001[Music] Happy new school year. Today is Monday, September 8th. Please stand and join us in the pledge. 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. 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 their aspirations, and contribute to a diverse and dynamic world. Next, we will move on to items. Good evening and and uh welcome back day three of the academic year and uh this evening on the agenda it is my pleasure to introduce Miss Amy Guyger who is going to uh share with the board this year's slate of 2025 White Plains High School Hall
002of Fame inductees. Uh, can you hear me? >> Thank you. Thank you, Joe. Thank you, board, for having me here again. It is my pleasure to announce and to briefly introduce the next four distinguished White Plains High School graduates who've been chosen for induction in the White Plains High School Hall of Fame. As many of you know, the Hall of Fame not only celebrates the achievements of truly outstanding graduates, but it also recognizes the contributions of our high school teachers and staff, both past and present. And perhaps the most special aspect of our White Plains High School Hall of Fame day is that the inductees spend time during the school day with our students and have an opportunity to share their insights in classes and in group sessions. The four graduates who will be inducted
003into the Hall of Fame this fall will join 90 other distinguished graduates ranging from the class of 1921 to the class of 2004 who have they have been inducted into the Hall of Fame already. Each has been selected by a dedicated committee of school and community representatives who thoughtfully review all nominations each year. And here now in the order in which they graduated from the high school are 2025 inductees. The first one is Carl Austin, class of 1958. Mr. Austin has been a leading local real estate developer and consultant for more than 50 years, responsible for dozens of major office buildings, corporate headquarters, office parks, and hotels throughout Westchester, the General Foods World Headquarters in Rye, the Gateway Building in downtown White Plains, and the land assemblage for the Westchester Mall are just three of
004the many noteworthy projects. projects he has helped bring to fruition. Mr. Austin has also devoted his time and talent to numerous community organizations, including serving for 41 years as a trustee of Purchase College and for 47 years on the board of White Plains Hospital. Susan Alman, class of 1964. Ms. Alman, a social studies teacher at White Plains High School for 30 years, also helped start the seed program to promote educational and ethnic diversity, which continues to this day, the Midnight Run to help feed the homeless, and the Humans Rights Club. She also expanded the high school's international student travel program by initiating a sister school relationship with a high school in Suzu, China, through which White Plains students attended the school in China for a few weeks one year and students from Suzu came to
005White Plains High School the next. The innovative program lasted a decade until China changed its laws on student travel. Next is Jonette Mines, the class of 1978. As the current president of the White Plains Junth Heritage Committee, Miss Mines has revitalized Junth celebrations in Westchester and Rockland. In 2022, she started the Winbrook Reunion in White Plains on Junth to raise funds for the Slater Community Center. With 30 years of experience at IBM in various accounting positions, she now serves as treasurer of the White Plains, Greenberg, NAACP, Sisters with a Purpose, and the Bethl Baptist Church. And next, we have Daniel Slepian, class of 1988. Mr. Slepian is an award-winning investigative producer and journalist at NBC News. He has spent nearly 30 years at NBC's news magazine DLine, spearheading dozens of groundbreaking documentaries, hidden camera investigations,
006and breaking news reports. Mr. Sleepian is especially known for his in-depth reporting about the criminal legal system and specifically wrongful wrongful convictions which have helped solve cold cases, assisted in exonerating the wrongly convicted and sparked changes in laws. His podcast, Letters from Singh, was a 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist. And these are White Plains High School graduates. On Thursday, October 23, please mark your calendars. This distinguished group of alumni will be spending time with our students and at 300 p.m. will be inducted into the White Plains High School Hall of Fame in a ceremony in the High School Media Center. Since its inception in 1996, Hall of Fame Day has become one of the highlights of the school year, and I certainly hope that all board members and the White Plains community will attend this year's
007program. So, thank you for letting me present that. If you have any questions, thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Sker. And thank you to the committee. A lot of work, a lot of effort goes into the selection process. And every every time we have this opportunity, it's always a really special night. We're all going to be there. >> Uh wouldn't wouldn't miss it. >> They serve anonymously and are dedicated and very thoughtful about it. They understand the process and the goals and are equally dedicated to what >> Yes. And it is an exciting opportunity too for our students to to engage with them throughout the day. I think that's a very exciting part of the day and this year it works out because you've already figured out what classes and what groups the
008schedule for the day is just >> as I was saying and thank you for your compliments on on the uh committee's work and what has resulted. Uh and the exciting part in that day is the schedule of the high school. It was made just perfectly for these p people's areas of expertise to reach those students who are so far keenly in interested in those arenas and parts of uh the working world and life out there. So, it's going to be a very exciting day and we look forward to having everybody and anybody you wish to invite come to the induction ceremony 3:00 media center. Thank you again. >> Great. Before you leave the microphone and I hope she's watching at home right now, Mrs. Shoenfeld >> and Mrs. Guyger are responsible for the layout and
009it's here >> and everybody. Thank you. >> Yes, Mrs. Seanfeld works very very hard and had some good assistance this year with changing some of the artwork and the design and uh from what I can see from here it looks great. >> So just like just like just like our school district. Thank you. >> Thank you so much again on behalf of the the board. We appreciate all you do for us. Thank you. So, next we'll go to any uh announcements um from the board. I think the the best one I'll start off with was the tour. >> Oh, that's was the tour that we went on up for our facilities um before school opened and it it just underscored all of the work that goes, you know, to getting our our schools ready for
010a new year. So that was really that was fun. We rode the school bus and everything. So that was fun. And just a thank you, you know, to everyone who worked a long hard hot summer to to get the school in shape, the physical building, and then to have all staff walk in to really just put the finishing touches and everything into place so that everything is ready um day one. So thank you. Thank you, Kane. >> I We had a good start to the school year. I have two going to the high school, one at Highlands. Um trying to think what else we did. I think that was it. Just the tour we had which we visited all the facilities. We had the principles at each building welcoming us and the custodial staff. Yeah.
011>> And it was just nice to see all the progress that was made this summer. >> Y said >> anything else? >> I'll mention a couple of things. Um several of us were at the um uh opening day for uh for staff um which was very exciting and there was a ton of energy in the room. Rosemary spoke um and Dr. Rica did a a long presentation that was done with now with you know wonderful pictures and um it again it's just great to start the the new year off that way and to really see the energy and the excitement of the staff. Um, so that was fabulous. And I'll just mention, I'll talk more about this when I'm back, but uh along with some of the other um board members from the New York
012State School Boards Association, I will be going out to Los Angeles um to the Cube conference. Um Cube is a part of the National School Boards Association. It's the Council of Urban Boards of Education. And um some of the highlights uh are Colin C Kaepernick is one of the keynote speakers. You know, besides having been a you know story quarterback, um he's actually a philanthropist, a human rights activist um and has developed an initiative to empower um students through education, young people through education. Brian Stevenson is also um going to be a keynote. He is responsible for the Equal Justice Initiative, author of Just Mercy, and a number of other things. Uh the superintendent of schools in LA County, Deborah Dardo. There's a field trip I'll be going on to the Compton um school district,
013um which apparently is very innovative. They've designed a new high school, a new performing arts center, um and really doing a lot of future ready kinds of um endeavors. So that should be interesting. And then there will be workshops on reducing the achievement gap, um artificial intelligence, innovation in in curriculum, um equity, etc. So I'm looking forward to that and to bringing some of these things back to us. >> The audit and finance committee met last week. We had our annual organizational meeting and then had a um preliminary review of the results of the 24-25 school year and really thanks to the incredible work of Dr. Vicario Taish and the entire business office all of our principles um all of our staff all of our teaching professionals um using our funds very judiciously. Um, on
014behalf of the finance committee, I can say that the finances of the White Plain School District continue to be in very, very good shape. Um, and thanks to, of course, the taxpayers for recognizing that in our budgets year after year. Um, and we look forward to continuing this moving forward. >> Yeah. And Craig, we looked at the I know it's a little early, but we also looked at the lunch fund uh for the schools and we there was an increase in the lunch fund and we had some questions, but we realized it was for the staffing for the after school distribution of snacks for athletes and kids staying after school in the evening. So again, even the money we're spending is going to the students at the high school and other schools. >> Great. Great.
015That's good all around. Next, we'll go to our superintendence report. Dr. Rick. >> Thank you, President Eller. And again, good evening everybody and uh h you know, happy new year. Happy new year again. Um it it's great to great to have everybody back and really great to have our student representatives back and I I always like to first turn turn over the beginning portion to to you both and happy to do so this evening if Rosa and Harris are here with us. >> Welcome back. Good evening everyone. Welcome back to the 20256 school year. We hope you all enjoyed your summer and are ready to start this school year off on a good note. Our elementary schools have already begun their amazing work for our new Tigers, as well as the returning ones. At Ridgeway,
016staff and students returned to new paved and painted parking lots, playgrounds, construction upgrades, and a refined library. Teachers attended staff trainings in new curricular arts and letters and are excited for what's to come. Ridgeway's newest kindergarteners were able to meet their teachers and their classrooms. The PTA hosted an engaging kindergarten playd date and the PTA hosted a welcome back picnic this past weekend featuring pizza, face painting, and loads of other fun activities. Over at Church Street, staff and students were welcomed to an array of building upgrades as well. Kindergarteners engaged in a lively meet and greet followed by play followed by a playground celebration. Students were given a tour of the building to boost their confidence. My my apologies, sorry. On the first day of school, the PTA welcomed the church faculty and staff with
017a lunchon and CSS bags for the new faculty members. The trade of the month for September is kindness, which will be the theme in morning circles and community building activities for the rest of the month. Looking ahead, the Church Street Tree PTA is planning a back- tochool celebration, a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new library, open houses on September 16th for grades K through 2, and the 19th for grades 3 to 5. For parents who want a squeaky clean vehicle, make sure to attend the car wash on Saturday, September the 20th from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. At MAS, they welcomed their kindergarteners for a special tour a day before school began. To ease the minds of our newest Tigers, the PTA treated the students to ice cream from Steve, the ice cream truck man. The
018same evening, the whole community gathered for a talk and walk, creating messages that students were greeted to the very next day. Additionally, MAS has welcomed upgraded lighting, refreshed walls and flooring, enhanced HVAC systems, and brand new fields. Special shout out to MAS staff for their hard work building community and getting to know their students in the process. Post Road Post Road School began the 2025 to 2026 academic year with activities designed to welcome incoming students and their families. On September the 3rd, kindergarten students and their parents attended a meet and greet with teachers. Immediately afterwards, the parent teacher association hosted Chalk the Walk, where participants decorated sidewalks with colorful, positive messages to greet students on the first day. The afternoon concluded with popsicles for attendees. On September 4th, the PTA organized a coffee and light
019breakfast for new parents. The school's first PTA meeting of the school year is scheduled for Tuesday, September the 9th. In addition, Post Road is adding several features to its campus this week, including a buddy bench donated by the class of 2025, a little free library in the small playground, and a new Gaga ball pit funded by the PTA. George Washington Elementary opened its school year with events aimed at fostering joy, connection, and a strong sense of community. The students chorus welcomed the entire district on opening day, setting a positive tone for the months ahead. While kindergarten students and their families were greeted at a cheerful lemonade social designed to help new arrivals feel at home. Throughout September, the school will launch gradewide community meetings, beginning with a welcome back message and a review of school
020expectations to give every student a clear foundation for success. and Mindful Mondays have begun providing students and staff with tools and strategies that support zones of regulation programs. To continue, East View began their new school year with much enthusiasm by having transition activities to help students feel both connected and prepared for the next phase of their education. So, prior to the start of school, the ECU PTA hosted a meet and greet for incoming students and families from all five elementary schools, and students received color-coded wristbands to represent their teams and were given an opportunity to form early connections with their peers before school started. During the first three days of school, students engaged in a variety of orientation practices, including building tours, locker practice, planner, and iPad guideline reviews, schedule walkthroughs, and lunch and recess
021procedures. These efforts ensured that students were wellprepared and confident as they transitioned into their new middle school lives. Over at Highlands, they reported an energetic and focused start to the new school year with a strong emphasis on building community and supporting student success. So staff worked closely with students on key organization organizational skills such as binder setup, planner use, and even accessing one drive, laying a solid foundation for academic achievement and self-management. The school also celebrated student growth on the New York State ELA mathematics and NISLAD exams. These this achievement is a reflection of students dedication on and the unwavering support of teachers and staff. Highlands is now preparing for its annual field day on Monday, September 22nd. The all day event will include sports, team games, and artistic activities aligning with the school's mission
022to foster meaningful connections between students and staff. Roshambo began their school year with a strong focus on problem based learning and community collaboration. Teachers were welcomed by principal morale and then engaged in professional development with Miss Voinko, an IDE consultant. This year, Roshambo is also expanding from projectbased to problem based learning using the United Nations 17 sustainability goals to frame instructional themes. The first focus will be good health and well-being set to launch in the second semester. Roshanbo continues to collaborate with the FSW preschool program, providing high school students opportunities to work with preschoolers during study halls and lunch periods. The school also welcomed a new neighbor, the Bose's K through5 program, now housed in the former nurses wing. Early Robert building has already taken place and discussions about future collaboration are still ongoing. Students
023returned on Thursday, September 4th with enthusiasm and readiness, particularly in response to the new cell phone policy which had been introduced in an endofyear assembly. The policy summarized as off and away was wellreceived and back to school assemblies were held on Monday and Tuesday to reinforce expectations and foster schoolwide unity. Y Plains High School also welcomed students back with a strong focus on orientation, school spirit, and community standards. The class of 2029 participated in a comprehensive orientation program that included meet your counselor sessions, administrator welcome, and school expectations and a house pep rally and building tour featuring the varsity cheerleaders, student government organization, and the tiger mascot. The day concluded with a PTA sponsored barbecue lunch before students began their abbreviated first day schedules. Additionally, students are also adjusting to the new internet enabled device
024policy with additional reinforcement planned during the upcoming all school expectations assembly this Wednesday. For juniors and seniors, a new parking permit policy has also been implemented with designated student spaces in the auditorium lot. The administration is prepared to expand capacity as needed in partnership with the facilities team. Some upcoming events to look forward to are the PTA guidance night on Thursday, September 11th, open house on September 18th, and the student activities fair that will feature over 60 clubs to foster student involvement. Lastly, in the athletics department, the district's fall athletics season is off to a very strong start with high levels of participation and early success. A total of 1,045 students in grades 7 to 12 are registered for fall sports this year. The district extends deep appreciation to the nursing team for their thorough
025review of each students athletic paperwork. Thus far, high school teams have already begun competing, highlighted by the 39 to0 varsity football victory over Pukyp last Friday, while middle school teams are currently preparing for their upcoming games. Additionally, thanks to the support of the board of education, district leadership, and collaboration with the facilities and operations team, several facility upgrades have been completed, including new bleachers in the north gym and pool, enhanced north gym sound systems, new south gym floors with volleyball sleeves, updated softball and ba baseball scoreboards, new game and shot clocks at LA Stadium, the tennis courts resurfacing, upgraded high school weight rooms with turf and equipment, and Lastly, expanded field storage facilities. These improvements are designated to enhance both the safety and overall experiences of student athletes across the district to support our Tigers
026through every season. With that, that is all for this month's report. Thank you. >> Thank you both so much. And as always, if you need to leave early, feel free to do, sir. Um and and as as expected and as has always been the case, really fantastic update. Thank you so much. Uh so much to be proud of. Um very very happy to welcome everybody back. Uh it's true we're only in day three of of being open for our children. Um but a lot has happened in the last uh week week or so with regard to welcoming faculty and staff back um and and getting really the school district moving. Um so much goes into making that happen and so many people um deserve thanks and appreciation and and I and I truly offer that
027this evening. um as well as uh to to our Tigers uh and and our parents and guardians, the PTA, the friends, just everybody working together to make sure that we have a very strong opening for for our students and and and strong we did. And yes, I I definitely spoke way too long um uh the opening day as I do trying to do so tonight. Um but there was a lot to say because we were talking about >> our colleagues, we were talking about our students. Um, and there's a lot to celebrate from the previous school year as as much as well as looking forward to to this academic year. And it and it has been a it has been a strong opening. Great to see our children happy. Um, great to see our our
028colleagues uh back in their classrooms and getting back into those normalized routines and and new expectations because handinhand with that policy that that was uh referenced is the new state law requiring the policy. Um, so yeah, the uh the personal internet enabled device um expectations are are in full force and effect as as we knew they would be and we talked about that last year and um big thanks to to our students for uh working so closely with us as well as our our colleagues uh in in implementing uh the expectations and and it'll be ongoing. We know that. So, lots to be thankful for, lots to be happy with, but as as in all cases, there's areas for improvement. And the number one area for improvement right now, as far as I can see
029it on day three, is transportation. And we have been spending a lot of time talking with our provider, Durham School Services, who and and it's important to note, too, that we're running a 100 buses, 96, 97 buses. Um, you know, so it's a big it's a big movement. It's a big it's a big movement in operation. um and and districtwide, right? And and so there's a lot of moving parts for sure. However, uh we pay for a service that comes with clear expectations for service. And you know, we're we're going to make sure that we work with the provider to get that service. And and and what does that mean? I'm going to explain it right now and then I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. That means making sure we're reverting to
030to contract language in terms of the routes that we're running. It means making sure that uh the timing for all of those routes uh is is being adhered to. It also means understanding that again it's the third day um and that those those areas that we're seeing bumps are smoothed out immediately. means looking at the the wrership on all of the buses and making sure that the number of students who are assigned to the buses is appropriate. Going back and checking them and you know today for instance we we visited uh we visited buses got on them walked around them in between runs to make sure uh uh you know that they were clean and that they were they were going to be leaving on time. uh for our students who who are transported out
031of to out of district placements, making sure that those buses and those routes are are being adhered to appropriately. Um and following up with penalty charges, which our our contract stipulates and allows um and and it's going to be ongoing, right? So if if there are continued challenges, if folks are experiencing difficulty, when we receive that information, that information gets logged, we bring it to the the provider um and then we make sure that it gets rectified. As an example, the GPS tracking system, it's great great technology. If it works, if it's not working, it's a giant headache for parents and guardians. And so making sure that the provider is every day before the buses leave the lot that that GPS device is is working and if it's not working that it communicate to parents
032and guardians on that run that it's not working so your child's bus isn't in Bronxville, right? It's it's in White Plains and it's on it's on its way to to the routes. And you know, I think I think what our community deserves is exactly what we're paying for. And we're paying for high quality transportation services, safe rides to and from school every day for thousands of our kids. Now, again, lots lots of good stuff. We have stop arm cameras that are that are increasing the safety and security of our children. Now, um, we have new vehicles that are are more comfortable to ride. You know, the the the climate control systems better. Um, >> so Joe, what's the process for the parent on the fourth day of school tomorrow that experiences like >> a 20-minute
033delay or in the morning or a 20-minute delay? So, >> because a lot of us are getting feedback from people via social media. So, I'm curious like >> I'm with the kindergarten parent at my stops 20 minutes late. Like, do I call the school? people are called like transport like what's the >> yeah well the the you can absolutely you can absolutely reach out to the transportation department but you can reach right out to us too um you know and that's and we'll coordinate and make sure that all of that information gets to where it needs to be transport reaching out to the transportation department absolutely um but if you want to reach right out to me or you want to reach right out to an um we'll make sure that that information gets to
034where it needs to go and that's you know meeting with uh with the provider um and going point by point, you know, every every every bit of data that we receive from parents and guardians gets shared with the provider. Yeah. So, even if it's uh you know, the bus was was 20 minutes late, that gets shared. But it could also be, you know, my my child said that um there was no room on our bus. Um and we want to make sure that we're accounting for, you know, the number of students who are riding. But it also could be things like um I don't know uh you know my child needs to ride in a particular seat and I don't I'm I'm worried about telling the bus driver or things of that nature. Whatever it
035is, whatever the experience is, if the kids shared with us, we we're going to make sure we run that right through the provider um as well. >> Yeah, absolutely. Um to the the point about the the audit, I want to add to that. We we were notified today that the by the controllers's office. you get a phone call at 9:00 in the morning from the comprollers's office. Um, great news that the the district was identified as having un having uh uh unclaimed funds from as far back as like 2010. So, it's $5,000 in in unclaimed funds um from a number of small small things over the years. But but the good news is um the good news is that that that that will come back to our kids um and and our community and that
036that'll be next week. will be meeting at the with the county executive and the comproller. Um, we just found out about that today. I also have to thank the the the White Plains Youth Bureau. Uh, as of last week, no weight lists before care, afterare. >> Wow. >> That's a big deal. That that program has has tripled in size. >> Ever happened? >> No, I don't think so. >> And, you know, so for Mr. Williams and and and Mr. Smalls and just increasing the capacity of the program to be able to serve our children and families, um, >> it's a big deal. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. And and also um as as we've come over the years, special people and dads take your child to school day. It's coming up on the
03718th. That's always fantastic. Um as a note, I mentioned this at the last meeting, but the Highlands open house has been rescheduled making, you know, initially it was scheduled in the evening um of of a holiday and that's been since rescheduled. Also have to thank the strategic planning committee was phenomenal this year. Um I shared what the board recommended up updates. Um we'll have that for the board's agenda in October. Uh but but great great partnership with with the planning committee this year and and really grateful for them. Um we did mention the the policy related to the internet enabled personal personal devices and and you know for any parents guardians who had questions about them and reaching out. There's actually a full website the governor's office put together like a whole website um related
038to the new law and that's available for folks to take a look at. um September 11th, of course, uh and and throughout the the district, we we do uh uh recognize, remember, um and also it's a it's an opportunity for for education for our for our Tigers. Uh I have to say join because they're the best. We have to join the PTA. Join Even if you can't make a meeting, even if you can never make a meeting, joining the PTA and just being part of um the support for our Tigers is phenomenal. as well as the friends. Um, and the friends will be hosting uh a welcome back to school on the 17th. Um, right right in town. I I think it's 17th, isn't it? >> Yeah. Um, supposed to be I think there's pretty
039good speaker. >> It's lengthy. >> Sometimes. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's fair enough for sure. But, uh, and thank you to to the friends. And there's also the brick um >> 19th >> on the 19th. Yep. Lot of really amazing things. And as as always um areas uh to improve upon and uh as I as I mentioned, we'll we'll keep uh we'll keep working in in those areas and keep uh providing updates uh moving forward as well. >> Thanks, Madam President. >> May I just add one thing, >> Madam President? Um Dr. to recommend the New York State Controllers Controllers Office and Unclaimed Funds. Anybody that's watching or anybody that knows anybody in New York State is highly encouraged to go on their website, >> search by your last name, your relative's last
040name, your neighbor's last name. There's a lot of money that New York State has had a sheet to it over a very long period of time that is just waiting to be claimed. So, take advantage of that. Yeah, you never know when there's found money for you or your family or neighbors or anybody. We'll be checking that by the way from now on every year. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Thank you for that. Next, um we're going to move into public participation. The board will entertain comments from the public on any issue with a time limit of three minutes per person and a maximum time limit of 25 minutes um for this part of the agenda. Um just to ensure anyone um wanting to uh give any public uh participation comments to please step up to
041the podium so that um our listeners or viewers uh remotely can see it. Um although we do not typically comment um at public participation, please please please keep any personal information um uh confidential and the cabinet will be happy to address any any any concerns um um if you know if they are contacted and we encourage contact to the cabinet to the appropriate uh cabinet member as well as the superintendent and although we don't uh comment. Please know that we here, we take notes, and we do follow up on any comment that is made during this time. So, please, if there's any public participation, please step up to the podium. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Your name, please, and address. >> My name is My address. Why my address? put that's what
042we we've been typically asking uh just so that we know who's comment and if you don't feel comfortable that's fine that's fine >> uh my name is Barbara Sawiki I have talked to Dr. Ra man more times that I care to count about the bus and I would like to understand what is the board doing to ensure because I've been promised time and time again that is unacceptable and it would not happen again and yet the next day a week later without fault my child is there not picked up picked up late has been dropped off at the wrong school I can keep on going he's been in the bus in the middle of the winter without heating I mean I have a long list all documented with dates, times, and whom am I talked
043to of all these issues and yet all I get is yes, you're right. It's unacceptable. Nothing happens. So, I want to know from the board of I understand you will not answer me. What are you doing to solve this problem? >> Thank you. >> Yes, please. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. And and and you're absolutely right. It is it is unacceptable. And if I could go if I could if I could go and and take that and change make that change for you, I'd do it in a minute. Um what's been communicated related to your particular situation and I not going to share you know personal details. Um a number of things have happened uh including including personnel changes over you know because there's been as you mentioned it's actually happened over over different
044years even um >> the last six months everything I mentioned. Yeah. >> At the wrong school this week. Yep. >> Yeah. Previous school a child gets older, goes to a different school and and they use the the route from last year. It's it's not okay. Um, one of the things of course that we talked about was rem remuneration for your time and and and you transporting your son. Um, and I know that Dr. Vicarat has has been in contact with you, but that still doesn't make up for the lack of service. And so there there's nothing I can say other than we're going to do everything we have the power to do in terms of exercising the contract with with the service provider to make sure that they get the job done right and safe.
045>> We did. >> It's a new one. >> It's Yeah. >> Yeah. I I mean, you know, again, there's no excuse. There's no there's no there there's no answer to give you that makes it right except that we will continue to to advocate and demand that they do right by you and your and your child and all of our kids and all and all of our families. >> Also uh just to add also if there's a further conversation um please please just um you can contact Dr. Ricka. >> We we >> yeah um >> I'm clearly not satisfied. Yeah, >> if the answer is unacceptable and it happens again, >> it's I'm not satisfied. I don't feel safe or comfortable. This is child neglect leaving them at the wrong school. It's endangerment. There were three
046adults on that last and no one stopped him to say, "Hey, you're not walking into school." They let him go. How do I as a mother, how do I feel safe that my child will be in school as you promised me? You're right. >> Right. >> I know. I'm right. >> Yeah. We'll keep on top of that route. Um, you know, uh, Dr. Ty is here. Um, Dr. Rick, we'll keep on top of that >> to that. Yeah, >> keep on top of that route. >> Too many. And that's that's that's exactly the point. And and you know, and we'll talk we'll we'll speak with them again. >> Yeah. >> Just one route, one Yeah. >> I don't want to. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Don't do that. >> Okay. So, Dr. Rick or
047Dr. Ty, I they will be on top of this. Um with a greater hammer. >> Yeah. Well, um to make sure that that your child is safe. Absolutely. It's not to be tolerated. So um we are saying as a board that you know we hear you and we typically don't have this conversation back and forth. We hear you and we have Dr. Ricka and Dr. Taiish both to be on top of this route. So I know that they will keep in touch with you. Of course you can call you know Dr. Tish or Dr. Rick anytime uh real time and they will get back. >> My question was to the board because I am not satisfied with their answer. So what is the board going to change? Was that accountable to you? >> Yes and
048absolutely we are accountable and that's why in this forum we are saying to you that we are aware of your problem. So now as a board we'll be able to check in as well and see what is going on is this route. What has happened? Do things continue to happen? And then what is the the the remediation or what are the penalties for a company that you know we have a contract with and and why why is this happening and what is the penalty and what else can we do to ensure safety? >> Okay. >> And we'll be sure to follow up with you too, Mr. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We appreciate you um coming and speaking today. I'm sorry for that reason, but I can tell you this board takes everything seriously with our
049children because they are our children during the day. Um, you know, until they're back home in your arms. They're ours. So, we get how you feel. We hear you. And I do know that both Dr. Rick and Dr. Ty will uh be more on top of this and to to get the answers and the the the clarity and the fix that is needed. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Um, is there any more public participation? Okay. Next, we'll move to summary action items. We have summary action items 4 through 8. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Uh, I would like to draw your attention to item A, our donations. Um, and we're grateful for these these two individualized don 25 backpacks for elementary school students from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Um, really great. And
050150 to 200 school supply kits to the district donated by the Century Country Club. And I wanted to just show you these are really these are so these are so neat. Um, these school kits come full of of school supplies, but they also come with a uh like a personalized written note. >> And this one I Hey kid, be successful in your new school year. Shine like a star. I you know um really really thank you so much and and thanks of course uh to uh to Mrs. Elen and and and the the country club family for uh for these donations. They will go to great use. Um and uh we're grateful for the donations. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Are there um any questions? >> All in favor? >> I This is This
051is so odd for a short meeting. >> Oh, it just went too >> I know. I know. I know. I know. Uh but next we're going to move um to our um any board discussion. I know we um Craig, you've updated us on the um finance committee. I don't know if there's anything else you you want to add to that. >> Not at this time. >> Okay. Um anyone else has any committee uh report outs >> uh curriculum and uh instruction the other day? >> Yeah. >> Yep. And we reviewed the data that we had at our disposal, which is the New York State ELA data, uh the NWE data, and the Dibbles data. Um we had a nice conversation around some of the district data we saw and building level data. Um, lots of
052good conversations happening across the district about the data. Um, I think we're waiting on the regions to look back at that and I think in the next meeting we're going to take a deeper dive into that region's data. Um, and also some of the curriculum that's been used this year. So, a lot of teachers had access to curriculum uh some of the new programs that they were given access to in June so they could look over the program and be ready um for the first few modules in September. uh and just ongoing professional development for our teachers in a lot of the new reading programs that we've adopted. >> Yeah. >> And all our schools are in good standing, >> right? >> Yes. All our schools are in good standing. >> Did you Did anyone
053else report out? Did we have any >> We didn't have a special needs community yet. So, >> Okay. >> Day one official. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um and I and Dr. other hand we'll we'll be uh presenting in November um giving an update to the board of education at the totality uh after the um the committee reviews the data and and Dr. I just wanted to share and thanks again to the board too. We'll be gearing up and getting ready for our uh retreat. >> So looking forward to to that opportunity. Thanks to the board. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And um we we have our finance report and all related documentation is a part of the um >> agenda. So, I don't know if this is record time, but unless there are any other
054uh comments, um may I have a motion to adjourn our meeting? But before we do that, um we have John Miss Savage and John um John Shepard um back there making sure our our community is uh getting access to this meeting. very important as I have to begin every year with because it enables parents and guardians and really anyone that wants to be a part of these meetings to be part of these meetings um by this live stream. So on behalf of the board um and we're going to thank you every year and every every meeting we just want to thank you guys both for what you do and again we do appreciate all that you did during opening day that's very important given the significance of that day. >> Thank you. Take all the
055thanks. You >> deserve it. >> So, a motion to adjurnn. >> So, move >> second. >> Are there any questions? >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All in favor? >> I [Music]