001Good evening and welcome back to school. I'd like to call the meet the Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 board of education meeting to order. Uh Vice President uh Roger Badacharia is going to lead us in the pledge. So please stand. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And at this time, we'll turn it over to uh Miss Mary Fox Alter for our superintendent update. >> So, welcome back to school. This has been an a very very exciting uh two days. Emotionally exhausting on many levels and everywhere from um anxious ninth graders that had the building to themselves initially and a couple of criers at Park and at Brookside, but
002just excited and I want to thank the administrative team for helping out. Every single director and assistant superintendent had an assignment in one of the schools. um whether it was helping with buses out in the cafeteria, helping around, making sure dismissal went. I just want to thank everybody um for all their help and support as we get our kids back and get used to all their routines, etc. for the school year. Um just a a shout out to anyone who is listening and um tuning into our board meeting this evening. We are looking for members to join our district communications committee. Applications are available on our OLAS and on our social media channels. So, if you um think you could um help support us in this, please join uh this uh at our opening ceremony.
003Um and again, I want to thank Annie and Christine for representing the board and being there. We honored 24 staff members who each c five years of service to the Austining schools. And when I read off the list of what we were watching and what we were listening to and what movies were I I couldn't believe it was 25 years ago in a flash it went by. Um I want to thank O Prime for opening uh for their fantastic back to school event at Austining High School last week. We had perfect weather for it. We had lots of parents come in and lots of our community apartment uh part partners uh attended. Um the back to school nights begin. I can't believe we're here to talk about this. Um the my OLAS today included a
004very quick reference sheets for at a one one glance with all the dates with all the schools. So please check the district calendar for that. Please check the uh short calendars for it and please take a look at the O blast because the dates are there. Um I'm hoping uh to see many of our um community members this Saturday, September 6th at the annual runalk for education um hosted by Austining Matters. Always a wonderful event and I look forward to helping out handling some awards at the end of the event. Right. And again, just to save the date, mark all your calendars. Um, Austining home Austining High School homecoming is coming up a little early this year. Saturday, September 20th, and obviously it's homecoming weekend. There are events that Friday, Friday afternoon, Friday evening. And
005so, um, mark your calendars and, um, take a look again in this week's OB Blast. It had the dates and times of many of the games and different events that are happening on uh September 19th and September 20th. So, those are my updates for this evening. Fabulous. >> All right. Thank you. Um at this time, I'd like to take a motion to move up 6.3. >> So moved. Second. >> Uh any discussion? All in favor? I >> I >> opposed abstensions. All right. And now I'll take a motion to uh vote on 6.3. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh 6.3 resolution regarding professional staff appointments. Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Abstensions. and we moved that up this evening because we are hiring a staff person uh Miss Sierra Sara Ramirez
006who's here with us this evening. I don't know if anybody would like to say a word or two. >> I'd be happy to. >> Thank you for coming Sierra. Um Sierra is being appointed tonight um for English teacher at AMD. Um we congratulate her. She is an outstanding candidate, masters from Teachers College, been a teacher at Kip Academy uh for a number of years and we are thrilled to have you come aboard and join our team. Um so congratulations to you and congratulations to AMD. >> Right. Thank you. >> Thank you and welcome. And this is the point where we usually say, you know, you're welcome to stay of course, but you're also free to leave if you don't want to stay here all night with us. So, thank you and welcome to the Austin
007community. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Welcome. >> Um, all right. Now, we're ready for our work session, which is also our equity item for this evening, our district goals. And this is a continued uh discussion uh from last week. And I believe we have a presentation. So, I'm going to turn everything over to Mary Fox. >> All right. So I am um happy to be able to start uh continue the conversation I should say on district goals. Um for for those of you who are listening and watching there are a number of different type of goals a school district embarks upon each and every year. Um the superintendent has goals. Um all the administrators have goals. The board of education has board of education goals. And then we have district goals. The district goals
008are like I often use this terminology. They're similar to a lighthouse that shines a beacon out for all paths for all of the schools who are ships and the direction towards that light. And it's about setting aspirational levels of work that we need to do. And then everything else channels from there that every person on their journey who oversees a department will turn around and say this is these are my benchmarks. This is my data. These are the things I want to accomplish this year and I'm using the board of education goals as that that end point as that guiding light to help direct my work this year. So um uh I thank the board of education. And it's not that they didn't set district goals in the past. These are just more explicit. They
009go on um on the website like many districts do to do that. So this year we have um a brief overview of what the goals look like then the board discussion on them and then it it's the board of education's role to adopt the goals and then they become district goals itself. So the first goal here that we have is because nothing happens without money is basically to develop a fiscally responsible 2627 budget that supports a high quality and equitable education opportunity for all students. So a a school district budget is really an educational plan. Uh it outlines the resources, the tools, and the staff that are needed to accomplish what we set out to do each year. we should do in our work every single year identify cost efficiencies and this year in particular
010given what's going on with the federal government and what we're hearing the constriction it will place on the state government find ways to incorporate programs that are funded through grants into the general fund budget. So, I know that that is something um Miss McCoy and I have had number of conversations on and if anyone tuned in last spring, the board of education set that out as something very important to our work here in Oene. So, that's an example or my draft of a suggestion of a fiscal goal. Um wish I go through them all and then we can have a discussion afterwards. Let's do that. >> Great. Okay. So the student equity goal, the student equity goal is to ensure continued support and articulation of the board's equity policy 0105. The policy holds the A
011Yosing Union free school district accountable for the achievement and growth for all students and it commits to an inclusive, equitable and welcoming school environment, a diverse and culturally competent and inclusive workforce and prioritizes family and community engagement. If you take a look at our four pillars on our long range plan, it exemplifies the student equity goal in many pieces and shapes. um examples of um why it's important to highlight this very special policy is the work that Dr. Dei does in terms of of um in terms of her as director of student success. Um we have um regular about five times a year equity meetings. They are packed. They are so well attended. I know Melissa, you've been you're on that committee. You attend them. Annie, you've dropped by when people have time. It's a
012great thing and you could see a lot of the work that takes place. Um, uh, recently they committed to doing public service announcements on this. Um, they cover many different areas of this. Um, one of the things that came up in one of the equity meetings I mentioned before was the stress of scheduling and how a student schedule can um not create a very can create an unwelcome and environment for some kids when they approach um attending school. Um they oversee a lot of the work that we do with the MBK pro program and our prestigious ladies of power. Um and once a year there is on a Saturday and if anyone is interested in attending and seeing all the artifacts of this policy and listening directly from students I suggest you mark your calendars
013and attend that equity fair itself. Um we've asked Dr. Dealy um to give an overview again, a presentation about the uh work that she's doing in support of this policy and she will she's actually thrilled to do that and to give a presentation to the board and um put together a report on it um this year. Curriculum and instruction, we have three big ones and again these get articulated in different ways. Um, the first bullet here speaks to what we've been doing for the past two years, taking a look at our long range plan and each building, developing smart goals um, and taking a look at their data, their information from um, the different committees, the work that they've done all summer, and then putting together um, particular goals that will help them improve instruction
014and the relevance of our curriculum and academic programs. This year will give a special um emphasis on the ARC program implementation as we completed three years and it's great to just check in to see what's working on it, what's not. Um and and to give the board a status uh report on that. Um we have a new board policy this year. Um that's why it should be in this. It's the curriculum review cycle. I want to thank the board for um putting forth in their work that we're going to take an area of curriculum and instruction and um basically put it through a lens a lens of a program evaluation model. That model itself will call for an internal evaluation where we use guiding questions that come from tri-states and a number of the large
015um um educational associations even um from the state education department. And then it includes an external evaluation. We bring in consultants. We bring in people with an outside lens. We invite feedback from parents and from students to talk about um what they feel are uh strengths of a program and then importantly what are opportunities for improvement in that. And and the last piece of this is really what every school district should be doing this this year is being taking a look at the state of New York's portrait of a graduate. This portrait of a graduate calls all of us to stop looking at graduation as passing five regents exams and seat times and really think about a larger scope of work. Are there different career um and college pathways? Are there portfolios? Are there um
016internship opportunities? Are there cumulative projects that children can complete um in order to graduate? I will say that um Austin is one of five Maria in New York State for the PEK grant. >> Yes, we are five >> which basically was the the mission statement of the PEK grant or the foundation of it comes from a study done by the Westchester um um Westchester uh county economic partnership group and taking a look at four industries that require a new workforce. It's medical technology, cyber security, um computer science >> and medical information >> and then medical information and medical information itself. So these were industries that basically put together a report saying that we need workers. So the PEK grant basically helps uh educate students. They they will get um career experience in these fields. they
017will gain um college credit almost two years of college credit >> associates degree before they >> complete their associates degree >> right before they leave our high school and they gain a ton of work experience in those fields. So um I know New York State is looking at the five school districts in the state that have this PEK grant um to see what our data looks like and how it's going. Right. Okay. Well, thanks Alita. Was I behind a mic clicking? I apologize. Thank you. Oh my goodness. A super important uh goal is our facilities goal. We have for those of you who um have been watched the past few meetings, we've been giving updates. We have a $210 million uh capital and improvement bond project. And uh the board in their work towards that
018um requires me oversight of me of Alita of Jared to make sure that we are holding regular meetings. We're providing upgrades and that we stay on time and on budget towards that. In addition, we have a number of capital projects as well this year. If you've been at Brookside School, you can't help but miss the trailers and the dirt. we are doing a uh a two-story classroom addition to that building. Right? So that's why that's highlighted as a goal. Right? And um community uh communication and community engagement. Again, I make my pitch for the communications committee if anyone wants to join. And um basically it's to continue to develop and foster community partnerships as outlined in our long range plan. So, um, those partnerships help support our individual students, support the diversity of their needs
019and of our students. And again, if you were at the, um, back to school event hosted by Oprime, we saw our SEPTA community, we saw Open Door, we saw Neighbors Link, we saw so many community partners and students helping out on that. And um it this this um goal comes from the point that we all know it takes a village to raise a child. So we want to make sure that we maximize our community platforms with our parents and our residents to inform and engage with our communities in ways that help folks to understand. So it's through feedback this year that you Nicole Reese put together a whole group of short calendars and announcements. even what we're talking about back to school nights. Those are all part of last year's goal and what we're implementing
020this year. And then the last goal basically is to take a look, it's an ongoing goal, but it's such an important one because the board of education is a governance agency, right? So, it's it's a a a constant which I appreciate that the board holds retreats and brings in facilitators to help out, but it's to review and the board now has a governance committee. It's basically to review their roles and responsibilities and build team relationships with the superintendent with the executive council who are here and establish clear roles on each of uh clear understanding and shared understanding of our respective roles. um and basically to identify what areas do we need to strengthen, what areas do we need to provide additional oversight or a different approach. And then um in terms of the um conduct
021evaluations, the board started its own self-evaluation. They um last year was the first time I think using super a val for the superintendence. >> Yes, second year. >> Last year was the second year. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, super avail uh which are uh tools that are new but again trying to figure out do they meet the goals of this board of education and then this year because it's a big ticket in the budget um to prepare for the 2627 superintendent search process for so those were the uh overview of the goals as I heard from the board from our work together and for the board to consider. Sure. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um just to uh recap the process that we've undergone for these uh goals to date before we open up
022uh for a discussion from the board. Um we kind of tasked Mary with uh encapsulating our what uh some potential goals could be based on discussions we had already had um and of course her knowledge of the district. uh she gave kind of a idea sheet to us in advance and we discussed it at the last uh board meeting. So we're continuing that discussion this evening. Um I want to remind our trustees that we had decided that a norm after presentations was to allow each of us about two minutes to ask questions. At that point, um, we can decide if we want to kind of open it up to discuss further. But I'll probably take kind of a temperature check to see if it's necessary to continue the discussion or if we have, um, already
023found consensus. Um, so with that, does anybody have any questions or comments or things that they'd like to ask? And we can ask you to try to keep your questions at two minutes. Anybody? We're good. >> No, >> you can go. >> Sure. See, so thank thanks Mary. Um the these are really solid. I wasn't at the last meeting and was out of town for family trip, but these look, you know, pretty pretty good shape, at least, you know, my assessment of them. Um it's interesting because Westchester Putham School Board Association, aka Westp just sent out this morning a I guess they do weekly emails and they said, "Hey, here's like tip. Remember, from a governance standpoint, the board, school board does the what and the why and the goals and we try to leave
024it to the administration to do the why. So, I think this um I'm sorry, the how. And so, I think this looks great. I guess my question um was generally when does the board and then I guess the public see the how. So for example, we have support ongoing curriculum, teaching and learning smart goals for curriculum and instruction. When do we as the board see those smart goals and any data to say, "Yeah, we're we're meeting this one." and similar like to the um the PEK one and college and career pathways. What when do we see the how that the administration is proposing to meet that goal and the data around that? So, it's like a process question. We're up here and then you're doing the how and are we meeting it or not with
025the data. Can you just explain that and just clarify that? >> Sure, absolutely. So um we um if you remember last year was the first attempt to do more of a smart goal approach with it and by the time because of certain calendar we had the vote on the bond that didn't happen until the last meeting in October first meeting in November. So that's too late. So this year um it will the first one will be um the first meeting in October. So the board will get all that information ahead of time. >> Okay. So before the first >> where the where the elementary principles come and present their goals based on their data. So it's the elementary a annual report on the long range plan and their goal setting for the year. >> So
026they have they will present to the board. >> Yes. So the board will get >> how >> here at a board meeting that like we did last year. >> Right. Okay. And then does that apply for all like all of these? Like will there be presentations around all of these to see where we are? Are we meeting the fiscal goal? Are we meeting the facilities goal and on and on? >> Okay. Well, that that's up to the board. I mean the clearly the two the buildings the instructional goal and you will get minutes. I think there will be a board member on the curriculum review committee so people can bring that up during board discussion. Um the board will get an overview of the assistant superintendent and their goals very shortly along with the data
027from the state. However, it's embargoed. So we have to talk around it until we're allowed to talk about it with the public. So that will all happen this month. Um and in terms of the fiscal goal, I think you have a robust budget process. Um here in Austin, there's a full day Saturday workshop. Um and again, we've devoted in this year's calendar a good number of meetings to make sure that the board um gets all the information they have to put together a fiscally sound budget. And we're open to hear from the board as to what additional information you might like or what didn't you like last year. But in terms of that goal, I see it as a partnership with the board as to how you want to go about that. >> Thank you.
028>> Right. Great. Um, I'll go around. Annie, do you have any >> I think I felt pretty good after the last meeting. >> Okay. Um, Melissa, just going around in order. >> No sentiment. >> I'm good with I think we had a probably pretty good discussions last time, so I'm good. >> Yeah. Um, I'm I'm happy with this. I'm glad that Rob asked the question that he did because I think it's important for people who are watching to understand who may not who don't get the West put emails that say this is the role of the board, right? And so we're setting these very broad goals for people who do expect us to be right now saying, "Hey, what were our reading scores?" And we need them to be x% higher. What was our graduation
029rate and we need it to be x% higher. That that's not just because it's not on this document, that doesn't mean that we're not doing that work. That this is a broader picture, >> right? Very broad. I mean, I I mean, I'll pull something like um which is part of Kim, Lindsay's, and Jessica's work. Even if you talk about IEP goals which are set as very much governed by law, but there's a ton of oversight on them. Now you you want to make sure that we have fidelity of implementation on all IEP goals, but in the middle of the year, you might have another meeting to say, you know, we need to adjust the plan to that. It wouldn't be something to say, to use an example you did, we need to make sure x
030number of percent of kids no longer need them. that wouldn't be a goal in terms of special ed when we looking at fidelity of implementation of IEP goals. But again, um there are just many facets of the work that we do that you have qualitative and quantitative data that demonstrates um that you're working towards those. >> Okay. >> I I just want to just say Mary, thank you for you know taking this to to the level where it's not we didn't have to create a lot from scratch. a lot of that the the thought went into this. I know we we did have quite a few questions like even at the time we had a retreat and then you know last meeting but I think honestly at this was um much appreciated. >> Well, thank
031you. Thank you, Roger. And I think I thank the board for um their oversight in this. And again, uh Rob mentioned Westp. crafted from Westp New York State school boards, my years in other places, but I listened to the board and all your conversations throughout the year. So, trying to capture the broad strokes and I think it's important for the community to know that at every single board meeting, this board of education provides fiscal oversight and responsibility. they get a ton of information behind the agenda items that are here on the board for them for the agenda for them to review. So again um the board uh we try to provide as much possible every two weeks to make sure when the board is seated here at the table um in their governance role that
032they have enough information to make the decisions they need to make in representing the community. So, um I I do want to thank the board of education for the seriousness with which they approach their work because you do. So, thank you. I appreciated that example you just gave of how we do not use children graduating from services as a measure of success because there are children who will have services forever and it doesn't impact their ability to succeed, >> right? And it just it's it's nice because it gives the message that having services doesn't make you lesser than it's not a measurement of your ability. It doesn't mean that you're doing anything wrong. And I just appreciate that message. >> Thank you. Right. And it's one that people forget. So, thank you for that. Um
033this that's a topic near and dear to my heart when we were there was a preliminary plan back with another commissioner of education where they were going to start flagging districts based upon their classification rate and color coding them and my comment was do you want to put like signs around community saying no special ed need apply do we need to look at every child who might need this and say I can't because we're going to hit a number that you're saying is it where'd you pull that number from? So there was a lot of heated discussion, but they never move forward on it. >> That's great. It shouldn't be about a quota. It should be about getting every child what they need. >> 100% they need 100%. >> All right. I'm reading the room
034and it seems like we'll be ready to vote on this when we come up to it on the agenda. So we can move on. Um our next item on the agenda is our first audience recognition uh which is still at this point for a uh agenda items only and not to exceed 10 minutes. Um do we have anybody in person who wishes to speak? Um is there anybody online who wishes to speak? Okay, then we'll move ahead. Does anybody have anything they wish to break out from 4.1 through 4.4? All right, I'll take a motion for 4.1 through 4.4. So move. >> Second. >> 4.1 Resolution to adopt the district goals for the 2025 2026 school year. 4.2 Resolution to approve the minutes of the annual reorganization meeting of July 9th, 2025. 4.3 Resolution to
035approve the minutes of the special meeting of July 9th, 2025. 4.4 Resolution designating the officials to act at the special meeting. Uh any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> opposed abstensions. All right. Um moving on to our consens uh uh business office matters. I'll take a motion for 5.1. So move >> second >> 5.1 resolution regarding interfund transfers. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> opposed abstensions. Uh does anybody have anything from section six they wish to break out? >> All right. Um I'll take a resolution for 6.1, 6.2, and 6.4 through 6.9. So >> move second. 6.1 Resolution regarding rescending professional staff appointments. 6.2 Resolution regarding rescending bus attendant appointments. 6.4 Resolution regarding support staff appointments. 6.5 Resolution regarding bus attendant appointments. 6.6 Resolution regarding professional staff appointments summer programs. 6.7 Resolution
036regarding support staff appointments before after school programs. 6.8 Resolution regarding PDM substitute appointments. 6.9 resolution regarding approval of school volunteers. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstensions. All right. This brings us to our next and final audience recognition on any school related matters. Um do we have anybody in person who wishes to speak? Anybody online? Give it just a moment. Sometimes, you know, somebody might be scrambling to their computer right now to raise their hand. >> All right, >> we'll move along. Uh, the next item on our agenda is board reports and dialogue. Have any committees met? We'll take committee updates first. >> No, still getting things off the ground beginning of the school year. Um, uh, >> can I bring up one thing? Sorry. >> Yes. But before you do, I
037just want to remind everybody if you haven't to respond to Illy with your availability for um a second retreat date, an evening retreat date, we're going to try to um catch as many people's schedules as possible um and make it available to so that you can be present in person or uh virtually if necessary. So, please get back to her because obviously we want to nail down the stuff that we didn't finish last time so that we can have things like our goals and evaluation um done before then. Go ahead, Ro. You can take it away. You had something. >> Actually, that was one of the things I was going to bring up about that, but um the uh just a quick question. So, um I I know um we you know, we had already
038assigned folks to each of the different committees. I think one of the things we may want to do at some point just get there get it put up online. We used to have a link for the uh for each of the different committees. Are we not doing that this year? >> Um I didn't hear. >> So sorry just for clarity. Um we used to have published on our website the list of um committees and the committee assignments on there >> and it's now just says coming soon on there. >> Okay. I know I emailed Ilian. on board docs which is available to us. Um but I do think it might be helpful because there have been times where people have been left out of um you know emails that they were meant to get because
039people probably didn't know the committee assignments. So it's I guess the question is will we like to have that published on the school website publicly? Yeah, my my rationale behind this is just because with Mary putting out a a uh um you know a an openness to the um community to join sometimes it helps just kind of like then they could see like who else who they might know that's on there that it might be easier just to reach out and say yeah I'd like to join that committee and because it's not always they know I mean they may not know a board member but they may you know but just leaving more opportunities open so people can reach out that's my thinking behind it. I also think like when we were for example looking
040at um in into establishing a self-governance committee and a curriculum review committee, I was out there on school websites searching around to find what committees do other boards have on their boards, you know, to see how other people organize their committees. So, it would be nice um to to be able to provide that information to other maybe potential school boards who might be interested in not, you know, outside of our community. >> Yeah. I mean it also the other thing it's because we are pretty engaged school board so I and and engaged with our community just having that level of accessibility to our community would be a great thing. >> Okay. Um does anybody have any objection to publishing that online? I'm not sure if it actually has been posted online from us in the
041past. I know >> it was last year it was >> then. Um >> All right, Ellie, you got your marching orders. All right. Okay. >> Um anything else for board dialogue? Um, this may have been something that we wanted to talk about in retreat. I don't remember, but um, Roger and I had expressed interest in going to DC for >> Sorry, hang on one second. Something's wrong with the mic is not working for Annie, I don't think. >> It might be. >> No, it it >> it is. She's just I think she just speaks quietly. >> No, no. She used to It did work before. That's just this one. It's not first. It worked before. I heard her before. It's just this this time it's not up. >> Sorry, Annie. >> It's okay. Do you
042want me to be louder? Now, as long as you're getting picked up by the mic so the community can hear you, that's all. Sorry. I can hear you. >> That was too much. That was too much. >> There we go. >> Uh Roger and I had expressed interest in attending the equity conference in DC and we had decided we would talk about that as a board if we wanted to do that. >> Yes. >> I'm just bringing that up again. >> We just needed board authorization for for attendance of that. >> Yeah. I mean, that's That's what our we actually have to revisit that policy because uh there was a policy that came up in committee um in the policy committee last year that came to the board table and then when we were reading
043that policy through it said within the policy that you that we needed board approval to attend any conferences yes any professional development which was not a practice we were doing. So, uh, we ended up tableabling it and then, you know, we had our, uh, I think cell phone policy kind of took over at that point. >> Yes. >> Out of necessity. So, that will be a policy I think we should finish. And, and you know, probably what's going to be the edit that makes the most sense is that we don't need permission to go to, you know, PD within New York State, but probably should if we're planning on traveling out of state is probably a reasonable I don't know. We'll we can discuss that. But in the meantime, it would make sense to >>
044just to talk about it, make sure >> check in. >> Yeah. The out of state reason is why I was asking a bigger lift then. >> If it comes down to like money and only one of us has to go, I'm happy for Annie to go. If it if it turns out to be that way. Um but if if both of us could go, that would be great. >> Okay. So, um >> I'm going to look it up right now. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I didn't realize it was such an easy ask. Is that the National School Board Association Advocacy and Equity Institute? Is that what we're talking about? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Trying to look it up in my email. >> And I also have another question. >> Sure. >> Um, is
045the is there are there community members in the PBIS committee or is that just school employees? >> I I think that's I think they're committing. >> I think it's just school employees. >> But didn't we have a commit I think that Dellia did put out information for community members. Yeah. >> Um I'm not I can get exactly how many community members did participate um versus school members and put that in my board of ed update for you. >> Okay. >> Yeah, there's definitely community members. >> I just asked because uh there's been some interest in community that I've heard of people wanting to be part of this. >> Okay. And hence the reason why it would help help to have the calendars or the committee assignments because then more people can reach out to Annie.
046>> Right. There you go. Yes. >> Of course I'm I'm I'm kidding. >> So I'm looking up the early bird savings for the advocacy and equity institute end November 14th. So obviously if you want to register in the most fiscally responsible way, we would want to have that done in the next couple weeks. >> Yeah, I I I think we we could I know it's Alita's looking that up. Then we can >> My eyes are bothering me. So >> we don't we don't need that right this second in an update for us. I think that would be fine >> because we're we're meeting again in next week. >> We are. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> You'll have it by then. And it should be because I think usually have left over at the Yeah. line
047item. >> You do? >> Yeah. >> Um, but I don't, you know, I don't know how much it cost to register. >> I'm sorry. We I see us next. >> Yeah. I see us on the 17th. I think >> Do we not have one on the 10th? >> No. >> Okay. Sorry. I'm >> That means I can actually go out to dinner with my wife this time. >> We might end in time to still buy Powerball tickets. Oh, yes. >> All right, let's do that. >> Did you have something else? >> Yeah, I just So, yeah. So, >> since we just passed these goals. Yeah. >> Right. And we just mentioned around Okay, that's that's the what and now the how plus as Mary indicated the presentations. Last year, we had a live link as
048part of our weekly update to each meeting for the year and live discussion, I guess, right? based on okay so what goes on the agenda what are the presentations when are they going to be what should go where do we do need a presentation on when are the curriculum and instruction things etc etc so what would then now be the mechanism to to schedule for the rest of our meetings starting the 17th which is the next one these presentations and all of that what gets slot in what can we add what what comes out how do we do that now >> so um the topic of agenda setting was one of the things that got pushed off on our retreat. Okay. >> Um but what's happened generally in the past is that um just bring
049it up to me by way of the rest of the board, send an email. That's what our agenda setting meetings are for with Mary. I have not had one with her. >> Okay. >> Um in a couple weeks, we got like kind of a weird um break right now, but I think now that the school year started, we'll get more into a regular rhythm. You should have access to that calendar for when those meetings are. Um there is a third seat open to any trustee. I just ask that you email the board in advance if you plan on attending. Um but of course you don't have to attend in order to um you can just share your I you know what you'd like to see on the agenda or if you have a question about
050when something would appear. We're starting with obviously the draft of last year's meetings and I assume we'll work from there. >> I think Ellie and I worked on that and I apologize. I thought I added it to my last update but you should have it. Um okay. and the next meeting uh our next meeting our next board meeting um this is a requirement under the law I'm actually late we need to revise the code of conduct on this and there was a ton of work done by the equity committee and the code of conduct committee in that so an dey will be doing a presentation on that and then following um the format we used last year and it seems to dubtail with the presentation by an we're going to have Um we've scheduled in
051Dellia Lopez um and Jeremy Ducos to uh go over their work while driving from that. But the code of conduct um presentation is we we had it published for a 30-day hearing um and there were significant changes. Our uh legal spent a significant amount of time reviewing it as well and it had a ton of feedback from the code of conduct committee all last year. So, that's a big report that I have to schedule for next week because I'm under the state guideline. But anyway, you should have had that calendar. I apologize if it was the Labor Day weekend, but um we already worked on it and it's a draft of all topics for the year and then typically how this goes is that at an agenda setting meeting with the board president and other
052board members, we take a look, move, add, change, etc. >> Yeah. Right. I found I personally found I think other B members too like that live look at >> literally here's what we've got from September all the way through June >> and then as we go through this we might say oh maybe we pitch let's add this or maybe we move this or take this out and move that around so that that would be great. So sounds like it exists. >> Um and I guess we'll see it in the next update. >> You will this Friday. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you. >> And it's kind of like a live thing you know because >> I can provide the information. I found my glasses. Okay, go ahead, Alita. >> Um, the initial the initial appropriation was
05326,880 and unencumbered balance now as of today is 26,152. >> That's for the for the board um training. >> That's for staff. Do >> you know um how much we spent last year? I can tell you >> because I mean it's obvious we haven't spent much money out of there yet, but we have people planning to go >> on. No, you don't. >> No, we didn't. I I doubt we did, but I also don't know how much this registration costs. >> It cost $24,000. >> I I mean, I doubt it. I'm sure it won't be a problem, but I feel like we should I don't want to send you guys and then be like, well, you know, now you can't. It's 600 before November 14th and then I don't know about >> plus whatever hotel
054and travel. Last last year you spent 5,883.56. >> I should go >> just a little shy of the 24,000. >> Okay. Um, given that, um, are we prepared to make a decision today or should we wait for Frank and Catherine? >> I I think we've got a quorum. I'm com I'm comfortable, you know, for us to to if you guys are all comfortable to to give us the okay to go register so that we can save ourselves a little money, that'd be great. >> Do we pay for travel for board members? We do. >> Yes, we do. >> It's travel. It it's your it's your travel and then you and when you go down they you get like a certificate a tax certificate so you don't pay taxes on your hotel. >> So you save
055your receipts and then Ellie gives you a log and you log it all and give it to her and then reimburse. >> Correct. >> And I forgot to submit mine last year. >> I usually like I went when I went to the Albany thing I submitted my hotel but I didn't submit like the gas or the food because it was like one meal. But >> yeah, >> I I >> I >> Yeah. >> Um, sorry, just one thing just I think I said before I misspoke. The 10th was actually the meeting with Mary that that uh the president of VPF. Sorry. >> Yeah, that's what I mixed up. >> Yeah, that that's what I mixed up. Sorry about that. >> Yeah. >> Um, so obviously Annie and Roger would be in favor of spending the
056money. Um, >> annual >> and and I I am I that's fine with me. >> Yeah, I'm fine with So it would be 800 for the early bird, right? 775 for district plus travel per person. So you're looking at >> 24,000, >> right? Right. That's not allowed first class. Sorry. So that's 800 plus travel. So it's probably what a couple of grand per person. Is that fair? >> Probably. So that's about 4,000. >> Um, and then all year and the budget it was 24,000 >> 26880 >> and last year we only sp we spent less than six. >> Oh, okay. We spend less than six. Okay. >> So >> yeah, I'm fine. I mean, as a as definitely as a matter of formality going forward of how we want to do these things, but I
057think generally speaking, just for conversation purposes in the future, I think as as as long as we bring it up at the table and there's not uh like more than three people that want to go, then and we have the budget for it, then I'm I'm all in, right? So, I think that's where we're at. So, I'd be open technically speaking to people who want to go and if a third person because we don't have everybody here tonight wanted to go that as well. >> You want to come? >> We can party. >> You can do it, Melissa. You can do it. >> I know. But >> it'll be 26,000. >> I I'll think about it. But um because that's a wonky time a year for me. But >> yeah, >> but just that's what
058I'm saying. just in general, I think as a matter of practice, we could discuss with the full board as long as more than three people don't want to go and it's in the budget >> and it's not a frivolous spend because this is a NISPA sponsored event, right? So, I'm open for boards being able to practice professional development. Um, and if it's more people, then we decide at the at the table who, you know, as long as we bring it up at the table, I think that's a a good process to have. >> Okay. >> Also gives transparency for everybody, too. So, I'm getting a green light here for um Winnie and Rob. So, >> sounds good. >> Thanks everybody. >> Cool. >> So, to that to that point is better consistency. There's the NISSBA
059conference this year, right? And I know a couple of us so far has said we wanted to go. I don't know. >> Um sorry, that's the leadership one, right? >> No, the the annual convention. >> Oh, the annual convention. Oh, yeah. That's in October. I still have to see if I can go because I need um to be approved for time off in order to do that. But I am interested. >> Um >> I have told I I would like to go. >> Yes. And I think did it >> me >> did you Okay. Um I don't know if Catherine Katherine goes to those sometimes, but last year she went virtually. I don't know what her plans are. >> You mentioned virtual again this year. >> Yeah. Um >> it's in person and virtual this
060year. They do last year they started doing like a virtual option and it was like um you know they do a bunch of sessions every you know hour or whatever and you have a bunch to choose from and then they would live stream like one of them like >> one or two I think they were just picking a few to like >> stream live >> so it's not a full experience >> it's not a full experience you don't get >> I just think you I think you just miss out on that that connection term in without being there in person but I guess you know teach their own on the options but I just There's like something pretty substantial you get out of these things. >> It's in the city this year, right? >> Yes.
061>> It's a huge advantage, right? >> Yes. And the district does not for people who are watching, the district does not pay for hotels for us when it's in the city. >> You got to come home. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And I guess that's even more reason why it was much less we spent last year because it was in the city. >> It was in the city last year. >> Um >> I'm so happy because usually it's always so far upstate. We're always the ones making the trip. So, I'm happy it's in our backyard two years in a row. >> So, I guess that's something we can uh continue to discuss. Um I need it's something I need to sort out for myself. Is there anything else for board dialogue? Okay. Um we are
062going to Hold on. Let me pull up my little sticky so I can read the right. >> We are going to be done in time for lotto tickets. >> We are going to be done in time for lotto tickets. All right. >> Um, >> sharing sharing if anyone's lucky. >> Hell, we're going for a big party if one of us wins it. >> Okay. Uh, I'd like to take a motion to enter into executive session for the purposes of discussing medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or corporation or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation. So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstensions. All right.