001Good evening. Good evening. Oh, sorry. Good evening. This is a regular scheduled Board of Education meeting. The Board of Education, oh, that's not here. Oh, I'm sorry. The Board of Education was an executive session in accordance with Open Meeting Law 105F, specific personnel matters, secondary assistant principalship interviews, transition transportation director, vaccine exemption, exclusion, special education student, and possible section 913 and agenda review. I'm going to ask you all to please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. And if I could please have Ms. Maria Rivera-Jesperson and her students join us at the microphone. Thank you, boys and girls. If I could ask you to please remain standing, we are going to have Annie Polino. Polino, Center Reach High School senior, singing the Star Spangled Banner. Oh, say can you see the dawn's early light? What so
002proudly did the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? That our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Thank you very much. That was absolutely amazing. Absolutely beautiful. Wonderful job. Thank you. And now for our Elementary Students of the Month. Thank you so much, everyone. It's such a pleasure to be here. It is an honor and a privilege. That was an amazing Star Spangled Banner. My little ones were so excited. So I'm happy to present to you Bicycle Path September Students of the Month. We focus on respect, and these have been our model students. What a way to start the year. Modeling works.
003Modeling what respect is. What it is to be kind to others. What it is to share. And really spreading that joy throughout our building. So I'd like to present our awards this month. We have a few. Are you ready, friends? Okay. If I could have Ellie Anderson. She could not come, but Ellie Anderson should still be named. Congratulations to Ellie. Joshua Arias could also not attend, but he should still be named. Congratulations. Andrew Rees Baggio. Andrew, will you come up, please? We have Dominic Beyer. We have Wyatt Cordner. Shay DeFord. Shay, come on over. It's real gold, yes. Just like you, my friend. Giovanni Dessi. Come on over. Kayla Dougherty. Oh, she could not make it. You could not. You could. it? Noel Elkalani. Noelle. Mikaela Ucera. A little bit. Her name is Mikaela too.
004Hudson Fries. Mikaela Jesse. Gabriela Gonzalez. Abigail Grice. Almost, I promise. Aslan Hiral could not come, but thank you. Liam Insulaco. Ethan Lennon. Ethan could not come either. Oh, not. Okay, we'll have to wait for Ethan. All right, it's coming. London Locasio. London. Oh, I thought London was here. Junior Lopez Rodriguez could not make it. I didn't see him. Junior is here. Thank you. And looking so handsome. Cora Lozano. Melzger Urquiza. I don't think Aaron is here though, right? No Aaron. Okay. Mohamin Rahman is not here either, but thank you. Guess whose name? Jackson Riker. Jackson. Emmett Sapienza. Lucas Shortell. Jacob Wolf. Aidan Wong. I told you we were getting there. Last but not least, Lily Yekelov. We had so many. Like I said, it was a great start to our school year, and it's such
005a wonderful representation to see our little ones. They are joyful, energetic, and they keep us busy. So thank you at home for all the work that you do with them, and thank you to all our teachers who are instilling such wonderful character and values at school. Thank you. Thank you very much, boys and girls. Our future here in middle country looks bright because of all of you. You make us proud. Thank you. And now for our Secondary Students of the Month, if I could please have Mr. Bell join us at the podium? Good evening. It's a great pleasure that I present to you John Adamo as the Central Ridge High School Student of the Month. All who have the opportunity to meet John, and spend a small amount of time getting to know him, can
006only walk away impressed. He's a student and young man of whom we as a district can be proud. He always represents our district, our school, his family, and himself in a positive light. It didn't take long for me to select John as our first student of the month, and no, it wasn't because he was listed second in the senior class, but staff were more than eager to share their thoughts regarding John. He's known to all as a bright, respectful, and caring young man. In speaking with John and reviewing his accomplishments, I was impressed. Academically, he's outstanding. Based on his GPA, he currently ranks 18th in the senior class. At the end of this year, John will have completed 12 advanced placement courses. He's excelled on all of his exams, but is most proud of receiving
007a score of 5 in his AP Calculus class and a 4 on his AP Chemistry test. These are both grueling, high-level tests. Additionally, John is a member of the National World Latinx Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the National Association of the Language Honor Society, Studying Italian, the Tri-M Honor Society, and our National Honor Society. Throughout high school, John's been incredibly active in our class activities. He currently is the treasurer of our senior class, which I'm glad he scored as well in math since he's in charge of all of our money. John's a true leader. He reached out this summer along with a classmate to inquire about starting a Red Cross club here at CenterH. They explained that they would like to educate students about preparedness with respect to emergency situations, as
008well as help those in the community that may not have all the essentials in life. When I reached out to staff for some comments about John, my inbox was inundated immediately. Ms. Tasiak, his AP Environmental teacher, states, John is the exact person you want on your team. Dependable, encouraging, and helpful. He's respectful to his classmates and instructors. He approaches every task with curiosity and attention to detail. Mr. Sevillon, John's bandteacher, is a great teacher. He's a very hardworking, mature, self-motivated, and dedicated music student. He's a quick learner and rapidly became a very valuable musician to our wind ensemble. Right now, he is, quote, carrying the tuba section all by himself and doing a great job. I can't even carry a tuba. Mr. Sevillon went on to marvel that John also learned a new instrument last
009year, the baritone, so he could play trombone parts in the jazz ensemble. He says he made quick progress with this as well, learning not only a new instrument, but completely new styles and modalities of playing. Ms. Ganji, our librarian and National Honor Society advisor, was complimentary, saying John always carries himself in a very prominent way. Responsible, hardworking, and mature are adjectives that she used to describe him. He's always a positive presence in our school and as such is truly a role model for his peers. And lastly, his counselor, Ms. Blyberg, stated that John is known for his maturity, his responsibility, and his commitment to his students. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great
010teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that.
011He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. He's a great teacher, and I think he's a great example of that. research he has done and the goals that he has set for himself when planning out his life after high school. Equally impressive is that he has a heart of gold and is just an overall great person. She states she's proud to know him and is looking forward to seeing where the next chapter takes him as we all are. As you would imagine, John has many options available to him upon graduation. He's just beginning the college application phase of senior year and of course he plans to put his math and science skills to good use. He plans to major in mechanical engineering with SUNY Stonybrook, SUNY Binghamton, and Maritime on
012his short list of schools. John, congratulations and thank you for all that you've done for our school, our district, and our community. Thank you. Congratulations, John. If I could please have Mr. Graviano to the podium. Good evening, everyone. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you Newfield High School Student of the Month for October, Ms. Soraya Roy. She's sitting in a strong position, ranked in the top 10 of Newfield's class of 2026. Through her high school career, she will have taken a total of 13 college level and advanced placement level courses, giving her the potential to graduate in June with 45 college credits. Hands down, Soraya is one of the busiest students I know. She's a member of Newfield's mock trial team, the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a member of her class council
013for which she was president last year. Dr. Gerald, please welcome Soraya. DR. GERALD GERALD RAY, Newfield High School Student of the Month She's a member of Newfield High School's College of Music and History's National History Club. She was the president of Newfield College's Council of Music for the cetal Set, the Newfield High School's Student's College of Music for the set. She's also a member of the Newfield Academy of Music's College of Music's Newspaper Club, the Newspaper Club, the President of the History Club. She was a researcher and participant in the Long Island National History Day, a member of the MCCSD Cell Phone Band Committee, and president of the National Honor Society. She has earned herself the AP Scholar Award, the department where she provides emotional and physical support, food, water, setting up beds, supplies, and
014other materials for patients. From the time Soraya joined the cell phone policy committee and began moving closer to her senior year, she and I started talking far more often, and I couldn't have been more grateful for the opportunity. She's hands down one of the most humble, one of the most modest students of her caliber that I've ever met, and we're going to come back to that piece in a minute. Her teachers speak the world of her, and here's what some of them have to say. There were so many responses, but this would be a 25-page speech if I included everyone. So I apologize to those of you who are here tonight, and I didn't take your piece after I asked for it. Mr. Latham, our mock trial advisor and social studies teacher, stated, Soraya is
015seeking knowledge for knowledge's sake, not for grades or for rank. She lives her life in a manner to which the great philosopher Plato would praise, no matter how much I know, I know nothing, and need to fill that cup at all times. It is through this that she has become someone whose students look up to, that teachers gravitate toward, and will one day give us something great in the world. Ms. Cook, Newfield's library media specialist and National Honor Society advisor, describes Soraya as a natural-born leader who is detail-oriented, meticulous, and always striving for perfection. But it was the story shared by Ms. Donahue, our English teacher and newspaper advisor, that drove me to call Soraya back down for a follow-up conversation earlier today, and that's one that I have to share. And here's what she
016had to say. What truly sets Soraya apart is her deep sense of social awareness and intrinsic motivation to enact change. Just to give you a little background and anecdotal evidence of that, Soraya is interested in pursuing a career in medicine after graduation. She is especially driven by issues of injustice in the medical field. Recently, she began researching the inequalities in the treatment of endometriosis, a topic she pursued entirely on her own initiative. Through her independent research, Soraya was disturbed by the lack of funding and awareness surrounding this illness. But she didn't stop there. Soraya's efforts have gone impressively beyond research, and she is now developing a documentary to bring attention to the issue and advocate for change. She's simply astonishing. Soraya's initiative, her compassion, and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a
017testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her
018work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. and drive to make a real and tangible difference are a testament to the very best of her work. but a reminder that one motivated individual truly can spark awareness and inspire action. Before all of this feedback from faculty, Soraya and I sat down to talk in preparation for tonight. She told me she planned on going to Stony Brook, the pre-med
019route, either bio, chemistry, or both. I asked if there were any other schools that she was applying to. She responded with NYU. I could tell that there was at least one more school that she wanted to mention, but she didn't. But I got it out of her. She reluctantly stated Cornell, followed by, I'm probably not going to do it, though, because I'll never get in there. I was confused hearing that after reviewing her transcript and resume, and after hearing from her teachers, that confusion multiplied as to why Soraya felt that she shouldn't do it. So, Soraya, here's what I have to say to you. Being humble is a wonderful thing. Being modest is a wonderful thing. But not to the extent of it limiting your potential for development. And not to the extent of it
020making you feel like you're dreaming big and taking advantage of opportunities that are well within your reach. You are an extraordinary young lady, a teacher's dream, and an inspiration to your peers. You've been a tremendous asset to Newfield High School, and you need to know your worth. In my opinion, and I think everyone in this room would back me on it, if it's a dream school for you, then you need to apply to Cornell University. Do not sell yourself short. And if for some ridiculous reason you don't get in, it'll be their loss and another great investment. You'll be a great contribution to the future of your institution's gain. You just keep doing you, and you'll continue to make the world around you a better place. Congratulations on being named Newfield High School Student of
021the Month for October. Congratulations, Soraya, and I'm going to take liberty to speak on behalf of the Board of Education, but I think they would all agree that we truly believe you should do it. So please apply. If I could please have Ms. Oshren to the podium, please. Good evening. It is with great pleasure that I introduce Lucy Napolitano, an A.D. student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield, and she is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of
022Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. She is a graduate student from the University of Newfield. capture the kind of student and person that Lucy
023is. Miss Della Pina, Lucy's math teacher, who has had the privilege of teaching her both last year and this year, said it's been a joy to watch Lucy grow. She describes Lucy as a sweet, caring young lady whose smile can truly light up a room. Lucy brings positivity, kindness, and determination to everything she does. Miss Della Pina added that Lucy even laughs at her silly teacher jokes, which makes teaching her all the more special. What stands out most, she said, isn't just Lucy's academic excellence, but the way she treats others. With genuine respect and warmth, Lucy makes the classroom a brighter and better place, and her peers look up to her as a positive example. She excels at everything she does, and Miss Della Pina said she looks forward to seeing what the future holds
024for her. Miss Abrascato, Lucy's Italian teacher, also teaching her for the second year, described her as a hardworking, studious, and kind young lady. Lucy greets her each day. She speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, and is an active participant in class. She consistently completes her assignments and is always ready to assist classmates when they need help. Miss Abrascato is confident that Lucy is destined for success in whatever path she chooses. Miss Gray, Lucy's social studies teacher, told me that she would love a classroom full of Lucys. She described her as fabulous and everything you'd want in a student. Sweet, kind, smart, outgoing, and in her words, nothing but sunshine. She might even be a great teacher. She said she would be a perfect teacher, and she said that she was a teacher with a taste for
025science. This semester, the class was reexamined, and she said she was a perfectionist. She loved her classes, and she's an unforgettable student. She said she was already in seventh grade and was very interested in math. She said she was also an amazing professor while she was in eighth grade, and she was also a peeping garbage. But, ironically, Lucy is truly impressive. She finished sixth grade with a 98.3 average, seventh grade with a 98.9, and she is currently holding a 99 for the first quarter of eighth grade. When asked what she loves most about Donwood, Lucy said it's her teachers and her friends, and that her classes are usually pretty fun. Her favorite subjects are science and math. She finds science interesting, and she says that once you understand the math, and I proudly quote, it's
026fun to do. Outside of the classroom, Lucy is just as involved and accomplished. She plays both volleyball and field hockey for Dawnwood, and also competes in club volleyball with LIVBC. She's an active member of the National Junior Honor Society, and participates in both the Art Club and Best Buddies at Dawnwood. Of course, she also makes time to chillax, her word, not mine, and watch TV once homework and practices are done. Lucy draws inspiration from her big sister, Lila, a 10th grader at Center Reach High School, who plays on the varsity volleyball team. Lucy looks up to her and loves practicing and playing volleyball with her in their backyard. Looking ahead, Lucy aspires to become a psychiatrist. She's interested in understanding how the mind works, why people behave the way they do, and how she can
027help others. And truly, Lucy, with your determination, empathy, and drive, I have no doubt you'll achieve whatever you set your mind to. Lucy, thank you for all you do, and for being a source of positivity and kindness at DMS. Congratulations on being chosen as Dawnwood Middle School's October Student of the Month. Congratulations, Lucy. If I could please have Mr. Miranda to the podium. Good evening. It's my absolute honor to stand before you tonight and recognize a truly remarkable young man. Our October Student of the Month for Selden Middle School is Elijah Constantine. Elijah is someone who stands out, not only for his talents and accomplishments, but for the way he carries himself with humility, kindness, and a quiet confidence. At Selden Middle School, we strive to recognize students who embody the values of hard work,
028integrity, and compassion. Elijah checks every one of these boxes. Elijah's dedication to learning is very clear from his teacher's feedback. Ms. O'Shea, his English teacher, shared, Elijah is a great example. Elijah is the most talented, smart, and dedicated person who is humble and considerate. Ms. Mayorka added, He is the most hardworking, mature, helpful, and kind young man. He is always willing to lend a hand, rises above every obstacle, and is both a talented musician and an athlete. Truly an all-around phenomenal student. Elijah is also a gifted cellist in our orchestra. His musical ability is just one of the many ways he shines, but it doesn't stop there. Elijah is a great example of a talented, smart, and dedicated person who is humble and considerate. He is a great example of a talented, smart, and dedicated
029person who is humble and considerate. Legitimately, Elijah is a force to be reckoned with. He currently plays on our Junior Varsity baseball team and is the running back for our Selden football team. He has aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, and with his drive, discipline, and love for the game, we have no doubt he is capable of making that dream a reality. What really stood out to me was something deeper about Elijah's character. When I asked him who he looks up to, he said Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets. And while many admire him, he is a strong bull. admire Lindor for his athletic skill, Elijah's reason really struck me. He said he admires Francisco Lindor not because of how great he is at baseball, but because how much he gives back and because
030he donates to charity and is always looking for ways to help his community. That answer says everything about who Elijah is. He's someone who looks beyond the surface. In fact, one of the mantras Elijah lives by is don't judge someone unless you know their whole story. That level of empathy and maturity is rare, and it's just one of the many reasons Elijah's so deserving of this recognition. Elijah, thank you for being such a positive example to your classmates, your teachers, and to your school community. We are proud of your achievements, your heart, and the way you represent Selden Middle School with pride and purpose. Congratulations again, Elijah Constantine, our October Student of the Month. Congratulations, Elijah. If I could now please have Joseph Ruffiglio and Francesca Vera join Ms. Barisi and I at the podium.
031We are presenting certificates of pride to the following Center Reach High School students who are part of the Antique Airplane Club and received scholarships on August 3rd, 2025 at the Bayport Aerodrome. We'd like to mention Ian Poveramo, who unfortunately wasn't able to be here this evening, but we did give Mr. Bell his certificate, and Joseph Ruffiglio and Francesca Vera. Thank you, and we wish you the best of luck. They're BOCES students. It's nice to acknowledge BOCES students through these programs as well. And now for our PTA PTSA report, if I could please have Katrina Pelichinsky, PTA President of Bicycle Path. Good evening, members of the board, administration, faculty, and community. My name is Katrina Pelichinsky, and I'm honored to serve as this year's PTA President. I'd like to share a few highlights from what has
032already been a wonderful start to the school year, along with some exciting events still to come. Some recent highlights include our Welcome Back family picnic. Our year began with an incredibly successful picnic. Families came together to eat, dance, play, and enjoy the beautiful weather. It created such a strong sense of community, and it was heartwarming to see so many families, and those of us that had toe sizes, Gingerbread 결혼을 excerpt을 담았는데 a 16 year old kid, from four éragethank you so much to the families for we have Trick or Treat Street. We'll also be collecting non-perishable food items to support community members in need. This ties beautifully into our November character education theme, Sis and Chip. On October 23rd, students will sprinkle magic pumpkin dust in front of the school. I think we're all eager
033to see what grows overnight. December 1st through the 5th, we'll have our Holiday Boutique. This is really a fun one for the little ones. They get to budget and shop for their loved ones and find the perfect gifts. Looking ahead into the winter and spring this year, we'll have our Sweetheart Dance in February, just before Valentine's Day. PARP kicks off March 2nd with Pajama Day, plus additional themed days throughout the month. We'll host another book fair and a PARP Family Fun Night. April 14th, we'll have Spring Pictures. It's always amazing to see how much our little ones have grown from October to April when comparing fall and spring photos. Family Bingo Night will take place April 24th, and it's a fun way to reinforce learning while building community. Our Plant Sale will take place the
034first week of May, just in time for Mother's Day. And of course, we're still planning additional fun and meaningful events to help close out the school year. This has been a truly incredible start and the sense of community at Bicycle Path continues to grow. Stronger and stronger every day. I'm so grateful for the partnership between our families, staff, and administration. Together, we're creating not only special memories, but also meaningful opportunities for our children to learn, grow, and thrive. Thank you for your time and continued support of our school community. Thank you, and on behalf of the Board of Education, we thank you and all our volunteers on our PTAs throughout our school year. schools so thank you and now for a special presentation mr. singer good evening we're happy to have the opportunity tonight to
035share an update on our districts engagement with the New York Education Department's regionalization initiative as discussed last year regionalization was conceived as a way to help expand the work many districts have already been involved in with shared professional development cross-contract enrollments institutional partnerships and joint activities a few middle country specific examples of this work include the AP seminar consortium bringing together students from middle country and partner districts to collaborate while interacting with rigorous texts and guest speakers and our top performing fencing teams bringing together athletes from Newfield with Miller place and from center-reach with Longwood and Shoreham waiting River announced two superintendents in a September 12th 2020 4 letter the regionalization initiative was initially met with some skepticism and concern about both the unorthodox use of an emergency regulation to implement it and around fears
036that it could limit districts autonomy and local control these curtains concerns were expressed clearly by middle country schools both by our superintendent in a November 20th presentation and by the board in a December 2024 open letter to the Education Department you since this time the state education department has softened its position and in late December 2024 determined that districts could choose to opt out of regional regionalization entirely and that remaining districts can select which regionalization projects they wish to participate in with this new understanding middle country completed the strengths and needs survey tool and participated in convenings hosted by Eastern Suffolk BOCES throughout the spring and summer of 2025. 21 답변 18 28 39 41 42 43 45 47 48 52 53 74 78 68 69 87 87 align most closely with work we are
037already engaged in our district mission and those which hold the most promise to deliver concrete benefits for middle country students it is important to note that middle country retains the option to discontinue participation in any of these projects if during implementation they do not continue to reflect our values or needs the second part of the regionalization plan focuses on more aspirational projects the region would like to undertake if there were additional resources in regulatory or legislative changes as the extent of future resource expansion and regulatory or legislative support cannot be known projects in part two are those the district would consider engaging in if these changes prove sufficient to support our participation as shared last december our participation in regionalization is rooted in a desire to improve our participation in regionalization and to support our
038participation in regionalization and to support our participation in regionalization and to support our participation and to support our participation in regionalization and to support our participation in regionalization that we have access to additional resources if they should become available in the future it is hoped that the collection of districts expressing interest in these projects will spur the education department and our state legislators to provide this needed support nevertheless projects listed on this slide are not moving forward at this time instead they represent areas of interest we believe could provide value to the district under the right conditions and that we are open to considering in the future if conditions change. For this reason, these projects are listed as selections and not commitments. Looking to the future, Middle Country will be part of the inaugural group
039of 27 districts developing the Part 1 regionalization projects. In addition to participating in regional evaluation of these projects, we intend to conduct our own evaluation of each project we participate in to ensure that the implementation of each represents a good use of our time and effort and is delivering the hoped-for benefits to our students. Thank you very much for your continuing support. We look forward to reporting on our progress as implementation of these projects gets underway. Do any board members have any questions or comments? Thank you, Mr. Singer. For a board commentary, we're going to start with our student board members. We have Ms. Miller with us this evening. Do you have anything you'd like to say? Hi, I just wanted to reintroduce myself. My name is Rose Miller. I'm the student board member for
040Middle Country. I'm the student board member for Middle Country. I'm the student board member for Middle Country. I'm the student board member for Middle Country. And I'm the GEO president at Center Reach High School. Plus, I'm an ex officio student board member for Middle Country. This weekend is homecoming weekend at Center Reach. We have our first ever homecoming dance, which is tomorrow. We have almost 400 kids attending, which is a great turnout for the first dance. Pep rally is this Friday at 7 p.m. at Center Reach turf. And the Cougar Carnival will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the homecoming football game to follow at 2 p.m. Hope to see you there. Thank you. Mr. Hallath? Yeah, I just want to say thank you to the bicycle path students that were here. They
041really put a smile on my face, those little kids there. And thank you to Annie who sang the Sorcering Wrangler banner. That was a beautiful performance. That was really nice. I also wanna say thank you to the teachers that are here. I see you. I appreciate you. Understand that while you're here and i thank you very much for being here and uh that's about it thank you mr d benedetto miss anne rodriguez miss haggerty miss barisi yes i just wanted to say congratulations to all our students it's pride that makes us what we are and you guys are really good and since boces is in my heart i congratulate the boce students for what they did and what they accomplished and also to to thank everybody for a great beginning of a new year thank
042you miss feldman oh i'm sorry miss talamo i apologize i can't see down there long long table i also want to congratulate our students who were honored tonight it's it's difficult work and we're very proud of you for everything that you're doing so congratulations thank you miss baldwin i want to say congratulations to our students because it's incredible that you are flying an airplane and that all the school all the students who did really good just you know being honored but i also want to say that the past couple of days we've been talking with our high school students we had the privilege of the alc and then we're going to be talking to center reach soon i have to say that we have incredibly amazing students they give us good feedback they were positive
043they were a breath of fresh air and also center center reach is doing the um the hispanic heritage on october 21st come out and share that with the kids they take pride in what they do the other thing is that newfield high school is doing their homecoming this weekend as well and when we met with field lesson yesterday three of the football players asked all of the board members in the cabinet to make sure they came out to the center each new field game mark this down everyone October 25th here at center each at one o'clock because they said yes they give us their team number their shirt numbers but they said you know we compete against each other that day and then in lacrosse we're playing together so it's a healthy competition this is
044from our kids so let's come out and support them all okay thanks for our minutes we have minutes of our regular meeting from September 10th if there are no comments or edits we'll accept the minutes as they are thank you we have an amendment to the minutes of special meeting August 27 2025 I just want to say thank you to all of you for coming out and supporting us need a motion to accept the amendment all those in favor opposed motion carries I need a motion to accept the consent agenda you got questions comments instruction pupil personnel personnel personnel classified questions comments finance all those in favor opposed motion carries superintendents report 25-10 sr-1 overnight field trips all those in favor opposed motion carries 25 10-s R 2 New York device through Mel Academy policy
045number 1500 use of facilities for 2025 2026 school year all those in favor opposed motion carries and 25-10 sr-3 tax levy for the 2025 2026 school year and this requires a roll call vote. Can I have a motion and a second? Ms. Larkin. Thank you, I'd like to just confirm that was Bob Feeney and Denise Haggerty? Yes. Roll call vote. I will call your names in alphabetical order, with the vice president and president being last. Please respond by saying yes, no, or abstain after your name is called. Ms. Barisi. Benedetta. Yes. Ms. Bellman. Yes. Ms. Haggerty. Yes. Mr. Halleck. Yes. Ms. Mann-Rodriguez. Yes. Mr. Feeney. Yes. Ms. Chirac. Yes. At this time, would anybody like to change their vote? Being no trustee has changed his or her vote. The motion is carried unanimously nine to
046zero. Thank you. Thank you. Policy 25-10-P01, first reading of the following district policies. 5500 student records, 5695 students and personal electronic devices, 5710 school safety and educational classes, with eighty-six thirty computer resources and data management, and 8635 information and data privacy, security breach, and notification. All those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. That was Debbie on the side. Weekly correspondence. You know the drill. Please make sure you're checking your emails. You're RSVPing. If anything changes, let Stephanie or myself know so we can let the building know. Unfinished business. New business? New business? Committee? Roberto, could we get updated total Medicaid reimbursement? Thank you. Committee reports? I know we haven't all met yet. We're starting up with our committee reports, but if anybody has met and would like to speak, what can I do? Go ahead, Debbie.
047Oh, yeah, okay, I'm sorry. Mr. Feeney? Yes, the Middle Country Education Advancement Committee met today. Assistant Superintendent Jonathan Singer led an interesting discussion on artificial intelligence based upon the research they had conducted this past summer. His focus was on how our teaching staff could become familiar with the tools currently available to them regarding AI. He explained that the district was looking for professional development to train our staff. Kerry Signal, the director of ELL, explained that on October 20th, 19 teachers, K through 12, will be getting together in a collaborative committee to see how to use the technology to use AI effectively. Ryan Milano, director of mathematics and assessment, explained designations for schools that do not meet the state accountability standards and how these are changing. He also explained how the new state measures would affect
048our schools. Stagecoach Elementary and Oxhead were examples of schools that have exited the status of schools under review, and he explained that the measures that the district was using, taking to appeal to these state-designated institutions, that we were implementing and that we are still working on. He explained how the new state seal of bi-literacy would be implemented for the graduating class of 2029, who will be eligible for the state designation on their diplomas. He explained our efforts to create home language arts classes as a pathway for our heritage speaking students to make progress. Thank you. who basically do not read or write their native languages. Thank you. Anyone else for committee reports? Ms. May and Rodriguez, you said you had a liaison? Yes. So the Pride PTSA met on Monday, October 6th. This year, the
049president decided to start each meeting with an inspirational Pride fact, which was met with a positive reception. The budget for the Pride PTSA was reviewed and approved for 2025-2026. National coming out day is this Saturday, 10-11-25. Currently, the Pride PTSA is in need of two council delegates to attend the PTA council meetings and report back to the Pride PTSA. Students are viable council delegate candidates, if anybody is interested. We discussed how the collaboration with Northwell has been such a valuable resource to our community and the Pride. The Pride PTSA expressed their thanks to the leadership and the board for moving forward with the arrangement. We also discussed ideas for fundraising, including a potential sticker designing project, and the next Pride PTSA meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 5th, at Center Reach High School. Thank
050you. Any other liaison committee reports? Follow-up board discussion? Public input? We had no public input from our last meeting. Public input for this evening? Ms. Larkin. Yes, thank you. This evening, we have one speaker. Please be reminded that you have three minutes to address the board. I will keep the clock with my phone. Once the phone goes off, I'll let you know that your three minutes is up, and at that time, please wrap up your statement. Please also be reminded that since the board meeting is a meeting in public and not a public hearing, the board does not respond to public input. If your comment requires a response, you'll either be contacted directly or are responsible to meet at the next board event meeting. Please remember, the board is not responsible for this. Please remember
051that the board does not permit public input involving specific personnel or students. And if you wish to discuss such matters, kindly contact the superintendent during regular business hours. Speaker this evening is Nadia Reznikoff. Oh, no. Do I have to turn it on or is it on? It's on. Okay, thank you. Good evening, members of the board. My name is Nadia Reznikoff, and I'm here tonight not just as president of the Middle Country Teachers Association, but as someone who cares deeply about the students and staff of the Middle Country School District. I'm speaking on behalf of over 900 teachers and teaching assistants who show up every day, early in the morning, staying late into the evening, not because we have to, but because we believe in our students. We support them academically, emotionally, and socially. We
052are there when they're struggling, when they succeed, and when they need someone to believe in them. But right now, it feels like no one is believing in us. Today is 100th day of the school year. We are here to support you. We are here to support you. We are here to support you. Today is 100 days that we are working under an expired contract. The proposals being put forward in these negotiations would ask us to give so much, so much in fact, that all of us would be taking a pay cut. At a time when the cost of living keeps rising, this doesn't just hurt, it sends a painful message. Our work is dis-valued. Our time, our effort, our care doesn't count the way it should. I want to remind everyone today that one of
053the most important, here tonight that teacher working conditions are the students learning conditions this is why the middle country teachers and teaching assistants have historically labored to negotiate fair and equitable terms and conditions consistent with those of other similar school districts we deserve better than being told we need to accept less than other similar locals we deserve more than being shown our loyalty is insignificant we are not asking for anything unreasonable we're asking to be treated with dignity to be recognized for the critical role we play in the lives of the children in this district we are proud to be educators but many of us are exhausted many of us are hurting and some of our questioning how much longer we can afford financially or emotionally to stay in a job we once saw as
054a calling please don't let us down please don't let these negotiations take more from the people already giving everything i've been here a long time and work with this board and its predecessors i'm mindful that in the past the district has shown good faith in reaching fair settlements that's why i remain optimistic and hopeful we can find a path to a fair settlement when you support your educators you strengthen your schools and when you weaken us you risk everything that makes this district a place we've been prepped for to serve thank you for listening thank you i need a motion to adjourn bob and denise all those in favor opposed motion carries thank you good evening