001Good evening. >> Good evening. City School District Board of Education meeting tonight, May 20th. We're going to call the meeting back to order at 6:00 p.m. Um, if you could please just stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all emergency evacuation procedures. There are two exits right here on the side and the one that you came in we would meet out front. Could we please have a roll call? >> Mr. Jackson >> excused. >> Mrs. Mrs. Snider >> here, >> Mrs. Gendron >> here, >> Mrs. Paradise >> here, >> Mrs. Dro >> here, >> Mrs. Burwell >> here, >> and Mrs. Geller, >> I'm here. >> Before
002we get started tonight, I just would like to congratulate our uh superintendent and Mrs. Fishell, Miss Mackey, for a wonderful um passing of our our budget. It is always a very uh exciting night for us because we put a lot of work into it. So, just wanted to say congratulations to them, members of our budget committee. Also, congratulations to Mr. D. Rose for being appointed on his second term at the board. Um, and Mr. Dorsy for uh who I think the board will welcome um in our July meetings. Congratulations to all who have helped support us and for our community who went out and voted for us. So, thank you very much. At this time, I will turn it over to Superintendent OSHA. >> Thank you, Zach. I just want you to know I just
003said thank you. >> So, um I'm going to have Ashley Simmons, our district clerk, share the first slide. And I want to thank Ashley. We had a new process this year that went uh seamless and the uh conversation at all the locations was about how well it went. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Um, so the 2627 budget was approved by the voters with 263 yeses versus n uh 56 nos. The capital reserve fund proposition was approved uh 262 to 56. And then our two new board members elected were Dave Dros for another term and Muel Dorsy. >> Thank you very much. And at this point in time, I'm going to call up principal Laura Tarlo. Good evening everybody. Um, in a couple weeks we'll be starting uh the variety of end of year events
004at the high school. Bing bing bing, one right after the other. And one of my favorite ones every year is our annual science symposium where we get to see the showcase of research in action with our students. Um, so here tonight to share a little bit about science research in general as a program and then talk about the upcoming symposium is the teacher of the program, Miss Alicia Thomas. We like to see the not it's all about >> No, we're happy. >> So, you may see some familiar faces. Guess some of you guys want to come, too. Um, good evening. Thanks for having us. Um, this is the, uh, Capose High School science research course. Um my name is Alicia Thomasino and I had the pleasure of taking over um the course this year. Um
005if you are not familiar with the course um the course is a University at Albany University in the high school course. Um sophomores enter with a strong interest in a STEM topic and in research. um they spend a lot of time narrowing down that topic um and coming up with their own research question um that they would love to do a project on. Um once they come up with that research question, they then reach out to research professors or um professionals um that are prominent in that area of study um with the hopes that um those people who they reach out with um will mentor them in their own unique research project. And then once they secure that mentorship um they can then go on the path of earning college credits which if they um
006get that mentorship um at the right time it could be up to 12 UL albony college credits and then they end the year with I mean their own research project which is I think pretty awesome for a senior. Some people don't do that until college. So, um it's a great program. Um and I'm honored to take over the program with these students. Um I thought it would be a really great time to highlight um some accomplishments this year. We had four new sophomores enter our program with four totally different topics that I am really excited uh to see how they develop over time. um our juniors and our seniors really stepped up with, you know, taking them under their wings, supporting them, um encouraging them, um through the process. Um so I'm very proud of
007our juniors. Um two juniors secured mentorship this year. Uh we have Dren, who is working with Dr. Toros over at Albany Medical, uh Alb Med, and um Amed who is working with uh Dr. San Owen over at the Wadsworth Center. Um, so I'm really excited for that. And then, um, I'm going to turn it over to Ethan Beck, um, really quick, who, um, completed a major accomplishment for our program. Um, he competed and presented his final project at the U Albany Science Research Symposium. And I think he was probably the first one in a very, very long time to take his final project outside of CO and at the statewide level. So I want to just give him maybe the floor to just talk about that experience. >> Hello everyone. Uh my name is Ethan
008Beck. I'm a third year in this program and I am currently or finished my study of cell dynamics of CBPG and lens fiber and epithelial cells of 3D zebra fish. What that basically means is our study's goal is to find a complete map of all the genes that is related to as uh the human eye. So in doing that we can find the cataract genes that develop over time through age cataracts and we can use crisper to delete these genes and complete completely have a cataract free eye. I had like Mossino said, I had the opportunity of presenting at ULMI which was an great experience. I got to learn a lot and see how other people in this program are able to present and all these new research and it was a really great experience
009and I really hope my first years and second years also have that ability. I am my mentors are from you Albi. I um uh Joe Frosi and Dylan Farmers who is the keynote speaker at our symposium and thank you all. Yeah. So yeah, so that was um a really awesome experience to take his research and present it like on the state level and um with all students from all over the state who take um science research. So it was a really great experience and it is the direction that I hope we can take our program and we can keep sending more and more students to these fairs and symposiums. Um I would like to give the floor just for all of our other students to introduce themselves um and their topics. >> Um my name
010is Jack Duel. I'm a junior. So that means I'm a second year in the science research symposic ratios as a proxy in balve shelves for climate change and the quality of water. Hi, my name is Muhammad Hussein. I am a second year in the science research program. I research the function of oxidative stress in induced blood stem cells or IPSC's. And if you want to find out more about them, please come to me. >> Hi, my name is Jim Fy and I'm a second year in the program and I'm currently studying the rate of diminishing effects on cardiological medicine. So like uh beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, uh screen lactone and I'm currently studying why the benefit of these medicine have been slowly decreasing over time through newer clinical trials. Uh to find out more come
011to symposium. >> Yeah. Hi, my name is Amed. Uh I'm a third No, I'm a third year in this program. I'm your second year. Oh yeah, yes. I'm a second year in this program. I study phages. They're viruses that attack bacteria. And what I specifically want to do at the Rador Center over the summer is normally these phages stay dormant inside the bacteria. However, with some chemicals, specifically OXO histone 13, we can activate these phages and essentially what they do, they take the bacteria and they make it into a factory to produce so much of phages inside the bacteria that it eventually explodes. And I want to use that with pseudomonus originosa and antibiotic resistant bacteria. And yeah, thank you. My name is Amelia Capaba. I'm also a senior that's in this program and I'm
012currently researching microplastics and their solutions. And specifically, the solution I'm looking at right now is phyto remediation, which basically means using plants to suck up microplastics to clean the area they're in. >> Hi, my name is Avery Daniel and I study the deextinction of the woolly mammoth. >> Hello, my name is Italo Carroll Dominguez. I'm a first year in this program and I am studying uh emotional engagement in moral psychology. >> Thank you so much. And um I do have you guys. We do have some invitations um to our symposium which is June 11 at 6 p.m. in the CHS auditorium. Hope to see you guys there. >> I always look forward to this day. It is way over my head. I I tried to stay on level with some of you guys, but way
013over my head when they say, "Are you smarter than fifth grader?" Probably not. Um just wanted to say, "Ethan, what a great job." >> Yeah. >> To be the first, you know. Yeah. It was it was a really awesome experience. And we took um our a couple of our um sophomores and they were just it was it was eye opening just to see how they present and with the confidence and everything. It was it was awesome. It was really great. So, >> takes a lot of courage to get up in front of this amount of people, let alone >> it was like judges like I mean it it was it was awesome. It was >> I can say I'm not surprised Ethan has always been a young man. So, >> yeah. So, thank you guys
014so much for your >> congratulations. We will see you soon. >> Thank you. Just before you guys leave, I just think it's important to note that Miss Thomas has really pushed these kids this year and really pushed the program in a direction for excellence. And I think um that's amazing in itself, but I also think it's amazing um that in a student of lifelong learning that she is um in the New York State Master Teacher program herself and really working to grow and continue to learn and then modeling that to her students. So, I know she's not going to tell you all that, so I'm not there to make sure that you know. So, thank you for all you do. And I think sometimes we look to how we how do we measure as a
015school district? Is it that we pass the budget or how do we know we're on the right track? And I think it's when us adults in the room have no idea what the kids are talking about. SO all your >> Thank you for all your Thank you. Thank you guys so much for your support. Wouldn't be able to do it without you guys. Dr. Carlo, Don, Nelina. So, it's been it's been a really great year. So, take it. >> Right. Moving on with more awesome stuff I think that's happening here. Um, we want to talk about our career coordinator position. Another thing that, you know, we brought on the past few years. It's not easy to always look at what's the the ROI on that, what is the return, how do we know that we're
016getting the most out of that position. But I think um these are, you know, it's it says highlights and it really is that it's highlights because there's a lot of stuff that goes on um that's hard to sort of quantify or put into a bucket with the work that Jen has been doing. So I think it's important if we can just look at some of these highlights tonight. And so I'd like to call Miss Jen He's career education coordinator. thanks for uh giving me the opportunity to come and join this position last year. I feel like I've had a lot of exciting things um over the past year and a half. So, the first one I'd like to highlight is Pizza with Professionals. That one was kind of here before I started the program and
017took over the program, I should say. And um some of the businesses that we've had this year, uh BBL construction, Latise Builders, lots of trades, uh the military, US Navy. Last week we just had the school of massage therapy. That was really interesting. All the teachers wanted to know if they were we were going to be able to try it out while we were there. Um the Troopers, uh Mohawk Health Education Center. So, lots of different people coming in to educate the kids. Some like to just come for the pizza. hopefully they learn a few things and a lot of kids come every single time because they just really have no idea what's out there and want to learn what different opportunities they have. Um, so I've had three career fairs kind of just in
018the hallway during lunches and study halls so far. These are just some businesses and some pictures to highlight. And then next week is our large career fair the whole afternoon. And last year I had 21 businesses. This year I have 37 already signed up and ready to go. So, that's Friday afternoon if anyone wants to stop by and check it out. Um, this one is about all of our experience with the military this year. And one thing Miss White and I got to do was go down to Paris Island to the US Marine Corps Educator Workshop this year. So, uh, Miss O'Shea was kind enough to let us go for 4 days and it it's paid for by the military. the Marines take care of everything and we were up at 5:00 in the morning
019like we were, you know, uh, recruits and doing all the things, but it just kind of gives you a different understanding to see what these kids go through, what they're learning, how they're growing over time, what they're actually looking for from high school students that want to join. So, I also had them come into the middle school and participate in PE classes and do some kind of combat training and teamwork, adventure stuff. And um that wall is it was called the wall of shame. Miss White did it. I failed once I looked down. They said, "Don't look back. You're fine. Just do it." I I couldn't do it. So, you know, some obstacle courses and things. They come into the cafeteria a lot during lunches to meet and greet the they came to global youth
020service day to kind of just build that community sense there. So, I feel like the partnership is is working well for us. Last year, we had five students join. this year. I think we have three at the moment and a couple that are kind of unsure. So, another event was a Broad View uh financial literacy for life training. And this one was really fun. Juniors and seniors last year, this year we did sophomores and juniors. And the kids got to kind of play the game of life and either fail miserably and complain that they had to take the bus everywhere, that they had a toddler, they couldn't buy diapers. Um, but I feel like it's one of those times where the kids are like, "We all have to go to an assembly somewhere. This is
021not really what I'm looking for. I don't want to get out of class and do this." And then they talked about it all day long. So, even the teachers were like, "This is great." Um, Dave, you were there. I don't >> Yeah, you came both years. Yeah. So, the kids really like it. I think they realize, "Oh, wow. I have a credit score. I'm not gonna be able to buy a car. What What, Mrs. Keiny, does this really happen in real life?" Yes. So, so that was really um really a a nice way. And now that we've worked with them the past two years, they want to kind of do like a a 2.0 next year to kind of further what they can teach the kids instead of coming back and doing the same thing.
022Um, career jam is a capital region event that happens at Hudson Valley in the fall and I took upperassmen today to Seattle University. So, this woman started it basically just to introduce young students to careers out there. They have a pep rally. They have various businesses and interactive activities to kind of get the kids to be exposed to different pathways. So, I took the eighth graders in the fall. I just took upper classman today. Um, they were learning how to race robot cars. Today the highlight was Mazone Hospitality had them decorating cookies with frosting and sprinkles. So that was their favorite today. And along the way we got to tour Hudson Valley and today Sienna. Um, this program I had for the past two years students, anyone interested in healthcare also had to be an
023athlete. That was kind of the stipulation, but it could have even been like a club they were in after school, so it didn't have to be like a varsity sport. But it was eight weeks after school. So all these kids came for an hour after school once a week and met with a different professional in healthcare. Anywhere from a physician to an occupational therapist, physical therapist, um a hystotechnologist, which I had never heard of and had to Google it before they came, but they had like infected organs. Um, and the kids got to do there, they were extracting DNA from strawberries and they got to meet eight different people to kind of learn different careers in healthcare. And so that's some highlights for this year. For next year, we are working on some more after
024school workshops like resumeé writing and bringing in people um just kind of in smaller smaller group settings trying to implement grow your own pathways. I met with some other school districts about different programs like EMT programs, um a teacher assistant program and eventually a teacher program. There's some grants out there kind of seeing what we can follow or mimic from other people and some district internships. How can we get the kids out into the workplace? We are starting right now. I have out there internships for a student athletic director, a school spirit coordinator, the good old tiger mascot, and someone to help with like the trendy tiger consignment store. So, those will be happening. Um the applications went out and they'll be opening for the start of September. So any questions? >> Amazing. >> Thanks.
025>> Yeah. I just want to say thank you. I I think that um any of us who know my friend Mr. Par Pascal who was on this board for many many years will will say um you know this is some of the most important work that you do in our district. you know, it's not the academics, but it's the spark and the drive. You know, getting kids interested in their own learning and what their future's going to be, I think, is so important to get kids engaged in choosing their pathways and trying to figure out who they're going to be when they leave here. So, I just encourage you to keep going. I love see grow your own pathway. I love to see that. Um, you know, we've been talking about it for years, like
026what do we do here? you know, how can we better set our kids up for success when they walk out the door? So, thank you so much for all of your effort. Um, it's appreciated and I believe that it is very, very important. >> Thank you. >> So, questions uh were asked about ENL uh PD where things stand. So, Jack just called people up today. I know. Um, so for our, as you know, next year we are bringing our ENL students back to their home schools for the elementary. This is something that we came to you a year ago, more than a year ago. Um, and we decided to take this year to make sure that everyone was prepared, our staff and our parents. So, what we did um in August, we had a full
027day with the Arburn to do PD for any of the elementary teachers who wanted to join us that day. That was back in August. And then um January, February, and March of this year, we ran one hour after school PD with our own staff. So we had um Merino, who is a teacher at Harmony Hill, who has been um had the ENL students in her class for many years. Um and then the two ENL teachers um who also did the um after school and the we had about 14 teachers. So if you think about it, there's going to be six teachers at Lance and six teachers at Vansfite who are going to be receiving ENL students from Harmony. So having 14 there after school is a pretty good number. Um and that did include um
028the school psychologist also who came and one of the social workers. Um and so each each of the after schools focused on so first it was view from the classroom teacher the gened teacher. Then it was okay as the ENL teacher coming into your room here's what it's going to look like and then the third session was kind of a wrap-up any other questions. Um also in March we had our halfday PD day. We had Kim Angus who is the ENL teacher. she ran um an um one of the sessions for the elementary teachers um she focused really on the you know instructional best practices and then on March 18th the Arbor which was a school day for us but we did tell the teachers if they wanted to they could sign up for they
029did virtual conferences on their one hour a piece we did have teachers who did sign up for those um they focused on you know scaffolding um AI um reading the science of reading which many of our elementary teachers had um done in previous years through um pot new pulse and then um also looking at stu um ESL students who also have disabilities. Um so we did many of our teachers need to sign up for those one-hour um conferences. Um we did offer to a lancing and to advance teachers who were knew they were receiving students that they could um contact Harmony Hill and go up and visit one of the classrooms and we did have um several of our teachers who did take us up on that offer. And then advanced study grade school um
030one of my teachers down there um for their PLC have done chose to do ENL in the classroom. So they used the book um the ELELLL teacher toolkit and um have been using that for their PLC um all year. So I do think that our teachers who are going to be receiving our students are ready to go in September. Uh we had our annual um EML picnic um on April 1st or 2nd. We had an amazing turnout here um that night and we made sure you know talking to the parents again reminding them that this is happening in September because we do have a lot of translators there that evening. Um so I think the parents are are ready for it. We'll be sending out another letter as a reminder at the end of the
031school year. And then so the next area that we do want to concentrate on is looking at our um office staff. We want to make sure that our secretaries, our attendance clerks, and our nurses are ready also to be able to communicate with those families because we're going to be interacting with them. Um, we do use a program called Lexi Kate that is has on demand translation. So, we want to make sure they're getting trained on that program. So, that is in the works for us to set that up for them. >> Just a quick question. Have you done any preparation with the kids explaining that they're going to different >> Harmony? Yes. Okay. Yes. Yes. They Yes. And we and again we talked about at the picnic I guess as well probably and we
032introduced me to the students that are becoming advanced sky um Rachel Marshall was there um and we introduced her as the principal for for a landing. So yes, >> I just want to thank you for the update. Um, you know, like you said, this has been over a year and I know that, you know, you guys came to us with with this request, and I just appreciate that you heard us and that you took this year really to make sure that our kids were ready, our families are ready, and our teachers are ready. So, thank you so much. >> You're welcome. I think that's the way it's going to be successful is bringing everyone back and having everyone on board and ready to go. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. SO, I
033WANT to talk a little bit about our future ready pathways program. So, with the 10th cohort starting in the fall, we've accepted approximately 225 students into the program since its inception in 2018. And just a reminder, the requirement of the grant is that 50% of the of the students in the cohort accepted are economically disadvantaged. Um we typically have 25 spots per year. Uh 47 students apply this year. A committee meets and goes through a rubric to help determine the students. Um we had two students move out of the program from a previous year. So uh this year we were able to accept 27 to keep the overall numbers where we needed to do it. Um as you know it's a wonderful program. Our students have earned well over 60 credits. um some uh in
034the 80s and uh we're going to share a credit report with you in the near future. Um but I know that an area of concern that has been brought up uh that brought to my attention is difficulty with the laptops that students are provided as part of of the grant. Um we decided to go through laptops because the students spend their senior year at Hudson Valley. There's a lot of you know uh in order for them to to do some work programs and access some other things. The the laptop um was uh the the the best choice and was recommended um by the coordinators. So um there have been a number of recent issues especially with this last batch of of laptops. The laptops are funded through the FRP grant. Um you know overdating, chronical
035drive issues, um unresponsive laptops. Uh so um you know there's been a number of tickets uh what happened recently is Laura and Chris Warier met with PJ and Pun to go through and brought students down to show specifically where they're having having those those issues. I mean some have been resolved by updating software or reimaging the the the laptops uh or like reinstalling Chrome. Others um needed some um you know parts that is where there is a lag because then the student is turning in their um laptop and doesn't have one. So through the through the grant next year um and again uh you know the we're we're looking closely at at the grant. There's some different requirements of the funding. Um but we're going to uh see if there's a way to purchase some
036additional just a few floater laptops so that in the future, you know, it's okay. Yes. Just like we do with Chromebooks. I know you have to have to wait. Um so uh I know that PJ's been, you know, involved in this as well. So, um, questions. I just really wanted to talk about it because I know it has been a topic of concern. >> I have questions. Um, so you say that they're purchased through the grant. Are they purchased every single year from the new cohort and then the cohorts who are there maintaining the current laptop that they have through the program? >> Right. >> So, they're not getting an older Chromebook when they start. the laptop >> laptop I'm sorry the freshman get through the grant >> okay >> a laptop >> so there's
037no need for a replacement cycle because they're literally receiving it as freshman and then the hope is that they last four years for them >> so the so the replacement is if something happens and that's why we are talking about making sure we have some um the the um we've had difficulty in at times having them because the grant is July 1st. Uh you know having them when we when we need them to working through different vendors like that. >> Okay. Um so the other issue is if we then take that device to replace and or repair it then they're left without a device and we have a policy in place that says they cannot use another device. >> Well it's not it's not a policy. They can use a Chromebook. the pro the >>
038but they need the laptop they really should have the laptop to be able to >> so I guess my question is are did have we imposed any barriers for students in this program who are required to use technology that we are not able to supply them with when they need it and if so how do we remove those barriers if it's a matter of us having a conversation about this program specifically to say the requirements are different And if we are in a situation where a student is able to use their own laptop to be able to get through their schoolwork while we're waiting for pieces or parts or a replacement, how how does that work? And I and I know that you're saying that you're going to have a couple of backups, but from
039what I'm hearing, it's more than just a couple of issues. It it's a a pretty widespread issue. And I don't know if those tickets are from a singular cohort, like you said, if it was like one group of laptops that were just misbehaving. I I I don't know what the issue is as far as how widespread it is throughout the different cohorts. Um, but it sounds like a problem that is not going to necessarily go away and that we should probably figure out how we can solve it. >> So, uh, in in talking with PJ, PJ, is it Specifically, it's the current laptop version. Is that correct? That's the >> ones that a year old. >> It could be from user user abuse if they're not charging the laptop and they're running it low on
040battery. Trying to charge it up could cause overheating. If they leave it on and put it in their book bag, it gets insulated by the books. Can cause overheating. I mean, even if they use it intensively beforehand and show it in there, it has some heat that it needs to dissipate. >> Are are we also educating students at this point on when they receive their laptop, how they should handle it, meaning like you should charge it this so often, um whether you're talking about a backpack, if they should or should not. If we're providing best pract practice and recommendation, if you're saying that's the cause of the problem, are we then also providing the education to say you're causing the problem because you're not treating the device as it's supposed to be, but we didn't
041tell you how that what that is. >> So Laura had to Laura had to bring it. that's why she's not here. But in in discussions, um I'm not certain what happens right now, but we talked about going forward that we would have the training have Jensen Jackson involved in making sure that there's pamphlets and you know information that the students get and sign off on when they receive it that goes that goes through that. And then in terms of uh students bringing their own laptops, we can definitely have a discussion. I think uh um after uh um some of this was brought to my attention, we started having some discussions, we need to get everybody in the room and talk about how how to be more proactive in this in the future. >> Yeah. And
042I I don't mean to harp on it, but you know these these students have summer work that needs to happen. And so if they're in a situation where they can't access their their materials, then you know that's kind of on us to make sure that they have the ability to do that. And so I think whatever people you need to get in a room should happen sooner than later so that we can make sure everybody's ready to go before the end of the summer. So every year there's 25 kids and you order just 25 laptops. >> Yeah. Because because that costwise. >> Yeah. I mean that seems an easy decent way to order extra laptops. >> That's what going going forward. We also went to that model in the future with Chromebooks as well just
043because if the student something happens to their Chromebook. So making sure in our ordering there's a buffer built in just like we do with textbooks. we look at okay we need x% additional textbooks we should be looking looking at that um there have been people in the room uh meeting and I think that you know talking with Laura that's going to continue but the circle we brought in >> could you because like what's the warranty on the laptop you guys get a free >> what is it >> threeear accidental dam protection >> okay >> it's like things break it takes a while >> it's a purchasing in addition to the manufacturer warranty. I think extra laptop. >> This is our resident IT expert. I mean, we laptops have less of a shelf life than old
044laptop. So, >> four laptops. Yeah. >> It's a whole laptop to have one laptop for four years. I would >> Yeah. >> And and we're purchasing Lenovo T14s, which are a good laptop. >> Yeah. Unless or they're they're home laptops like I'm sure they can understand they're not professional grade which is fine these kids don't need professional and that's the label the point but these are the kids some of these kids are some of our best behavior behaved kids so >> to give them an opportunity to not be able to work when they need to work to have not only a couple extra because I know at any given point in time it would be five six that are currently damaged so having you know six to 10 on standby may not unrealistic expectations. So
045that plane B and C I would I would discuss >> and even the education when they get them it's common sense to a lot of people but kids don't know your bed your laptop with a pillow it's like >> shortens the life of it. So >> your pillow empire >> well I mean I think the important piece is you know we see the value in the program. I mean, we're watching kids graduate through the over the course of the last two two weeks who are far above ahead of their peers and, you know, that's what we want to see. We want to see kids actually going after, you know, um, taking ownership of their own education. I just don't want us to be a challenge um, for that, you know. And and I guess the
046other question I think that was had was the requirements for the program. It sounds to me just from what you described that they may not be identical from year to year. Like the rubric is the same, but it depends upon the kids in the cohort. Is that is that what I'm understanding? Because it seems like um maybe there was an assumption that the that the end goal kind of shifted a little bit based on how many people apply and who actually was applying. Um, so we just want to know if there's rigid requirements that say if you meet X, Y, and Z, then you qualify for the program. >> So there there are there's a rubric and as there's a committee and there's applications and I you know I haven't been on the committee in
047a bit um but many points for different areas and we can share that rubric. So that has that has been the same. I know over the years um the rubric for scoring for example the essay might have changed but then that's applied consistently throughout and that's from learning through the process but there's a standard rubric um and then uh students are are ranked but the requirement is regardless that 50% of the students have to be economically disadvantaged. But then share the rubric. >> When you um share the rubric, I would also be curious to have information on the 27 students as opposed to the 25 students and how many students previously dropped out and did we offer those courses to another student maybe last year say and had maybe given them the opportunity. >> Are
048you saying like vacancies? I'm sorry. >> Yes, vacancies prior to last year. So going into this year's um so so this wasn't a weightless scenario or anything like that going into this year because we have to keep our overall numbers um you know at a certain level um to do that there were 27 slots but I could definitely get that information and it's based on your overall um because through the four years you have to have so many students remain in the understand. >> Yeah. And I I mean I thought a couple years ago when we did re visit this topic and stuff like that the 50% economically needy needs to be in the entire program just not in that cohort >> but to be able to be consistent over time especially with adding and
049dropping. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. So overall, but that's why we've been waiting for 50% >> 50% of each cohort. >> Yeah. >> There's there's also been some changes in this grant that were just introduced for this upcoming year. >> For this upcoming year. >> Yeah. Um so they're going to be based off of student results and if there's turnover in the program that um it's going to impact our funding. Mhm. >> They also had us submitted a multi-year uh budget instead of a one-year budget. So, they had to submit a five-year budget. There's also been changes in the tuition model for Hudson Valley. So, um, this device conversation needs to impact the local budget likely because we're not going to probably be able to support everything through the grant anymore with all these changes that
050are coming. So, that's just food for thought for for next year as we as we plan the budget. So, if I could provide if I could provide a little additional information in terms of Hudson Valley, we're we're meeting with the board and I are meeting with the under president of Hudson Valley uh next Friday and that's one of the things that's the 27th. That's what we're going to be bringing up because um there's been an increase in uh the tuition cost which that's incurred through the grant. So, that's something we have to look at. And then so having extra laptops which I believe are are needed, we're going to have to look for for funding funding sources. >> So are you saying that it's this cohort, the 10th C cohort or the following cohorts like
051you just picked the cohort for >> Yeah. >> the school year. >> I think she just confused as to like what does next year mean? Does next year 27? like the kids that are actually already been selected for that program for next year. >> So the the right is that what you're asking? >> Well, looking you mean in terms of looking at the results? >> Yeah. And then funding and all of that stuff. >> Uh so the funding starts with the 2627 cohort, you know, submit a fiveyear budget and and some of the tuition costs. That's for the 2627 school year. And I can put a summary together with more specifics. Um and then I need clarification from Chris Waring here, but I believe looking at the number of credits acred and overall results um
052that's starting with our next year, but it it's not just beginning with next year's cohort. It's it's looking at all of our students involved in the program at that point in time >> because we have been sanitizing my house because So Grace Grace are talking about this. >> So Grace isn't in it. Cecilia is and then Scarlet is not in it. And it's just funny because like you know they just they go back and forth with it. But I was like it's so weird because they're you know the grades are I guess all kind of the same but I just didn't know the criteria of how we chose and Grace's class. I guess she wants to next year but >> Right. Exactly. >> But yeah it's kind of neat because like in my house it's
053like Grace is not in it. Cecilia got in it. Scarlet. But >> yeah, it depends who applied and then overall you know I mean my son graduated with 72 credits from Hudson Valley. So >> is that what you're saying? Like has that been explained to the new cohort? Because I mean some of these kids that's what we're touting like oh look you can get up to 80 credits but if we can't afford them to get this are is that what you're saying with the change in >> we're not we're not saying that we're just saying things like the addition of Chromebooks in the past we could laptops in the past we could say okay that's a great idea let's fund it through the grant now because the grant uh tuition costs are increasing and other
054things are still able um to to do it the way we're planning, but it's not that we can say, "Okay, yes, now we we need this." We did we did reduce uh one day a week of our after school time. We did it on a Friday um for the extended learning hours uh for this coming grant and um I think we reduced a field trip >> college visits. Yeah, >> a couple college visits. So that's what we did have to do for for this and I will put everything in writing and explain but it's something we need to look at and it's and it's also hard to do a fiveyear um when we're not sure what the performance >> so I mean sounds like we're probably going to have some future conversations with our budget
055committee if it's coming into our budget >> then can I just ask for >> not to say that we're not still going to do it right but like that's kind of what Yeah. >> Yeah. And we're and and again most of the costs right now with those few exceptions that we've cut the costs are paid for through >> is is taking your senior year at flexibility a requirement of the program. >> Yeah. pretty much. >> I wish I don't I feel that there's a a subset of kids who are not interested in being off of campus in their senior year. But so then they don't apply through FRP thinking that it is a requirement. Okay. And I so I just want to be clear to those eighth graders next year who are applying that that's
056not if it is a requirement then make sure that they know that. But also if it's not a requirement they can make a game time decision that year, you know, going into your >> I I'll have that information for you at the next meeting. I think some of it has to do too with um you know the >> classes that you're taking. I think might know the answer. Miss Haney, do you know the answer? >> I know that. >> Do you know the answer to this? >> Is your senior year required value? >> Yeah. >> Okay. To the best of my knowledge, it is absolutely not currently, but moving forward based on some of my conversations with Chris, I believe it is going to be. So, I'm looking for 2027, right? >> So, I don't
057have all the doubts. So if I do say something wrong, my apologies. But I believe moving forward it is going to be and where that financial piece is coming in is I think if they're not earning the amount of credits that the grant wants them to earn, we're losing funding. >> So that's the struggle with some of my co-workers failing junior year currently, right? >> But we still have to send them to go with, you know what I mean? That's where this like weird puzzle piece is coming in. Oh, we want to push them forward. So, come back, right? And earn the credits and those basics. So, that's where and again, this was just recent conversations with Chris. I don't meet up with you guys. It's just that that's like my cohort that's going there
058next year. So, I could be a little bit off, but I at the moment they don't have to, but moving forward, they would want to. So for for today primarily I wanted to address the um you know the tech the tech issues but for the next meeting I can get the answers to any of the questions that I didn't have today. Okay. >> Yeah. I think yeah especially what Sarah was asking for since you already had get it together for the grant >> and they do a great job at those intro meetings. I'm sure you guys don't remember but the intro like the name wasn't that long ago. Jesus. But like you know going through all the information >> it's okay. >> Well that that's why I asked them they actually do remember my old
059brain didn't feel like I remembered that it wasn't a requirement >> and then and then things change over >> so we just cohorts have the correct information. >> Yes. So a few uh items on today's agenda. Uh, one is a contract with the ARC and I was gonna have Lissa speak to that a little bit because it's been a while since we talked about what is the ARC and what do they do for us. >> All right. Good evening. Um, this is a great night to talk about um our partnership with the Ark of Wrestler County because um our transition coordinators that we collaborate with do um collaborate with me at times. So it's just um nice to hear how we collaborate um as a community to support our students. So we have partnered with
060ARP of um Rensler County for um more than 10 years now and currently we work with two transition coordinators who support this year between 40 and 45 of our students. Um these students are primarily juniors and seniors and they have IEPs or 504s. So um our students with disabilities when they turn 15 years old that's when we really start working and talking with them about their post-secary um goals and we really start helping them think about what um what they want to do when they graduate and our transition coordinators have a large role um in this process. So, um, so they work with us during our CSSE meetings and they connect with families, um, to help them collaborate with outside agencies, um, setting up meetings, helping them fill out applications. Some of the state agencies
061um I wanted to point out that they helped um our students and their families collaborate with um could be access which is um a state agency that is um a lifelong service that helps our students with disabilities have access to um finding careers and advancing those careers um and keep those jobs. So if they sign up for Access VR and they graduate and they find a career and they want to change careers, they're able to connect with their um coordinators through Access VR and get these services for life. So that can be um a difficult process for our families to um navigate on their own. So having that transition coordinator is really helpful. Um, OPWDD, the office um of people uh with developmental disabilities is another state agency that our transition coordinators collaborate with families
062and students um in setting up applications and meetings and thus just ensuring that if our students do um receive that service that they're actually getting the services that they qualify for. Um and again that can be a really complicated process and it's not just you know you sign up and you fill out an application and it's done. Um it can take a long time and it can be difficult. So having that liaison is is really helpful. Um we also connect families when students are transition age. So if they um students can stay with us in school up to the day before their 22nd birthday. Um and when students are um transitioning out into their adult programming, these transition coordinators can connect families with um living resources is another agency um and they have um community
063programs, dayhab programs um and can just connect families with um outside resources once students reach that adult age. And one of the last um agencies I wanted to highlight that our transition coordinators help our students connect with is um the EOCC, the Educational Opportunity Center. And this is a division of Hudson Valley Community College. And um it offers free career and academic training um for some of our students who qualify. And um they have programs such as nursing assistance, welding, they have high school equivalency prep um programs. And so if our students meet the eligibility, they connect um our students and families with that. So really important stuff. Um the transition coordinators, they um don't just work to connect our families and students with outside agencies, but they also work to get them um employment
064and career ready. So they um provide them with job internships um connect them with paid employment for over the summer through the Albony County summer youth um employment program and then um help track our students SEO hours which are career development and occupational studies. Some of our students um that's a graduation pathway that they are um going down and they get a seal on their diploma and it really helps their future employers know that they're um work ready and so they have to acrew a certain number of hours and our transition coordinators help to um keep track of those hours um so that our students can get that um seal and they help um students build their resumes, fill out job applications and really build some of those workplace skills. Um if some of our
065students are more interested in um going the vocational or the college route um they also support in those services. So they assist in filling out applications, taking students on um college site tours, connecting our students with the um disability offices on campus. Um so that's really important as well. the transition coordinators um will continue continuously meet with our students throughout the school year and help um just build their practical skills that they're going to need once they graduate. Um and it was really um nice for me to see we just finished up um in the past couple weeks our senior exit meetings and our transition coordinators do join um the meetings for our juniors and seniors. And so it was um really great to get to hear about the different pathways that our seniors are
066going to take and um how all their hard work came to fruition and through the support of our transition coordinators um that we partner with through the ark of Brunswick County. So, thank you. Any questions? >> I just Well, I'm sorry. >> No, you can go. I just want to say thank you. I don't think people understand even families with the highest level of education navigating the system is so incredibly difficult that it these transition programs are essential to give our students that best opportunity for the next step. So, thank you. >> Yes. >> I just want to say that I think that we highlight our seniors and what they're going on to. So next year, I think it would be a great opportunity for you to bring a couple of those students to highlight
067what they're going to be doing after they graduate too because we have the science symposium. We have our valadictorian, saludiatoran, all of them come in. But I think it would be a great opportunity to have them highlight their achievements, too. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> I think it was a perfect opportunity for us to have this on our agenda tonight. It sounds like, you know, what Jen's talking about. It's like the 2.0 no situation, but thank you for uh just having that conversation with us. It's been a while since we've talked about it. Like we see it and we say, "Oh, yeah, we know what that is." But then you have no newer members on the board and sometimes it's been several years since we have those conversations. So that's why we wanted to make
068sure everybody had access to what we do here. So thank you very much. And uh Stacy Mack is also going to talk about two contracts that are on tonight's agenda as well as whatever else she wants to talk. >> We usually let her do whatever she wants. >> Yes. >> Hi. So on tonight's agenda, we have two contracts for CSR. So the work that we performed under those contracts or the HBAC on it been doing all year long. Um we expect to receive that report in June which will help us navigate our priorities for the capital reserve proposition that was just approved uh by the voters. So it'll help us for the planning for next year um for that. Uh the second piece is the summer work um that is planned um for this summer.
069That's the last piece of existing capital reserve that we're spending, the two million we call the 2025 referendum. So you recall that's the lighting upgrades to the auditorium. Uh there's two um walk-in coolers, one for Lancing, one for middle school. Uh and then there's a courtyard um for the students at the high school to enjoy. There's an athletic sh um that will also be put in the high school. Um we had oat today, so I just wanted to update you. Um the status we had the bids for that the $2 million. We had uh a nice turnout for the the general contractors. We had four bids. Uh for the electrical, we also had four bids. And for the theatrical, we had one. um which we're happy with the one that put in. Um with all
070the al alternative alternates, we would be over budget, so we're not going to be able to accommodate all of the alternates. Um the recommendations will be submitted by CSR next week. Um they are going to prepare the contracts and then they'll go to Galaza for review. The best case scenario is you would see them on the 3. Not sure if that's a realistic scenario. Worst case would be for the 17th because the work is expected for this summer. So I'll quickly talk about the alternative alternates. Uh we had added the resurfacing of the high school gym uh which was originally planned for out of the local budget. So what we're going to do is we're going to rebid that and then uh you will see that action in June also and then we'll do a
071PO um as soon as the contract is approved for that paid for it out budget. So we're able to do the work just out of the original plan. Uh the second piece is uh the Maline Hickey way lighting. Um so the interviews will be happening with all of uh the contractors um to make sure that they have a full understanding of the scope of the work. There was for the alternate for there was a lot of discrepancies and the numbers. So, um they're specifically going to talk to the electrical contractor, make sure that there's no surprises and everybody knows exactly what's expected and then we'll revisit we'll revisit that. Um, I also discussed at today that the $20 million capital referendum was approved and that we would be going uh out for an RFP for
072both the um construction management services as well as the architect services and that we would expect to do that in the fall of 2026. So they they know that that's the plan going forward. Um, I'm trying to think if there's anything else. I think that's it from the construction standpoint um for tax reconciliation. So, we completed the the tax reconciliation process. So, there's an end of year report that you take action on. So, you should expect to see that at the early June meeting and we'll have um MB in to do the first round for their audit in June as well. All right. Any questions? >> What is the uh grid that they use that CSR is using for the electrical contractor, general contractor and the theatrical? I mean, when you have a bid, is
073it just low bid? >> Um it is the initial base bid and then we separate out each uh alternate alternate. Mhm. >> Um and then depending on whether we take the alternates or not, whatever the lowest is would be the case, but there's an there's an interview process that happens uh to make sure that the lowest understands the full scope. They review every detail basically uh to make sure that the full scope is understood. There's no surprises. >> Who does the interview? >> Uh CSR does the interview. So the architects um B is also um involved. So our director of facilities is included in that process as is char. >> So do you interview every single person that submitted a bid? >> Just just the low to start. Just the lowest start. >> Do you
074go off of references, quality of work, or does it just >> uh forbid? No, for an RFP. >> I do know for an RFP. I'm just asking on on bed. So >> bid is no bit unless there's an issue with scope >> and that's a requirement. >> Yeah. >> So we'll do our what what are required to do? What's the phase that we're required to do to pick them? >> We're technically not required to interview them. uh we interview them to make sure that they understand exactly what's expected and that they understand if they have any questions on the drawings. Um we do have them come in and do a walk through also. Um so that gives them the opportunity if they have any questions about the work to be performed and gives them the
075opportunity to do that at that time. So when we do the um RFP so that's request for proposal then we have a different uh scale and there's a point system and certainly we would take a look at um services uh timely projects projects within budget etc. >> Yeah. >> Um we would also ask for the uh resumes of all of their professional staff. Yeah. Um I did forget to mention one thing aserta. Um so we will also be working on an asserta RFP. Um for the flex tab consultant. Um so there's going to be two phases. You you had brought this up I think maybe two meetings ago soon. So we had we had um went to a webinar. Bill and I went to a webinar to get a full understanding of exactly what was
076being offered. Um, and then we had Remote with the architects as well. They do have um a professional on set and asked about um so >> this is the HVAC brain that you brought up. >> Yeah, this isn't a clean brain. Yeah. So, uh this potential for up to $15 million. So, there's going to be two phases, >> right? I mean, yes, I brought this up two meetings ago, but I also brought it up last year and I also brought it up the year before that. So, this has been an ongoing thing that we could have been utilizing. >> Sure. >> So, moving forward moving forward. Absolutely. I know. >> So, um we'll be preparing uh CSR will help us prepare an RFP for that. Um, so it'll be a good consultant to do an
077efficiency efficiency study for us. >> Yeah. >> Um, so that's kind of step one in the process. The feedback was they didn't think that we'd be able to make the August 18th deadline. Um, but there's a second phase, so we're not worried about um there's a second phase for I think January 2027. So that's the phase that we're going for. Good. >> But this is step one in the process. Okay. The reason being not maybe the deadline is you have to have this study first before you >> Oh yeah, I know. >> So that's >> Yeah. >> But also um Mini this is a great opportunity because NAOTA has a lot of internships available for um high school children and um going out into their freshman year of college and stuff like that. So there
078is a great opportunity to work with them on that. So you're welcome. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> And then just one more follow at my end and I don't think Maria brought up the teachers for tomorrow grant. We talked about it at the last meeting. Um so we did reach out uh because this current cohort is ending 2026. So the grant is not released yet but we reached out to state ed and they couldn't tell us officially but um it looks like that it would potentially continue. We started uh some preliminary work on it in advance with our current be interested when it comes out and that she can um so that she can have some of the initial data data for us so it looks favorable for the next cohort for four years. I
079mean at least it looks favorable for applying. So any questions? >> Oh, upcoming events and we should add to that the career fair at the high school next week. But yeah, so our our senior athlete signing is coming up, our scholar awards and signs and stuff. You know, you're all invited to show on the eighth grade dance, too. >> I refer to see the pictures. >> I don't know. I really >> call Mrs. Jag. She will come and help you guys out. >> Yes. >> Always lots of fun stuff coming up in June. Um, okay. So, moving on, we'll move on to the agenda portion of this evening. Uh, does the board have any items on tonight's agenda that they would like to discuss? >> Any of the sticky items we've already discussed? >> Does
080the community have any items on tonight's agenda they would like to discuss? Okay. Okay. Can I get a motion that the board of education adopt the following resolutions of the May 20, 2026 agenda and agenda 7th A through J, 8 A through Q, 9 A, and 10 A. >> I'll make the motion. >> Mrs. Snater, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gender, yes. >> Mrs. Paradise, >> yes. >> Mr. Gerros, >> yes. >> Mrs. Furwell, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Geller, >> yes. >> We'd just like to take a moment to uh thank the proposed water Waterford Lodge Elks for their $900 donation to uh support students needs in the district. Um are there any comments from the board on anything not related to the agenda? >> I just want to say it was really cool to
081watch Dr. Tarter walk across the stage even though she's no longer here doctor. Feel like it was very full circle to watch so many young grads walk across that stage and then see Dr. Teller getting her certificate as well and it was just awesome. So, very cool. >> I I did also notice a a good portion of my Facebook people that I that I know their kids graduating early because of the FRP program, right? >> So, there was quite a few of those. I was like, "Oh, another FRP." >> Um, I also just wanted to put a shout out to our our school community for the community service day that that um happened. You know, I know a lot of people. I saw a lot of posting from from folks that are just members of
082our community that appreciated the kids and, you know, their behavior and their kindness and and, you know, just being out there and and showing that they care about our community. So, it's a special day and I know it takes a lot of work to put together. So, so thank you to those of you who were involved in that. And um if you weren't, give a pat on the back to somebody who was. So, >> and I want to follow that up with some of the the words that were used and some of the thanking of the the students was respectful and helpful, which is >> wonderful. >> I want to thank Ashley for all the hard work she did >> for the >> from training to getting the new programs. Amazing job. It was really
083smooth. >> Everyone had a great voting experience. >> Job well done. >> I was in and out. I was >> That's what they were all saying. It was it was really quick. There was no waiting. It's a quick process. So, we're here for it. >> Great. Any com other comments from the board? Any comments from the audience on anything to the agenda? Anything? Um, we are going to have a policy committee meeting coming up on June 1st. Uh just so that you know dates for future meetings June 3rd and June 17th right here at Post Middle School Library at 6 PM. Um before I get a motion to go into exact session, I just want to wish everyone a very safe weekend. Memorial Day is like it's the start of the the summer activities and
084shenanigans. So I hope everybody has um an extra nice extra long weekend but also a safe one. Um, and again looking forward to those upcoming June events. Um, can I get a motion to enter into executive session at 7:10 p.m. to discuss matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation and to discuss the superintendent's evaluation. >> Make the motion. >> I'll second. >> Mrs. Sper, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gender, >> yes. >> Mrs. Paris, >> yes. >> Mr. Rose. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Furwell. >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Geller. >> Yes. Thank you very much for attending this evening. We do not plan on returning.