001Thank you for joining us. And for those who are tuning in remotely, [Music] Michelle, do we have any agenda changes this evening? I just have one. I posted the agenda on Friday. Yesterday, I did add um an item for board action. It is Oh, the approval of a PDM director about facilities. Anyone here tonight looking to make a public comment on an agenda related item? Yes, I am. Go ahead. You're good. Good evening. My name is Ebony Folmes. I live on Mar Drive. I'm the mother of three children, a Watertown High School graduate, and two currently enrolled in our district. I'm here to speak on the agenda related discussion curriculum appeal number six in relation to the I am Leo case I am Leo assignment middle school I spoke back in the fall when concern
002first came about and not to be redundant but I would like to reiterate our board policy recognizing diver diversity the board of education recognized that stu as students we serve come from a community that is diverse in many ways including race color ethnicity nationality religion socio socioeconomic status, veteran status, educational attainment, marital status, language, age, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental and physical ability, genetic information, and learning styles. Each student reflects an individual individual amalgam of these identities and the goal of the district is to deliver differentiated instruction to interact with our community in a manner that recognizes each individual individual background. To take that a step further, as a public school here in New York, we are governed by New York State Department of Education or NISED. In a statement put out
003by our New York State Attorney General back in August of 2023, it stated is the obligation of local education agencies to place dignity, inclusion, and respect at the center of their educational decisions. These principles embedded in law are the wellspring from which sound decision decisions of educational policy flow. Through this joint guidance, the attorney general and NISD reaffirm New York's commitment to ensuring that all students have full opportunity by supporting local education agency's development and implementations of policy and practices that advance the PR principles of diversity, equity, and in a statement by New York Attorney General on 3525, she reaffirmed this by stating educational institutions should continue to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility among their student bodies. A comment was made by Mrs. Smith prior at a fire board meeting who stated that with
004this executive order from this new administration, I don't know how we could continue this assignment. The New York this new administration has said its plans to let the states decide. New York State has already decided and issued guidelines that reaffirm the state stance on DEIB. So, I don't know how we could not uphold this curriculum. I will be honest. I've been disappointed that there has not been anyone else on the board who has who has stepped up to say that all of our students matter or made any comments on this issue. I also want to be fair and say I don't know what is said behind closed doors in executive sessions. I do want to remind everybody that our LGBTQIA plus students do not have the luxury to exist behind closed doors. They are navigating
005the hardship that comes with just being children. To add to this, they now must wonder who is going to support them when adults challenge their right to be represented in a place where they spend much of their time. I'm hoping tonight the board will show these students by their vote that they matter, they deserve to take up space, and they deserve to be represented represented in their own curriculum. Based on our district policy and your state education department, I ask you to please vote to uphold the initial decision and keep the I am Leo assignment in our curriculum. Thank you. Good evening everybody. You all know who I am, but I am Annie Horton. Um, and today you as a board um will decide to keep or remove this controversial piece in the current 8th
006grade health curriculum. I'm here today to ask you all as board members to represent the wishes of the community that you elected. It's your job to represent their beliefs and values. Not the superintendent, not the teachers union, not the department of education. You are our voice. Have you read the document in its entirety? Has every single board member read that? I have. Thank you. Have you read the quiz that goes along with it? I have. To all who haven't, that's really upsetting. If you haven't, maybe you have. I'm hoping that you will. None of the other surrounding schools um around our district are using this curriculum. So, why is Watertown? I would also appreciate your response from the board to that question. This material should be left up to parents to discuss with their children
007as they see fit, not the school. I ask you, does this align with that strategic plan? Does this improve the graduation rate which is oblby compared to the rest of the schools in New York State? It is the parents responsibility to teach the their children to be kind to everyone. Mine are raised with Catholic Christian values that are taught at home. Religion is not taught in school. However, neither should this subject matter. I also want to mention that the board of education policy 8302 was not followed as directed. I was never asked to come before the reconsideration committee to give a presentation. It seems as though they have not taken my input seriously. I would also appreciate your response as to why the policy was not followed. Thank you for allowing me to speak this
008evening and I look forward to your responses. Thank you, Mr. Member of the board. You just start with your name. Yep. My name is Ryan Dome. Thank you. And I'm speaking today as a concerned community member, taxpayer, and homeowner within the district. As a local graphic designer, I also have had the privilege of leading the creative direction for district's rebranding efforts. An experience that deepened my investment in the future of our schools and their guiding principle, our children, our future. But my commitment extends beyond design and beyond observation. I am someone who directly contributes to the system shaping the next generation. That is why I stand before you today with urgency, with passion, and with unwavering dedication to the students you have sworn to serve. I'm here to strongly suggest that the eighth grade health
009curriculum remain intact without modification without omission without censorship. Particularly, I am talking about the IMD assignment. This is not just about a lesson plan. It is about a message. A message that tells every student, no matter their identity, that they are seen, they are valued. They belong. To strip this assignment from the curriculum under the guise of dissatisfaction from a vocal minority within the community is not just an act of emission. It is an act of eraser. It is a submission to a growing political movement designed to push LG LGBTQ plus individuals into the shadows to make their existence a debate rather than a reality. But these students are not up for debate. They are here. They are watching and they are learning from your actions. As writer and transwoman Kai Cheng Pong, she her
010pronouns remind us, those who have survived the unthinkable are also those who know how to create a better world because it's ended for us before. End quote. The LGBTQ plus community knows what it means to fight for survival. We know what it feels like when society tries to erase us, when institutions tell us we don't matter. But we also know that the future can be different if people in power make the right choices. If educators like you refuse to be complicit in silence. The role of this board is not to pacify discomfort at the cost of truth. Your duty is to educate to foster understanding and to prepare students for the real world. A world filled with diversity. A world where inclusion is not an option but a necessity. If we start removing LGBTQ plus
011representation from our schools, what message does that send? That these students don't matter? That their peers should not acknowledge them? That their identities are too controversial to discuss? And perhaps most frustratingly, why are we here debating an assignment that has already been thoroughly vetted? The Iron Leo activity has been reviewed by a team of district educators and community members, people who understand curriculum, pedigogy, and the needs of our students. It has been assessed by the DEIB committee that people and found to be in full compliance with both the law and New York state standards. This discussion is not about legality, nor is it about educational best practices. It is about bending to pressure, about allowing fear and intolerance to dictate policy and about wasting time on an issue that never should have been arisen in
012the first place. We have LGBTQ plus students, staff, and community members who are watching who will feel the weight of your decision deeply. To remove this lesson is to tell them they are not worth fighting for. That their safety, mental well-being, and right to representation are expendable. School should be a safe place for all students, not just the cisgender students who march to the norms of a heteronormative society. When you choose to affirm only some identities while erasing others, you create an environment of exclusion, of shame, of silence. And silence has never been a neutral act. This is more than a policy decision. It's a moral decision. It is a choice between embracing progress or succumbing to fear, bigotry, and ignorance. And let me be clear, history will remember that choice. Today, you have the
013power to affirm these students, to show them that their school stands for equity and truth. Or you can choose to send a message that they are invisible, that their lives, their struggles, their identities are not worth discussing, that their existence is irrelevant. So I urge you, do not be the board that bends the pressure at the cost of students physical and mental well-being. Be the board that stands firm in the face of adversity, that chooses to bring students together rather than erase those who make some uncomfortable. Students are watching. Their futures are in your hands. Make the right choice, not the easy one. And remember, there's more that unites us than separates us. Good evening. My name is Janelle Michael Hoopert. I live on Cross Street. Um, thank you for the opportunity to speak with
014you all regarding the curriculum app that's already been referenced this evening. Um, I'm speaking to you not only as the parent of a fourth grade student at Sherman Elementary School, but also a licensed clinical social worker in the state of New York. Um, I'm employed full-time as a mental health clinician or psychotherapist and have worked in the mental health field for 15 years. You all may be aware that suicide is one of the leading causes of death for children ages 10 and up. What you might not be aware of, however, is that transgender youth are two to two and a half times more likely to attempt suicide than cisgender youth. That is an incredibly distressing and alarming statistic, of course. However, it's important to know that the presence of just one affirming and accepting adult
015in the life of a transgender child dramatically reduces that suicide risk. How powerful just the presence of one accepting person. So imagine the power of feeling accepted and understood by your peers. When this issue was brought before the board previously, that board used the excellent judgment to uphold that I am Leo remain in the curriculum. And I implore you all to use that same judgment again today. Transgender children have always existed and will continue to exist. And God willing, we'll have the opportunity to grow into transgender adults who are contributing members of our community. Lessons like I am Leo are nothing short of suicide prevention and I hope that I have helped you all to see that today. Thank you for the opportunity to speak and for your consideration. Thank you ma'am. What else can
016I Thank you all for your comments. Um Sheldon, do we have any communications? And it is my pleasure to turn it over to Mr. Tyler Camplin for our student voice. Oh, hello. My name is Mr. Tyler Tamman. I am the music teacher at Ohio Mentor. Um what you'll be getting is a ticket to our musical that we're going to have May 7th um at the Ohio Street Gem. Um these are pictures actually this is the first time that all the leads met today um to go over the show and it was a very productive um 30 minutes. Uh they've been rehearsing since the end of December, beginning of January and um my friends here actually have been rehearsing during their recess time um every day. So, and they are have been memorized since the end
017of January, which I am very proud of. Um, I am excited for them to perform for you tonight. And, um, we actually are having a contest. So, I printed out 350 tickets for the show and they're all labeled. So, if you have the come at the door cuz tickets be at the door. Um, if you have the number 101, you will get a $25 gift card to somewhere. I don't know yet, but that is a I thought of when I was wring that up. So um I'm gonna stop speaking now. So my students will speak board of education. Thank you for having us here tonight for the student voice portion of my name is I'm here with Nathan Musco who plays Roger who plays a game. We're from Street Elementary and we're here to talk
018about fourth grade fourth grade musicaling on May 7th at May 7th 205 at 6 p.m. with great admission to attend music. musical that we are doing is 101 dimension kids based on the classic animated film. Disney's 101 dimension kids is a full raising adventure featuring Deville Disney's most outrageous villain and 101 of the most adorable heroes to set their paws on stage. Pet owners Roger and Anita live happily in London with their Dalmatians. Hunger Pitta loyal dogs devoted to raising their puppies. Everything was quiet until Anita's former classmate, the monstrosis Corville, plots to steal the puppies for her new coat. The Dalmatians rally all the dogs of London for a daring rescue of the puppies from Corville and a bumbling henchmen that the high school select choir in the middle school assemble will be performing
019in this show as well. Tonight we'll be performing the song Corell Deville accompanied by Mr. Tim. song comes after Roger refuses to sell them shower for all of us because it showcases our friends and peers. Sound beautiful. Shut up. they'd like to give you anything. The only complaint I have is I am 308. I was really looking forward to $25. Um, but I think I speak for everybody when I say that you will be there. I was going to wait until we went around the district a lot, but I went to Ohio Street's talent show. Well, you do a great job because you had some singers up there that rocked that place. We had one little kindergarter that came up there and she was singing it and she sang I could get myself flowers. Oh
020my god, she was beautiful. And they asked her who sings that song and she looked up and she says me. She was so cute. But there was a magician, not a magician, a comedian. Then they danced and they tap danced and they did karate and they were phenomenal. So I'm I'm sure this 101 Dalmatians is going to be right up there along with that. Thank you. So moving right along in our agenda at this time. We're in need of an executive session for matters that will impair the public safety if disclosed. Can I have a motion, please? Millie. Millie. A second. Done. All those in favor? We'll be back. No problem. open session. Second, coach. All those in favor? I thank you all for staying. You must have anything to do tonight. All right. It
021is my pleasure to turn it over to Mr. Colleer for the FAFSA meeting Jason. So prior to this meeting the facilities committee met um much of the time was spent discussing the upcoming budget proposed budget. Um but before that other topics were discussed we talked about um FEMA the application process for that um confusion over that um using an agency outside agency to apply for grant funding from the state. much as like the city is doing, meaning that there is um timetable for that time of money um through the Department of Homeland Security. Um we also talked about a list of possible audits on which we discussed several and decided on um grants and the monthly spend down of grants um to make sure that the money get is being used as part of fiscal
022responsibility. Um we also talked about the capital outlay for next year and how to spend that. I know in prior meetings we talked about North getting that and the outdoor um creating an outdoor learning space and wheel tennis courts um renovating the locker rooms into um usable space um as they're not being used now. Um but we decided on um ADA accessibility for the fourth grade when installing an elevator or a lift type um to make that ADA compliant um with these plans. However, talked about the um the two that we were we did not decide on um and how to fund them in the future. Maybe spend on the fund balance um using our own custodial staff or some of the work to also be able to do those projects as well. Um then
023move on to the PowerPoint presentation for the 25 26 budget the first draft. I'm not going to bore you with a lot of those details as that will mean to the public next month this month. This yes it appreciate the report. Thank you so much. Superintendent school support. Good evening everyone. I want to uh give a huge shout out. We have some I see people in the audience right now that attended. I had the opportunity of attending all four of the mama mia presentations. uh they our students did a phenomenal job in that presentation. Uh it's always amazing to see our students on the stage. Um we have good news coming to the stage. As I said during our FNF milling meeting, our finance facilities meeting, all of our schools and our entire community benefit
024from our Watertown High School auditorium. And I am pleased to announce that um over spring break, they will be getting a new stage floor. Um, that stage floor is the original that was installed years ago and it looks original and it is a safety risk. So, in any event, we're putting a new theatrical flooring in there that will be in there during spring break. So, if you see any of those Mama Mia students, congratulate them. Becky Rose and the wonderful uh music teachers in our district, one of them is here tonight that supported that cause. The other thing I would like to congratulate is our elementary art show. If you had the opportunity to go to Far Memorial Library to see the fabulous artwork from our students, um it's just inspiring. Our music in our
025schools event, I want to thank everyone. It was a crowded auditorium again, name some of the familiar faces that were also in there. That was a wonderful opportunity to showcase WY all the way up to Watertown High School and to see the fabulous students. And um I the high school piece, they handed out roses, pink roses to each of the music teachers that uh made an impact on their lives and their time here in our district. That was impactful. Uh so kudos to those students that participated. Um and then the other thing I'd like to make mention, some of you may be attending it this weekend. On Saturday, I will be welcoming our region for our by county on this Saturday at 2 pm. So if you're um need something to do on Saturday, you
026have something fun to engage with. Uh the other thing I want to mention is today we had the opportunity, you may have heard me talk about it in past meetings. This year what you are familiar with is we started Cyclone Academy. This year um we have worked very hard with Matt Berdick's support and all of the people underneath him. And next year we are opening up a Cyclone Academy junior. And so we're going to actually have a split or a flip or blended model. Um, so next year we're looking at a Cyclone Academy junior, which will be those kids that are looking at accelerating. So they're eighth graders that would like to go into high school with four credits or more of high school credits. And then we're also going to be looking at a
027cyclone academy middle which be for those kids that are attending maybe homeschool instruction or maybe the day school instruction is not meeting their needs where they're at. And so that will also be in place. So, we had the opportunity today to present this uh plan uh with the teachers at Case Middle School and so they were given a survey. So, we'll wait and see that feedback there and we're looking forward to that. We have about 79 students in the high school cyclone academy and it was awesome at one of the shows. I think it was the second show I went to with MMA Mia, one of the community members stopped to me and said, "Thank you very much for this opportunity. My child would not have graduated if it was not for this program." And
028so, um, we want kids to have options. Um, sometimes parents, we have the best plans for our kids and sometimes kids step off of that plan. And, um, we want kids to know that when they make a mistake that we have other options to help them regain speed and keep going. So, we're looking forward to that. Lastly, I would like to congratulate our entire community. We had over 81% of our community voted for our 110 capital project. Um, that is a hard work of everyone sitting on this board, our administration, and our entire community that backed this initiative. This is the largest capital project that this district has had, and we really respect our community for voting yes and showing and demonstrating a level of trust. We're looking forward to beginning the process to start
029renovating our buildings. And that's all that I have to say. Thank you so much. Um, and Kathy is up next with the assistant superintendent instruction. Thank you. Uh, preparations for the district's summer school programs are well underway. Offerings include a K5 summer school, STEM camps for grades 2 through 4, 5 through 8, 7 through 10. Um, we are adding a communications camp for grades 6 through nine and then bridging programs for kindergarten, 4, 6, and 8, as well as programs for special education, middle school, and high school students. So, more to come on that. Um, I also want to acknowledge our incredible talent of our music um, teachers and students. And thank you tonight for Tyler coming with the students. That was wonderful. Um, our music music in our schools and concerts, they're topnotch. and
030they're top-notch because of our teachers and students and also a lot of volunteers behind the scenes. So, thank you to them. Um, as you know, our district has hired literacy coordinators thanks to the DODA literacy grant and I'd like to share two upcoming events with you. And you should have this um at the bottom. Um, first one is on April 9th, we have a lacrosse and literacy event. We actually have Jamie Lee who is the literacy coordinator for Case here. Um Jason, you may get your chance to find an old jersey because that's being offered. Looking forward to it. The lacrosse team, the varsity lacrosse teams will be there. There'll be a scrimmage of a lacrosse literacy relay. And so this is part of the district's family engagement efforts when it comes to literacy. We're
031also um really excited that we started our literacy training for our literacy coordinators today. So they got a full dose of literacy um today as well. And then on the back of that on April 15th you'll see um another living event. This one is at Starbucks and it's UFly for ice cream. So you fly you'll remember is our phonic program. Um the most highly rated program that you can actually um get that our district has and this is a chance for our kids to shine and teach phonics to their parents or their caregivers and enjoy a free ice cream. So you're welcome to attend both of those. Let's play with you, Jen. The one on the back is old. I had to change the times. So, please ignore the one on the back of that
032big screen. But the one that's by That's the right one. All right. I gave you I the wrong one. No, no, no. It we after I sent it to you, we had to change the times adjustment. So, I printed a new one. I apologize. Thank you. They all look confused. Yeah. Okay. So, we'll show up at some [Laughter] All the juries I will make sure will be gone by then. It looks like 7 o'clock Jamie is the right time. I It is now. It's now 5 to 6:45 compared to the 5:30 to 8 that it was originally. Okay. Yeah. I apologize once again for the confusion. We didn't play lacrosse, so no worries. Oh, bowling. We have all jerseys, basketball, cheerleading, soccer, you name it. Okay. Okay. All right. I always wanted to pretend. So,
033here's my chance for a specific number. I appreciate No, ma'am. I have a quick question for you. Did um a couple of board meetings ago you mentioned that there was going to be some meeting regarding DI guidance. Did that ever happen? It did. It happened um two weeks ago and representatives again from Watertown and the state fund. So is that guidance available to be reviewed or sharing that? Yeah, I it is available. Um I plan on sharing it with the DPI committee. I can echo for the board as well. Okay. So, there was some guidance given to you. Okay. No. Thanks. Thank you, Lynn. You're welcome. L's up next. Assistant Superintend Student Service, please. You So, the month of March was filled with many inspiring student centered events. As both Dr. Schmele and Lynn indicated.
034I attended the winter sports banquet, Watertown High School Music Department's production of Mamma Mia, the music in our schools concert, and the art show at the Flower Memorial Library. I continue to be amazed and impressed by our students, their teachers, and advisers on the ways in which our community's talents are elicited and showcased. The month of March was also very, very busy in terms of hiring personnel. We are very pleased that we are recruiting and hiring for a variety of positions that are open now and for the 2526 school year to include a speech therapist, special education teachers, athletic trainer, and tonight I'm very, very excited to have our candidate for director of facilities, Tim Lman, and our food service director candidate, Mr. Dennis Jerome, here with us. I would like to thank them for
035being here this evening and welcome them to our Watertown family. I would also like to extend a special thank you to all the individuals who have served on our interview committees to include our students and our parents. We are very grateful and proud to have their voices included in our interview and hiring processes. And finally, I had the the real privilege this past weekend to attend the research ed conference and I attended sessions relating to peer-driven coaching for all leaders, school counselor and administrator collaboration, panel discussion on teachers at the center and perhaps the most educational presentation was one given by Lynn Gaffne on our district science of learning journey. presentation reminded me of the spectacular progress that Lynn, our administrators, our instructional coaches and our teachers have made in integrating evidence informed teaching and
036learning practices for the ultimate benefit of our students conference and we had great representation there was fantastic. Thank you so much. Brienne Durham, assistant superintendent for operations and finance. I'd defer my starring role to the discussion question, please. Okay, fair enough. I'll bore you then. Okay, items for consent agenda. All the consent agenda items A motion, please. Second. Got you. All those in favor items or action. The district has received a request for re-evaluation of instructional materials from a community member regarding an article used in the eighth grade health class curriculum. Upon receipt of the request for re-evaluation, the district followed its established board of education policy and regulation. In accordance with policy and regulation, the board approved an instructional materials review committee to evaluate the materials. Next, the review committee reviewed the request, then
037read and evaluated the materials. The review committee then submitted a written report to the superintendent of schools recommending that the curriculum materials be retained as part of the eighth grade health class curriculum. superintendent reviewed the committee's report and recommendation and issued a decision in writing to the community member that the curriculum materials would be retained. The community member then appealed the superintendent's decision to the board. Board is now required by policy to review the superintendent's decision, consider the record of the appeal, and make a decision on the appeal. When considering such an appeal, the board's role is to determine whether the curriculum materials align with the district's mission, values, and goals, as well as applicable curriculum standards, and to determine whether selection and review of the materials was accomplished in accordance with district policy. The
038board is acting as an appellet level decision maker, meaning the scope of the board's review of the appeal is limited to the record before the board, including the review committee's reports and the superintendent's decisions. uh part of the eighth grade health class curriculum. Students read an article titled I am Leo and the district received a request for re-evaluation of instructional materials from a community member regarding the content and nature of this articles and a request that the article be removed from the eighth grade health class curriculum. And whereas the board of education appointed a review committee as required under board policy 8302 and regulation 8302.1 to review the challenge materials and whereas the committee reviewed the challenge materials and prepared a written report recommending the challenge materials remain part of the eighth grade health class
039curriculum. And whereas the superintendent reviewed the committee's report and issued a dec decision that the challenge materials remain part of the eighth grade class curriculum. And whereas the community member commenced to an appeal of the superintendent's decision to the board pursuant to board policy and regulation. Now therefore, upon consideration of the request to reverse the decision of the superintendent and upon review of the record of the appeal in accordance with board policy 82 and regulation 8302.1, be it resolved, the board hereby upholds the superintendent's decision to retain the challenge materials in the 8th grade health class curriculum. Motion please. A second discussion. Does anybody want to go before me? Go ahead. Okay. So um according to legal counsel which you read very clearly we are to make a determination whether the curriculum materials align with
040the district's mission values and goals and curriculum standards. So the report that was handed to us, the report on I am Leo article from the Scholastic Choice magazine, there were about seven 10 questions, something like that that the committee in and of itself designed the questions. So those questions um that were created by the committee absolutely substantiated their assessment of keeping the assignment and saying that it meets with it with New York National Health Standards meets with NASA and it went on to prove all of that. There's no argument there. They they did that and they did that very well. However, the second part of legal counsel says to review the material was accomplished in accordance with the district policy and that's where I'm here to say that it they failed at doing that and
041I'll tell you why they failed at doing that and we are to decide whether things were done properly. So according to policy 8302 in item number three procedures for handling challenged material all complaints concerning textbooks, library books and other instructional material shall be submitted to the superintendent of schools. The superintendent shall promate regulations subject to board approval establishing a complaint procedure which shall include the first one an opportunity for informal conference with the complainant. That was never done. That was never done. That was never So, the complainant was never offered an opportunity to have an informal conference uh with her. So, that we failed. We did not meet that policy guideline. Furthermore, under regulation 8302.1, which is the complaint procedures concerning textbooks, library material, and other instructional material, the following procedure shall be employed in
042handling complaints concerning concerning any textbook, library book, or material, and any other instructional material using the Watertown City School District. Number one, at the discretion of the superintendent, an informal meeting may be held between the complainant and the assistant superintendent for instruction. So clearly it states there that at the discretion of the superintendent. So we can make assumptions because that was never offered to the complainant. But I think that in the spirit of eliminating all of this, this should have been handled at a much lower level and it wasn't. So that's why we're sitting here. This complaint was originally filed on October 17th and it's April 1st and we're now sitting here as a group talking about this, which it is what it is. So under rule number three, you have to the reconsideration committee
043is supposed to do the following. Letter A, read and examine the challenge material, which they did. Letter B, consider the specific objections to the material voiced by the complaintant. That was definitely not done. And I'm going to prove that by saying that in the complaint that the complainant filed the is your objection to the material based on your personal exposure to it upon reports you have heard or both upon. So the complainant said upon reading the assignment, "What do you believe is the theme or the purpose of the material?" Indoctrination, "What do you feel might be the result of reading and viewing this work?" Putting different thoughts into children's minds and its place. What work of equal value of equal value would you recommend that would convey as valuable picture and perspective of a societal
044set of values? other material that conveys respect for all and how to be an ally. Do you wish to make an oral presentation of 15 minutes or less to the review committee? If needed, yes. So in when you're reading this evaluation their decision reads after reviewing the abovementioned documents related to the article I am Leo from Scholastic Choices magazine the committee finds that the article is essential in health classes at the middle school level. The definition of essential is absolutely necessary. So that this assignment is not absolutely necessary. The complaintant even said that they would be willing to have an equal article. I think the complainant's um position of indoctrination was never reviewed by the committee. They didn't even mention that. The concern of putting different thoughts into children's mind that was never addressed. Would
045they recommend other similar material? That was never addressed. And they didn't even offer to have the complainant come in and speak her position and as a parent of this community give her an opportunity. Furthermore, the other part of the complaint was that there was a test that was affiliated was attached to this I am Leo assignment and that test was not evaluated and some of the contents of that test were words that many parents and maybe not the parents that are sitting here and I give you all a lot of credit for having the courage to come out and speak your mind in support of the I am real but it saddens me that there's a a lot of parents who wouldn't come here tonight out of fear of retaliation to their children and that
046to me is very upsetting. So I'm sitting here representing the entire community and I don't think anybody on this table has any objection to talking about transgender material addressing that making children feel comfortable providing some type of ally support. The question, what's being questioned here is the way this article is written, the intensity, introducing language that parents don't want their children introduced to, introducing them to terms that even I as a health care professional sometimes struggle to understand. Well, okay, where are we with this? We all respect one another. But the committee failed failed to a follow the policy and b review exactly what the complainant was discussing, expressed or had concerns over. So that is that is what we are supposed to do here. We're not supposed to put in our personal, you know,
047emotions. We're not supposed to take into consideration what other people have said. So that is my position. And the last couple things that I'll say is that currently, you know, you mentioned about the administration and that the directive has come down to New York um New York State in terms of what's going on with DEI. Well, I don't believe that's true and I'm not here to article uh argue political positions, but we do have a new administration. There has been no clear definition that the Department of Education is going to be eradicated. It has been discussed that the department of education may be brought down to the state levels and at that point if it is brought down to the state levels and the states are going to have the sole autonomy to decide what
048we're going to do with our educational system. We are not there yet. So I do have concerns moving forward. We have four years of a certain administration and I do have I do have concerns about whether we are complying. Are we paralleled? Are we moving in the direction that this administration is moving in in terms of, you know, vocal minorities? I I I don't I don't think there should be a minority when it comes to this subject matter. It shouldn't be divided into minority versus majority. I think all of us are very concerned with the sensitive issue. I think all of us have been touched on a personal level by this by transgender people, LGBTQ. It's it's an accepted. My children on a personal note never have any problems with it. No one knows our
049personal connections with this community. So to judge any of us and say you're here to, you know, the community will be listening to you. The community will be hearing whether you support us or not, I take offense to that because every single person on this board appreciates every child that's in this community. That's why we sit here. But it is not fair. It is not fair to continually just want to voice what you what some people want to call the minority. I don't think there's a minority here. We are one. You said it. There's a lot more unity than separation and we need to keep that in mind. So I don't want anyone thinking that we're picking a side. We are following a policy. The policy was not followed. The complaintants uh complaints were not
050addressed properly. Um, in terms of suicide, it's a sad thing. It's a sad thing. And I'm just going to share with everyone what I personally went through this week. My daughter goes to a boarding school. We talk about suicide and people want to talk about how, you know, that psychologist said, "Oh, you know, it's tenfold when you if you're a transgender kid and you have to have an ally." Well, you know what? My my daughter goes to a boarding school and her senior classmate killed themselves this week. 18year-old who want to know why? Because he didn't get into an Ivy League school. So we are not just talking here as a community about a a gender issue or gender identity. suicide in our teenage groups and our young children is pervasive across any type of
051social problem. So to try to make us feel and I'm not speaking for everybody else, but to try to make me feel like I am supporting or not supporting something and ignoring suicide is so wrong because my daughter was deeply affected by an 18-year-old. Cuz you know what that culminated into? an 18-year-old child said, "Didn't get into an Ivy League, so my life is not worth it." There's so much more to consider here, and we need to embrace this entire community and stop causing this divisiveness. This has nothing to do whether we support LGTV. It has nothing to do whether we s one article is not going to divide us. The issue there scholastical, I went through that whole thing. There's many articles, many articles, many subject matters. Our standards, our health standards say we
052have to address this. Nobody's saying we don't need to address this. But we can pick a different way of addressing. Someone took offense when I said a while ago only 2%. I take that back. I shouldn't have said it that way. I shouldn't have said only 2%. It's not only 2%. 2% of people count. But at the same time, there's a majority of children that are very uncomfortable. So, let's choose another subject. Let's just choose another way to convey the exact same thing. I don't think anybody on this board doesn't want this discussed. But if there are families from Catholic origin and there are families who are calling us individually, specifically me because I'm the one that speaks the most that this is offensive. Why don't we meet in the middle? Let's pick something else
053and and and teach our children about different gender identity. But this particular article is hurting a lot of individuals that are not here to speak because I'll reiterate, they're afraid to come and be in public because they don't want their kids being looked at and saying, "Oh, your mother went or your father went." So that I will conclude by saying we did not follow the policy and the complaintants were not addressed. since I am um so did so did we not offer for say and sought legal advice on going through this process since this was the first time that I went through the process and we were not advised that we did not follow the policy at that time it's in the policy so we didn't My my question is so you were advised by
054legal to not have her come in that was not even brought up not brought up and we have some of the committee members here but I'm not that would be appropriate for me to invite them to answer but I am not we were not advised that there was anything that we violated in our own policy. So, you know, Larry, with all due respect when you say that, I think it when you have a policy in front of you in their English words, we did not follow the policy that that we need legal and we have to waste taxpayer dollars and having legal tell us that we didn't follow a policy that seems a little bit too much. We didn't follow the policy. It's very clearly written. The policy was not followed. I think what's been
055said were by the public tonight. Um, we're on the spotlight. We're the only school district that has a running camera. So, for us to sit at this table and for you to come be vulnerable and voice your opinion. I understand. I have the luxury of sitting on the side of the table, but tonight the votes on me, so I feel like one of you. Um, to echo Milliey's point, and I wrote this down before you said that, so just thought, um, I think that we really do need to outside of this room, inside of this room, we need to be very careful with settling into that mindset of us and them, rage, minorities, things like that. we were all here together and everybody in this room I see as equal and answer whoever's question was
056I see our student body is equal also just like everybody here and I'm going to speak for everybody I'm not even going to ask that's that question was was a bit offensive this vote doesn't prove that everything that we've done in the past should prove that beyond a reasonable doubt and if it doesn't then I I didn't do my job. It's just this this vote coming up is just that. Look at our history. We've done a lot. But I think where I'm going with that, we all just need to stop yelling and start listening. Amy, if we didn't listen to you and that's part of the policy, I'll be the first to say I didn't know that and I apologize. We'll do better moving forward. Um, I've always tried to create an environment in my
057presidency, speaking outside of the board because they do the same. I'm speaking for me now. In my presidency, I've always tried to make people feel like they could come here and say what they wanted to say and follow policy. So, if we failed anywhere, then the blame goes to me and I will take it. We're moving forward. We will do better. And when I leave this room, we're all on the river together. We need to remember that. I want to um address the fact too regarding um personally because there are people here that do know me personally. I will not speak about my personal life here because I don't need to. But I don't appreciate being accused of such things that were said as well because this is we're here as a board as a
058whole and we are all here for all of the children and it's not fair to make assumptions about people's personal lives. And there's a couple of you that know exactly what I'm talking about right now in regards to my personal life and people in my family. That's all I have to say. Okay. So, with that, all those in favor, what are we voting? Can you reread it, Michelle? Because what you're there's Yeah. Can you reread what we're voting for right now? So, please no. Therefore, upon consideration of the request to reverse the decision of superintendent and upon review of the of the in accordance with board policy 8302 and regulation 8302.1 be it resolved number one, the board hereby upholds the superintendent's decision to retain the challenge materials in the eighth grade health plan curriculum.
059This resolution shall take effect immediately. So of vote of no means that we're not upholding the superintendent's decision. Right. Correct. And so according to Robert's rules, I'm entitled to ask for a roll call. Yes. At this time, I'll do a roll call. Jason Harrington, yes. Randy Richardson, yes. John Kaine, yes. Lorie Converse. Gina Fono, yes. Goer, yes. Millie Smith, no. Um the form 48. The inspectors of election for the 2025 capital project vote held on March 5th, 2025 have delivered to the clerk of the board of education. Their signed statements and reports of votes cast at said capital project vote in such statements of report have now been examined canvas as follows. The approval of the 2025 capital project number one. Total number of yes votes 678. No votes 138. Therefore, be it resolved that
060the 2025 capital project has been approved by qualified voters of the school district and by motion please. Second, John discussion. I just want to add reiterate what the superintendent said to the public for validating these are all in favor. I both carries resolution back to the table. Okay. A motion and a second to bring this back to the table. Randy Randy that the following proposition be placed on the ballot for approval by the voters of the Watertown City School District on May 20, 2025. um security proposition. Shall the board of education of the enlarge city school district of the city of Watertown be authorized to undertake a project cons consisting of security system upgrades in addition including but not limited to to the purchase of open gate metal detection units and a handheld radio system
061in the amount not to exceed $500,000 which is estimated to be the total maximum cost thereof and pay for such project by using $500,000 from the IT reserve fund. We are further resolved that the school district clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish the notice of the proposition in accordance with the application applicable uh provisions of the education law motion. Second discussion were you able to get the um aid on that? Yeah, I apologize. I misspoke. There was some conversation of different areas of security. The radios themselves are not aidable. Um not in full. Um there are some areas that we could get some aid on by because there are some transportation related issues and that's where the aid would come from. Okay. So the purchase for $325,000 would not be aidable. Not in
062full. Any idea what percentage the transportation aid ratio is about 90%. So um we would allocate whichever however many radios will be assigned to secretaries because secretaries a portion of their day is spent with bus duty. So the those radios would be assigned to the transportation section. The radios that are assigned to our SRO's as well be that because they do um transportation at least. I think I can make that. I mean they do go outside. Yeah. Anything related to transportation. Um, just to reiterate, so what we're doing right now is we are voting to put this as ballot, not that we are voting for it. The voters are voting for the only ones that can authorize the creation of the expenditure. So this is just the board saying we care for the uh communities
063on this, want to put it on the ballot and see if the community votes yes and the money is already in the reserves, the reserve. So, I just want to reiterate um I know that if we vote to put this on the ballot and let the community vote um and there's been comments made that you can't put dollar signs on safety, but based on what we were told by the SRO, I mean, I think that there is a need for that, especially with some of the information that he gave us. I just wish that we didn't like jump with two hands and two feet and spend 325,000. I wish that we could just load like start off with like a you know maybe not a 100 radios, maybe 50 radios since we are going to
064be also using the weapon detectors. Um, but once it, you know, if we vote for it to go as a proposition, then it's a recurring line item. So, invest $325,000. There's going to be a yearly fee of $2,800. There's going to be repairs. We've already been told that the batteries have to be changed every 3 to 5 years. So, just make it known that this is not something that that this is going to be every year it's going to have to be on the budget as a line item. And the longevity of this, even though they're saying it's 10 years, it really isn't. They told us it's 5 to seven years, 7 to 8 years maybe. So, um I just think that that's a lot of money for radios and I wish that we would
065do half of it, but It's the community's decision, I guess, if they want to vote that in or not. Think when we looked at the quantity and we went through and looked at every single building. We have nine facilities in our district. We have eight schools in district high school and the most being the larger of the two widely in that number. We're looking at allocating 10 graders per building. You look at it from that perspective, it's really not enough. we probably need more than 100 radios. Um, but I think the other thing that's important to mention is right now moving to that digital platform and putting it city so that our frequency works consistently. But there are benefits to moving to but there is an annual cost with any software and the software piece
066may be able. would have to look at that if we could go. And the other thing I will say with the radios, it is on state bid, so it is the best possible pricing that we could get. All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. There is a resolution was passed by the board of education on March 18, 2025 approving the 2025 capital reserve fund proposition to the ballot in an amount not to exceed 10 million and be it further resolved that this amended resolution reflects a change in the amount not to exceed 15 by approved. I was asked in our FF meeting to share the rationale for this. Um, so we originally went out, as you know, the reason why we're going out with a $10 million project and we're able to go out
067as we're asked with a 0% tax increase um or tax impact was because of the $10 million reserve uh that was fully funded at the end of last school year. Um, when you put out a proposition for $10 million, then it's limited for $10 million. And so what it doesn't allow is for the district and taxpayers to benefit from interest earnings. So, the idea tonight from raising it from 10 million to 15 allows us to cap it at 10 and allows uh money for possible interest earnings over a 10-year period of time with the idea that once we finish this next this upcoming $110 million project, there's going to need to be another project behind it to start looking at inside of our buildings. This time around, we're focusing on heating. We're focusing on our
068roof, windows, doors, and security systems. We're going to need to actually get into our classrooms, our cafeterias, our nursing spaces, our libraries, art rooms, and those kind of things. But this will allow flexibility for the district and the taxpayers to benefit on the interest earnings of $10 million. Randy second discussion. All those in favor? Any oppos? resolved that the annual public hearing in the middle of the annual meeting for the qualified voters of the Watertown City School District be held at uh 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at HTY district office conference room and virtually via a link posted to the district website. resolved that the vote by scanning uh voting machine for the budget and election be held on Mayh 20th, 2025 between the hours of noon and 9:00 p.m. prevailing time. Um
069with will be held at Watertown High School in North Elementary resolved that the school district clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish the notice of said hearing, budget vote, election, and all other matters in accordance with the applicable provisions of the education law. Motion please. John second. Any discussion? Favor. Post carries. We saw that the following persons be hereby appointed inspectors of election to serve in the respective school district school election districts for the proposed school budget vote and board of education elections to be held on the 20th day of May, 2025. And the clerk of the board shall give written notice of the appointment to each person as required by law at Watertown High School. Karine Gory, Frank Gory, Terry Williams, John Alieri, North Elementary, Sean Griffin, Deer Doyle, and Tim Glover. Uh
070further resolved that in the event of inability of any of the board going to to serve the clerk of the boards by authorized to obtain and appoint a replacement. I have a motion colleague second discussion to thank those people. My grandmother Carol did that for many years and she enjoyed it but it's um a long day for those people. Very wonderful people back year after year very very responsible and frustrating. All those in favor? Any oppos? Motion carries. Resolve that the board of education hereby approves the facilities use agreement by and between the uh Watertown City School District and the Watertown Family YMCA effective on the date executed by both parties and terminate on June 30th, 2026. Please second discussion. I just want to applaud the board of administration and my colleagues for navigating this
071benefit of our community. All those in favor? I any oppos? Motion carries. resolved at the approval of the Franklin and Hamilton Boseies 2425 district owned versus entre buses study proposal for $216 is hereby approved motion please Lori second discussion so we um this is going to cost cost us $8,000 to do a study to investigate um is it like a feasibility study whether we can you know is it worth us keeping owning our own buses like Indian River has versus keeping our contract which per student it'll explore the feasibility of our capital infrastructure if we actually have the facilities to to run the buses like a bus garage a bus garage it'll look at the actual buses And that cost that was read out loud will actually to get aid on that. So the total
072cost is just over $800 I believe.82 that's my next question. So it is eightable. Yes. All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Oh yeah. This is This is where you guys get to participate. Um this one second. This one first. This one. Harry bus drivers. You're going to need another assistant. Okay. Then I invite Dennis Jerome to stand. And you got to come right here. He's polite. I'm joking. That's appreciate it. That's good. You're not going to be by yourself. Timothy Lman, come on up. Like the price is right. And there will be plenty of time to read the response that I'm sure that you've prepared after. It resolve that upon the recommendation of superintendent of school, Dr. Larry Schmegle. The board of education hereby approves the following resignations. Retirement, leave of absent, appoint
073non-bationary instructional permanent, permanent, part-time, part-time, provisional, uh, STEM program, literacy coordinators, substitutes, noninstructional, spring coaching, boys, spring coaching girls. Lucy, Ellie and Tina, any discussion? Congratulations. We're all glad to be part of Thank you for joining our team. Hold your applause until we know we approve. All those in favor. You get extra points for being good sports. So, the New England City School District Board of Education hereby nominates and supports the nomination of William Miller as a candidate for an additional two-year term as area 5 director with the New York State School Boards Association. Motion. Lory second. Tina. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Resolved that the following revised board of education policy is hereby approved. Adopted 7106. Motion please. Discussion. All those in favor? I. Any oppos? Motion carries.
074Result in an anonymous donation of one bowling ball in a bowling bag to the office is gratefully accepted and approved and will be acknowledged and right. So motion please. Second. Sorry. Sorry. It wasn't me. All those in favor? Any opposed? Carries. Resolve that a donation from the Watertowns City Fire Department for $250 is designated as support to purchase children's bikes for the end of the year raffle at Sherban Sherman Elementary. This donation is gratefully accepted in a permit will be acknowledged in writing. Motion, please. Kelly second. Discussion. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Resolve that a donation on behalf of Dr. John Rap professional development fund of the New England Community Foundation for $1,84 is designed as support for a teachers tuition to attend the 5-day effective teaching course at OSIS. This
075donation is gratefully accepted and approved and will be acknowledged in writing. Motion, please. John second. Would you be would you be willing to you've been a great help with this. Would you be willing to just comment on your relationship with Dr. Rap? Yes. U Dr. Rap the reason I'm sitting here today. So I have an undergraduate degree in biology and decided to take just one course to see if I would like teaching and I had the privilege of having Dr. John Rap as my first instructor and from I don't know the first session in I was like this is what I want to do. He was serving as assistant superintendent for instruction at the time that he was um the instructor for that course. Um since then he has been a thought partner and somebody
076that I hold um in very high regard and we are very excited to apply this donation to effective teaching because Dr. Rap as anyone that knew him knows had very strong emphasis has a very strong emphasis on instruction. Do we send all of our teachers to effective teaching? We are back on track with that. Yes. Except for you did promote it at research yet. So we may lose. Yes. It's it's a wonderful wonderful course. It gives it a brand new teacher. You almost wish you took it like your third or fourth year rather than your first and second because it just gives you a toolbox of tools that teachers use daily throughout their entire career. It's just an amazing amazing program. We're lucky to have it. Thank you. I opposed. Resolved upon the recommendation of
077Dr. Larry C. superintendent of schools that Michael Bad will serve as a PDM director of facilities 3 effective April 1, 2025 and be compensated on a daily rate of $450 per day. Please John second discussion favor. Any oppose? Motion carries. That's the end of the resolution. Anyone here wishing to address the board on non-aggenda related public comment tonight? Well, say I don't feel any I just want to say to you all that it was black and white whether following the policy or didn't follow policy. I could probably give that to my eight-year-old. I could have him read it and ask and ask him, "Was this policy followed?" And he could probably say, "No, it's black and white. It is true truly diseful that we have policies for a reason to follow the policy. So we
078are setting the standard that we are picking and choosing which policies we follow. I know that you could all look at that and say that it was not followed. This wasn't about the question which you answered wasn't about whether to keep this curriculum or not. It was whether the policy was followed. The policy was not followed. And that's just really upsetting. And I also asked if you could just answer my questions. Did you read the assignment? Nobody did. How many times did I email? Nobody responded to emails. What's the point of you sitting on the board? You're our voice. You can't respond to emails. Nobody responds to emails. No one responds. Dr. Schmeaggel, he doesn't respond. You expect the rest of your staff to respond, but you don't respond. You ask us to follow the
079chain of command. that teachers will respond, but yet our higher um Dr. Smeaggel, he doesn't respond. Our board who's our voice, they don't respond. So, it's really disheartening whether it's not a concern to you or not. That doesn't matter because you're here to represent what everyone's concerns are. And that policy clearly was not followed. Anybody could look at that. So, I understand where your loyalties lie. It's not to the members of the community. It's to our superintendent. It's not to the members of the community. That I just have to voice that. That is very disheartening. Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm Tanya Trudeau. I'm sorry you don't feel heard. I might have heard it wrong when Miss Grall read it, but I thought it said that you that the person may that the superintendent may have
080a have a meeting with the person that has an issue. So, if it says May, then it leaves it open and that might be why they didn't have that meeting with you because May definitely leaves it open. It doesn't say they have to. Um, so I'm just saying that might be why that didn't happen for you. And I'm sorry that you don't feel heard, but the word is may. That might be why that didn't happen when she read it twice. I thought I heard her say the word may. I don't know, but that's what I heard. Say Amy. So in regards to that, that is how I am reading that. And I will say something to you in regards to that. I think that needs to be changed. So that doesn't this doesn't happen again.
081Why I did ask the question that is red as may because we have that there and I think going forward I will make it a directive that we do discuss this in policy to have that part changed because I do think it is important that your voice was heard and that you would have come to the committee. I don't want you for a second to think that I don't think that. Okay. But you you voted that it wasn't. But that's what I'm saying though that I'm I'm trying to explain my side too. Perception is perception, right? And I'm just explaining to you that I think that's important and going forward. I hope you don't ever have to do this again, but if you did have to do that, I do believe that you should be
082able to go in front of the committee. Yeah. Most people will never do this again because of this exact thing. Nobody listens. Nobody replies to emails. It doesn't matter. And I have replied to your just want I just want to let you know that that part is for me. What I'm I'm not speaking for everybody. I'm saying that specific what she just said which I was going to say at the end. That is what I was going to say and I do think that you are correct in that. I do think that a parent should be able to be heard at that conclusion. I understand that and I do understand if I were sitting with you right now I would understand your perception if I was sitting here and sitting in your spot right now
083too. I respect that. Thank you. Okay. Um items for discussion. It looks like three three. Okay. Um shared a PowerPoint with the FNF committee tonight. Um that PowerPoint will be shared in public at the internal staff meeting on April 14th and then it'll be shared with the board at six o'clock that night. Um the PowerPoint does detail the increases and decreases throughout various um parts of the budget, salaries and contractual. The biggest part of the increases is salaries, not just contractual increases, but new positions that we are looking to add. Most of that, about a third, I think we came up with was about a third of that, right, Randy? Um was special education alone. The needs of our students are are constantly increasing. um there's only so much that Boseies is able to provide
084at this point in time and there we are obligated by law to make sure that these students needs are met. So that is something that we have no control over and we have to address that. So that is where most of the most of the salary salary increase is going to be. Um you're able to go through line by line. I know there were some concerns about was there anything that was included twice in the budget and we did eliminate quite a bit of that from the last time we met. Um the budget that we are currently proposing um it keeps in um keeps the uh tax increase at the 2.44%. Which is uh the property tax cap limit that we had discussed last month and um it also includes using up um some of
085the fund balance to keep it balanced. Um it I know um Holly had talked a little bit about it. If there's anything in more in detail that you want me to share, I am willing to do that. If anybody has any questions that were shared today with the will be presented uh the board members received a copy today, but it will be presented. Yep. And again, I don't know if you guys have been paying attention to the news, but obviously New York State's budget has not been completed. That was due today. So when it is going to be late, I hope to have numbers by the 14th. I think last year it was the middle of April before we finally got something from the governor's office and of course we still don't have the final
086post these numbers yet but we should have those coming soon too. So I mean there's still a couple of things outstanding that may hopefully bring that down a little bit more. We'll see. I wouldn't count on our legislators missing any part of their spring break. So, well, all right. Thank you. I have one question. Oh, yes. Tell me what what in where I would find the line item for the Cyclone Academy. That is built into the instructional code. Um the spreadsheet that you were given a couple weeks ago, Kelly, it's going to be built into the 2330 codes. So, it'll be in the instructional part of 2330. Is there a specific sub code for the cyclone academy? There is. I can't think of what that sub code is off the top of my head. Can
087you get that to me? I will get that to you. Thank you. And also, um Lori had asked question about this. Um I just want to ask in ter what where where is the code for? Well, I have two questions. The athletic uniforms is that like one lump sump of money is it broken down by department or how how is that uniforms are in the athletic budget which is 2855 and that's included in the materials and supplies which is 0450 what450 okay so that I can look at that and see what has been allocated to the correct okay material There is no supply. Yes. Okay. Is materials and supplies like including like crayons and all in wellletics has its own materials and supplies for athletics materials and supplies includes uniforms. Um right they own separate
088allocation. So it be like uniforms, balls, pads. Yeah. Yeah. There was there was some reallocation done for that code because they had a lot more in equipment and talking with Mike Morgan about allocating between equipment and materials and supplies. We've moved some money out of the point 2 equipment into the supply code. And so when does the booster club come into play for uniforms? I can't answer that because I don't have any oversight over the booster club. Okay. So, if our teams need there was a Facebook post circulating so there's a Facebook post circulating that the softball coach um was going to do a can drive in order to raise funds for uniforms. So my question is as an as a district do we allocate monies specifically for uniforms for every team irrespective of what
089the booster club wants to do or doesn't want to do since we have no correlation with them. It wouldn't be uniforms every year. There's usually a replacement cycle for uniforms. We did look into the same brought to our attention the complaint about the uniforms. The director did not know about the um can drive, the coach didn't know about the can drive and no one else knew about the can drive. So that is not how we purchase uniforms and there should be money allocated for those teams that need uniforms on a recycling basis. You're right. The coach didn't know about it. The coach did not know the director of that was not it was so we so the answer to my question is there there are funds allocated we allocate funds for uniforms on whatever cycle
090path and do we have a cycle like do we do it every three years three years four years like on the sport because some of the sports are going to use the uniforms a lot faster than the other sports or be dependent on the sports like track is one that would go through it more frequently. Football uniforms are more expensive. Those are expected to last at least a three-year cycle. The other thing with our partnership when we sign contracts for athletic uniforms, the idea is is to leverage our buying and so we're purchasing X number of uniforms, getting X number of uniforms for free, but that depends on the team also. So like for example, I believe that the football the football team does not have not everyone on the football team has the same
091color uniforms at that. Correct. Correct. So they all have the same uniforms now the new colors. They do. They do. Okay. Um and what about um so the basketball team, the girls basketball team, I guess their jerseys are being taped, numbers are being taped on their jerseys. Has there been any request for that? Girls basketball. Girls basketball team. Yeah. A mom told me that she had to tape her daughter's number onto the jersey. Think so. I if I recall that they don't have any color. So I think that's pretty much like which team and my very well basketball is from both girls and boys and I think softball is on that unfortunately and hopefully it's not too late for this. I think one of the things I did read that post I think unfortunately what
092has happened in many years like we don't have enough extra sizes like that's been an issue for years. I have a very small child daughter and she was always like rolling her short but she never had the right size short. I think that that's probably something we maybe should consider in the future where we have like a stack of extras for each size. That's what happens sometimes things don't get returned and then you go to the next year and that's what I'm wrong too but I think in the past recent past we've had to you had to order teams because you couldn't just get a few extras that you needed an order for a full team for where maybe it hasn't been time yesly when we were rebranding and changing our logo and things like
093that cost to that but I think my account stays the same that if there's a coach that is working with the team that the uniforms are not appropriate that they should be telling the director of athletics and but we'll look into these two specific sports directly but everyone should be on a recycle plan depending on the sport will determine where they are as far as the frequency of the turnover so that's good that was last year signing or this year it's a recly recent I was going to ask. Okay. Up next looks like a first rate of policy 7602. So um this 7602 is providing a safe public school choice for students who have been victims of a violent crime offense. Um as everyone knows our policies go through a policy provider and they go
094through annually to look at what are the changes and updates and so the board has in their purview what that recommended change is based on the policy service. you want to point out some of the Yes. So, uh, we discussed this at our last policy meeting just we did a cursory discussion. Um, but federal law requires students attending a persistently dangerous public school where students become victims violent criminal offense on school grounds be allowed to attend a safe public school within the water school district including public charter schools. Such choice is available on that. that will apply for us any of our elementary schools. Um, our middle school, there's only one middle school or high school, but there's only one. There's one choice. But at the elementary level, if a parent fits under this category,
095more importantly, a student and they would have the option to go to a different school. We file an SSC report every summer that's available online and it documents our instances of every school district in New York State. It's a database and you can go to any district and search uh the number of offenses in each school in the district and then districtwide as well. Of the um this is the facilities thing. Um so the last meeting the board talked about the desire of adding non um public um profit non thank you thinking in the last comment um we're thinking of nonprofit so there's a provision in there that organizations that would like to use our spaces that the board has the authority if it's a nonprofit um when they're filling out their facility use form
096that uh the board would have that authority to reduce the cost to the cost of the actual use say the cost is $500 to use the space it's a nonprofit that's putting in the request to use the face. We determined that it's not our highest uh custodial salary working that event. It's our lowest cost salary employee working that event. The bill comes in at 250. We can build the um agency 250 instead of the 500. So, and that was just an example. Depends on the use. There's a lot of variables. Do you need ATV or AV uh support? Do you need custodial support? You need a lifeguard and all of those things. But this pervision the board asked last time so we put it on here to have in the I got a question about
097that one. I think it's great about time. But just procedurally does this create a dilemma for you in terms of approvals? Is this something that That's an excellent question. So it would put a delay. So the board is the only one that has the authority to reduce the cost. So, if a nonprofit I would recommend that if a nonprofit is trying to use our facilities, they put it in well in advance because we would need time to go to a board meeting to bring it to the board as a resolution with what the actual cost is going to be and what the um they're going to be charged. So, because I don't have the authority to reduce that cost, the board does as a whole. So, yes, that would put a delay on the facility
098use. So I would definitely give things notice. I don't want to speak for the board of future boards, but I presume that we would be making kind of judgments on these organizations. We cannot discriminate on an organization. If they're a nonprofit, if we're allowing one, then we have to allow. Anything else? Yes. Those will be up at the next board meeting for the board action. Upcoming dates. Uh, Thursday of this week, uh, 7 PM, National Honor Society induction of Watertown High School Auditorium. Tuesday, April 8th through Friday, April 10th, New York State, grades 3 through 8, ELA testing. Um, Monday, April 14th, we have a policy committee meeting at 5:00 PM at Case Middle School. Following that at 6 PM in case is our regularly scheduled board of education meeting. I go around and start
099with Billy. Um I'll start with something positive. Um Mama Mia was phenomenal. Your son was amazing. Sitting next to me. Um, so I was only able to go to one performance because I had to go my daughter's games in Boston, but the kids are just outstanding in terms of the finale singing and dancing. I mean, just incredible really. Like I I was Mama Mia is one of my favorite movies shows. I've seen it on Broadway. These kids were just I can't say enough about these. The the performances just the music, the singing, everything about it is just amazing and it really warms my heart to see how much talent we have locally. We have a lot of talent and that is very very nice and it's really nice to see so many people come and
100just pack the day. I went the first night Thursday and I'm hearing now that it was packed every day except for the matinea which I'm sorry about because Mia Kelly I heard was an amazing Donna. Um so it's just it's nice to see that. It's nice to see talent in our community. 600 tickets. It was a record for it was a record. That's crazy. Well, I mean I I think the the other part of that was the advertising on it was really really good. I mean there was flyers, it was like television, uh the kids, there was so many kids involved. And you know the other thing too is we don't often um give credit to our crew, but our crew is like unbelievable. They're so talented. So I I'm I I was really happy
101to be a part of that. I I love going to those things and it's just amazing to me. Um the other part's probably not going to be make anybody happy, but that's okay. I'll take it. Um you know, we can stretch and we can say anything we want. We didn't follow the policy. I don't care what anybody says. We did not follow the policy. And to me, it's just really disappointing that boards get legal recommendations and and and we just don't even do that. like that's what we were supposed to do. I spent hours looking at this. Probably say I spent more hours than all of you together putting this together, trying to look at this in a very non-emotional and straightforward way. You can stretch anything you want. Complaint was about indoctrination concerns that
102was never addressed. And so we continue to do this as a board and I feel that we fail the community in that sense. I can sit here and make all these speeches about how we're not supposed to be divided and we have to have unity and I do believe all those things because I think those are all important that I feel that as a board we are we are standing by. Don't follow legal advice. Don't follow the policy. It's okay you guys. We have failed this community on two occasions. That doctor came here about the hate you give. I was led to believe you had a beautiful comment at what school was that? Starbucks. Starbucks. Beautiful comment. I commended you. I thought what you said was phenomenal. And I read the book. You read and
103I commended you. You read the book. I read the book. I was led to believe and and I actually took a very nasty text message from someone that I don't even know telling me that I shouldn't be supporting banning books. We as a board have never banned a book. We've never done that. I don't think anybody on this board would ban a book, but I was led to believe that The Hate You Give was going to transfer to the high school and that also failed. That never came to fruition. No one ever wanted to ban that book. The New York Times bestseller says it's a 15 and above. We don't have 15 year olds in case middle school, but we still kept it there. And we failed that doctor. and what happened to her child
104who was kicked and beat up and got into a and was ostracized and she came out here and we failed that voice. We failed her voice. We failed the doctor's voice and we don't follow our own policies and I'm embarrassed. That's all I'm going to say. Thank you. Okay. You're welcome. Reiterate Mama Mia for those of us that had kids in it. We know how much time and effort they put into that and it didn't happen overnight. That was a lot of lot of hard work. We have a phenomenal music program. Thank you so much for sharing your kids tonight. That's where it starts and that's why we get 50 60 kids want to be on stage doing um those kids were just phenomenal. Lights out from the top to the bottom the dancing, the
105choreography, the singing. Um, I was not a huge ABBA fan going in because had eight tracks of ABBA and I grew up on Kenny Rogers and ABBA and the Chipmunks. Um, so I have a newfound appreciation for the music of ABBA because of that. Um, and my son is still going around the house and singing it. So, um, yeah. Um, great. We don't get charged with always making the easy decisions on this board. Sometimes we have tough ones that we have to make. Um I do respect everybody's opinion at this table. I respect your opinion. You often give me insight into a direction that I haven't thought of and I do weigh it very seriously. Um but I do know as a public school teacher that we do have a population of students that is
106highly at risk and I see them in my classroom every day. Even little Copenhagen as their population of kids that are part of the LGBTQ community. Um they just want to be seen. They just want to be heard. They just want to know that they're they are depicted in the same curriculum that all of our other students are. Um I know we have a policy that allows parents to opt out of certain curriculum. I would encourage parents that have any objections to use that. Um and of course they have to know about the curriculum that's coming up if that's going going to occur. Um but um I I just I know that we're not always going to agree on everything. Um, and and I would be honestly upset if we did because we need to
107bring all of our viewpoints to this table to try to represent all of our community. That's all I have to say about that. Well said, Jackie. Um, again, I just want to um say to Mr. Tamblin there that the Ohio Street School did a great job on their talent show. They um for them just to get up there to me is huge cuz there's no way I would get up there. And one little girl was so nervous that the teacher actually sat there with her and sang with her so she could that was sweet Caroline. So that was um that was good. And they sang and it's just you could tell that they just loved it. And I'm sure that going to be your class helps, but it is it is nice to see them
108thrive in the music department because then like John said, we get them at their higher level. Um, and I think that that's that's about all I got. Thank you. Thank you. Um, I didn't see Mia cuz I was out of town. I'm really sad that I missed it. I heard it was great. Um, you know, I I John said, um, really, I'm sorry that you feel that way, but you do agree to disagree. I'm sorry that you don't feel that it was handled properly. I I get it. And if I was a parent, I've been on the side as a parent where I don't agree things are done properly. Even things recently, I've had things and there's nothing I can do about it and I'm very sorry for that. Um, so I apologize. I think
109that personally I think that how we handled it right from the beginning wasn't correct. I will I will take credit for that. We can't go back but I do apologize for that. I do I appreciate that. Appreciate that a lot more than everybody else of course but so thank you and I'm sorry I missed the kids. Oh, sorry. I hope someone recorded it. So, they're not allowed to copyright. [Music] So, that video camera you're gonna get a text message from somebody that says, "I got it." trying to throw it out there. Anyway, okay. Um, so I actually want just to go back to board action real quick. I know we uh we gave a proposition brought it back resolution um about the the addition of the security um expenditures adding that to the ballot. So
110I just want to offer potentially a different perspective than we talked about with that. um with the information and I know I know we can't share everything in open session but the information that we've had in the multiple discussions and the multiple um community members um law enforcement um you know and and all different sides um and in in my in thinking about this I think it's very important in thinking about I I uh say um just say it. You know, you talk about convenience and I know convenience was brought up and we don't need to do this for convenience. We don't maybe don't need so many, but I kind of think the opposite. I think convenience is time and time safety and and you know, you talked about recurring cost and I think a
111recurring cost for safety is is brainer. Um and I know I don't want and also the money has already been allocated for this. It's not something we have to come up with. So, you know, it it crossed my mind that last year we were we were um deciding to do a capital project to put in a new turf and we decided to add a scoreboard to that. And I know it's comparing apples and oranges with some money, but no one thought no one blinked an eye adding $100,000, you know, and in my mind, a scoreboard isn't essential to school safety where this is In addition to that, I can't be the only one not to mention mama attended as well as the art show music in our schools. Um, as always, you know, the kids
112doing a fantastic job and judging by the student voice tonight and how musical the arts and music program is in good hands and voices. So yeah, thank you Randy. One of the nice things about going second to last is that it's been well said by all my colleagues. Um except I will add that we talked about the policy and it is a living breathing document and our policy committee chair has assured us that we will take a look at ways we can improve the clarity on that policy. So we're actually going to hold you to it. 14th Friday right here. Um just on the the Mia piece and D you said it well it all starts at that level and I can see three stars right there. They're going to be on the stage of
113the high school musical eventually too. So great job there. And then just final note um superintendent put this out publicly but I wanted to just from personal standpoint acknowledge the service of Terry Frillic and joined the district in 2004. I was fortunate enough to be on the board when he was hired. We got to work with him and his many contributions to this district and condolences to his family Elizabeth and all our thoughts are with them as they weren't poss Thank you for reminding that um had the the pleasure of uh the board actually got Lori Babcott's class at large school party and all the kids that um run the coffee express and um the teachers there told us that they think that we're superstars. So, we've got that going for us if they ever
114need it. They were so great. We played games. They have a great service to the high school there. It would be really nice to see them. Some I did. I usually do. Um, I think I think the the tough thing for me about being on the school board that no one tells you is you don't get to have everybody get along all the time. And that's that's very much me as a person, anybody who knows side of this role. And Millie has Millie has a loud voice, so she is an easy target and and somebody who kind of brings up a concern and goes against the norm, which is this case is Mrs. Horton can be viewed in in a different light. And and I'm here to tell everybody that I've known Amy and Millie
115for a long time. had a lot of conversations with both of them and neither of them has ill intent and I don't think that I have to go on record to say that but I wanted to and don't confuse ill intent with passion and I'm sorry that it wasn't the answer that you were looking for and that's the hard thing for me being on this side is your longtime friend and I'm sorry for that and like I said if there's blame to be absorbed then put it right because I will I try to continue to do better. So hopefully next time we'll get it 100% right. and promise of so at this time we're in need of the executive session for the medical financial credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation matters
116leading to the appointment promotion demotive discipline suspension dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation motion please do not want me to read you this letter from that Next time. The next time it says hello Jason on it. I know. A second. Randy all over.