not for you, is that worth a conversation with those partners to say, are you willing to turn them over? It's something that the district will take under consideration, and we need to have a discussion internally to really flesh out those details. Well, I think. But is that something that's already there? Because they stream all of the

042games this year. No. So they use the games like the Legion games you see there, they're using game changers with the same kind of rigs that I call them that we're using. So it's the same thing. Huddle provides us with that live stream for portable devices. So, for example, we'll use 21-inch iPads with the pros with better cameras that have Verizon built into them so we can bring them anywhere. And they get just the same kind of quality picture. I guess the question is that, you know, we're going back to the stadium. Correct. And when are we expected to go back there? Is it for this spring? Yeah, so the fields, right, they've been playing on it since late summer. So it would be spring. It's August. And there's an interest from the board to

043see if we can. Pursue getting our huddle cameras and everything else put up there, right? So you're you're not gonna be able to install a district on equipment on an off-site property The state is not gonna allow you to do that. That's why we're using the portal We have so but we have a perpetual right to use that stadium. So while if you technically might be In you know in the county, you know in the county sports authority if we don't play there I think there's an issue. Can I just put it simple? I understand what you guys are saying, but the boiler doesn't even work in the field house for the last six years. I understand that, but my point is that we'd like to be able to feature, I mean, it's a beautiful

044stadium. We'd like to be able to feature our baseball players playing there. So whatever it's going to take to make that happen. I understand. I'm saying that, you know, I think it's clear from the people speaking on the board, maybe I'm misinterpreting it, that we want to make sure that our games get streamed in that beautiful stadium. So I think I'll interject here. So I think what I'll ask Mr. Simmons is if you can provide an opinion letter when the question is whether or not the district can make structural investments into a property to which we do not own. Am I hearing that correctly? No, that's not what I'm asking for. Want to we want to make sure that we have sufficient Portable can't so you did we do we able to so we have

045those now and they will be available But okay, so let me just ask you this question So if there's a softball game and it's being played one place we have multiple eggs for so we have a mom So we have one for every sport one camera what that's all is needed for every sport Why is it only one camera? That's all you need. Let me put it this way. There's seven sports. We've got seven rigs. I understand what you're saying, but it's like one stationary camera. No, all different. We would just like go nine to town to put in equipment so we don't have to bring the portable one. So even the huddle camera is one stationary camera. It's not multiple cameras. So it's kind of the same thing, just in a portable version, but

046not like... Let me just say something. In general, what's it cost for a huddle camera? For a huddle camera? I'm just going to take a guess. I'll be close. Probably $4,500. $4,500. So my question is... Why can't we spend four hundred and fifty thousand dollars and get a hundred cameras? You don't need I'm just saying I'm just saying Why don't I'm saying why can't we spend the money? To deliver the best product for our kids. So so we are we're providing their care So we're proud we're from we have put in the budget This year the cameras for all of our facilities right waiting for the infrastructure so each softball baseball and football field like the middle schools don't have a huddle camera those are all getting done i just i just want to ask

047you this so if we have to use the portable one how does that work in terms of function and installation For example, someone just drives up, sticks the camera on a tripod and voila, we're streaming. It's on a rig. We tell them where they're supposed to place it. It's all set up just for them to hit. Who are the people that do that? So the coaches are going to have to do it. It'll be the coaches. Yeah, they're going to have to set it up or an assistant or somebody. It's going to be someone affiliated with the particular team. I mean, I'm not going to say who's doing it, but I'm saying it should be the person who does it. I'm just asking you in general. So it should be the coach or assistant or

048whoever's helping the team to set it up. Yeah, because we're not going to be having an A-B person chasing around. No, no, no, no. And we made them simple. They're on the tripods. You turn them on. One app is right there. You just hit it, and you're done. We made them pretty easy for the coaches to use. Okay. Joe. The communication committee at the end of last year was in discussion too. about having a student-run group where students would come out, take these pictures, help set up, even talking about moderating, no, commentating on the games to keep it flowing. So there was discussion of starting a club for students interested so that we can get our students involved and helping out a little bit with this too. I like it. It's the county that owns

049Murnane, right? Yes. Actually, it's the sports authority. The sports authority through... The county. It's a separate entity. Yeah, I know. Has the county executive been made aware of the streaming issues at Murnane? There's no real issue because a lot of people use their own thing and they're able to put them on the... I think what we're asking for is something permanent. Yeah, I was just wondering if the county executive, if we had that conversation with them, might be willing to... invest in. Because who's playing on that field when I think it's just us, right? You've got the Blue Sox, you've got the... Not yet, not while Proctor's on it. You've got MV, you've got Legion plays there, there's multiple others. But we don't start until after Proctor ends is what I'm saying. So how many

050teams are actually playing at the same time that we are? I don't think it starts until... No, no, there's not. Correct. oh that economy teams get like a home game into their pool on our field the county's field i think the real question in the beginning before you move any further in my opinion is can you allocate funds for something you don't own i mean that's the first yeah that's the first question okay i think that's why i was trying to just get around the fact that right the county were to do it we don't have to that's why it's worth having a conversation with the County Executive or the Board of Legislators. Right. Okay. Okay. Who's next? I have some questions. And great presentation. Thank you, Mr. Patterson. And I don't know if you'll

051know the answers to some of these questions, so I'm going to probably direct a lot to Dr. Spence. But anybody, feel free to chime in. I will discuss the first one of varsity football games being scheduled in the morning. I just don't see how it's any different from basketball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, or any other sport that gets to play an evening game with large con. congregations outdoors especially we've invested in all necessary procedures so we are the only district that plays at 10 a.m on a varsity level football or 1 p.m i think now on varsity football and i'm asking if it can be looked into so we did take that into into consideration and i'll ask assistant superintendent fauci to just provide an update on the meeting we met with all appropriate parties to

052really provide some deep consideration. Who were the appropriate parties? So we met internally with our staff, and we just had a meeting with the police chief down at the police department. I was the high school principal for 13 years, and we had Friday night football games, and it was a very, very difficult situation, I feel, for the students, because for the most part, our students are not the problem at those Friday night games. But we reached a point when the district decided to go to afternoon games on Saturdays because there was no way to guarantee the safety and well-being of our students, especially after the games outside the stadium in the dark. Which is the same as when basketball leaves. at night at 7 o'clock games and everybody's congregating in the Arcuri parking lot. I

053am just trying to play devil's advocate. It's our kids that are getting punished. It seems like there are so many policies and procedures that can be put in place, in my opinion. But I'm going to ask the school district. We had a very successful evening game. I would be even, I think most of the board, and I don't want to speak for anybody, would be willing to entertain even a 4 o'clock 430 no students want to go at 1 p.m. there's no life to those games there's no student section there's no there's no fun kids don't even want to participate football players don't want to play Saturday at 1 o'clock talk about culture, morale, recruiting. That's it. Friday night lights are a huge thing, and I'm not even saying moving them to Friday at 7.

054Something has to be done. I get this schedule set. This has been a conversation of the board for the last several years. I don't want to talk about previous incidents or anything, but we have had our fair share of hurdles, whether it was morning, afternoon, or night. There is no difference leaving Proctor. the dead of winter at 930 at night a varsity basketball game with hundreds of people and have success I don't know why football is held to a different standard and that's just me as a board single board member I'm asking for the administration to please consider our students in this decision and school spirit And all the procedures we have in place and our great community partners, I am sure administrators, students are willing to do their part as well. But I don't,

055I gotta be honest, I don't see the difference. Danielle, I'm just going to disagree. Sure. Only because I live in the neighborhood. There are far fewer kids going through the neighborhood after those basketball games than there are after the football. There are more basketball games as well, but there are far fewer kids walking through the neighborhood. after those games than they are for walking. It's just a weather thing. So because kids are walking through the neighborhoods, we can't have... It's not just the walking. It's what comes along with everything that goes on with those kids after those games. Same thing outside of Proctor at 8 a.m. on a drop-off. I can't get downhill and have it at 7.30. It's not about driving. I'm telling you, we are punishing our students. We talk about recruitment. There

056are students and families who don't want to play for our district because we play it a Saturday morning. We've seen it. I played football all my life. I played semi-pro football. At the end of the day, our kids have to play when they're allowed. They have to be safe. Our families have to be safe. I understand our kids want to be looked at and seen. We're trying to put some of that stuff in place with HUDDLE. This is a different time. But when I look at the neighborhood and things that happen in the neighborhood, kind of what Mr. Felton is kind of alluding to. There are a lot of things that happen with houses and neighborhoods and hanging out after the games. There are far fewer kids in instances of that after basketball than there

057are football. So 1 o'clock games don't bring out a lot of kids. No, no, I'm not talking about the game itself. I'm talking about what happens afterwards. You're talking about there's no difference. There is a difference. Can I just, why can't we have the games at 4.30 or 4 o'clock rather than 1 o'clock? Is there a particular reason? Because at least. You know people can get through the day do what they got to do wake up depending on who the kids are or whatever and then they can go at you know four o'clock to a game because you know, I mean, I I don't know it just seems to me like Kids generally tend to be sleepier and maybe not as effective at 1 o'clock, so maybe a 4 o'clock game would be the way

058to go. I'm not saying that, but I'm just saying we'd like to have a night game. We'd like to have all night games, but maybe a 4 o'clock game or a 4.30 game where at least it's not 9.30 when kids are going through the neighborhoods. So I first want to acknowledge that I understand all of the sentiments being expressed about the desire to have the games and the Friday night lights culture. And I think it's important. However, based on the correspondence and information that I have at my disposal right now, having spoken with UPD, it's about the capacity for the officers to respond to imminent threats or any incidents of violence, et cetera, et cetera. That's what was stated at the meeting? This is what was stated, articulated to me when I had the meeting

059with UPD. This most previous one or another one? No, this was last year when I looked into it. So what was said this one? So, well, let me. No, because there's a different narrative going around in the community, so I just want to make sure. So you were at that meeting last week, and what was that? So let me get there. So the concern was as the students leave the game and they go back, it's not necessarily on campus. It's once they leave and they go back into the community, whatever's happening there, the office's ability to respond as well as the office's ability to staff that, especially if it's the nighttime, that's when the officers tend to be in greater demand. So that was what was articulated to me. I then asked the administration to

060go back and revisit the idea upon request. And then Steve, you can speak to the sentiment from the most recent meeting. I can say that the same sentiment was relayed. And they're dealing with issues with staffing. I don't know how much I can say on an open mic, but we were all in a similar mindset that once it gets dark out, it is very difficult for us if something happens. That's why I'm saying, why not a 4 o'clock game? What about a 4 o'clock game? That is not the... It'll be done by 6 or 6.30. 4 o'clock in the winter is dark. We're talking about September and October. And lacrosse and soccer. No, I'm going to play fair. We are not leaving the football team out on this one. I'm sorry. This is a bigger

061discussion. And that is not the word on the street. Sorry. Yes, my question is, are we saying it's not an administrative decision? Are you saying that this was UPD that made this decision? We pay them. We contract with them. I said that. I looked at the information that I had at my disposal, and I weighed the risk, and I weighed our ability to fulfill that desire. We have to consider this in conjunction with UPD because they're the ones that need to say it. So at this last meeting, what was your vibe? What did you get out of that? Wait, hold on. Steve was at the last, Steve and Ann Marie and crew were at the last meeting. I met with them last year to explore because I was of the same mind. But once I

062received the information, my opinion changed on the matter. So why can't we do a 4 o'clock game, kind of split the difference this year, see how things go, should be manageable, and then if things go well, you know, think about maybe having a couple of night games next year. I'm just asking, what's the difference between 1 and 4? Can someone tell me? What we will do is, you know, this will be an ongoing dialogue. It's been a dialogue for a year. We're August 26th. I was absolutely really hurt when the schedule came out after so many conversations that we've all had about sports and it reflecting a 1 p.m. time. I mean, it's August 26th. It's always our case. My question is... Why can't we do our games at 4 o'clock? What is the reason

063from an administrative standpoint, because it's not the police, what is the administrative reason for not having the games at 4 o'clock? Because I'm not even asking for seven. I'm just saying, what about four? So it's not my decision to make. I'm relaying to you what was discussed at the meeting when we met with the Unica Police Department. We met with the police chief, the deputy police chief, and the captain who oversees the SSOs that are stationed in our schools, and we were all in agreement that once it gets dark, it is very, very difficult. for us to manage things if something were to happen and i know because i had to do it i was the one who was responsible for 13 years for everything bad that happened at a football game i'm not saying

064I'm not saying don't do it. I'm just telling you what the... I would not be able to sleep at night knowing what was happening at our football games when they were played at night and what we were dealing with at night. And again, it has nothing to do with our students. Our students, I totally agree with you, are the ones that get punished because of the things that we had to deal with at the football games. So my question is, did anyone say... Does 4 o'clock present the same problem, or is it as manageable as a 1 o'clock game? The same circumstances apply. No, at the meeting. Hang on. At the meeting. Wait. Can I make a motion to go into executive session and discuss security protocols so we can maybe go into a little

065bit more detail instead of... Can we defer that until we have additional executive session? Because we're not even done with the report here yet. So we're just saying no. Instead of putting any precautions in or figuring out a plan like all the other inner city school districts surrounding us in Syracuse and Rochester and Buffalo, who've all figured it out for the most part, we're just going to say no. I just want to make that clear. That's not what I'm hearing. No, but again, it's the capacity of the police to support. That's on them. We pay them. We contract with them. But we have to consider, I have to consider that when making decisions. So what I think would be fruitful here, because right now we have the weight of information that we have. The capacity

066for us to keep the kids safe. If the game starts at 4 o'clock, the game is an hour and a half. Our game is 2 o'clock. There's kids that are still going back at night. We are not. driving the kids home the kids are going back walking getting home however they're doing it i think what would be fruitful now is we've heard the the thoughts about it we've had the discussion we'll look at it again internally and you know we'll see what we could do to to oblige but again the safety has to be the primary well i think with all due respect would be to move to the next item on the questioning since we're going to go into executive session to discuss this in more detail great i'm in favor of that Okay,

067can we ensure that, so these are just some things from last season that we heard. Can we ensure that water is available in each dugout or whatever the other proper terminology. Bench. Yeah, I don't know all the words for both home and visiting teams in any upcoming season. Okay. Along with medical bags for our coaches, so ice packs and things like this. I don't, these are just things that we've gathered throughout the year, throughout the last season. that has been brought to our attention. So I'm just, I don't know the, just putting it on. We did have that conversation. The kids should have water. We're in agreement there, right? And the opposing team and us, especially for stuff on the road. I just want to make sure that there's something in place. I guess my

068question would be, we had a meeting a couple of years ago asking for wish lists. and last year, it was not only last year, but it was probably the year before. My question is, isn't medical bags, I'll call the term medical bags, isn't first aid bags and water and refreshment containers, aren't they basics for any sports team? And the reason why it kind of... sticks in my craw is I understood last year there was some game we couldn't get we couldn't get water for our kids to drink. Well hold on and I think just to be clear on this and just to make sure I'm following it wasn't our I just think that this needs to be addressed. What you're speaking of, this wasn't us on our home fields. This is when we're going to

069other stadiums. Their job is to provide it, and it's something that we do for all our teams. Is it their job? It's supposed to be an agreement, correct, that they provide water just like we provide it for all. And then we did, our school did go to. one school in particular who refused to put any water out anything and so our players were not prepared and i think we ran out and i'm saying i'm saying we have the funding why don't we make sure we have the best available for our kids because that's the question that i have we shouldn't even be worrying about anybody else furnishing us with water because we always get treated like that No, not always. Well, okay, historically. So my point is, let's come with the best. We have the

070money. Let's spend the money, get the best equipment, the best apparel, the best of everything for our kids. We have the money. Let's spend it on our kids. John, I agree with what you're saying, but I think this is landing in the wrong place. It has nothing to do with anybody, but let's spend the money, man. Hear me out. If we provide, if the expectation is the whole team is going to provide that, there's absolutely no reason for us to show up anywhere and not get that. I understand what you're saying. So now it's on us to do something extra to make sure that we ensure that we do, that we're doing what should be done. Any school you go to, you should be able to get water. Be prepared. Take care of yourself. Don't

071worry about it. We have the money. Let's do it Asking us for water and we're not giving it to them because it's exactly that's what I mean Home or visitors on our own property don't have water But that shouldn't be the case. We should know. We should know. We should know that. Okay. I'm just putting things out there that I just, not for debate. No, that was not debate. We're not debating that. We're doing that. That was the discussion that we had internally. We're going to make sure that our athletes have things. The best of everything. So for the water joke, do you want the Fuji or the Polish prank? I want the Fuji. Icelandic. Icelandic. Good. Yeah, so that's the right thing. We're all on the same page, so that doesn't happen. Perfect, which

072goes into my next question. Since we want the best for our students and our athletes. Yes, ma'am. Can you talk to me a little bit about Media Day this year? Did all of our programs attend Media Day in Syracuse with our seniors and our star players? You mean when they went to Syracuse for the? Correct. Probably not. I would have to get more information. I do not know, ma'am. I would not know. So where does that come from then? So if we are invited to media day. Oh, you mean, okay, I'm sorry. How does that land? Your context. When I spoke, I spoke with coaches. They gave me the teams that they said they would like to go. There were specific media days that they went, so certain teams did go and stuff. There's assigned

073media days, right? For Syracuse.com, yes, ma'am. And there's assigned media days that every program attends on this day. Were every single one of our coaches notified of their media day and and made aware of yes, ma'am I sent an email out to all the coaches for the fall Explain to them when media day was if they needed transportation most coaches said they did not need transportation They would transfer them because I was wondering if they needed buses or whatever for those and they said they would bring three or four athletes for media day related to that So our cheer team our varsity cheer team. Yes, ma'am They did not attend because at that time we were looking for the appointment of the coach at that particular time So was the JV coach that was appointed?

074Yes, ma'am I did was in conference with her and let her know what media day was and stuff I did go then the JV coach decided not to Have coaches attend I think I think at that time she was looking at making sure that we had Devarshi close in place that that particular coach was in place before she would do anything I didn't think she wanted to ruffle feathers or our toes related to that and this was an issue on This end because we did appoint in July the coach but it was pulled in the minutes when it was not pulled so that we had to go back and reconfigure that but that coach was hired in july so all of those students missed media day for all of our senior cheerleaders but i have

075a question on how that even worked like this is going down a rabbit hole because the tryouts weren't until last week and there was several girls actually that were on the team before and didn't make it again this year. So isn't that almost like a little, are we holding our tryouts almost too late? I don't know how that works with section three and all of that, but how do people have media day? and know who's on a team, but yet a lot of our sports trials weren't the last. Like this is just a general question. Yeah, media day was the week before, so I think it was like that August 13th, 14th. So are we too far behind in some of our stuff? Like doesn't Section 3 set those dates, like when modified to start?

076Yes, ma'am. Section 3 sets those dates. So how do other schools do? Feels like it's putting the cart before the horse in some sports. Some sports not because they've already begun. I'll use football for an example. They've already begun prior to that 13th, so you kind of know the team. But for something like cheerleading, where it just happened last Thursday. we wouldn't net the coaches would not necessarily know possibly who would go to represent them if that team is not selected yet and so that's that's I guess my bigger concern too is like are we behind the ball look I guess I don't know how like or maybe they're just smaller schools and they don't necessarily do cuts or if you're on the team one year you're on it again I don't I don't know

077how that works. Not unless they're using athletes from the prior year that they figure they're going to make the team or whatever. It doesn't mean necessarily you make a team one year. It doesn't necessarily mean you're going to make the team. Not when there's real competition. So can you let us know who did attend media day? I know Coach Strife did. He could pretend it was media day and stuff, but I need to check into the rest of them because I was on vacation during that time. We have soccer. We have a lot of fall teams, and I didn't see them. I know I looked in Syracuse.com. I saw Mr. Strife had one, and stuff. That's something I'm going to work with our coaches with for the following year. What about the Utica College football

078camp? Did our kids participate in that? Because that was kind of a good character-building exercise. No, our kids did not. I spoke with Mr. Strife when this was first brought to me. I know you sent me an email regarding it. And he stated that due to a lot of the athletes, there's a lot of different stipulations. A lot of the athletes that have on his team, they work during the summer. They can't make those different areas. ends up being for him very hard. Not saying that he would not do it, doesn't want to do it, that's not the case. We're not being critical, I'm just asking a question. I mean, if there's reasons to do it or not do it, that are rational. I have a question piggybacking off of the appointment thing. It goes

079into the superintendent's report, but I think it's possibly better to ask now. So I understand why, you know, apparently the... cheerleading coaching appointment was pending. I think it probably wasn't given the issue with the minutes, but or with the superintendent's report issue. But I see why we wouldn't want a coach who hasn't been approved to go with the students to media day or to wherever. So why are we appointing summer sports camp volleyball coach retroactively to August 1st through the 6th? It's on page. Page 19. P27. That's a sub. He provided coverage for that particular sport. Did he actually do work with students? Yes, sir. I went there the particular days. Because what happened was one of the particular coaches did not show up. So that particular coach. was asked by another coach that he

080already does help support us in the district. And so he came and he subbed those two days that that coach was not there. So maybe can you try to explain to me how this situation is different than having a coach who can't bring their students to media day because they're not appointed? I think it's more the players aren't chosen. Like that was my no, I think now the way that I read it is that we didn't have an appointed coach That's the issue. It was just relayed right and no no no and I agree that but who let's say they were appointed Who would they bring? That's my concern Right or and then to me that's not fair because they would be handing it would look as if they were hand What was that? Is

081it fair? Is there any is reasonable? Because the standard is reasonable, not fair. Meaning that fair is a feeling, reasonable is a standard. Just saying. What I'm saying is it would be reasonable for a coach to maybe say, I had a center fielder that batted .455 last year. I could bring that person to media day. Right? Because it would be reasonable to even though the team hadn't been picked for I'm just saying there are there are reasonable standards that can be met. Fair is an entirely different metrics. I think also reasonable would be the other sub coach who's an appointment who's seems to be an emergency appointment the first through the 6th of August. We had a board meeting on the 12th. Why was that not presented on the 12th as that was an emergency?

082That's the next succeeding board meeting when the board packets are created They're created two weeks in advance and that for that particular board meeting It's possible that we have you know We're selective with the motions from the floor. So this that was added to this one. I I Understand the explanation. I don't really This is from a parliamentary standpoint now of the board. Given the motions that we do have in motions from the floor, this is actually a real emergency that we had somebody working in this district with students who was not appointed by the board. It should be the next succeeding board meeting. That is actually an emergency matter that needs to be approved. I do want to ask about a couple other timeliness things in the superintendent's report. We're right now. We're still

083on the. Yeah, I'm going to. They're also athletics. Okay, go ahead. Wait, can I go back, though, to one? So I just want to touch, sorry, on your point because we're going back again. So there does seem to be a little bit, though, of a double standard. Because we're saying that, okay, the board did approve the cheer coach in July. It was messed up and said it was pulled, and it was not. So that cheer coach was not given any permission to do anything. Yet, we have two football individuals who are in the packet to be appointed tonight who are already on advertisement space with their names on it saying they're the coaches. So it seems... It's not consistent, so it seems a little biased that our female athletes for cheer were held back and

084didn't have the same opportunity, yet we have our male football players who already the coach is being advertised. It's on, Mr. Cooper showed it, it's on Parents Square. So I guess where's the consistency in that? Yeah, I think there's going to be some internal discussion. I think there's a point that was made, and we acknowledge that, and there'll be internal discussion regarding that at our next cabinet meeting. Go ahead. Oh, you're fine. These may end up being executive session topics, and the superintendent can interject if they need to be. Boys wrestling, girls wrestling. Girls wrestling, I know that the memo, supporting memo for that, was dated, I believe, early July. Why is it for action now? So I'm going to defer to the Board President if he would like to turn to the Superintendent's report

085or do the presentation. Hang on, hang on. If that's a question directed at Mr. Patterson, then you can ask that question. But if it's about the Superintendent's report, I would say... I'll say let's wait, but I would then ask can the superintendent have the athletic director stick around in case his presence is needed during the superintendent's report? Yes. Okay. Does anyone else have any questions? Yes. Hiring. Can you explain a little bit about the hiring process for everybody when it comes to hiring coaches? How does that process come about? Coaches apply. What are the steps? So I work closely with Chief Klemick, with Human Resources. If we need coaches, so for example, we have six coaches that we're going to need for winter for boys modified basketball and also girls. And then we're also going

086to need for boys volleyball modified. In that, this week what I did was we put out the job description for the candidates that they can apply for the job. Once we go through that particular time frame process of posting the positions, then we'll start to have interviews. Interviews are done by a committee. So, for example, if we're going to hire a high school coach or whatever, we'll have the high school principal. We'll have myself, two of our athletic managers. Maybe a principal from the middle school level and then we'll have maybe a teacher on that committee So there's different people on that committee is not just me in the silo hiring whoever that needs to be hired We don't stop we don't have the HR director involved in that She just gives me the guidance

087later, but there's no way that's involved here. Here's my question about the hiring process is there a matrix that we follow to evaluate the potential candidates and what does that matrix look like and my next question is does experience where does that play just in general so if you're a returning coach of any sort how much does that weigh you weigh that in when you're attempting to make a decision I know that was a multi-part question. I'm more than happy to break it down for you. But if you can remember what I said, I would appreciate it. So for the questioning portion, usually there's between 8 to 16 questions for the candidate. that we have. There's a four-point rubric, four points that we use, one, two, three, four related to it, and there's a certain

088amount of points for each discussion point for the interview questions. And then from that, it's graded off how many points they get related to that, and then we just match in the... And where does experience play? in the Met Matrix? Experience plays a role because we'll ask their experience, what they've done in the past related to coaching, their experience related to if they've done other coaching experiences related to the job or what have you. So piggybacking off that, there's end-of-the-year assessments for all the coaches or end-of-season assessments. Yes. So a reapplying coach, does their end-of-season assessment play any role into their reapplication? For candidates that have been there before, that have done a job before, most likely, yes, we do that. How does that factor in? I always try to give people a clean slate

089whenever we do our committee, when we look at it and stuff, looking at the experience and looking at the job and looking at whatever. Each candidate, I know this year what we're going to be doing and talking with Assistant Superintendent Fauci and Dr. Spence, every candidate is going to be re-interviewed. So regardless if they did it five or ten years, we're going to always make sure for each one that we interview and stuff. So the thing that I'm curious about is, so if you have a coach, Who has been coaching for 12 years? You know good records students talk highly of them Have I don't know what goes into the end of the season assessment talk about testimonials of this coach really helped improve my Academic record during the year or Opposite yet coach has

090been there for three years you get a couple student testimonials who said I didn't get along with the coach records not good Do that's how I mean that they get them how yeah, how much does that way versus? Them talking about that in written responses to a questionnaire Assuming that there are required written responses to a question. Yeah, so the first question would be Are there written responses required of questions? secondly You know our student testimonials sought after Third of all, you know, what is the matrix? What are the actual matrix that we use when we're evaluating a coaching candidate? Because, like, for example, when you hire a teacher, don't you have to submit lesson plans and stuff like that? Like, what are our values when we're evaluating coaching candidates? Especially, let's say, just say

091varsity coaching candidates. You know, the question is, like, what are you looking for in a varsity candidate for a coaching position? And how do you view that varsity coach as it relates to the building blocks of our lower, you know, our lower level sports teams? Is there, is that something that, you know? You value or is that just something you're just looking at someone who's just the coach for that sport for that particular season I look at the work that they do outside of the season so say let's say if track and field season ended in May or June I'm looking at What are they doing outside of that are they doing any type of particular preliminary work with them? Let's say the winter sports coach and did things like sponsoring summer league teams and

092things like that and then working with the kids in a quote unquote unofficial capacity, that would be something that would be important. Yes, I just asked a question before mr. Patterson answers the question I think mr. Patterson what you mean to say is that you're alluding to the process that occurred as this was not an individual decision Am I understanding that correctly based on what you said? Yes, sir. No, and I just I just want to give some context. No, I'm not this is not specific I'm asking the question. What is what is it that you're looking for in a general? varsity coach who is the captain, you know, do you consider the varsity coach of any sport sort of like the flagship captain of our fleet of teams? I just wanted to context it,

093couch that. So there is the procedural process, Mr. Patterson, that the candidates must go to. And I believe what you're asking for is what is your philosophy in regards to how you see that coaching position within the greater context of the organization. Am I getting that? Well, you know what I'm saying. I know exactly. I just want to make sure that he's answering it because I don't want him to conflate two different things. Because some of the other districts, they're... That's a good question. It flows down. Like, they dictate what's going on below. Yes. Yeah, that's a fair question. That's a different philosophy. I'm just asking what his philosophy is. Mr. Bass, what is your philosophy regarding that? My philosophy is that the varsity coach is the head of the organization. Related to that particular

094sport. So what they're doing it. They're the role models They're making sure that they're in contact with the JV coaches They're working with the modified and then also they're looking at the the elementary and those levels To move those programs up and working closely with the ad so any athletic manager when you interview all of the coaching Yes, sir. I have a question when you're looking at your matrix and you're talking about experience Is there a max number that you can get in that experience block? Meaning you say it's one to four, correct? Yeah, so yeah, and then the silo of experience regardless of what it looks like Or is the highest you can get? Okay. Thank you Okay, so to follow up with that once a coach is selected. What is the process? How

095does the coach know they're selected? How does email get sent? Usually I do, for example, the ones I did this week, I made sure that I called them and emailed them if they got the position. If they did not get the position, then I would email them and let them know, or depending on the situation, I will call and let them know and stuff. And then as a recruiting process, because if you look at volunteer coaching, those certs go with the coaching certs. I give them that document. So if they would like to volunteer coach or if they were thinking about doing another position in the district, they have that information. So the next day, so the board approves them and you personally contact them the next day and everything is set up, emails open,

096everything? We did interviews on Thursday and Friday for these particular coaches. So Friday, I coached. hold on because i just want to follow up with that so sorry can you explain it again so a coach gets appointed right on a tuesday tonight a coach gets appointed tomorrow morning what happens tomorrow well usually what i do is like for example we appointed the coaches and stuff i have to wait for it to get appointed for that position and then we go from there so how long does it take for email and contact to get set up Like what I did this Friday is what I did was I contacted them at 4 after 4 o'clock and made sure if I didn't reach them via via Voice call I made sure I sent them an email because

097I had their application and of their resume So I made sure I do I do that contact so just in case if they don't get the message then I still Saturday I also called if the person did not Acknowledge me or didn't because I know if life gets busy on the weekends or whatever. I made sure I would call and stuff The onboarding question process for a minute sure okay, so You're you're notifying somebody whether it's by email text phone, right? how what is the onboarding process in terms of Letting the coach know What is being furnished to them what their responsibilities are in terms of? having to have their athletes or their scholar athletes acquire things, how practices and tryouts are going to be run, where those things are going to take place, what

098permissions are needed, et cetera, et cetera. Is that? So we do a fall coaches meeting. So, for example, when we finally got the spring coaches hired, we did a fall coaches meeting in June, and we basically have a – A handbook, code of conduct, we go through all those different areas with my athletic manager and the coaches, and we go through each of the procedures that they need to have to be a coach. But you had a number of people that were hired a little bit later this year, right? So how did you address it this particular season? Usually I would set up a meeting with that particular team. Not usually. How did you do it? Well, I would call the particular coach, for example, and we would have a meeting. I'd have a meeting

099with them and do a fall coaches meeting with them related to that, depending on the sport. Can I just interject then? So then my question, I guess, particularly, let me just kind of narrow it down, is with cheer, because I had a multitude of parents reach out, and they were trying to get in touch with our new appointed cheer leader, cheer coach, through they were trying to find her on social media. They were contacting the other organization that she worked for to get her phone number, and we had no email or anything for her to be set up with so that parents could contact this coach. So can you talk us through how that happened? Can you provide guidance here in regards to the onboarding process as well? Yes. So typically, I think everyone's okay.

100But not typically in that particular situation. Yeah. And is this something that HR handles? Do you reach out to, I just want to be clear. So when we're going to HR, so it goes from higher to then to HR and this is kind of like, yeah, it's like a collaborative effort if you will. So. the I can't speak to the specific instance that you're asking about because we're asking about a specific yeah I don't have that but I can tell you that when someone is okay the question is what was specifically done this time with regard to the cheerleading coach so if you don't know it's okay did you speak to her the next day The next day for what? I'm sorry. Like if she was hired on the Tuesday, did you reach out to

101her on Wednesday? That was all? Yes, ma'am. Okay. All right. So that's my question. I have more. Go ahead, Brady. I have a question about equipment. So, and I'm not using actual examples, making things up. Who decides what is mandatory equipment for a sport? Usually I work with my athletic managers, and they let me know what needs to be ordered. They work with those specific coaches. The coaches give what particular things that they need. The athletic managers, they make sure they go to the vendors, and the vendors send me the quotes, and then I make sure I put those items through. Go ahead. So if an athletic manager and coach collaborate and they say X, Y, and Z is mandatory equipment, Who is liable to provide mandatory equipment? I am, as an athletic director, I

102am. So our district is providing what we would consider in our athletics department mandatory. We are providing that to every scholar athlete in that sport. Yes, sir. And I'm talking things like baseball hats, swim caps, goggles, et cetera, that are specific to that sport. Yes, sir. So would it be reasonable? if a coach outlined mandatory equipment that would need to be purchased by a family as opposed to the district? It has to be through, I mean, that particular coach, it depends on the particular type of situation. If a coach gives me their particular situation of items that they need, then I try to make sure that as an athletic director, I give them the best that I can because that's what our scholars need. So it would be reasonable, what I'm hearing, and correct me

103if I'm wrong, that if in the cheerleading sport, a cheer bow is mandatory equipment. A what? A cheer bow. That goes on the young lady's head, the big bows. Yeah. They're considered mandatory equipment. Okay. So I hear where you're going here, but like, for example, There might be certain things like a cheer bow. I don't think people are going to be comfortable getting a mandatory equipment like a cheer bow, right? And then the next season, some other cheerleader is wearing that cheer bow on their head. Completely agree. My thing is things like cold weather gear. multi-level uniforms whatever it happens to be the best of the best should be furnished by us including footwear great right as part of our obligation stuff like the pom-poms the I know I believe me I don't know the

104pom-poms the cheer bow some other I don't know. Tassels. I don't know enough about it, but I'm saying tassels, things like that. I equate that to something like baseball. Those young gentlemen don't return their hat at the end of the season. That's a mandatory item. Yeah, and it was always cool to get it when you made the team you got it. But it blew my mind. We don't furnish baseball helmets to kids. How does that work? Everybody wears a different color helmet? I don't know. I think a blue and gold helmet would look great. Utica Free Academy. I think that there's one or two, but I think that there's a couple helmets, right? If a student does not have a helmet, there are helmets there. Yes. Does the entire team get baseball helmets, things like

105that? No. You're playing for the team. We got the money. I think we furnish the best equipment that we can furnish, and everybody should be wearing the helmets that have the school colors. If they don't like the school color, change the colors. I think getting to Mr. Cooper's point, though. Are there instances where we are any other student athletes required to pay to participate in their sport out of pocket for mandatory equipment? No. I think that's the I think that's one of the questions that we're probably going to have to visit at some point, which is there are certain things. That you're gonna want to get that is gonna be purple like I don't want to call it a personal item But it's almost a personal item right the question that I have is if

106we have the ability to buy something and furnish it at or pass on a discount of some sort to our students that many are in You know financial need we we should I think maybe have a better understanding maybe like be a little more I guess coordinated in our onboarding to make sure that I mean listen no these are things that nobody's really talked about and we're now talking about them so I think we need to What I'm saying is the process and the procedure of it, right? These are issues that have been raised, that are being raised, that are important to our parents, our students, and our coaches. So we have to kind of fix the issue or fix the problem. So if I can interject, I can tell you what the steps are

107occurring right now. So right now there was an equipment list that was developed and furnished with the athletic director. He's working with Assistant Superintendent Mary Mandel and our business executive Heather Mowat to look at how we can finance that. We are waiting for the opinion letter from the Ferrara firm to ensure that we're not making a gift of public funds. She has been in communication with that firm that once that letter is furnished, we look at the monies in the budget, that we will then develop a replacement cycle because, again, this is not a one-time. This would then be something that needs to be built into the budget. i think that the kids should have the best uh items and it works with where we're going in rebranding so the directive has been issued i

108know the team is working on it and they should have an update regarding the progress that we can inform the board but it's the but it's the items that have you know there are a number of items that have already been identified and my my point is i i think it's important to be in contact for example with the coaches that coach because that's how we found out for example that our kids had nothing it was before your time our kids were standing out in the rain and and the weather while everybody else that was at a meet or a game or whatever it was was under under tents and you know our kids were showing up to meets with t-shirts on and everybody else had cold gear so but we would not have known

109if we didn't find that out from the coaches during one of the PA meetings so I think it's important to include the coaches not telling anybody what to do just from my perspective as a from common sense it would make sense to me I mean that we would want to include the people that are managing the sports and then we could make the higher level decision based on the information that's being generated. You want to continue? Yes. Can I say something? Yes. So for the, I know you're talking about the parkas, those particular, the long parkas for the. I'm just talking about whatever. I make sure that my, if my coaches, if they need specific items, I make sure within the budget that I'm ordering those items. So for example, those particular parkas for the

110football, the outdoor gear, they're ordered. Mr. English has them in his office and we'll distribute them this year for the fall team. I think it's great. Hold on. So I'm going to piggyback off that. What about, we're talking Title IX and equity, when the cheerleaders provided the same because they're out in those rainy day games too where they provided with rain gear or parkas to keep them warm. So I have to talk with the coach. I gave the coach a list of different things, whatever she needs that she needs to go to, and she has those different items. I will speak with her tomorrow. Thank you for the feedback. And then I will do what I have to do. How about soccer? Soccer coach did not tell me anything about that, but if he needs

111the particular if his boys or girls They need those items need to let me know I've not been communicated that if they communicate with me Me stepping on, I'll do whatever it takes to make our kids do best for our kids. Thank you. Yep, you're welcome. I think piggybacking off that, Dr. Spence, one of the questions that we had last year in our committees was talking about the fact that coaches lack direction when it came to trying to get a unified place where they're going and ordering uniforms and ordering a parable so that it was... all right standard and the conversation was that you were going to go back and reiterate it so all the coaches knew and we were going to implement a policy and it seems the same thing we've got six seven

112eight different vendors they're ordering from this this and coaches don't seem to understand who the company So they should be so that it's one standard. We looked into that and the issue that we have is the district cannot unilaterally just say this is the only vendor that we're going to. That was the issue that we ran into when we discussed this with legal. So. There's a little bit more work there that I think needs to occur, and the goal will then be to have the standard apparel. But we did look into that, and we did receive guidance from the Ferrara firm regarding that specific issue of having a single vendor for district usage. But are we giving coaches vendors to use from? That will take into consideration, and the administration will work as we're doing

113this magnificent rebranding of our fillet departments. Yeah. Okay. But all of the mandatory things. So mandatory things are things that the coaches are bringing to the athletic director, the parkas, the whatever. Are those things that the district's ordering, or do they then get the money and then the team goes back and orders? So when they give me their orders, I'm the one that goes and I make sure that I order those particular items for them. Okay. So that's all coming from the district side of procurement. So that's not like random P's that don't match and stuff. Right. I think that can happen. I think that does happen. Yeah, because we're not, we don't have to go to one specific vendor and it's going to happen because we're using that expense. So there needs to be

114some standardization. Well, is this the type of thing, I know I'm thinking out loud right now, this is probably more something for PIAC, but I think we brought it up during PIAC last year. Is this something where if we knew ahead of time whenever in the summer, these are all of the equipment that we're likely, we probably can't do it because we need sizes and things, but we know we need all of this equipment for the whole year, for this whole season. Can we go out and procure all of those things at once, so it's through a single contract, or do they have to be done separately? I just want to speak to the logos. Is that what you guys were talking about, that things weren't matching? So we have board-approved logos for each school,

115including the high school and the Proctor one there. Already sized, because I'll call it a vector. When we're ordering equipment, most vendors would request them when we're ordering them. We've got to make sure that we're using those, and they should print the same with any vendor. What happens when it's a booster they shouldn't be using a low that's not Well, they're a district logo. They don't they can use whatever they want I mean, but if they're we own we there are traits our trademark an outside entity using Getting proctored gear or you can hear me for a club or whatever It needs to be some standardization. Well then trademarks come into play there Right. Can I just, maybe this is it, because I'm just piggybacking on what Brayden said. So I'm assuming that every year

116we know that we're going to have to either order the initial run of something or the replacement of it. And we know we're going to have to order those things for particular sports. I guess the question is, would it make more sense? for the district to purchase those items and the replacements at whatever cost the district and I'm talking about whether it's like parkas uniforms warm-ups that Go with the go with the team Would that make more sense to buy it all? And at the same time for all of our teams rather than having each coach be responsible for Identifying what should be purchased each each season I'm gonna talk just because I always intervene I guess so I guess it goes with any other standard replacement cycle I'm gonna use technology as an example

117You have to have a replacement cycle for your equipment, right? Year one, you're buying X. Year two, you're buying Y. You know what I mean? But wouldn't it make more sense for the district to be keeping track of the inventory and all that? That's what I'm saying, though. For anything, no matter what you buy, you've got to have a replacement cycle to do that. Right, but I'm talking about a uniform purchasing process. Well, I guess from a – because we – Do a lot of the... No, do we do that for our sports teams? Not that I know of. So let me... Yes, we will be. We won't unravel. That's not going down a rabbit hole. I'm sorry, but it's not. I want to know what we do when we're... My point is... So let

118me answer your question because you asked a question. Yes, that makes sense, Joe. Okay. That makes sense. Good enough. Can we follow up on that then? Yes. All right. So this is what I'm going to say. So having heard a lot of this, this is a really good discussion about it, branding and equipment replacement cycles and building programs, that's the direction that we're going. And so those are the things that we need to develop, implement, monitor, and report out on. So we have heard that, and we've taken notes. Okay, Mr. Patterson. The pool. Can you explain a little bit, it was the conversation last month too, can you explain a little bit about the process of swimming and what's happening? So at the present time, we have a facility use agreement with New Hartford because

119we'll be doing the diving at New Hartford, and then we'll be doing the swimming at MVCC. The time frame for the MVCC will be from August 18th until March 1st, 2026, because we do it for each one of those teams. There has to be a combined contract. It also has to be, since it is with New Hartford, we'll be doing diving at New Hartford. We'll be doing swimming at MVCC. We're into that. Can you talk a little bit about why we chose to do it that way and why we didn't choose to take it to HCCC that offered us their facility where students who dive and swim. Now they have to choose in between, and they're broken up going to either place. At HCCC, they could both do diving and swimming together. We have two

120coaches that would stay together. Now we've separated. Can you explain the process of why we opted to do it that way? I think with MVCC, there was close proximity. It was for able for scholars to be able to get there. I think one of the major things probably that was going on with... with traveling with students' transportation, the cost, first of all. Second of all would be also the fact that during the winter, you know how our winters are, with athletes getting there and making sure. Because we had some parents talking about having their kids drive to HCCC and back. And I think the liability with that would be too much. So what's the difference between them driving to Hartford and back? Well, it's probably a shorter distance depending from here. If we drive, if

121a scout lives here and went to New Harvard, then it is from there from going to ACCC. We're saving money, right, with the pool, not paying for chlorine, not paying for the electricity to run the pool. Couldn't that have went to the funding to bus them to ACCC so we could have kept them together? Yes and no, because it's that funding that we're using those savings to ensure that we can fulfill the start of course for wrestling. So, I want to superintend to report we are withdrawing the motion or the action to go to the community foundation and reallocating those funds to support the development of the wrestling program. So we're taking money that was allocated for the pool that would go for our students for swimming to keep them together to fund an alternative

122brand new program with the money that should be going to swim. Not exactly. It's coming from the same call center and it's, I want to say it's coming from that call center and we're using it to fund it because there was a desire to not rely on the community foundation. But I think the greater point here was that there was the transportation was in the time of the students being on bus. You brought some context there. Yeah, so I... Obviously with the transportation and I'm going to say it nobody's gonna like it but we We have the cell phone policy we have you know dismissal And we don't want to keep adding the burden, not just this, but other things to the Transportation Department. And again, that's my view. So the decision was made not

123for the betterment of our athletes, but for us and for a little bit more cushion on our end? Is that what you're saying? I'm confused a little bit on the cost center. Like, not the wrestling. We're providing transportation to MV and New Hartford, correct? Don't we now have to provide two buses one time the one to New Hartford? Correct. So How is it a cup and I'm genuinely curious? How is it a cost savings to send two buses one to New Hartford one? So we know I never mentioned that it would be a costly. No, we just said it would be a hint The cost was never a problem it's the to and from That happens. You're talking about 35 minutes away. So let's just put an example. If we got the RET program, right,

124all these buses have other routes in between. I'm not saying it's the only factor why we didn't in Golder. It's just what I have to deal with. That I put my two cents worth in so you're talking about going 35 miles away right with two buses or one bus I understand it but if that bus is only going to MV right just say That bus will be doing other things in between the round-robin for all the other sports the middle school run a sick run a late run red program so there it's it's there's a lot of other things that that bus could be doing in that 35 minutes and I'm not saying that that's why they did or didn't pick anything i'm just saying those are the things we look at when we put

125our two cents worth in on a transportation site okay so quick question what time is the new hartford what time are they practicing at new hartford school i have no idea practice time is usually from three or three to five o'clock that's what it's going to be at new hartford so we're going to go directly from they're going to go directly from school to new hartford it's not later in the evening I'm sorry. So for the MVCC, it's from 3 to 4.30. For New Harvard, it would be a little bit of a later time. Due to the fact because they have other facilities being used by other organizations at that time. So then are we picking up students at their homes? Are we providing transportation and going to the students' homes to pick them up

126at their home on the bus to then drive them to New Harvard and then bring them back home? I have no idea. We haven't been given that information. So what the needs are I just look at the destination To and from and usually it's from Proctor for some of the sports and that's usually where we go No different than if we go to a football game. We're not dropping the kids off at home. They're going back to Proctor They're going in the gym and their parents are picking them up So when we're looking at those kind of events, that's how we look at that bussing that whether The desire from the district is to do doorstops, you know We look at it when it when it's presented. Yes, I would say I understand the The

127swim practices at mv get that part Can you explain to me a day in the life of one of our only? Divers who has to practice and then somebody who's on who's both swimming and dive. What does this look like for them? Based off of that information, of course, if they were a swimmer, they would go to MV for the 3 to 4.30, and then whatever time they had to do it for the diving, they would do the diving. So they would go to MV until 4.30, and then New Harford's after 4.30 for the diving? Yes. So they'd be able to do both? Yes. So now if I'm only diving, I don't know how many athletes are only divers, but let's say there's an only diver. What are they doing between school and dive practice?

128I guess we would set up some type of study hall or some type of different study like we do with our athletes during the day. Okay, so we'll have to coordinate. You guys will have to coordinate with them. So aren't there other sports that start at 5 p.m.? Right? Like that's not. Everything's right after school there not everything like for example the girls wrestling about we have to start but due to the fact that we have other other sports aligned at those different times that available time when that gym is open then we're Yeah, so we hire our coaches though is women diving We don't hire one for diving one for swimming right we hire them in their title if I'm correct is diving and swimming coach So how are we deciding who's in charge

129of the diving who's in charge of swimming or are we anticipating that the coach is going? from swimming and then to diving. That's a really cool thing. So we have a diving coach and we have a swimming coach. So one person would be for the swimming, one would be for the diving. And that depends on the season. So for the girls, they're going this fall, then they would flip-flop because those are the two same coaches. So when the new boys come, then that particular coach would do whatever, the swimming, that particular group, and then the other one would do the diving. So it's already broken up is what you're saying? It's already broken up, yeah. And then we have one lifeguard. And then swim meets are at New Hartford? Yes. But this year it's going

130to have one until we get everything going. Later, getting back to Proctor, yeah, all our meets are going to be away. I'd just like to add that New Hartford, we will be having our home senior night at New Hartford, both teams. Any other questions? Yeah. So we talk about, you talk about recruiting with students and one of my biggest arguments and issues with this district has always been the fact that we have almost 4,000 students in a high school. Yet we have programs that are really small and it just seems outrageous to me that we're not in there recruiting our student athletes. and promoting them to get them to join these teams. We can look at numerous teams that have really shrunk down that we hardly have any players. And one big one, for an

131example, that's a big hit is did we just cut gymnastics this year? Yes, ma'am. Just for this year. So what happened was usually for a team, the field team, you need four athletes. They only had six. Those particular athletes, there were some that are part of Valley Gymnastics. They compete at that level with that particular club. There are some that go to CMY Gymnastics. They compete with that club. There were some girls that went out for cheerleading. They got accepted on the cheer team. There were some that, you know, that do for different other programs. So that's why they were, they, so. We did a lot of advertisement trying to get athletes out, but as you know, gymnastics is a highly level-skilled sport. You need to start those kids off at an earlier age as

132related to that. It's also a sport that deals with financial and economics. I know for next year, talking with the coach, we do have some sixth graders moving up to seventh grade. So we do have a line of different things that are going on to try to get athletes out for that particular sport. So when you say ads and things, what do you mean? Like what type of information are students given? Well, I know that particular coach was working with Valley Gymnastics because a lot of – in order for that particular sport, you have to have athletes that go to Proctor that are part of that. that part of that specific organization, Valley Gymnastics. There weren't a lot of athletes, and she checked around for all the different gymnastics organizations, like Valley Gymnastics, CNY. There

133weren't Proctor athletes because a lot of it is you have to pay for those different type of programs. Well, I guess my question would be, we have a lot of very young students that participate in gymnastics when they're... you know kindergarten first second grade maybe third and then as you move up obviously the expense starts to get more the time and everything else my question would be why wouldn't we start doing something for our students in the fourth fifth sixth grade where we can furnish the equipment and all of the things uniforms and whatever else it is that you do coaching and all that and then retain more kids as they get older and of course we know they're gonna they may go to the cheerleading squad or play different things depending on this when

134the season is and then also you know have we thought about changing i don't know what's possible i mean i don't know if there's like a fall season in the spring season or winter season or whatever it is but you know trying to just keep our kids engaged in gymnastics. But I guess with gymnastics too, and I don't know much about gymnastics, is this a sport? I mean, we're reaching out to Valley Gymnastics to see, oh, how many of our proctor students go there, but is this a sport that we could start looking at 7th or 8th graders and saying, hey, would you be interested in gymnastics? Do you want to come? Do you want to work with our coaches? I mean, after all, that's what coaches do, right? They're there to develop. So is

135that something you can do with gymnastics? No. That's something that I was working with the coach related to that and trying to do that and she did find some different athletes but most those athletes are three four five six that that the beginning level there's done really because with gymnastics you have steps increments of skill level And usually when kids get to that high school level you have to know a certain amount of context as related to the certain skills So it really depends on that, but I know when she checked and I spoke with her and I kept in close contact with her there were no athletes that go to Proctor that are part of the Utica City School District that are going to Proctor. That was what the thing was. Can you be

136a seventh and an eighth grader, meaning someone that is in one of the middle schools and participates? You could. They do an APPR process, but yeah. So do we have it? Did we look into seeing if they were running seventh and? eighth graders to see if we could fill yes we looked and they were there were none there were none because they were at the lower levels she looked at the looked at that level and looked at those who were in high school and they were none because i asked the question i i just want to make sure that That I'm understanding too. I guess the question that I'm asking too is just looking in our own schools and saying from the gym teachers, right, somebody who might be interested in saying, hey, are you

137interested in playing gymnastics and bringing them over to begin to coach them in that 7th and 8th grade in the middle schools. You'd have to have well with gymnastics and I'm taking it from this perspective as being a former phys ed teacher a Lot of schools have gotten away from gymnastics due to the liability because there's a lot of liability that's involved with that the other thing is Most of you also on this panel we were growing up they had us climb the ropes They had us do those different types of things that now a lot of ropes courses climbing wall not climbing walls But um the climbing ropes I don't know if you ever seen those contraptions But they those are out of schools now because of the liability that's involved what I began

138to find out because I used to teach the gymnastics skills in my phys ed classes a lot of skill a lot of kids didn't have the upper like when we used to the the Parallel bars, you can push yourself up. A lot of kids didn't have that upper body strength that we had related to that. So gymnastics is a higher level skill sport. There's a lot of risk, a lot of liability that's involved. When you don't have the properly trained individuals. you can run into problems. So what are we doing with those four students then that were interested? Are they going on to another team? Are we doing something like what we're doing with Sequoia and New Hartford for wrestling? Or did those students just not have an opportunity? You mean the ones that the

139four that were, the four they went to other programs. They went to cheering. They did other programs. Oh, so it's completely dissolved. They didn't have four students. No, no. They went to other sports. I thought you were saying we had four. No, no. Okay. So no one was left behind. Okay. And then I guess, and it's not, you know, it's not a shout out or anything. Well, I guess it is a shout out, but it's not a disadvantage to everyone. I don't want to highlight one person, but there was. coach last year who sent students personal letters as they were going to middle school saying hey on this coach introducing them introducing their sports telling them to come over here's my tryout and he thought it was fantastic and there was a handful of parents

140that this coach reached out to and they received personal letters and the kids went home all excited about it so I just I thought it was something great, and it was a great recruiting mechanism. So I don't know if we're going to start looking at possibly doing this across the board. Yep, I'll take that feedback, and I'll bring it back to my coaches. I think it's a good idea. Yeah, it was great when I saw it. It got a lot of attention. Okay. Anyone else have any questions? I do, actually. Oh, good. So I have one more. Dr. Spence, in June, I did some heavy research. And I sent you an email with some heavy research. I believe it was a 10-page paper all about athletics that I researched all different facilities and programs and

141I came up with a lot of great ideas Was that ever brought to mr. Patterson and to the athletic to discuss some of those possibilities for our students So as previously articulated to the board I brought that to the athletic director and in board to his intention and seemed looked at it internally it's an internal document that will look at as advisement and take into consideration as we're rebuilding the program. Thank you. I just have one more question. No, you can't. Sorry. So, I know a few years ago when I first was on the PEAC committee, yes, it was before your time, Tennille. Is that when you were a diver for U of M? You were a diver? No, I wasn't. Oh. You need to pretend a man-made diver. It's not true. I was a

142diver. jumped off the one anyway the question that I have is we created some athletic study halls where it allowed us to try to ensure that our students maintain the appropriate grade levels in their classes so that they would not become academically ineligible It was designed initially to identify or assist in helping our students meet whatever standards necessary. For example, they were being recruited by a D1 school or a D2 school so that they had the necessary education. It's legend around. This our our district where we've had some unbelievable athletes that had d1 talent, but didn't have necessarily the grades or the component of their their educational makeup so Do you have a plan to? Implement something or further that if it's still in place and I don't know if it is and What is

143that plan and when will you be implementing it if you do have a plan? And just one more thing, that does not mean that the board is interested in fluffing up somebody's grades because we want our kids to be scholar-athletes. This past year when I came aboard, there were athletic study halls for athletes on the different teams. The plan is to still do that. I'm going to work with guidance, and I thank you for bringing that up because sometimes there's so much on my plate that I forget about that, but that is something that I do plan on looking at. I will be working with Dr. Spence and Mr. Fauci in relation to that so we can keep that as a priority because I do want our athletes to do well. Mr. Batterson. Can you

144maybe connect that to the administrative goals that you and your colleagues developed all summer at the administrative retreat that was designed at augmenting student achievement so that your scholar athletes and students would be able to? You spent a lot of time doing that. Yes, you did. He was there. He contributed. I mean, you built it with your colleagues. So can you just talk about how these district goals are aimed at achieving just that? So one of the things when I came aboard that I think that people sometimes forget is that we have... student and we have an athlete I call them scholars but what I really want to do is work on our code of conduct related to the academics and how that works and I think that when we worked on our goals our

145goal was to first of all extend our curriculum but at the same time also to make sure that our athletes and our scholars that in those basic subjects they are doing well in them and they're passing their Regents exam so we worked on all those different areas for that, that was the prime motive. And I think when you add, we're in a different piece when you have scholar-athletes because not only are they students, but they're athletes. And usually if you're involved with extracurricular activities, that accentuates your academics related to what you're doing with school. So most, nine out of ten times, athletes that are on an athlete team, that are athletes, they usually are excelling as students because they have both those different areas and say, if you didn't have those things. When can we

146expect the implementation of that so that we can get reports on how kids are doing, what we've done to help them, a little anecdotal. So I'll be working with Principal Palladino and I'll be working with our math athletic managers and also the guidance team and we'll work on trying to work on that for this fall and try to get that going. Joe. To piggyback off that, you're talking about D1 athletes. So I am assuming that you read my 10-page document that I shared with the entire board on athletics and what we need to do. And so the proposal in there, right, was what a lot of several other school districts have, which is, and I'm going to get the name wrong off the top of my head, but, right, this is someone that is hired

147just in athletics and their job is... to guide our athletes and their job. I think people think D1 and they think that, oh, these coaches just come out. And there is a huge component that comes into becoming a D1 athlete and what you have to do and the steps that you actually have to take that parents do not understand. So it would be great if we could look at going into the future, realigning a position within our athletic department that works specifically with these students so that we can help guide them if there is their interest to play sports in college. and it's this person at whatever level right to design to help them d1 d2 d3 MBCC wherever it is what are the steps that they need to do to get there because several

148parents have no idea what that means and we have athletes that are going by that are not recognized and didn't follow any of the steps that could be potential D1 athletes? So I am working with an individual from Syracuse University that used to play basketball for Syracuse University, and he planned on doing some type of program, coming to talk with our athletes, because I think that's the missing piece. A lot of our scholar athletes don't know the pieces. They just think, well, maybe if I play basketball and get 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, okay, that's it. And it's not that. There's a lot more that goes into that. Yeah, it's a lot of work. So if we can get someone there to help guide our students, I think that that would be a fundamental

149piece as well. I'll share that document with you again if you'd like to see it. I would. Any other questions? I thought you had something you wanted to say. I'm going to just save mine for later. Okay. Opening tomorrow. All right. We will be scheduling a PEAC committee meeting. So I guess the question is... In terms of time of the day, what are you suggesting the best time of day for PA committee meetings are for healthy attendance? After 5 p.m. 5 p.m. You asked. I know when we went to PAC meetings this year, I think it was 4.30, 5 o'clock, so that's fine. I got to also talk with Dr. Spence. Well, no, I'm just in general. This is an internal conversation that we need to have because... We're trying to make sure that we

150are number one adequately prepared for our meetings now we scheduled them right now I have 22 meetings on my calendar for each one of those meetings it requires one meeting of preparation with my team for a total of 44 meetings monthly that are standing meetings not including building visits not including community engagements or the meetings that I did with parents last year we did over 50 meetings with parents regarding student discipline so I just wanted time to work with the team talk to the board chairs of these committees to identify a time and schedule those things out. So I did send you an email. I know. You was right on point. I know. Well, because... Brayden and you. Because I don't... I guess I don't know the steps in the past. We've kind of gave

151Kathy and Stephanie a date or time that worked and then checked with your office. So, like, are you asking us to work with you and the secretary? And, like, how do we... So I guess I'm confused because I saw your email, but I just don't know so I think I think it'd probably best just to sit down with the chairs So what we did with the policy meeting is we got one on the books and then from there We mapped out the rest of the meetings and instruction. Yeah, I know that's something that you want, but I actually work for a living So I'm not gonna map out my professional calendar in my board reference class it says it's best practice it might be best practice but I got to earn a living so same

152my babysitters paid by the hour too in case you were wondering okay so what did the structure that works and what I'll do is I'll reach out to the committee chairs next week is that fine for everyone if I so I'll reach out to the committee chairs next week so we'll get the first one scheduled and we can talk about that because I want to make sure the team has adequate time to prepare in between meetings Okay, so does anyone else have any questions for Mr. Patterson? Yes. No, I mean, I had a whole sheet. I think you did a great job answering most of them. Yes, thank you. Any additional ones I'll send to you. You can give them to us and we'll talk about it at P.A. Yeah, they're not even. Thank you.

153Thank you. Thank you all for it. I can't wait to see the turn on our athletics. Do you need a break for a minute? I need a motion to go into recess for a minute. No, it's already 9 o'clock. Come on, come on, come on. Can we just have a bathroom break for a minute? Thank you. Recess. So, I need a motion to recess. Five minutes. Move. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Me. motion passes unless you need a roll call vote okay we're going out of order reports of special committees that was at the BOCES meeting last week there's some things that they apparently the Commissioner of Education is coming in is that September 4th correct okay September 17 BOCES is hosting the student board member training so 917 so once we know who our

154student board member is we need to let them know and there was some discussion that at some point we need to be still talking or considering some steps towards regionalization which is being led by BOCES. So, and that could be anything from some of the things that we already do, like combining teams, clubs, things like that, where you don't have a large enough student body or people interested. So we're kind of, we're already ahead of the curve on that. And we offer it to a lot of people. To the point now where they just take our people Anybody have anything on both these executive board Braden or are you good? No, I think executive board and legislative committee are both start September Okay Audit and finance I I do want to say this we need

155a meeting So I I would like to schedule that within the next week capital projects anything to report or at least meet with them. Career and technical education? I would like a meeting before the open house, at least if possible. So Dr. Spencer can work on at least scheduling that one, but we would like to have one before the regular funding. Before the ATF. PIAC will be scheduling a meeting upcoming. I thought today was a good start in discussing some of our athletics. policy committee yes we had a meeting our next meeting is September 17th and after that we will be moving to the second Wednesday of every single month so we have ours scheduled out we are X moving in an expeditious matter to updating the policy manual starting with our 8,000 instructional policies

156That's the main update. The only, I think, substantive point was stressing the need for the administration to bring up impractical policies to comply with through the process outlined in board policy. But besides that... We are going to have a lot of policies coming at you quickly every single meeting from now until the end of the year and beyond. I can't wait. And we welcome James. James is our newest committee member. So welcome to policy. James, it'll be a lot of fun. Code of conduct. We have not met in the original meeting. Of course the code of conduct went out. We had the cell phone problems at the end of the year. Dr. De Geer, we actually, Brayden and I, discuss possibly doing the code of conduct either every other month or quarterly because we did

157a lot of work the last few years to really rebound the code of conduct. communications equity and outreach okay I need a motion to approve the August 12 2025 regular meeting any additions deletions Corrections Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. And now the superintendent's presentation. Oh, I'm so sorry, Scott. We're going to say. I'm just listening. Oh, okay. You don't want to say anything? Well, we had two regular meetings this month, so we spoke. Oh, at the last one. Okay. Mr. Gowski, I have a couple. We want to wish you a welcome back and a celebration tomorrow. I have a few questions for you, Mr. Gowski, if you don't mind. Sure. I'm used to looking at you there, so I'm like, it's up to you. Completely up to you. You can stay

158seated. It's kind of getting recorded. I'll go. So. UTA talked several months ago about doing a teacher survey. Did the union ever end up conducting a survey of its membership? We did. I believe the survey ended in May. In May. Correct. Did the union ever share a copy of that with the district? We shared it with our executive board, and then we shared a copy. with with administration with the superintendent did the union ever raise any objection to the Board of Education viewing those survey results we should like I said we shared it with our executive board in the district we were trying to you know have a good working relationship with the district so we were We were just trying to keep it between the executive board in the district. That's why we shared

159it with the superintendent We wouldn't necessarily I mean if the board would like to see the survey I'm sure that's something we could we could share with you so The question of the superintendent can the board receive a copy of the results of that survey? So as expressed previously, the survey belongs to the UTA and their membership. And what Scott had previously expressed was the same thing that I maintain, is that it's a document that we use to evaluate our working relationship and our organizational culture and how we want to improve it. Because the impetus was making sure that we used it to drive. solution-oriented relationship however the UTA and the board desires that that's not for the superintendent to make that that's for the UTA you know I just consulted with counsel and he

160indicated that it it probably would be since it is the UTAs you would have to make a decision to either release it or not release it to the board because it's it's sure your decision not you know you can't be directed to do it and I don't think anyone was direct I'm not I'm not I'm not saying that you're directing him to you asked him yeah the question is he has to go back and decide you know those members or his his executive committee and then make a determination or his board whatever it is that make a determination as to whether or not I guess what I'm struggling with here is if it was shared with the district through the superintendent or the administration. They're union members. We need to stay away from that, let

161them make their decision. No, no, no, this is not a document. This has nothing to do with the union. This is a document that was shared with the administration. I'm uncomfortable unless they want, unless they want, if they want to share it with us. That's their decision. I mean, if the board's requesting to see such, I can go back to the executive board and discuss it. I just... We can't request to see it. I don't see why we wouldn't be able to request to see it. We can ask. We can't request that they produce that document. Asking and requesting is the same thing. We're not directing them to give it to us. We're requesting that they give it to us. We're expressing an interest in... I think what Braden is saying is he's expressing an

162interest in seeing it. Okay. So I guess the question is... Going any further on this, I'd rather go into executive session. That's fine. We can go into executive session now. So you want to go into executive session now? Yeah, let's just take a moment. No, can we just keep... Can we talk about it when we're already going into executive? I can not with Scott. Then that would be the next thing to go into executive. Well, do you have any more questions for Scott? No. Can we get back to him next meeting? No. I am making a motion to go into executive session now to discuss personnel and security protocols. And then come back? No, the superintendent's report can be discussed. Any questions for executive session for the superintendent's report can be discussed under personnel. Okay?

163Wait, I just went to the slide up there. Superintendent's presentation. So should I do that now? Well, no, he wants to go in. Are you saying that we need to go in now? I have made a motion to go into executive session. Okay, I need a second to go into executive session. Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? We're going into executive session.