001Not a single member of the board voted against that at that time. The last thing I want to say is is I really hope that you all are reflecting on the decisions that were made, the processes becoming those decisions, how those were communicated to the public, and we'll be able to communicate to the public going forward how that's going to be different. You know, people like to say we're in unprecedented times. We are, but the unprecedented time is not January till now. It's January for another four years and and possibly longer. Um there are going to be many more illegal challenges from this administration on DEI, on climate change, on all sorts of other things that this community really believes strongly uh you know disagree strongly with this administration on. uh we all as a
002community have a moral obligation to oppose those things to not to comply in advance to not to make the scared decisions. Um I think that this time the process the decision-m process was failed. Uh I would like to see it be better in the future and and I'd like to understand how it will be better in the future. So, I'd love for there to be some reflection and communication to the community on the next time we get an illegal order from the Trump administration, how are we going to respond to it better? Thank you. That's everyone that signed up there. Yeah, that's okay. Go ahead and come up and then when you're finished, you go ahead and you can sign up later. Just Hi, I'm Tracy Bunet. I'm a parent and have two kids in
003the school district. And I just want to start by saying, I mean, all of you, this is a life of service and you dedicate a lot of time and energy to this. And we all really appreciate it. And I know it's probably hard when you're here doing this labor and people aren't showing up and then we show up when we disagree. Um, but I really appreciate the opportunities that you've given the community to engage in discussion about this. It means a lot. Um, I also feel similarly to to the earlier speakers um that it was a mistake to suspend the policy. Um, I'm glad it's reinstated. The couple of points I want to make is one is that you know when you walk in the library tonight the sign above the library is about standing
004up to bullies and that is a real core value at Haldane. That's why we have the anonymous reporter tool. It's why we have the buddy bench. You know we teach kids this you know be the eye and kind from kindergarten and prek soon. Um and I I think as a as the grown-ups, right, we need to do the same. I think it's really really important that we stand up to bullies and that's very much what this is. Um the other thing that I I think a lot of people are struggling with I try and speak for myself but having had conversations with people there was something kind of disingenuous I think about the recording at least that I watched of the part two of the meeting. There was a kind of attitude of like It
005felt a little bit like theater or a farce like yeah you know let's reconsider our policy you know let's see if it's really serving us well and in your hearts like I don't actually think that everyone on this board feels like yeah you know the policy is probably just not serving us well it felt like you're just kind of saying the thing you need to say for the recording so you don't get busted by you know the toddler and chief I don't know it it felt very different from I think the values that all of you tend to bring to this work. Um, and I know I'm repeating some of what I said yesterday, but I do I want want it for the recording. Um, the other piece is I think the line was very
006much we're going to suspend the policy, but the practices will not change. That is cold comfort. Okay? And I said this yesterday. If your employer says, "Hey, we're going to rescend or suspend our payroll policies or our maternity leave policy." But don't worry, you know, all the practices will be the same. No one is buying that. That does not feel good to kids in our school. Doesn't feel good to parents. And it may be true, but I mean, no one's going to sign on the dotted line when somebody tells them that. So I really I hope that we can like continue the conversation and I hope that you know all the parents that have spoken up that you guys hear that this is very very important to us. Um we understand the fiscal risks that
007you know we don't want that. So but I think there needs to be a little bit more for decisions like that. Thank you. Are there any comments at this point? I didn't sign in, but Hi everybody. I'm Sasha Bro. I also have two children to children in linguistics. Um, and I I work in uh academia in the DEI space. And um I actually just wrote something out uh that I think is building on what I've heard some people speak of tonight. Um which is uh that language matters and the words that we use matter. Um and I'm just right now like reading the uh how uh mission statement, right? to provide the highquality education in a supportive and nurturing environment that fosters academic achievement, character development, and lifelong learning, preparing students to become successful and
008responsible uh citizens. Um, and I I think that I just want to add um that I I know uh and I also appreciate the work that you all do. I know that uh difficult decisions are a part of leadership. Um but thinking about language um they shouldn't ever require us to abandon our values. So reinstating the DEI policy is a really important thing. Um and it reaffirms our responsibility to ensure that our children are seen, that they're supported, and that they're valued. But now more than ever, this isn't performative politics, right? It's it's a moral imperative. Um, and so, uh, I teach Aristotle. Um, I I'm a big fan of following the lead of the moral exemplars. Um, so what are other districts doing? Um, follow, uh, the guidance that's provided by New York State
009responding to the real need of our students with care and integrity, um, and courage, right? Because I think um maybe to add here as well, we need to in this space for the next few years really be scenario planning and that means thinking ahead to what difficult decisions might uh arise. Again, this is just one bump in the road and um there will be other challenges. Um and and so you know in in those moments um uh really hoping that uh the community as as you're hearing from us right um is standing up for for what we value and and that the board will will do the same. Um uh and I think I'll just leave it there at that. Thank you for Um I first just want to thank you um for all the
010conversations and um for the time. Um it's been it's been you know very educational for me to hear your voices and I just I really appreciate everyone's time um you know and have being willing to have those dialogues. Um I think um I think I guess I just had a few things to say. Um just starting out with like the CE policy is something that is so fundamental to our community and to how I think that was sort of what took you know everyone back when all of a sudden it was and I know it was just suspended but just the fact that it was that that happened so quickly. Um, I know based on the conversations that you were relying on on counsel and advice from that. Um, and just thinking about that, I'm
011thinking about like what more like you all could have asked of council, right? If if we're dealing about like what is the risk that we're looking at? What is that risk? Why why is New York State saying you don't have to sign, you don't have to comply, right? And what is the language that that like they're citing as problematic in our DI policy? Is there anything in there that actually discriminates? The answer is no. and therefore you're still, you know, you're still in compliance with Title Six. So, those are just some sort of questions I I'm thinking about. Um, I also understand there was a question about what were the other schools doing? Um, and it seems like maybe council gave you just the list of the schools they guide rather than the list of
012schools, you know, everywhere else. And so maybe next time we can, you know, cast a wider net and see, you know, what those other schools are doing. And and I know everything was rushed and there wasn't a lot of time, but those are some some of the things um that I'm hopeful next time this question comes around that is so, you know, so such such a part of the community that there's just a little bit more questions asked before a decision is made. Right. Any other comments? So now the next thing on our agenda is information reports. Right. So these are our financial reports that the board will act on at our next Thank you, Emma. We'll act on at our next um business meeting. Um, and then following that, we're going to move into
013uh the consent agenda, starting with consent agenda minutes. May I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Um, consent agenda financial. May I have a motion, please? Moved. Second. Um there are actually I'm gonna make sure I'm doing this at the right place. Yes, there are a couple of things here that I think we want to definitely um raise some awareness to. One is the acceptance of the donation to the athletic department for construction and labor from um uh Nicholas and John Van Hustessel for their time and and generosity. I actually can't remember those are only the the details are in executive content, but what you can see from that resolution is that those two folks and the people that they work with are making donations to the
014district valued at over $15,000 as part of the softball dugout. This particular softball dugout project is actually I think real representative of some of the great work that happens in Hane because it's combination of funds that were raised privately by the softball team, contributions from folks from the public. So Nicholas, John Vanessle, and then the district also contributed um a share of money for the uh softball dugouts which are looking kind of nice. Yeah. and actually said at CSR. No, just thank you. Thank you to the to the district and everybody who um and then I think the other thing um that we have on here is the approval to ratify the agreement between the board of education and the Hane Civil Service Employees Association. Um, I don't know if I'm the person to speak
015most eloquently about those negotiations, but my understanding is that everybody entered into them with good intention, a sense of collaboration, um, and a and a real intention to accomplish really what was really best for the uh, union employees, the CSA employees as well as for the district. And it was successful negotiation. Yes. And we're absolutely Yeah. and the board is delighted to be approving that three-year agreement now. Um, so I think that was everything on that part. Um, yes. So, all those in favor? I I Any opposed? Next, we have the consent agenda personnel. May I have a motion, please? So, move second. So this is also a really there's also something also very exciting on this consent agenda which is the appointment of our new director of cubal personnel services. So I'm gonna do
016you have any great I I'll just give a quick summary. We had a very extensive process. Uh we attracted well over 40 qualified candidates for this position. So it was very competitive. like to thank Josh Elder and and the admin team and the teachers that all served on committees uh at the very early stage we involved Dr. Duffy uh in the process the screening process then there was a committee interview with faculty combination faculty administration an administration level of interviews and then of course there was a board interview and very thorough reference checks which were outstanding. So, gives me great pleasure to introduce Erin Pay, our new uh well, not official yet, but I'll give a quick background before the board votes, but Miss uh Pay serves as a secondary supervisor of special education in
017the Bayapac Central School District. Prior to this, she was a principal of an alternative high school and worked as a special education school improvement specialist at Duchess Boseies. and she began her career as an elementary and middle school special education teacher in New York City. She brings a very deep commitment to supporting students, families, educators along with very solid experience with special education and school leadership. She has her bachelor's uh in in art and law and policy from Dickinson College and a master's in special education from City College. She has all her certifications and comes very highly recommended. It was a pleasure speaking to her references and I did include them for the board's review so you could read some of those comments and I'm sure you have. Uh so we wholeheartedly recommend her as
018our director of uh special ed. I also would like to thank the Mayapac Superintendent Christine Tona um released her from her her agreement early so so Miss Pay could start with us on July 1st. Uh there was a clause that they could have kept her through August, but it as a courtesy they're releasing her and we're grateful for that. So I'm gonna vote. Do are you willing to say a few words? Sure. Okay. All right. Let me take the vote and then you can say them as a new VPS. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Right. All right. Please come up. Yes. So, so thank you very much and thank you for the kind words. I'm really excited to be a part of this community. I've enjoyed the entire experience from start to finish
019throughout the interview process. I've heard amazing things about all the great things you guys are doing for kids and I'm really excited to be a part of that. So, thank you so much for having me and I look forward to working with all of you. Thank you so much. Yeah. Um for those of you who it's your first board meeting, one of the things that the board really likes to do is when we appoint somebody is from time to time down we've done teachers and other people is that we'll invite them to join them and and to enjoy to we invite them to join us. It gives us a chance to meet them and for them to introduce themselves to the community and it's a it's not I don't think it's a a super typical
020tradition at schoolboard meetings, but it's something that we really enjoy doing. And so we're really happy that Aaron had the opportunity to come and join us tonight. Thank you. Congratulations. All right. So, um, moving into unfinished business. So, may we, so this is what I think a lot of people are here for. May we please have the recommended action, uh, to approve, uh, approval to reinstate policy 3430, diversity, equity, inclusion, and inclusion. Be it resolved that upon the recommendation of the interim superintendent of schools, the board of education hereby reinstates the Haldane Central School District policy number 3430, diversity, equity, and inclusion as adopted on December 20, 2022. May I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. And this is where we do it again. I don't know if anybody like to have an opportunity
021to to make comments or this is absolutely the time to do it. Yeah. Yes. I would like to address the people in the community who have been feeling deeply distraught by the vote two weeks ago. This has been a distressing two weeks. I've been terribly on edge and unsettled and I know a lot of you have been too. The alarming things sweeping through the nation came here to our town and we are not immune. And I think this issue has provided a lightning rod for all of our combined angst. School boards have long been at the forefront of political issues because our schools are a microcosm of larger sociological trends. But as our nation gets more polarized, the issues school boards face become more fraught and more emotionally charged and we're seeing that happen. So
022that said, I want to say that I have had the most patient, respectful conversations with so many people around the community over the last couple weeks just seeking to understand the process. So I regret not communicating more about the future of our diversity, equity, and inclusion policy months before the vote. A lot of us in the school community knew that the current presidential administration takes issue with diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we should have been talking about how to handle it when our school community was faced with it. I I had not realized well I I think I want to say here that if we had been communicating about it I would have learned that suspending the policy would cause just as much dismay as repealing it. That was quite unexpected for me because in
023my being the decision at the time was not based on any real desire to cut the policy but was a pragmatic choice to give us time to address the suggested legal guidance. we are different from other schools and that we wrote our own DAI policy and most other schools in New York State adopted the eerie vonosis. So there was something specific in our policy that our lawyer lawyer flagged for us that was different from what other schools were experiencing. It did not feel at the time that I was losing my convictions or was acting in any kind of unprincipled manner. It honestly felt like oh good here is middle ground. There's an option here. We can take this pause. we can take time to consider any changes to the wording of the policy and to
024consider any threat to funding which again at the moment was very real at the time and I believe we'd have to get a real sense of support in the community before deciding that it's okay to go ahead and forego that funding as you know now two days after the vote to suspend the policy the federal court injunctions now mean that there's no imminent threat to funding and I'm pleased that we can reinstate the reinstate the policy in full if I had thought for one moment that students rights to equal treatment would be threatened. I would not have considered the option of suspending the policy. Let's remember that the diversity, equity, and inclusion policy was not mandated. Helen chose to write and implement our own policy because it reflects our school culture. It incorporates values that
025the school embodies and it provides a way to crystallize among other values. These commitment to equity and providing opportunities for students, engaging in inclusive and culturally responsive teaching and teaching topics from multiple perspectives. Fostering tolerance and respect for cultural diversity. Providing all students with equable equitable access to programs, services, and opportunities for success and allocating resources accordingly. Fostering family and community engagement practices that are based on mutual trust, confidence, and respect. encouraging participation from all stakeholders and reducing language barriers and focusing on the well-being of the whole child. So, I see this as a moment that we as a school community that holds these values dear can reaffirm our commitment to those values. I appreciate your prepared comments, Michelle. Those are lovely. Um I I do just commenting on some things that we've heard this
026evening and I think it's I hear deeply and I'm curious about the call to investigating the processes whereby we come by making decisions. Um, you know, we've had the opportunity, some of us, to be on the board for longer than others. And I I do think that, you know, we have certain ways of of uh uh we have policies and procedures for the way we conduct ourselves. And one of those um sort of policies is that we do I think sometimes because we fundamentally agree in a lot of things um don't have some conversations in public that we probably could even if we don't need to even if we're in agreement about something. think it's useful for us to do that because not only does it open the opportunity for community members to come in
027and weigh in, but I often find that when we do engage in those conversations um that uh I either learn something about how I think or my mind is slightly changed in those circumstances even again if we're aligned case in point being our recent budgetary conversations which I think a certain number of the board members really felt strongly that we should go to the tax levy limit. Um and uh I was persuaded that there was considerable wisdom in not doing that. And and with this particular policy, you know, it's it's surprising to me um in in retrospect how it felt like a policy conversation that we've had about other policies in a way that it did not even in uh we understood the impact of it, but the kind of the procedural nature of the
028way we do things and the necessity in one way or another to go through a process whereby we review and typically state would mandate that you know, we suspend something and then we have several readings and then we repass it and there's just a a procedure in place that we follow, you know, overall. And uh, you know, the moment every moment calls for a particular kind of leadership and um, from my point of view, I think about what leadership means today versus six years ago when I first joined the board is considerably different. Um, and that's so it's certainly an opportunity for soularching because I think all of us on the board have been in a position in which I've had to make decisions that I absolutely did not believe were true or or the
029right way to do things in my heart based on my values, but that in the grander scope in one way or another of who we're committed to, who we represent, and our quite honestly sometimes very difficult to honor commitment to nonpartisan leadership at the board level can be very complicated. you know, but this process of working over the past six years like this, um, it has been a way for me to open my heart to a lot of people who I think I fundamentally never would have engaged in conversations about a number of topics and um, despite the fact that I've had many topics conversations about this topic. Um, and I I uh we're going to grow as a board, the members that move forward with this from this. And I guarantee that we will
030investigate and be more transparent because I think that we need to be anything. Um, I don't I feel like I've talked so much. I think the one thing that um I mean this has been said in some other circumstances, but I I um I'll say it again. I I certainly I certainly, you know, I've listened a lot and understand a lot of the concerns about the process um that we went through. I think one of the things I talked about last night and I've talked a little bit to the board about um in terms of our retreat for this summer is just really to think about to reflect on you know this house how how this came about and how we want to think about sort of like um I like I'm sorry it's not
031my alarm um uh um communication connection I I think with a new uh incoming superintendent, it's a time for us to reflect and think about that. Um I think I think the thing that's been hardest for me, so I'm just going to talk about me. So I do wish in the moment that we had had more of that conversation. Um I know one of the things I've said to I think other board members one-on-one is I think it's typically we are better at doing it than we were that that night. And I think it is a really useful process. I think it's a useful process for us and I think it's a useful process for the public, right, for us to um to have those conversations even though I think because we work we've worked
032together for a long time and I think we share a lot of the same beliefs a a lot of times we feel like we can make those decisions without those conversations. But I would agree with Sean completely that making that you know having those conversations more public um uh publicly and more clearly I think would be a good thing for us to do. I think there are opportunities to think about um you know uh connection and communication. Um I think the thing that's been hardest for me um is uh just some of the comments about um some some of the harshest comments. And I think if people really understood how hard this board works historically and works th those are those are a little bit hard to swallow. Um but definitely um there are are
033certainly uh you know um these are the kinds of situations that we want to there's a lot for people to be focused on right for all of us to have spent so much energy on this particular topic in this particular community I think was not necessarily I not to say that it shouldn't have happened but I wish that all of that energy could have been expended on on on other things and so avoiding these things within our own community so that we can take um um our resources and f focus on things um that I think are are are are truly um troubling would be a good way for us to go. So um all right so all those in favor I I any opposed. All right. So for the new business we have our
034CSE CPSC recommendations. May we have the recommended action please? Be it resolved that upon the recommendation of the interim superintendent of schools. The board of education hereby approves the recommendations of the committees on special education and preschool special education as presented. May I have a motion? So moved. Okay. All those in favor? I any opposed? Um the next is just information. So what the board had was a um a schedule of potential meetings. That actually the I one of the the things for us to be thinking about I think we don't need to talk about tonight. It's been a long meeting. I also want to have a chance to present it to Dr. Daffy is um Megan and Carl and Katherine looked at sort of board meetings over the past couple of years and what
035typically happens in November and December and there's the possibility at the same time that people are busy with the holidays and going to school concerts and doing other holiday things. November and December might be months where we could have a single board meeting instead of two. Um I think before we make a decision about that, we want to consider it ourselves. Um, and I certainly want to give Dr. That's I thank Megan and Katherine and Carl for putting those um uh those calendars together for us to think about uh for next year. Um, and then next is the approval of the Westchester Putham School Board Association slate of officers and directors as well as the budget for the 2025 2026 meeting. Be it resolved that the board of education casts a yes vote for the
0362025 2026 Westchester Putinham School Boards Association nominating committee slate of officers and directors and a yes vote to ratify the 2025 2026 Westchester Putinham School Boards Association budget. May I have a motion please? So moved. Second. Um I just want to point out right so these are people who like us are on their own school boards and now they're going to be on an other board as well. Um I and I I appreciate that work because the Westchester Putinham School Board Association uh provides really valuable um uh uh advocacy on the part of public school districts as well as a really tremendous support um for school districts. I've I've taken advantage of their um some of their leadership meetings and I I appreciate all the work that they do and so um that's what we're
037voting on. All right. So um this is not this is this not a roll call. It's not a roll call. Um all those in favor I any opposed? Um, so we're now at the end of our agenda and there's now the second opportunity for communication from the public and it's actually open to all school district matters. Um, I just want to take a moment to uh thank Peggy and Michelle. I think it's really important that the community know that Peggy and Michelle and all board members um made themselves available to speak with our high school students regarding policy 3430. Um, and I was incredibly proud of our students and the way they approached our board members and and speaking and asking eloquent questions um, and seeking feedback and seeking answers and seeking understanding. Um, it's
038all the things that we work on in the school and and how we communicate when we might not see things exactly the same way. So, um, I want to appre I appreciate both of you for coming in and doing that. I know the whole board supported them. they happen to be available to come in and speak with the students. And I want to state how incredibly proud I am of your children um in the way that they presented themselves at that meeting um to ask some very difficult questions um and I think that you gave them thorough answers um that they they needed and and I was impressed at how many students showed up voluntarily, gave up their lunch, um whether they didn't eat or brought their lunch and came in late, um they were
039there to be sure that their voices were also heard. So, thank you for that. And I want to thank Julia for giving us the opportunity to come and talk to them because it was really very valuable. I appreciate it. Um, any other comments? Right. Board. Um well I want to thank I want to thank the PTA um um Bill Kolas um for organizing the PTA forum last night that I attended with Ezra. Ezra had a family thing that's why he's not here tonight. Um it was really um early on I had a really productive meeting with Dr. with Mr. Albano and Lauren and Bill and at the end of that meeting Bill was like well what can PTA do? What can do? At the time I was like, well, you know, I think after this
040happens, maybe we still need this. I was like, after this happens, I think we should have people come together. Like, I think we need to give people a chance to to to to reconnect. But when I thought about it a little bit more and felt like there was really um, you know, in collaboration with others, really the opportunity um, we needed an opportunity for there to be more back and forth than a board meeting allows. Um, I was really impressed. I reached out to Bill I think on like a Thursday and by Thursday he had sent out the email and he arranged it with Butterfield Library and he he um held it and it was really clear um that the PTA really wanted to you know work in partnership with the school district and I
041really appreciated everybody you know like a lot of people 20 people plus came and asked an hour and a half on a weekday night and I I really appreciated everybody's you know time and you there was a lot to um to listen to and learn from and so I really I really appreciate that. I just wanted to we're all we're always broken records during concert season but spring concert season. I attended the high school um music and they were it was amazing. I mean it's you know and we hear the comedon was there as well um that it's such a the talent that comes out the large talent when you're sitting there watching the you know the chorus sing and the band play. it's for such a small school is really impressive. So, I'm excited.
042I've got a eighth grader, so having a ninth grader next year, it'll be exciting to uh see him take part in that. So, thank you to you and all your staff for the amazing things they do. We're definitely in a ring with the part of the school year. I looked at my calendar today and I have like something like I have something every like awards ceremony and concerts and dinners for validictorian and saludiatorans. There's actually there's um this has been a super hard time for the district. I mean, one of the things I did try to say in one of the board's communication um is uh you know, figure out ways to communicate because there there certainly are I think you know some potentially uh maybe they won't be so difficult but challenging maybe not
043difficult decisions at that point but certainly challenging circumstances but I think there's always really an enormous amount to celebrate. I think we have a lot to look forward in the district and so hopefully we move to those um messages as well. Um so I'm going to move to adjourn the meeting. May I have a second please? Second. All those in favor I I thank you.