001here. Oh, you're calling to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Welcome tonight to everybody who is here to spend some of the last vestages of their summer at Watertown City School District board meeting. Welcome to everybody at home online and those that may be watching this uh later in the week this month. Uh we'll start with agenda changes. Michelle, do we have any agenda changes this evening? >> Um the only that I did have is an updated personnel report and I did a hard copy to go. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. Um before we start our public comments, um we have a statement we'd like to read. Um we have a board of
002education policy. It's 2306. If anybody wants to look it up, we have posted it on the board of education portion of the city school district website. Um this is kind of the boiled down version. Uh but the public comment portion of the board of education meetings designed to give members of the public the opportunity to address the board related to school district operations. The board will not permit in public session discussion involving individual district personnel or students. Persons wishing to discuss matters involving individual district personnel or students should present their comments and/or concerns to the superintendent of schools during regular business hours. All speakers are to conduct themselves in civil manner. Obscene language, lielless statements, threats of violence will not be tolerated. It is not the practice of the board to respond during the meeting
003to questions posed or comments made by speakers. Therefore, while the board will certainly take any questions or comments you might have under advisement, we will not be responding to any questions. I'd also like to remind everybody that the first public comment session that we have is for agenda related items only. We have any comments for agenda related items this >> I believe mine is and I'm hoping that it follows suit because I have to run um I've got some other things that I have to do is right here. Okay. >> Absolutely. Perfect. >> All right. Good afternoon. My name is Rebecca and I'm here to speak about accountability of our coaches. As a parent, fan coach, and official, I often read and hear about the mistreatment of coaches and officials and the repercussions that parents
004receive due to their behavior. However, it seems no one ever holds coaches coaches accountable when their actions are questioned. Now, I'm not saying a coach can't be hard on his or her team, but you must have a philosophy that your team buys into. If you don't, you will never earn respect or see results. When results are non-existent and behavior is being reported, how long are we supposed to allow it to go on before we say enough is enough? When do we start holding coaches accountable? A certain sport here has proven to be anything but enjoyable for a handful of our athletes. An already depleted team endured three months of zero learning or instructional guidance, three months of verbal and mental abuse leading straight to present day, having to utilize modified girls at the varsity level
005because girls couldn't make it. or rather most are just over the toxic environment that has been created. You all were emailed certain material that I will not discuss here, but I ask you to think of those students and their families and consider at least a private discussion about them. These girls deserve at least that. We as a school strive to build lifelong learners and responsible citizens. This program unfortunately is doing just the opposite. Our children are not learning. They are not doing their best to be respons or they are doing their best to be responsible citizens and speak up for each other. but have struggled to be heard. Our girls were trapped in an unhealthy environment with your candidate, your role model, your coach. They couldn't quit because of spring sports. During the round of
006interviews, there were two kids on the panel, one that witnessed all of this firsthand. Did anyone bother to speak to her about the integrity of this coach, the leadership, the team morale, all characteristics that I was told or looked for in in a coach? If anyone had, I have a feeling I wouldn't be standing here right now. Meetings with administration wouldn't have been happening weekly up until last week. This isn't just one or two people pushing back. It's a community. >> I want to leave you with one last thing. I want you to think of those emails and before you make your decision, I want you to put yourself in their shoes, the shoes of the girls. Think of everything they discussed in those emails from the style of coaching to the personal issues and
007ask yourself, would you want to go through another year of that? Then I want you to put yourself in the shoes of their parents. How would you feel if you saw your child endure what they did for an entire season or two? Wearing the exhaustion of the situation on the face, limited communication because they shut down and didn't want to talk about it. The energy drained from their bodies, purely and utterly defeated. You cannot sit here and tell me after reading what you did that that is a situation you wish on any child or their families. This is something you all can step up and help change. And I truly hope you do. To the athletes and parents, with the fall season starting and more seasons to follow, this is a reminder to make sure
008you choose a team where the environment is a positive one, where coaches believe in you and push you to be the best, where you will develop and grow as an athlete and a human being. Most importantly, choose a coach that will protect your mental health. You should never go home after a practice or game and feel lost. You should never dread going to practice. You should never be afraid to make a mistake. Do not subject yourselves to a toxic environment. Choose a coach that believes in you and respects you because you matter. Thank you. >> And I am going to leave on that note. You guys have a wonderful night. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else for agenda related items this evening? Michelle, do we have any communications? Um, >> the one communication that I
009wanted to mention is that next Tuesday is the uh uh school uh graduation uh 700 p.m. on the 26th. And if any of the board members are interested in attending, if you guys can just let me know so I can um let Leslie Atinson help she >> uh board and staff reports this evening. We have just one and that is our superintendent of schools, Dr. Larry Schmegle. >> Good evening everyone and sorry that Tina had to step out. It seems like there may have been a medical issue so apologize for absence. I would like to update the board on a variety of things. Um first a huge thank you excuse me I can't speak but a thank you to all of our uh summer programs. Um they were robust, they were large, they were wide.
010I want to thank our staff for facilitating them, our leaders for leading them, and our parents for trusting in those summer programs, and most importantly, our students who did a great job attending and bringing their full selves. A special shout out I'd like to give to North Elementary School. Uh, one of the things that we mentioned this year is we were hosting, Thank you, Gina. Uh, we were hosting our very first preK to kindergarten um bridging program. This was the first year and they had 21 students that participated in that bridging program. They were excited about that. It was new. It was different. Um I asked my team to think outside of the box. They did and North did a great job welcoming them and uh just a huge shout out to you. Uh meeting
011scheduled for next Wednesday. Last board meeting. I spoke to the board about the possibility of purchasing or renting a facility. I just wanted to update the board that I'm still working on that request and the meeting is being scheduled with Bri and myself uh with next week with our bond council, our legal counsel and Bur bond council, legal counsel um and fiscal advisors. >> Yes, thank you. >> I got it. I just needed to saw the money. >> The next thing I would like to update everyone on, it's been over a year since we have been navigating the FEMA incident that happened last August. So, we have passed our one-year anniversary. Um, there's three different buckets of monies that the district applied for. The first one falls under a category B, which is protected measures.
012So, the district applied for just over $2 million, and basically that was covering our serve pro people that were here and any overtime expenses for our custodians. Did a great job cleaning up after the storm at the high school north and case. What they had to do, they did finalize that so that FEMA has obligated those monies and in obligating them, they take what the district receives from an insurance premium and they deduct that from the total cost. Our insurance premium was just about 1.05 million. So that came back to the district um to relieve those expenses. With that, FEMA covers 75% of the total cost after insurance deduction. And so we will be receiving payment for just over $770,000 from FEMA for that. That leaves about $256,000 left and um they consider that a
013state contribution. And so we're thinking, we're not 100% certain yet, we may receive 12.5% back um from the state um Department of Homeland Security and then the difference would be covered by the district and that would take us to 100%. We still have two other projects out there. Um, we have the project for those three buildings that were impacted. So, we do not know. We're looking at just over $7 million for that. And then in addition to that, we're going to be asking for mitigation monies. And so, we're still working through those. And we had that meeting today. And we're plugging along. And kudos to our King and King architects who've done a great job working with FEMA pulling those dollars and cents together. And, uh, we're going to be hopeful that we have a
014successful outcome with that. Right now it's still with CRC. Um just another shout out to our student board member is not here today. His first, his name is Caleb. His first official board meeting will be 93 and he'll be participating in all of the uh discussions out here on the floor. He will not be voting as an exeicio board member and he will not be participating with executive sessions, but he will be out here and it is a new state law and the idea with that is that we will have student voice at our board meetings. Um, another thing, uh, Tina and I had the opportunity today to participate with the transportation kickoff at First Student. Uh, kudos to Charmaine and her team. They do a wonderful job with First Student. Um, you know, as
015we were sitting there, our goal is to motivate them and get them excited to welcome our kids back in the next few weeks. And um as we were talking and I don't know Tina if you called on the lady or I did but a woman shared um how she as a parent was impacted in our district from Cyclone Academy and it it literally gave chills to Tina as we were standing there talking about relationships and what we wanted them to know is the power of relationships. They are the first person that our students see in the morning outside of their families and they have the opportunity to really set up our students for success. So we're excited about that. So kudos to all of our transportation professionals and Charmaine and her team. The next thing
016I'd like to just remind everyone that next week we will be having our welcome back Watertown for our second year. Um the team did an amazing job last year organizing this. We had several kids who received backpacks with school supplies, free haircuts, food. The pizza was delicious. I didn't try it, but I was told it was delicious. Um a and most importantly with our welcome back Watertown, a huge shout out to our our um donations. We had many community partners within our our group under the direction of Matt Berdick who did a lot of the soliciting um to collect those. So a huge shout out to our team and um Matt Berdick for that. Lastly, what I would like to mention is another shout out. Um, yesterday Bri coordinated our building walkthroughs. That gives the
017district leadership an opportunity to visit our schools to see the status of our schools and what work we need to do to make sure our schools and facilities are up for opening. So, Brie, thank you for coordinating that. Thank you to our principles for hosting us yesterday. And thank you to our custodial and maintenance teams and IT department for everything they do to make sure schools are up and running. There's a lot that goes on in our schools over the summer with summer programming. As I said, it was a robust summer, but a huge shout out to those that have worked around those complexities to make sure that we're ready to welcome our family back on the 4th of September. That's it. >> Thank you very much. >> Items for consent agenda. >> Please solve
018that consent agenda items. A uh the approval of the minutes of the committee on special education is hereby approved. >> Take a motion. >> Melanie. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Items for board action. Approval of the 2025 26 district safety plan. Whereas the Watertown City School District's district-wide safety plan uh was developed u pursuant to commissioner's regulation 155.17 and at the direction of the district board of education superintendent of schools appointed a districtwide school safety team and charged it with the development and maintenance of the district school safety plan. And whereas the plan was uh designed to pre uh prevent or minimize the effects of serious violent incidents and emergencies and to facilitate the coordination of the district with local and county in the event of such incidents or emergencies. And whereas
019one public hearing regarding the Watertown City School District safety plan providing for the participation of school personnel, parents, students, and any other interested parties was held on August 5th, 2025. And now therefore be it resolved that this board um be it resolved that this board's spouse number one the board of education adopts the abovementioned school safety plan. Number two the school safety plan shall be filed with the commissioner uh no later than 30 days after it adoption. And number three this resolution shall take effect immediately. Motion Tina. Thank you. Second discussion just that is publicly available on the website, right? >> Yeah. If they want to see that safety plan that is there, the red lines. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? She passes. Approval of authorized representative signatures on special education stack
020one forms. >> Uh resolved that Matthew Berdick and Hannah Marie Savage are authorized representatives of the board of education for required signature school stack uh one forms. >> This is typically something that's included in our reward meeting. So we'll be doing that in the future. Have a motion. Second guess get your word out tonight. discussion. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Uh, approval of our personnel report. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Approval of workplace violence coordinator. that uh resolved that Tina Lane is hereby appointed as the workplace violent coordinator for the 2025 26 year and thereafter until the next re organizational meeting uh of the board of education. May I have a motion? Thank you. Second discussion. All those in favor any oppos. Now it's time for the approval of that personality. >> Resulted
021upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, Dr. Larry Schmegle. The board of education hereby approves the following resignations of absence appointments probationary instructional term non-probation instructional uh term non-probationary non-instructional term non-probationary non-instructional um probationary non-instructional cyclone academy permanent part-time provisional permanent substitutes instructional noninstructional coaching girls. We are coaching girls. We are coaching boys. Spring coaching girls spring coaching boys. >> Second motion. >> Second discussion. >> I just want to say to Tina that you and Dr. I'm extremely busy with the number of people on that list. Good job. Thank you. >> Did you have the same question that I had previously? Um, one of the positions. Sorry, I hadn't read this till late. Um, is there a plan in place for some? Yes. Oh, question. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes.
022Approval of a paid administrative leave. >> So that upon the recommendation of Dr. Lady Schneel, superintendent of schools, the paid administrative leave of a non-estrictial employee effective August 18th, 2025 is here by approved. I'll take a motion >> and go discussion. All those in favor any motion passes D. You get to stand and come forward, please. >> Thank you. Approval of a K12 principal. >> Upon the recommendation of Dr. Larry Schmegel, superintendent of the schools. The appointment of Janelle Duby as a K12 principal and the district is hereby approved. >> Take a motion. >> And a second >> discussion. >> Welcome home. >> Thank you. I'm very excited to be coming back. >> Any other discussion? All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Ryan, >> get that last name right. >> Kback. >>
023Kaybeck. Sorry, I will get that right. >> That was my >> approval of a special education coordinator assistant. >> Upon the recommendation of Dr. Superintendent of the appointment of Brian Gbeck as special education coordinator assistant in the district is hereby approved. Take a motion. >> A second. Discussion. >> Thank you. >> All those in favor? Any opposed? How you going to block? >> Greg Rous. We have the approval of a director of health, physical education, and athletics. >> It resolved and upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education hereby appoints Gregory Russo for to a 4-year probation employment in the administrative tenure area director of health physical education and athletics effective September 2nd 2025 and ending September 1, 2029 and an annual salary of 15,000 for the first year of service
024with subsequent salary increases pursuant to the terms of the law sovereign. I'll take a motion. >> See none second. >> Discussion. >> Welcome to the North Country. >> Thank you very much. Anything we can do to help you make your job easier, please let us know. We want to see all of our new administrators have the utmost success. >> Thank you very much. And trust me with your children. >> All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. Uh, approval of a amended personnel report. as a resolution was passed by the board of education August 5th, 2025 approving the winter coaching boys modified swimming and that this amended resolution reflects a change to the modified boys swimming assistant as an amended salary of $2,69.30 and is hereby approved. >> Take a motion, please. Melody in a
025second discussion. All those in favor. Any opposed? She passes. >> Approval of combining sports contract. the Watertown City School District combined with Immaculate Heart Central School for the 2526 school year to form a varsity boys ice hockey team and be a further resolve that the students cities will become members of the IHC varsity boys hockey team. The team will compete under IHC colors. >> Take a motion, please. A second. Yeah. discussion. This is normal. We normally do this without all those in favor. Any oppos? She passes. Approval of the creation of the club. >> Uh result of the formation of an extracurricular club at Watertown High School Educators Rising Club. Hereby approved. >> So like to make a motion on the second. >> No. discussion. You want to add anything about this book? >> It
026is a similar to future future teachers of America. It is a growing program to interest our young um students that are in the high school right now. We hope to expand to middle school and teaching careers. >> I was reading the request today. It's very exciting. >> Yes. >> Any other discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. Creation of the clause. uh resolved that the formation of an extracurricular club at Watertown High School, the fashion industry club with Miss Shelley Fulkerson as the adviser is hereby approved. Motion, please. See and second discussion. All those in favor? Any oppos? Motion passes. We're down to M. Approval donation. um resolve that a donation from uh the the Cavalerial Education Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation of $1,000 is designated as support for the
027purchase of a bottle filling station uh designated to North Elementary School's PTO. This donation is gratefully accepted and approved and will be accomplished in writing. >> I'll take a motion. Tina in a second. >> Any discussion? I'll just say thank you. Those are awesome. Those bottle phone stations are excellent. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Passes. And approval of the donation. >> Donation of $300 from John Allen sanitation services incorporated to support the welcome back to Watertown event. This donation is greatly accepted and approved and will be acknowled. Thank you for your generosity. All those in favor? >> Any oppose? >> Oh, approval of the donation. also had a donation of $300 from Laura Pain Dorsy Consulting to support the welcome back to Watertown event. This donation is gratefully accepted and approved and will
028be acknowledged in writing. >> Motion a second discussion of $300 was just that she wanted to donate. It is five. I will correct that. >> Um, let me reread that. >> I apologize for that. >> Yes. >> Um, resulted in a donation of $500 from Laura Porscy Consulting uh to support the welcome back to Watertown event. This donation is gratefully accepted and approved. will be in writing >> motion on the corrected resolution and second and calling discussion. Thank you for senior agency for their generosity. I would never get sick of reading approval and donations board. Uh all those in favor of the resolution, any opposed? Motion passes. Approval of an educational field trip. uh resolved that the uh student trip is presented to the board is hereby approved. >> All those in favor a motion
029please see a second >> discussion in favor. Any oppose? Uh motion passes. Q. Approval to discard, recycle or donate outdated textbooks. resolved at the disposal, recycle or donation of damaged and unused in American history textbooks from IHmacula Heart Central High School is hereby approved. Motion, please see a second discussion. All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes and R approval to discard, dispose or recycle unused books. >> Resolve that the disposal, recycle or donation of damaged, outdated and unused books from Nicerbacher Elementary as per the list presented to the board is hereby approved. >> Motion please. >> See a second. >> Mel discussion. Those in favor. Any opposed? Passes. Resolution. >> So, we are at our public comment session now. So, this does not need to be related to the agenda. I just want to
030point out that according to our policy that we are requesting that people sign up with Michelle Rall ahead of time, at least by noon on the day of the meeting with topic they intend to discuss. I understand we did have at least one person today that did that. Somebody serious on that agenda. Go ahead. So, this is not just to the members of the board, but um everyone here and the folks listening at home. I'm here to express my deep concern and frustration with the recent changes to the universal prek program. These decisions not only create significant hardships for working families like mine, but also threaten the very foundation of early childhood education that so many children in our district depend on. These changes limit access for many families, disrupting consistency for children and creating
031unnecessary burdens on working parents. My son has attended the same daycare since he was in the infant room. This has been his safe place, a familiar place where he knows and loves his teachers, the staff, and the other students. Despite this long-standing relationship, he was forced to enter the PK lottery. He did not get picked. Instead, I was offered not a spot, but a chance at another lottery at a different location. However, this alternative program ended at 100 p.m. and offered no wraparound care. As a full-time working mom, I ask you, what am I supposed to do after 100 p.m.? Am I supposed to leave work every day in the middle of the afternoon? Should my husband? Do we scramble to find another daycare spot in Jefferson County, unknown daycare desert? the mileong waiting lists.
032And if we somehow secured a spot, how would we get our son transported between the two facilities during the workday? These changes feel completely detached from the reality of what working families are facing. This schedule is impossible for full-time working parents to accommodate without jeopardizing employment. Both my husband and I are civil servants. I work for New York State and he works for the United States Postal Service. Both of our organizations are already struggling with worker shortages. Now, we are being forced to consider rebalancing child care and employment in ways that put our jobs and therefore our family stability at risk. Families should not have to choose between keeping their jobs and giving their children to access to early education. Beyond the burden of families, these changes will harm the childrens themselves. As you guys
033know, at this young age, children need consistency and routine. Young children thrive when they can be remain can they can remain with trusted teachers who know them and that knowledge builds over time and helps the children progress. It also helps the teachers to give the time for the teachers to understand each child, their strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. This knowledge can be passed from room to room within the same child care centers, ensuring continuity in the child's growth and education by forcing the kids to move between providers or worse denying them a position altogether. You are disrupting their ability to build trust and stability. Instead of starting the school year ready to learn and to build on what they already know, they'll spend weeks or even months just trying to adjust to new classrooms and
034teachers and peers. One of the greatest strengths of UPK has been its partnership with the community-based organizations. These centers not only provide education but also stability and wraparound care, which is essential for families in Jefferson County, a region already facing severe child care shortages. Even more concerning is the reducing of the numbers of seats available at the CBOS. For example, um reducing the approximate 70 seats to just 15 at one provider that I read. The district has created a situation in which dozens of children are left without access tok. These children will miss out on critical early learning opportunities which contradicts the very purpose of a universal program. The research is clear. Children who attend quality prek programs are more likely to enter kindergarten prepared, perform better academically throughout their career, have higher attendance, and
035graduate at higher rates. Conversely, children who lack the access to GPK face long-term disadvantages. This means that the decisions made now will directly impact the academic outcomes and ultimately the reputation of the Watertown City School District. They are still your students. Every one of these children live in your district and in one or two years they will enter your kindergartens. Limiting access now will only create greater challenges for the district in years ahead. Without UPK, they will come in already behind and those struggles will stay with them for years to come. The same children who are excluded from UPK today will still be a responsibility tomorrow. I urge the board to consider to reconsider the current structure of the UPK program. Screw universal prek must be accessible, equitable, and support both families and children. Anything
036less fails the very students it's meant to serve. Please do what's right for the children and the families of this district. Our children deserve better. Thank you. I'm >> sorry. Did you say your name at the beginning though? >> Yes. >> Um, and is your child three-year-old precare? Four-y old >> prek. >> Thank you very much. Thank you for the time. >> Appreciate. [Music] >> Um, as we're trying to reinforce and bring ourselves back to what our policy really is, we're kind of soft opening that. So, if there's somebody that did not sign up but still wants to speak for public comment, we'll allow it tonight. Is there anything else that wishes to address the board for a non-aggenda? Okay. Um, any items for discussion or information that the board would like to bring up?
037None on the agenda. Okay. Upcoming dates. Um, the district is closed on August 22nd, which is a Friday. On August 26th, we'll have the a uh affformentioned summer school graduation at 7 p.m. in the Watertown High School auditorium. August 28th is our welcome back Watertown event at Casey Middle School from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The flyer for that's been posted on the district website. Lot of lot of activities going on with that, so check that out. Uh September 1st, Monday, Labor Day, school district will be closed. And then September 2nd, September 3rd, the first Tuesday and Wednesday of September will be the superintendent conference day. Staff only need to report. No students. >> Yes, I you don't mind if I add something there. If any board member interested in being able to attend, they're
038welcome to attend the um orientation on the second. Have a guest speaker that will be there for we invited Reach. So he will be here to kick us off. We'll have a representative from the uh from Fort Trump and our DS PA. Did they make me jealous that um also on September 2nd, open houses at all of our schools. K4 will be 4:30 to 5:30m. Grades five and six, 5 to 6 pm. Grades seven and eight from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Uh, and then grades 9 through 12 at Watertown High School will be from 4 to 6:00 pm. September 3rd, we'll have our FAFSA committee meeting at 5:00 PM in the district office followed at 6 PM uh with our regular board of education. So, we'll get to hear how our first day of school
039went and how our staff development days. Uh, no, we won't get to hear our first day of school. That will be on September 4th. School was for K12. September 4th, Thursday, September 4th, first day for K12. Um, we had two building reports. We had one from Case and I believe Tina has that one. >> It says, "Hi y'all. Here's an update on summer work at Case. We're marking we're making great progress as we gear up for the new school year. The Cyclone Academy program for our eighth graders is coming together. We have staffing in place. We're enrolling recommended students and soon we'll be wrapping up food service and transportation arrangements. We are also working towards finalizing our master schedule with the exciting additions of two more sections of algebra 1, two sections of DVP, and
040two sections of studio art. greatly enhancing opportunities for our students to earn high school credit in each grade. Our open gate system has been set up and is ready for use. And we will even and we even practice using it this summer with the students and our custodial team has been working tirelessly to make sure the building shines for the first day. Thanks. >> And we had a report from Mr. Lennon in the athletics department. >> We do. I feel a little funny reading it. I like the way you look. >> I'll do my best impersonation. Um, from the athletic department, I to provide an update on the start of the fall 2025 athletic season. Our student athletes, coaches, and staff been working diligently throughout the summer. Prepare for what promises to be another strong
041year for Watertown athletics. Athletic programs officially started on Monday the 18th for JV and varsity sports. Modified football will start on Monday, August 25th, with all other modified programs starting on Thursday, September 4th. Participation numbers look to be strong for our 19 teams, reflecting the dedication and commitment of our players, coaches, and the continued support of our community. All programs will continue to emphasize the importance of to balancing academics and athletics. Weekly grade checks and academic support are in place to ensure our athletes remain focused in the classroom. Practice schedules, game schedules, and all other information related to athletics is placed on our school website under the athletics tab for view. Special welcome to all students returning back to school. If you're interested in playing fall sports and haven't signed up yet, you should contact
042the athletic office. The athletic department would like to welcome Kristen Philipelli as a newly hired athletic secretary. She will be replacing Joan Evans, retiring at the end of the month. We would like to thank Joanne for her many years of service in the athletic department and the district as a whole. He will be greatly missed. We would also like to welcome Owen Mayer to the district. Owen will be serving as our athletic trainer for the school year. His office will be located at the high school. And a special thanks for our nurses and doctors for all your assistance and helping our student athletes become medically clear participate. We appreciate all you do and it does not go unnoticed. A big shout out to our building and grounds team and our athletic custodians for the continued
043support in keeping our athletic facilities and venues game ready and safe. The resurfacing of our tennis courts is one example of many improvements made to our facilities over the summer. I'd like to invite all community members to come out and support our teams throughout the fall season and school year. The energy, pride, and tradition of Watertown Athletics continues to thrive because of our commitment to our student athletes. Go cyclones. Tina, anything else to add for a look around the district? >> Um, not much. Um, I can't wait until school starts though and we'll get the students back in and get to see and hear them and listen to all their great stories. Um, I did bump into a parent um who was ecstatic about the bridging program. said that their child was scared to death,
044didn't want to move up, and they were really having some hard issues with the that whole idea, and they went to the Virgin program, and this whole person is just ready to bring on the year. So, thank you for doing offering that. Um, and I just want to congratulate all the students that did summer school and will be at summer graduation. And I can't wait to see who they all are. And that's it. >> Thank you, Ellie. >> Um, no, just to say that I uh like I'm assuming like many students wish that summer could last forever, but but no, I'm excited that in a couple weeks our our classes will be fall back and we'll be starting another year. >> Thank you, Kelly. >> Um, I think it's exciting that summer or fall sports
045have started. I will say um there have been lots of students at the turf playing lacrosse and soccer and running all summer. So I look forward to how their hard work transfers to the sports. >> Excellent. Um yeah, I mean I'm cing my own children around for athletics as that begins. I was in uh case today dropping some documentation off for my daughter and I got to see the new security system. It's very unobtrusive. I think it's going to work wonderfully. Can't wait to see it used with large numbers of kids and seeuh how efficient we can get with it. Um but it's just another effort to make sure that we're keeping our kids safe, keeping our staff safe, uh doing our due diligence. If there's technology out there that can help us do that,
046then um so be it. And I think that was a smart decision to to purchase that technology. Other than that, yeah, I mean things are ramping up. I'm anxious to see kids back in the building. Um, and uh, I guess I'll just remind everybody that we go back to our normal hours. We mentioned it in the uh, upcoming dates, but when we're pushed back to our six o'clock meeting dates, so no more early summer meeting days dates for the board of education starting in September. Anything else for the good of the order? Okay, we stand a journ. Thank you everybody.