001[music] Welcome everyone to our uh board of education uh meeting. Today is Monday, January 12th, 2026. Please stand and join us in the pledge. >> I pledge algiance 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. The mission of the White Plains Public Schools is to educate and inspire all students while nurturing their dreams so they learn continually, think critically, pursue think critically, pursue their aspirations, and contribute to a diverse and dynamic world. >> Thank you, President Eller. And good evening, everybody. I'd like to uh ask you to join me in a moment of silent reflection uh in memory of Barbara Foresight, elementary teacher who worked at Battle Hill Church Street and Meredith Avenue School and
002George Washington schools from September 1966 until she retired in June of 1998. and a little bit different this evening, but also important. I'd like to to uh ask for your silent reflection as we learn that the board of education president from Yoners um Dr. Rosala Delvcio's husband um unfortunately passed away recently. >> She's also um on the NISPA board of directors. So, >> thank you. Thanks to Mr. Mshine for letting me know too. >> Thank you. Next, we'll have some um uh brief please comments. [snorts] Um I know that we're just we're really back from the holiday, but it was a very active um season. And I'm I'm looking at you, Jessica. I know I was able to to catch a um a basketball game um which the team won when I was there. So
003they think [laughter] I'm the lucky charm. But please could you update us >> on the basketball >> on what you've been [laughter] doing and going right now. >> The basketball well that I don't know when I left at halftime it was uh we were up by 10 against Austin. So yay. Um uh I I during this break I was watching basketball. Justin [laughter] plays basketball. So that was what I was uh doing most of the time. I mean it takes over my life. So [laughter] that's basically what I've been doing. I also got a chance to see the uh songwriters club. Um and I am always amazed by the kids uh in the songwriters club. They do cover songs, but now their next iteration is this weekend and they're doing their own original songs. So
004I'm excited to actually go and watch them there. It's a long show because there are lots of kids participating and it's a club that's been around for like 20 something years um led by Mr. Palano and I think it's an amazing club and um I'm happy that we're we've been able to sustain it this whole time and I'm excited to go see what the kids come up with because they sing in different languages. I've heard Spanish, I've heard Japanese, I've heard Korean and it's really pretty cool to go see it. So, if you haven't had a chance to go see it, it happens, I think, Friday, Saturday. I'm not sure about Sunday at the high school this week, uh, this weekend. So, I'm going to go check out one of the shows. Um, hopefully you
005guys can, too. >> Announcements. >> I don't know. >> Announcements. >> Okay. >> I I have a few. So, um, I will just mention uh all the winter concerts which have been wonderful uh and really set a mood. And I think there's one more at the high school. um this coming week uh on Thursday. Um the White Plains High School PTA had its craft fair. Um and it was really well attended and there were so many vendors. Um so I am sure it was quite successful. Um PTA council had its holiday sort of meeting and celebration. Jessica were both there um last night or is today Monday? So, Saturday night, I attended the White Plains High School uh winter play, a collection of hilarious one-act plays by David Ives. Um, they they were uh very
006funny. And afterwards, I said to Sarin Septler, who is the the director and one of our high school English teachers, I said, "One of those plays was so familiar. Um, did they they do that before?" and she she wrote back to me today in 20078 that school year that was one of >> the one that they did and I was like it was so familiar and it was very funny so that was really uh a treat. Uh Westchester Putinham School Boards Association does education law seminars and they did one in December on civil service law and transportation and civil service can be rather confusing. there's a lot of terminology and so they really clarified uh a lot of that. Uh so it was well done. Um and then there was a Westchester Putinham School Boards
007Association board of directors meeting. Kane and I were both there. Um some of us also attended Justin Bratch's inauguration. Um so congratulations to our new mayor um and our previous mayor Tom Roach uh who is now the the county clerk. and we we really look forward to working very collaboratively as we have done and we'll continue to do so uh with the city of White Plains and and with Mayor Bratch. And then the last thing I'll just mention is um the National School Boards Association is having its advocacy um conference in Washington DC at the end of the month. I will be going and I will be advocating on behalf of White Plains and our region uh on Capitol Hill. they've been running a series of webinars in preparation for that uh as well so
008that we are effective in our advocacy work. Thank you. >> Thank you for the advocacy and I also I just wanted to add I thought it was really great to um to be able to celebrate the inauguration at White Plains High School. >> Um so we were really happy to be able to to work with the city to to do that as well and congratulations um to everybody. Is there any other good? >> Okay, they're good. Um, do you want to >> Yeah, we can uh we can go right. So, I will share regrets for Frosa this evening. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to attend, but you will get a copy of her update. Um, and Miss Choy is here and happy new year, uh, Cher and thank you for being here. >> Happy New Year.
009>> Thank you. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. Um >> in December, East View Middle School students participated in a variety of academic and enrichment activities. Students in band, orchestra, and chorus performed in the winter concerts that reflected their continued growth and preparation under the guidance of the music department. EU also recognized computer science education week through an interdisciplinary initiative led by the computer science and physical education departments. Student engaged in hands-on movementbased activities that introduce foundational computer science concepts while promoting collaboration, problem solving, and digital literacy. Additionally, students attended a field trip to the Westchester Knicks game at the county center. For many students, this was their first live professional basketball experience. The trip provided an opportunity for students to engage with peers and represent the school positively in a community setting. at Highlands
010Middle School. They reflected a several community- centered initiatives and upcoming academic events as the school enters 2026. The Highlands Holiday Helpers program supported more than 80 families and nearly 200 children during the holiday season through donations of gifts, food, and financial contributions from families and staff. On January 14th, Highlands will host its third annual fall semester business fair. Seventh grade students enrolled into in enrolled in intro to entrepreneurship 7 will present business ideas and inventions developed during the fall semester under the guidance of Miss Ena Pascal. The event will begin in the auditorium and conclude in the north gym with student presentations and and awards. The AVID showcase scheduled for February 10th will highlight strategies that support college and career readiness and showcase student learning. Lastly, intramural winter sports teams at the middle school have
011begun their seasons with student athletes demonstrating teamwork, effort, and sportsmanship across programs. At White Plains High School, students were engaged in a wide range of academic, civic, and extracurricular activities throughout December. The student government organization successfully hosted the annual hot chocolate run, adapting the event to an indoor setting due to weather conditions. Midnight Run students participated in a nutrition workshop led by Dulce Alvarado of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County. The session addressed food insecurity, access to nutritious food, and practical strategies for preparing healthy meals on a budget reinforced through hands-on cooking activities. White Plains High School's Cyber Tigers are in second place in the inaugural cyber security and defense competition hosted by the College of Westchester and the White Plains Youth Bureau. The team composed entirely of 9th grade students competed against upper classmen
012from other schools. Students in the incubator program participated in the uncharted learning entrepreneur showcase in New York City sponsored by Renelair Polytechnic Institute where they presented mid-year business pitches and received professional feedback. In science classes, students used molecular models to explore chemical bonding and molecular structure as well. Before break on the 23rd, the band, choir, and orchestra provided an in-school winter concert for the school community. Additionally, alumnist Dan Slepian addressed 12th grade students on investigative journalism, media responsibility, and social justice, accompanied by guests who shared personal experience related to wrongful convictions. Faculty accomplishments were also highlighted as Dr. Arlene Garcia presented at the lower Hudson Valley Social Studies Conference on integrating civics, economics, and law in the classroom. Students also supported the Special Olympics program through a successful community fundraiser. As for athletics, modified teams
013began their winter seasons across multiple sports. At the league championship meet, 10 boys and girls indoor track athletes earned all league honors. The varsity swim team opened up the season with an 8 to1 record and White Plains High School will host the boys diving sectional championships this year. Diver Jack Cullen set a new school record in the 11 dive event with a score of 421.1. Lastly, the boys basketball team traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts for a competition and an educational experience connected to the Naymith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. That is all for this month's report. Thank you. >> Thanks. Great. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you. Starting 2026 off really strong at the high school. Thank you so much. >> Y >> um happy new year everybody and uh thanks for joining us this
014evening and happy new year to everyone who's watching out at home or streaming right now. Um thanks for for tuning in with us. Uh one of the things that is coming up this time of year is the next academic year calendar. >> So 2026 2027 uh the draft calendar is right now being reviewed. Um, I would like to thank all of the folks, many folks who review the drafts and work with us to give feedback, PTA, U, collective bargaining associations, uh, students, parents, board of education members. Thank you everybody. Next year is just kind of a little bit different. We haven't had one like this since 2015. Um, where school begins before the Labor Day holiday because it's so late >> because it's the first Monday. So um that's that's uh that's the I think
015the biggest difference in next year's calendar >> eastern Passover not co >> not connecting right >> right which happens occasionally >> occasionally as well. Yes. So uh my my plan is to have the uh the calendar for the board of education's formal review at our February meeting so then we can share with the community. I know a lot of folks start planning really early um and I and I absolutely >> question applaud that. Is that right? Where's the >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um, so that'll be coming uh next month. It is also a great time the beginning of the year to join the PTA if you haven't already done so. >> We are looking for a 100% participation rate. Um, you heard me say it every month. I'll keep saying it all the way until
016the end of the year. uh and then start again for 26 27. But please, this is an organization that um does so much for our children and our community and we're grateful and really want to continue to to bolster doing I mean winning awards constantly and doing just doing amazing things for kids. Um so the board's aware I have the second installment of the New York State Super Superintendent Think Tank coming up this week. look forward to talking or talking and meeting with the college board uh and colleagues from around the state of New York um to talk about the new pathways to graduation coming in in in the in the future. Um we're also just and I know the board's aware but so other folks are aware we're in conversations to with the lower
017Hudson Council of School Superintendents and um section one um and we're looking at trying to work with the Interscolastic Athletic Association to potentially identify uh a pathway or two or separate pathways for championship competitions um for public schools for independent, private, parochial and separate them out. So you don't necessarily have private parochial and independent schools playing public schools in semi-finals and quarterfinals and finals um throughout the state and we're uh working with them on that now. Um Dr. Kohl's has reached out and we're moving forward with our regional opportunities as well and that's again connected to career technical high skill career technical education programming. >> Dr. the the sports is that whose decision is that? Section one >> right now it's yeah it's a section one decision. We've been in contact with um with Dr.
018Zas who who uh heads up section one, but we're also talking with all of the sections around the state to guard for including I'm just so curious. >> But always thought it way out and keep doing it. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, absolutely. And and you know and and one of the things that folks were concerned about because you hear that and you're like, well, wait a second. Does that mean you're the superintendent are saying that we don't want to have competition with private independent pro? Absolutely not. not at all. In fact, more competition um and more pathways and and so uh hopefully we'll have some some good news to share with you in the in the coming weeks as well supporting more students. Um and then so this evening we have and I'm really really
019uh very very happy to share with you um the long-range plan. So Dr. Katish and I are going to take to the podium and we're going to share the the plan with you. uh we we had the opportunity to to meet with the finance and audit committee last week. I'm grateful for that. U but I also wanted to say if anybody needs to uh leave during the presentation, feel free. Don't don't don't worry. Um and all of this will be available to everybody uh on the district's website all about the budget. Um and of course we're always available for for questions. So without further ado, >> sit back. So again, it wouldn't it would not make sense uh to to begin this presentation without starting with a a huge amount of gratitude and thanks to
020everybody who gets us to this far. As you know, we we don't have a budget season in the White Plains City School District. Uh we are always in budget season. We're always thinking about the future even as we're um putting into place uh the the the programming for today. And that's what that's what this evening um officially kicks off for us. And again, you know, thanks to to an and and all the folks in the business and operations office and thanks to all of my colleagues um and everybody all throughout the schools because this truly is a team effort um that gets us to this point this evening. And I want to start out with saying and the other thing too is I'm not going to read these slides to you because I still want
021you to like me when we're done. Um but but again everything is available and you're going to see this presentation a lot >> um in the in the coming weeks as we move forward. >> So we do the same we we stick to the same cycle of planning each year and it just keeps us in a continuous improvement loop. Um and it begins in the summertime and we update our strategic plan. Um and then we move right forward into setting goals and objectives for the board of education, the superintendent school of all of the administrators and then all the way through the organization all connected back to the strategic plan and then everything connects to the long range plan and then everything in the long range plan informs the the the proposed budget annually. Um
022[clears throat] and that's where we stay in this in this ability this nimble state of being able to make adjustments on the fly. um and also keep our attention both here right now in the present and and also simultaneously looking at the future. And again, why is it important to plan? Well, we all know it's really important. You know, you take you take the time to plan um and then you can sort of anticipate uh things that may have you know, as a teacher, one of the things we talk about, right, is when you're anytime you're about to engage in a lesson, anticipate the questions that the students might have, right? So, you're always anticipate. Well, it's the same thing here. So, we're anticipating what what could potentially be problematic, challenging, what could come in
023the way um that we don't necessarily have control over. That's why we have our plans placed. So, anything from political climate political the political climate to climate change to global conflicts to aging facilities, you name it, it's all it's all sort of considered um in our long range planning and our budgetary planning. It allows us to be as effective and efficient as we can move resources around throughout the organization rather than talking in you know to terms of well we have to get rid of this and bring this on or you know zero sum right. Um so we we reallocate resources um allows us to maintain our fiscal health and stay strong fiscally um as well as supporting our programs and understanding that the things that we do today have an impact on on the
024future as well. Everything is in our long range plan. I love that picture. Instruction, vision, priorities for our community, contractual provisions, state and federal resources, reserves, property tax cap, curriculum mandates, anticipated enrollment, everything falls within the plan. And the plan is is really buttressed um by our strategic plan uh which again f has us focusing of course on education, educating, supporting and partnering. There's a lot to think about um as we're moving forward in terms of thinking about the future. We always have to factor in contractual costs, salaries, benefits, utilities, transportation, which outpace revenues. It it all it it just does. It does, right? Especially when you talk about the the tax levy cap. That's that's something that we have to contend with and we do that each year. Um consumer price index projected to
025be greater. Um the allowable is is 2% of course um or below for for public school districts. Property assessments are not growing. We've talked about this before, you've heard this. Um while we have a and we're super proud of our growing our growing community in the city, the use of payment in lie of taxes and that structure um doesn't allow the growth uh to to increase on the tax levy roles which then has a negative impact. It's it's an unintended consequence. It's not you know it's not somebody doing something wrong. It's an unintended consequence of the way the tax levy cap is structured. And so that has a negative impact on us in terms of our ability um with with the cap. And you'll see that in just a little bit. Uh first time ever
026and we asked an we talked about last week we that that the state came out early and sort of sent a letter out to all of their departments and said um you know be aware that we're anticipating a pretty big loss in the state of New York connected to federal dollars. Well, New York's money coming back to New York um through HR uh HR1 which may exacerbate the state's budget deficit. things hopefully are looking a little bit stronger right now. Um today >> beautiful bill >> what is it called? The big the big beautiful bill >> agencies are directed were directed to find deficiencies. Um so again looking at federal entitlement grants will there be changes? Will there be reductions? Yeah, absolutely. There's going to be reductions. There's no question about it. That's happening. Um
027what what what will that mean to White Plains? um we anticipated it and so we planned for it and and that's one of the things that you know of course the planning process allows us um to maintain sort of a a stronger position that way to be able to deal with those things and and we're of course committed to closing potential budget gaps without impact negatively impacting program and you want to talk a little bit about this I think this is a really important slide >> sure um and this really it is an important slide because it really repres represents the work that that everyone has been doing over the past nine years. You know, doing these long range plans, doing multiple fund balance projections every year to really understand where we're going to land
028and how to best utilize our resources. Always looking for efficiencies all towards the eye of reducing that taxpayer burden. And the and the biggest um impact is the f is is the reduction of the tax levy below the maximum allowed. That 27.7 million yields on an average property owner with an assessed property of 15,000. not the value of your home, but the value of your property assessment is saving you almost uh $1,450 every single year by us not taxing up to the cap. So, the district um you know was able to really turn that into real dollar savings uh to the taxpayer. And additionally, capital projects when there's, you know, revenues that are received in excess and expenses not expended, those dollars have gone towards funding capital projects, significant projects, preserve the assets of our
029district at 71.3 million. Um, so that is significant savings of not having to issue debt and not having to pay interest expense on that debt. Uh, we are self-funded for tax sororary reserves. That's commercial property owners who seek to have a refund in their property taxes. So, we're not issuing debt. Again, we're not building it into the annual budget. We are using any savings that can to support those obligations of those refunds. And over the past nine years, we we've returned uh $32 million to those those taxpayers, those commercial property owners. um one-time only uh funds. We always utilize this. So, you know, one offs, things that are needed that don't need to be built into an annual budget and inflate that annual budget. So, um funding uh pensions, helping to support that, trying to
030pay off debt early or fund future debt service, all of that, you know, really towards trying to save dollars to the taxpayer. >> Dr. and uh and The second one, the 71, um, that's such an investment in the future, the capital projects, right? So many districts or neighboring districts, buildings are falling in disrepair and we used the money that we saved to put back into the buildings for AC, upgrades, the bathrooms, cafeterias. >> Yeah. Those funds have supported significant projects. In particular, our last, you know, authorization back in 22 was the HVAC and the ventilation in all our our school buildings. And you'll see later on in the presentation that we're going to go after secondary spaces to make sure that that is also uh um air conditioned. But right now the 22 project that
031did all the classrooms. So that that was a huge benefit to be able to turn those monies and we've been doing that regularly over the years. Um, and we're gearing up to, you know, look at that long range infrastructure plan, the building condition survey that we just got last year, and we're going to start working on the next round of projects that we have to tackle. >> That's great. >> And it's not a trade-off, right? And that's the thing, too. There's no gimmick in here. There's no shell game. It's it's simply planning and utilizing the resources um as conservatively and also as as intelligently as possible. And again, you know, the board of education has had a really long history of operating this fashion. Dr. Tez, you make, you know, when you talk about the
032facilities, you walk through the facilities, 100-year-old buildings um but yet have been meticulously uh upkept and and you know, brought brought into um this sort of contemporary era uh with with uh with what they have available to serve our students, >> right? the interior space and all the mechanics of of our buildings are much younger than the brick and mortar age of an average age of 100. So, um you know, that keeps those buildings viable and have a a long uh life. >> So, you know, constantly looking constantly looking what's working well, what what should we adjust, what what should we potentially even leave uh leave behind and move forward. And that's what we're that's what we're doing um in our continuous improvement model and that's what you're going to see as part part of
033on this evening's presentation. the guiding principles, as you've seen these before, with maybe some slight modifications uh over the years, um protect our instructional core, protect our children's programming, their access um to all of of the great opportunities that they have throughout our schools, preK through 12. um evaluate needs versus wants, preserve our investments again to like Kane was just talking about u making sure that we're uh not kicking the can down the road. Um and we're we're taking care of preventative maintenance um as well as um investing in the facilities so that they're they're going to be vibrant for many many years to come. Uh find ways to to to save money, find efficiencies with within our our spending. Um and share services wherever possible. look for creative ways to bring in revenue uh
034minimize program impact when we do have to make shifts uh and also reduce and restructure um before we eliminate because we all know how difficult it is once you eliminate something out of a budget to get it back in there. The best is yet to come. Listen, there is no guarantee for the future. uh particularly when you're talking about finances, particularly when you're talking about finances in an open system where you have a lot of different um sort of entities that that that function within your system, right? We have to rely on state aid, state support, your tax dollars coming back to us annually to support White Plains children. You always have to kind of guess and and we're very conservative in in our estimations on what's going to be coming based upon the law.
035But you also have impacts in other areas that you're just not sure. But what I am very happy to share with you right at the beginning of this presentation this evening is that because of the steps we've taken in the past and because of the way that we've approached planning, we are in a strong position um as we look toward the 2026 2027 academic year. So you're not going to hear doom and gloom from me, but you will continue to hear what you've heard in the past is we have to be conservative. We have to make sure that we're looking at every every possible um facet of of our spending and also ways that we can be creative realizing efficiencies or working together to reduce costs. Um but very very solid and the revenues the
036revenue assumptions. Uh let's first start off with how what does the budget look like? And this is a great slide too because it does demonstrate um to the public where we've come from really since 2016 2017 in terms of the share that's being supported by the property taxpayer versus again uh foundation aid coming in as well as uh outside revenue sources that we've been able to identify. >> Yeah. Um I think this is a great depiction because it really shows that you know at our highest uh point back in 21-22 when the state really you know commit made the commitment to fund foundation fully we were at a high in 1920 of 83% of our um taxpayers supporting our annual budget and now we are in 2526 estimated at 72%. So the support of our
037lo of our annual budget has decreased while the support from the state has then made that jump and increase. Um you know they were only supporting us in 2021 at 12% and now we're almost at 20%. And and the same thing with our local revenue right interest earnings to you know um sales tax tuition. Every year we're reooking at those estimates and being again finding ways to enhance those local revenues by being able to have an investment advisor who's helping us maximize our interest earnings. Um by able to look at our facilities and see is there opportunity to you know lease some of those spaces and earn that revenue. So all of it results in the fact that it's a lower impact that the taxpayer is supporting of this annual budget. >> And there's a
038lot of thanks to go around there too for the advocacy. um you know whether it be the the the board of education's advocacy, our PTA advocacy, our elected officials, our larger organizations of which you're you're members of Westchester Platinum School Boards, New York State School Boards, you know, the advocacy and and the constant focus and attention on making sure that the students in White Plains are are getting the the funding that they need so that they can have access to the programs that they deserve. And and just one other thing just to point out that this is directly tied to the fact that because of the commitment by the state, which is what you're saying, is that that allowed us to reduce the levy below the maximum and return those dollars to taxpayers because that's
039exactly what that was doing those years. So, and we continue to do so. >> Well, you're back. >> I'm back. Um, so this just depicts, you know, what we've been talking about. We have incredible um growth in our city. Um and that development translates often to Westchester County Industrial Development Agency in the city of White Plains um providing what's called payment in le of tax agreements to entities commercial entities coming into the into the city. Um so this depicts the fact that we have agreements that remove the property assessments for those properties off our tax roles. Hence the unintended consequence of not having a growing uh taxable property assessment and taxable is the key there. Um but we get these payments and you know in 2526 we're at 7.8 million. We're going to be growing
040um up to three 13.2 million. So a check is coming directly from the city not through the tax levy process and our property assessments that will be exempt will be growing um up to the 16 million more. And and I I know I say this like every year, we don't have a formal seat at the table when these >> and that's a lot of the advocacy work that continued. I think NISBA in part of their position statement and and the superintendent's group and and is as and my group ASPO >> that we want to seat at the table. >> It's important for the school district. It's the largest piece of that tax bill. So it's it's not so much the city part portion of the taxes. It's really the school district portion >> and it
041does make an impact. We also continue to advocate that this particular element of pilots being removed from the tax role should not count against us with the um the taxpay growth factor which we'll talk about on the next slide because that has a consequence of here the community is growing and developing but we're not getting revenue associated with that by a growing assessment role. >> Right. >> Can I ask a question too? So in other cities that are are growing the same way, is is that the same situation for them? >> Everybody has the same situation. You'll see all the business officials comparing their grow tax base growth and saying, "Oh, gee, you got nothing, you know, why did this person, you know, have growth?" But it's really tied to this particular element. >> But
042there are some school districts where they do have a seat at the table when it comes to the IDAS and these these >> pirates county. They they definitely do. My former district, you know, they always went to the school district first to ask our input >> and even how to structure the actual agreement and what would the exemption would be, what kind of, you know, um benefit they would get in sales tax. There's there's different mechanisms, but >> it's not formalized in state law. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I think that's me, too. >> You know, it's funny. I should say, this is Broomer's here. Um I was just having a meeting I one of your students I think is in your policy class is doing uh a project related to public school budgets and we
043were just talking about the pilot situation because you know again it's an unintended consequence. Um we we recognize that you know the necessity to make sure that there are guard rails in terms of each year each fiscal year how big a school a public school budget can get. Um but in this type of a situation, you know, you're you're being punished. Um and and we think um that an exclusion would be sort of a harm no harm no foul uh adjustment. You know, how what is it about 12 or 14 years now that the tax cap's been in place >> since 2012? >> So there's no, you know, there's no problem going back and saying, "Hey, we learned this >> over 12 years." Um and and we can make this adjustment. So hopefully that will
044come. Last year we weren't successful. We'll see about this year. >> Um um so this slide really kind of lays out what are the um major components of developing the tax levy cap, the maximum tax levy cap. Um and these factors go into that. So the first as we were talking about is the taxbased growth factor you know and for the last three years including what we um received for 2627 and that's a real number you know it's been close to 0% you know 1.0%. So in previous years we would have growth and that would often yield an average of about $2 million towards our levy. And so now we've not been seeing any additional levy increase uh associated with the assessment role. the allowable growth factor, the lesser the consumer price index CPI or
0452%. Uh we're estimating that we'll land the change for 24 to 25. Uh the year ending December 25 will put us about 2.7% with a CPI average. Um so higher than what we're allowed to utilize in this rate calculation of 2%. pilots. We've talked about we're growing uh from 25 to 26, you know, by $1.3 million. Um and that will decrease the tax levy that we can raise. So the increase in the pilot will decrease the tax levy we can raise. And then the capital exclusion is your debt service principle and interest for construction that we've issued um debt less any state building aid that comes back to us. And then we will use debt service reserve funds to make sure there's no difference from one year to the next in the amount that of
046our capital exclusion, our net capital exclusion. But for 2627, uh you'll see that we don't need to use any funds to have that balance. You know, um our exclusion um was 4.4 million in 2526 and it'll be 4.5 million thereabouts um for 2627. So essentially flat and then in uh the subsequent years uh we will utilize the reserve in order to try to maintain uh the commitment that we had that local share would be flat. This is the calculation and again those key factors. So you know our tax base growth is at you know just about at 0%. And the net increase in the pilots is 1.3 million thereby decreasing the tax levy and our capital exclusion is is flat and the 2% has been applied uh as far as the allowable growth factor. But
047what's, you know, important to note here is the tax levy limit before current year exclusions. That $25 million in that golden rod column for 2627 versus the beginning of the prior year tax levy of 206.5 million is a decrease of about 1.4 million. So then we can add to that the current year's capital exclusion. Um and that will yield us and this is important maximum tax levy per this calculation of 209.7 million. No recommendation to reduce the levy um since it's not needed to balance out the capital exclusion. So it yields us an increase of 1.54% in a tax levy or $3.2 million. Um, so that's the maximum allowable that we're estimating at this point and we'll update this during our budget process, >> right? And so and then looking forward, you know, and and
048we will be looking forward, but we're making we make very sort of conservative assumptions >> uh in terms of how much foundation aid will be coming this year. Um, we're cautiously optimistic that the law um will be well, I should say foundation aid will be funded according to law. Um and then again, you know, making assumptions that expense driven aid will continue um as we move forward as well. >> And tomorrow is the state of the state. >> So we'll have a better sense of what the governor is proposing and then a couple of days after that or within the week, we should see what real budget numbers look like. But right now, based on current law, it does show at least a million five and an increase for foundation aid. We have uh again
049other other local revenue sources which we mentioned and this could be everything from um just using uh local resources our tax tax items interest earnings sales tax uh receipts as as well as working collaboratively um with partners in in um leasing arrangements and the like. >> So then we move to the other side of the ledger for expenditure assumptions. This is a really important slide. About 1,235 employees within the the White Plains City School District. Um, and you can see where everything or where the vast majority of the resources are pointed and it's directly toward our students, exactly where it should be, you would say. Um, but we're we're really proud of this. Um, and we we show this, of course, this data point every year. Um because again even even with the non-instructional support
050of 22% um those team members are integral into making sure that our our children's instructional educational extracurricular experiences are phenomenal. So really, you know, you're you're you're well up closer to 90% devoted toward um toward instruction, which is fantastic. Our enrollment is stable. I won't call it flat, I'll call it stable. um because over the you know over the the school district we do see some increases um we do see some decreases over the course of the academic year. You'll probably recall from last year but our projections even as we move to 2031 um continue to remain stable which is great because as you know uh many school districts around the state are not seeing that that level of stability in terms of their enrollment. uh we do a demographic study every single year um
051and we make sure that we use those projections in our planning for that that particular year. Um it is also really important to to reflect and I do remind and we do this each year that that we don't put anticipated numbers of potential enrollment for um housing units that that haven't been completed and are not not online yet in the community within this enrollment data set. We do keep them separate. You can you can visit the right the the districtly aware of them. >> Yes, we are very much aware of what projected >> actually come to build a budget until you see kids through the door. Yeah, >> this is a this is when you look at the costs, when you look at the expenditures, we're looking at personnel costs in in accordance with our
052collective bargaining um requirements, our pension plan contributions, a little bit different this year, right? So, our teachers retirement system um you know they make good investments. It's a five-year smoothing that they use with their investments. So, it's going to yield, you know, an estimated decrease of 8.76% in that contribution rate. The employees retirement system um functions a little differently and they're going to um reflect a 6.7% increase. But then health insurance and workers comp, you know, just based on the market trends right now, you know, we're looking at at least 10% increases for them and then, you know, moderate increases for the other insuranceances. utilities. Uh again, except for 20078 when we anticipate the high school innovation wing to come online, you know, we're anticipating, you know, telephone and water to be flat, natural gas
053at 2% and electric at 5%, but then we've made the adjustments in our projections in 2728 and the and the outy years for those increased costs associated with the building. other contractual expenses, property insurance, huge. Um, you know, we, you know, the market trends are pointing towards a 20% increase for 26 27. We're hopeful that it'll start to level back down to 15% and then, um, 2 to 3% for other contractual expenses here. >> There you go. >> I did. Uh, pupil transportation. We had a new contract this year. Um so in the next two years of that contract we anticipate 5% increases and then in the out years uh we're projecting 3%. We had an increase this year in the number of mandated routes associated with um homeless students and um you know out
054of district place students for special education and um and so we had to accommodate those mandated placements. We are and did build in some contingency buses for our subsequent projections so that we could be very realistic about what these costs are. Um and they're growing. Um and so you'll see when we get to the operation department, you know, our work is to try to find ways to mitigate uh you know that particular contract. It's a a large uh part of the services that we provide. uh debt service uh includes principal and interest in our um for construction uh serial bonds and energy performance agreements that have been issued. We have expiring debt of 37.7 million for serial bonds and 10.9 for the energy uh performance contracts. And that expiring debt is what we've planned for
055and that was the purpose of the timing of our 2022 authorization for the building and the various renovations that took place in our buildings across the district this past year. We anticipated issuing $60 million in debt service uh to fund those capital projects, but favorable bids. And you know, we really anticipate that we'll only have to issue $50 million in debt service. Um um and that really results in a savings of interest expense by being able to decrease that debt uh by $7 million or $355 for an average home assessed at 15,000. Uh so again, additional savings to the taxpayer. Um, and as we talked about before, we use the debt service reserve funds to ensure that we're keeping that commitment to the local share being flat and no, you know, in no impact, no
056increase into debt payments that would result in a higher tax levy. >> And and the 50 million under the 60 million we asked for approval for, but the 50 million we spent wasn't because we didn't plan well, right? It was just because of price. market conditions were really changing when we, you know, it was in the middle of the pandemic in in 22. Um, you know, tariffs, shortages, supply shortages. So, you know, of course, you know, we were using, you know, bids at that time that, you know, as guidelines as to what we needed as a budget. But when we finally went out to bid, those bids came in favorable because it was, you know, you know, last year that we issued the bids and accepted those for the innovation uh building. >> And then
057we're using that 10 million to pay down. >> So now that 10 million we're not borrowing. We didn't borrow it. We're not going to borrow it. And so that is less money that we have to repay and less interest expense we're going to incur. >> Got it. >> And Ann, this 355 is in addition to the 14. Yep. It's in addition too. Yeah. So, >> um and so, you know, based on our projections for 2526, we absolutely do anticipate that we'll end the year favorably for uh 2526. I mean that's related to again its efficiencies, its additional revenues that that have been received. It's savings and salaries and benefits not expended due to retirements or vacancies or leave replacements. You know, looking towards 26 27. We're just, you know, we're anticipating an almost balanced budget.
058We'll have to do some tweaking and we'll see exactly how the numbers come in. As you know, we're in the middle of budget development right now. administrators have submitted their budgets and it should be along the lines of what we did with them as part of long range plan. They're part of that process. Um and hopefully our estimates with you know all the contractual expenses are in line with what we're predicting. So um it's the outy years that of course expenses again are going faster than our conservative revenue estimates because they have to be. You know, we're not anticipating in the out years that foundation aid is necessarily going to go up. We're certainly not going to anticipate that we're going to have a a growth in our tax base growth factor in the outer
059years. Things don't point to that would be wise to project that way. It's better for us to really try to understand that we have to keep working at finding ways to find deficiencies and close those gaps without impacting our instructional core. And there are a lot of different strategies that we've employed and you you are you are aware of this. Last year we had the retirement incentive. Um we've we've uh continued to look for any creative way um that that we can reduce costs, reduce spending, and save dollars. And we'll continue to do that as we move into the future. As Andy just showed in those out years, you might look at that number five years from now and say, "Oh my gosh, that's going to be a huge deficit." We're working on it now.
060Um and that's exactly >> and what we did for 2526 really helped our 2627 come in line. So these strategies are important to continue and to work. Um but how we close that budget gap that had a direct benefit and you know that number in the out years you close the budget gap one year it'll reduce how much you have to close in the next and the next because that was a cumulative >> compound. Yeah. Compound compound. >> Yeah. Dr. Hand um put together a fantastic set of slides this evening and again I encourage you to to to read them. They're going to be available to you online and in just a couple of weeks Dr. Hand is going to be presenting um the the instructional budget um aspect of of the recommended budget and
061Debbie thank you so much and thanks to everybody who's worked on this with Dr. your hand. Strategic planning again at the core of all of this planning um and really this is this is a continuation of the work that has begun or was begun um five seven years ago and Dr. Han lays that out here again um increasing our capacity in terms of our overall curricular um offerings for our students and also shifting curricular um areas when when appropriate and in accordance with revision. Um thanks again to to all of our colleagues um for for participating in curricular revision and selection of new curricular areas as well. Um we are moving forward with our planning for um MTSS or um multi-tered system of supports. I'm sorry I know acronym heavy, right? um throughout all of
062all of the school district um as well as continuing to support professional learning opportunities for every member of the professional community who is interested in continuous improvement in learning as well. We're building in a dance program as you know this is all again all you've seen this coming right this has been laid out in in previous years. Um world language offerings are are currently under review and we're looking at what students want. What do they want to learn? Um things shift, things change. Um you know and and so um kudos to to all of my colleagues who are constantly looking to refresh um the the course offerings for our students year to year to year. expanding opportunities in the business department, sports marketing in high school. Could you imagine sports marketing in high school? >>
063That would have been fantastic. Uh marketing uh marketing and financial literacy building on the successes of incubator edu. Um just uh you heard the chair talking a little bit about that um this morning. Accelerator edu. I mean these are real excellent opportunities for students to engage uh in in re truly real life learning opportunities. Um connections to to business and industry. um expanding Project Lead the Way throughout the school district as well. Um and and also looking for um extended day opportunities uh for learning outside of the traditional school day and continuing to support those efforts as well. Support um supporting all all of our efforts that are taking place right now to identify student growth trajectory. Um, so we have NWA map assessment data analysis that goes on throughout the course of the academic
064year, benchmarking in the beginning of the year, mid-year testing um to to monitor student growth and then of course end of the year um wrap up as well. Looking at master scheduling to see ways that we can optimize how schedules are laid out in our buildings to offer our students more opportunities um and really maximize um the instructional minutes that are available during the day. uh again moving through and constantly looking at how we can uh refine uh and update our course offerings for for our children. Uh we're also looking for continued ways to to partner with Southern Westchester Boseies. We're just talking about that this morning for career technical education programming as we head into 2027 2020 uh 2028. um researching transition support for students who are graduating out of out of the high
065school who may need additional support as they transition into the world and then again working to build capacity um by by supporting all the efforts for portrait of a graduate and what will be alternative pathways for graduation. Um they're all going and they're all and each one of them depending upon the the pathway um that the student selects and chooses is going to be a rigorous journey. Um and it's going to be a rigorous journey that that will allow that students to be able to demonstrate their learning over the course of an entire uh K through2 experience. Dr. Tessic and and her team also uh will will be participating in sharing updates um from special education and pupil services. Again, really folded into all the the overarching um curricular trajectory and program offerings all throughout
066the school district. working on that second step in the um public consulting group uh study that was conducted last year um and moving forward to support our colleagues in our classrooms, our students, their parents, guardians, families um and constantly looking for ways that we can provide additional support for our children um in the classrooms operations department. Again, there will also be a presentation, as you know, um connected to non-instructional um where we will go through operations um and facilities uh as well as athletics and and the like um and really have the opportunity to share more, but you really get a you you get a peek at it right now as well in the long range plan. As you know, each year um we go through and we look for for ways even in non-instructional
067areas to continuously improve and that's reflected here as well. um athletics. I mean I am always so thrilled to see the number of students participating in intercolastic athletics increasing year to year. It's going up more students participating and that that that really I think says a great deal. You can't thank coaches these days enough. Um, but it says a great deal uh um in terms of in terms of our coaches uh and their support staff as as well as our parents and guardians because parents and guardians need to make time um to support their children engaging in we were just right Mrs. Buck, we were just talking about basketball. Um you know and and all of that comes and and comes together to support what I believe is a really fantastic program. Um so whether
068whether it's increasing uh assistant coaches, the board has always been extraordinarily supportive and thank you for that. evaluating salary structure for game workers. We're going to continue to do that this year. We want to make sure that we are on par um with what we're paying and what other other regions are paying. Um we want to make sure we're um increasing the number of coaches that we have available based on student pop uh uh participation. Um and we have some one-time only uh wait room uniforms, backboards, a pace clock uh for around $55,000 this year. funding all through existing resources in the operations department. Uh again, long range projects coming online, fire alarm system upgrades, fuel tanks, things that you don't think, hey, you know, this is but this is the these are the things
069that if you don't attend to them when you need to attend them, like Dr. Latiz is talking about, those are the ones that come back to haunt you, >> right? And we've all heard those horror stories, not here. Um we're attending to them annually as we have in the past. um continuing to work with our professionals for to complete our capital projects that we have online right now. We're working with NAERTA for on-site and I and thank you for for the pulling that out. Right. Did you know that NAERTA was the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority? Dr. Han did. Nobody else I believe. [laughter] >> Um we we have we have these opportunities again to to partner and to be able to bring more resources into our building safety and security. Um,
070again, upgrade upgrade annually district-wide plan, making sure that we have camera upgrades, keeping all of our services online, continuing our uh annual drilling, testing and training with students and staff as well as our school resource officers, and continuing to fund our school resource officers um and and supporting our local emergency management teams. Staffing, we have some increases in staffing, but all all planned. Um and again built into last year's um plan and built into what we were going to be coming out uh with this year. Um and and again we talked about that in connection with the the high school um the new wing as well. One time only district-wide upgrade uh for access and controls safety related. Um new HVAC on the first floor that house uh some windows lighting >> some lighting desperately
071needed. Um really thrilled uh with where we are right now today in terms of our capital projects update completed at the high school Highlands East View Church Washington. This is our HBAC air conditioning for those those warm days, those hot days nearing completion at Ridgeway as well as MAS. We got and Dr. Vicarat mentioned favorable bids. And so now we're going to be looking at potentially being able to air condition some of those last remaining spaces that don't have air conditioning. um gyms, resource rooms and and some various offices and the facilities to be as close as we can be to 100% climate controlled in an efficient fashion with up-to-date >> digitally controlled um you know which is great >> which is so great also because now the state has required us to have policies
072in place for very hot days and there are so many school districts that do not have aironditioned buildings. So, we're so far ahead of that. Um, >> very thoughtful. >> Well, and and you know, kudos to the board of education, right? Because you when when those one time only funds became available in connection with air quality and purity during during the COVID, Right. Right. >> Um, the board chose to use those one-time only funds to make sure air quality was was going to be as good as you could. >> Um, so that's, you know, great. Great. and it's taken us a little bit of time to get here, a couple of years, but we're we're we're going to be there. Yeah, we're going to be there in the spring. >> And I and I do
073want to thank Ridgeway uh our Ridgeway communities as well as our MAS community for be hanging in there with us. Um you know, it's hard to be the last two to be done, but almost there. um cyber security uh through implementation of you know so so basically always looking at our systems trying to test our systems to see if they're vulnerable um and keeping up with all the best practices uh that are in the field right now in terms of our total infrastructure working with Boseies um to house our our networking and and and making a lot of what I believe are really good decisions um to utilize the the board of cooperative educational services um to be able to maximize >> the purchase lease agreement, the installment purchase lease agreement has always served us
074well these past years of maximizing our purchasing power for replacement of equipment uh throughout our buildings. So that's been >> it's great and it's been a huge >> and it's aidable >> and we get you got expensive. Right. So right. So why wouldn't we >> why wouldn't we partner and why wouldn't we do that? Right. We're going to save We're going to save money and at the same time be cutting edge in in terms of our overall infrastructure. People transportation. September and October were tough. >> Yes. Yeah, we did change the picture up. >> Yeah. Uh, as you know, September and October were tough. And as you're transitioning to a new a new partner, um, you know, you're going to expect some of those bumps in the road. So, again, just huge gratitude to to
075all of our students and and our community members for understanding that. And big thanks um to our partners here in this in the school district, but also to Durham for working with us and continuing to work with us on almost a daily basis um to make sure that we're addressing issues as they come. And and that's what we're doing. And it's it's a that's that level of of service that we seek to be able to provide to our students even though we're in a larger school district. Um 70 new buses. We have bus patrol partnered uh with the city of White Plains and thanks to the city again um for allowing us to have those cameras, those stop arm cameras and very very important. remember they're out there. Um stop for school buses, continuing to
076evaluate um the the overall efficiency study uh to see if we can implement more areas to reduce um over overall costs. And we're we're we're continuing to work with NAERTA on the zero emissions mandate um and looking forward into the future uh to identify ways that we can make this service that our students are receiving as smooth as possible. Apps that work, GPS tracks at work, sticking to, you know, making sure that we're picking the best timing um that we can for for our runs and when kids are going to get picked up. um so that you can give parents, guardians, and students as much information that they can rely upon each day as possible and and we're committed to doing that. Um so we're supporting that uh entire program again um as we move
077forward into the next year and we we're also reflecting increases that we know are going to be coming 5% 3% um in the next three years as well. I'm super proud. I I'm really super proud of the the food services program being an in-house, right? >> It's like it's scratch cooking. Um our our team members from from our community working with with our students, our students guiding in many ways the types of food um that is on the menu each day. Um you know, whether it's taste testing or giving recommendations for for the types of food that's served. um being able to serve multiple various needs, personalized needs for for students, whether it be um dietary restrictions due to allergy or other um unique circumstances, religious observances, um cultural uh food that that is connected
078to cultural celebrations. Just really trying to u be as I would say dynamic as as a food service entity in a public school could be. I mean, I'd put us up against anybody. And >> I would say nimble also as state and federal food requirements change and we have to right adapt and adopt new gu you know new guidelines are adopted. That's right. we have to >> just last week right Jeef tallow and and you know changes that are going to be and the other great thing is you know again the professionals who are working in food services um great deal of experience in the space in the profession and also addressing those types of federal mandates that are you know and being able to determine between required and recommended right required and recommended really
079important >> and a lot we were already doing >> and we're yeah right we were really already doing it so so continuing you know the the the to work toward the supper program for students to to have access to healthy food outside after after school. So you have students who are participating in um you know after after school learning opportunities or uh athletics opportunities you have access to food and breakfast and lunch at no additional cost for all of our children regardless of socioeconomic. I mean it's just fantastic. Um, also looking to to continue to support the modification of the uh rather the modernization of our kitchen areas. Um, you'll see some digital thermometers and and so just huge thanks um to the team members Maggie and and the rest of the team chefs uh
080really doing a fantastic job and all of this is funded through the school lunch account. Um so that's really that's really important as well. A >> lot of money saved. >> You did it. You hung in there with us. Thank you very much. >> And we've got the check there for this evening already. >> One last check. There's a lot of meetings. [laughter] >> Um but you know at the end the end result here um is consistency and maintaining consistency toward making sure that th that the planning is robust that it is nimble that we can make changes when when unanticipated things come at us um like pandemics, >> right? Um, you know, and I use that as a as a real world example because we all live that >> and we were able to
081to do that because of planning. Um, and so, you know, as we're as we're moving forward, like I said, Dr. Han will be presenting the instructional uh budget to the board and at our next meeting, February 9th. Non-instructional will come February 23rd. And then we're right into uh the the preliminary budget to finance um before you know it, it's going to be May 19th, which is the annual school vote. and kind of gave you the behind the scenes already 1.54%. Um, you know, you're you're going to be well, right? >> That's the maximum [clears throat] that's allowable for us based on our our numbers. >> I was going to wait for the movie to come out. >> What's What are you cutting out of the budget this year, Joe? Nothing. what are our kids not
082going to have next year >> because we're not gonna none of that is part of the conversation right now and I'm really proud of that >> um and I know you are too. So thank you everybody. We're taking questions always every day. >> Feel free to send budgets budget wbcsd us. Um that's Ann and I love love love to do it. So >> Joe, I I think it's very important. One of the things you mentioned in passing is that a philosophy of not kicking the can down the road. >> Yeah. >> Dealing with issues upfront when you have professional staff, support staff, administration, and quite frankly many of the colleagues here on the board that have been here for a long time and plan to be here for a long time. Um, it allows you
083to look at a long-term view and doing that allows our buildings to stay in much better shape than if we, you know, left it for the next administration, the next group of people. >> Right. >> So, I, you know, I it's really commendable across the board, not just to the board obviously, but everybody from our teachers to our support staff to our administrators that take this view of let's get it right. let's fix it what needs to be fixed and not just kick it down the road as quite frankly we see in many of our other um elected levels of government. >> So, you know, it's something that we should be very very proud of here in White Plains that we also don't see in other school districts. >> I I couldn't agree more and
084and thank you um really thank you all and and huge thanks to the community for being so supportive of our children and our schools. Um and that that you know that is that permeates through exactly where we are today. It is that level of support. It is that attention to detail. It is that focus on um addressing issues as they come up and in the moment because you know that that's what's going to be best for kids. And and no no games, no gimmicks, no political moves to try to make one budget year look better than another budget year. You know it is really sticking to the course of conservative planning curtailing expenditures when we know we need to um making making adjustments within the organization to rightsize it um if there are shifts and
085reallocating resources accordingly. It's not perfect, but it definitely does put us in a situation where we're doing um much less reaction and much more pro uh you know, we're much more proactive than we are reactive >> and and we're not siloed either, which I think is really important that I think when we do this kind of planning, it's a very holistic view >> and vision and lens through which we are budgeting. We're really looking at the system as a >> as a whole. And to Cheryl's point, we all budget our own lives in our own homes and our own houses. And to see the scope of of this budget, it's just enormous. And it's just it's so clear. It's so so thoughtful, so comprehensive, and there's so many moving parts that we'll hear from over
086the next few months. I just there's so much work that goes on behind the scenes. And to Craig's point and Charlotte's point, we're just, you know, appreciative that you're bringing us this budget that will become ours that we will then take to the voters in a few months. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you again everyone. Take care. Thanks for coming. >> Good night. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hey, thanks for sticking it out. >> I know. [laughter] >> That was good. That was good. [laughter] >> Thank you. Thank you again. We're going to move into our um our consent agenda. We have summary action items four through eight. May public participation. >> Oh, I'm so sorry. >> I'm sorry. Will there be any
087public participation tonight? Any any public because Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. [laughter] >> Just in case. >> No. Thank you. And you know, I circled that like not to forget because Okay. Okay. So, now we go to our consent agenda. We have summary action items 4 through 8. May I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Thank you, Madam President. I would like to uh just again draw your attention as we do every month to the very very generous donations uh which have been brought forward for for the board's consideration this evening. Um, item B, we have four new grants totaling $5,100 from the friends of the White Plains Public Schools. No friends like the friends, right? >> No friends. Yep. >> No friends. We have the best friends. >> $1,500 for the
088White Plains High School AVID senior class trip to Broadway. $1,275 for a trip for 40 students from Rose Shambo to Puzzle Poller. $1,200 for White Plains High School science research equipment for a Klein Stat. Now, give anybody a quarter who knows what that is. >> I was just going to Google it. [laughter] >> It helps to study gravity uh in the classroom. Yes. And the lack of gravity in the classroom. >> Uh I had to look it up, Charlie. >> 1,120 [laughter] for post road animal adaptions program for fourth graders. The White Plains High School PTA grants committee has approved the following two grants for White Plains High School. $500 for 52 students taking AP government and politics to visit the Kennedy Institute and Boston to participate in voting rights legislation simulation. That sounds awesome.
089>> That's so cool. >> $2,950 for seed, which is seeking educational equity and diversity for the eliminating racism racism overnight trip to be held at the Takonic Outdoor Education Center. >> Can't wait. >> The middle school PTA board uh has approved the following grant. grant request from Highlands for eighth grade t-shirts um which will be used for the eighth grade trips. The business council of Westchester, thank you so much to all the business council members again this year. Um and with Verizon support, thank you Verizon supporting White Plains High School incubator edu initiative uh in the amount of $2,500 again this year. I think this may be the third year in a row that we've won that grant. So huge thanks to the business council in Verizon. And the following donations were made for the
090Philip Barnett Memorial Scholarship. $25 from Mr. and Mrs. Raspel Singh, $100 from Mr. Gerald Kramer, $100 from Mr. Fred Fox, $100 from Mr. and Mrs. John Stankinos Stanunis, I'm sorry, $250 uh from Dr. HL Shahabian, and $500 from Mr. Robert Schneider. Thank you so much for your generous donations. >> Thank you. Thank [snorts] you. I it's amazing. The generosity always just bowls me over. So, just I know we're all very thankful for those donations. Um any questions? >> All in favor? >> I. Next, we'll move to individual action items. We have the first um uh authorization for a medical examination for a staff member. May I have a motion? >> Any questions? All in favor? I. >> Next, we have an um the recommended action for approval of an overnight field trip for student act
091this for student activities at White Plains High School. May I have a motion? [snorts] >> Second. >> Questions? >> All in favor? >> I. Next we have the the recommended action to appoint uh furer hearing officer. May I have a motion? >> So move second. >> Any questions? All in favor? >> I. Next, we have the recommended approval of the request for an extension per CSA contract of the paid [snorts] of the paid period of absence beyond 30 working days due to an accident in the line of duty for an employee. May I have a motion? >> Move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Next, we have the recommended approval of the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Scott R. Pepper, assistant superintendent for human resources districtwide, uh, effective close of business
092February 28, 2026. May I have a motion? >> So move. >> Any questions? >> Just want to say that I was I was here when we hired Scott a long time ago when Joe had first come to the district and over an HR department and really worked hard >> to to bring it together and and and lead it. So, I just want to express my appreciation to the work he's done over the career. >> And I'm sure many of you join me in wishing Scott all the best in retirement. >> Absolutely. >> Happiness and health always. Uh we will miss you and wish you just everything that you want. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Absolutely grateful. It's been great great to work together. Wishing him all all of the best, happiness, and health. Um and we
093we made uh we made and did a lot >> in those years. Um so it's uh it was great to work with him. Thank you. >> Appreciate everything he's done. >> Yeah, it was you know we had conversations when I I thought I was an HR person. So we had a lot of conversations that that you know I you know we spoke about and so I appreciate those conversations and I won't forget them. Thank you Scott. All in favor? >> I. Next, we have the recommended approval of the appointment of Joseph Spiro as the high school DASA coordination and 504 chairperson effective January 13, 26 through June 30th, 26. May I have a motion? >> Move. >> Second. >> Are there any questions? All in favor? >> I. Um so now we'll move into that
094will close our um our individual action items. Now we'll move into board um our board discussion. Um I think you know for finance we went through this um you know the the long range plan budget and again really it's very tight. It's very student uh forward. It's very staff, you know, you know, staff supporting. Um, all colleagues are supported, you know, through every inch of the district. So, just again to say thank you. >> Thank you to to you all. I mean, that that that's really tight and um it's deeply appreciated. Um, >> sorry. >> I was going to say, as we usually say, we had HR, but those are confidential matters, but we do need Go >> curriculum instruction met. Um [snorts] we discussed some proposed White Plains High School courses for 26 27.
095Uh some interesting courses. World history a supa course for 10th graders is uh being proposed as well as two APs AP business and personal finance which is appropriate right after this budget discussion right and AP cyber security which look very cool. Wow. >> Um as well as a dance too which as we move into the innovation lab we'll have a dance studio. So, we're very excited about that for the arts as well as cooperative games from physical education. So, that's we're putting that together now and looking for some suggestions and then uh some vertical team uh creation with uh STEM, computer science and digital fluency. So, getting some departments together to get uh talking and seeing what's happening in each of those departments. But uh a great uh you know meeting we had and looking
096forward to next month. Can I can I just add to that also in light of what we just spoke about with long range planning and thinking about what our students need, creating opportunities, working within a budget. So, as we go through this, yes, new courses, but budget neutral, budget neutral, budget neutral. And so we're constantly thinking of ways to reallocate resources, looking at student interest, determining, okay, do we need a section of this versus maybe we should have a section of something else that would, you know, be in the students best interest. And I do want to also comment on the AP um business and personal finance and the AP cyber security, which are new AP courses. And I had seen some presentations over the summer on them and I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh,
097you know, the College Board is now they're sort of in the realm from the College Board perspective of CTE, right? >> And they're really about, you know, sort of career paths and we have sort of jumped on this to say these would be great opportunities for our kids." Um, so I I'm really pleased that we're doing this. I I I I think I I agree with you and I think that I think the College Board sees what we see. Um and they're looking to make modifications to the types of courses that they're offering, right? Because they recognize that students are they're shifting and yeah and and you know the the whole space. Um so where we used to think about vocational education as like wood shop. No, no. Exactly. No, no, no. That is not
098what it is anymore. And um you know they're very exciting. In fact, that's one of the things we're going to be discussing on on Thursday as well. Yeah. Thank you. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I was going to um ask um Craig, is there anything else uh with regard to finance committee that you wanted to add? >> The finance committee also [clears throat] discussed um a possible change to our payroll department and adding more senior leadership and payroll which I think would be a great advantage and helpful for the entire school district. >> Thank you. >> I just Oh, I was unable to attend the committee meetings. My apologies to everyone this week. was working. But just as an aside, this weekend uh I accompanied my wife to the Westchester where she goes some days to
099buy stuff and some days to return stuff. So it was a return trip. But I was wearing my White Plains school district fleece and a gentleman came over to me and said, you know, who are you? And I said, well, I live in White Plains and been on the board for a while. So he was a a business guy from Scarsdale and he said, what you guys are doing in White Plains is unbelievable. and he said the innovation wing he said is just an amazing thing that he wished that they could have. >> Oh, that's cool. >> So, um yeah, I wanted to bring that just just say that uh he was really gushing about it. >> That's awesome. >> Yeah, it was great. >> Jessica, special ed special. >> So, special ed committee met
100um we discussed the next steps in the PCG uh audit and what we're going to do to bring that forward. Um, and also, um, something that I'm really proud of, um, in our district is that we always are looking at, um, looking through a lens of everything being an opportunity to improve instead of, um, feeling defensive if we're told that we need to make some certain changes. So, we are taking um what the state has guidance that we've been given from the state and we're using it to really um help our professionals in the classroom to integrate some best practices for our students and it's really going to improve education across the board for all students. So really excited to hear about how that's evolving >> and looking at early literacy and um and transition,
101you know, really to strengthen those areas. It's great opportunity. >> Thank you. Thank you for that. >> So I think we're just about at the end of our first um board meeting for 2026. >> John Shepard and John Savage, thank you back there. Um we appreciate you. Happy New Year and we we [applause] applaud you. Happy new year to everyone. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you again for what you do. Um I can't say enough about the budget. It is it is marvelous to even have that >> type of tightness at this point. >> It feels good. >> It's exciting. It's really energizing, you know. So, thank you all for what you bring, your thoughtfulness and everything. And you know, I'll say thank you to um Michelle and just, you know, for everyone. I know
102we all appreciate working with each other and that it's really a gift that that just keeps giving. So, I am very appreciative of you all. And with that, >> may I have a motion to close our meeting? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> Happy New Year. Happy New Year. >> Reord now listen.