001I'd like to call the Lancaster Central School District Board of Education meeting to order. In the unlikely event of an emergency, if we do have to evacuate the room, please note the locations of the exits at this time. I ask you to silence your cell phones and rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Please remain standing for a moment of silent reflection. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God. Moving on to 4.0 presentations. We have no presentations this evening. 5.0 correspondence, 5.1, we did receive one email. 6.0, approval of minutes. 6.1, can I have a motion to approve the annual budget hearing minutes from May 12, 2025? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone
002against? Motion carries. 6.2, can I have a motion on the regular session from May 12, 2025? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 6.3, can I have a motion on the annual budget vote and election results? So moved. Second. Any comments and questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 7.0, items from staff organizations. Anyone from the Lancaster Administrative and Supervisory Association? Thank you, Mr. Herr. Anyone from the Lancaster Central Teachers Association? Thank you so much. Anyone from the Lancaster Association of Service Personnel? Anyone from the Lancaster Association of Substitute Teachers? 8.0, board reports. Do any board members? Have anything to report? Just a very quick one, Mr. Sage. William Street held one of its biggest fundraisers a couple of weeks ago, the color run. Although
003it was a pretty muddy and kind of cool day, all the kids had a lot of fun running around in the field, throwing packets of color at each other. And the PTO and all the kids and the parents at the school raised about $24,000, which will go towards field trips and whatnot for the next year. And the sixth grade picnic and field day. So Mrs. Hanke was there braving the weather with us that night, so thank you so much. And again, it was a lot of fun even though it was a little bit muddy. So great job to the PTO over at William Street as well as the faculty and looking forward to it again next year. Thank you, Mr. Calarico. I would have a couple comments I'd like to make as far as one
004of our, you know, we have many good coaches in the district. And one of our coaches has recently been a member of the PTO. He recently decided to retire, Jason Jasker. I wanted to recognize him for 10 years to the girls' basketball program. He brought stability to the program when he had six coaches in the 10 previous years. Through that tenure, he won five ECIC titles with his teams, four sectional championships, and two Far West regional championships. I know he's not looking for recognition. And oftentimes our coaches are never looking for recognition, but he deserves that for the success that his teams have had and the many athletes. So he's got a lot of opportunities that played on your end as well. Thanks, Jason. Hope to see you again next year. Thank you, Mr. Lyman.
005And for now, Mr. Davenport is excused from the C-CANCE meeting. 9.0, superintendent's administrative report. Dr. Hufl. Thank you, Mr. Sage. I'll keep it somewhat brief today because there's so much going on. It's been really an absolutely fantastic few weeks since last we've met. Exhausting, but actually fantastic. And I heard Mr. Hufl. Mr. Candela say this in this very auditorium. I believe it was last week, but it could have been a couple weeks ago that this is really the season of celebration. And those words couldn't be more true. Because it's a great time in Lancaster schools for so many reasons. And I know as I look around, we have some adults who are going to be celebrating here. They're hard work over the course of their time with us. But there's been awards and recognition assemblies,
006kindergarten celebrations, field days. Mr. Tallarico mentioned this, color runs and fun runs. In fact, Mrs. Marcinelli roped me in a little peer pressure to do a lap or two over at Como Park. Market days over at Shoeley where students learn about economics. Concerts and concerts and more concerts. Art festivals, Seal of Civic Greatness Fair, Honor Society induction ceremonies, track meets at William Street, athletic events that are still going on which our student athletes are performing masterfully at all levels and really excelling in the classroom and on the athletic fields. And that was really just. That was the last week for me. I'm just kidding. That was a small sampling of what's been going on really in the last, you know, three, four, five weeks. And it's a small sampling because there's so much more. And
007I really want to thank all the faculty, staff, advisors, coaches, the administration, our parents, our families who come together and really make all of these events possible for our students, makes it special for our kiddos and really forms those memories that they're going to last a lifetime. There's really still so much more. That still has to go on before the end of the year. Our students and everyone continues to work hard. And I know that they'll finish strong. But it's really an exciting time. And as Mr. Candela said, the season of celebration. So I'll turn it back over to you then, Mr. Sage. Thank you, Dr. Poovel. 10.0, old business. Does anyone have any old business to discuss? 11.0, new business. 11.1, personnel items. 11.1.1, can I have a motion to appoint assistant? Director of
008special education? So moved. Any comments or questions? Ms. Cannon? It is with great enthusiasm and confidence that I recommend John Tresman for the position of assistant director of special education. Mr. Tresman has provided a record of leadership in his current role as assistant principal at Lancaster Middle School. His vision and dedication have been instrumental in expanding opportunities for our special education population. Under his leadership, we've seen the successful implementation of inclusion models that have been implemented in the school system. And I'm very proud of that. I'm very proud of that. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I would also like to thank you for your efforts in bringing students to the highest levels that provide opportunities for our students with special needs to participate in both advanced and regents level courses, as well as expanding the inclusive
009exploratory offerings, creating meaningful access for our highest need learners. In addition, Mr. Tresman has worked collaboratively with the physical education department to extend the values of our unified sports programs into the PE curriculum. This effort reflects his belief that inclusion must reach beyond the classroom and into every aspect of student life. Mr. Tresmet apart is the respect he's earned across our district. He has earned the trust of teachers and staff, families appreciate his honesty and advocacy, and students benefit every day from his belief in their potential. He is a steady, student-centered leader who listens with empathy, leads with clarity, and acts with purpose. As challenges have emerged, he has consistently stepped forward, problem-solving in real time, supporting staff with compassion and professionalism, and ensuring that the needs of students always come first. Before joining Lancaster,
010Mr. Tresmet served as special education teacher in both self-contained and consultant teacher classrooms within an alternative school setting. There, he worked with students who faced some of the most significant educational and personal challenges. These experiences not only provided him with expertise in special education best practices, but also shaped him into a compassionate, resilient, and highly capable leader. His recommendation to Mr. Tresmet was that he should be a teacher of the future, and that he should be a leader of the future. Mr. Tresmet's recommendation today is backed by a unanimous decision from our hiring committee, and I believe I speak for everyone involved when I say we are excited and proud to welcome John Tresmet to the special education leadership team at Lancaster. Thank you, Mrs. Gannon. To make this official, can I have a motion?
011We already moved, right? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. Mr. Tresmet, would you like to say a few words? That would be great. Mrs. Gannon, for starters, that was very kind. I appreciate the opportunity to be here. I appreciate those nice words. I'm not really one to sit there and receive that all, but I really appreciate it. I hope we have a lot of time spent together in these next upcoming years. Good evening, everyone. I want to take a moment to sincerely thank the Board of Education, Dr. Kufel, Mr. Tresmet, and Mrs. Gannon for this incredible opportunity to serve as the assistant director of special education. I'm truly honored and excited to step into this role for the department in which I began as a teacher over a decade ago. This new position
012represents more than just professional growth. It's a chance for me to continue learning while deepening my commitment to the Lancaster Central School District, and most importantly, supporting and advocating for all students within the special education department. Thank you once again for your trust and confidence in me. I'm eager to collaborate with each of you as we build the strong foundation established by Mr. Armstrong and Mrs. Gannon. Together, I'm confident we can continue driving meaningful progress, ensuring that we can make the best of the current situation, and that every student in the special education department receives the support, advocacy, and opportunities that they deserve. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Tresmet. We have a saying here in Lancaster, hire the best. And we truly do hire the best. I remember many years ago, Mr. Tresmet was hired
013at the middle school, and I knew we hired the best then, and we hire the best now. Congratulations again. 11.1.2, can I have a motion to appoint assistant principal? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. Mr. Herr, would you like to say a few words? And Dr. Marquio? Good evening. It's a pleasure to speak to you this evening regarding Mrs. Mechelum, who has been recommended for the position of assistant principal at William Street School. When Mr. Herr was approved as the new principal, I felt relief. William Street is a big place, and he's the man for the job. That relief was short-lived, though, when I thought about receiving him. I was very happy to be here today. I'm very grateful to have him. I'm very glad that
014we're placing him and the big shoes he has. However, we found an excellent candidate to take on the challenge. As part of the interview process, all candidates were asked to create a presentation around increasing ELA achievement through the MTSS process. Amy was the only candidate to approach that assignment through the lens of strategic planning. She started with the suggestion of looking at both our internal and state cohort data. She also proposed a profiling staff capacity, our internal structures, and observational data. She then moves to a comprehensive multi-year plan. That plan included peer supports, BOCES in services, and differentiated professional development. She also suggested scheduling options and alternatives for how MTSS is delivered. Along the way, she included several data gathering points for us to evaluate the work and make adjustments to the plan. This presentation
015highlighted her understanding of the skills that are necessary to be part of the administrative team of such a big building. They also underscored her belief that in order to serve our students, our teachers need to have a solid foundation grounded in strategic work. During her final interview with the team, Amy talked to us about her five core values that she has as an administrator. They are the passion for the work, the commitment to the work, and the commitment to the work. She also highlighted that the work is a place where we can build trust, integrity, communication, and relationship building. As she answered other questions, these values became evident, especially as she was talking about students who struggle with either behavioral concerns or social skills. She talked about getting to know students and their families well
016and how she has used that to build a culture of restorative practice in her current role. Mrs. Mashalom comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and a broad skill set. She started as an aide at Stanley Falk, and 19 years ago, she was hired as special education in a charter k-6 school. While there she helped to increase the achievement levels of her students by a significant amount. I know this because I was the principal of that school. Shortly after Amy joined the team, I left that school to come here. And while we didn't stay in close touch, the charter school world is small and I heard about her accomplishments as she went on in her career. After she completed her administrative degree, She was made data coordinator for that school. Understanding your data and
017making sound decisions based on data is important for any educator. But it's especially important in a charter school because it can mean the difference between your charter being renewed and being closed by New York State. She went on to become the assistant principal of a different charter school. Her principal shared with us how she's worked hard to create a culture in which teachers and students can focus on their work and not be overwhelmed by the many distractions that can come at them. She also won a board seat at her original school, where she's now the chair of the academic committee and sits on the governance committee. Coming from a small charter to a big school in a bigger district is a leap. However, we can safely say that the entire committee overwhelmingly felt that Amy
018was ready for the job. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge and is ready to take on the work as we continue to make William Street the best place it can be for our students. Thank you for the opportunity. I am honored to have the opportunity to speak on Ms. Meshulam's behalf tonight. I wholeheartedly support her and know that William Street will continue to thrive with her as part of our leadership team. My name is Meshulam and thank you so much for such an amazing introduction. I'm just incredibly excited to be here and to start this work. As you've heard, I come from a background of charter schools, so I just want to first say thank you for taking a chance on somebody who's never worked in a district before. But that doesn't mean
019that I haven't done the work. Being a charter school, it's really all about taking on multiple roles in different ways. You could say that I've worked as an assistant principal, a principal, a district leader, because those are all the hats that you wear right in a charter school. So hopefully I'll get to show you exactly how much I know and how excited I am for this opportunity. So thank you so much. Congratulations, Ms. Meshulam. You probably already know this, but William Street is the largest single elementary school in, I think, most of New York. So all of those qualities of doing multiple roles and wearing several hats are going to do you really well. Like I said earlier, we hire the best, and if you made it through the interview process, you were the best.
020And I can't wait for you to get to work. With our kiddos over at William Street. Congratulations. All right. 11.1.3, tenure recommendations for teachers. Can I have a motion? Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. I do know that we have several teachers in the audience today. Samantha Audino, Amanda Nolan, Aaron Rush, and Alex Sherry. Please. Please stand if you'd like so that we can recognize you. And anyone else that I missed that we didn't see coming in? I'd love everyone to give these teachers a warm applause. Now, we will have something to say about the teachers at a subsequent meeting. One of them will be recognized with a certificate as well. But tenure is a really big deal in the life cycle of teachers. And it represents something
021much bigger than just a certificate. So, when I say hire the best, then you have to work for several years. Four years in most teachers' cases. And that's a big deal. So, we did hire the best. You earned tenure. And congratulations. We have more tenure. All right. 11.1.4, can I have a motion on the tenure recommendation for Aaron Gannon? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. Mr. Armstrong? This is an exciting night here. A lot of change and excitement, I think, with all this just in my experience. I think this is great. As far as Aaron Gannon, as most of you know, she's worked closely with me for four years. She's put up with my stories, lectures, and various ruminations. I think this experience is a great
022experience. It's in and of itself definitely makes her worthy of tenure as the Assistant Director of Special Education. However, there's more. She didn't just put up with me. Aaron performs at an incredibly high level in her role as Assistant Director of Special Education. She displays an impressive work ethic and successfully handles an incredibly large workload with multiple demands for her time and expertise. She takes on substantial work. She has a substantial responsibility for projects to improve our district programs and procedures, including MTSS and improving our inclusive models of instruction in the Special Education Department. It's important to note that Aaron does a fabulous job, a masterful job, really, of working with parents that require support and constant communication due to the nature of their children's special needs. In working with parents, she speaks directly and
023earnestly about what is best for their children. She's a great teacher. She's a quick study of problematic situations and demonstrates a keen ability to solve problems. District administrators and principals seek out her advice on a regular basis. And in my opinion, most importantly, she demonstrates an appropriate sense of humor that is especially welcome when we encounter stressful situations. So overall, even though this tenure will be short-lived, in a sense, because she's starting her new role July 1st, she's certainly expelled as excelled in her current role as a special education and district administrator. She is and certainly will remain a huge asset to the district. Congrats. Thank you, Mr. Armstrong. Special education holds a special place in my heart and in Lancaster's heart. So, Mrs. Gannon, we are always looking forward to July 1, but congratulations
024on your tenure for the work. Amazing work that you've already done. 11.1.5, tenure recommendation for Michael Candela. Do I have a motion? Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. We'll recognize Mr. Candela at a subsequent meeting. 11.1.6, can I have a motion when the personnel changes? Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. And for the teacher tenure recommendations, I did notice five people stood up. So we've got the other name, Jessica Losal. I wanted to congratulate you as well because I know you came here and I didn't want you to feel left out. Thank you for coming. And 11.2, education items. 11.2.1, can I have a motion on the Committee on Special Education? So moved. Any comments or questions? All those in favor?
025Anyone against? Motion carries. 11.2.2, can I have a motion on the Committee on Preschool Special Education? So moved. Sorry. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.0, business and financial items. 12.1, financial items. Can I have a motion? Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.2, can I have a motion on the policy adoption? 12.2. 12.10, board members, nomination and election? So moved. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.3, can I have a motion on the policy adoption 7220, graduation requirements? So moved. Sorry. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.4, can I have a motion on the policy adoption 7223, advanced coursework? So moved. Thanks. Any comments or questions? All those in favor?
026Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.5 through 12.12 are policy readings. These are for information only. We will vote on these at subsequent meetings. 12.5, policy second reading 7556, equal educational opportunities. 12.6, policy second reading 7471, student government. 12.7, policy second reading 8340, instructional materials and nonpublic school students. 12.8, policy first reading 6470, acceptable use policy. 12.9, policy first reading 7316, use of internet enabled devices during the school day. 12.10, policy first reading 5685, maximum temperature for school buildings and indoor facilities. 12.11, policy second reading 640, acceptable use policy. 12.9, policy first reading 7316, use of internet enabled devices during the school day. 12.11, policy first reading 5672, information security breach and notification. And 12.12, policy first reading 5673, employee personal identifying information. Moving on to 12.13, can I have a motion on the contract with LawLink
027Consulting? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.14, payment of all bills. So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.15, can I have a motion on the bond anticipation note sales results? So moved. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.16, can I have a motion on the contract, Clarence Central School District? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.17, can I have a motion on the contract with East Irondequoit Central School District? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.18, can I have a motion on the food service operating reports for April 2025? So moved. Second. Any
028comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.19, can I have a motion on the surplus equipment? Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.20, can I have a motion on the surplus books? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.21, can I have a motion on the club creation? So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.22, can I have a motion on the construction change orders? So moved. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. 12.23, can I have a motion on the amended AIA contract field turf? So moved. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. Can I have a
029motion on 12.24, the contract with U.S. Omni and TSACG Compliance Services, Inc.? Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Motion carries. Anyone against? Motion carries. Can I have a motion on 12.25, the contract with Rachel Schneider, Licensed Behavioral Analyst, PLLC? Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. Can I have a motion on 12.26, the contract with BHSC Services? Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. Can I have a motion on 12.27, the contract with EIUS, LLC, doing business as LearnWell? Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. Can I have a motion on 12.28, the contract with Buffalo City School District? Any comments or questions? All those in favor? Anyone against? Motion carries. Motion après There are still 3 minutes
030left until introduction of the circuit. 13.0 is a public hearing. Any person who notified the district clerk per Policy 15-14 may speak at this time. Speakers first must be recognized and then identify themselves by stating their name and address. The time limit to speak will be limited to 5 minutes per person. Welcome all who have come to observe this meeting this evening. This is a time set aside for a public hearing. This has been a time solace of public hearing. There is serious issues that come up. A time when we invite members of the community to share ideas and concerns with us. We welcome this opportunity to hear from you. Each person is given up to five minutes in which to address the board. This is a meeting held in public rather than a public
031meeting, which means we will not be engaging in any dialogue with members of the community this evening. Rest assured we are listening carefully and take seriously what you have to say. I would like to ask you to demonstrate respect for us and for one another by speaking to the issues, giving us ideas, and sharing your opinions, but not engaging in any personal attack. Additionally, please know as a public school district we are bound by various laws, regulations, and policies regarding the privacy of students and staff, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Moreover, board policy prohibits public comment on any topic directly or indirectly. Thank you. The policy is not to disclose information directly related to employee personnel information or any topic that may potentially disclose information about a particular student. Accordingly, please do
032not comment on the performance or conduct of individual staff members and or specific confidential student related matters. This policy will be strictly enforced and anyone violating the policy will be barred from addressing the board in the future. We have one speaker this evening. Paula Haddemy. Paula Haddemy. How are you? Hi. How are you? I'm good. I talk loud. I'm Paula Haddemy. I'm a 23-gender right behind the football practice field. I had my children go to the district back in 96 and 2001 and now I have six grandchildren all residing in wonderful Lancaster, which I'm very happy about. I have two grandsons that are sophomores and last year as freshmen we always entered it the north end of the loop. This year their first period classes are on the south end of the loop. They live
033on Heritage and they live on Fezzeron. I'm the designated driver. I take my grandchildren to school. At the end of last year I was very ill so my daughters did it but it was time because it was the north end. This year now at the south end it's me and it's been one hell of a year. I get the boys in the morning, try to cross Central Avenue from Fezzeron sometimes to take us up to 10-15 minutes. I get out, some people are nice enough to let you out sometimes you just have to sit and wait and the traffic is backed up to Walden Avenue. I have pictures on my phone because we get so stressed in the morning because of this. So if I get them to the door by 7 32 they're not
034late. My one grandson has the bus, he has the bus and he's in the middle of a queue. I get them to the door by 7 32 they're not late. My one grandson has the bus, he's in the middle of a queue. hands study hall or whatever so he's not always that concerned but my other guy gets detention if he's late. I have notes in my car for both boys every day. I have a stack of them because I don't want them being marked late because it's not their fault we can't get through the traffic to get to the doors. Sometimes they close at 7.30. Whoever's out there doesn't always let them in and it's just become a problem. My suggestion is, and again I'm just addressing this, is why can't if people had to
035come in at the south end of that building, why can't they have somebody there monitoring them as they're walking in? Some days you have 30 kids crossing in front of the whole school to go to the main office to get checked in. Now they've got to walk all the way back to the other end of the building. Now they're really late. And it's very frustrating because I think it could be an easy fix but when they come in the south end loop, the line of cars is out onto Central Avenue because everybody takes their time. They just come into the little loop where you have this whole big parking lot that they could get some of these cars off of Fortin to put them into the parking lot so it would move faster. Then you've
036got people making the left hand turn even though they're not supposed to. They do it at 2.15 or 2.30 also. So I just would hope that somebody would see what goes on out in front of this building every morning because it's very, very busy. It's very frustrating. That's all I've got to say. Thank you. Thank you Mrs. Adamy. Alright. Before we adjourn, we do have 14.0 executive session to discuss the superintendent's year-end evaluation. Before we go into executive session, I want to make sure everyone knows our next meeting is going to be June 23rd right here in the Lancaster High School at 7 p.m. Alright, for all intents and purposes, that, let me to end the meeting for this evening. Thank you all for coming out. And congratulations again to anyone who earned tenure today,
037as well as our new hires. Thank you, everyone.