001No. And I want to thank you for never being here. Good evening everyone. Need a motion to approve the minutes of the regular board of education meeting of 61025. John Anthony. All those in favor? That's everyone. Okay. Dr. Farrell. Okay. Good evening everyone. Had enough for you out there? It's definitely summer. We kicked over. So, thank you for joining us tonight on this steamy steamy uh day. Earlier today, Mr. Hanley um hosted on behalf of the board of education and advent team a recognition ceremony for our retirees for this school year. Again, on behalf of our board, on behalf of our administration team and our students, we wish all of our retirees a happy and healthy retirement. A huge thank you to Mr. Hanley, Mr. Buckner and his team, right, for coordinating all the details
002of this um annual retirement program celebration. Just a little bit of a followup, right, during our June 10th board of education meeting, a resident expressed concerns with regards to people gathering in the junior high school track um by the benches, right, by the old uh press box. Um so, as we know, right, residents in our community do use a field, do use a track, right, after hours. We also do have um outside teams that uh reach out to our facilities department and um rent out our facilities, right, and our grounds um and then pay the district accordingly, right, in accordance with our facilities use policy, right? So, we know that those pieces um you know, occur and are approved um to to happen. We currently do have a club team, right, that is authorized to
003be there in the weekend, Saturday and Sundays. And again, they pay in accordance with our facilities use policy um and pay for our custodians to clean the area. Right? All of those requirements are are occurring. Um however, there were a couple of you know um concerns that um were raised that um as a team and in speaking with our buildings and grounds department um actually um you know, Mr. Panella was part of this um you know, conversation and email thread and Mr. Lojitus um we have made some changes, right? We have some we had some district benches that were there, right? Um because our team was using them. So what we've done is we've removed those benches. Um and those will be placed back when the season begins, right? So that that um has already
004occurred. Uh the gates right back there um they are going to be locked at sundown. Um we previously did have those locks, but then there were some situations with people kind of jumping and getting hurt, right? Um we are going to close those again and again. Hopefully no one is doing that and certainly um not doing that um at any time, right? during um the approved hours or after sundown. Uh we also um have uh placed porta potties right you know in that area. So again as our community members use that area there'll be porta potties that will be available to use um and access in that area. Uh the track and field equipment right that was there um you know has been removed. So those are some of the pieces that we have done.
005Um we have asked for um just some additional questions some specific questions to try and see if there's anything else that that can be done. Um, just for point of reference again, we don't have, you know, 24-hour, you know, in the absence of a a school event or something along those lines happening. We don't have 24-hour security, right? Like, you know, coverage throughout all grounds. Um, but if there is a specific group or a specific timing or something that's happening, we want to know about that and we do appreciate that that feedback has happened so that we can make some changes there. um you know and if necessary if there are some concerns with regards to the groups that are utilizing the fields and are paying we can address those you know um concerns with
006the groups as well. So I just wanted to I know I had you know previously um shared something with the board but just bring it back since it was since it was brought up you know during a board meeting. Do we have any questions on that before I Okay. All right. So moving on. It is with great pride that we close out the last board meeting of the school year team. Um by the way we have another one next week. Right. We just right jump right into it. Right. The start of the school year uh July 1org meeting is coming right up. So um our last board meeting of the school year. We are closing it up by recognizing special members of our student body. Um today uh we acknowledge an author in our school
007district as well as an extraordinary group of students who have reached the pinnacle of high school athletics by qualifying for state level competition. So I just want to make sure we have Okay, there we go. Yes. Okay. Um it brings me great pride to introduce Miss Rosenberger. Where is she? Hi. along with Mr. Rosenberger. I will share I purchased some books, a special book because uh to to present to the board of education and central administration team here tonight and I have asked our author to please join us um to sign our copy of our book. Right. So before she does, I'm going to present again our uh one of our student superstars to share um a summary, a snippet of her book and whatever else you would like to share with our board of
008education. We're so happy and so excited and so proud of you. So take it away. My name is Angie Rosenberger and I am the co-author of Judicious Judy and Magistrate of Maryland. In the case of My Dog ate My Homework, students spend many hours away from their parents, and this book helps to teach them how to be a self- advocate. The book teaches young readers about fairness, respectfully, speaking to adults, and how to stand up for themselves and others. This book helps students develop critical thinking skills, teaches how to help use evidence to support their claims, and help students develop courage if they are not ready to speak for themselves. I hope this book series will give children the courage to speak out respectfully, use evidence to support their beliefs and build confidence. I want
009to thank Dr. Fairley, the board of education, and the curriculum committee for allowing our book to be placed in the elementary school libraries across the district. We hope that it will help students understand their voice matters and they should never be afraid to use it. So, do we have any questions for I mean I know co-author I know Mr. Rosenberg. Do we have any questions for our authors about the book or about the process or anything? A great idea. So, what what prompted you like? Very cool. Very cool. Beautiful. I love them. I want to take a picture, of course. Oh, wait. Do we have your signature in here already? Oh, we have to do that. We definitely have to do that. So, I'm going to set you up in the back and we're going
010to take some pictures of you while you're signing our book. How'd you get the pictures? Like the illustration? You made them. Very cool. Oh, I hired hire someone. Got it. Got it. Similaration. No. Yeah. No, the illustrations were uh outsourced. Uh and also um after we had drafted the initial copy of the book uh we hired a professional editor uh that used to work for Random House that you know edited everything. So we didn't have anything uh to worry about. But the one thing that I learned from the whole process of doing the book with Angie is that you know students can become self-publishers nowadays. And I think it's a really good, you know, I know that in I know that in Angie's class this year, they actually did do children's books, which was so
011interesting, you know, that it had happened in conjunction with the fact that we had written this. Um, but yeah, I mean, you know, there's definitely a possibility for like a book club to form, you know, and it really is quite easy to, you know, follow up and get the illustrations done for a reasonable price. And, you know, I think that's definitely something that can be done like within the district. um you know to promote the idea of becoming a publisher, becoming published and a young author. I think it's definitely something that's possible. How long did it take to write it the way you wanted it and then how long did it take to get to that point? I'd say the whole process took about six months. Yeah. So it can happen within a school year.
012It can. Oh yeah, definitely. Yeah. Especially if it's, you know, it could even be done. It doesn't need to be like a full-time thing, you know, it could be like an extracurricular activity. So also want to thank Dr. Farley for purchasing 15 copies of the book. Uh 100% of the proceeds will go to uh our not for-profit organization, West Babylon Cares, which helps the community uh with various things over the course of the school year. [Applause] So that you can comfortably sign and our books. And we do have I mean you remember um the Flynn family, right? Remember we book signing the family a number of years ago you sign with background will take some pictures and I'll I'll continue with the program and then I'll come back to you Okay. So, while our author
013And yes, Mr. Rosenberger, you can sign, too. Um, let's see. Where are we here? Okay, so our next group of extraordinary students, I'm going to ask um if Bob, you can join me up at the mic, are our student athletes who qualified for state level competition, right, in track and field, gymnastics, independent swimming, and wrestling. Um, to reach this level requires way more than talent, right? much more than talent. Relentless dedication, um, early mornings, late nights, unwavering work ethic, the ability to push through setbacks, injuries, and pressure, tons of pressure, right? Uh, requires the support of families who are here with you today, um, and those that are not, right, teammates, coaches, um, your teachers, your administrators, all of whom, right, are part of this this journey. Each of you have shown us what it
014means to be allin, right? to not just set goals, work tirelessly to achieve them. Right? Not only have you excelled in your sport, but you've done so while maintaining your responsibilities in class as well. So, I'm going to turn it over to my our fearless leader to help guide and acknowledge our state championship attendees. So, take it away, please. Good evening, everybody. Uh, welcome to all of our community members that are here with us tonight as we recognize some of our amazing student athletes. On behalf of our entire district, I'd like to offer a special welcome to all of our student athletes and their families, as well as the members of the board of education, central office administrators, and high school administrators who are who are with us this evening. Tonight is a great night
015for us for the athletic uh community. We have an opportunity to share a moment with some of the best of the best, not only in the West Babylon community, but also throughout New York State. 11 athletes have represent rep represented themselves and their families and their communities proudly, not only within the borders of Suffach County, but a state and national level throughout the season. While I will briefly highlight some of their athletic achievements, I'd be remiss if I did not speak of their dedication to their sport and the positive impact they've had on their teams and communities. I'd also like to acknowledge the challenges that they have overcome and the valuable lessons that they have learned through athletics. These lessons and attributes should inspire them continue striving for excellence in all aspects of their lives
016for years to come. One of the perks that I have in the position of being an athletic administrator is that I get to see excellence on a daily level. I get to to walk the fields. I get to walk the gyms. Um some of the student athletes don't even know who I am yet. They haven't been here as long as uh they've been in high school. But I get to see them in the pool and the on the gymnastics mats. All the different arenas that they compete. And it's uh it's a special thing to see to see how these kids excel and the time and commitment they put in. And I uh it's recognized by a lot of people that you don't always know that are watching. I'd also like to recognize their coaches uh
017who contributed to their success. Some are here tonight um some are not. Coach Allison Raven from a gymnastics team, Coach Brendan Dent from our men's wrestling team, Coach Amber Atkins, who's our women's wrestling coach, and our uh fearless track and field men's coaches, Coach Frank Ging and Coach Rob Dah, who are in the audience tonight. So, thank you guys for being here. Um, I apologize. I know some of our athletes aren't able to be here tonight. Um, they responded they could, then last minute things came up, some had to work, some had a previous engagement. Um, so we apologize to them, but as we do introduce them tonight, I'm still going to give them their due and just acknowledge what they did and what they compete. Um, for our athletes, once I I call you
018up, um, we have athletes here that can run, jump, flip, swim, tumble, and uh, take take people down all across the state. So, we have a lot of we have we have a lot of we have a a lot of skill work that's in this room. So, um if anybody was gonna impression that they wanted to cause trouble at the board meeting, this is not the one to be at. So, save that for another one. Um so, what I'd like to do is I'd like to call our student athletes up if they can come. All all the student athletes that be here tonight come on up and then we will recognize one by one. But, if you all you guys can come up individually and stand, I guess, right in front here. Yes, please. stand
019right there so you can face everybody I guess. Okay, I will add lib a little bit but I pretty much will stick to the script. Um our gymnastics uh we have uh you know three state uh three gymnasts that competed and earned all county honors in November. They qualified for the New York State meet in lovely Buffalo this March. Um and these three gymnasts are the backbone of the program and an intricral part of the team success. They've been uh uh keys to where uh we had such a remarkable program that uh you know I think we're at the middle school level we even have more kids starting to come up so it's going to continue to build. Leah Cutchins was all section 11 and an alternate for the floor exercise and a section 11
020state team and she'll be back with us again next year. Lindseay Cutins, uh, who's not here today, finished second in the all-around at the section 11 meet and finished seventh on the floor exercise and the vault at the New York State Championships in Buffalo. Lindsay Cutchins, she can give it to her sister will take it, too. Olivia Stewart. Olivia was all section 11 and finished 15th on the vault, 14th on the beam, and 12th on the floor exercise at the New York State Championships in Buffalo. Olivia Stewart [Applause] probably one of the un unsung heroes that are up here is because we uh we have an athlete who's in a unique situation who is actually a swimmer with West Valley and doesn't have a pool. So uh he competes as an individual competitor throughout Suffach
021County. Um and he represents uh him and his two brothers who are independent swimmers on male swim male team. Um and their their competitions are um kind of isolated because they're in pools where other teams aren't. They're all individual individual competitors until they get to the county meet. And we are happy to have that Owen. I always say this wrong. I shouldn't say this in Kowski Zakowski. And and I apologize, but he deserves his crab. So, uh, Owen placed third in the 100 meter backstroke event at the boy swimming section 11 county championships at Stony Brook University in February. Owen then represented West Babylon again at the state championships at Ithaca College in March and finished in 12th place in the 100 backstroke with a time of 51.88 seconds. Owen, congratulations. Our next two athletes
022who are wrestlers are kind of near and dear to me since I sit on the New York State wrestling committee as uh for a long time. Um our men's wrestling James Dous. James, congratulations. Uh James had a fantastic senior season, finished with a record of 42 wins and four losses, finishing sec second in section 11 in Suffach County and qualifying for the New York State meet in Albany. James was 2 and2 at the state meet and falling just short of all state status in the blood blood round. He was a league four champion at 170 pounds and he was the first league champion uh at West Bablon since 2019. In addition to that, he was West Babylon's first Suffach County finalist since 2013 in the last 12 years. Congratulations, James, James. There we go. Our
023women's wrestling uh team is represented by one West Babylon student athlete, uh Brooklyn Murray. Brooklyn. Brooklyn has set many firsts at West Babylon. Uh she's the first free female wrestler to represent West Babylon in New York State sanctioned events. She's competed along with the Beayshore combined team. they compete out of Beayshore. And then she finished the season with a record of 34 wins and five losses. Her accolades included three individual invitational championships, second place in the prestigious Eastern States Championship. She was the section 11 champion and was voted the most outstanding wrestler in section 11 at the tournament and finished at the New York State Championships in fourth place. Congratulations, Brooklyn. And I know Brooklyn in 15 days will compete uh in Fargo, North Dakota at the national championship. So we wish you the best
024of luck. Our track athletes who are uh have done some of the best things uh in the history of our track program. Um and I know that coaches here tonight extremely proud because I get Coach King's writeups. Uh and I think Coach Kings uh it takes them longer to finish the race than he does to write them write it up. So uh they're done before he even finishes. So, I'm going to go a little bit about each one just to kind of give a little bit of background of where they were. In winter track, uh Kaden Muhamad in the triple jump. Uh Kaden was all federation number two, all state number two in the state, all Long Island one, county champion, and the silver medals at the New York State Championships and a New Balance
025National Qualifier. We we'll come back we'll come back to him in the spring. Also, our 4002 me 4x2 meter relay of Quinn Dailyaly, Justin Velasquez, Kade Muhammad, and Josiah Price were all Long Island, all count. Uh they finished seventh in the state in the New York State Championships. They were a New Balance National Qualifier and finished number three in the New York State Federation Championships. Congratulations to those guys. Awesome. As those uh gentlemen also compete as in the spring uh tournament, we'll go back to uh Aaden. He was uh number three in the all federation meet, number two in all state, number one in Long Island, county champion, silver medalist at New York State Championships again, and a New Balance National Qualifier. Congratulations, Josiah Price, who uh was uh set a school record of 47.56
026and is number four in New York State. He was fourth in the federation, second in the state, number one in Long Island, the county championship, silver medals at the New York State Championships, and a New Balance National Qualifier in the 4x100 uh and set the standard for the 400 meters. Josiah Price, Jerice Matthews, who does discus and shot putt. Uh Jesice was fifth in the in the state, second on Long Island, and a county runner up in the shot put. He was the fifth of uh the final New York State Championships and is also a New Balance national qualifier who's reached the standard in the discus, Jarice Matthews. And our 4x100 relay again, who is uh something to watch as uh it's Quinn, Kaden, Justin, and Josiah. Uh they were number one in Long Island
027again, uh number six in the state, and they were fifth in the Federation New York State Championships and again reached the standard as a New Balance National Qualifier. and out. That's outstanding times and outstanding effort. So, congratulations to our track athletes, to our gymnast, our swimmer, and our wrestlers. So, you guys are the best of the best. It's an honor to be have you guys honored tonight, and thank you for being part of West Valley Athletics. So, we're going to do a group picture definitely. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Anybody didn't pick them up. You got yours. Big round of applause. [Applause] By the way, every time I see I want to cross it out. Yes, definitely. was just thinking about that. Yes. Definitely a round of applause for our coaches. [Applause] Well done team, keep it
028going. And um our athletic director said that you must stay here for the entire board meeting. I'm just kidding. You can all go. All right. So is our special Good night. Good night. You should I don't know. Thank you very much. Yes. Okay. Let's see where are we on the agenda. Okay. Um, and then my last um piece is I would like to as we close out the school year um take a moment to thank uh our board of education, our administration team, our teachers, our buildings and grounds department security, every employee in the district, right? Um our families, our community. Um this has been a difficult year, right? It certainly has been a difficult challenging year. um with so much to do and I I don't I'm just kind of going with it. Nothing
029nothing written. Um we have navigated new waters, right? We've navigated um a lot of different heavy emotional situations throughout the school year, right? As a community, um you know, we've had uh unfortunately loss of of students, right? Um we've had challenges from a school district budget and those of course do not compare. They're on opposite planets, right? Um they are heavy in different ways. Um they've affected our families in different ways. Um we have navigated through a consolidation plan, right? Um we are still in that process now. We have many of our teachers that have been in the same building for so many years, right? and are going through those emotions, right, of changing to a new building. We have students that have been um, you know, that are going to a new elementary school,
030right? Um, so a lot of changes, a lot of challenges, um, a lot of bumps definitely, right? High emotions. However, um, as a community, we continue to find a way through it, right? Um, and again, definitely with bumps, definitely with some bruises. Um, we are in no way, shape or form, right, a perfect advent team, a perfect superintendent, a perfect teacher, a perfect par, a perfect principal, a perfect blank, right? A perfect board, right? All the above, a perfect parent, a perfect community, right? All those pieces. Um, however, we do reflect, right? Um, that's what's important, right? Is that that we reflect and that we always maintain our focus on what's on our children, right? And making decisions as a district, right, for for our children. And so I truly genuinely cannot um you know
031thank you enough um thank everyone right all of our employees um for pulling through for working together for supporting one another um to move our district forward right to continue to move our district forward um through the challenges right and as a team establishing goals establishing what we not just what we want what we need and what we can afford right um all of that together is very difficult to do um I am truly honored um to close out this school here and just open up a new one, right? Again, um you know, focused on our goals, focused on our priorities, right? Um focused on that shared communication and that um strategic planning, right? Of of first and foremost communicating, ensuring that we all are moving our ship together, right? That's the only way to
032continue to move forward. So I do appreciate everyone's time, everyone's effort, everyone's hard work, and everyone's dedication as we close out this year and we begin the next one. 2526. Here we go. So that's the end of my statements. Thank you, Mr. Paper. Okay. Statement of residents on agenda items only. Residents wishing to share a statement. at a public board meeting. Residents will be given up to three minutes to share their statement. The statement of residents is scheduled for a total of 15 minutes. None at this time. Anyone? Good. Okay. Okay. I need a motion to remove from the consent agenda items 6N and 8B. John Anthony, all those in favor. Need a motion to approve the consent agenda as revised. Steve Patty, all those in favor? I had the as revised in there. There's
033no legal complication. It was smooth. Okay. Uh policy review. I need a motion to wave the first time reading and move policy 5300 to second time adoption. Page 11 of the code of conduct. Okay. Thank you. All right. Um I I'm assuming that the uh develop instructional programs that address mix instructional techniques and meet student needs. Is that just to um make sure that we're meeting different IEPs and 504 like just so that every student is I want to pull it up in front of me so I can have that whole section. Do you have it in front of you, Mr. P? Yeah, it was designed to replace that work to what was existing was work to create instructional programs that minimize problems of misconduct and are sensitive to student and teachers needs. And it
034was really the committee's discussion was really about talking about instructional techniques to do that as opposed to just generally address those problems. It it was really a modification of that part that was struck out and it wasn't necessarily designed to be a completely new idea by itself. I think she I'm just making sure she's pulling it up. That's all. Almost there. Pass it. Pass it. Page 11. You said right. Yep. I just didn't really understand what it was referring to, but now I mean I I understand it a bit more. I just want to make sure I was getting it correct. Okay. And the other thing is super minor. Um, section 16 number 3B. Super minor. Instead of plers, it's players. You sure? I mean, they were just here. A bunch of plers. I don't
035know. All right. You got that, Mr. B? All good. I got it. That was all. Anything else? That's it. All right. Okay. So, the one change would be that work. Yes. Okay. So, uh we need a motion to wave the first time reading and move policy 5300 to second time. Adoption is revised. Frank Kirstston. All those in favor? Okay. Okay. Old business, new business. Okay. Okay. At this time, statement of residence. Residents wishing to share a statement, please come to the podium. State their name, their address, and any organization they may be representing. Residents will also write their name and address on the index card provided and presented to the assistant superintendent of finance and operations prior to giving their statement. Matters relating to individual students or employees cannot be discussed at a public board
036meeting. Residents will be given up to three minutes to speak. Statement of residence are scheduled for a total of 15 minutes. Okay, that's it. Okay, I need a motion to enter into post executive session to discuss student discipline matter. John Frank, all those in favor? Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you.