001Good evening and welcome to the final budget hearing and business meeting of the board of education May 6, 2025. 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. Our first order of business is exciting. It's a recognition. Um, Dr. Lock, I'm going to let you start. Sure. So, we're here this evening to honor one of our own students. Tyler Lockach is a student at PNW Boseis and was selected as a student of distinction. So without further ado, I'm going to invite up the assistant superintendent, Dr. Greg Brown. He's going to invite up some of his colleagues. And I do want to note that uh Tyler is
002joined by his parents here this evening. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Lu. And uh good evening everyone. My name is Greg Brown. I am the assistant superintendent at the Putnham Northern Westchester Boseies. And I just wanted to extend uh a thank you to all of you, to the board, to Dr. L, to the administration, to the community members that are here, uh, and to the families that are watching at home for partnering with us and being just strong advocates of Boseies and the programming that we're able to accomplish and do together. Uh, for more than 40 years, the Putinham Northern Westchester Bosey's mission has been simple, service and innovation through partnership. and we can only do that by partnering with you. So again, thank you for that. It's my uh honor now to introduce the
003career academy principal uh Mr. Gutierre who's going to say a few words about Tyler and then I think we're Sarge. Are you also Okay, Sarge is here also. He's going to share share a little bit. So you're in for a treat. But thanks for having us. We appreciate the partnership. Thanks very much. Good evening, Dr. L, Board of Ed. Thank you so much for having us here this evening as guests as we celebrate one of your students. Uh and thank you for sharing him with us. Uh we have roughly 1,400 students on our campus and to just give you a magnitude of this honor tonight. Uh there's only nine students picked in the course of a year to receive this award. And the student we're honoring tonight will be that ninth student. So without further
004ado, I'm going to read the words that his teacher, my colleague, Mr. Thomas Hulahan, uh, wrote about Tyler in recommending him for this unique honor. Tyler Lock's dedication to the law enforcement program at PMW Boseies has been second to none. According to his teacher, Tom Hulahan, Tyler displays a maturity and focus beyond his years and has excelled in every facet of the program. His stellar academics and outstanding ability with hands-on components of the program such as handcuffing techniques, fingerprinting, baton training, active shooter response, and traffic stops making him an outstanding candidate going forward to the police academy of his choosing. A quiet leader with a great sense of humor. Tyler has also participated in various volunteer efforts offered in the law enforcement class, such as feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving Eve at Hastings on Hudson
005High School and helping with security and traffic flow at the Union event at the PNW Bosey's campus in early April. Tyler also lends his voice each morning. This is where I know you. He's the voice. There's no doubt about that. Each morning during the morning announcements and the pledge of allegiance, Tyler never fails to seek me out and shake my hand after class to say thank you, Mr. Hulan. Tyler enrolled at the Putnham Northern Westchester Bosey's law enforcement program with the goal of obtaining vital information to help him pursue a career as a police officer and has taken advantage of every opportunity at the tech center to guide him into a successful career in law enforcement. The sky is the limit for this young man. I'm going to take a moment right now and hand
006over the mic to his instructor and a close colleague and friend of mine, Mr. Thomas Hulahan. Tom, thank you, sir. Hi, everybody. Um, I would never be able to remember all that from the heart. That's why I had to write it down. So, but I'll give a little bit from the heart. Um, uh, this young man makes it easy for me. Teaching, uh, in a lot of ways is harder than being a police officer. Um, and he he makes it very easy for me. Um, I want to thank Putnham Valley for sending me your best. Um, and I want to thank his parents for way uh, raising such a wonderful uh, human being. Um, I was a sergeant in the police department and um, that that's not an easy job either to get to motivate
007police officers. He's going to be a sergeant's dream. um you know, you're gonna ask him to do something and yes, sir and I'm going to do it and then uh the future is is is up to him. I see him as a a future supervisor and and like I said before, the sky's is the limit. I'm just so proud of him and uh he makes teaching worth it and again I thank you guys for sending him to Boseies. Thank you very much. Come on up, buddy. I got something for [Applause] you. distinction. I got a fancy medal here for you. Thanks. [Applause] Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you for making us look right here. [Applause] Tyler, Tyler, could you stand by the mic? I I have some questions for you. Very good question. Okay. What are
008your plans after after uh you know moving on from from tech and and your studies here at Putham Valley? Okay. So um after I graduate uh I'm looking to go to Westchester for two years. Um and then after that I'll apply for as many policemies as I can and uh preferably be a New York State trooper but you know like starts to the sky's the limit. Mhm. I I'm going to tell you, young people like you give us great pride, and I mean that from the heart. Uh I love the Boseies technical program. I always have. I've been a big supporter of it. And your success in that program speaks volumes for what the program does, but also for you as an individual. Your perseverance, your focus, you are going to reach the sky as
009the limit without a doubt. And God bless you, man. I I'm so proud of you. I mean that. Thank you, Mr. Alvar. I mean, I'm still on. Thank Thank you, everybody. Appreciate it. Do you want to come down? Everyone shake your hands. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congrats, Congratulations. I appreciate it, buddy. I mean that. Thank you so much. Congratulations. If we knew you did the pledge, we would have had you lead ours. So now we're going to work on the smooth transition from the student of distinction to the final budget hearing. Yes. So I'd like to invite you if you would like to leave or need to leave. This is before we start the budget presentation. You're welcome. We'd love to have you stay, but we understand. Yeah. Again, Tyler, congratulations. [Laughter] Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you.
010Congratulations. Thank you. That's so great. I love that program. I mean that. So good for our kids. Okay, so this is our 2526 final budget hearing. Um, yes. So, this process obviously started many, many months ago. Um, uh, I do want to really give a ton of credit to Dr. Grace Chan for the amount of work that she put into this. I know it's a a herculean effort to take a budget that you did not build. Um, understand it, dissect it, transform it, transition it, do all those things you have to do to put it into a format that you are familiar with, that you believe the community uh will understand and provide the greatest amount of uh clarity and transparency possible. And I think Grace and her team have really been able to do
011that. Um, she also has a new uh district treasurer, Matthew, who is extremely helpful throughout this process. And I do want to recognize um their efforts and the efforts of the entire department for being able to put together um such a well polished budget as well as presentations throughout the winter. Uh we did some new uh forms that we used for our building administrators and our department chairs and uh we believe that made this for an easier process transition as well as the budget document which is posted online as well. So, uh, this concludes our presentations and our Q&A. We've held numerous, uh, Q&A sessions, uh, some ourselves as listening hours, some in partnership with the PTA and the education foundation. And I really believe that what we are providing to the voters is a
012balanced budget that represents both the needs of uh, the district as well as the financial burden that those needs place on our taxpayers. Okay, good. Any questions, comments? Anyone? Anything else to add? No. The next order of business is we're going to have to identify chairperson for the vote. So, that's coming up. So, we need to fill in the Can't do it. Janette can't do it. That's true. I'm happy to do it. I can do I'm going to vote for Haley. I can do the morning. I'm going to go in my pajamas, but I can do the morning. You want to do the opening? Sure. Okay. Starts at 6:00. You have to be there 5:30 to open the boat. 5:30. You said 5:45. You said 5:05. No, you said I'm only teasing Miss Kron. I'm
013not really asking. I thought you were teasing me. You get there 5 minutes before 600. You're good. Okay. So, you're going to open and I'll close. Sounds good. Wonderful. Okay, that's good. I'm think I'm traumatized from the last might not come. Somebody texted they know. Oh, that's great. Uh, you know, before we move on, um, Haley or Aiden, did you have any concerns or questions that you've been hearing about the budget or any comments about the budget before we move on? Not really. You don't have to pay you don't have to pay the taxes, so you can ask the questions. No, none of that. Oh, us none of the students really have any questions or concerns about the budget. No one's really So, are either of you 18 and able to vote? I am. Yeah.
014Good for you. Okay. I think it needs to be said that um the work that the team at the district level has done to provide information as it has been requested has been tremendous. Um it it obviously goes without saying that it's a part of the job to do that, but I think that it just needs to be recognized the amount of work and thoroughess um that are in the responses to any public citizen that asks a question about our budget. Thank you for your professionalism, Dr. L, Dr. Chan, um Miss Lavine, when you chime in when you need to. Um, Natalie, thank you guys so much for all of the work that you've done to really just make sure that people get the answers to the questions they have. Um, and for also listening
015to the community with respect to, you know, the type of community, um, communication we have, um, with respect to our process. I think we've grown a lot this year. I certainly have learned quite a lot this year. Um, and I really want to thank the work of the facilities team that continues to come out at every meeting, those people who are just faithful to the work. Um, thank you so so much for getting the right information out there, for getting factual information out there, for pointing people to the district when needed. Um, and to really being a thoughtful partner in the process of, you know, delineating this project. So, thank you to uh all. And just to confirm again, the um all the budget information is on the website pbcsd.org um under budgets. All of
016our past videos, all of the information, the mailings, everything that you want to know about anything about the budget, it's on the website. And we do have some new videos as well, right, Dr. Y. So, I was going to say everyone should have by now received two separate uh documents mailed to your house. um the most recent one with more detailed information. The district I think today finalized our budget newsletter uh which is a much more detailed mailing. So that'll be going out in the near future and everyone will receive that prior to the budget vote. The state requires that arrive within a certain time period of the budget. So we can't send that too soon. Uh and that will be our third and final publication related to the budget. There is another one coming
017out regarding bra prek if that hasn't already gone out. Uh so there is a fourth coming but not necessarily related to the budget and I encourage everyone to go out and vote and let their voices be heard. This is probably the most meaningful thing uh the most meaningful thing that community members in Putnham Valley have a say in and uh it's important that they exercise that right. May 20th. Tuesday, May 20th, two weeks from tonight, 6:00 a.m. 900 p.m. Putnham Valley Elementary School. Yes. And bring your kids to vote if they go to Putnham Valley Elementary School because we will be voting on ice pops or ice cream sandwiches for field day. They're going to have the bubble bus. Very important vote. I don't know about the bubble bus this year, Sam. That's not on
018the ballot. But uh ice pops and ice cream certainly are the choices right now. So we shall see who wins. Last year was interesting. It was. They got everything last year. That's not happening this year. An anomaly. All right. Okay. I'd like to open it up for public comment on any of the agenda items. Not seeing anybody wanting to speak. I'm going to move to the consent agenda. Resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to approve consent agenda items 2 through 7 as listed below. Second. Mrs. Bolino, you got your voice back? I do. Okay. Approving minutes of the previous meeting approving the un amended substitute listing for the rest of the school year. CSE CPSC placements. three agreements. One of which is with Northeast Rentals, which is for the rental of the
019graduation bleachers. A team merger amended agreement for girls swimming. It it results in a savings to the district. And an agreement with Pace University to provide PACE student field opportunities for their students next year, which includes student teaching, approval of some additional and andor unpaid hours for staff members, and we're appointing the workers and the chairpersons for the May 20th, 2025 vote. Okay. Any other questions or comments? All in favor? Opposed? Extensions. The resolutions pass. Um, presentations. We have the first reading of policy 8113, extreme heat condition days. So, this is a state required policy, which is really the only reason why it's before the board is a first reading right now. Uh, I do want to point out that Putnham Valley is one of the very few districts with the luxury of having central
020air conditioning in our entire middle school and high school as well as, uh, air conditioning throughout our elementary school. So, this policy speaks to preventative measures, um, responses in the event that a classroom were to get, uh, exceed the temperatures outlined by the state, 82° and 88°. Um but we have really no expectation that we will ever have to face these conditions given the infrastructure that we have in place here in Putham Valley. Do we need to have two readings? Can we wave the the first reading, do the second reading on this? We discussed it. There's no rush to get it done. So it's not like it this at least the first reading provides the opportunity for the community if somebody had some input or comment or whatever. So our plan is just to bring
021it up again the next meeting. uh for a second reading and get it done with then. But at least this provides anyone who may have uh some some comments or feedback on this policy an opportunity to provide it to the board before we adopt it. Okay. Okay. Reports students. So, the science research symposium was last week as a practice night for the sophomores because they have a competition coming up and was a way for all the upper classmen to present their research and their findings. The National Honor Society held their induction ceremony inducting over 30 new members. The high school musical Legally Blonde was a huge success with record ticker sales since co and was a huge turnout for all three nights. The PBCSD community potluck was a great way for those in the community
022to gather together and that also took place on the same day as Legally Blonde. Girls in sports day also had a great turnout and involved high schooler school high schoolers mentoring young girls and showing them some of the sports that were offered here. IB exams have started for the seniors and are just about halfway done and they will be wrapping up next week and a few days following. And May 1st was decision day so lots of seniors wore college merch to represent the schools that they will be attending. Um, I couldn't move off this your report without saying congratulations to you in the play. It was amazing. The play was amazing. The whole thing, the the cast, the entire cast, but you were exceptional. So, congratulations and we're glad you're here because the play is
023over and now you have a little bit of a life back. Thank you so much. You You truly were a phenomenon. I I mean that I I was commenting to Hilly before that. Uh her ability to keep her breath and say the lines and sing while she's jumping around like a genius was just amazing. I'm sitting there getting exhausted watching her and she's just bouncing and it was phenomenal. Really an amazing amazing performance. Thank you. And along with that the jump ropers. Yeah, that was quite impressive. Yeah. That show was not of a high school caliber. No. Much higher. Much higher. Yeah. From everyone who was center stage to backstage to lighting to costumes. I got to take a little tour of backstage and all the amazing things happening and the commotion. And just to
024see that many students working together towards a common goal that was a product of excellence was so amazing and you my dear you are very gifted. So I wish you the best in your future endeavors and I was happy to see at the uh National Honor Society that you are doing a double major in theater and speech pathology. Speech pathology. So you keep following your passion my dear because you've got good stuff inside of you. Great job. Thank you. Along with that, both of you are going to Buffalo. Yeah. Yeah. Excellent. Have your winter coats ready. Yeah. Snow boots. It's cold. It does. Congratulations on that. Yes, absolutely. Unlike Putin Valley, it still snows up there. So, if you like the snow, it's a good place. Um, so I was going to say ditto on
025mine. Uh, many of the same things. I did want to acknowledge again. I thought the show was fantastic. I don't know who makes these metro decisions for the awards, but I'm going to be really annoyed if we don't win a lot of them. Um, it just the crowd reaction at the end of each scene and like the roar that came out of the crowd and the cheers and the and to Sam's point, I was exhausted watching you guys. How you were able to sing and dance like that at the same time was pretty lose your breath. That that's true. Um I mean your your application dance scene there at the at the Harvard was like I think it went on for a half hour. I was I was calling a water break uh for you
026guys, but um it was really an impressive show and I I give you guys all the credit in the world uh for being able to pull it off and I really hope your efforts are recognized when it comes time for those awards. Absolutely. Uh this week as we sent a message out um well I sent a message out on behalf of teacher staff appreciation week this week just really recognizing the exceptional efforts of our faculty and staff. Um we're lucky to be surrounded by such amazing professionals. It's the number one piece of feedback we receive from our students who go off to college and come back and they are gracious and thankful for the experience that they had, the love, the caring, the knowledge they gained from the teachers we have here and the staff
027members we have here in Putham Valley. So, it's truly a place where everyone's willing to do whatever is necessary to support our students and I think uh those efforts are recognized by our alumni when they come back. So I do want to extend my appreciation along with the message to everyone uh who makes this place as special as it is. Um also I wanted to note the community potluck I thank all the parents and community members who came out. We actually had a few families from Garrison who came both current and incoming students. Uh they came here for dinner then they stayed for the show and it was really an impressive scene. So thank you for everyone who made that possible. Uh the district safety team had another training with Alteras. was our district-wide safety
028committee and we reviewed our district safety plan as well as coordination between the district and buildings in the case of an emergency. Girls and sports day is always one of my favorite days of the entire year. Uh we have our high school athletes, female athletes working with very young kindergarten students and sometimes teaching them different sports um the importance of teamwork all the some of the basic skills that they get and I think is always a huge success. So again, thank you for everyone who made that possible both uh the parents as well as our students who uh teach those young our youngest students. As we had shared the P Valley will be offering universal prek for the first time. So the lottery application window is open now. It'll be open through May 30th. I
029think last I checked today we were up over 60 applicants. Um so we anticipate a minimum number of 32 seats. That um number could rise as high as 40 total seats depending upon uh certification and licensing for our particular space. So it still maintains an 8:1 ratio. So if we went above 32, the Y would simply provide an extra uh professional uh to cover those classrooms. But if we stay at 32, then it would just be a teacher and a um teaching assistant in each of the classrooms as well as an on-site supervisor. So stay tuned for more information on that. Our drawing is will be live streamed. It'll be held in June, beginning of June. And for those selected, they have until June 30th to complete the registration deadline. You must be a resident
030of the Putnham Valley School District. Um if you live in the town of Putnham Valley, but within other and other districts school boundaries, you would not qualify. So, you have to be uh reside within the Putnham Valley School District boundaries. And the program is scheduled to begin in September 2025. It'll be housed in the modular building behind the elementary school. And it'll be open to students who are four years old by December 1st, 2025 and reside within the Pton Valley School District. We did get a couple questions and I was surprised looking at the application today. We have numerous sets of twins, but unfortunately it's a true lottery. So there is a potential where one child is selected and the other is not. That'd be tough. We have no authority cuz we're pulling numbers. I
031don't even know what names those numbers are attached to. So until we connect those numbers to names, we won't know whether um both siblings got in or not. So, I know someone had reached out and answered the question. We just have we carry no jurisdiction. It's not our rules. It's the state's lottery rules. Can we add that information to like future flyers that we send out about this program? Cuz that's like a pretty important factor. I thought as much as just reaching out to now we have contact information for those who applied. So, just to make them they they'll always have the decision whether or not they still want us if one selected to send the one and split them up or to not send either. And hopefully if they're both selected then it's not
032an issue. But um we'll make sure that we make contact with each of those families since we know who they are. U just to make them aware that's the situation. Question uh if they are registered for the prek program, do they need to re-register for kindergarten the following year? There'll be some sense of re-registration because there's actually different vaccinations that are required for incoming kindergarteners than there are for prek students, but we they won't have to redo their residency uh registration work. So, they'll still come in, they'll still go through the prek screening process. They'll have to provide updated immunizations. Um but it'll be a simplified registration version compared to what they undergo now. Okay. Very good. Good. I have a question. Yes. Um, if somebody gets chosen a twin and only one of the
033people choose it, they and then they elect not to go, are we pulling enough numbers to have a wait list? Yep. So, we'll know exactly how many seats we have or hopefully we'll know how many seats we have before that date. Uh, but we're going to pull an extensive weight list anyway cuz people could sign up and then not register. Um, they can decide not to split up twins. We could find out that the space holds more than we anticipated. So, we're going to guarantee 32 seats, but then we're going to pull a weight list that covers at least the additional um possibility of eight as well as a true weight list for anyone who doesn't complete the registration process. And the eight is because of spatial concerns, not because of faculty concern. They have
034their own licensing through the OCFS. So, they have to come into this space. Each student needs a certain amount of square footage for that space. Um there's like a a ratio for number of students and uh sinks and toilets and things like that. So all of that goes into u the licensing. So that'll be determined by them. Have they secured their license already for this? They're in the process of doing it now. Yeah. We have to give them fire inspection information, evacuation information, lots of information that the district holds. Uh they have to have part of their licensing review. So if there's a fire drill in the elementary school, it would it would they would follow along with that. They follow everything we do. Yes. Okay. So if we do a lockdown, they do a
035lockdown. We do a fire drill, they do a fire drill. It's they're on the same system. If the fire alarm in the elementary school goes off, it goes off in the modular building. Everything's connected. Okay. If we make an announcement, it's part of our procedure now. If we have a lockdown, that building is cleared. Um and that that will continue. that will remain. Wonderful. All right. Um, so I had mentioned earlier that uh there was vote information sessions regarding the budget and the bond and I wanted to thank the PTA, the education foundation and note that those were made uh for faculty and staff meetings as well to make sure our own staff is informed. I was able to attend the national honors society induction where over 30 members were uh recognized. First of all,
036we have a ton of people going to school for engineering. Specifically, aerospace engineering is like a new thing. So amazing. And premed. I think there's like four or five Yeah. medical the medical going for aerospace engineering, which I thought was but I do want to point out for the first time in recent memory, there was several students that are going to school for education. Yes, there were four. And I remember years where there was zero. I kept and it was two elementary and two secondary. That's right. So, as a public educator, it made me uh smile to hear that some of our um most talented and brightest students are considering pursuing a career in education. Sunni schools chosen though and that that always surprises me because that's the biggest bargain that anybody could have in
037education there. You know, you have four university uh centers and and then the colleges themselves. They offer a great education. Uh so science research symposium I always say if you ever want to be humbled and feel very not smart I encourage you to go to that. Uh so it started off with their own potluck which was very well attended. Then the sophomores presented um well sophomores and juniors presented their posters uh upstairs and then the we went to the pack. We had a keynote speaker Miss Bros's uh their daughter uh Sarah Bros was the keynote speaker and then we heard from some of our seniors. They do their toast for the underassman sort of toast their seniors and um it's always a fantastic event and you're guaranteed to learn something new when you hear these
038kids talk. Uh I do want to note there is on the agenda this evening is a recommended calendar change. So I asked the board to consider closure of school on Friday, May 23rd. As is noted in our union contracts, uh that would be the first giveback day if we had two or less uh school closures. While by the letter of the law, we did have two. Uh one was the very unfortunate uh police event transpiring in our town. And I don't believe that was the intent of that language when it was written. Uh it was written for snowstorms, power outages, floods, rains, winds, uh not for manhunts. So, um I would uh that's coming up later on in the agenda. I do want to note uh the elementary school currently has a half day scheduled
039for that Friday and if the board approves the Friday closure, that half day will shift forward one day to Thursday and that's a giveback day uh contractual giveback day related to parent teacher conferences. Um, also I wanted to uh just again remind the board I had started a conversation a few meetings ago regarding the possibility of having employees offered a 50% discount of the non-resident tuition rate. So I'm working with our attorneys to draft language. I'll share that language with our union leaders uh if it's something they're interested in. But I did want to just sort of bring that back on the radar that that's something um that I will be recommending hopefully at some point this year. Uh it's not free. It's really following the same model as our garrison students. It's really a
040a revenue generator for our school district and a savings for our taxpayers. Um if a couple employees bring their kids in, we're not hiring new teachers. We're not building new classrooms. Um we're not providing transportation. Their home district's responsible responsible for their special education costs. Um so really it's a win-win for them as it is for us and and is for our taxpayers as well. So any revenue we generate through that would ultimately save our taxpayers money um in the end. So I just wanted to bring that up again as well as uh for the excitement of the policy committee members. Uh today at our administrative team meeting we completed our review of the code of conduct for those who have been paying attention to the policy work. This is our final piece of our
041policy manual that needed to review. It's the most detailed and intricate portion. uh the code of conduct has already been presented at each building steering committee. So that was an opportunity for teacher administrator parent feedback. So that feedback was then collated into one document. We review that document as an administrative team. The next step will be before our policy committee and then we look to schedule a public hearing where the community has an opportunity to provide input on those proposed changes for the code of conduct. So, um, for you guys, you should get a notice in the near future and a very complicated looking document shared with you. There's lots of comments. Um, it'll make more sense when we go through it together, but I want to give you guys a chance to review it
042first. Be good. Uh, so you get a sense as to what it is. And, uh, our our ongoing reminder that there's a vote on Tuesday, May 20th at the elementary school from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Come out and let your voices be heard. some upcoming events. Uh we have on Monday, May 19th at 9:00 a.m. the elementary school has their readaloud, which is always an awesome event. And then we're really start entering concert season. Wednesday, May 21st is our high school chorus concert. Wednesday, May 28th is our high school band concert. And by then, we will have had another meeting. So, I'll keep going down the list another time. Thank you. Great. It's an exciting time of year. Okay. Busy time. Uh busy too. Uh new business. Uh action items number one, please. Resolved
043on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to appoint Joanna Jackson to a probationary appointment as a senior account clerk on step three of the CSEA salary schedule effective May 25th, 2025. Miss Jackson will immediately begin an unpaid leave of absence effective May 25th, 2025 through June 30th, 2025. Miss Jackson will begin her 52- week probationary period from July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. 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 Liliana Costanzo to a 4-year probationary term as an ENL teacher commencing September 1st, 2025 and terminating on August 31st, 2029 in the tenure area of ESOL at the middle school on step one MA of the PVFT salary schedule. Miss Costanzo's Esau English to speakers
044of other languages K through 12 certification is pending. Second. Questions or comments? All in favor? Opposed? Abstensions. The resolution passes. Number three, please. Resolve to approve the WPSBA Westchester Putinham School Boards Association 202526 nominating committee slate of officers, directors, members of the board of directors and the 20252026 proposed budget and authorize the board of education president to sign the WPSBA annual meeting ballot as per doc number 180/25 attached to the agenda and official minutes of this meeting. Second. Questions or comments? [Music] I'm sorry to be leaving the Westp board. Um but you can only serve two terms. Thank you for your service. I will still go to all of their things and remain involved. Um Westchester Putnham um school boards association has been a great resource. um teacher leaders, um board member, um support teams,
045um just really all in all they're a great organization and I'm happy to sign the ballot and um the budget. So, any other questions or comments? All in favor? I just want to hold I just want to echo what Sasha said. Thank you for your time there. It was much appreciated. Barbara does a lot of behind the scenes work with West Penies and we appreciate that Barbara. Thank you. Yes, we do. Yes. Thank you. Uh all in favor? Opposed? Abstensions. The resolution passes. Number four, please. Resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to approve the first reading of policy number 8113 extreme heat condition days as per document number 184-25 attach attached to the agenda and official minutes of the meeting. Second questions or comments? All in favor? I oppose abstensions. The resolution
046passes. Um Dr. Lu, if I know it's not a problem for us, but for schools where it is, if they have to send kids home, is it considered like a snow day, but the opposite? Yeah. So, there's it's not an automatic send anyone home. That's actually not even what the policy reads. It's supposed you're supposed to take uh try to remedy the situation. So, turn the lights off, right? So, turn the lights off, turn off electronics that don't need to be used, put a fan in, open a door, other ways you could do to help sort of mitigate the heat issues. If it's 88° in the classroom, they have to find an alternative space or we're practical or as practical. Um, I don't know if people have alternative spaces. Uh, but if they are sent
047home, then it would count, it wouldn't count as instruction hours just like anything else would. So it certainly would count against tough to have to hold those snow days till the last day of summer. Yeah, true. I can't imagine how that worked. Anyway, it does happen in Duchess. Um it does happen. Yeah, last year it happened. My I work in um Wingers Falls and it happened in Duchess or Orange. Somebody from one of my co-workers it happened to there. There are very very few districts that have total air conditioning. Most have classroom air conditioning. It's just gymnasiums, cafeteria. Cafeteria. I'm pretty sure that my cafeteria on graduation day last year was 105° and we made it by turning off the lights. I'm just fans didn't even work. But it's dead air, you know. Um, this
048is an interesting piece of legislation here because I don't know how that's going to really pan out and affect families because it's unpredictable, right? And the truth is, um, if students were needing to be sent home, some students are still going to remain in school till 3:00. And how many are going home to homes without air conditioning? Yeah. Right. In some cases, homes that may be hotter than the school. Um, it definitely in many ways defies logic and I can speaking with my colleagues, there's districts spending millions of dollars of taxpayer money to now meet this unfunded mandate by the state. So, it's nice. It's a good day to be in the valley and not have to worry about it. Go. The history of summer vacation is actually that it was too hot to be
049in school during summer. But you know, things are changing now. So, all righty then. Okay. Uh, number five, resolved on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools to amend the 2024 25 school district calendar as per document uh 1872 attached to the agenda and official minutes of this meeting. Second questions or comments? So again, we're going to have they're going to be off what day, Dr. L? It'll be Friday, May 23rd. So before Memorial Day week, the Friday before Memorial Day, it's on the calendar, school calendar notes this is the first getback day. Okay. And the elementary school will have a half day that Thursday. And that'll be like super clearly communicated to families. Well, we were just waiting for this meeting and now I'll be sending communication as will the buildings. Wonderful. Okay. Um,
050all right. I'd like to open it up to the public for comment. Public any public comments? No. Okay. Um, upcoming meeting topics. So, our next meeting is scheduth. Yep. May No, that's the vote. That's the vote. 22. May 22nd. 22nd. So, May 22nd is the next business meeting. And I believe we're going to do a presentation on our writing curriculum continuum. I'm lying. Oh, that's June, that May. Oh, sorry. June. That's Boseies that night. May Boseies May 22nd the Oh, the Boseies presentation, the CTE presentation. Gotcha. And then the 12th is what going to be the writing uh continuum and K12 work that's been going on. That's wonderful. Excellent. Excellent. Uh, okay. Board member comments. Uh, very quickly, just want to the staff appreciation and I know Dr. Luff, you did send out a wonderful
051letter congratulating all the the hard work that our our employees put in to the district. But it's it's felt not only by our our students, our children, but by the community itself, and it's greatly appreciated. I also want to recognize because it's nurse recognition day tomorrow, all the the school nurses that are employed in the district who provide such great um care for our kids um health and also in many cases emotionally uh especially the younger students. So um they've done a a fine job as well and um they're they're much appreciated. Um, to that point, I I wrote a note to the staff. Um, I'm going to read it tonight and change it if you want me to add or subtract anything for the two people that are listening online. I don't think I
052don't think I'll be like, this is not a spoiler alert. Um, but I will send this out to um to the entire staff. I wrote the board of education wants you to know that each and every one of you is an important piece of the fabric of caring with which we surround our students. Each of you has something or many things that add color, filling, and warmth to the quilt. Without you, there's a hole, and the quilt is less effective. It is impossible to convey how important we see each of you and your role in the district. Thank you for your work, your dedication, and your presence every day. We wouldn't be Putinham Valley strong without you. Amen. Beautifully said. That was good. Well said. Well said. I'll give it to I'll send it to
053my can send it out to Thank you. Um, okay. I also wanted to talk about a couple things. First of all, students, while you're here, um, I attended a training session on done by Westput on putting students on on their board on because that's now going to be the rule. So, a lot of school districts are scrambling to try to figure out how to do that. Um, so I just want to ask like is there Is there anything we could have done better or anything that would have made your time on the board more effective or better so that we can make those improvements going forward? Every year we try to, you know, make improvements so that your participation in the with the board stuff is better. So what could we do to make it
054better? Now do yours. Um, overall I think it was a it was very well. The only thing I would say is like the transition for like you know next year's board representatives just a little little more guidance because we were told like yeah you're going to go be on the board of education go and Okay. So um I don't know just maybe a little more transition but besides about right yeah but besides that I feel there really wasn't wasn't much missing. Okay, Jack. I know for us, we were selected because we were in the student government at for like the whole school. So, I think that was a good way for us to like keep moving forward in that like club and like we were typically used to that type of thing. So, I definitely
055think getting juniors who are either in that student government or know who they are ahead of time is very helpful just in case they weren't in that type of setting so that they know what to expect. So when I help me back go back when were you told or asked or September right well and told we were asked earlier was around this time last year. Around this time last year. Okay. Yes. And our third member was actually they didn't want to pick anybody until they figured out who our class president was the next year. So that was like a personal class advisor choice that I think kind of made it difficult because we didn't really know what was happening. But I think that all three should definitely be picked ahead of time. Yeah, they they
056they should be picked prior to the end of the school year, I believe, and and at least meet with us over the summer, you Well, and that was another question people talked about at this at this course like when we have our July 1st meeting, our reorganization meeting, do you come so that you can hear how we select our president and h and how we decide what's going to happen. You know, Dr. Love pointed out that that's like another thing, you know, like we don't want to discourage students from doing it by inviting them to things. Some of the districts have invited their students for the the board retreat so that they can see how we how you work together, you know, how how what are what is going to be our focus for the
057year. Help us set goals. But again, that's I I don't want to put too much on on students that are this is their senior year. They're got a lot of stuff going on. So, I'm trying to balance their importance on the board with their their need to breathe every now and again. Yeah. Um, and not do something. So, you know, I'm I'm trying to work that out in my head. But I I I I believe that uh prior to the start of the next school year, we should have a pretty good idea of at least who the candidates might be for the board positions. But Aiden's point of of more guidance like preparing a a handbook like so that this is what this is what we see as your role. to this is how important
058you are to our work, you know, I think they should watch a video or like a video of of tonight is perfect because it's not too long and they get to see like I'm just being honest like no no high school is going to sit there for 3 hours and watch a meeting but you know right exactly um but just to see the interaction or maybe even visit a meeting that's what I was going to say why not invite the potent potential candidates to come to a board meeting and we can interact with them while they're here and and say what questions do you have? Do you do you see how it operates and you know go through the agenda? Is there any chance for you all you to meet with them to kind of
059tell them okay so here's I know you've met with Dr. your left. Now you've met with the board, but here's the real We set that up last year. We met with Reese, right? Yeah. Was it both you were there or just I think I was the only one there. You were there. So Haley was So we we set it up last year. We So Aiden and Haley were both selected in the spring of last year. We set up an opportunity for them to meet with the current board reps so they can talk sort of student to student and get a sense as to what it was. Obviously that time of year schedules are crazy. It's really hard, but I know that Hy was there. I think Reese was there and um Charles maybe it was
060I don't remember Charles was there I think it was just the two of us just two of us. Okay. So we could certainly try to do a better job of providing that opportunity. My caution is just I mean I know that we all think we're pretty cool but I'm not sure there's a lot of students lining up for this job. So, I don't want to put barriers in place where we're discouraging kids from like, "Hey, now you get to meet over the summer and get to come to an extra board meeting and we're going to interview you." Like, I I agree to Crystal's point, watching a video and getting a sense as to what it is. Providing them an opportunity to talk to Aiden, Haley, and Marissa who can give them sort of a real
061life sense as to what it's like would be uh much more beneficial than to start adding things to their calendar. Yeah. I feel like if I went to that meeting last year, I probably would have been a little bit more known what to expect. So I think just with like that meeting with the current board reps and next year's and you know any board members and you Dr. Luft, I think that's enough because again you don't add too much to them like I really wouldn't want to go to a meeting over the summer. So just like that meeting and conversation I think that's just that's enough and then maybe come to a board meeting in here at the end of the year just to see how it operates. I got a question that I asked
062last year's uh student representatives and just be honest is the time factor when we start and anything of concern uh 7:00 start would it be better earlier later? What do you think? Later 7:00 7 o'clock is good. It's a good time. You think the only problem is athletics, but if you have a game, you're not going to get home till 8:30. You're not going to get it. You're going to miss it. Sam, should we move it to 8:30 so that we can account for the game? No, I don't think we want to start a day. I was just wondering, but I I put it out there just to be fair. Just to be fair, Sam tried to strongarm last year's student board reps into a 6 p.m. start, but there's Charlie would have never made
063a meeting. Yeah. Charlie Charlie made it very clear that they did not want him sitting next to them right after his soccer game. We needed a buffer period of time before the meeting. Okay. All right. Well, thank you. Yeah. Yeah. I it would be nice though if if so to your point, Barbara, without having to have them come over the summer, if maybe they could give us a couple of bullets of things that they would like the board to address in in our retreat over the summer as we plan our goals, like if you have an idea of what a goal should be. Um, and then the only other thing that I would submit as an idea uh just for the succession piece of it is perhaps we should consider having a junior or two
064on the board. I was thinking um as like a an apprenticehip or a mentorship filter. Have you had juniors before somebody? No, we have. We have had juniors before that have done two-year stints. It's very it's very difficult to get a 16-year-old to sign up for a two-year commitment. Yeah. Twice a month. One year with the hope of a seconding three years. Yeah. What's nice about that though is that even if the junior doesn't do it the senior year, they're still here to help the person who steps into that role, right? These amazing people are going to be in college. So, you know, just as a mentorship piece, but if there's one that's interested, we try every year. Okay. Well, when we were We have to be cooler. When we were asked at like the
065student government meeting, they asked the senior representatives first. They historically have always said yes, we'll do it. If they said no, they would ask the juniors. Okay. And my junior they asked me and I said no at the time and then but yeah, they asked the seniors first and they've always said yes. Like then it would go to the juniors. So there there is that piece but it's never gotten that far. Are either of you in the IB program? Okay. just because last year several of the students were but none of them used that in their cast program in their cast presentation as a service. I I think it's a tremendous service but they didn't I guess they didn't see it that way. I don't know. Oh, I have to figure out how to fix
066that. Anyway, thank you for your You guys get community service hours for this or No, guess we could. We could. I mean, I haven't. These are two that are looking for extra community service hours. No, they probably don't need that. No. Are either of you interested in continuing next year? We could zoom you in from college. No. It's a little loud in your room. No. Okay. Um All right. A couple of things. Um I'd like all five of us on the board to start our board self evaluation. So, in in uh Oh my gosh, I've just drawn a blank. Have they been updated? Super eval. Yeah, been updated and Sasha has one. We can sit down and talk about it, but I I'd like to get it started because I'd like to finish it like
067within two weeks so that I can use that information to figure out who to come who what what are areas that we were weak in. Gotcha. And give that information to the person who's going to direct our retreat. Okay, good. So, you know, I'd like I can show you if you need, you know, um the superintendent is not going to complete his evaluation until June. Um he's got to get past the budget and early June finish. Um once he does, he he's going to complete it like by June 19th. Um is he rolling his eyes at me? No. Okay. um because I I'd like to have go over his evaluation with him at the June 26th meeting with an exec session. So I have to have it done the week before so I can collate
068it and get it formatted for him and then give you guys pieces to work on. Okay. Yeah. I mean my plan is to have it done by the first meeting in June. So by the 12th. All right. But then you guys will need time to do your piece so that bring it to the end of June. Yep. Okay. Um, the other thing speaking of the retreat is when people are or are not available for the summer. Just say I'm I'm You're around. You can work. I'm very flexible. You can work your trips around whatever. Yeah. Well, pick a date and I'll work everything around that. Do you have any clos uh no dates? I uh have work commitment days July 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th and August 19th and then I am not uh on
069the homeland July 23rd to August se 7th. So July 23rd August 7th I'll be away. Second or seventh seventh I'll be away. Okay, that's good to know. I prefer Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in case I take a long weekend. If that's Tuesday, Wednesday, and th or Thursday. Yeah, I can probably work around whichever if we can do the retreat on a Tuesday, a Wednesday, or a Thursday. Okay. I usually take if I like take a day off, I take like a Monday or a Friday. Okay. And I prefer a 3:00 start or later. Yep. If we do a late start, if we do that, then I'm good to those dates that I get. Yeah. If we do a late start, it it should be after 4 for me. I agree. I works in better for
070that's actually even better. Yeah. After 4 to 7, 4 to 8, whatever. The July dates that I gave you, Barbara. Uhhuh. I can do the at the earliest I can do 4:30. So, cuz I don't get out of work until 4 on those days. The 7th through the 10th. The 7th through the 10th. Okay. 4:30. Yeah. So, I could do 4:30. Okay. Let's see. The later the better for me. So, Okay. Okay. All right. I'll work with those. Thank you. Um, okay. One more thing. Um, two more things. I think we got Huh. Two more things. Two more days. Two more things. Two more things. Is that easy? Two more things. I only can remember one more thing. Do I have two more things to say? Kate or Katie or Odell's class, right? Um I
071have Oh, Odell. Um nope, that's not it. Okay. Odell's Yeah. Um Miss Odell, Mrs. Odell um sent us an email today. Um see if I can get it. Her her class um read an read some information about accessible playgrounds. Um, and they wrote in answer to this question. Why should PVES build an accessible playground? Give details from the text to support your answer. I love it. It's so cute. The really the writings were just so good. I just just to give you a taste. Let me see. Where's Dominic? So Dominic writes, "Pevees should make an accessible playground for people that have disabilities because if they have a wheelchair, they can't go on the monkey bars, slide, or swings. The playground we have now can't be used by everyone. This is a problem because if a
072friend comes to our school who's in a wheelchair, they can't do anything but sit on the side and watch their friends. That would make a friend feel sad. We could we could have ramps and musical instruments such as xylophones or musical trees. Everyone can have fun. Um Thea writes, "PVS should build an accessible playground because people in wheelchairs deserve to play. All kids should be able to have fun and feel like they belong. The playground that we have now is only good for people without disabilities. A new playground should have some musical instrument, so kids with disabilities should be able to play with their friends. All kids deserve to be happy. Even though I'm not in a wheelchair, I can still show the golden rule. In conclusion, if we do this, we can be a
073role model for other schools. I have to tell you, our kids love exclamation points. It's very exciting. That th those sentiments are are are what it's all about. No child. No child should ever feel diminished or left out. I have believed that since day one and if we do anything as a board, we support that concept. Every child needs to be proud of him or herself, who they are, and what they can do and should never be excluded from anything. Boy, I that's and those kids summed it up so powerfully. One more. I was so moved by those. Ila writes, "PVS should build an accessible playground because we want all kids to feel welcome. First of all, the playground should be used by everyone, including kids with disabilities. At recess, when kids with disabilities can't
074play, they wouldn't they would be left alone, and they would be sad, and we don't want that." Next, when kids with disabilities attend PVS, they should go out to recess and think to themselves, why am I just sitting here and why can't I play? Some kids spend their allowances to help pay for the playground at some schools. In conclusion, capital letters, the playground is a place that will let kids know that they belong. Exclamation. Y um so yes, now the accessible playground is part of the the bond proposal. Yes. So, we're not asking kids to bring in their um allowances to help pay for it, but we are asking the community to make a playground that's accessible to all. So, so in doing some research on school attendance, I have found that one of the
075most prevalent reasons why students do not come to school is because they do not feel that they belong. It's really important that all of our kids feel that they belong in their school, that they have a place, that they can feel like they're at home because they're actually awake longer in school than they are anywhere else. Um, and yeah, I agree with you, Sam. There's one thing we need to do, it's that. Yeah, that's always my focus anyway. And I focus Thank Mrs. though Dell's class. Um, all of the letters were amazing. I, you know, and very well written. I love those transitional words. Well written for these are second graders. Yes. Writing better than I did. They're they're writing like third graders should write. So, they're already a year ahead. That's fantastic. Very nicely
076done. It was about four or five years ago that Mrs. Odell's class originally wrote us about the playground. So, it's nice to see that this was included on the bond. Yes. And that the kids still have interest in it. And um it'd be great to see the you know what happens with the Bonvo, but um love to see those kids celebrate. I'm curious about the musical instruments on the playground, but I'll see the xylophone. Right. Like a sideway xylophone. Yeah, we want to give them a little There's like I've seen one of those. Yeah. Right. Right. Anything can be an instrument. Thank you. Yeah. Other board. Is that all? Did I have anything else? You said I had one more. One more thing I forgot to talk about. Uh, no, that's it. The letter the
077letter to the town board collaboration. Oh, yeah. The letter to the town board. Um, we have a couple of options. I know m um Sam that you don't feel that that's our place. Um I think a letter to the town board is is a wise move uh for um agreed initiatives, cooperation, partnership. Uh but to specify a set topic that uh they should provide information on, I don't I I I I really do not think that is our place for that. But it the information that for the public that's watching, the information that we asked the town to publicize for us was just the vote, the day of the vote, where it is, when it is. Um, we didn't ask them to support or not support the bond, the budget, the we just and this
078is a town thing. This is the probably the biggest thing that the town does is support the school. It's definitely a huge part of people's taxes. Um it seems to me that just to send out information to remind people to vote or when the vote is is not asking too much of our town officials. I I I it's never been done, Barbara. It's never been done. I've been That doesn't mean that we can't be done. But I've been involved in in town government and school for over 30 years. Uh they are two separate domains. The town never comments on a school's budget and the school never comments on a town's budget. Can I ask you a question? Are we okay with that? Like I can't even okay with that because they're two separate entities. It's
079like church and state. You don't mix them. But it's not the is stands alone. School stands alone. I just want to point out that we may be the only town where that dynamic exists. I have colleagues that meet with their town supervisor where they support each other where they they they're in this together, right? The school district is the school district vote is the most consequential decision that town residents face every single year. They don't vote on the town budget. So, I can't have them support the town budget because there is no vote on the town budget. But we're asking the town to inform its constituents of something that will directly impact not just their tax bill, but their home values. And I can't fathom why we would accept this notion that the school shouldn't
080support the town and the town shouldn't support the school. That sounds insane to me. I think we should go out of our way to support each other in any way possible is the way it works in every other town. You're dealing with a budgetary issue. When I was supervisor, Dr. Wills would come before the board and talk about the budget at that time. It was her domain, the superintendent's domain as supervisor. That was no problem. The school represented the school's Well, since then, we've been uninvited to the means. But can I ask a Is it the school's job to disseminate information on behalf of the town? I was about to say I got because we send hundreds of communications out every year on behalf of the town through parks and wreck, through other town initiatives,
081through uh buyback programs, drug giveback programs, ceremonies, other events that are going on. That is exactly uh where the partnership, cooperation and joint efforts should should be. So it should just be one way. We should advertise other things. No, because the town again I I referenced when I was supervisor four years ago, we we would do that. We would pop, you know, my god, you know, I I love the school, so I would always talk about it and the activities coming up, the choruses, the plays. That always happened. Plus, we we designated or the school designated a representative to come before the board meetings, and we don't do that anymore. And I don't know why that is. We should have a representative there every monthly meeting at a town board meeting. I think there are
082a lot of ways that our town and our schools could collaborate better and I think that maybe the history of them not is a part of the issue in our community where people see supporting the school district as something very challenging to conceive. I I I I don't first of all I'm not a fan of hearing it's never been done. Um, I'm literally the person that will shatter every barrier just because it hasn't been done, Sam. You know that. But, you know, if it hasn't been done and and we're not doing it just for the sake of it hasn't been done, I think we need to really reconsider that. And, and this is my point as a as a parent, the programs that the town offers would not survive without us sending out those flyers
083for information because that's how they get into the hands of our families is through the school. And that's great. All we're asking, but that is a very one-sided deal to a communication process that is supposed to be a bipartisan partnership. All we're doing is asking the town to remind people to vote. That's it. It's like putting the sign up. That's literally it. We're not telling them how to vote. We're not telling them what to say. We're not telling them what to think or what to believe. were just saying, "Can you please help us to the point of the citizens that live in this community that said that they were uninformed about the vote in January? Can you please assist us in using your resources the way that we use ours to publicize what you've asked
084us to publicize to please publicize the fact that the vote is happening where it is and what time?" So, what would you expect the town to do? May 20th, 6:00 to 9:00 at the elementary school. Don't forget to vote. The vote is happening. And along with that, Sam, when we had parents come up and talk about communication regarding the vote, they even mentioned to utilize the town. So, the town has a specific email address where they send out information that has a probably a lot of people that aren't involved in the school district. It's another way to communicate to the town. It's unreached audience that in that account the town crosses approximately four school districts. So it would be difficult to to pull just the Putnham Valley School District within that. And maybe they can
085do that, but the volume is very small. I don't know. Do the other districts also vote on May 20th? Yeah, pretty much vote on May 20th. We're not saying it could be school votes or vote May 20th in your designated area. Correct. QR code to figure out where that the letter that I read Mhm. seemed to me to want the board the town board to to support I mean that that was the original the original the original but we we changed that because we said we really but we really don't I don't want to put them in that position. I don't want to put them in the position of support or not support because the town could the town board could be personally they could some people could be in support of the school budget
086some people could be against it. Exactly. And and I don't want to put that division on the town board, but I would like them to be to just publicize the vote. That's all. Then we can rewrite the letter. State that in the letter because it wasn't that intent was not there. It seemed that my read was you support the budget. They're not going to do that. This is this that's a it's a political issue and they have major elections come November. I get it. Anybody who would support our or or choose a side is is attempting political suicide. I understand but to utilize their communication systems I think is a fair just to pro just to state read that part. What we have is um hold on to assist in the communication the annual school
087budget and the bond vote as well. Assist in the communication. That's what it says in the letter. That's all we're asking them to do. and and hopefully begin the conversation of maybe them sending a rep from the town board to the school board meetings and us deciding to send somebody whether we take turns or what to go to the town board meetings. We have to make that commitment but the commitment has to work both ways. Um, and I and this is the beginning of an outreach that hopefully will build a stronger bond between the town board and the school board. And I agree with that. And I stated that in my response, my email response to the entire board that that should be our goal, cooperation, partnership, and joint initiatives. I'm in favor of that
088100%. The budget, the way I read that letter seemed, you know, support the budget. I I was very comfortable with that. and and I was too and we adapted the letter to reflect that. Mhm. So maybe what we'll do is we'll send it out again. If you still are against the way the send send it out again with just that emphasis on could you please promote the date and the time of the budget vote right and we can if if you don't still don't feel comfortable that I would feel comfortable I would I would want a majority of the board to sign the letter if the the entire we don't have to agree on everything and if you don't feel comfortable with the letter I'm I'm okay with you not signing because that's you know
089that that's my personal belief and in my email I said I would not affix my name to that current letter but uh revise it and yeah let's take a look at it. Okay, I will say this too, just having having Sam be a part of the conversation is really very helpful because there's a side of this that you know that we don't and um or that I certainly don't and so I get educated every time I sit next to you but you know um I think that we also have to uh continue to push towards a vision of unity in community. I agree with that and that's going to it might have to be crawling to that finish line, you know, one day, but we need to crawl one foot at a time and um
090I think I think that a good first step is hey, can you just remind everybody that the budget vote is happening? There you go. Let's start there. There you go. But park and Rex or the town's park and Rex department is tied so tightly with the school. They utilize the school resources. uh you know there's there's give back and forth the the school utilizes the town's fields I mean that type of thing needs to expand yes and even grow larger I mean there is cooperation agreed the budget has always been cyc I I mean you know because some of the town will approve it and some of the town won't and an individual who runs for a political uh position the first question is going to be do is not your concern. Talk about town
091issues. We don't want to hear and it it becomes which again that rhetoric to Dr. L's point though Sam is crazy about what the fact that school is not your concern as a town supervisor. Correct. No, school is the concern. It's whether you support the budget or not because those are the controversial issues right within the community. here. I just want to find out I'm looking at a letter I sent to the community encouraging community members to go out and vote in the general election and the town camp proposal and what the town camp proposal. Ah, okay. Good. So, that's my communication to our entire distribution group supporting a town initiative and a town vote related to that. And I'm sure if I go back and look, I have one for the rec center, too.
092So this nonsense of we've never done it or we don't support them, they don't support us, your watch, it defies logic. Why the town wouldn't support the school and the school wouldn't support the town. I'm not asking individuals to take personal stances how they feel. I get that's their opinion. I'm not asking them to support it if they don't support it. but to refuse to share information because someone may attribute that to passive support of a school budget as if that was the worst thing that could possibly happen in this town. It just seems insane to me. It is the and I know for a fact that is not the way that relationship goes in other towns where town supervisors and superintendents of schools support each other hand in hand day over day. It depends
093on who holds office. Dr. L. And that's fact because I've seen very proschool individuals in the supervisory office and I've seen very anti-school people in the supervisory office in my be school for your town. How can you be anti-school in for a town? No, not anti-school. They won't take a position on the school budget and it's not but it's not about that. And I I think that's the clarity that has to happen. There needs to be clarity around the sharing of information. In my personal opinion, it is the duty of the town to inform its citizens that there is a vote that they should be going to vote on on May 20th. And that's fine. And if they didn't do that, they would not be doing their job informing citizens. And maybe that's a part
094of our problem is the fact that our entities are not collaborating in communication. And that's the reason why people aren't knowing that there's a vote happening. So that's number one. Number two, I I I I wanted specific examples of how the town and the district ha have collaborated in uh communication in the past and that is a perfect example Dr. Loft is the fact that we you know went out and sent that letter and we sent the letter before that and we send the only one that I could think of at the time because I don't have that much historical knowledge of the collaboration is just the flyers that we send constantly through the elementary schools. um the you know the collaboration that happens through the the children's program in the morning you know those
095types of collaborations should continue to be nurtured but when it comes to sharing information we are the way it's the school district in the town that is the way Putnham Valley citizens get their information we're not New York City we're not channel 2 and I have no problem we we have to just work together in that uh communication as I said I will sign a letter that asks them to share the basic information about the upcoming vote. The upcoming vote. That's all. And that's it. Okay. So, we'll send out the revised letter and everybody can either respond and then when we get everybody's responses, we will sign those signatures to the thing. Thank you. I sent it out. So, yeah, I'm good with that. Sounds good. No problem. Thank you. All right. Any other board
096comments, concerns, questions? Okay, then I'd like a motion to adjurnn. So move. So move. Second. Questions or comments? All in favor? I Good night.