001for Lucille Beverly, a retired nurse who passed away on January 6th. >> 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. 4.01 Superintendence Report. >> Thank you very much, President Johnson, members of the board of education. members of the Winger Central School District learning community and our employees that are here this evening to be congratulated and thanked for their 25 years worth of service to our school district. As I drove throughout the district yesterday and met with some of our bus drivers and custodians, I was extremely impressed with the total team effort that I saw in order to prepare our schools to open today despite the heavy snowfall. These things don't just happen.
002They're done because people worked over the weekend to plan and then during the snowstorm they carried out their plan. They planned their work and they worked their plan. And because of that, we were able to not only open today, but I think if you take a look around in comparison to some of the other areas that got nearly 2 feet of snow, our employees did an absolutely phenomenal job. And the reason that I say that is is that this evening we're going to be recognizing people from every different type of employment classification within our school district. You know, we have nine different collective bargaining units within the Winger Central School District. And no one is more important than anyone else. I've said to you many times, the only difference between you and I is I
003tend to have to make some challenging decisions and my compensation is a little higher, but that doesn't mean anything. If it weren't for the work that was done yesterday, we wouldn't be in school today. If it's not for the work that all of you do, our students and our families would not receive the type of attention that they deserve. So, let's give all of them a round of applause, please, if we could. And at this time, it's my pleasure to introduce our president of board of education, President Marie Johnson. President Johnson. Yes. Um, it's truly an honor and a privilege to be here before you guys tonight and recognize our 25 year honores. 25 years represents thousands of days of service, countless challenges, and even more successes that you guys have accumulated. Your commitment has
004shaped our students, supported our shaped [clears throat] our schools, supported our students, and strengthened this community. On behalf of the board of education, thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your lasting impact. Congratulations on this incredible achievement. You have all earned it. Thank you for your service. [applause] So again, thank you for truly making a positive difference in the lives of others every day. At this time, our executive director of human resources, Miss Renee Harris, will move forward with the program. Miss Harris. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Bon and President Johnson. Good evening everyone and welcome to our annual 25 recognition ceremony. Uh before we go on, I would like to say thank you to President Johnson, Vice President Migs, and the board of education. Uh to give us this opportunity to recognize
005our staff. I think this is always a um a pleasant ceremony to do. Uh and I'm glad to see all the or most of the seats full here. I'm glad that you were able to weather the storm and you made it here tonight. So, thank you so much for coming. Um, this year in particular, since I've been uh in the director position, we are celebrating the most employees who have reached the 25-y year mark and we are celebrating 64 employees tonight. So, that in itself deserves a huge round of applause. So, I'd just like to take a minute and say thank you to Alberta Pedro for helping to coordinate the efforts of this ceremony and to Preiosa Piscapo, my secretary in human resources. She does a lot of behind thescenes work and sending out the
006invitations. You might have received emails from her or phone calls from her altering from Monday to tonight. So, thank you so much to Prey and then to the remaining human resources staff that helps to pull all this information together so that we can have uh our list of of 25ear recipients. So, without further ado, how this is going to work and is I'm going to ask the members of the board of education to stand up here and members of senior staff. I'm going to call your name. I'm calling it in alpha order by last name. I have Kristen Dainty here who's my wonderful assistant and she will be handing you your 25-year pen. Um, so I'm going to ask that you come up this way. If you don't feel comfortable coming up on the stage,
007no problem. Just let me know and I will make sure that we get you your pin. Um, fist bumps, elbow bumps, handshakes, whatever you feel most comfortable with. Um, and then at the end, we'd like to try and get a picture with everyone. So, for those of you that are receiving a service pin, if you wouldn't mind maybe standing at toward at the end of the ceremony at the bottom here, we're going to try and get a picture of all of you with the board of education senior staff. >> You good? >> Yeah, good. Just want to make sure you're >> Okay. So, I do apologize in advance if I do not pronounce your name correctly, but I'm going to certainly do my best. So, starting us off, we have Shaina Allen, English teacher, John
008J. High School. Susan Argetta, teaching assistant, Orchard View. Huana Blanco, foreign language teacher, John J. Melissa Barrett, music teacher, Meyers Corners. All right, Melissa, come on up. You're starting us off tonight. Bridget Bochini, physical education teacher, Gay Head. Jamie Burn, speech teacher, Vasser Road, senior types. Teresa Satollah, human resources. Jennifer Kawuchcci, fourth grade teacher. Gayhead. Theres Coin, library media specialist. Vassor Road. >> Congratulations. >> Okay. Matt Kenna, physical education teacher. Meyers. Claire Curtis, fifth grade teacher. She road. Carolyn Dart Doll Rimple, I apologize, special education teacher. Um, Van W Junior High School. Marian Denoa, food service helper. John J. High School. Denise Dueling, special education teacher. She road. Jennifer Drier, kindergarten teacher. She road. >> Congratulations. Kelly Ever, third grade teacher, Kenry Road. Rachel Fari, social studies teacher, John J. High School. Jennifer Gion, school
009counselor, John J. High School. >> Congratulations. >> Tammy Gellert, health teacher, Wingers Junior High. Flip Girtler, AIS teacher, Fishkill Elementary, also the WCT union president. >> Sydney Goldstein, Meyers Corner's elementary school principal. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. All right. >> Tad Herman, science teacher, John J. High School. Jamie Holtley, sixth grade teacher, Fishkill. Corey Kirch, kindergarten teacher, Oak Grove. Raymond Caretsky, math teacher. Ketchum. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Cara Caretsky, special education teacher, Wingers Junior High. >> Teaching assistant Karen Leuka, John J. High School. Kimberly, fourth grade teacher, Brinkerhoff. Elizabeth Lori, special education teacher, Ketchum. >> Congratulations. >> Teresa Mahare, teaching assistant, Van White Junior High School. Shannon Manzo, science teacher, RCK. Sonia Marti, science teacher. John J. Keith May, social studies teacher, Van White Junior High School. John Maza, social studies teacher, Van White Junior
010High School. Allison McCarol, special education teacher. John J. Patricia McCarthy, teaching assistant. John J. >> Congratulations. >> Jessica McGinness, kindergarten teacher. Gay Head. Terresa McLaclin, fifth grade teacher. She road. Celesteine Milanise, math teacher, Wenders Junior High. Robert Milroy, fifth grade teacher. Kenry RH Karina Morano Ender social studies teacher RCK Regina Nardozi teaching assistant Kenry Road Elizabeth third grade teacher Chief Road Paula Partardoner special education teacher Royce Ketchum >> Jennifer Peterson, fifth grade teacher. Brinkerhoff. Congratulations. >> Joe Pedota, special education teacher. John J. Joseph Prong, fifth grade teacher, Fishkill Elementary. Katherine Riker, special education teacher, Wingers Junior High. Sharon Row, sixth grade teacher, Oak Grove. Congratulations, >> Maria Rogers, teaching assistant, Oak Grove. Carolyn Ryan, social excuse me, Carolyn Ryan, school social worker. Royce C. Ketchum. Danielle Salvastrini, art teacher, Orchard View. Jodie Schwander Stall, special
011education teacher. Wingers Junior High. Lisa Cely, special education teacher. Kenry Road. Mike Sienna, secondary assistant principal at W Van W Junior High School. Janine Sloth, fifth grade teacher. Kenry Road. >> Congratulations. >> Richard Smith, physical education teacher. Chief Road. Congratulations. Karen S, speech teacher. Fishkill Elementary. Carrie Stock, kindergarten teacher. Evans. Alice Tenny, school monitor, Oak Grove. Don Turpin Ortegas, physical education teacher, Oak Grove. Damon Vandermark, English teacher. John J. >> Congratulations. >> Charles Williams, special education teacher. Royce C. Ketchum. >> [snorts] >> So there is one more individual that we would like to recognize for her 25 years of service. Dr. Bon, can I ask you to come forward? I wonder who that individual might be. an individual that I've had the pleasure to work with in addition to everyone that was named before. Congratulations
012to them. But I've had an opportunity to work with one of the finest business people that you will ever find in school education. 25 years of service to the Winger Central School District. The financial guru, Miss Kristen Dainty. >> [laughter] >> Oh, you're officially getting pinned as well. >> Yes. >> Oh, don't poke her. three. >> And I believe in recent memory she is the first senior staff member to ever receive a pin for her 25 years worth of service right here in Wingers. Thank you, Kristen. Thank you for sticking with us. >> Thank you. All right. So, at this point, I'm going to ask for all of our recipients to move to the front of the stage and then we're going to get a picture with the board of education. And Mr. Loa is
013our photographer for the evening. Okay, >> some of you may have to come up. Don't worry about this. >> Yeah, the board wants to Yeah, the board can step forward. So, as this concludes our ceremony for I want to again express a big heartfelt thank you and tremendous gratitude to all of our 25-year service award recipients for your hard work, your dedication, and all that you have done. Thank you very much. So, we do have one more individual that we would like to recognize this evening for other reasons. So, I'm going to hand the microphone off to Dr. Bunk. >> Thank you, Executive Director Harris. We have an individual here this evening that you have not seen in a while here at a board meeting and I'm not going to draw attention to him but
014he's right over there on his phone acting as if he is unaware as to what is transpiring. Can you please stand up? Ronald Brois will be retiring 15 years here in Wingers, known affectionately as Ronbo. Ron, thank you for all that you've done for our school district in the 15 years you've been here. Thank you so much. We will be presenting Ron with a token of our appreciation as we get closer to the end of the year. And again, congratulations to all of you that have received your pins for 25 years worth of service. Thanks for sticking with us and the best is yet to come. Thank you very much >> for all of for all of our uh recipients. one of our student board members. It's the first time we've had these as this
015year and she would like to say a few words to some of our teacher out here and other staff members that are getting their 25. >> Hello everyone. Um I know a lot of you don't know me. I know some of you do, but I just wanted to say from a student's perspective, thank you so much for everything you do. I mean there are a few people specifically here that I'm kind of going to break some rules and name. Miss Martier is one of, if not the best teacher I've ever had, and she's truly made me into the person I am today. I wouldn't be who I am without her. So, please, thank you very much. My school counselor, Miss Franion, again, absolutely excellent. I wouldn't be here where I am without her, and she
016helps so many students just like me. >> [applause] >> And then finally for the teachers that I know, Miss Fari, the reason why I'm in this chair, the one who recommended me for this position, she is an absolutely phenomenal head. She's she's an absolutely phenomenal teacher in charge of social studies department and she gives her all into everything she does. So, thank you so much. Even though she couldn't be here, it's excellent. Thank you very much. Thank you guys. and we appreciate it. We know you have all early calls tomorrow morning. So, thank you again for all of your service and we can't wait to see you in the building some more. 5.01 public comments on agenda items, Miss Pedro. Seeing none, 5.02 2 communications and announcements received by the board of education does Miss
017Kelland. Thank you. Um last Friday uh a number of us on the board had the privilege of going to Meyers Corner School and hearing Mr. John Hallagan speaking about the uh this very sad but important subject of his son Ryan suicide from being bullied in school. And the sixth grade students there uh had the opportunity of hearing him and uh I think that he made a real impact on everyone. Also last Saturday I attended uh via Zoom considering the conditions uh the annual meeting of the committee for teaching about the United Nations which is the conference held every year. Ah you're familiar with it [laughter] and uh attracts thousands of teachers and administrators from all over the country and indeed all over the world. And the topic this year was on artificial intelligence, how it's
018being used uh throughout the world for um professional development, classroom teaching and administration. Many interesting ideas. Thank you, >> Mr. Copilari. >> Thank you, President Johnson. For those of you who may not be aware, today marks the 80th 81st anniversary of what has become to be known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is celebrated throughout the world. This date commemorates the 81st anniversary of when Allied troops formally liberate liberated Ashvitz Burkanau which was the largest concentration and death camp uh held by the Nazis. As we reflect on the uh significance of this event, let us take a moment to think about the six million Jewish peoples who perished at the hands of the Nazis and the millions of Slavs, Roma, and other peoples who suffered harshly and as well as perished uh throughout this tumultuous event.
019As we bring this back to home, let us also uh take the time to honor the millions of American service members that serve throughout Europe and especially the over 250,000 US service members who perished, who died in conflict trying to liberate Europe from uh this unspeakable evil. I think we would be remissed if we just didn't take a moment to reflect on this. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Mr. Lumia, >> just a follow up on that. Um, Miss Pellen stated, "I sincerely hope that the sixth grade students at Meyers listen very carefully what Mr. Hagan has to say. Bullying is not acceptable. And if people see if kids see bullies, stand up to them, report them, and stand up to them. Don't just sit back and do nothing because it can lead to very dangerous
020situation. So, I want to thank Mr. Heling for coming and addressing our students. >> Anyone else? Okay. Um 5.03 committee reports. Uh Trustee Migs is the chair of capital. Thank you, President Johnson. The capital committee met twice during the month of January. Each time we had a single focus at our meeting. We met on Thursday, January 8th, and interviewed four companies to choose to um recommend a contract manager to the board for the um capital project. At our last meeting, the board approved um allowing President Johnson to sign a contract with CHA once the lawyers finish uh drafting everything. And then on January 14th, the committee invited um Duchess County legislator Kevin Giles and principal Sydney Goldstein to meet with us to talk about the traffic situation at Myers Corners Elementary during um drop off
021and pickup. We listened to both the history of the issues at Meyers and to the types of relief that Principal Goldstein is looking for. And through our discussion, the committee has agreed to look into um working with the and working with the county to make sure that a traffic light is installed at the entryway to Myers Corners Elementary. We're also going to be looking for uh ways of funding that and uh ways that we can continue to make improvements in the Myers Corners parking lot to allow for more parking and less congestion for vehicles at those two times of the day. Um, legislator Giles is going to bring the topic to his um, committee meeting with the legislature next month and he will be reporting back to us after speaking with them about the issue.
022Our next meeting is February 4th. Thank you. Next is Chairr for the Wellness Committee. Good evening. The wellness committee met on January 4th of 20 26. Um, in attendance we had President Johnson, Trustee McFarland, and Trustee Kelland. The committee discussed the wellness surveys for both students and community. Uh, the survey will be going out after it is finalized prior to spring break. And we did reach out to our student members to take a look at the student survey to get their feedback as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Crannle. Um that being said, uh Dr. Cardwell was unable to make it tonight, so we'll move that to next month. Um Dr. Bach, strategic planning. >> Thank you, President Johnson. We are moving ahead with the planning uh for our strategic plan. Uh we had
023a consultant come in um who's working with Putinham Northern Westchester Boseies to provide a presentation to the core committee. Uh the committee will be having further discussions over the next week or so and hopefully within the uh next couple of weeks when we meet uh we'll have a decision as to moving forward. Uh if we deem that we want to move forward uh in a manner that was uh indicated at the last meeting. Uh it would be a fairly lengthy process in terms of a calendar uh that would have a start in the spring and hopefully a resolution uh by the middle of the 26 school year. Um needless to say, there will be various segments of our community that will be involved in that process. We want to make sure that we do this
024right. We want to set some achievable goals that we agree on through all aspects of our community. That's not just students and staff um and families. That's uh anybody that lives within the Winger Central School District to let us know what your thoughts and your priorities are for us as a school district as we continue to evolve in a changing uh uh work environment in terms of types of opportunities that are available and the types of certifications and degrees that are necessary to ensure that our students are prepared for life after they leave the Winger Central School District. So, more to come on that, but we are moving forward with that and I'm really really excited uh about the possibilities. President Johnson, you're involved in that committee. I don't know if you have any additional
025comments as well, but feel free. >> Uh I just have to say that I I think we're going in a really good direction on this and um I was pleased with the consultant that came in. I believe uh Mr. Copileri can attest to that. So I see some positive things coming forward. Thank you. Um next would be policy. Um Trusty Kellen. >> Uh the policy committee met on January 7th with board members Marie Johnson, Cheryl Magis, John Lumia, and myself. and uh assistant superintendent Darren Lokima and board clerk uh Alberta Pedro. Um the changes are that we're voting on for today. uh there's a small change to the board meeting schedule to reflect actual practice that we usually meet not only once a month but at le twice a month. So that's reflected in the
026change of policy. There's also a change to the code of ethics to allow for uh work with outside contractors uh to permit uh employees to work with them if there is no conflict of interest. And uh then we uh are considering for the um this is for the first reading for the we'll be voting on it again on the uh next board meeting on which um uh refining the cell phone policy to reflect the governor's interpretation and to create uniformity in policy for the grades 7 through 12. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um also, uh Trustee Kellen for the DC, uh Duchess County School Boards Association. Yes. Uh we met by Zoom on January 8th and the pro uh presentation was on collective bargaining throughout Duchess County and our own attorneys Melissa Knap and Pam
027Ba Bass gave a very good presentation. clarified things for a number of school board members. The February 5th meeting to which all school board members are invited, not just the representative and our superintendent of course, uh will be a presentation by our own John Salmon and Tara Kohler on project learning uh projectbased learning and uh I saw their presentation at the state convention. It was really outstanding and they're going to share it with all the school boards in Duchess County. >> Mr. Lumia, we do project-based learning [laughter] of the Duchess County uh Boseies board. Uh we are continuing with our strategic planning uh moving forward. Uh we're also looking to bring in consultants for that. Uh moving right along. Uh nothing for the report as you know this meeting falls just before their meeting. So
028all right thank you. >> Thank you very much. Um audit is moved until next month due to yesterday's uh white stuff coming out of the sky. So we will be moving that after the next meeting. Next up is our school board representatives. And Winter, why don't you go first? Of course. Hello. Thank you guys again for having me here today. Um, I think the ceremony today was really impactful. Let me start with that. Uh, things like that may seem, you know, sign of mechanical and outwardly superfluous, but it's so so important to recognize the hard work and effort that these teachers put in every single day. You know, it's not even just teachers. It's all members of staff. This job isn't just blank. You sit there, you do nothing. every single day these teachers are
029shaping young lives and you know I'm so so proud to be in a district where the teachers are absolutely excellent absolutely out of this world you know and I wouldn't be here where I am today without them and I'm sure all the John J graduates out there who have gone on to do amazing things wouldn't be where they are without the hard work of all of our members of staff. So again I know they're not here anymore but if any are listening thank you. Other than that, January region's exams took place and have just ended uh hopefully with great scores across the board. I know a lot of teachers did very very hard work in preparing boot camps for these regences. So, I have very very high hopes for the John J community. That is
030all I have to say. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Ash. I want to agree with Winter. I'm super excited to see three of my staff members um honored today. Um, I'm definitely going to go email them and congratulate them later. And I mean, one of them is a teacher's aid and she works so hard and she deserves it. The other one goes from John J to my school within like four periods. So, she definitely deserves it. She works so hard. She brings like half of the ceramic equipment with her. She's she's hustling. But anyways, besides that, the power of peace project, which is a program aiming to promote positivity among students, came to hold a workshop for our sophomores and juniors, which was wellreceived. And our administrators are currently in the process of
031admitting new students for the spring semester. [sighs] I'm not ready to end the semester yet. Can you tell? Fundraising for our schoolwide trip has begun with the money being earned through the OV spiritware sales. And that is all that I have. >> I I'm taking it. You guys are not quite ready to end this season, this senior year. Either of you, you want to just hang on just a little longer. Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don't think any of us are ready to see you guys go anywhere soon. So, >> that's what my teachers keep telling. >> We've still got time. We still have time. 6.01 consent agenda. Does anybody wish to remove anything from the consent agenda? Seeing none, >> resolved that the board of education does hereby approve the
032following consent agenda items as stated. 6203 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 10, 6.11, 6.12, and 6.13. Do I have a motion, Miss Kellen? Second, Mr. Lumia. All in favor? Unanimous. 7.01. Approval of new club charters. Resolved that the board of education does hereby approve the new club charters for the following schools as submitted. Fencing Club at Royce Ce Ketchum High School. Ceramics Club at Van White Junior High School. >> Motion, Miss Kellen. Second, Mr. Lumia. Discussion. All in favor? Unanimous. 7.02. Resolution extending real property tax exemption pursuant to section 459- C. Whereas section 459- C of the real property tax law provides for a partial exemption from taxation on residential property owned by qualified persons with disabilities. And whereas the board of education has previously adopted resolutions extending the exemption provisions of section
033459- C of the real property tax law to such qualified persons. And whereas the New York governor signed legislation increasing the income eligibility limits for persons qualifying for the exemption. And whereas the board of education adopted income eligibility limits applicable to the 2025 2026 school year on December 5th, 2022. And whereas the board of education desires to extend the same income eligibility limits currently in effect for the 2025 2026 school year for ensuing fiscal years until amended by the board of education. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the board of education does hereby extend the income eligibility limits for the partial tax exemption previously authorized pursuant to section 459- C of the real property tax law in accordance with the following schedule. Do I have a motion? Mr. Lumia. Second, Miss Kellen. Any discussion? Mr.
034Lumia, >> I sincerely hope that people in those tax brackets actually know what the discounts are. I mean, it's very important that they they know. I hope we advertise it. It's advertised so people can take advantage of it. Thank you. >> Thank you. All those in favor? Unanimous. 7.03. Second reading and adoption of policy. Resolve that the board of education of the Winger Central School District hereby approves the second reading of and adopts the following policies based upon the first reading by the board and the recommendation of the policy committee as stated. Motion Miss Kellen second Mr. McFarland. Any discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous. 7.04 4 is the first reading of policy. This is a silent this is an update to the uh student and personal electronic devices. Um as Miss Kellen stated, if
035you have any questions, please reach out to Miss Kellen, the chairperson for the policy committee. This is just um helping us get further and tightening up now that we have a better understanding of the the full law that went into effect. 8.01. Does anybody have anything to add to the agenda? Seeing none. 9.01 comments from the public. No comments. 10.01. Motion to adjurnn. Resolved that the board of education does hereby adjourn the board of education meeting. The time is 8:11. >> Motion, Mr. Lumia. Second, Mr. Capilari. All those in favor? Unanimous. Thank you everyone. Have a wonderful evening.