001Good evening. This is we are now holding a district wide a notice of a public hearing on the district-wide safety plan. Um, we have amended the dis our district-wide safely plan and it is available on the district website and we are going to be considering it for adoption this evening and we just wanted the public to have an opportunity to comment if they so wish. There is nobody here from the community so at this time we're just going to pause and wait until the board meeting begins at 7:00. Good evening and welcome to the work session business meeting of January 8th, 2026. 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,
002with liberty and justice for all. Um, I'd first like to open up uh for public comments um on any of the agenda items. As a reminder, this is a meeting of the board of education that is open to the public. If you wish to comment at this meeting, we ask that you please be aware of all the protocols for public comment. The protocols are listed on the back of the public agendas that are available in the meeting room. They are also posted on signage in this meeting room as well as on the district website agenda items. No. Okay. I didn't need to, but we're going to be consistent. Um, we're going to start with the consent agenda. Sam, please. >> Resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to approve consent agenda items number
003two through eight. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? The consent agenda includes approval of the December 11th meeting minutes, substitute listing updates, cseps placements, additional or unpaid hours for various staff members. We're extending the dates for a lever replacement teacher. We're appointing the homebound and homebound instructor. We're updating the substitute salary schedule which reflects changes in the New York State minimum wage. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments? All in favor? >> Opposed? extensions. The resolutions pass. Um, student representatives, you want you want time to get catch your breath? You want Dr. L to go first or >> are you set? >> I don't really have much for today. >> Okay. >> Because we've been at a break, so nothing's really happens. >> That's a that sometimes is a good thing. >> How was
004your break? >> Um, it was good. It was nice that it was two weeks. Thanks for giving us that snow day. We appreciated that. >> He has a direct line to God. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> I mean, that's been requested for future years if make [laughter] it happen. >> I need that noted in the agenda. >> I remember there was a we had a two or threeear span where it snowed the day after the Super Bowl and we were off. >> Oh wow. >> For like two or three years. >> Put that call in. My my son when he was writing some advocacy thing wrote a letter to the superintendent of the Lakeland school district saying that the Monday after the Super Bowl should be a a vacation day holiday. >> I agree. >> And
005the superintendent was nice enough to write back and said, "Sure. >> As as soon as Putnham Valley makes that a vacation day, Lakeland will follow suit." [laughter] >> So needless to say that hasn't happened yet, but >> on Saturday. >> Okay. So Dr. Loft, your report. >> All right. So, I'd like to begin by wishing everyone a happy new year and hope that everyone had an enjoyable holiday recess. Uh, some of the recent events, we had our holiday gift shop at the elementary school. I think we call it holiday bazaar which was extremely successful. I know um it brought tears to many eyes. Uh just the sheer number of community members that came out both to donate and community members who came out to receive everything was free. Um, so it was really an opportunity
006for a community to support um those others in in their community. So, uh, I think it's something that will certainly continue in the future and I want to give kudos to Miss Carly Roby and Laura uh, Kilov for putting that all together. Our middle school held their band concerts. Our administrative team meeting in December. We um had our own athletic trainer, Megan, Miss S. provide uh CPR and AED certification for each of our administrators. We'll talk more about that later, but now everyone is certified to perform CPR and to administer an AED. All right, we held our holiday pot luck night at the middle school. I want to thank our community liaison Judy and Maria for helping organize that and it was very well attended. Lots of delicious food and um looking forward to the
007next one. Science Research had their presentation practice night last evening. I want to thank all the students who came out to present as well as the staff, administrators, board members, parents, and community members that came out [snorts] to help our students um through their presentations and hopefully learn a lot along the way. I know I certainly did. Uh I get more and more impressed every time I see our [snorts] students uh present their science research projects. And you would think you were watching someone give their doctoral dissertation. Uh we had actually had an an elementary school student, Haley Orordes, who entered a name the snowplow contest through Putnham County. Uh we knew that they were coming for a photo op. We didn't know they were coming with a caravan of trucks, including the truck plow
008that she named the white tiger. So, um it was an opportunity. I know the county executive was there along with many other members of the county government, uh and a whole caravan of trucks that drove onto our campus for the photo op. So, congratulations to Haley. Just a quick facilities update. As everyone knows, the community approved a facilities project last year. Uh the work continues. We actually have Dave and I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with the architects and the engineers to go through the final uh version of the plans. We have submitted our project plans to SED for approval. So, that is um as quickly as we could have possibly hoped to do so. So, we hope to soon to be approved. Uh we anticipate some portions of the project will begin the summer
009of 26. And I do want to just as a footnote note that the turf and track replacement has been completed uh with the finishing of the stairs leading from the track up to the middle school. So that work has been completed and therefore that entire project has been completed. I'd like to take uh thank Dave Spittle for his oversight of that project through its duration. Uh we just held prior to this meeting a public hearing regarding the district safety plan. It includes the addition of an emergency cardiac care um annex to our plan uh which is again part of the reason why each of the administrators were certified in CPR and AED. The state has new requirements regarding training and drills uh in case of a cardiac emergency. So we thought having more individuals certified
010to perform was a good idea. Our UPK application window has closed. They were due on December 31st. We have currently 60 student applications have been submitted. Unfortunately, our maximum occupancy is 40 students. Um, so, uh, we anticipate 20 students ending up on a wait list. And, uh, the drawing is scheduled for next Wednesday, I believe, uh, the 14th. It'll be the drawing will also be livereamed. Um, so everyone can watch live real time to see what numbers are picked. Uh, we had a lockdown drill the elementary school. As always, we want to thank the Pton County Sheriff's Office as well as the Westchester County Police who attended the drill. And um, it's a great opportunity for them to become familiar with the building, with our protocols, our policies, our people. And uh, we thank all
011of those who took time out of their busy workday to come here and help us practice that drill. We had our chief school administrators meeting at PNW Boseis and um the lower Hudson Council school superintendent is continuing to work with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association uh through a variety of advocacy efforts primarily focused on equitable uh competition between private and public schools or what we're calling open enrollment verse district boundary schools. And some upcoming events, our high school chorus concert is scheduled for next Wednesday, the 14th. High school band concert is the following week, the 21st of January. And we have a superintendent listening hour scheduled for the 22nd of January, beginning at 5:45 p.m. And um just a public service announcement, PTA is holding I think their biggest fundraiser of
012the year is their pocketbook bingo scheduled for Friday, January 23rd. Courtland Colonial doors open at 5:30 and I know there are still places open spots available. So please if you have not signed up to attend, take an opportunity to do so. That's it. Thank you. >> There was more going on than we thought. Um, I did get a um email from the National Honor Society about their holiday toy drive, which we had commented on earlier, but they wanted us to know that they filled the donations filled nine boxes with new toys, and there's those really big boxes. So, that's great. I'm, you know, great. I know that the families that received them are grateful, and we're grateful for the support um of our students. Um I will say I w attended the science research last
013night and other than leaving feeling like oh my gosh um there's so much I don't know um I will say uh and I spoke to the coach um the student per this year I felt that the student presenters were more open and relaxed. They were clear in their presentations um but not at a level like using all words that I couldn't understand. They were maybe only using half the words that I didn't understand. Um and I you know I spoke to their coach later and said I you know I think I think it tells a lot when the student is obviously in love with their subject um and can convey that um to their audience. So, it was it was really nice evening. I'm giving you a break because I know you have to talk
014again. >> Grace is doing most of the talking. >> Okay. Um All right. We're going to move Oh, no. Yes. >> We're going to do um the pres the first presentation is on multi-year financial planning. >> All right. Good evening everyone. Sign. >> Yes. >> Great. Yeah. >> Uh, so this evening kicks off officially the beginning of our budget development season. So this one is really just a budget preview and Dr. Chan will be doing most of the talking, but I do want to provide a quick introduction for her. So as we do each year, we build a budget that we hope is responsible both to our community and our students focused on our district values, which include community opportunity, resiliency, and empowerment. And as we always do, keeping the student at the center. This
015slide just highlights some of the many things that are currently going on within our district and are scheduled or are anticipated to be supported within next year's school budget. And this could include a wide variety of curricular curricular and instruction um including teacher learning opportunities, leadership opportunities, our continued work around literacy and the science of reading. our continued expansion of IB including the middle years program in the middle school and the high school as well as continued support of the diploma program at the high school focus on alignment of math instruction K12 uh co-eing a new focus on co-eing and collaborative partnerships making sure that our co-taught classrooms are operating as efficiently as possible continue to work on K12 writing curriculum and uh scope and sequence a focus on culture and discipline and that includes
016the work with Dr. Holly. Focus on AI and other um advanced learning technologies. This is a committee that's been working for several years with Miss Lavine and will continue. Focus on executive functioning as anyone who's a parent knows children severely struggle with. Uh focus on science from K12 again ensuring that we have alignment between our buildings and our students are prepared for the assessments. and New York Aspires initiatives, the state requirements of financial literacy and uh the portrait of a graduate including multiple assessment measures and as well as our facilities completing our design plan and awarding our bid for our upcoming project and um as I mentioned we're awaiting our project approval and we hopefully plan on breaking ground this summer. >> [panting and sighs] >> So, with that being said, I just want to
017bring up Dr. Chan. There's a tremendous amount of work that Dr. Chan and her department put into the development of the school budget. So, you'll be hearing from her several times over the next several months. Um, so at this time, I will introduce her up to give you a quick overview of what this year's budget will look like. Thank you. Good evening board of ed partner valley community members and online and the ones that are here and I already know your names Joe Liz and Mark. Thank you for being here. I'm going to first thank my team, Matthew, Debbie, and Karen. Um, as you know, there's a lot of people behind me to do the work that we present to the board and to the community. This is the first slide we're going to start
018with is pretty similar to what I introduced last year. It's how to calculate the tax cap. I only put in the numbers that I do know for sure. Ex. So, we're going to start with the way the calculation works is that we begin with the prior year's approved actual tax levy which is 42,568295. To that we have to multiply the tax base growth factor which is specific to Putnham Valley. The reason is specific to Putnham Valley is because it's a growth factor that reflects the quantity change in the taxable property values in the base year. The factor is based on the actual physical changes in the taxable property such as new construction of homes, stores and offices. It's not a mere change of the assessed value that of the existing unchanged taxable properties. So for
019this year that number dropped down to 1.00 from 1.02 02 last year. Then we come up to a subtotal. Then we come up to the 2526 prior year capital exclusions which we must subtract from that number. And then we have a subtotal of the prior year adjusted tax levy. To that we would multiply the allowable levy growth factor which is the lesser of the consumer price index CPI or 2%. At the moment that is not out yet, but that is what you read about in the newspaper. I'm making the assumption that it will be 2%. And at 2% the 2627 tax levy limit before exclusions will be 101. We have to make adjustments to that which we're waiting for some of those numbers. That is accumulation of at least four numbers in the 2627 current
020year capital exclusions which includes our debt service transfer to capital some Boseis capital and the building aid as a subtraction at this point we don't know what those numbers are by March 1st we will know those numbers okay here are some historical data uh showing you for the last four years uh the difference between the budget change from year to year and the tax cap change from year to year. And just to note that in 2526 if we had removed the tax cap calculation then that that amount the budget to budget would have only been um 2.58% increase. So I don't want you to think that it was such a huge increase from year to year. [clears throat] The next historical data we have is about the tax cap versus what the inflation factors had
021been over the years. And as you can see, we were sort of close last year, but in prior years, we had to make up the difference between that gap of that red line and the blue line. I'm going to have uh the next three slides will show you the enrollment for the elementary, middle, and the high school. And the best part of the numbers is the numbers, but the pictures are even better than that. We have a picture of our dog here in the elementary school. >> So those are the numbers for the for the last three years. >> That's good. >> And these are the numbers for the middle school. >> And they're bursting. >> And this is the number for the high school with accumulation on the bottom. Okay. And this is all
022going to be online. I don't expect you to memorize any of this. So the job of the district is basically to balance the budget. [snorts] And it's looking at the revenues, looking at the expenses. And these are the main uh parts of each of those columns. And as you know on the left hand side, we have the allowable tax levy. We have to wait for the state aid number. We have miscellaneous local revenues in Putnham Valley. One of those revenues would be the garrison students coming to our district. Then we have fund balance and we have reserves. On the opposite side of the expenses, we're always looking at the instructional programs and we have to consider the administration and the supervision. We have to look at all the facilities and transportation costs and capital improvements.
023This is just a quick list of the uh development of the highlights that we have challenged uh in the near future. So we know that we will have 26 Garrison students um next year and that's a huge revenue that's coming into Punan Valley and uh we are in collective bargaining this year that will affect the 26 27 numbers. The inflation the last time I looked it up is 2.4% 4% and the tax cap is 2%. We are waiting for the state aid foundation formulas. We'll get the first glimpse of that usually around the third week of January. And then the health insurance premiums, we already found out it's going to be going up 5%. And we already know the increase in the pension rates for the ERS and the TRS. And one last thing is
024we have an outdoor fitness court coming in next year. The district received a $60,000 grant and we're very excited about this. The >> the pension rates, why is there such a a difference between a teacher and the CSCA? >> So the ERS has different levels. So that is the highest level right now because there's different tiers and I always look at the highest level because it I don't know how many are off the top of my head are in each level but that is the highest level of increase. Yes. >> Okay. >> And the TRS actually went down a little from last year. >> Yeah. Yes. >> That's the the big difference there between the two. Thank you. >> But more of our staff are on the TRS level. >> Yeah. Mhm. >> So I
025had just showed you another graph of the historical averages [clears throat] between the ERS, TRS and the health insurance rate for the last four years just so that you could see comparison. >> Again, this is online so you don't have to memorize it. [clears throat] Um this is one of the pictures of the potential fitness court um that we're excited about that would come in next year. And that's another picture of that. [laughter] The next steps in the budget development will have some more meetings. We already started having some meetings with our staff and the administration to talk about what they need for the next year. We're going to finalize some of that personnel staffing. We'll finalize that tax cap by March 1st. We'll resolve all the state aid issues and then we'll finalize the
026budget by March 12th and in the timeline we have a lot of administrators coming to discuss uh their part of the budget and this is the list of when they come. >> Good. >> That's it. Any questions? >> Thank you Dr. Chen. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> So, one of the things I thought was interesting was when you look at the enrollment across each of the cohorts. So, not if you don't not year over year but cohort attrition that we have in the elementary school alone a cohort gain of 26 students. >> So, if you track 84 kindergarteners last year became 91 first graders this year. So, seven additional students moved in. 92 first graders became a 100 second graders. Um I think it just speaks volumes to it's all every single
027class with one exception from K to 12 we see some attrition. So students moving into the district um after kindergarten and I think it just speaks volumes to the quality of education that we have to offer and the fact that that word is getting out and we're hearing from more and more families that they move to Cotton Valley so because of the schools and I think that the numbers we see here justify um that belief that we're doing an excellent job and young families are moving into our district for the sole purpose of attending their our schools. The Garrison enrollment uh speaks volumes in that direction. Dr. Love, uh the fact that our neighboring district sees us as an exceptional institution sending their kids here. I mean, it it's increasing every year. So, that that
028is another outstanding uh point to make. >> I'm kind of surprised that health insurance is only a 5% increase. >> You missed the meeting. [laughter] Um >> they're originally asking for what 14 or so. >> The reason is because they are moving into their reserve to take some of the money out because they did well and they invested well and and so they didn't have to take as much money. We take a vote on it in the consortium. >> I think the acturarial uh projection was like 12 or 14%. >> I would not have been surprised if you showed that number. Um, so they had to dip into their reserves to [clears throat] >> to balance that. >> Do we believe that that percentage will be this low only for this year? Then >> that's
029correct. Every year it's a different story. Depends. >> Right. But it it will probably be much greater next year than it is now if they're leaning into their reserves because of the fact that they had them to depend on in the first place. Right. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Yeah. But when we take a vote on it, the 14 uh districts, it's because they always they felt that the money was going to be very tight in all the other areas of the budget. >> Right. >> But if they end up using too much of it, it could be higher, much higher next year. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> There's a [clears throat] lot of concern out there regarding the what will be coming in terms of state [music] aid. >> Right. So, a lot of
030districts are fearful about losing federal funds and what that will mean for state aid here in the school. So, um there there was definitely um an appetite to utilize the reserves this year, get a sense as to what we're getting in state aid, even if it means having to make up for some of that use the reserves next year. >> And how does it look for the state budget? Is that going to be close to on time? I know they always say it's going to be it, but >> if if you could project that, you could probably get odds in in Vegas on this. >> We have no we haven't even seen a state aid uh role yet. So, um we I have no idea what'll happen in >> any of the state reps this
031year. So, they may they may get it done quick [laughter] simply because they're running for office. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Bruce. Thank you very much, Dr. Chen. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Um, the next item on our agenda is the second reading of policy 1,120 and policy 1,120- something regulations. Um, so, uh, we we started this last month. Um, this is about school district records, right? Correct. >> Okay. >> So, this is just part of our continued re renewal and review of district policies. So, we did the 1000 series the 1000 series uh which is focuses on school district records. So, we shared our first reading at the last meeting. This meeting is our second and there'll be a resolution later in this meeting to adopt what these changes represent. >> Yeah. I >>
032just have one comment and I'm apologize for not mentioning this last meeting. Um, for foil requests, it mentions Marine's email. >> Yeah, I was thinking about that, too. >> Um, versus a generic email. Um, for example, if you weren't here or someone else could access. I'm just Is that something we've always had just your email or is there a >> So, that would bump over to you once we see it. So, that would be my recommendation. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Um, the revised district uh safety plan is next on the agenda. >> So, I mentioned this before in my um >> in my superintendent report that uh the state added a requirement regarding cardiac care. Um but that requirement came in after our original plan had gone through the public hearing and adoption
033phase. So, we they set a new January deadline for that to happen. Uh so prior to this meeting we held our public hearing regarding those changes receiving no additional comments. We anticipate um the board approving a resolution for a newly adopted safety plan which includes that cardiac care annex um later in the agenda >> and once it's approved it will be on the website. Right. >> Yep. >> Okay. [cough and clears throat] All right. Next on the agenda is the proposed calendar for 2026 27 school year. >> Why don't I go? >> Huh? >> I said why don't I go? >> I don't want to let anyone else talk. So, as we do each year, we met at PNW Boseies with superintendents from around the region to come up with as uniform of a school
034calendar as we can. So, this is Pner Valley's draft calendar. Uh we won't be voting on it this evening, but I do want to take an opportunity to share what it means. Next year is a unique year in terms of where Labor Day falls late in the year on September 7th, which um in my communication with both the CSA and the teachers union, there was uh a conversation regarding whether or not we start before students or start after. And I think uh everyone was in agreement that it was best to start with students uh before Labor Day. And that allowed us to maintain the full February and spring break. So the calendar has superintendent conference days on Monday, August 31st and September 1st and then students first day being September 2nd uh 3rd and 4th
035before we break for the Labor Day holiday. And then other than that the typical holidays are included. We have um uh a little over a week for December break, the February break and the spring break remain intact. There's actually a second spring break for the Passover at the end of April. This is a unique year where Passover is significantly um separated from Easter break so they don't overlap. So we did uh add two uh recognize both holidays within this year's proposed calendar. >> I like it. questions? >> No, I like it. Just >> this used to take like three meetings to adopt a calendar. >> If we have a staggered start in the beginning of the year, will all students be in by the fourth? >> Yes. >> Okay, good. And um again, I'm glad
036that we have a full day for day before Thanksgiving. >> Um the 23rd I'm going to Is it possible? I I know that snow day was a bonus this year, but um that was nice to have that extra day before jumping into Christmas Eve. >> Um is it possible even have a half day on that 23rd? Would that still are will the numbers stay the same if we did that or >> team? No half days. >> Oh yeah. What's that? >> No half days. >> Not like half days. [laughter] >> Even the day before Christmas Eve. >> I was requested to schedule snow that day. >> Um unfort we did have the conversation. Um, ultimately the conversation came down to whether we wanted the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the 23rd. So, in order to maintain
037our 186 day calendar, we had to pick one of the two. There's not a lot of flexibility otherwise, like we don't have any extra days attached to the Memorial Day or any other um holidays that we don't need in there. >> So, it's really a matter of either taking away a day from one of the breaks or trading the 25th for the 23rd. Um, to answer your initial question, yes, a half day would still count as an instructional day, although maybe not a popular decision amongst parents. >> I I know last year when we discussed the calendar, you brought it back to the federation and they favored the Wednesday on, you know, before Thanksgiving >> both did. >> Yeah. >> CSA and the PBS. >> Oh, definitely. >> Yeah. I >> Well, this day they
038would have had the 23rd off or No. Was that the snow day? When was this snow day? The 22nd or the 23rd? >> 23rd this year? >> That was the Tuesday. Yeah, >> that was the last day. >> And this basically mirrors Bosey's calendar also. Or how far is it? >> It's It's very similar. Uh different. They can't be uniform. Different districts have different contractual obligations. Some districts have contractual language that says teachers cannot start before Labor Day, >> which case they those districts have lost either their February break or their spring break in order to make up those days. their union has to vote on coming in earlier. >> Yeah. >> So, um it's it's pretty uniform. Ours is very closely coincides with Bosey's calendar. >> I mean, we're not any obligation to coincide
039with Bosey's calendar, but obviously it's kind of a disservice to our students who attend Boseies. If we're closed and they're open, our kids don't go in or vice versa. So, they end up missing twice as many days. So, >> yeah. >> Right. >> No, it's good. Looks good. Looking at other districts calendars, I think the only difference I've seen is the first week of September with what dates they start. But otherwise, >> and that's probably because of what Dr. L said with um contracts and the language about when students can begin. >> Uh I've worked with multiple contracts where it's actually highly specific about when students are allowed to come in and when also administrators are allowed to come in based on that calendar. So, um I think this is a very hard year to
040schedule. things fall in like the direct middle of the week. >> Agree with the extra Passover days. >> Yeah. And I'm glad that we're able to honor Passover it being so far apart from Christmas. So >> I like that every month has days >> like I don't think >> No, there's no full >> that there's no Yeah. I feel like usually there's at least I don't know. It's either like March I think usually has no days off or one of the months has like none. I like that there's a day in each month. I feel like it gives the teachers a break and the students a break. >> Often it's March because [clears throat] >> yeah, April is >> spring break will be in April and then all we have is typically why we started
041scheduling the conference day in March was just to break it up a little bit. >> Was that this year you started for the first time? >> No, no, we've been doing that for a long time having the March. >> You know, I I wonder um this has come up in a couple of conversations. Many individuals who celebrate Easter would love to have that Monday off. I'm wondering if you bring the kids in one day on the 22nd. That that makes no sense. Yeah, >> you would have a lot. >> Yeah, that's tough. That Easter Monday is a big consideration though. It always has been. >> Yeah, in typical years we have more flexibility where there's maybe two or three days in which we have the ability to move them around. >> Uh this is not
042that year because of how the calendar falls. We're lucky Russ Rashana starts on Friday evening. >> Yeah. >> So we didn't need a day off for that. two days >> and Asian Lunar New Year falls on the weekend and doesn't need to be observed. So, >> maybe in the future uh we we might consider >> um shortening the amount of time prior to Easter Sunday to extend it a little bit into the Monday or Tuesday in the future. Not right now. This is good as it is. >> If people wanted the December the Oh, I guess it's too late. I see. That's why you do May 28th as the extra. >> Yeah, never mind. [laughter] >> So, just some some notes, our March superintendent conference day on the 10th does coincide with the Eid holiday.
043>> Um, >> yeah, >> as well as the other holidays I mentioned before fall outside of the regular school calendar. >> That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, this will be up for uh board approval next week. >> Good. >> Thank you. >> I just want to say I think this calendar is very well done. Yeah, >> it's very challenging. So, thank you. >> It is. >> I'll give Moren all the credit. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Thank you, Moren. >> That's why we love you. >> Okay. Um, we're going to move to new business. Uh, >> Mr. O the first. >> Yes. resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to appoint Cynthia Cohen to a probationary appointment as a senior office assistant on step three of the CSEA salary schedule effective
044January 5th, 2026. Miss Cohen will immediately begin an unpaid leave of absence effective January 5th, 2026 through January 11th, 2026. Miss Cohen will begin her uh 52 um week probationary period from January 12th, 2026 through January 11th, 2027. >> Second. Questions or comments? >> All in favor? Opposed? Abstensions. The resolution passes. Number two, please. resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to appoint Gia Tropia to a six-month leave replacement position as a general education teacher at the middle school effective January 5th, 2026 through June 30th, 2026 or sooner at the discretion of the board of education on step one BA of the PVFT salary schedule. Miss Trophia holds a childhood education 1 through six initial certification. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? >> All in favor? I >> opposed extensions. The resolution passes.
045Number three, please. >> Be it resolved that the board of education approves and authorizes the superintendent of schools to sign a supplemental memorandum of agreement with the Putinham Valley Federation of Teachers regarding compensation for long-term home tutoring as presented to the board of education at this meeting. A copy of said agreement shall be incorporated by reference number as doc number 117/26 into the minutes of this meeting. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? All in favor? I >> opposed. Extensions. Resolution passes. Number four, please. >> Resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to approve the second reading of policy 1120 and policy 1120 regulations as per document number 120-26 attached to the agenda and official minutes of this meeting. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? >> All in favor? Opposed? Extensions. The resolution passes.
046Number five, please. >> Resolved upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools to adopt the revised 202526 district-wide safety plan as per [clears throat] document 121/26 attached to the agenda and official minutes of this meeting. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? >> All in favor? >> I opposed extensions. The resolution passes. Number six, please. resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to approve the corrective action plan CAP for the [music] fiscal year ending in June 30th uh 2025 external audit as per document number 122-26 attached to the agenda and official minutes of this meeting. >> Second >> questions or comments? All in favor? >> Opposed? Extensions. The resolution passes. Okay, I'm going to open it up for public comment on any topic, reminding people that there are protocols in the um listed in the
047back of the public agenda that are available in the meeting. Good evening. I'm going to tread lightly seeing as uh there are protocols. Um have three questions mostly funny. >> Are you going to say your name first? >> Uh my name is Joseph Ferraro. >> Figures you would have violated the first one before you began. [laughter] >> Um I'm interested in knowing what the annual hit is. is I'm noticing more and more um successful challenges to people's assessments. So that um in addition to the library getting hit, that the school gets hit at a significantly higher rate as far as um lost tax revenue because you put out a plan, you put out an adopted budget and then people will in the interim from paying that and the school district getting the money from taxpayers
048uh that they've challenged there and it could be uh significant challenges. I know that there's a tax certiary fund and that that's that's well funded. I'm just wondering if there's an estimate of if that's increasing if that that annual hit is increasing uh more and more cuz I'm just seeing the numbers seem a little bit higher than they have been. And I don't know if there is a reason why that's the case or people just being more aggressive in in contesting their taxes. Um I have two others. Um the other one was I noticed that uh Caramel is going to be discussing their uh veterans the change in veterans exemption this month and I know there's like a ticking clock on that cuz people need to file for those exemptions in March uh to get
049those exemptions. So, I'm just wondering if uh the board is planning on putting something in place for this year prior to that March uh I think it's a March 1st deadline, March 30th deadline that uh people have to file for that or if that's going to be for a future year. Um and then thirdly, what was it? Sorry. Oh, um if there is a summary and I I could have asked for it but I didn't. um in the corrective plan from the audit if there's kind of just a highlights as to some of those things that are going to be uh based on the audit. That's it. >> Thank you. >> The veterans um increase in [clears throat] their their u you know tax exemption that hasn't come before us, has it? >> We did
050the fire. I know that. >> Yeah. Yeah, there was >> in the past, right? >> There was a very recent change that the governor had put in place um regarding veterans and and changes that they can make to that exemption. I think Joe actually had brought it up a couple meetings ago cuz I know Grace and I sort of had a research to even find it was like a press release, but it was really hard to find any real facts behind what that law was. and we're still trying to sort of await as to what the the guidance is going to be on it, but we were able to find some information and we're trying to do projections as to what that would mean for us. But it's very challenging because we don't know what
051individuals incomes were typical. So, we're uh we're trying to sort of project based upon those who qualified before, what happens if they all qualified for this, what would it mean? So yeah, >> uh we're certainly aware and working on what those projections would be once we have that. But I don't think there's a real timeline behind this. We essentially have a whole year uh before this would >> usually that's what they give you. Yeah. >> Yeah. I think for the county there may be a timeline, right? But not for school district. >> I I this is the first I I've heard of this. I you know with Joe bringing it up tonight. I [clears throat] was not aware and usually I'm on top of those those veteran things but this one no word out there
052from all the periodicals I get and stuff. I don't know okay um um upcoming meeting topics and presentations. I know it's budget time. So >> that it is. So our next presentation scheduled for January 22nd is our opening of schools presentation for athletics and technology. And then on February 12th, we have our first uh well our first our second um curriculum instruction [clears throat] presentation. So that'll be led by Miss Lavine along with our building administrators. >> Can't wait. Um, okay. Board members, any comments or >> Yeah, I I I attended the PTA meeting last night. Couple of issues that came up. Number one, uh, and you had mentioned this, Dr. L, the the pocketbook bingo. Uh, they're looking for, you know, as many people can attend. It's a great fun evening. Food will be
053served. Uh, it's uh, adults only because beer and wine will be there. Um the uh application for that is on their Facebook page, Putnham Valley PTA. You can do it electronically using a QR code or or contact them directly. It will be Friday, uh January 22nd, I believe, is the date for that at Courtland Colonial. So it it it's a little early this year. >> 23rd. 23rd. >> 23rd. Thank you. It's a little early this year, but it's a really great u fundraising event for the PTA. Also, all the officers of the PTA board are retiring. They've all served three years. Usually, they only ask two years of service, but they put in an extra year. They need volunteers to take over that. Without a board, um you know, governing board, you have no PTA,
054and that would be a disaster. uh if that ever went away, all the great things that the PTA does for our kids and our our community. It it really is a remarkable organization. So, please parents if you have time uh go out there and and volunteer and do a position. They can do co-chairs, >> they can do singular chairs, whatever you know would fit your style. Uh but contact uh the PTA if you have an interest. They're really recruiting heavily now trying to fill that while there's still time to train with the existing board. >> Right. >> And finally, uh I know we're entering budget season. One of the budgetary things that they brought up uh is that um they would love to see uh a bit more science provided to the elementary school because
055the gap from fourth to fifth grade. They they feel and all the parents said this uh that the there's a um a discrepancy between the knowledge they bring to fifth grade and they're bombarded by the new state exams and everything else that maybe an extra day of science or maybe a couple of extra days of science may benefit the kids especially at that fourth grade level. It's a suggestion they may some of the parents said that they might come to the board during our budget discussions to advocate for that. Okay. >> And I know it's tough to to get that in the schedule. >> Yeah. Say what are you going to put in? What are you what are you going to cut to >> Right. >> We did discuss that at at the board meeting
056uh at the PTA meeting when they brought that up. Um, we did talk about that that could have a budgetary implication, that could have a content implication depending on how it's it's done. Um, I think their concern is just that our current model goes from having science one or two days a week to then having science every day. >> The demand is very different along with all of the other transitions that happen in middle school. And so, um, I I thought it was wonderful that they brought it up and they said that they would like to get involved, more involved in the budget process. Uh, Sam and I shared the information of how they can do that. Um, we shared with them that they are more than welcome to come here and speak um and
057to certainly reach out to um the administration uh to discuss that further and talk about, you know, their concerns and how they might be addressed because it doesn't necessarily have to be a budget implication. There are other things that could happen, but there is a finite number of minutes in the day. That's the problem >> and that is always the problem in education. [laughter] So, um it was a really great uh very positive conversation. Um >> and a lot of a lot of attendance too. A lot of >> Oh, it was so very well attended. And I have to tell you in the middle of winter, I know yesterday was a little bit more of a mild day, but I am so um pleased to see how many parents are coming out to support the
058PTA and to really get involved. It was really very encouraging. I've been in the PTA since I've been in the district and there have been years where it was me and the president and that's not what it was last night and it was just really wonderful to see that many parents involved. Um I want to give a shout out to the PTA also for always providing child care. Um my little one was in the in the childcare room last night while I was at the meeting. So that made it a lot easier for me. So thank you to the PTA for all their they do. They are really working hard for P pocketbook bingo. And so, um, like Sam said, if everybody could just support, that would be amazing. Come on out. It's such a
059fun night. >> Yeah. >> Um, I've gone for the last three years and it is so much fun. So, please attend if you can. >> Good. >> Anybody else? >> Um, I did see we got um Moren's communication with the town board. >> Yes. >> Um, there is a meeting in January. Um I forget now what [clears throat] >> the 22nd I believe they moved it >> they moved it back a week. I just have to >> Yeah they the Allison and CJ the the newly elected officials are going to Albany for training. >> It's the 28th now it was No, we moved back a week to Wednesday, January 28th. >> 28th. >> Yes. 28th. Yep. >> So does anybody have an interest in going? If not I I will go. All right, then. I
060guess it's >> the night of the fourth grade winter concert on >> Oh, shoot. That's right. I knew there was something else on the thing. >> But the fourth grade does their also winter concert during the afternoon. >> I'm pretty sure for the students, >> huh? >> I could probably go. >> You could pro. >> I don't want to go cuz it's dark out and it's cold out. [laughter] >> Take the hit. >> Sasha's going if it's >> it's not dark and not cold. I think it's your turn anyway. >> January. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I actually cannot go that day. Oh, >> I have a doctor's appointment that you said >> January 28th. >> Yeah. >> At what time? >> Yeah. No, I actually cannot. >> 6:00 uh at night. >> Well, I could
061still make that concert doesn't start at 6:00. >> Yeah. Okay. >> What time is the town meeting? >> 6. Dr. 5. I'm sorry. I actually have something. [laughter] >> That's okay. It's It's my turn. I'll go if >> Oh, yeah. That's right. You haven't done it, Barbara. If you um think of anything that you think is important that I mentioned, if you you know, just shoot me an email or a text, I'll sure >> add it to my comments. >> I do think that that's we made that commitment and I'd like to continue that. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> I I wonder if we can um maybe at the next board meeting uh or >> a different way figure out uh a schedule like we did for the past few months of who can attend
062each meeting, right? This way it's ahead of time. We have it in our schedule. And >> I thought I had printed it out, but I I don't have it with my stuff. So, um, >> so we'll do that next time. >> We can do that next time. Sure. Good. >> All right. Calendar. >> Um, okay. Yeah. Anything else? >> No. All good to go. >> Steering committee meetings are happening. Uh, oh, yeah. Next week for two of the buildings. Um, I was not able to attend the last high school meeting. Um but I know that they did some great work around grading protocols and um the conversation is about ensuring consistency among courses which is really great. Um I will be there next week at their high school building steering meeting as well as the
063elementary school one is next week. >> Um I do believe there was a middle school meeting that I actually attended and I don't remember it. So I will report on that next time. Oh, they they do have uh the alumni coming back tomorrow 10:15 up in the library where they will meet with the seniors. These are young people have gone to college coming back and it's going to give them a perspective of the collegiate life. >> I always love that. >> Can >> it's canled. >> I believe they had a lack of response. >> Really? >> Oh, bummer. >> Next time. >> I love that. I I' I've been attending that. It's great to hear their perspective. It it it's definitely canceled. I mean, for sure. >> Well, I believe I still communication from >>
064Yeah, I wrote Matt this evening telling him that I'd like to show up and it was this evening, so I knew I wouldn't get an answer from him. So, maybe his answer will be it's canled. [laughter] >> Okay. Well, you can if it's not cancelled, you can report on how. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Um I'd like a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. Second. Questions or comments? All in favor? I >> Good meeting. Quick to meet