001Good evening and welcome to the business meeting of March 26, 2026. Um, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I'm going to open it up to public comment on any of the listed agenda items. Okay. So, we will move straight into the consent agenda. >> Mr. Alvaro number one, please. >> Uh I I am not up on that yet. >> Result, but we're doing it right now. >> Want me to resolve to approve the consent agenda items 2 through9 as presented to the board at this meeting? >> Second. >> There we go. questions or comments. The consent agenda includes approval of the previous
002meeting minutes cseps placements a substit the updated substitute listing for the school year amend approving an unpaid leave of absence for a staff member accepting two donations approving agreements with health and welfare with Smer's school district and an attorney agreement with Keen and Bean to cover the term April 1st through June 2026 approving a SQA resolution for type 2 action regarding the outdoor fitness equipment at the middle school high school campus. and approving the cooperative joint bidding resolution with PNW Boseies. And I just want to say who the donation is from. >> PBEF and booster club. >> Booster Club and education foundation. >> The education foundation and the booster club. >> Thank you. And we certainly thank them for their generosity. Any other questions or comments? All in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions. The resolution passes.
003Um we're going to start with a budget presentation. So, we're going to welcome Dr. Chan back to the mic to do our budget presentation part two. >> Good evening, Board of Education, Putnham Valley Community. Um, first I want to thank my staff because this is the only time I get to thank them. Matthew, my treasurer, Debbie, Karen, and Cynthia. And also thank the IT department who helped me try to do this in the best IA presentation that we could. So this is the summary of everything that's going on with the budget. The proposed budget for the next year 2627 is 65,254 3332. Our proposed budget to budget increase is 3.04%. And the proposed tax increase is 1.98%. I wanted to tell you that these uh this next two slides are the slides that we use
004to determine the formula to figure out the property tax cap and I tried to simplify it as much as I can and this is our situation for you. Bless you. >> Uh we start with the prior year tax levy and then we have a tax base growth factor which is specific to Putham Valley. This year it's only 1.0%. Then we add they subtract the prior year capital exclusions which are a number of um formula numbers that go into this 2,195647 we come to the adjusted prior year tax levy and to that we multiply the allowable levy tax growth factor the lesser of the CPI or 2%. This is the 2% that you keep reading about in the newspaper. Then we come up with the tax levy limitation before exclusions. And to that we have a
005few numbers that go into this current year capital exclusions which we add back to the tax levy limit before exclusions and we come up with the maximum allowable proposed tax levy limit. This year that number due to all the calculation comes out to 1.98%. And in dollars that means that we will be able to increase our uh levy to with the uh dollar amount of$8.44 363. This is a historical tax cap inflation factor. I know that a lot of people like to see what has been happening over the last 10 years. And in uh 2627 the CPI is going to be 2.64% 64% but we were limited to the 2% in the tax cap calculation. >> I I I did that >> uh like some people like to see in a graph form that orange
006line across is what the tax levy has been and the graph going up and down the blue is what the inflation factor is. Okay. So we will get a maximum allowable tax levy limit of 43,412658. We have to make up the difference in revenues in other areas. Just wanted to show you what the tax cap is for our neighbor neighboring school district. This is this is what they come up with when they do their own calculation. However, I'm listening to some of the other business officials and I'm finding out that there are some districts that intend to pierce the cap. We are nowhere near that. We are safely at 1.98%. These are some of the key drivers when we're putting the budget together. Um, we're looking at the contractual salaries. We're in negotiations this year.
007There's increase in the health insurance. There are statemandated benefit increases. We're looking at transportation and operational overhead costs. There's instructional program needs and updates and we continue to invest in the comprehensive student services. This is a graph that will show you the difference in the state aid comparison of our neighboring school districts. And we're right there in yellow, Punan Valley. And we have an increase in the state aid of 773981, which is not a lot of money, but I'm always grateful when the state aid did not go down. Here's a comparison of the um neighboring school districts again. And um there we are down at the bottom with uh 17,034 from year to year. It's a comparison of last year's state aid to this year. This is the enrollment uh of our school district just
008in one snapshot of the whole school. A lot of people like to ask me about the cost per student versus the enrollment and this graph shows you what that is. There are a lot of components that go into figuring out what is in this cost and I just wanted to highlight um I get the these numbers from the transparency report and in there is the transportation the charter school tuition uh I mean excuse me these are the items that are excluded from this cost report. the transportation, the charter school tuition, other tuition, debt service and other. These are our proposed revenue sources. A comparison from last year to this year. So you see state aid over there. We have a 4.72% increase. Our taxes is 1.98% increase is what we went over before on the
009tax cap. We have other local revenues about increase of 49.55% and a transfer in from debt service. This is where we're using some of our reserves from the debt service and the capital projects that were closed. And then we have using some of our fund balance and reserves. So this is how the budgetto budget increase comes out to 3.04%. Um, this is a pie chart showing you the same information as uh we just went over on the revenue sources. This is also revenue, but I'm highlighting that under the miscellaneous revenues, Garrison represents 28% of our other revenues. And this is because we're bringing Garrison kids to be taught here in Putnham Valley. Uh this is a three-part budget when we just divide up where most of the expenses are being used and that would be
010program is 76% which is what we want it to be. We have a proposed 2627 budget expenses and this is divided up by the categories that um I'm asked to do when we reported to the state with instruction we spend 52% transportation is 7% interf transfers that would be transferred to capitals and money that we put into grants um there's a general support of 6 million3 and undistributed of $18 million. So, we're investing in the people who educate our students. 71% of the budget is the salaries and the benefits. Okay. The remaining 29% funds all the facilities, the operations, special education programs, debt service, technology, and transportation. This is a line by line of where we expect to spend the budget next year. And again, you'll see in red 71% of the salaries and benefits.
011And you'll notice there are some things that do go down. For example, special education has gone down by around 500,000. We do look at every line when we put the budget together. We do not just roll over the budget from year to year. This is a uh project that we are planning to put in the outside of the wellness center. Um, this is a project that's going to happen in the summer. Um, we the district received a $60,000 grant from outside source and then this is the 5,000 from the booster club and 5,000 from the Putnham Valley Education Foundation. This will be accessible to the public when it's put in. And hopefully we can attract more Garrison kids because we're the only ones that will have this here. Uh this is some of the artwork
012that's going to go on this wall of the of the outside um court. Another picture here. And here's a list of capital projects which I'm sure that our facility director at some point will be going over the next steps and the May 19th budget vote which is important date. And this is our proposition. Any questions? All of this will be online. I did not expect anyone to memorize any of my numbers. >> I do have a couple questions. So, in our lead um the meeting that we just had, there was talk about the debt reserve funds and the 4 million. Can you just talk to that so we could get ahead of the information and make sure we get the correct information out? >> Right. So there is a debt surf reserve sort of um
013that was in existence before anyone in this room was in administration here and it was probably consists of many projects over the years and then when the money is there we have to uh add interest to because we earn interest that has grown to about $4 million when I came here last year and we use that money every year that I've been here. We use it to help balance the budget because when we don't get enough funding from other sources then I have to look uh within our reserves to spend that money. So this year we are spending a considerable amount of that and that would be going down. It would be reflected in the financials. Each year you will see that $4 million going down. And when I first came I had to investigate
014what it was and we can't just pull the money out. We have to make sure the projects were in fact completed and we had to find out where the project money comes from and that's how it gets returned. So the external auditors are evaluating that with me every year and then as I need money to balance the budget we we are pulling it out and um it's a discussion that superintendent and I have all the time. >> Thank you. So on slide 15 you talk you have the fund balance and reserves and it's $1.2 million. Did that come out of that $4 million? >> Okay. 15. So that's a different reserve that I'm using. >> Okay. >> We have reserves for ERS which I am allowed to pull out the money and use that to
015pay for the ERS bill instead of again asking the taxpayers for more money where you see the transfer in from debt service and capital project. That's the number in there. This basically it's the 795,610. Some of it is a small amount. I think it was $55 from a small capital project that happened recently. And I'm keeping on top of those projects to close them out and bringing the money back into the into the operating fund, but most of that was from part of the 4 million. >> Okay. Um, and I'm sorry, I looked at the wrong column when I said the total. So, thank you for that. Um, thank you for the explanation. Appreciate it. One more question. Um, and I don't expect you to have this answered, although you may. Do we know what
016the BOSEIS component of our budget increases year-over-year for this year? >> I do have that. I don't have it on my slide, but I can definitely give that to you. I >> It is an increase just to confirm. >> Um I I think off the top of my head if it increased it would be a little bit. We we pretty much stay even when we try to use the Boseies as much as we can because as you know we get our Boseies aid back. Right. >> So we in in whole as a whole in the district we always look at trying to use Boseies as a source. >> Great. >> Thank you so much. >> I I'm sorry. I just have one question that I think would be helpful for the public to know. Thank
017you um Dr. Chan. You always do such a nice job and these graphs are really really um really helpful this year to be able to really understand, you know, where the money is going. um the $18 million on slide 19 uh that says undistributed. Can you talk a little bit about what goes into that particular um portion of the budget? >> Right. I I don't have that off the top of my head right now. I can get that back to you, but it has things like the current debt service. Um there's some benefits in there, things like that. >> Okay. But I can get that for you. >> Great. >> So, I have the answer to the first question because Dr. Chan gives very meticulous notes. So I opened up your spreadsheet. So the proposed
018BOS's budget for this year versus last year. Our adopted budget was $4.97 million and our proposed budget for next year is 5.532 million. So it's an increase of $557,000 in our Bosey's budget from last year to this year. >> Thank you. And uh Crystal, if you don't mind, I'll go back to my seat and look at my budget things. I'll have the answers to undistributed before the end of the meeting. >> That's perfect. Thank you so much. I just think it's helpful for the community to know what undistributed really means. >> I mean, that would cover insuranceances, things like that that you know, >> uh that you don't know the amount yet, but you will be build for it later on. >> Well, I have to have projected an amount by now. But what happens
019is what qualifies as undistributing. It's just a definition that the state gives me when they want to know all these pieces and where they are. So, it's a definition. So, when I go back to my seat, I can show you I can list it out for you exactly what's in there. >> That would be great. I think it's good for the community to know. >> Thank you. >> Fair to say it's a terrible word. It's not $18 million that's there just waiting to be used. It's not distributed. >> Um, it's more so centralized expenses expenses versus unexpended expenses. So, >> right. And I think the important part for the community to know is that it's a term that we have to use per the state that the state defines. It's not something that we just
020said is an arbitrary amount of money that's just sitting there. And I think that's the reason why I feel like Dr. Shan uh Chan should, you know, just go over what's included in that and what the state says is the definition of undistributed funds. Um so that people know when they're looking at these charts online, hopefully they do their research about what our budget is all about this year. um that they have a better understanding of what that means. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Um sorry, there was one thing I was just going to clarify. Well, we had an increase in state aid on the slide of $700 and something thousand. I just want to point out that of that less than $100,000 of that is true aid that comes in the form of
021foundation aid. I think our foundation aid increase right now is about $96,000. So the other 600 something thousand, yes, it's coming in as aid, but that aid is reimbursement for expenses from the previous year, right? So 600 plus,000 of that is expense based aid, whether it be transportation aid, Bosey's aid, um any of the other aids that they offer. So those are really expenses we expended last year and that's kind of our reimbursement coming in. But if you look at true foundation aid, which is actual money we're getting from the state, not based upon a previous expense, it's under $100,000. >> So Crystal, I have the answer here. It's most of the employee benefits is like 16 million and that includes the ERS, the TRS, Social Security, workers comp, life insurance, unemployment insurance, health insurance,
022union welfare, and the compensated absences. In addition, they have me add in the debt service um and also the installment purchases. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Was the 18 million. >> Thank you so much. >> When people think instruction, they think that includes all of teachers salaries and stuff and it doesn't >> if they're essentially the it might be able to be said that our in I'm trying to look for the slide. What slide is that? that the instruction is 76% >> that the instruction correct is is really the vast majority of the budget even when you break it down >> like that. >> I think the true percentage of the budget that goes directly towards instruction is typically between 74 and 76% of the overall budget. >> If you take the benefits piece for
023instruction plus the salary piece of instruction and add those up, it comes out to over usually 75% of the budget. >> Yeah. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Chen. >> Next year, I'll include a slide to specifically list all that. >> Thank you. >> We could add it for next. It'll it'll mix it up a little bit for the next presentation. >> We'll add one slide. We'll focus on that one slide. >> Well, if you just broke the undistributed up into benefits and retirement, you would see a huge difference. Okay. Um, students, do you have I know that budget is like the numbers make my eyes roll back in my head. So, but do you have any questions or comments on how we're spending our money? >> I don't really understand the outside thing. >>
024What like the thing that's going outside? >> So, the it's an outdoor fitness core. We got a grant to cover a substantial part of it. So, it's going to be uh out by the wellness center where the wellness trail comes through over there. Kind of where the garden is now. We're going to move the garden up there. >> Yep. Back behind the wellness center. Uh so, the garden's going to move. It's going to go there. And it's kind of an outdoor fitness area. There'll be like a pull-up bar station, a dip station, other stuff like that where whether community members using the trail want to stop and exercise or classes could go out there. Uh-huh. >> Um just kind of it's all standing um exercise type equipments, boxes you could jump up on and things
025like that. >> Interesting. >> I'll expect you out there every day demonstrating. I've got SAS hooked up with you. >> Yeah, I've seen them other places on other trails. So, >> in fact, the town park recently put something similar in the town park. That's right. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um students, do you have a report? What's been happening in your world? Um there was like the IV cast presentations today for the seniors. Um I don't know if L said at the last meeting, but Julian Vasquez got like the Aspire painting. >> He like won. >> Um we're like getting closer to prom and seniors need to get their permission slips in. >> Mhm. And then Into the Woods is coming up in a few weeks, the musical. Yeah, >> that's it, though. >> Oh, very
026exciting. >> Um, I'm just trying to think. Oh, yeah. The cast, you mentioned the presentations today. So, I I was a little I I liked the old format, so I was a little I went into this this morning thinking this is not what I wanted to see, but it was actually a great change. I know they had changed it some last year, but this was great. The board showed their their theory of knowledge question and answers um their cast presentation and their extended essays. The students were enthusiastic and um answered questions or took suggestions. Um I I thought it went really really well. So I I know >> I I I thought it was outstanding. It was the first time I was able to see every student and review every uh one of their their
027projects. The way they would segue the three components into a whole entity to reveal who they were and what they were about. I I I was wowed by it. I I really enjoyed it. I I I thought, man, that's the height of real student involvement with academia. And to me, I would listen to each of the presentations um and then I'd say like, "So, what are you going to do next year?" >> Like a whole another thing. >> Not what they did, >> not any of their presentations, but something else entirely. Which I think is great because it keeps >> their options open. They're open to whatever might come and to looking at more than one lane where I can only go down this lane. So, um I was really impressed. Um I'd really love
028more of the community to be able to see those things. They were great. >> Absolutely. >> Um and are is it on your list? I don't want to talk about it if you >> Go ahead. Talk away. >> Mrs. Odell, >> everybody always steals my stuff. Yes, I have. >> Okay, I'll wait. I'll wait. That's okay. >> Okay. Dr. Loft, >> hold on. I'm getting >> What's been happening in your world? >> Well, I'm getting harassed by Miss Lavine. She's still in the recovery room. Um, but she did tell me that I can give an update. So, she's seriously texting me right now during the meeting. I'm sure she's watching on her phone. >> Everybody want to say hi? Everybody want to wave to Jackie. >> Hi. We love you. >> I hope she's not
029watching us. >> Hope you're better. >> No, she's literally texting me right now. She's watching >> uh from the recovery room. >> Your phone. >> So, for those who I mean may notice that Jackie is not here, but um she is successfully Sorry, I stopped reading it. So she is uh recovering from a successful procedure she had done and we will miss her in her absence but we wish her well and we can't wait to have her back. Um but her uh she's doing fine so I wanted everyone she told me I could provide that update. >> Other news uh so many of us had the opportunity to send the to to attend the elementary school uh science maker fair or science fair to see the student projects. They're always impressive. The students have poster
030boards set up. They have models, demonstrations. I like where they start like, "Have you ever thought why is their impression?" They got their little hooks down. Um, so many of us had the opportunity to go and sort of be quasi judges at first and then they had the opportunity to present to other students as well as their families. The room is always packed and we always leave impressed by the amount of work that these students put into these projects and thank Miss Ross and Miss Bruno for the work they put in as well as some assistance from our science research students to help guide these students along the way. We had our superintendent conference day, a lot of building and grade level professional development and training as well as some safety plan overviews at elementary
031school where they were practicing their reunification. So, so teachers out on the field and they were practicing lining up students and I was yelling out there to make sure I didn't lose any. Um, but of course there was no students in school. Uh, but it was all a great opportunity to take u advantage of the time and to practice things we can't otherwise practice. We've had lockdown drills held at both campuses as required by the state law. Uh we spoke a little bit about the upcoming high school play, but we did have our elementary school schoolhouse rocks play as well as our middle school Once Upon a Mattress musicals. Um as always, extremely impressive. Our students are exceptionally talented and we'd love to see them up there um showing off their skills. In the presentation
032realm, we had seal of biiteracy presentations as well as our cast presentations. As we've already spoken about, our middle school held their national junior honor society induction um which I attended after um our winning girls flag football team dominated two games in a row. Two in all, right? Four and0. Two in a row this week. Uh we spoke a little bit about Miss Odell and her class to their wax museum. Regent Wills joined today as well. I got to see her in the office afterwards. Unfortunately, I had a conflict when I was able to attend and we had a listening hour prior to this meeting. Uh we focus conversation focused on budget, senior tax exemption as well as some building level issues. So I thank all those parents who took their community members took the
033time to come out and uh we appreciate their feedback. And news to share, we have the commissioner of education, Dr. Rosa, is scheduled to attend our school. She actually reached out to us and asked if we would have her. She's heard great things about what's going on here in Putnham Valley and she wants to come see it with her own eyes. So, her members from her office will be scheduled or currently scheduled to visit our schools on Monday, May 11th. Scheduling has been a bit of a nightmare, but I think we're locked into a date now. It was the 20th. >> Yeah, I was going to say, so it's now May the 11th. >> Hot off the press. May the 11th. So, you will get a new invite. >> Okay, great. >> For May the
03411th. Uh, so she'll be visiting each of our buildings and having opportunity to sort of see it in action on that day. And High School Musical Into the Woods, April 17, 18, and 19th. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other comments? >> No. >> Um, the science fair was amazing. I I hope we have scheduled them for before a board meeting. >> You know what? Moren just texted me. Make sure you mention that the science fair kids are scheduled to do their presentations before the board meeting on April 7th. So the students that'll be going on to the regional science fair will have their presentation set up here in the front hallway before our meeting on Tuesday, April 7th. >> So our next meeting, >> our next meeting. >> Okay. >> Tuesday, April 7th. Right after
035the break. >> Thank you. >> We're here break then we're right back here. >> My report will probably be short. I would like to say at the science um science fair at the elementary it was excellent as usual and I would love to see something happen at the middle school. >> I agree. >> We need to keep on top of that and I know there's a resource concerns and other things but I think it would really benefit students >> service announcement for any middle school teachers who'd be interested leading. We're all in. >> The flow from the elementary to the high school would be complete then. I I agree with Janette 100%. >> I'm with you. I've been advocating for this for probably 10 years now. >> Be really nice to have those middle school
036kids. And it's voluntary. It's not the entire grade or something. It's those who wish to participate. >> Aren't we hiring a high a middle school science teacher this year? >> We are. >> Okay. That's a great thing to put on the responsibilities. >> Can we tell them they have to do it? Wow. It's a great way to go above and >> the union might disagree with us, but we're willing to pay them for it just like we do at the elementary school. So, >> yeah. >> Interesting. >> Yeah. >> Because >> it'd be a great thing in middle of the interview. Just to let you know, just listen. I think you'll see as we did last year and have that the more our students do this, learn to speak publicly, learn to research their own
037ideas, speak for with their own voice, um >> the better they get at it. Definitely. Absolutely. >> You know, um >> they were so enthusiastic and Dr. love just right like the you know their leading questions and and um and their enthusiasm was just really amazing. Um there was one student in particular that took a video of himself doing his experiment. It worked. Everything was fine and the night of the science fair he could not get it to work. >> And that young man showed up and presented to people anyway. And I was just so incredibly proud of his resiliency, >> which is our theme. So I just >> That was a good use of the word. I like that. You embed that core value in there, >> right? That core value was 100% front
038and center that night. Um, and it was just beautiful to see him push through cuz he was quite upset about it, but he made it work and he he figured it out and he figured out how to present and he had his video and um and then he said, you know, sometimes things work and sometimes they don't. the way science works. And then we asked more questions. So, uh it was great to see um him push through that moment. >> Yeah. Once upon a mattress. >> Oh, okay. >> Um >> uh as sad as it is, a couple years ago, a student dropped their presentation >> on the way like into the room to set it up. Needless to say, it didn't work when it came time to >> uh life happens. >> You know,
039it does it does happen. >> But, you know, our our student representatives as well as any of us that have lived long enough to have >> done anything. >> It doesn't always work the way you want it to. Um and sometimes how you deal with that is more important actually than the project itself. So, um, anyway, I was thinking I said after Schoolhouse Rocks at the elementary school, I saw, so I wanted some of these presentations, like the one about the preamble and the Constitution, maybe could they just perform it for Congress, maybe, you know, in Washington, remind them of why they're there. Um, uh, but it's a great way to learn and then you remember that kind of thing. So, I had those songs running in my head. Um, the Once Upon a Mattress.
040Um, I was only at the dress rehearsal, but like really amazing. >> It was funny >> job. Really funny. Um, and really good. Um, and again, it's that continuum, elementary, middle, high school that builds the skills that they'll need when they when they get here. So, it's nice that they're doing that. Okay. So, let's move to new business. >> Okay. uh resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to appoint Katie Connley to a 4-year probationary term as a library media specialist commencing on September 1st, 2026 and terminating on August 31st, 2030 in the 10-year area of library at the middle school and step 1 MA of the PBFT salary schedule. Miss Connelly uh holds a library medium media specialist internship certificate. >> Second questions or comments? Um, this is going to be she's
041going to be in the middle school, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Uh, Miranda Hawkberg will be moving on to the high school to fulfill the vacancy created when Miss Dean retires and um, Miss Connley will be filling the vacancy at the middle school. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> opposed abstensions. The resolution passes. Number two, please. resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to accept the resignation of Georginado from her position as a bus driver or a bus monitor rather in the district effective March 27th, 2026. Miss Begnado will remain in her position as a lunch monitor. As per document number 158-26 attached to the agenda and official minutes of this meeting, >> second questions or comments? Do you want to do a public service announcement for >> all potential bus
042monitors want to apply below >> apply within? >> Yeah, it's such an important I know it it seems like a little thing, but it is such an important thing um to make sure that students are are safe and get home safely um to and from school. Um so I'm I'm glad Dr. Love did his public service announcement. Okay. Number three, please. >> Result >> Oh, I'm sorry. Did we vote? >> Yep. >> Mhm. Okay. >> I can resolve on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to appoint Nora Palaka to a probationary appointment as a school monitor effective March 23rd, 2026 with a probationary period of 52 weeks, March 22nd, 2027 at the middle school on step 4 of the CEA salary schedule. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? >> All in favor? I >>
043opposed. Abstensions. The resolution passes. Number four, please. >> Resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to appoint Sonia Ferrara to a probationary appointment as a school bus monitor effective April 7th, 2026 with a pro probationary period of 52 weeks, April 6, 2027 at the transportation department on step two of the CSEA salary schedule. >> Second. Questions or comments? >> All in favor? >> I. I >> opposed abstensions. Resolution passes. Number five, please. >> Resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to appoint Juliana Peeler to a 4-year probationary term as an elementary teacher commencing on September 1st, 2025 and terminating on August 31st, 2029 in the elementary tenure area on step one MA of the PVFT salary schedule. Miss Peer holds childhood uh ed 1 through six, students with disabilities 1 through
044six, and literacy 1 through six initial certifications. >> Second questions or comments? >> So, Miss Peer has been here for the duration of the school year serving as a leave replacement, a full year leave replacement. Um it worked out where a vacancy opened up for her. So, now we are changing her one-year leave replacement into a probationary appointment dating back to her beginning of her service this school year. Okay. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Abstensions. The resolution passes. Number six, please. >> Resolve to approve the notice of public budget hearing, budget vote, other propositions, and trustee election for the May 19th, 2026 vote for the Putnham Valley Central School District as per document number 155-26 attached to the agenda and official minutes of this meeting. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? It's going
045to be at the elementary school. Correct. from 6 from >> 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. >> to 9:00 p.m. >> Okay. Uh any other questions or comments? >> Um are we doing anything to encourage um seniors who can vote to vote? Do you know if there's any kind of been a push for trying to get people registered to vote that are students? >> Oh, I not those seniors. >> Oh, I thought you were talking about >> No, no, seniors. These seniors, right? >> 12th graders. >> Yeah, they haven't said they haven't said anything. But last year they think they did something during school >> who did that. >> Only the student government does it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's important. >> So yeah, if you could mention it to student government people that you
046see that if they need any help or support whatever they need, you know, >> if you're 18, able to vote, I mean, do it. You know, >> that's your birthday. >> Yeah. >> Oh, really? Was that the last? >> Go. >> This is a good thing to do on your birthday. >> Yeah. I I know they used to and Morin, correct me if I'm wrong, they used to have a a table or something for the kids to register at uh once upon a time. Do they still does something where you can register anybody after the age of 16 and they just hold the res the um registrations at the county? >> Oh, I didn't know that. That's cool. >> That is amazing information. >> Yeah, I never knew that. Wow. >> I didn't know that
047either. >> Okay, good. Good. >> I'll reach out to him. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Uh >> we need a vote on that. >> Uhhuh. We haven't voted. >> We didn't yet? No. All in favor? >> I opposed. Abstensions. The resolution passes. >> Okay. What's next? Okay. We'd like to open it up for public comment on any topic. >> Yeah. Are you happier than you were earlier in the evening? >> Good evening. Good. That's much better. >> My name is Joe Ferraro. Um, uh, a few things. I wanted to thank you for, uh, since our last meeting, since your last meeting, I should say. Um, I had supplied uh, the you Dr. Luft as well as Morin Bolino, the uh, proposed uh, documents for the ballot which you approve for public hearing
048today. It's I think it's going to be is item three? item three on the ballot for the libraries uh budget. We did submit our 80 plus signatures, so we're well over the number that we need to get onto the ballot. So, I want to thank you for making that all official. Um, one of the things something I was looking at the your website uh or I saw in one of the updates the Once Upon a Mattress and seeing pictures from the show which looked amazing. I didn't go to see, but it's been a number of years since I've seen a show on the middle school stage and cuz my my daughters were involved or my daughter oldest daughter was involved in the theater. Uh but it's been a while since the middle school. Something that
049stood out to me very clearly is the change in the district and the diversity of the students that are on that stage. Um it's very much uh much more diverse student body than has been in the past for sure. And then I had brought that up to somebody and they had mentioned that nearly all of the transfers into the district have been um Spanish speaking or Hispanic. And I know that at multiple meetings there have been discussions about the needs um specific needs for bilingual teaching etc. uh as well as uh any additional services necessary. So I I you know I want to commend the district in addressing those. Uh at the library we've actually just started we program where we have story time and we have bilingual story time as well. So um seeing
050um how our community has changed is really quite exciting. It's an opportunity for us to kind of to to to think differently than we have for the last 50 years as to what Pman Valley really is and that we're a more inclusive uh open uh town and school district. Uh, I have nothing to add other than I'm glad to see that that the diversity has has really been a net positive to see that creative outlet and to see um different faces on the stage than what might have been 10 or 15 years ago. Um, that's >> Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. Um it it is it is true and it um was also so nice to see the students who were the stage crew. Um you know they they are learning a tremendous amount
051uh in terms of monitoring themselves, monitoring what's going on stage, um bringing stuff on, bringing stuff off. Um the lighting like all that was done by middle school students and really a really nice job. Um okay uh upcoming meetings. >> So our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th and the meeting after that is Tuesday, April 21st. So the next two meetings will be held on Tuesdays um 7th and 21st of April. the Boseies. That's right. That's right. >> Um, all right. Uh, board member comments, any any >> happening? I I just want to compliment uh Mrs. sodell Katie Odell's uh presentation of the wax museum today where these young third graders dressed up as historical figures and literally tell a quick history about Walt Disney or Helen Keller or uh >> and Paul
052River the way it works is you have to press this magic button to get them to activate it was so creative been imaginative. I I was really impressed and compliments uh Mrs. Odell, you great job. >> It was a lot of fun to participate. We have had some We always have great things occurring in the schools, but there's been a lot occurring the last couple weeks. So, it's great to see. >> Yeah. >> And I know that there are all kinds of presentations going on in classrooms. Yeah. >> Um that we're not invited to. uh, you know, every once in a while I'll get one from a teacher that I knew when I was teaching. Um, and and it's really seeing students demonstrating their learning is just the best. So, >> makes coming to these
053meetings worthwhile. >> Yep. >> The last month has been just so chuck full of >> Great stuff. Um, the elementary play, the middle school play, award nights. I mean, just beautiful to see our students working so hard and having so much fun while they're learning. >> Um, I think one thing that's unique to Putnham Valley is the environment that we create in our schools for our students and that is attributed 100% to the leadership and the staff. Um, making them places where kids want to learn, want to thrive, want to be. Um, yeah. And I also want to just give a plug to our um, PTA. they've been hosting the the grade level events at the elementary school for the last few months throughout the school year. Um, and it really is a tremendous amount
054of work to plan those events. Um, and they do it just because they want to and I think it's uh it's been tremendous. There's been a good turnout for a lot of the events. So, thank you to the PTA. And then also, um, I just want to put a plug for the spring gala for the PVEF that's going to be on April 12th and tickets are available online. I had that too. >> There's a QR code. >> Yes, >> which I don't understand. >> Beyond me. Uh, okay. Um, I'd like to a motion to convene an executive session for one matter of collective negotiations pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law, the Taylor Law. There will be no business conducted afterwards. >> So move. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? All in favor?
055>> I oppose. Resolution passes. Good night everybody. I have a happy stream