001Good afternoon and welcome to the Wilson Central School District Board of Education meeting for Tuesday, April 14, 2026. My name is Tim Carter, superintendent of schools. Um, as I usually mention, if you're here in person, you'll have an opportunity at the end of the meeting um to make public comment if you wish. If you're not here in the auditorium, you're at home now watching or watching it by tape, you have the opportunity to call Mrs. Bob at area code 716751399 and uh if you'd like to get your comment question or concern addressed um and if it is a comment you want to make to the board we'll make sure that they get it. At this time I'll turn the board over to President Trump. >> Thank you Superintendent Carter. Please stand and join me. I
002pledge 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 item B approved date March 10th, 206. Do I have a motion? So move >> a second. >> Second. >> Any questions? All in favor? >> I oppose. >> Motion carries. >> Item C, approve meeting minutes as dated March 24th, 2026. Can I have a motion? >> Second. >> Any questions? All in favor? Opposed? Motion. Item 2 a resolve that the Wilson Central School District Board of Education approve items B through G in the financial consent agenda as submitted by the administration. Can I have a motion? >> A second. >> Second. >> Any questions? All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carried. Item three, administrative lead
0033A. Be it resolved that upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carter, the board of education of the Wilson Central School District hereby approves the continuation of administrative leave with pay for employee number 70. Can I have a motion? >> A second. Second. Any questions? All in favor? >> Oppose. Motion carried. Item 4 A, accept the resignation of Mary Campfield, school nurse effective November 3rd, 2026 for retirement purposes. Can I have a motion? >> A second. >> Second. >> Any questions? All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion carried. Under new business, approve new business consent agenda items B through I for the April 14, 2026 agenda. Can I have a motion? >> So move. >> A second. >> Second. >> Any questions? All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carried. Uh nothing under uh policies for first
004reading under item B policies adoption. Policy 1270 absentee military and early mail ballots. Policy 1620 annual organizational meeting. Policy 7513 medication and personal care items. policy 7521 students with life-threatening health conditions and are and or anaphylaxis. >> Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Any questions? All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carried. Under items seven 7A approve CPSSE CSC504 meeting minutes and IEP recommendations dated April 14 2026. Can I have a motion? So move >> second. >> Any questions? >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carry. Item eight, approve private parial school transportation request for 2026 2027 from district residents. No requests are approved based on a 15 mile transportation limit and available seating on the bus. Can I have a motion? >> So move >> a second. >> Second.
005>> Any questions? All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. Under conference request, approve conference request for the April 14, 2026 agenda items became a motion move. >> A second. Any questions? All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carried. I think we item 10 we have a conference report from uh trustee Wilston andor vice president Stewart sure okay board members on March 10th vice president Stewart and I attended the regional grid capacity seminar with representatives there from national grid and nerta um they run 100% data and go over some very questions about the upcoming electric bus mandates facing New York City school districts. Uh we heard from Jacob Fan National Grid. Um and thank you all. There's a link to the presentation and notes back in March as well. So he presented about national about grid
006101. It was based on understanding of the grid. He explained about uh the amount of electricity required to charge each electric bus. He believes with current technology that um electric buses can handle some and he used that word some that stuck with me some of the needs of school districts. Um he also discussed costs based on how many buses are in your fleet. We heard from a local visa from Nerta. He presented a lot of the funding programs that are available. He discussed extension waiverss. Uh money has been allocated to districts that districts can take advantage of. Uh he spoke about grant money, charter incentives. Um they're available as districts complete the fleet electriication plan, which I believe we did have. So we're has a little bit I guess. >> Did they say anything about
007the to ensure your contractor was purchasing the electric buses before they would give you any money for charge. >> No, I don't. >> Okay. >> There were some place, but I was hoping that they might make some change some of that, you know. >> No, it doesn't sound like there's any changes for good news, I guess. Um we heard uh he also you know he said how the the 2035 deadline is still firm there's no change in that which I was hoping to hear something different about that um what was the other thing he was talking about deadline yeah plan and really all the presenters the big push was just it was really really pushing districts to complete their plans to take advantage because the money um they stressed that that money was you know
008was was set and it's you know we have a lot of first come first- serve basis so it was really just I don't know what you thought that would seem to me it was just really a big push to complete your plan and to take advantage of money it's available >> so that was my biggest takeaway from that seminar and And you want to talk about the questions that you >> um yeah the other thing that they mentioned was that they really felt that there was money available and there was electricity available and then when the questions and answer time came um and this is the sheet that you received um in your packet and it's from Naples Central School System and I'll just touch on it briefly. They um started out with electric buses
009and one of the sentences says um sounds EV I'm not sure I guess electric boat is that what the vehicle vehicle duh I'm sorry um buses entered our fleet in the spring of 2024 we have found that on most days most days these buses perform well and that they can meet our daily needs for most bus routes to and from school. They're quiet in many other ways feel very similar to our diesel fleet. While we have endured a few software/charging glitches, overall performance has been adequate. As such, we expect to utilize these buses to their full potential and to the end of their useful lives, ensuring we maximize the return on the EPA grant monies we received. when they received the first batch of money. Then they went on to say, "What cannot be ignored,
010however, is that these buses also present challenges and they have proven to be limiting in numerous ways. They've proven to be manageable on most days. Transitioning to a full fleet of buses would be impractical and frankly impossible given what we have learned about electric vehicle function cost and necessary infrastructure to support a larger or full out bus fleet. a few points, key points to note and they talked about function cost and then um how they are driving up electric costs and then they also spoke about the infrastructure challenges. Now this is from Naples Central School which is has very similar weather to what we have and I found it very very interesting. Um, so another part of the question and answer is they said,"Well, how long does a battery last?" Well, they couldn't give an
011answer. How much do it cost to replace it? Well, you and I both know what it costs today and what it's going to cost in 10 years is going to be a little bit different. So again, they're looking into it. Uh people are reporting. I thought it was a very good presentation. Then I got the resolutions from uh New York State School Boards Association and one of them the title was uh environmental sustainability and zero emission bus transition. and they're talking about the issues there and I can get anyone a copy of it if they want and they're still talking about the cost that's raising faster than inflation and um mandated mandates have currently that are currently enacted have not come to fruition. California is the other state that they're also trying to mandate it
012and they're also having um issues, but their weather is totally different than our climate in New York State and that does make a difference. So that that was my takeaway. Was it worth the hour drive? Yes. Yeah, it was very interesting. Thank you for allowing us to go. >> Thank you. Can I ask your question though? >> Yeah, I was gonna ask something. >> One of the things they talked about Naples. Was this the first year Naples put the buses in >> existence? So they didn't they did they have a full winter under their belt at this point? >> Yes. Well, it was March when they wrote this. >> Okay. So 24 believe the spring of 2024. >> So they did have full. >> Okay. They say what the usage of us during the winter.
013>> Uh yes, >> when we acquired our buses through the EPA grant in 2023, the cost for each bus was $390,000. Today, a similarly equipped uh electric bus costs sit at $435,485. Uh, and for a larger battery option, it's requiring level three charging. So, I guess there's different levels for them to charge. Is that answering your question? Uh, it's this is a great concern given the cost of the diesel bus in 2023 was $150,630 and is currently $167,784. These cost differentials are staggering and raise serious questions as to how districts can balance budgets remain fiscally responsible should these differentials remain unchanged. >> As as for the winner, I know from my cso or my superintendent's meetings that um the worker superintendent talks quite a bit about at every one of our meetings and and it's
014a mixed review. um some you know there's times when he really likes them and then the winter was difficult because you know any batter is going to have a condition capacity and subzero windchills. The other issue is when the heat's running or when the air conditioning's running the battery decreases faster. So they found that the drivers have to warm the bus up without the bus moving and then the bus moves they shut the heat off to to drive the bus and they will turn the heat back on when the bus is at its location. And he said that it's not freezing on the bus, but he said that you know obviously we have to shut it on you run the bus with PE or the air conditioning. It does during the battery pass through. Now
015he also said that they they do have roots that they can't use the electric bus. They have still have some diesel. They're out of district. All they're out of district roo. >> Yeah. Uh just um just one if uh if I might. Um also regarding um daily costs. I did find interesting in here that in the following paragraph uh the uh superintendent mentions that uh in their calculus the uh daily uh operation costs of an EV are three to five times worth. So in addition to the upfront costs that that I found that interesting but uh my my my main question was uh to uh trustees Wilson Stewart from this conference was there any conversation about the fact that the grid as a you know statewide entity is basically not only being taxed by you
016know proposed municipal EV conversions but also switches to electric heating from fossil fuels and massive the demand from, you know, AI data centers and things like that because I mean that's a like the grid capacity seems like is a matter of concern across a wide range of issues right now, not just EV adoption. >> No, this this was mostly just about the electric buses and you know what would be needed like they did talk about the transformer requirements or the you know some schools that are on the fleet maybe. >> So this is more at a localized level. or wasn't talking about the fact that the grid itself in some cases doesn't seem ready to go to that level. >> No, I mean anything to that effect would just been about you know what what
017would be required depending on your fleet size. You know some some districts require um just a a trailer and a transformer on site. Some would need a an entire switching station dedicated to them which the district would have to pay for and maintain. >> Right. Right. No, that that makes sense. I think uh if nothing else in the context of the fact that there's so much more electricity demand someone mentioned earlier that as that wave goes up all these operating but also going to go through the roof as well. So it's uh definitely going to be interesting. >> I have a question um being as we do not own our own buses we contract our buses. Was anybody from the bus company there? And if they there was they ask any questions because that's going
018to affect us greatly. No, I think the only for >> and SDA has already been in contact with the districts that are that are contracting to them. And um I will let say this plately. They're sticking their head in the sand a little bit with this um and pushing it down the road. So mandate says you can't purchase diesel buses by 2035. Um, STA's position is they're going to buy all in a diesel now and this way not have to worry about it. So, but um I don't know the exact number off the top of my head, but half of the districts that use STA are STA is pushing them out to bid. They're pushing them up to bid this year because of the piece of bus purchases. So, you can imagine that they're increased.
019The other half we believe are going to be pushed out to bid next year. There's no guarantee that, but that's what our thoughts are. That's my prediction. Um, we are one of the ones that was not pushed out to to uh bid this year, but we can expect it next year. Some of our buses are newer, so maybe it won't be as big of a cost. But I know New Fin is one that's going up. did and the reasoning they gave him was they're going to purchase all the piece of buses for them. >> I know I know one thing that and it all goes back to the state. If you're talking to a legislator or anybody involved with the state, sort of bring that up to them that this is going to be an
020unbelievable cost even if the districts don't go electric because these bus companies are going to be refitting or re refurbishing their whole fleet. So our and especially with us because we have very limited bidding bidding ability. Uh there's not too many bus companies around here that want to bid on rural rural districts. So uh talk to the legislators. Can I ask a followup question, Superintendent Carter? Uh I know I know that when districts own their own fleets, bus purchases and stuff have to go community budget essentially. Uh how does that work for us since we contract? Is that just totally like out of our hands or is there any situation where the decisions made by STA need like community approval for our There's no community approval. It's a board uh it's a it's a bidding
021process similar to our construction bid. Um however many companies want to bid on it, they put in a proposal. >> Gotcha. >> Um and it pretty much goes to the bidder. >> Okay. So that's just a a standard contract. There's nothing special about it. The bus we will buy the buses. >> Correct. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Thank you, Trustee Wilston and Vice President Stewart for attending that very informative meeting. Item 11, fundraiser request. Approve fundraiser request per the April 14, 2026 agenda items fee through rece. >> Any questions? >> All in favor? >> I oppose. >> Motion carried under use of facilities request 12A approved use of facilities request per the April 14th, 2026 agenda items B through D. Can I have a motion? >> So move. >> A second. >> Second. Second.
022>> Any questions? All in favor? >> I oppose? Motion carried. Item 13, no actions needed on those field trips. >> Uh item 14, Vice President Stewart, do you have a web report? >> Um no, I'm sorry. I was out of town in this last meeting. Uh the only thing we're still signing up for the uh dinner on May 7th. Mr. Pan, do you know if we had everyone sign up? >> Yeah. >> Only a couple. >> Thank you. >> Yes, it's at the teacher. >> Conference center. pleased about teachers. >> Superintendent Carter, I believe you have a report and you have report as well. I'll start with Maline since it'll shorten my All right, let's see here. Uh, this is from Meline. Um, April 14th board meeting. Uh hope everyone had a great break. We're
023in the final stretches of the fourth quarter begins tomorrow. Uh a late congratulations to the cast orchestra stage crew of the Wizard of Oz. It was an amazing show and all three performances were almost sold out. We got to ask her to make this bigger print next time. This is really hard to see. Holy moly. I'm just getting old. Uh let's see. Continuing on the music, uh the high school band concert is May 12th at 7 o'clock. The middle school band concert's May 14th at 7 o'clock. Uh board members, you have a flyer uh for the young writers showcase on April 22nd from 6:00 to 7:00. Come out and support the talented writers uh in the school and a look at the basket raffle uh being put on by the high school Laker Book Club.
024I think we >> speak. >> No water, no electricity. >> No school. >> It's a good time, right? >> Yes. Um, there'll also be original student writing uh on display, student reading and refreshments. The opening uh reception for the student art show is May 4th with the time to be uh decided at a later date. It will be on display in the library for the month of May. The high school middle school library uh they're beginning the we're beginning the day of service u uh bringing it back this year. It's going to be held held on May 21st and those plans are in uh are in process. The Wilson Tuscerora Park cleanup is this weekend, April 18th from 8 to 11 at Roosevelt Beach. And I will say the numbers are a little little light
025this year. So I'm hoping we have a last bit uh push for people to come. Um, and then finally, the Wilson Historical Society is having a banner contest to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. They want banners that incorporate uh references to both Wilson and the United States. Submissions are due by May 1st and are open to students grade 2 through 12. and my report. Uh thank you and um certainly welcome everyone who attended this evening. Um hiring season is upon us. Um we are uh administrators are looking to get got numerous hiring committees that are looking at dozens and hundreds of resumes and um getting ready to uh get those hiring committees together. And uh you can expect in May and June we'll start looking at uh introducing new staff members for next year. Um our
026June board meeting will have our annual retirement reception honoring those uh members and celebrating the members of the staff who are planning to retire this year. Um we'll also be holding our tenure reception in our May 12th board meeting. We have three staff members. All three are at the high school, middle school. Um, three staff members will be celebrating uh um um we should be celebrating their their tenure. Um and all three are recommended the board for tenure. Our building principles will introduce them to the board. Um Mrs. Leavon has already or will be inviting them to the board me board meeting and then of course the board will get a chance to vote on their permanent uh tenure. Um I was going to say spring break home stretch but I think I've heard it
027like 12 times now. So refrain from doing that. Burn scholarship. I heard uh through the door we have a couple uh applications for the road scholarship, Mrs. Is that correct? Couple of them. Just at least one. Um, so that'd be nice. We'll be able to give that away this year. If uh we'll uh if we get more, we'll put our committee together with Trustee Stewart and Trustee Wilson. And uh if we don't get multiple applications, I'll just send them to you to take a look at. >> Sounds good. >> That's uh my report. And thank you, Superintendent Carter. I really don't have too much other fact. I want to uh thank Nate and Tim for getting the super bail done. Um as anybody else, you get on top of that as soon as possible. We
028have the deadline Friday. So, but I had to finish mine, too. So, you guys are once um thank you to the administrators for attending the meeting tonight. and for all your hard work. With that, um, we'll move into the guidelines for public forum. This portion of the agenda provides an opportunity for residents of the Wilson Central School District to be heard. Any person who wishes to address the board is invited to do so at this time. Please state your name and address. Complaints or criticism about individual school personnel are not appropriate in this forum and will not be allowed. The board may not respond to questions. It should be referred to the superintendent of schools at another time. Please be respectful and limit your comments to three minutes. Does anybody wish to approach the board
029and make a public statement? Hearing none. Um there's no need for executive session. >> That's correct. The only thing I I left off my list here that I skimmed over board members in um your news and notes this week. If you didn't receive the resolution kit, um please take a look at it. Our next board workshop, we're going to dig into it and take a look at the time frame. Um and we've got to decide what piece of advocacy we want to want to go down when it comes to advocacy on behalf of the community and behalf of the school district. Um, and then we'll work on creating that resolution. But I want to do this now. It's in here. Uh, we'll be in the room and notes. Uh, we'll have copies for you next
030time, so you don't have to make copies. Um, but at least get a chance to spin at them so I don't have to read to you. >> So, next meeting is going to be regular meeting. >> Yes, regular meeting, but we'll still have a presentation. Okay, at this time I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. So move second. Any questions? >> All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Have a good night.