001Good evening everyone. The board has returned from executive session. No actions were taken. May I have a motion to return to open the meeting? I have a first bill. Second, Heather. All in favor? Thank you. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. All right. So, um, as you know, at each of our meetings, we hear from our students from all the different buildings in our district and, um, they tell us about all the events that are happening in their building. Tonight, we are pleased to welcome representatives from both the junior and senior high student government and the high school environmental club. So, come on up, guys. We look forward to hearing what you have to say. Hi, I'm Leano. I'm the junior high student council secretary. Hi, my name is Talia and I am a
002representative on the junior high student council. Hi, my name is Sarah Py. I'm the junior high student council president. This has been a very eventful year for the junior high and we're excited to tell you all about it. In January, the eighth grade went the eighth graders went on a trip to the city. We visited Chinatown, Little Italy, the Tenement Museum, Alexander Hamilton's grave, and the Woodworth building. It is a great It was a great experience and opportunity to walk through the history that we had been learning about in class. The eighth grade steam students designed pizza boxes and put them on display at Duramos, then hosted a fundraiser where some of the proceeds went to wildfire relief efforts in California. It was a great way for the community to see all the hard work
003students put into their projects while supporting a local business and raising money for a good cause. The seventh and eighth graders had a great time dancing the night away at the winter dance. They got to play games, dance, and of course have awesome snacks. The DJ was a hit and it made the night so much fun. The girls said that their personal favorite was the photo booth because they got to take cute pictures with their friends. The boys would argue that ping pong was by far the best. We look forward to carrying out this dance in future years. The junior high musical was a hit. Students got to showcase their talents to the Colts Harper community while singing popular Dr. Seuss hits. Many students were part of the cast, but there were also opportunities for
004students to be a part of the stage crew. A big thank you to Miss Buddafo for her guidance and efforts in making the show a success. For Valentine's Day, students were able to purchase candy bars for their friends and write a note along with it. The fundraiser proceeds went to a funding of upcoming junior high student council end of year events. We sold around 200 bars bringing happiness to both junior high and high school students. In February, the district hosted sports night. It was a great way for our school community to come together and watch our teachers show off the talents that they have beyond the classroom. This fun event supported Corey's Promise, an organization near and dear to the Colts Harbor community. Everyone had a great time supporting their teachers. Students celebrated once again
005on the night of March 6th, taking pride in their heritage and soa showcasing their talents and diverse cultures from around the world. International club adviser Merritt Moni and the international club senior officers orchestrated an amazing event of cultural creations and food stations. There were student musical performances along with a studentled and staffled traditional Greek dance. Eighth graders are all excited for their trip to DC next week. We will be touring government buildings, museums, and monuments. The 3-day trip will be a great way for us to learn in a different environment and to connect as a grade. We can't wait. On behalf of the entire eighth grade, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank the board of education for their generous contribution this year and for easing the financial burden of all the eighth graders.
006The junior high spring concert is coming up and students and teachers have been preparing all winter and spring for this concert. They're ready to show off their talents. In past years, the spring concert has been a success and we can't wait to do it again this year. A special thank you to Mr. Santangelo, Mr. Hawkler, and Mr. Galloway for putting together such a special event. Our annual unity event will take place at the end of May, allowing our sixth and seventh grade students to get a chance to come together and to enjoy some games and barbecue. It will be a great way for them to bond before the next school year starts. Excited sixth graders will soon be filling the hallways of the junior senior high school to get a lay of the land before
007officially entering the school this September. These tours will be run by select seventh and eighth graders who will explain what a day in the life of a seventh grader will look like for them. To finish off the year, the eighth grade is getting ready for the yearbook signing. The grade will come together and spend time with each other in the courtyard signing each other's yearbooks. Hopefully, some of our middle school teachers will have an opportunity to come and sign them as well. It will be a great way to finish off the year and our time as junior high students. Thank you so much for having us. Have a great night. Do a quick picture. [Applause] Up next, we'll have our environmental club come up. Just while they're getting the presentation, I just wanted to say
008thank you to the junior high. I I can't believe that you are already done with junior high. It feels like you just left elementary school like a minute ago. That went fast. Um and that was a wonderful report. Thank you. Evening everybody. I'm Erin Oshan, the adviser of the environmental club and this evening the students are going to speak to you a little bit about our goal of ridding the school of plastic water bottles. Uh it's been a been a long time coming with our all of our reusable water bottle stations that we have and we still have a lot of sales of plastic water bottles that are taking place and the main complaint that we hear is that the water fountain water doesn't taste good. So we did a water taste test, a blind
009water taste test, and I'm going to let Molly take it over and kind of give you the results and the rest of the group will go from there. Thank you. Hi, I'm Molly Ulico from the Environmental Club. So, a few weeks [Music] ago. Oh, yeah. A few a few weeks ago, we did a water challenge where we had students do a blind taste test between Poland Spring water bottles and um Poland Spring water bottles and the filtered water that's around our school. When most students are asked why they don't use the fountains, they claim it's because the water doesn't taste good. But to overcome this misconception, we decided to do this blind taste test. And here are results. So 60% of the students preferred fountain water or had no preference. And only 40% of the
010students preferred the plastic Poland spring water. Well, most of the students preferred one type of water over the other. Some students couldn't tell a difference between the two or they also didn't really know which one to pick, so they just picked one. So, the data was skewed slightly, but if we do this challenge again, then we'll try and overcome this issue. Now, I'm going to pass it over to Ryan. and he'll tell you about the health detriments. Hi there. Uh my name is Ryan and I'll be talking about the effects plastic water bottles have on our When we think about plastic water bottles, we usually think about pollution. But there is a much more serious concern regarding this effect. That is the health of our student population. In single-use plastic water bottles, chemicals such as
011BPA and phalates are most commonly found. These are endocrine disruptors that actively harm and disrupt their hormones. This poses a particular risk for teenagers whose bodies are still undergoing critical stages of growth and hormonal regulation. Additionally, according to the CDC, over 90% of Americans have been found to have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies. And we're not talking about harmless amounts. Studies have linked BPA exposure to fertility problems, obesity, early puberty, and even neurological issues with it getting worse by the year. As students, we're taught to recycle, to care about the wildlife, and to think about our planet's future. But the truth is, plastic bottles go against everything we're told to value. Right now, there are an estimated 200 million tons of plastic in the ocean. That's not an exaggeration. It's a global crisis.
012And much of that plastic starts with everyday products like water bottles, plastic water bottles. It's also affecting our climate. The carbon emissions from plastic production have jumped from 35 billion tons in 2020 to 42 billion in 2024. I don't know about you, but that's a pretty big number. And that growth is still accelerating. To even add on to this, every year about a million marine animals die from plastic, choking on it, getting stuck in it, or mistaking it for food. How would your child react to Nemo getting stuck in a plastic water bag? plastic bag or anything. And closer to home, plastic makes up of 80% of the pollution in our rivers and and other bodies of water, many of which run through communities just like this. And now to address the alternatives and solutions.
013As members of the environmental club, we understand that there is a big money factor involved when pushing for better reforms in regards to plastic water bottles. Here we are addressing a bridge to connect both sustainability and business and that is with school branded water bottles. So, as you can see, Seahawks on water bottles. Who wouldn't buy that? Such a great concept. The first benefit of school branded water bottles is that it bolsters and boosts school pride. Custom bottles with our logo promotes promotes unity, identity, and daily use among students. Secondly, it reduces waste and cost. A single reusable bottle replaces hundreds of plastic ones. And lastly, sales can fund green projects while giving students real world experience in marketing and sustainability. I don't know about you, but my sister spent a fortune on Stanley water
014bottles. It was only natural for this to be a good investment. Thank you, and I will now hand this to my friend Evan. Hello, my name is Evan and I will be going over one possible alternative to the traditional plastic water bottles. Boxed water provides uh more uh boxed water promotes recycling and avoiding harmful plastics. It also offers a safer, more eco-conscious alternative that aligns with student health and school sustainability goals. WB BM Mason's Boxed Water is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic bottles which are provided by the same distributive company we already use which means we can continue to use the same provider the same product in a safer form. I'll now pass this on to you. Hi. Um so I just wanted to let you know I wanted to tell you more about
015aluminum canned water. It's a much better alternative to uh plastic water bottles. They're much safer, more eco friendly. And with W B M B M B M B M B M B M B M B M B M B M B's Polar Spring Water, they're they're also much cheaper for us to buy. We currently buy our as currently buy our plastic water bottles from there anyway. So, if we just switch our order, it'll be they'll be much cheaper. We'll save some money. They'll help our students. There's there's really no reason not to switch. Now pass it over to P. Hello Culturing Harbor. I'm Cole Gladowski and I'm here to talk I'm here to talk about the first steps of action in the environmental club. We are looking to prioritize maintaining the green filter status for
016all water stations. In doing so, this will ensure that students have access to clean drinking water at all times. We are also looking to implement school branded water bottles that could be sold at school events. We can use the profits from these sales to fund future sustain sustainability projects. And lastly, we are looking to transition away from plastic sales. We are hoping to remove the plastic water bottles from vending machines and replace them with greener alternatives. I'm now going to hand it back to Molly. to conclude by transitioning away from single-use plastic water bottles that we currently sell and into a more reusable water bottle or eco-friendly water bottle with the aluminum or the cardboard water bottles. We will have less plastic waste and will set a great example for other schools to follow by
017reducing our carbon footprint. Also, we are providing safe water sources for all students. We should not be providing plastic water bottles because they are detrimental to a teen's growing body. Um, students have a right to safe water in the school building and providing plastic water bottles violates this right. Also, with the sustainable merchandise of reusable water bottles, it incentivize incentivizes the use of refillable water bottles while introducing alternative revenue for the school. Here's the we did some research on the um using plastic water bottles and instead using aluminum water bottles. And thank you for listening. We hope you consider this. Thank Hello. Thank you very much for the presentation. Would you guys have an estimate of how many of the students or what percent do you think come with reusable water bottles to school daily?
018That's a guess. As of now, we have no data, but um just an estimate maybe 40%. I'd say not like entire majority. speaking from my own experience that some of them bring a water bottle to school and then still buy water when they get here. I can see it on the charges from the lunchroom. So that's I I mean this was a great presentation. I'm looking at our own plastic water bottles and thinking that um if you do in fact sell Cold Spring Harbor reusable water bottles, will you let us know because I bet you have some eager customers here as well. Absolutely. And we'll offer a discount for that as well. Thank you very much. Thank you. standing. question. Oh, can I ask the students a question about the water you get in the
019fountain supplied in the wall at school versus the water you're bringing in bottles? Um, how would you rate the taste of that water versus what you bring or what you buy in cans? Um, I think it's entirely subjective based on taste. But what what we're hoping to do is provide just cleaner water regardless of taste as taste in our minds is a secondary priority. And I guess um the first one being clean water and and we hope to achieve this through better taste testing, blind taste testing um throughout the school year along with maybe a um actual event that focuses on clean water. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, we're going to move to our student recognition portion of tonight's board meeting. Tonight is my distinct honor to recognize an extraordinary student, senior Ryan
020Smith. I I have more to say, but you can come on up. Ryan has earned a Congressional Award Gold Medal, the highest honor the US States Congress bestows upon a civilian youth. This achievement reflects Ryan's unwavering commitment to service, leadership, and academic excellence. Over the course of more than three years, Ryan's completed over 400 hours of community service, 200 hours of personal development, and 200 hours of physical fitness. In addition to this rigorous work, Ryan has also recognized as a STEM star for his outstanding contributions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Among his many accomplishments, Ryan conducted research and innovation at Northwell Health's 3D Design Innovation Lab, where he developed an application to improve patient transport safety. He further advanced his knowledge through summer studies in artificial intelligence, computer science, and mathematics. This June, Ryan
021will be traveling to Washington DC to be honored at the 2025 Congressional Award Gold Medal Summit, where he will meet with members of Congress, national leaders in public service, and other distinguished youth from across the country. Ryan is a true example of what it means to lead with purpose, to serve with humility, and to learn and lead with passion. On behalf of Cole Spring Harbor Central School District, I congratulate him on this extraordinary accomplishment and look forward to the many successes that lie ahead in his future. Please join me in honoring Ryan Smith. [Music] Up next, we're going to have Mr. Jeffrey Ramirez come up to talk about the Cold Spring Harbor robotics team. Jeffrey. Uh good evening. My name is Jeffrey Ramirez. Uh this is my first year as the robotics adviser for Cold
022Spring Harbor uh High School. I want to give uh just a quick story about this year. Um the robotics team uh did not begin until very late this year in November, just a few days before the deadline to sign up for an event. Uh thankfully I had a lot of support um from the former adviser Jim Hardy. Special thank you. Uh as well as Ryan Smith uh who is captain of the robotics team. uh he helped me learn a lot about managing the team and getting the team to be able to compete. So I want to say a special thank you to him. Uh there's also a special thank you to our mentors do who cannot make it tonight Steven Juneman and James Thompson and back. Um I also want to thank uh the staff
023members who were uh happy enough to help me. Jim Hardy, Eleni Kundi, and Melissa Mccles. And uh this year we took third place in the qualifications at Albany. Uh which is a tie a tie for our highest placing ever. Uh so special thank you to all the team members. [Applause] Ryan Smith, Matthew Giovalis, Ella Povazero, Mary Gzone, Nicole Shrock, Christy, Simone, Max Ulico, Anthony Duke, Mason Loiano, Allison Rean, Elizabeth Zhan, Kira Chan, Cole Glowski, and Ryan Lee. The students are really the lifeblood of the program. without them dedicating out countless hours after school from 4:30 until 10 o'clock, it is not possible for us to build a robot together. So very very special thank you to all the students who spend more time with me than their parents. [Applause] Okay. Awesome. [Music] I'm done. You
024guys come down. It's all right. Sorry. [Applause] Congratulations robotics team. We are now Oh, tonight we have the pleasure of granting tenure to staff members and welcoming them into the Cold Spring Harbor family. We will also be honoring our retirees as they've given tireless tirelessly to our students and to our district. We will start off this portion of our meeting with the board hearing each individual tenure candidate and retiree staff hearing about each individual tenure candidate and retiree staff member. We will conclude with the board officially voting on tenure as I to turn turn this portion of the meeting over to the superintendent retirement. On behalf of the Colts Harper Central School District, I extend my gratitude and c congratulations as you prepare to begin this well-deserved next chapter in your lives. Each of you
025has contributed in extraordinary ways to the heart and soul of Coling Harbor. Whether it's in the classroom, behind the scenes, or in the countless moments that shape our students lives, your dedication, talent, and care have left an indelible mark on our school's community. You have inspired curiosity, nurtured potential, and built confidence. And most importantly, you made Coleman Harway a place where children have thrived and grown. I think that's right. Oh, that's right. Okay. Oh, no. Oh, okay. Okay, that's I'm sorry. Tenure. I'm sorry. I started reading the wrong one. I apologize. At Coast Harbor, we believe that teaching is a dynamic, involving craft, one that grows through reflection, collaboration, and a commitment to student success. The tenure process reflects the philosophy. Through your probationary years, you've engaged in a process of continuous improvement, guided by
026feedback, and grounded in the four key domains: planning, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities. Earning tenure is more than a recognition of what you've accomplished. It's a celebration of your potential and a reflection of your confidence in you to continue to grow. Tenure is a significant step, an investment in you, your future, and the belief that great teachers shape the paths forward for our students in our district. We you have shown that you're not only ready for this next chapter, but that you will continue to grow, inspire, and lead. Congratulations to this well earned honor. We're excited for all that lies ahead of you. Thank you. So, what we're going to do is have each building principal come up to say a little word about the staff in the building who will be receiving tenure.
027Uh, good evening. This evening, I'm honored to present Mr. Daniel Santangelo for tenure as a music teacher in the Cold Spring Harbor Junior Senior High School. Uh Daniel, could you please join me up front? Since joining our faculty, Mr. Santangelo has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence in music education and to the overall growth of his students. His classroom can be described as a vibrant learning environment where he strives for all students regardless of their ability to feel supported, engaged, and inspired to pursue artistic expression. Mr. Santangelo's instructional practice is grounded in thoughtful planning, strong content knowledge, and the effective use of various teaching strategies to reach all of his learners. He consistently sets high expectations for his ensembles while fostering a sense of community and pride. His students don't just learn music. They learn
028the human skills of collaboration, discipline, and confidence. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Santangelo's leadership in performances such as the Remembrance Bowl, all of our musical theater productions and drama productions, as well as our concerts, have helped shape meaningful traditions that connect our students to one another and to the larger community. He is a reflective practitioner who continues to grow in his craft, always seeking ways to better support student learning and clarify instructional objectives. Mr. Santangelo's passion, professionalism and impact make him an invaluable member of our faculty and it is with great enthusiasm and confidence I recommend him for [Applause] tenure. Also joining us from the music department this evening, Amanda Sigali. [Applause] Amanda Sagali, a candidate for tenure in the orchestra here at Col Harbor Junior Senior High School. From the moment she joined our music
029department, Miss Sagali has demonstrated an exceptional ability to inspire students, lead with purpose, and deliver instruction that reflects both technical excellence and deep artistic integrity. Her rehearsals are models of thoughtful planning and high level musicianship. With clear objectives focused on both skill development and expressive performance, she constantly challenges her students to reach professional standards. Her work preparing students for events like NISMA majors and concert showcases showcases her ability to balance rigor with support, ensuring that every one of her students feels confident, prepared, and invested. Miss Sagali creates a classroom culture that is rooted in high expectations where she puts students in the driver's seat of their learning and feel a shared commitment to excellence. Her rapport with students is warm and encouraging and her instructional strategies ranging from sectional rehearsals to real-time feedback make learning
030purposeful and pe personal. Students often describe her class as the most challenging they take yet also one of the most rewarding. Beyond her exceptional instruction, Miss Sagali has enriched our music program through her professional collaborations, including bringing in guest musicians to engage directly with our students. These opportunities have left a lasting impact on the musical growth and reflects Miss Sagali's belief in the power of real world connections to deepen learning. Miss Sagali's passion, professionalism, and lasting impact on our school community make her an outstanding candid candidate for tenure, and I'm proud to recommend her without hesitation. [Applause] Uh joining us from the junior senior high school, Jennifer O'keeen. Jennifer O'keeen has been instrumental in advancing our reading strategies 2.0 0 initiative alongside the work of Jennifer Saravealo playing a key role in aligning our instructional
031practices with the latest research in literacy development in both her reading classes and her ELA support labs. Mrs. O'Keeen brings a thoughtful student- centered approach to instruction. Her lessons are grounded in best practice with a deep understanding of how to scaffold complex tasks and foster strong comprehension skills. Whether using a fictional spotlight strategy or conducting individual reading conferences, she ensures her students are not only engaged, but actively developing critical thinking and literacy skills that they will need to be successful across all content areas. What stands out most about Jen is her ability to make students feel both supported and empowered. Her classroom is a welcoming, intellectually vibrant spa space where students are encouraged to take risks, find their voice, and connect their learning to the world around them. Her mastery of specialized instructional tools such
032as the Wilson reading system demonstrate both her technical skill and her deep commitment to meeting the individual needs of her learners. Jen is a thoughtful, passionate, and skilled educator who has already made a lasting impact on our school community. And I'm proud to see her recommended for tenure this evening and confident that her contributions to our students academic growth and confidence will only continue to deepen in the years ahead. [Applause] Joining us from the special education department, Mrs. Lauren Kennedy as a dualcertified educator in both special education and mathematics. It is truly a privilege to recommend Lauren for tenure. Since joining us here at the junior senior high school, she has consistently demonstrated instructional excellence, deep content knowledge, and a steadfast commitment to meeting the needs of all learners. Her work in our integrated co-eing
033classrooms has been exceptional. She is a true instructional partner, seamlessly co-planning and co-eing in ways that blur the traditional lines between general and special educator. She brings thoughtful differentiation, strong content expertise, and a commitment to inclusive practices that ensure every student, regardless of their learning profile, feels supported, challenged, and capable. Her lessons are designed very well, thoroughly, and they are responsive to all of her students needs. Whether using guided notes, structured scaffolds, or any digital tools, Miss Kennedy ensures her instruction is accessible and engaging. She is constantly refining her approach using formative assessments and targeted questioning to check for understanding and provide individualized support. Presence in the classroom is a steady and positive one. She circulates with purpose, building relationships with all of her students and seeking opportunities to deepen learning and build student confidence.
034In terms of classroom culture, she sets clear expectations and fosters a respectful structured environment where all students can thrive. She's worked collaboratively with her co-teers to develop effective behavior systems, promoting self-regulation, and is always open to reflecting on how classroom structures can further be enhanced to support student voice and ownership. Beyond her instructional strength, she is a reflective practitioner who actively pursues professional growth. She has taken part in training on co-eing models, differentiation, and student collaboration, and she has been proactive in strengthening communication with support staff to ensure alignment across all areas of support. Lauren is a passionate educator, a strong collaborator, and a dedicated advocate for students. She embodies the values of excellence and continuous improvement that we hold dear in this community. I fully support her recommendation, and I am privileged to see
035her being voted on this evening. At this time, if I could have the assistant principal of the junior high school, Caitlyn Harmon, join me. [Applause] It is with great pride and absolute confidence to see Mrs. Caitlyn Harmon recommended for tenure as assistant principal of Cold Spring Harbor Junior Senior High School. Over the past four years, Mrs. Harmon has been an indispensable leader in our building, consistently demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to student success. She has been instrumental in developing a shared vision for our school, one that is rooted in high expectations, inclusivity, and continuous improvement. She has been a driving force behind our further usage of multi-tered systems of support, empowering staff with the stools and the training to intervene early and effectively, ensuring that every student has access to the support they
036need to thrive. Her leadership in this area has had a measurable impact on student outcomes and has strengthened our collective approach to supporting the whole child. Hi, Lily. Hi. I'm talking about mommy. As an instructional leader, Mrs. Harmon is deeply committed to elevating teaching and learning. She provides meaningful feedback to teachers, models effective communication with families, and fosters professional development opportunities that are responsive to faculty needs. She works just as comfortably with first year teachers as she does with seasoned veterans. Always accessible, always supportive, and always focused on what's best for students. Operationally, Mrs. Harm's organization skills are unmatched. She has even attempted to fix my Google Drive, which is a task in and of itself. She has refined our systems for tracking student progress, improving club documentation processes, and her attention to detail and
037the ability to anticipate and resolve challenges make the building run more smoothly and more efficiently. Beyond the walls of our school, Caitlyn has worked tirelessly to strengthen our school community connection. She has a presence at games, concerts, and events where our students are participating. She has contributed to the weekly newsletter, adding a junior high corner to ensure that all of our families are informed, engaged, and welcomed as true partners in education. What set Miss Harmon apart, however, is her character. She leads with integrity, humility, and a steady moral compass. Her decision-making is student- centered. Her actions are rooted in what is best for her students, and her presence has brought out the best in both students and staff. Caitlyn is a leader in every sense of the word. She has already made a profound and
038lasting impact and I have no doubt that her future contributions will continue to elevate our community and it is a pleasure to see her voted on this evening. If I could have the assistant director of special education, Kristen Rasa, join me. [Applause] It is a sincere privilege to recommend Kristen Rasca for tenure this year as the assistant director of special education. Since joining our team, she has distinguished herself as one of the most hardworking, detailoriented, and student centered leaders in our entire district. Her tireless work ethic, high standards, and unwavering dedication to students and families have made her an invaluable asset to our school community. Kristen approaches every aspect of her work with clarity, compassion, and precision. Whether she's navigating complex evaluations, supporting classroom teachers, or meeting with families, her focus is always the same.
039Ensure that the student receives the services, support, and advoc advocacy they deserve. She is incredibly knowledgeable in her field, and her impeccable attention to details matched only by her commitment to doing right by children. No task is too small, and no challenge is too great. Kristen meets them all with a sense of professionalism. humility and most of all heart. He is also a powerful advocate for collaboration. Kristen works side by side with teachers, counselors, outside service providers, and administrators to ensure that students educational plans are both thoughtfully designed and faithfully implemented. Her communications with families is empathetic and honest, always working to build trust and a mutual understanding in support of each individual student. Behind the scenes, Kristen's organizational systems have helped streamline many of our special education processes, ensuring compliance, clarity, and consistency across
040the board. She brings order to complexity and never loses sight of the individual students behind each plan, each goal, or each meeting. But perhaps Kristen's greatest strength is that she leads with purpose. Her guiding ideals are strong, her standards are high, and her work always reflects what is best for students. She is not only a leader within the department of special education, she is a cornerstone of our larger school community. It's rare to find someone who balances expertise with empathy, empathy as effortlessly as Kristen does. She is deeply respected by her colleagues, trusted by families, and loved by the students that she serves. It is a pleasure to see her voted on for tenure this evening. Miss Cosmetic. Good evening. I'd like to invite Mrs. Kristen Schmidt, Goose Hill Elementary School Psychologist. It is with
041great enthusiasm and confidence that I recommend Mrs. Kristen Schmidt for tenure as an elementary school psychologist in the Cold Spring Harbor Central School District. Since joining Goose Hill Primary School in 2016, Mrs. Schmidt has exemplified the highest standards of excellence in school psychology, student support, and leadership. Her service over the past several years has had a profound and lasting impact on our students, staff, and school community. Mrs. Schmidt creates a warm, structured, and developmentally appropriate environment that supports the social, emotional, and academic growth of all students. Her work is grounded in current research and best practices, and she continuously collects and analyzes data to ensure her services are tailored to each child's unique needs. She supports students with a wide range of abilities and learning profiles, ensuring equitable access to the to the support and
042instruction necessary for their success. At Goose Hill, Kristen is also known as a friendship teacher. She always encourages students to make friends with honesty, empathy, respect, and openheartedness, which are aligned with our hero core values. One of Mrs. Schmidt's greatest strengths is her ability to build bridges between home and school. She regularly designs and facilitates workshops for both faculty and families, often informed by parent surveys and recommendations from our school improvement team. Mrs. Kristen Schmidt exemplifies the qualities we seek in tenure professionals. She leads with compassion and an unwavering commitment to student success. She is trusted by families, respected by colleagues, and deeply valued by our school community. I recommend Mrs. Schmidt for tenure without reservation, and I am confident she will continue to make significant contributions to the Cold Spring Harbor School District for
043years to come. [Applause] Dr. Bonds, come on down. No, stay up here. It is my honor, John Barnes. Is an honor to recommend Dr. Barnes for principal of Westside School for tenure, a milestone that reflects not only his years of dedicated leadership, but the positive impact he has on this community. The moment Dr. Barnes stepped into Westside, he brought with him a spirit of positivity, purpose, and possibility. He leads with heart and with a camera always nearby, capturing the joyful moments of and milestones that reflect the vibrant life of Westside, which he helps shape every day. Dr. Dr. Barnes simply doesn't manage a building. He lives its mission. He knows every child by name. Sees their potential and make sure they know it, too. His legendary morning meetings are more than just a way to
044start today and a reflection of his belief that every moment is a chance to connect, to celebrate, and to grow. Congratulations, Dr. Barnes, for making the Westside not just a school, but a family. I'm honored to recommend you for 10 years. [Applause] Hello everybody. Uh, it's nice to see everyone here this evening. I am thrilled and honored to talk about Miss Shannon Bolson. If Miss Bolson could come on down. [Applause] So, how you doing, Miss Bolson? Miss Bolson has demonstrated a deep commitment to the academic and personal growth of her students and has also um showed her tremendous dedication to the professional development of herself and her colleagues. If I had to sum up Shannon Bolson, she is an outstanding educator. She is a dedicated colleague and she's an advocate for her students who sees
045the best in all of them. And her smile is both infectious, warm, endearing, and she's filled with kindness. Shannon's journey in Cold Spring Harbor started at the same time my journey started in Col Spring Harbor. We started together and every summer we take a picture for Mark like the president over time. Uh how how how we're doing each summer. Um but she came from New York City with a five years of teaching experience and New York City's loss was Cold Spring Harbor's gain. Uh Shannon 100% works to pay it forward. She is reflective. One of her notable contributions was leading a presentation to our Westside faculty members on John Hadtie's work about teacher clarity. When you walk into Shannon's classroom, you will see learning intentions, success criteria, rubrics, and her working each and every day
046to support her students reaching their maximum potential. Additionally, Shannon's commitment to joining our book clubs, Shannon's commitment to being a part of sports night, our talent shows, our school plays. She also has a beautiful uh family of three daughters and her husband Ryan who's here tonight, and they're often uh participating in a little something we have on Sunday called the Westside Run. Everyone can still sign up if you haven't. Our students love her. She's also in her short time the proud recipient of the ugly sweater contest. And Shannon has substance. She has humor. And I know that she's going to make a lasting impact for years to come. Mr. Monistera, Board of Education, it is an honor, it is a thrill, and it is a privilege to recommend Shannon Bolson for tenure. Wonderful. Thank you,
047Dr. Barnes. Oh, sorry. One more. Sorry. If I could please have Miss Lauren Grief come up to the podium. [Applause] Miss Lauren Grief is a highly dedicated and impactful educator who has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, expertise, and commitment to student success at Cold Spring Harbor. Beginning her career as a math AIS teacher, she quickly emerged as a leader in the AIS department, playing a a vital role in strengthening our instructional support team processes. Last school year, she bravely took on the role of AIS coordinator with her partner Alyssa Powell, who I'm sure is out there somewhere. Midyear, seamlessly managing both her teaching responsibilities and the coordination of AIS services across our elementary schools. Currently serving as the sole AIS coordinator, Miss Grief leads data-driven intervention strategies, supports staff through professional development, and ensures instructional decisions
048are grounded in both quantitative and qualitative student data. Her influence extends beyond the classroom through her leadership in curriculum planning, assessment development, and district-wide professional learning. Miss Grief's work ethic, collaborative spirit, and unwavering focus on student growth make her an invaluable asset to our school community. It is without hesitation that I recommend Miss Lauren Grief for tenure. Her outstanding work ethic, leadership, and passion for education have a profound and lasting impact on our students and staff. Thank you very much. Okay, so we are now going to Oh, okay. We're going to um actually skip ahead here and do the voting on the tenure recommendations, right? So you could go home. Yeah. So that everyone can go. Yes, we'll do a picture. So when you come when after we vote, will everyone will come up for
049a picture? Okay. Wait till the end. Come down. Wait till the end. Don't leave. Okay. So, um, the first I guess I have to do each one with a motion. Is that right here? Each each individual correct? Okay. So, may I have a motion to um recommend or to vote Kristen Rasca for tenure at uh at the recommendation of the superintendent that Kristen Rasca be granted tenure effective August 4th. I see it's written here in the tenure area of assistant director of special education and people personnel services. May I have a first Lisa? Second, Heather. All in favor? That's all. Thank you. Okay. Uh [Applause] Caitlyn Harmon. At the recommendation of the superintendent that Caitlyn Harmon be granted tenure effective August 11th, 2025 in the tenure area of assistant principal. May I have a first?
050Mark second Kate. All in favor? Thank you. [Applause] John Barnes at the recommendation of the superintendent that Dr. John Barnes be granted tenure effective August 22nd 2025 in the tenure area of elementary elementary principal. May I have a first Lisa second Bruce? All in favor? Thank you. Kristen Schmid at the recommendation of the superintendent that Kristen Schmidt be granted tenure effective August 30th, 2025 in the tenure area of school psychologist. May I have a first Kate? Second, Heather. All in favor? Thank you. Lauren Grief at the recommendation of the superintendent that Lauren Grief be granted tenure effective August 30th, 2025 in the tenure area of elementary education. May I have a first bill? Second, Heather. All in favor? That's all. Thank you. Jen O'kee at the recommendation of the superintendent that Jennifer O'keeen be granted
051tenure effective September 1st, 2025 in the tenure area of reading. May I have a first? Lisa second. Kate. All in favor? [Applause] Amanda Sagali at the recommendation of the superintendent that Amanda Seagal be re be granted tenure effective September 1st 2025 in the tenure area of music. May I have a first Bruce? Second Mark. All in [Applause] favor Shannon Bolson at the recommendation of the superintendent that Shannon Bolson be granted tenure effective October 7th, 2025 in the tenure area of elementary education. May I have a first? So many everyone went up at the same time. Okay. Lisa second bill. Thank you. All in favor Daniel Santangelo. at the recommendation of the superintendent that Daniel Santangelo be granted tenure effective October 14th, 2025 in the tenure area of music. May I have a first? Oh, Lisa.
052Second, Heather. All in favor? Yes. All in favor? Um, do we need to do opposed as well or Okay, all opposed. Thank you. [Applause] Congratulations. Tenure recommendation. Lauren Kennedy. at the recommendation of the superintendent that Lauren Kennedy be granted tenure effective November 7th, 2025 in the tenure area of special education. May I have a first Heather? Second, Bruce. All in favor? Thank you. Congratulations. [Applause] Everyone come down. We'll do a picture. Look at this. Uh there's some uh cake outside if you'd like to enjoy the retirees. Please uh indulge in some uh I believe it was a white chocolate cake. Tenure. Yes, I am um retirees are next. Thank you. Retirees are next. You're going to recognize some of this because I read it early on. So I'm gonna start over. retirement. On behalf of
053the entire Coleman Harour Central School District, I extend my gratitude and congratulations as you prepare to begin its well-deserved next chapter in your lives. Each of you have contributed in extraordinary ways to the heart and soul of Cold Spring Harbor. Whether is in the classroom, behind the scenes, or in the countless moments that shape our students lives, dedication, talent, and care have left an indelible mark on our school community. You've inspired curiosity, natural potential, and built confidence. Most importantly, you made Coleman Harbor a place where children have thrived and grown. Retirement marks the end of an era, but your legacy will live on. The minds you have opened and the lives you have touched and the examples you set for those who will follow. You leave behind not only a history of excellence, but a
054spirit of kindness, perseverance, and pride that defines what it means to be part of this extraordinary district. As you turn the page of your new adventures, know that it will take you to know that you take with you the admiration and appreciation of the community. You will always be part of the Cold Spring Harbor family. We hope that you look back on your years here with the same fondness and pride which we honor with you here now. with our heartful thanks and best wishes for joy, health, and new beginnings. Congratulations on your retirement. So, I'll start off first with a retirement speech. Today we're here to celebrate and honor a truly remarkable educator, leader, and colleague, Jen Lagatuda, as she retires from her role as assistant superintendent for curriculum here at the Coastman Harour Central
055School District. Jen has been the quiet strength and a steady hand behind so much of what makes our district thrive. She brings both expertise and genuine compassion to everything she does. always thoughtful, always focused, and always striving to do better, do better, and to help others do the same. Whether working one-on-one with a teacher, supporting a principal, or guiding a district-wide initiative, Jen is known for a calm presence, her kind heart, and her unwavering will willingness to listen. No matter how busy her schedule, she always made time to help and support. Jen has been a tireless champion for continuous improvement. She approaches every challenge with a curiosity and optimism, always asking, "How can we grow? How can we do this better for our students and our teachers?" That mindset has shaped our curriculum, our instruction,
056and how our culture in ways that will continue to benefit Colin Harbor for years to come. Jen, thank you for your service, for your leadership, and your heart. You were deeply missed, but not forgotten. Congratulations on your well-earned retirement. Margaret Deal. She's not here today, but she deserves this recognition. It is both a joy and honor to recognize and celebrate Margaret Deal as she retires after more than 25 years of dedication of service to the Coastman Carpet community. Margaret has worn many hats over the years. Beloved teacher, trusted technology integrator, and go-to problem solver. But no matter her role, she has always led with the same unwavering kindness, commitment, and contagious positivity that brightens every room she enters. She has spent countless hours supporting her students, ensuring that only that they feel seen, supported, inspired.
057Whether she is staying late to help a student master a concept, patiently while walking a colleague through a new technology, or offering encouragement just when it's most needed, Margaret does it all and always with a smile. Her dedication goes far beyond curriculum and computers. Margaret has been a role model of grace, warmth, and quiet strength. She leads by positive example, modeling what it means to care deeply, work hard, and stay grounded in purpose and joy. Simply put, Margaret is a gem. The kind of person who makes a lasting difference, not just in what she teaches, but how she lives. I want to thank Margaret for your years of extraordinary service, your tireless support of students and staff, and the light you've brought our district. Your legacy of kindness, excellence, and heartfelt dedication will remain with
058us for years to come. Congratulations to Margaret who is doing what she loves, traveling today. She's again congratulations here. [Applause] I have the honor of presenting five retirees from the junior senior high school. Um, and I'm going to go a little outside my comfort zone tonight. So, if I could have uh Christine Watt, 34 years as a math educator, 24 years here in Cold Spring Harbor, please join us down front. If I could also have Linda Litica, 18 years of service to the Coltsman Harbor [Music] community. Dr. Bob Classion, 25 years of service to the cultural harbor community. Jim Hardy, 32 years of service to the Cold Spring Harbor [Applause] community. And last, but certainly not least, uh, with over two decades of service, Seora, Seora, Seora, Seora. [Applause] So, by going out of my
059comfort zone, um, no, I'm not going to sing or anything like that, but I I I did write a poem. Um, and I'm going to try to do my best. Um, I will start it by saying, if you look at this group of individuals right here, this represents 126 years of collective service to the Culting Arbor School community. Dr. Barnes had his money on me coming up with a haik coup this evening, but I will say he doesn't know me that well. I'm much more long-winded than a ha coup. So, the title of the poem is the heart of the harbor, a poem for our five remarkable retirees. At Colt Spring Harbor Junior Senior High School, our little school by the sea, five legends are closing their books with a sense of glee. Not a
060celebration of endings, but rather new starts. Each one leaves our school community with full hearts. 34 years as a teacher. Christine Watt, dare I say, one of math's guiding stars. A teacher known to make you feel smarter than you are. Equations, graphs, geometry. With her, it all made sense. You see, she led our mathletes team with a steady grace, always cheering her students regardless of last or first place. Designing a pre-alggebra curriculum was a work of art. She taught with brains and always led with her heart. Now she trades chalkboards for anywhere near the shore with her husband and two sons and sunsets to adore. May her morning start long after her usual half 5. And we all know a South Carolina Gamecock's win will certainly keep her joy alive. Next comes Linda. 18 years
061of calm and kind with the warmest heart and the brightest mind. From the westside halls to the high school wings, she quietly did extraordinary things. A helping hand, a gentle guide who always walked right by her student sides. She knew when students felt unseen and would go out of her way to meet their needs with care. Serene herold spring harbor legacy, you may ask. A quiet grace that is guaranteed to echo through this place. Now she makes travel plans and focuses on family fun. A journey rich, well-earned, has begun. Next, our beloved Dr. C. for 25 years, our chemistry king, a man whose lab made Bunson burners sing. It's hard to rhyme with chemistry. With his goggles on and charts in hand, he helped all of his students to understand that science isn't just some
062test. It's a passion. It's care. It's giving your best. From forensics class to winter track, with every team, he always had their back. With kindness, brains, and coaching flare, Dr. Sea was simply everywhere. Now off he goes with golf clubs to swing and beach walks near where seal seagulls will sing. South Carolina's sunny shore with grandkids he'll pamper. So much more. Then there's Jim Hardy, 32 years a physics pro whose lessons made all of our electrons glow. He built our track team from the ground. And how about robotics? Championships and renown were found. No lab too wild, no tech too new. He always found a way or two. Now he'll set sail, his boat and tow through river, rivers, lakes, and wherever the winds may blow. The great loop calls, his voyage sure is bold.
063But Jim's adventures here, they were pure gold. He taught us all to reach, to try, to question the stars, and maybe even one day fly. Senora Seore K Algria, the soul of Spanisha. Her classroom known a world of joy and light where Spanish culture danced and verbs took flight. She brought Argentina to our school and made foreign language fluency feel more cool. As an adviser of Spanish club, her voice rang clear. Student government senior slideshow taught us all to continually give and cheer. Speak proudly, she would always say, and carried kindness every day. Now her chapters turn a new, but the energy and spirit of Seora will certainly stay in all we do. So here's to five staff members who have shaped this school. They've lived its mission, heart, and rule. You've taught us more
064than just the facts. You've taught us grace and how to act. I speak for many when I say Cold Spring Harbor won't forget the gifts you gave us. Not a single regret. You may retire, but rest assured, your legacy and echoes here will long endure. So raise a toast. Give a cheer to legends loved and futures clear. For even though your classrooms may grow still, you've taught us all and you always will. Congratulations to the staff members joining the class of 2025. Thank you. I did not write a poem, but as my husband says, every speech I give, I sound like I'm reading kindergarteners a story. It's just part of me. Um, Mrs. GC, can you join us down here? [Applause] It is truly an honor to stand before you today as we celebrate someone
065who has shaped not only young minds but also the very heart of Goose Hill Primary School. What can I say about Mrs. Susanna Gonzalez Condell, affectionately known by so many as Mrs. GC? Well, to put it simply, she is the best of the best. After an incredible 30 years of dedicated teaching at Goose Hill, her presence in our school has become nothing short of legendary. It's hard to imagine our hallways without her warm smile, her infectious enthusiasm, and the creativity that radiates from every inch of her classroom. Throughout her career, Miss GC has been the definition of an exceptional educator. She's not only a teacher, she's a mentor, a leader, a collaborator, and a role model for students and colleagues alike. Her classroom has always been a reflection of who she is. When you walk
066into her room, you're met with colorful displays through thoughtful organization and a sense of calm and comfort that feels like a big hug. Every detail has been carefully designed with the success of every child in mind. With a background in art and children's literature, Mrs. GC brings a special kind of magic to her teaching. Her creativity shines through in every project, and her classroom has often been used as a model lab site for professional development. Colleagues from across the district have walked through her doors looking for inspiration, and they've always found it. She has shared her knowledge generously, leading workshops at faculty meetings, presenting at superintendent conference days, and always stepping up to support her fellow educators. And let's not forget about the parents, many of whom have expressed deep gratitude for the invaluable insights
067Mrs. GC has shared. Time and time again, we've heard her how her classroom transformed not only children's learning, but also their confidence, joy, and love of school. For three decades, Mrs. GC has given her all. her energy, her creativity, her compassion, it's all been poured into our school community and we are all better for it. As you begin this next chapter, please know that your presence will be missed dearly but never forgotten. On behalf of us all, thank you and congratulations on a welldeserved retirement. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] So, I'm going to do an interpretive dance. Just kidding. Okay. So, uh it is a thrill to get up and talk about uh two retirees and I'm going to start with our you never bite the hand that feeds you. Our food services uh supervisor
068since 2016, Miss Lori Fereella. Lori was not able to be here tonight, but I did want to just say a couple words. Miss Fela joined the Cold Spring Harbor School District in September of 1999. She worked at Goose Hill. She worked at the high school and in 2016 joined Westside School as the leader of our cafeteria. Since then, Lori has served as our head cook with kindness, dedication, and a heart full of care. At Westside, Lori has been known for her hard work in the kitchen and the care that she brings to our children each and every day. She always says it's all about the kids and her love for being around children is evident in everything that she does. Whether it's greeting students with a smile or making sure everyone is wellfed and cared
069for or making sure that our picky customers have options and feel good about what they're eating for lunch. Lori has been a beloved member of our Westside School family and we know that she is going to be looking ahead to a wonderful retirement. She is most excited about spending time with her husband. While Lori is not a flyer, her husband has been trying to talk her into getting on the plane and taking that big trip to uh Italy. So, we hope that uh she gets on the plane and knows that she's going to have a great adventure. In addition, Lori looks forward to spending time with her two daughters, both of whom work at schools. We will miss Lorie's warmth, laughter, and her unwavering love for our students. And we thank her for her 25
070years of service. And we wish her good joy, health, and happiness in her next chapter of retirement. Ladies and gentlemen, Lori [Applause] Fela. Okay, I'm going to ask a Westside legend, a Cold Spring Harbor legend, and just a legend, a legend in general, Mr. Arlo, Mr. Bill Arlo, come on down. After an extraordinary 29 years serving Westside School, it is both an honor and somewhat emotional to recognize the retirement of Mr. Bill Arlo, an educator whose legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of Westside School and in Cold Spring Harbor. Mr. Arlo is the embodiment embodiment of a dedicated teacher. He is devoted to his students and even though he's been doing this for 29 years, he arrives early. He stays late. He never hesitates to go above and beyond to meet the needs
071of his students and to support his colleagues. Mr. Arlo has served as a mentor and his thoughtful me mentorship of new teachers and unwavering pre presence always sets the tone of our mission to strive for excellence but also compassion which is what defines Mr. Arloof at what it means to be an educator at Westside. Mr. Arlo shows that each and every day. Mr. Arof taught both fifth and sixth grade at Westside School. and in my three years of serving the school community have to say he is one of our highly uh most requested teachers. An indication not only of his instructional skill but of his deep and meaningful connections with our students, his colleagues and of course the connections he forms each and every day in the classroom. It's powerful to witness students come back
072to Westside School. Some that show up without a license and have to go back and get a license in order to come visit Mr. Arlo. But I've literally seen them both light up and turn to tears as they work to thank Mr. Arlo and express their gratitude for the profound and lasting difference he made in their lives. His impact in education reaches far beyond Cold Spring Harbor. Mr. Arlo has taught in Illinois, in Indiana, and he finally joined Westside School in 1997. Each stop on his professional journey has been marked by the same qualities we so deeply admire. His dedication, his kindness, he his humility, and his genuine love of learning. as he looks forward to his retirement. We know Mr. Arlo is excited to spend more time with his 88-year-old mother and his brother
073in Illinois. We know that he's very excited to teach his wonderful and beautiful wife um to cook for his beautiful wife Brenda next year and to get in the kitchen. In addition, they're planning to embark on travels throughout Europe. He wants to read to his heart's content, take on some home improvement projects. He has a couple Netflix shows lined up that he's telling me he's excited to watch. But I just want to say before I step down, Mr. Arlo is not only an exceptional educator, he is a remarkable human being. His presence at Westside will be deeply missed, but his legacy of care, curiosity, and connection will live on in every student, every colleague, and every classroom he touched. Mr. Arlo, with deepest gratitude and warmest wishes for a joyful retirement, thank you so very
074much. Love you. That's wonderful. Wow, what a tremendous group of educators. Congratulations to everybody um on their retirement. Um I am here just to talk briefly about Mr. Tusano. Uh he's not here tonight, but um someone who has taught elementary physical education for his entire life. Uh probably the best class the kids get to go to all the time. Uh you know, obviously when the weather's nice, you're outside. and he brings such passion and such a spirit to educate through activity. Um it was a wonderful 13 years I had the privilege of supervising and working with Mr. Tusano. Uh he illuminates every lesson. He masterfully guides physical education classes, cultivating a spirit of camaraderie, teamwork that empowers students to learn and thrive together. He teaches positive habits, healthy habits, an active lifestyle. His passion for
075physical education is truly remarkable. He believes in what he does and every student that he has had the opportunity to uh teach and educate has definitely been impacted tremendously by Mr. Tuscano. Um I thank him tremendously for his um ability to even help me when I first came to Cold Spring Harbor understand the school community, everything about what Col Spring Harbor was all about. As far as I know, he taught here his entire career and every day in the elementary school and that is definitely not an easy task and he did it with a smile, grace and dignity. He will be deeply missed, irreplaceable and I wish nothing but the best for Mr. Disano in his future and in retirement and it was an absolute pleasure and I know that every student that he taught
076is a better person that had him as a teacher. Thank [Applause] you. Good evening. I just wanted to say a few words on behalf of Deb Khan. Um she is not here this evening. We did send a special send off to her for about two weeks ago. Um she has been our principal assistant for the special education department and PPS department for 25 years and she really has been the backbone of the department and really the heart of the department. So we are feeling the loss as of now. um and she has brought such knowledge and skill to everything that she did and I do believe that the parents do miss her because she was always a real helpful resource to them. So I want to thank Deb Khan for all her service to the
077Cold Spring Harbor School District and she truly did make a difference not only to the department but for the district as a whole. But thank you. [Applause] Hi everyone. Um before I start on the three people that I have the opportunity to speak about tonight, I just want to say big congratulations to everybody here tonight retiring or receiving tenure on your just wonderful achievement. So congratulations to everyone. Nice job. The first person I have on my list is Mr. Earl Cross. Uh Mr. Cross has been a custodian with the Cold Spring Harbor School District since 2010, working almost exclusively at the high school. He's also a member of the weekend security team, driver messenger, um and often just stepped up to do whatever the district needed him to do. Needless to say, Earl was valuable
078member of the facilities team and he will be missed. Um, congratulations and thank you. We wish you happiness and enjoyment in your retirement. Mr. John Ner, who also is not able to attend tonight, has been with the Colt Spring Harbor School District as a security guard for 26 years. He came to the district after serving 31 years as a member of the Suffach County Police Department. He is also a veteran who has served our country for 5 years in the United States Navy. Mr. Ner was extreme extremely popular with staff, students, and all of his fellow guards. He will be missed for his witty personality among others. Um congratulations and thank you and we wish you happiness and enjoyment in your retirement. The last person I have on my list is Mr. Joe Judge who
079has been a custodian for the Cold Spring Harbor School District since 2003. Joe is a sub at all of the buildings for approximately his first four years with the district and then he was assigned to the high school for a brief time before moving to the Lloyd Harbor School where he spent approximately the next 16 years. Um, everyone who interacts with Joe walks away knowing he is truly a kind and sincere person. Those qualities will be missed by so many of us. Congratulations and thank you. We wish you happiness and enjoyment in your retirement. Thank you [Applause] everyone. If everyone who was here for retirement, come on down. We're going to do one big group shot. Come on down. You guys need to squish together tires so they can see us. Congratulations. Thank you. here.
080Okay, congratulations everyone. Um, now as president of the board, here are my updates to the public. So, um, I'll make them brief. Uh, I just wanted to say um, a couple of quick things. We um you know uh yesterday I was actually at a conference for uh educators because I also work in a school and the topic was parent involvement in your schools and how should what that should should that look like? How should schools navigate how involved parent should be? What the parent voice should be like? and we heard from different schools of how they are navigating that in their communities. And I think that um you know I can speak on behalf of our board here where we all really feel like that's parent voice is so important. Um and that's what's going
081to get me to my little piece of housekeeping here which is that we do have a climate survey out. It's available on our website. If you haven't had a chance to fill it out, we ask that you do. We really do love hearing from everyone. I know I say this like week in and week out or month in and month out, but um if you could fill that out, that would be great. The due date for that is May 19th, which leads me to my next bit of housekeeping, which is that the budget vote is May 20th. So, please make sure to come out and vote on the budget. Bring your friends. Um we're hoping for a robust turnout for that budget vote. And um that is it for my remarks. Thank you, Alex. Good
082evening everyone. Thank everyone for having a I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather this past weekend to celebrate Mother's Day. Meaningful ways honoring the remarkable women in our lives who give so much of themselves every day. Whether you celebrate with friends, family, or a quiet reflection, I hope it was a time filled with love and gratitude. As we move deeper into the spring season, our schools are alive with activity and accomplishments. Just last week, we successfully concluded our grade three through eight ela and math assessments. I want to take a moment to thank our students for their focus and efforts, our teachers and staff for their guidance and support, and our families for their partnership through this important time. We're also in the midst of our AP testing across the high
083school. Another rigorous and rewarding experience for our students. Their determination, hard work, and resilience continue to inspire us all. This week brings even more to celebrate as we look forward to. Our elementary students are gearing up for the annual Philadelphia trip. A cherished tradition filled with learning and exploration. On Wednesday evening, the pack right here will be bursting with creativity and talent as we host both the junior high concert and the art show. And on Friday, the excitement continues with the Junior Prom at the Swan Club. Sunday morning, May 18th, we lace up our running shoes for the annual Westside Run, which steps off at 8:30 a.m. This wonderful community event brings people together in a spirit of wellness, fun, and school pride. And on June 1st, we have her sister school, Lloyd Harbor, hold
084a little apple fun run. And I hear Mr. O. Oh, he left. He'll be in the dunk tank this year. Oh, he's right there. He moved. He's in a dunk tank. He confirmed it with me today. Then on May 31st, 13 students and three chaprons, Mr. Danuski, Miss Scarz, and myself were embarking on historic trip to Normandy, France, walking in the footsteps of heroes who for over 80 years ago made extraordinary sacrifices to defend freedom and confront evil in the world. This trip is far more than a travel experience. is a powerful opportunity to relive history, to honor the bravery of those who served, and to ensure their legacy is never forgotten. Our students will serve as ambassadors of remembrance, carrying forward the stories, lessons, and values of the past to inspire future generations. Their
085presence in Normandy is a reminder that we must we must remain ever vigilant in the defense of freedom and justice. This season is a reminder of all the ways our district comes together learning tradition and community. Thank you for being a part of it. I also like to give an update on the traffic signal project. We received some optimistic news today. The town expects to begin installation as early as next week. They're currently waiting for the remaining mast arm from the pole manufacturer which is anticipated to arrive this week. All goes as planned. we could see the traffic light signaling flashing mode sometime during the first week of June ready for graduation. Just this morning, we're also notified that we were awarded the best communities in music education from the National Association of Music Merchants.
086This is the fourth year we have received this award. Congratulations to our music students and our music teachers. Thank you. And I was hesitating before cuz I knew there was one more thing that I wanted to add. It was just another one little piece of housekeeping. But Kate Delicarpini had to leave because her husband was not home and she had to go home to put her younger child to bed. So she just wanted everyone to be aware that she didn't just walk out of the meeting. She actually had to leave to go care for her children. So um now that the reflect record reflects that, we will move on to our discussion portion. Would any board members like to bring up any matters for discussion? Yes, Mr. Walman. I got a fine. Um, the first
087thing is um I start um Oh, I know we talked at a meeting earlier about the tax anticipation notes that we use. So, um, we use we borrow in the municipal market, uh, in in anticipation of getting tax receipts. And so, we've been borrowing, I think around $13 million each year. And I would like to ask uh for thoughts around exploring use of our excess capital to fund that instead of going to the market. Um, and I know when we briefly spoke about it a month or so ago, there was a question about bond council's views on this, but I'd like to know, um, either Joe or Christine, how can we move this forward and get the answers we need because I think we're paying a lot of interest on this that we don't have
088to pay or that we could pay ourselves. So, Mr. woman, we can we can resurface what bond council sent us, take a look at that and then um have a conversation with them and get back to the board on on you know on their thoughts there. They provided some detailed information that I'm not I don't I don't have the specifics of it right here, but we can resurface that and get back and bring it back maybe home on Friday notes this Friday. Great. Thank you. Okay. Um another question. Um, I think you saw New York State um, passed a ban on all cell phones in schools next year. And so, uh, I know we had a a spirited conversation either one or two meetings ago about the yonder pouches, but, um, if not tonight, cuz
089you're hearing about this just now, Joe, but I I think we owe it to ourselves and everybody else to have a conversation about what next year and beyond looks like because um, I think there's a lot of questions about compliance with the yonder pouches and I know um, there's different views on that, but certainly um, understanding whether So, we're going to keep that strategy for next year, go to a different strategy. Um, but not for tonight. And I just said the the ban is going to be for all non all devices not owned by the school. So, students wouldn't be allowed to bring in their own computers, watches, and the like. So, any internet devices that are not owned and controlled by the school would be banned. So, there's a lot we need to look
090at going forward. Thank you, Bill. Great. Um and then um I know this was another spirited discussion and we didn't have time and again not for tonight but I I think we should reook early in in the upcoming year like in July or during you know our goals planning um whether we've abandoned a third language or whether uh a third language just needs to be implemented differently. So I know there was a lot of debate. not looking to redo that, but I I think we should talk about whether we're going to try a different approach. And I think we had selected Italian, but um that was my items. Great. Thank you. Anyone else? Um I have two. Um and we have I didn't know, but we have a guest, Mr. Gro. There you are. Um,
091we received another letter um complaint about the wet lab. The last time um you were here and kind enough to take questions. One of the things I asked were for you to work with the school really to bring that over the finish line. So, if I can get an update what you've done since the last time you were here because we have yourself, we have a construction manager and from what it seems, Mr. Monasterero is trying to fill that void, which he's our superintendent. Um, I was hoping to move the ball on that cuz I feel we deserve um our students deserve to have a wet lab. they signed up for the class. They're not getting a wet lab. We're now doing fish tanks. But maybe you can elaborate on what's going on. So I
092I if I could fill in first on and and I don't know if the purchase have been made, but there's actually a transfer here to do some of the purchasing uh that we're going to go forward. Um Miss Oshan met with uh Mr. Danuski and Mr. Taylor to look at all the equipment they wanted and she settled on the equipment including the uh that the exact fish tanks, the lights, the filtering, and uh the the tables or or or racks to hold them. And I'm not sure, Dan, do you know if you place the order or you have the information about to place the order? So I think and and I think Anthony was in that meeting too if I if I left you out that those purchases are being made if they haven't been
093made already. Okay. I guess we're not going to get any comments from our architect. Um, or do you have any or I just want to know what's going on between our construction manager yourself and and the district? Well, so as as we touched on when I was here last time, I mean, we built the labs, we designed the labs, but usually the end equipment is really purchases made by the school district themselves. I tried to work with Christine, but there really isn't an avenue to buy fish tanks and have a fish tank installer pay prevailing wage. Um, and some of the insurance requirements that are indicated by nicer, it's tough to get around. So, the pens, the pencils, the flags, the the fish tanks, the loose chairs, that's not really something we design. We designed
094the backbone for you to be able to have that, but not for the actual fish tanks themselves and filling up the salt water. Okay. But you're you're always working in schools. I assume you would design a system that we could actually purchase the equipment for, right? The equipment is everything is in place. The hardware is in place, the drains are in place, the electric, the water supply, all of that is there. It's just a matter of putting in loose shelving and putting in fish tanks. Phil, if I understand we'll have a wet layup soon. Completely up to the district. If you want to go with an independent coral reef or you want to go individual fish tanks, all the provisions are there to do whatever the the district desires and the original design was more
095complicated and now we've we've broken it down into individual tanks. Is that it? No, the design never changed. There was always a design to have one room was going to be a coral reef room. The other room was really a working room where all of the fish tanks would go. Okay. Mr. Monaster, what was that we changed? Then you you indicated I thought we changed the design. Nan did change some of her design to make it more streamlined. And um that's and John didn't develop an exact plan for the fish tanks, but uh Miss Oshen went worked with uh a school out east on to what they had built and we took into account everything she was looking for and those will be the purchases moving forward. So uh John hadn't developed um we've been
096dealing with lots of different plans and how they operate and Miss Oen has settled on what she wants and that's what's being purchased. So I assume you've put in wet labs at other facilities because you do a lot of work with schools, right? Why is Cold Spring Harbor the one that has the trouble? So again, we don't put in the actual fish tanks or the coral reef. We give you the provisions for that and then the teachers or administrators put in the final the coral, the fish, the water, etc. But we don't we don't design. Um the gentleman we're talking about who's who's out east isn't actually an oceanographer and he does a lot of that. I think he built half of that stuff himself after the provisions for that architect and that that addition
097were built out west. And are we not working with him or we are now working with him? Like what how did the other schools do it and why don't we just copy what they did? I believe he was talking about working as a consultant, but I don't know if there was an avenue for the district to hire a teacher from Southampton schools as a consultant. That's something you would have to talk about with with the district and and council. That's something I'm not involved in. We did work with him and each location is different. For him, it took him 10 years to get where he is now. uh he started off with what we have now with I think 13 or 14 fishing tanks. I don't I don't know how many he started off with
098that's where we're in now and built the program over 10 years in building the tanks. So this is Erin worked with him and suggesting as to what type of materials some of it was a learning process some of the items he originally started with he didn't want to recommend moving forward sort of like the type of racks that are used uh and different equipment. So, uh, I think using his expertise and working with Aaron, we're in a good place to make the order and move forward. It's a huge investment. We want to do it right and, uh, you know, we're going to build one and build the next and move on. So, we we have the fish tanks and part of the whole process is having the students be part of putting together the tanks
099and putting them together and maintaining them and the like. So, of course, do I wish we moved we were able to move quicker on that, but I think it was part of the process. come together what is right for uh Cold Spring Harbor. I remember a couple years ago I visited a site in I don't remember was Huntington or South Huntington which school district it was in um and we're ahead of where they were with their fish tanks a couple years ago. So it's part of the process again. I wish we would have everything but I think it's also part of the learning experience of putting together developing and picking the right components. Okay. I heard on the walkth through there's pipes coming up from the ground. Are those going to be used or that
100was the old plan when those pipes the conduit that's sticking up to the ground is for the electrical outlets. So once we know the number of of fish tanks and all of those will be the outlets that come up through the floor. There's right now there's a drag in there. They pull a line and they and they put the outlets in. Okay. So ETA on the wet lab. What are we looking at? Completion. I don't know if we're ever complete, but we'll have tanks in there definitely for the start of the school year. Okay. And then, Mr. Gro, have they have it has it been communicated to you that going forward any allowances taken? Um, the old policy was you would talk with our CM, but the school now gets involved in that process, too.
101Was that communicated to you? Yeah, I know. Anything where allowance usage would go through jail? Oh, great. Okay, thank you for uh your time. I have one more um topic and it is again thinking about planning for next year and I'm not sure when uh Christine the food is ordered for the the lunchrooms but I would just like to know more about what food is being ordered and how we can make sure that the kids are getting less processed foods when um they are being served lunch less le fried foods, less foods with dye in them. I know there's potato chips and things like that. I I just want to see if we can come up with a plan that staying within budget gives healthier alternatives to the kids than what's currently offered. I also
102think it would be worthwhile to know what's in the vending machines here in um the building for the kids to purchase, too. I'll work with Jerry Tiger and we'll make sure we put something together so we know. Thank you. Thank you. I figure she probably she may already have order. I don't I don't know. But let's let's look at it because I'm increasingly concerned about what what the kids are. The more research that's coming out about what's in our food, the the more concerned I am about what we're giving them while they're here, too. So, and it comes up all the every year it comes up. So, let's get ahead of it this year. Great. We'll put a report together. Thank you. Okay. Any other items for discussion? All right. So, we're going to have
103our um presentation now on teaching and learning. Thank you everybody. I'll make this quick. So, this has been something that is a long time coming. We are going to be rolling out a new elementary report card uh beginning with grades K and one. I'm going to talk walk you through uh for the reasons why we're doing that. Uh but first I would like to thank our committee. So I I have the names up here. We did have representation from our admin team. We had a teacher on the committee and we had parents on the committee as well. Uh we wanted to make sure that we were hearing from all of our stakeholder groups because everyone sees the report card from a different perspective. So greatly appreciate the time and the valuable input from our committee
104members. I also want to mention that we had subcommittees. Um, we also are grateful to our teachers at Goose Hill who worked behind the scenes. We were collecting feedback from our teachers who were not able to join the committee. We wanted to make sure their voices were heard as well. All right forward. So, some of you may have been noticing terms of our report cards that some of the the categories are on the vague side. So, we're trying to be more specific. We're creating a report card that is truly standardsbased. And what that means is that students will be assessed um on how they're progressing through the the learning standards and and um and the level to which they have been achieving those standards. Um of course we have samples that we can show you.
105Um we also have the incorporation of a section called behaviors that promote development and learning. Um, so you may have noticed some behavioral categories throughout the report card. We're having a designated section for that and I'll talk a little bit more about that. We are going to continue with the fourpoint scale. Everyone has been used to and seems to still be in favor of a one, two, three or four. However, we are going to be moving away from a plus, for example. Um, we feel strongly that if we have a clear delineation of each of the levels and that we're transparent with families about the norming process and what denotes a one, a two, a three, and a four, um, that there would no longer be a need for the plus. So, it would just
106be a one, two, three, or four. And the other thing that's going to be new is the alignment of the parent teacher conferences in the fall with the release of the report card. So that hasn't been aligned in the past and teachers have been having premature conversations with families prior to them having the report card. So we're looking to change that. Uh so that that's another welcomed addition for the upcoming school year. just to give you some examples of what we currently have on the report card and what it's it's going to be changing to. So if we take math for example for grade one currently if you look at math on the report card one of the areas that the teachers will be evaluating is understands concepts. Now you can imagine that that it's
107very vague and difficult to assess because what are the concepts that we're talking about? So typically teachers would spend the time on on a lengthy narrative to explain what are those concepts uh that the student may be struggling with or doing very well in. So a we would be shifting to as an example represents and solves word problems involving addition and subtraction numbers within 20. That's just one example of of many that we have in the case of reading and some of you know this well another one of the indicators was shows effort right and so we want to think about what is that telling our families and that's wonderful to know if if your child is um putting forth the effort but how are they doing with respect to the standards and you know
108in our discussions with parents they would really appreciate to know specifically where their child may have some gaps, where they're doing well and and if there are gaps, they would like to be partners with us in helping to address that. Oops. So, let me just go back to So, instead of shows effort, um, one example for ELA could be retell stories or share shares key details from a text. All of the aspects that you're seeing for shift two, that's language from our learning standards. These are the actual standards that students will be assessed on for science and social studies. As another example, again, one of the indicators is simply understands concepts and content, but there's no speci specity um to what those are. So we would shift to demonstrates understanding of rules, rights, responsibilities and
109citizenship. That would be for social studies as an example. For science asks questions, makes predictions, conducts investigations and records observations to explore natural phenomena. Even our special areas um needed some updating. So instead of participates in activities, understands concepts. Again, uh for art it would be something like creates artwork using a variety of great appropriate tools, materials, and techniques. We have music as well. And we're still tweaking a little bit, but identifies and demonstrates music concepts, for example, beat, rhythm, melodic direction in a variety of musical styles and contexts. and even for PE demonstrates appropriate locomotive movements to participate successfully in physical activity. We are also including dance. Dance is one of our learning standards and and our students walk through Goose Hill and you'll see them dancing. We want to make sure that it's
110represented in the indicator. So I did talk about the one of the changes as being the alignment of the trimester 1 report card and the parent teacher conferences that that's not an easy shift. So I just want to make everyone aware that that will shift the number of days in our trimester in order for that to happen. So, we want to be mindful that for the upcoming school year, trimester 1 will have 48 days, trimester 263, and trimester 366. And again, that is done to allow for the report card to be given to families followed by the time for conferences to take place. Um, so again, we're keeping the that alignment for the first trimester and then the second trimester. in terms of what do they look like? So, um I have a QR code.
111If you didn't get to check them out yet, you can take out your phones. We have a QR code for you to check them out or you can click on the images um that are there. We have the the samples that are linked. But just to give you a quick peek, very clean looking. You can see the levels that we talked about, the one, two, three, or four. Not only will parents get to see a description falling within each of those readings, but the teachers will be working on what's called norms over the summer. And you know, we need to think about, okay, well, we know if we're what it means to be approaching a standard or meeting a standard, etc. But what in terms of the standard, how far do they have to get
112within that standard to get to a one, a two, a three, or a four? All of those norms are going to be written by the teachers over the summer and that also strengthens our alignment in grading by our teachers. Right? So if we have those norms established, it's very clear in terms of what will constitute a one, two, three or four. We will also ensure that parents are in receipt of those norms. So, if their child is, for example, receiving a level two, not only will they have this description, but they'll have an understanding of what aspect of the standard um they may have been falling short or that they were doing really well. So, I just wanted to make that clear to you as well. You can check out those samples. And again, we
113we're pretty close, but we could be tweaking some language before they're they're officially final, but you have the main idea. Um this is just an really a timeline just to know where are we headed from here. We thought it would be overwhelming on the system to do a whole K through five overhaul. It it's a lot of adjusting in terms of our assessments. Think about our our benchmark assessments need to be aligned to the report cards. So you may see for example where a trimester one is grayed out because we're not getting to that learning standard yet. So this is this is a lot of work um on just with our admin team, our teachers. We're so grateful for the time that they've put into this. So this summer, as I said, the teachers will
114be working on the norms and then in the 2526 school year will be our first uh year for KN1 with the new report card. And and again, as with anything new, we'll have to check on how it's going by the end of next year to see if any modifications need to to happen. Um, while that's happening, grades two through five will be working on on their report cards. So, they're going to have the whole next year to to work on um to give feedback and and work on their report cards in terms of what standards um will be on those those uh reporting systems. Um ongoing check-ins. So, we established an elementary report card committee. That committee will still be in place for 2526 and that committee will be holding meetings to have check-ins with
115the two through five teachers. And then the the plan is for the following school year in 2627 or all elementary K through five um to be aligned with the new report card system, the standardsbased report card system. Um, the reason grade six is not mentioned, grade six is aligned to, I'm sure most of you know this, to the junior senior high school uh, report card. That could be something that that is explored in the future if we think changes need to be made there. But that is the plan for our report cards. Are there any questions? I just wanted to make a comment. I think this is great. As a parent, when you go over the report card, espec especially with an elementary school student and they're like, "Why did I get a two or
116why did I get a three?" You can talk to them about it, right? You can have a conversation with them. It's very helpful, I think. Absolutely. Great. Thank you. And I know we have some a few parents here who were on the committee. And again, just coming back to this the committee, big thank you to the committee. This was a big lift. and um to our lead teacher who's not here right now, but Michelle Kuchallo, I just want to give Michelle Kugalo a shout out because she was the lead teacher um in helping to get this off the ground and the alignment in grading with the rubric. That's really helpful too, I would think, for the teachers and for parents to understand that that exists. It's great. Thank you, Jen. Thank you much and for
117everybody. This is really uh such an important move forward for allowing our parents and everyone to understand where our students could use assistance to help do better and like I said it really clarifies where our students are learning in school. Thank you Jen and everyone on the committee. Oh thank you. So I just wanted to ask um first of all thank you for your leadership and to the committee. This is excellent work and um definitely an upgrade. I forget. Do do the elementary also do progress reports or that's more secondary? Okay. No, I can't even think back that far or and then in terms of how this enhanced um reporting compared to how other districts do we have an understanding is this on par is this better do you think? Or are we catching up?
118I I I think that they're they may be looking to I mean we we even use some AI to help us. I mean, we we wanted to make sure that we ha we had as many standards in there that were touching upon all of the standards. We can't possibly include, for example, all of the standards in the report card. We'd be there all day. So, we really tried to tweak the language. We use artificial intelligence to help us out where what could the wording be that ensures that we're touching on multiple standards in one of those indicators. to your point about the other schools, that's really how we started um our first committee meeting is they all have thick red folders filled with samples from other school districts. So, we had probably at least 20
119different schools that we were looking at. So, it's not that we I wouldn't say we reinvented the wheel. We had a lot of inspiration from what we saw out there. Um however we we felt that we were elevating it by um just simplifying and again working on the language to touch on multiple standards within each indicator. So um yes we did we we looked at many different report cards. Um we en we wanted to also ensure that the academic piece was separate from the behavioral piece. And you know, we think about a student showing effort or um you know, their lack of attention, you know, those things are important to know as well. Those are going to be graded by letters. If you were able to look at the the samples so that was another
120thing that we looked at other schools, keeping those areas separate, we felt uh we were in agreement with those schools to do that. And there's I I don't know if I saw there's a section on the bottom they can still write commentary if they want. So, I have to reformat, but there will be it won't be as lengthy of they they there will be no need for a a lengthy set of paragraphs because it's going to be so clear based on the standards, but we are going to leave two to three lines for comments if they're needed because there there may still be things that need to be documented. Understood. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Thank you. Are we moving on to committee reports now? Oh, yeah. Sorry. Oh, okay. Yes. So, I I'm
121skipping over John. Sorry. We are um we have a presentation on capital project bids. So, come on up, Mr. Gillow. I just want to later later on, we'll be voting to do some capital work. That's why we have John here to answer their questions. This is for finishing the uh the westside kitchen air conditioning across the district and uh boiler work at westside and Lloyd Harbor School. Good evening again everyone. So on April 16th we opened bids for the latest round of capital projects. Uh this round of bids included four separate projects. The first as Joe had mentioned was the completion of the westside kitchen. This would be the installation and replacement of all of the kitchen equipment. It is some boiler room enhancements at Westside and Lloyd Harbor. Uh we're continuing to improve mechanical
122fresh air ventilation with the last of the rooms throughout the district uh lacking in such ventilation. And then as well as part of the 2425 capital reserve, it will be air conditioning all of the remaining classrooms and offices throughout the district. We're using three funding sources. There's funds coming from the 2019 bond, additional funds that were left over from 1819 transfer to capital, and then as I mentioned, the 2425 capital reserve. So, the first project is finishing all of the work at Westside Kitchen. Last summer, we did all of the architectural and related work, construction of the new walls to create the provisions for the walk-in refrigerator freezer. And this is all of the equipment that is either being installed new or replaced. The big component here is putting in a new walk-in refrigerator freezers
123for long-term cold storage. We can then remove the additional refrigerator and freezer that is currently sitting in the cafeteria. Everything will get back into the kitchen. And just something of note, I think the district got visited by Nassau County Health Department yesterday or today and were written up for missing a hand sink. As you can see, it's on there as part of this summer's work as well. There's still roughly $7 million left in the 2019 bond and the cost for all this work between GC Plumbing and Electrical came in at 519,000. Second project, these are boiler room components. They're not the boiler and the burner per se, but they are equipment that is vital to the steam systems in each building. Uh we're doing two vacuum condensate tanks. That's the two that's the build the
124photo on the left and the center. They are in place to prevent live uh hot water from dumping back into the boilers. And then a boiler water feed tank. So anytime the boiler needs additional water, this automatic boiler water feed tank will give proper water to the uh boiler system there. And then projects three and four, I coupled them together. This is all part of the 2425. Um, right now we we pulled out funds for the traffic light. There's about a million6 left in that budget and the bids came in at 1.2. Uh, the first column is the additional air conditioners that'll be installed throughout the district. So, we're installing additional 91 air conditioners this summer. Uh there are 10 spaces that we need to improve on mechanical fresh air ventilation and then some additional
125electrical panels and one of the electrical panels at the high school is also have provisions to address the new video display board that's going to be installed as well. And again, this came in at $1.2 million. And those are the four projects. And I think I had seen saw on the website that the recommendation letter was there and the board had a chance to look at the recommendation letter that we had presented. If there are any other questions regarding the uh the bids at all. I I do want to add before you go the 91 air conditioners are not included in the cost. We have to purchase them on our own. We didn't go out to bid on that because we knew the whoever bid would add their own personal markup on it. So, we
126figured we'll be getting a better price about $700 to $800 each for the actual units to be installed. Yes. And then the the creation of the opening and all of the window panels and the reinforcing of the panels is all part of the contract that's all built into that. And they'll be installing the air conditioners. It just the district will get a much better price buying them directly. So, um, did we get to see the bids or I'm sorry if they were given to us. I didn't see them. Do we get to look at the bids? The bid tabulation sheets. Well, if you go back to any project, say there's one for $500 and something,000. That's where the bids came in, right? Correct. Um, that was the lowest, I guess, bid of the four trades
127added together. Correct. It was the lowest. So, we received two bids from General Construction, four plumbing bids, three mechanical bids, and two electrical bids. Um, and if you if we went across the actually the GC, the lower of the bid, he gave and I called him and double checked on us, he gave a $180,000 discount if he was awarded all work locations, all schools. So, that worked into our benefit. Um, and then the plumbing was very small. The only plumbing work we had in the whole district was the kitchen equipment work at uh Westside and then mechanical electrical was was the uh unventilated spaces as well as the boiler room upgrades for the mechanical equipment. Again, we had three bids on that and then we had two electrical bids and that was the majority that
128was for the outlets for all of the air conditioners and the and the new electrical panels. But it is it normal we never see the the bids or um we just see the final price this the the the lowest bids added together. When you when you say bid you mean the plans and specs before they go out to bid or No I I want to know say on the on one trade if if one one came in at 10, one came in at 20, one came at 50, one came in at 70 because we've seen on some of these contracts such a wide dispersement of bids. you have to you have to consider some of these bids not even serious. So, we want to see how many actual you know ser cuz I guess we're
129trying to prevent um you know $1,100 lights and what cuz there's prevailing wages. We understand that that has to be paid and then there's profit baked in some of these bids which is astronomical. we've learned and that's at least as long as I'm here. Um, I'm going to make sure we're not getting ripped off and paying $1,100 for $150 light. So, I want to know if in those numbers, I mean, I'm uncomfortable just saying, you know, I I don't know what's in those and I don't know if there's crazy profit baked in or not. How do we know what we're voting on? So the the bid tabulations are are when we open up bids at the time of the bid, bid tabulations are taken and they're with the administration and then our recommendation letter is
130based on the bids that we received. So we're trusting who to make sure we're not getting ripped off, who is who is watching out for our taxpayers. So when we receive public bids, we we do not have the ability to go back and forth to the contractors to negotiate scope. That's just not something that's permitted in the public sector. On the private sector, you could meet with three or four or five contractors and say, "Hey, can you do this? Can you change this? What if you do this?" You don't even have to pick the low bidder. We're locked into the bids that we receive. If if we're not comfortable with those bids, we would could reject and go out to rebid and maybe in the fall maybe we get different numbers or better numbers for
131the summer of 26 installations, right? But when you write up the bid, you're saying we need this kind of toilet, this kind of light, this kind of sink, you generally know what they cost. So you you can generally tell what what that number should come in at with prevailing wages, you know, customary hours, etc. Um I'm just wondering are are these number do these numbers look good? Meaning if we go back and start to scrutinize these bids, are we going to say, "Oh my goodness, we're paying, you know, five to 10 times the price of of of of materials." Again, I'm sure like we've we've always done in the past with all of our districts, if a local contractor comes and looks at plans and specs compared to what they're required to pay and what
132they're required to put on their bids with the bonds and insurance, you're going to see that if you shop this around on your own as a private, you know, private owner in a in a a strip mall or a, you know, something like a clothing store, you'll get better prices than on the public prevailing wage sector. So, you're telling us every school just gets taken to the cleaners on on on lights, ba bath, sinks, uh toilets. That's just the way it goes. You pay 5 10x the markup. Is that how it goes or is that a Cold Spring Harbor thing? No, it's it's I mean, again, public bids are much more expensive than the private sector. And they always say that's because of prevailing wages. prevailing wage, the insurance requirements, the bonding requirements that are
133out there. There are provisions in the plans and specs that protects the district. So if the contractor goes belly up, the bonding company steps in and pays for the labor and the materials to complete it. So have you looked at these bids and seen any significant markups in the materials that you sourced in the bids? I mean, we've seen a markup in equipment and materials since CO. I mean, right out of CO, we were seeing prices come up through the roof. I we haven't seen them come down. I mean, we're still seeing 10 to 12% a year in construction cost escalation on the public side. Yeah. I mean, I'm I'm not looking to have $53,000 bathrooms anymore. I'm sure my colleagues are we're I mean, I don't want to speak for them, but I think
134we're all in alignment on that. Yeah, we agree. We agree. So, how do we know these are good numbers? Put yourself in our shoes. We are accepting bids based on plans and specs of what's specified as well as what the insurance nicer is requiring and what is that your school attorney is requiring in terms of bonds and general conditions. If you bid this in September for summer of 26, you might get a better number maybe from one or two contractors looking to get work for the following summer, but then you're going to pay you're going to pay on the back end for another year's worth of escalation. Okay. I look, it's late. So, all I'll say is this. Last time you said sometimes you look at bids, you say, "Oh, they're too high." And you
135send it back out. With these, did you do that? Or you think these are good numbers? So when we when we go and scrutinize the cost of the these things and I assume we're still not getting tear sheets or anything else, right? Because we don't we're not entitled to it. That's the way it goes. So we have to play detective to figure out what these appliances actually No, that that's not true. You I mean you're going to get you'll get the the construction manager is going to get schedule of values and breakdowns after they're awarded the bid. You don't we don't bid it as a line by line like a menu. Because if you start to bid it as a line by line, if we bid, for example, if we bid the kitchen equipment and
136we asked for a different number for every piece of kitchen equipment that was being asked for, the numbers would be even higher because contractors wouldn't know, am I going to be awarded two pieces of equipment, 10 pieces of equipment, the whole project. So they have to they have to make provisions. They have to have bonds whether it's a $10,000 product or a $500,000 project. Same thing with the insuranceances. Okay. And then the the allowances are going to be uh approved if taken by us, right? And then these bids were not sent back. So you're saying that you're okay with the pricing of these bids? You think they're not so high that they needed to go back and be rebid? Unfortunately, they're they are not so high. I mean, they are in line with what we've
137been seeing lately. I mean, I opened bids last week in another school district for a maintenance building, and it came in at $700 a square foot, and it was a shell. It was a Morton building shell with a concrete slab, lights, and a little bit of heat. Nothing else. No bathrooms, no other utilities. It was $700 a square foot. Okay. And we can get a spreadsheet of the different bids. Yeah, Christine has all of that. Absolutely. We can get all the the items that are being purchased. So we can go I I personally want to see the markup on this stuff that you're saying is customary because um you know we we're trying to spend our money responsibly. Yeah. I'm I'm a little surprised that the bids themselves don't actually break out what the costs
138are within the bid. I mean, without saying that you'd pick things like a menu item from this bid and that bid, you can't see an itemized cost of what they're actually saying the whole project would cost. So, each work loca, again, the spreadsheet that we have that the administration has a copy of has a breakdown by work location at each building. Yeah. What that cost, but like when you talked about the kitchen, for example, so like I redid the kitchen at my house, right? And I got a price for the cabinet. I got a price for each appliance. And I mean, that's a couple different vendors, I guess, but if the contractor was doing all of it, I would have been able just to see. Does this seem reasonable to me? You're saying no. That
139they won't even show you that. They just say it's $100,000 and I don't want you to know what I'm charging for the stove because you might want to get a stove from somebody else. I've we've never [Music] So you're asking on a public bid for the contractors to not only list the itemized pieces of equipment, but what they're no charging for overhead and profit. What they're charging us for each I mean like Mark's point with the light fixture. I I I don't understand why it's not our right to know what we're spending our taxpayers money on to build. I mean, you're acting like I'm asking for them to, you know, bring in belly dancers on elephants. I'm asking just the price of items that were I'm just trying trying to get a handle on on
140what is being asked. I would have to work with your your attorney to put together an entirely different bid. That's not something that you really see in the in the public sector to bid and ask the contractor what their overhead and profit is. Mr. Gorilla, we're not looking for a different bid. We're just looking for transparency of what we're purchasing. That's all. We want to know what what the spec is. You speck in the bid. You speck a toilet, right, Mr. Gerillo? You spec Yeah. You know what that toilet is and you know what that toilet costs. That's all. We want to know what it costs and then we're going to go through the bids and we're going to total it up. Throw customary prevailing wage number of hours on it and then we're going
141to look at the total bid and that's the profit. So, we want to see if the profit is ridiculous or not. That's all. And if it's not, that's that's we're good to go. We're, you know, we'll pay. There is there's nothing in my opinion, there's nothing unreasonable or out of the ordinary on any of these bids that we received and that we're recommending to award tonight. And what's your threshold for unreasonable or two times, three times? What's what's the threshold? Where what would cause you to say, "Well, that's a little pricey." Well, the the $700 a square foot maintenance building was too pricey cuz the bathrooms weren't too pricey, right? We did those. You didn't say again, that was bid in January of 24. We already had the numbers. It wasn't that we were asking
142for a separate bid. Those that work location was there for 6 months. I mean, it was there in place. I I'm sorry. I feel like a broken record, but just for the record, it was bid in January and then the board said what about it? We originally didn't award it and the board did not award it. Correct. And then the work was done and then the change orders were presented to the board as a different project. No. Yes. That's completely not true. That is completely true. That is absolutely what happened. We did not agree to. We were told the change order was for boiler work, not by you. And we approved a change order for boiler work. And the bathrooms that we said no to were done, but they had been done already. I was
143prior to that. Yep. I was direct. Every time we have this, this is like our third or fourth time possibly having this conversation, that story shifts a little bit. So, I just it's important that it's accurate and it's never wavered or shifted from myself. Okay. So, does anyone have any other questions here? Christine, I see it's actually not on the the public agenda this presentation, nor is there the the vote on this wasn't on the agenda that was the vote I think is item 20. Oh, item 22. Okay. 22. So, you moved it up for a vote. I mean, I I don't even know that we have enough information at this point to vote. So, um, is this one of those things if we don't vote now, we can't do the work over the summer
144and then it, you know, so that's, you know, so we I just can't spend money like this. I wouldn't do it personally. I'm not going to do it for our taxpayers, but that's just me. So, I mean, I'm happy to put this up for for a vote. I'm wondering if we should break them out one by one rather than take them as a slate. Is there anything we want more information on within these this work or are we comfortable taking it as a slate? Well, can Sorry, I didn't I wasn't clear on the answer to Mark's question. And if if we don't approve it, does the work not get done for a year or Well, the problem is I mean some of the long lead items, the kitchen equipment and the electrical panels are and
145the ventilation equipment that's going to go in the ceiling of those 10 rooms, they are long lead items. I mean, the outlets themselves, the conduit, that kind of stuff, the ceiling tiles, that's quick. But all of the other long items, you know, you do you do run the risk. Um and and so let me just ask one more thing now. Um so you're saying the bid process is there's a project you've drawn up specifications submitted them as part of the bid request and each uh each contractor is going to say look I can get that done for X. It's a single number. It's not detailed. It's almost like they're taking the risk if toilets triple in price, they're going to eat that versus um, you know, if they detailed it out. Is that Yeah. And
146and the same as I did the last time, we bid it by building by work location. So, in case money comes in higher or bids come in higher, we can pick and choose just so we always stay under the budget. But again, in this case with the GC, giving $180,000 allowed us to do the other three alternates um that we really wouldn't have been able to do if we didn't get that big discount. I have a suggestion and a timing question. So, we um our next meeting is not for a month, but we are going to have a meeting in between that meeting and this meeting. That's not on our calendar yet. We have to figure out what date we can all do it. Would pushing two weeks to get more information cause much of
147a problem? I I I mean I would have to get back to you. I would say yes, at least on the kitchen equipment. You know, we did the the walk-in and the serving line. Some of the the the stoves, the reaching refrigerators maybe, but I I can't answer because I don't that's the supplier. I'd have to ask the manufacturer what the lead time is on that's the Westside some of that stuff. So that's the Westside kitchen. So, if we broke out the westside kitchen and voted on that this evening and then got more information on everything else as soon as possible and then we could vote on that in two weeks, would that make sense? Well, I I think if you decide to go forward with some of the work locations and the bids and
148not the others, the contractors are going to not going to give you that full discount. If they're only getting part of it. So that's why if you look when you look, one of the one of the biders came in with a lower number at Westside. They don't want this big job. No. No. Question. Um can we get um a fact just to us the profit? So when you know we know that materials we know prevailing wages are estimated. Can can we also um just get communicated the profit baked in for um the job? Is that something we can see? Cuz if I had that information we'd be done. I'd be done because I say, "Okay, that's you know, people have to make a living people and and uh yeah, but it I I I I
149I really can't pay or I'm not saying I can't I don't I'm speaking for myself, not not my colleagues. I'm I don't want to pay $1,100 anymore for a bathroom light that's 150 bucks." I I can ask the contractors if they're would be willing to let you know what their overhead and profit is. I don't know if they're going to answer that. Um, you know, that I can ask some of them if they're willing to do that, but you know, again, I can't guarantee. Other districts don't. How do they how do they make the decision? like when you they you just say this is what the costs are like, you know, they raise their hand and off you go. I mean, is that how it goes? Am I being unreasonable with these questions? No, they're
150all excellent questions. Um, you know, I feel the same way a lot of times with some of these numbers on how expensive things are. I mean, $1,200 a square foot for new construction and $5 and $600 a square foot for reconstruction and renovation. I mean, right be right before COVID, uh, construction cost for new was $600. It's doubled in 5 years. Yeah. We were paying what 1,800 a square foot for really basic stuff. I mean, basic tile, basic fixtures. Yeah. It's ridiculous. So, we we just want to I mean, we really we're not looking back. We're looking forward. what happened happened. But we we we we have to get our arms around the cost of what we're spending money on. So just because we're zeroing in here on, you know, a ridiculously late meeting, um
151let's go down the line here and see. Are you I'm going to just do like a little Are you comfortable voting tonight? I can take a little temperature check. Is that correct? Am I allowed to do that temperature check of the board or No, I know. I I think you'd have to do a formal vote. Do a formal vote. Okay. So, do I want do we want to should I do a formal vote of if we want to vote on this tonight or just vote vote? I mean, I guess you could um if someone wants to make a motion to this. Okay. You can vote on whether you should table it or not. Okay. Okay. As per your suggestion of doing, you know, putting this over two weeks and looking Yes. Does anyone want to
152make a motion to table this for two weeks? Yes. Oh, okay. So, yes, we've got Lisa Smith and a second Bill and Bill Wman. So, um all in favor I think that's that's everyone. So, we're going to table it for the next meeting and we'll let you know what that date is. We're going to get our calendars together and pick a date with within two weeks. Okay. I just want to make sure John we'll be asking for for instance the kitchen equipment what each item will cost. We'll be able to get that. I think that's what we're ultimately looking for. Or at least to see the bids. Just see the bids. Any itemization. Um you certainly know the cost of things. uh you know, you know, they're estimating how many hours they're going to need
153to do 22 the job and the rest is profit. Sorry, just so the record reflects it, that was on item number 22, bid awards. We didn't didn't state that. Okay. Thank you. And yeah, I think we just need as much information as you're able. I'll try to get whatever I can to provide. Thank you very much. Thanks a lot. Okay, moving right along. Okay. So, now we're on to committee reports. So, uh we've got policy, health and safety, and tech. Okay. So, policy, right? Um we just met I think it was Friday. Um Oh, you're going to throw me a curb? No, I don't think we met twice. We did. Oh, yeah. Oh, I was only at one. All right. So, I'll do Friday and then you could fill in whatever I missed. Um, so
154we're thinking about two policies right now. One is on for a first read tonight. That's a policy around extreme heat. It's required by New York State. It largely encompasses procedures when classrooms get hot that we have to follow and take corrective action. And if the heat continues unccured, then we would have to find um different spaces. So, um, that's on for first read tonight. It's largely stuff we do already, so there's nothing risky or controversial in it, personal view. And then, um, second, we spent time, and we'll probably talk a lot more about this in the June meeting, but there is a requirement to have an exeicio student board member um, selected out of a senior in in the district. And um we're the policy committee is going to come with ideas for the rest
155of you to fill in the blanks about how we go about selecting and and um choosing the student. There's various ways we're looking at other school districts how they do it and um so more to come on that. Thank you. The only other thing we're working on right now is changing some of the language and some policies to reflect the um is LG1 LS1 LG which Cole Spring Harbor what's the name of it subject matter list or something subject harbor subject matter list. Yes. Okay. That's right. So um we're looking at a few that touches a few different policies. So, we'll continue to work on that and hopefully we'll have some more for you to approve soon. Thank you. We're working our way through a very long list. Okay. Health and safety. Okay. [Music] Um,
156would you mind, Mr. Clemens, to get to the podium in case I miss something? Thank you. Uh, so the homeland security assessments were were they all conducted or they started actually me and Mr. Smith too that would be great. I just want to were they finished all the homeland security assessments or they're underway. Bud Harbor is done. We talked about the committee west side officer Castanzo is still finalizing it. We haven't gotten that, but they've the surveys are done. I'm just waiting for Westside's report. Okay. And there's no more to do this year. No, sir. The other two schools last year, and we'll try to rotate them around every The handheld radios are done. Um, uh, they're being deployed, the school district. Yeah. Yes, they're they're in the field. Okay. And then the Lloyd Harbor
157septic, um, could you provide a quick update on that? So, we have um some pools in part of the septic system that's below grade. And the feeling from the investigation that was done by uh the company that does our cesspool maintenance was that we need to unear some of those, bring them up to grade so we can do proper maintenance on them, suck out all the solid material, um remove it so we can increase the capacity and the efficiency of the system. And that's getting done shortly or Well, I have I have one proposal for that currently. So, I'm looking at possibly just getting another proposal so we can at least make sure that we shopped around and didn't just take the first person that offered us a a quote and estimate and they'll put
158an end to the septic issues there. Or is that a band-aid? No, it's according to the first person that looked at this, they think that it can help alleviate that, also save us money that we're doing more frequent maintenance. And then the security cameras at the high school, they're they're going in um in the next what couple months. The security cameras for the new addition. Um new edition. Yep. Yes, they were installed and we are just waiting for another piece of equipment to be received and then they can install that and then integrate the cameras into the system and we should be online shortly. And we saw the modified fencing was done. So, thank you. We got quotes on that. Yes. Um the alert system is uh on order still. Any update on that? I
159I don't I could everything's been processed. I have to say Boseis dropped the ball a little bit. We approved on our end a month ago. They took the sweet time, but everything has been moving forward. We've done a lot of the backend technical work here. Uh but everything has been straightened out with Boseies and City Boseies when moving forward. Very good. The gooseill underwater uh under underwater underground water issue. Um when is that going to get uh worked on? Well, currently we we are monitoring test wells that were put in and at this time right now there's nothing to work on. But if the situation shows itself, again, what we will do is then use that information and then consult with our architects and engineers to come up with a plan to either have uh
160some sort of more of an increased pumping system to evacuate the water from the basement, which is currently pushed in right now from hydrostatic pressure from uh water that's just pulling up above the the normal uh groundwater table. So, that's where we're at right now. It's dry, so there's really not a project necessarily um for us to do and hopefully it doesn't come back so we don't have to do that project. Okay. Mr. Smith, you said you're putting in improved signage in some areas, right? And some additional lights in noisy areas just for added safety and direction. Some added blue lights. We did wor I did hang the additional lights in Goo signage in Gill today. It's kind of a pilot program and we'll see you know how that how people respond to it. Law
161enforcement's coming in this week. So they'll also take a look at it. This is the signage inside the school. Correct. Yes, ma'am. So you're running through the holes quickly. Not only will it help it every day, but law enforcement will know this. They're coming tomorrow on a separate matter. So The last topic we discussed were for student parking to make sure we have the right students driving to school. Um, you were looking at possibly hanging placards of different colors for faculty and students. Is any update on that? Yes, I'm still looking at the placard. I discussed a couple options with the superintendent. I actually left them with the high school for them to take a look at it. I want their input, too. But, uh, you know, they ing this forever. So, right now we're
162looking at what we feel works best and then I'll go forward with the order. Excellent. Thank you. And one thing we're doing stickers across the district. Currently, we only do stickers at the junior senior high school for staff, but all four buildings will have stickers to make it easy to identify other cars and look up who they belong to. Oh, and then we the cameras for right. So, I'm sorry. Yeah, the car cameras came. Is is there any update on that in terms of license plate cameras? So, that's on here. We went out, we were able to receive one additional bid from a company. There are only there aren't that many companies that deal with the licensing and the system we use. We received one more. It was more expensive than the one off the
163state contract. We had indicated that in here and we'll move forward to purchasing those cameras. Uh that'll be installed over the summer. Uh hopefully sooner. Okay. Okay. Uh I mean it probably let cont. I'm not sure if it was state or boseies. I forget what bid it was, but it was less expensive than getting an additional but a lot of um lot of activity on enhancing security at the school. So thank you both. Um really great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um technology. All right. Tech committee. I'd like to thank Dr. Falton for providing me with such amazing notes so I didn't have to write them myself. Uh we met on April 10th and um at the district office and virtually because we are the tech committee. Uh we were presented with an update
164of on the completed Cisco switch project which began in the summer of 2024 and concluded in March of 2025. All schools now have updated network switches. Items included in the 2025 2026 IT budget were also discussed including the new copy machines. Um, this is a Kanukica cra contract via Boseies. Um, I think the the copy mach this is the last year of the Xerox machines. Um, Westside and Lloyd Harbor. Also, we're getting new library iPads, virtual desktop clients, Chrome boxes for Prometheian boards, and the new SAN server. The previous SANS server is at its end of life, but it will be used as an emergency backup at another location. Is that correct, Dr. Fton? Did I get that right? Okay, great. Uh, the committee also received a sneak preview of the new website, which looks
165amazing. Uh, this the school website, uh, which is scheduled to be launched in May. The demonstration showcased the updated look and feel of the information being transferred, including live social media feeds from the district's Facebook page, and it is so much easier to navigate. It's going to be amazing. Uh, the AI de AI program demonstration feedback was the last topic for review. members who attended the live virtual demonstrations were able to share their feedback on both magic school and brisk teaching. These are AI platforms. Due to the teacher and student abilities in Magic School, coupled with the issues that Bris was experiencing with their demonstration, the members present concluded that Magic School, which is purchasable through Boseies, is the better choice. The committee discussed how moving forward with AI is less about the actual purchase
166and more about planning and then training staff on the appropriate and ethical use of this emerging technology. And we have another meeting I think scheduled in June. Yes, thank you very much technology. So just um for our new appointees who are here, I I recommend that I'd like to skip ahead just briefly to item number 19 if we may for appointments. So I'm going to um if everyone's okay with that, take a motion to take appointments uh number 19 as a slate. And I know we have two new appointees who are here as well. Scott, that's you in the back. I I can't see. Yes. And Kelly, thank you for staying. Welcome. Thank you. This isn't how we haze new people. We don't make you stay up until 11. So sorry. Welcome to Cold Spring
167Harbor. We hope you don't stay up this late all the time. Um, all right. May I have a first? Oh, that was everyone at once. Heather second. Lisa. All in favor? Thank you. Kelly's actually coming back. She's student taught here 10 years ago. 16 years ago. Oh, welcome back. Oh, that's so nice. Welcome back. Oh, we did. We voted. All approved. You're approved. Go home. Go to bed. Thank you. Administrator. Administrator. Administrators. Go to bed. There's a test in your past. Okay. Oh, it's just you. I know. Did you Are you here for audience to visitors? Do you want us to move that up too? Yes. Okay. Let's move audience to visitors up as well. We're now at our first audience to visitors. We have one visitor who's familiar with the rules, so I won't
168reread them. Thank you. Hi. Thank you for moving me forward. Um I love Good night everybody. Uh I love the uh event earlier today. Thank you for honoring all the teachers, the retirees, the new tenure. Like it's a beautiful thing that you do. um all of the um speeches that are given about the different teachers. That's wonderful. And I I love this little booklet. I um I got to actually keep one. So, thank you. Uh I wanted to just let you know for the climate survey, I know it's being hosted by a third party. Um usually when I go on a website and there's something that pops up and says, "Oh, we're going to track you and you can accept or reject the tracking." I typically reject it. And when I went on the CL
169climate survey and it said, "We're going to track you." And I said, "No, thank you." It shut down, it did not allow me to take the survey. I wonder if because I noticed when I was testing it out, if I closed my window and it went back in, it took me to where I last finished or was working on the survey, if that's what it's doing, keeping track so you don't do it twice. They told us that it is anonymous and it doesn't know who you are. I will question them tomorrow morning about uh what you just said there. Okay, that's good feedback. Thank you. Um and then this is the I've been coming to board of ed meetings for um over 10 years. Um and this is the first time that on the board
170portal there's no agenda or agenda packet. I think you may you may you probably have favored the the site but we moved to the new portal. So if you clicked on our website and clicked for the board agenda, it's there. Okay. Okay. So, I think if you had it a favorite and just we went to it directly that might that's probably the reason why. Okay. Because I refreshed the meeting here and I didn't get it. And usually there are many printouts and I don't know if I just I don't know. I wonder if everybody picked it up because we had you know a hundred people outside and they took them all because I always write notes on my notes on there and I was like I can't believe there isn't a single one anywhere. But
171I could get but definitely if you go to our website now and you click on the board portal you will it will take you to the new one. It's like a new look. Yeah. Okay, I'll try that again. Um and then I thought um previous in previous board of ed meetings there was a uh vote saying that for contracts above a certain number and the number keeps going down, you would get all of the information. So I'm assuming that would also apply for the bids that came in for the work that is to be done, you know, that just went through or that's being proposed to go through. Yes. So that if the ad information is with the administration, you know, in the office, maybe it should have been shared earlier. I don't know. So
172I think what you're talking about though is what the number that we brought down actually was in in audit committee. We brought it down and that had to do with how we receive bids. Okay. And um you're right, we did lower the number, but we do we're we're we're continually asking for more information, which seems to be very impossible for people to find. But I am very glad that you are persevering on that. Thank you for standing up for your taxpayers. Thank you for the work that you do. That's what we're here for. Um and for the student, I don't know how other um board of eds do it with a student member. These meetings do run late. You weren't here last month. the brain even later. Um I don't know how the students would
173do it as well. Like it's a big time commitment. Yes. Especially for seniors like we agree and um we're you know we're bound to follow New York law which this is New York education law but um have to think about that as well. All right. Because our students do so much. So this would be a big time commitment. Great opportunity but a huge time commitment. Yes. Well, thank you, Miss Miss Costa. Was uh we lowered it what to 25,000 and then it requires three bids. Was that what the rule change was? I recall 35,000, but I'd have to look I'd have to look it up. I think it was 35,000 and then it requires three bids. It require require how I understood it was it requires if you're using a properly let contract from another
174agency you would have to get a sealed bid and compare the properly let contract to the sealed bid you'd get a sealed bid go out to bid and then compare it to whatever public agencies you know already let contract just piggybacking on something we'd go out to bid on it was the I think the purpose of that initially yeah which joged my memory Yes. Yes. It's that was an audit committee from like two years ago, but it just came rushing back here. There's also a policy and that's where the 35,000 is. And that policy there's certain things that are bid, certain things that you can just get quotes on. Yeah. Uh obviously lower and I think we talked about possibly bringing that with lower numbers at some point. So Okay. So I I just didn't
175want to make sure then what we just discussed before with the fences. The fences came in at 32,000. We did get three quotes and the lowest was off of contract. So we're fine with that. And I'm pretty sure with the cameras that was I think 68,000 and change to do these. Uh we were only able to get one additional uh Rihanna Rich look and try and get them, but there was only one other vendor out there. I want to make sure we're not violating anything. It was off of a a properly let contract that dollar amount, but it was 68 and change. So, make sure if we are going to go forward, we're not violating any policy. I don't remember three bids as part of the equation. Obviously, we'd love as many. We can't control
176that, but definitely there were things I think we weren't bidding that we wanted to make sure bid. Gotcha. So, we're okay. I mean, we definitely tried. I mean, Rand tried, Rich tried to get other vendors and we could only get one who works with our milestone system to get licensing. It's again it's a very niche uh very specific right fence is easy you get three pages on the phone book so we're I'm going to try to keep us on track just because interesting for discussion but it's something we can look up and you can let us know or we'll look up and see what it says. We need to move on to our budget hearing now which is why Miss Costa is over at the podium. She is poised and ready. It's our required budget
177hearing, the last in our series of budget presentations for the 2526 budget season. The annual budget vote and the BOE trustee election is May 20th at the fieldhouse from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Please come out and vote. We will motion to adjourn to the budget hearing. May I have a first mark? May I have a second uh bill? All in favor. Thank you. Oh, thanks Bruce. We announce Mary Bin, resident, as chairperson of the meeting and annual budget budget vote and trustee election. We will now conduct the required budget hearing. Miss Costa will present the budget in its required format. Great. Thank you very much. Okay. So tonight commence you know is the end of our budget process which started all the way in November for in district for administration and it culminates tonight
178with the required budget hearing. At our last meeting in April the board adopted the budget and this budget hearing is required by law and it's required to present the the budget in a in a format and we'll discuss as we go through. One of the first things that um I wanted to discuss though is that if you followed News Day on Sunday and their present, you noticed that there was a very late passing of the state budget this year and we just getting information. It's coming out right now. I want since it's poignant and it's related to um the whole budget process, I thought it was important that we talk about what was in News Day this Sunday and the information that's presented. On the left hand side is a copy of our state aid
179after the enacted budget and um the legislature voted on it and you're going to start seeing some boxes pop up. So if you just so I can hopefully follow everyone can follow along. This was what was in News Day. If you look at the total state on the left and Cold Spring Harbor's information, you'll notice the numbers match. For 2526, it says 4,933. It says 4,933 on the left hand side. It says 4,622 for 2425. It says 4,622 on the left. And it shows a change in aid of $311,000 or a 6.74% increase for business officials and many of the advocacy groups, superintendent and such. um this one representation of information from News Day and the state either one or both of them together uh really um it really sticks in our craw. So I'm
180going to go through the details as to why some of this information um as it's presented is misleading. So here we have on the state aid run this is universal prek. You'll notice that it's represented on this run. Universal prek is a grant. No other grant that we received from the federal or state government is represented on this state aid run. This started a couple of years ago. The state representing this on the state aid run. And what they do is on the left hand side where you're looking at 2425 information labeled A and you look at 2526 information labeled B. Our allocation of $432,000 has not changed for the prek program, but we cannot serve all the students we have the allocation for because we don't have the classroom space. So what the state
181does is two things that are we'll say stick in in our crew as business officials. One, they represent the information at all on this at all here because it is not money that supports our general fund or foundation aid operations. And number two is they adjust the 2425 information labeled A downward based on what you are using every year. So when we say we're servicing 36 kids, they replace the item in number A that they showed us last year, which was $432,000, and they replace it with the 194,000 that we're using. But then they proceed to represent in 2526 that we have another $432,000 which we cannot use all that money. We only have two classrooms of space. So what that does is it represents our a perceived increase in our state aid that is
182not true as this is grant money. So, if you um adjust the state aid run on the left for what happened and you remove universal prek, which is what every district does, and that's the real numbers, you'll notice that our you'll see the numbers as they're reflected adjusted and you'll see that our increase in aid is 1.7% over the prior year. This would really be what happened in News Day. Every district that can't utilize all of the universal prek money is seeing the exact same effect on the News Day run every year. So, this is really what should be on the News Day run and it's not. And we see this because people will ask questions. Oh, you got a 6.74% increase in aid. We have to explain to them what's going on and the
183I'll categorize as misrepresentation of information that's happening just to make districts look like they received more aid than they really did. So I just wanted to bring that to light. It was just in the paper on Sunday so speak people could speak to it if they um if anyone asks any questions. So now we'll move forward with the required budget hearing information. This is our highlights of our budget. The proposed budget adopted by the board 81,976,259. It is a 1.58% increase over the prior year. 1,276 and $276,974 increase. Corresponding to that um proposed budget that the board adopted was the levy that the board decided to move forward with. They moved forward with a levy of $71,922,549. That was an increase in the prior year levy of 1,23697 or 1.75%. And it will be noted
184that our levy was under the maximum allowable levy of 2.23%. This is the highlights of our budget. Um, our budget obvious, you know, is program driven. We continue to support all of the great things happening in the district. And this year we added a um a bunch of new items in our budget supporting our students, our offerings. Whoops. I don't know what happened there. I doesn't like it. It went to it went to bed. Hang on. Okay, we're back. Okay. I don't know what happened. Thank you, JT. Yeah, thank you. So the so as we all know that we ordered we we added additional course offerings at the junior senior high school. We provided further um reduced class sizes at both secondary and elementary levels. We expanded our integrated co-eing model. Um we provided resources
185for math coaching going forward. This budget maintains our facilities grounds and fields. It supports our security initiatives and district-wide equipment needs. So here is um a summary of our our budget. That's our revenue budget on the left. That is our expenditure budget on the right. If you notice that they equal each other, that was the per that was our process when we went through over the last couple of months. Uh the you'll see that the levy here again is represented at 1.75%. This is just a visual representation of both our revenue and expenditure budgets. If anyone's interested in how much uh each component makes up on the revenue and expenditure side here you can see it very easily. Our three-part budget. This is really one of the required disclosures of this budget hearing. On the
186left hand side we we spoke all through the budget process of the following five categories. That is the accounting representation of how our budget is accounted for. But when we actually are talking tonight at the budget hearing, we're required by law to convert these five sections into a three-part budget. It's basically a mapping. You notice the the numbers are the same. 81 million um $81 million is Oh, I went too fast. Sorry. $81,976 is our budget. And now we have to map it in this way. The reason we map it this way, you're going to see on the following slide, is we need this to be able to calculate our contingency budget, which is what we're going to speak about. This is the vis visible visual representation of our three-part budget and what each of
187those components make up. But here is why we need the three-part budget. We needed to calculate our contingency budget. Let me just say I could not find any instance in Cold Spring Harbor's history where we have ever ever not passed a budget and had to go to a contingency budget. But that is the requirement of the hearing tonight to tell um the board and the community what a contingency budget would look like for Cold Spring Harbor. So if we were not successful in passing the budget on the 20th, there's another um budget vote on June the third Tuesday in June. And if we were unsuccessful a second time, a contingency budget would be implemented for the district. A contingency budget does not allow the following expenses. Any equipment, there's an administrative cap calculation. Your administrative
188cap can't be your administrative costs that are the in the three-part budget cannot be more than the prior year. So you have to make an adjustment for that and you can't do any transfer to capital work in the district. Those would immediately come out. So that would be a total expenditure reduction of $987,216. We then have to compare did that $987,000 reduction in expenditures make our levy equal to last year's levy because the second calculation is your levy can't be greater than the prior years. So, if you notice, we have this $987,000 is being reduced from our 2526 levy. And I'm showing a revised levy of $70,935,000. And then we compare that with that purple line. It shows our prior year levy was 70,685. we would need a further reduction of $249,781 if on top
189of the $987,000 to be compliant with the contingency budget. And that's the required disclosure tonight for the budget hearing. Just to say what that is. Um now we move into what we're going to be voting for when we go when we go to the polls on May 20th. We have two seats, two candidate seats on the board up for um election. We there are three-year terms. Those three-year terms begin July 1, 2025. Our candidates are in or in the ballot order. Bruce Sullivan and Alex Wheeleran, they are incumbent um board trustees and they are running as we call it uncontested. And this is what the this is what's it's going to look like when you come to the ballot box. There's one proposition and then you're going to vote for two two trustees. So the
190that's exactly the exact wording in the proposition to vote for the budget that you resolve that the school district budget for the 2526 school year proposed by the board of education in accordance with section 1716 of of the education law shall be approved. And then the second item that the voters will be asked to vote on is two members of uh for seats on the board of education, Bruce Sullivan and Alex Wheilahan. Complete details of the budget are on our website. Email me with any questions. And any questions from the board or anyone? Yes. Believe it or not, I just have one question. Um the contingency budget? Yes. If you have two no votes, that is that automatically um the budget that there's not a there no there's no need to have a vote on
191the contingency. This is it. We're the the board would decide on their second vote what they wanted to move forward with. They have a myriad of options. They can move forward with the exact same vote they put forward on vote one. They could move forward with a revised vote or they can decide to go right to a contingency vote and they don't have to even conduct a second vote. Can a contingency vote be voted no by the community? No. This would be a contingency budget. They can't they can't. If they vote no a second time, you're in contingency, which is here. And then that's our budget. There are some decisions to be made like that last item $249,781 are discussions as to what that would be. There are choices there where the $987,000 at the
192top of this calculation are not choices. Those are direct line items that come right out of the budget. There'd be no equipment purchased. There'd be no there'd be other things. The administrative cap up above would also be some conversations we'd have to have how we would meet the $66,000 reduction in our administrative cap and we'd have to discuss how we would meet the $249,000 reduction additional reduction needed at the bottom. But at the end of the day, that would be your reductions that you would have to come up with. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. So, I lost my place. So, we're going to now Is that it? We just Yeah, that go back into motion to return to regular meeting, right? Yes. Okay, Lisa. Thank you, Heather. All in favor? Okay. Um, we did audience
193to visitors. We're going to move to approval of minutes. um the April 8th meeting. I was not there. May I have a first? Heather second. Bill. Any questions? All in favor? All right. The April 22nd meeting. Bruce, you were not there. May I have a first? Heather second. Lisa, all in favor? May 5th, Kate and Bill were absent. May I have a first? Heather second Bruce. Any questions? All in favor? Great. Okay. So, we're going to move to item number 17 through 20. We I know we did appointments already. It's personnel recommendations of the superintendent. So, we're going to take leaves and resignations and personnel contracts. We did we did 19 already as slate, right? So, we've already done 19. So, we'll remove Do I need to take a motion to remove 19 or we
194already did it? You voted already. Just do the other than 19. Yeah. Hold on. I couldn't hear what Christine was saying. What? You would do 17, 18, and 19. Wait, you did 19. 17, 18, and 20. Okay. So, we're going to take 17, 18, and 20 as a slate. May I have a first? Lisa second Bruce. Any questions? All in favor? Okay, we're going to move to items number 21 and 23 through 27, which are business recommendations. And it may take you a moment to get there's no page numbers right now because it's a new system, right? They didn't it didn't generate page numbers. We'll have to figure that out. Um, we're going to take donations, change orders, budget transfers, health service contracts, claims, auditors reports, and additional matters as a slate. No, that was
195something else that we that was the bid. That was number 22. So, we just did 21 23 through 27. That skips 22, right? Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I think we're good. Yeah. No, thank you. Good. Always good to double check that we're not voting on something that we said we weren't going to vote on. The change orders there, I believe, is money that's being given back again. Is that right, Christine? Another magical gift of money back. That's correct. That's close out of every meeting is like a little Christmas. Okay. So punchy. Sorry everyone. Okay. So, uh, may I have a first Lisa, the second bill. Any questions? All in favor? Thank you. Um, we're going to move to item 28, special education reports. We're going to take all contract CEPS approvals as a slate. May
196I have a first, Lisa? Second, Bruce. Any questions? All in favor? Thank you very much. We're going to move to number 29, first reading of policy number 8113, extreme heat condition days. And we are going to vote to wave a full reading of this policy. May I have a first, Bruce? A bill. Oh my god, I'm so tired. Phil, I know your name. A second. Heather, any questions? All in favor? Thank you. Okay, we're going to move to item number 30, a second read in adoption of policy number 4327, homebound instruction. We're going to vote to wave a full reading of the policy. May I have a first, Lisa? Second, Heather. Any questions? All in favor? Thank you. Um, would you like to have a second audience to visitors? You're all set. Okay, we're going
197to move right along. Coming down. Oh, yes. Oh, I found the agenda. I It was the old site, so it works. Thank you. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. Um, 31 now. 31. Thank you, Christine. So, we're going to move to item number 31, other matters. This includes the approval of Tri Honor Society bylaws. May I have a first? Lisa, second bill. Any questions? All in favor? Thank you. Um, this is the second discussion section of our agenda. Oh, no, sorry. This agenda includes financial reports and these reports are forformational purposes. No vote is necessary. If needed, Miss Costa will answer any questions from the board of education and public. Please feel free to call her in her office. This is the second discussion section of our agenda. Would anyone on the board like to bring
198up any items for discussion? Okay, we're going to move to adjourn the meeting. May I have a first bill? Second, Heather. All in favor? Great job, everyone. Thank you. Great job.