001Good evening everybody. We'll call a meeting to order. We're going to open regular business meeting. The time is 1900, 7:00. May I have a motion and a second? >> I'll move it. >> Judy and Michael, thank you. All in favor? >> Aye. >> No opposed, motion carried. We will open with the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief moment of silence. Michael, since you already got us started. >> 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. >> Thank you. Nothing from >> Okay. We are now going to seek approval for tonight's agenda. May I have a motion and a second? >> Motion. >> I'll second. >> Michael and Nancy. All in favor? >>
002Aye. >> No opposed, motion carried. This brings us to canvass of the vote and certification certification of the results of the May 19th, 2026 budget vote and Board of Education election. Certification of the results of the canvass of the vote and the adoption of the resolution declaring the results of the annual election held on May 19th, 2026. This will be certified by roll call. May I have a motion and a second? >> Move it. >> Second. >> And Judy, thank All right, and then for the votes, uh Judy? >> Yes. Nancy? >> Yes. Mark is not here. Uh Bill? >> Yes. >> Don? >> Yes. >> Michael? >> Yes. >> Oh, Mark is here. Mark, do you approve of the certification of last night's vote and election? >> Yes, I do. >> Thank you, sir.
003Uh and I am also a yes. Motion carried with 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. I have seven yeses in attendance. Do we have any public comment? >> No. No public comment. >> Thank you. Uh brings us to reports. I'll just knock in. Uh student representative, we have Emma Farr, our senior representative, here. >> Good evening, everybody. My name is Emma Farr, I'm the senior representative. Um so, we're going to start off strong with the character trait of the month, which is responsibility. We must wear green on Wednesdays. If you walk past guidance, you get a nice little candy for that, so that's great. Um we have the Oh, the PJYC had their chalk the walk May 6th. That was during all lunch periods. We had that in honor of mental health awareness. And
004April 29th to May 3rd, seniors had their class trip to Orlando, Florida. We visited both Universal and Disney parks. It was a great time. Multicultural night was Thursday, May 7th, 6:00 to 7:30 in the high school gym. There were so many cultures, foods, and even performances. And everyone enjoyed them. School spring high school concerts include and included Tuesday, May 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium, and Tuesday, June 2nd in the high school the high school vocal concert is at 6:00 p.m. Please make sure to support the musical department and enjoy all the hard work that they have put in these performances. The K-12 art show That May 15th, 6:00 to 8:00 in the PJHS Cafe. It was free admission. Football cheer trials are this week. They are held from 3:00 to 5:30
005in the high school gym. Tomorrow, May 21st, students will be visiting the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. We are approaching a four-day weekend thanks to our snow day giveback. High school progress reports will be distributed May 22nd. Students who have made it through the perfect attendance period will be receiving their invitation to the Dunkin truck, which will be held May 28th. May 27th is the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, which is attended by all members, inductees, and the families of inductees. Regents exams will be held June 9th to June 10th. And congratulations to Yarah Shihada, voted by her peers to speak for this year's graduation, and to Robert Coloney, voted by his peers as grand marshal. Also, congratulations to Mr. Rizzo and Mr. Coble, who were voted by the class to read names for
006graduation. Last but not least, attention senior senior athletes. Invitations for the senior athletic banquet have been mailed to the families of senior athletes. The banquet will be held on Wednesday, June 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Erie Trackside. RSVP and payment are due to Karen Howard in the athletic department by this Thursday, May 21st. If you did not receive your invitation by mail or need a new form, please stop by and pick one up as soon as possible. Voting for most valuable senior athlete will also be held this Wednesday at the beginning of your PE periods. Please go to the athletic office and cast your vote. Thanks, guys. >> Thank you, Emma. Uh next is Dr. John Bell, Superintendent of Schools. Okay. Good evening, everybody. Uh first of all, congratulations to Eric Hitzeman, Kathy Sadigianis,
007and Julia Romano on your election and/or re-election to the Board. Thanks also to Buck Dunning for uh participating by running for the board for the first time. It's a lot to stick your neck out there and do it. So, thanks to all four of you. Thank you to the voters. We had almost 75% of the votes were yeses, which was one of the highest, if not the highest in the entire county. So, thank you to everybody for supporting it. Just a reminder, as I mentioned, Friday is an unexcused snow day. Tomorrow it wasn't earlier this week when it was 80 or 90 degrees out. 50-something, but also reminder, Monday we have no school as well because of Memorial Day. And then, if we don't have an emergency closing between now and then, we'll use our
008sixth and final snow day. The board will vote on that tonight on Friday, June 26th. We also have received some board of ed certificates in the mail. Two people completed their level one boarded uh the achievement board certification and receiving an achievement award tonight. And that is for Bill and Judy. Congratulations. And our third certificate is a level two board of excellence award, a certificate of recognition, and they'll be recognition in the onboard newspaper. And that level two board excellence award goes TO MICHAEL WITT. AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO JUST also say thank you to Mrs. Vicki Harris for our Special Olympics t-shirts that are in front of everybody. Thank you for that. Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you. >> Uh next, Dr. Natasha Walkowitz, assistant superintendent for instruction. >> I just want
009to thank everyone for completing our annual school climate survey. Um and the results we will be analyzed and used in our for our district level and building level plans for the upcoming year. Just finished our secondary Wilson just works coaching. Um that will be done tomorrow and our 3 to 12 introductory training for Wilson reading assistants, which will be done next week. And the teachers will have been asked to write curriculum over the summer, so the answer is yes, they will be able to do that. Our 3 8 assessments are all complete. Results will not be available until sometime this fall. So usually it's anywhere between October and December. So that's when we'll get our state results for 3 8 testing. Our curriculum maps will be completed next week and we'll begin posting the revisions
010on our district website in June. Um just as a side note, there is a new a new interface coming out from Title, the company that hosts our our our curriculum maps right now. So that will be as of July 1, we'll have a new interface, so it's pretty dynamic. Cool. So looking forward to that coming out. And then um I'm creating a district task force with representatives from the Department of Mental Health, Department of Health, A-DAC, Orange County Youth Bureau, Orange County Government, Orange County Children's Crisis Coordinator, and our building admin and PPS office. This task force will examine and problem-solve some of the challenges we experience in our schools and community, as well as identify the community resources available to us and our families. As a unified team from all of these angles, we
011can work to provide a comprehensive support system of not only for our district, but the community as a whole. Our first kickoff meeting with the county partners will be on June 2nd. And um I know we'll be heading that. Um looking forward to that. Uh CUNY New Paltz Science of Reading Center will be visiting our middle school and high school next week to learn about our MTSS programs, as well as our focus on literacy instruction in the content areas. So, I just want to welcome them and they also are asking to bring some some other district A A S I A S I's to the table to see what we're doing here. So, it's going to put us on the map for um instruction. So, kudos to uh principals and teachers in this building. I'm
012glad that it Awesome. Thank you. Assistant Superintendent for Business, John Tim. >> Thank you. So, I just with the budget passing, I just want to say thank you. I just want to express my gratitude to the community for coming out to support the district. To the board, I really appreciate the trust and confidence you've given me to fulfill my responsibilities. I definitely feel comfortable here. Dr. Bell, thank you for providing the autonomy for me to make decisions while remaining a sound board. You know, when I come and sit down and close the door, something's up. >> Sorry. >> Uh to Dr. Walkowitz, who's very A, thank you for your patience and guidance when it comes to both of your departments and when I come with silly, simple questions. To directors, the admin aides, all the
013administrative team that come to me with requests, I really appreciate your understanding balancing what you need versus what we can provide. And to the teachers, the CSEA members, thank you for your dedication for using the resources to maintain the wonderful district that we have. My gratitude is really my just expressing the fact that this is not a one-person show. There's a lot of people involved, a lot of moving parts. On the agenda tonight, under actions items, item E is the solar project financing with the Bank of America. Uh obtaining this financial This financing represents the final stage of beginning the solar project. Uh following an RFP issued by our financial consultants for a lease agreement concerning the solar farm. Bank of America submitted the most favorable proposal. The terms The terms provide the highest degree
014of project flexibility and the most beneficial financing options available to us. That's all I have to say. Thank you again. >> Thank you. And assistant superintendent for pupil personnel services, Tanya Durie. >> Good evening. So, tonight each of you uh the board members received a special t-shirt. This is the exact same t-shirt that our 34 student um athletes who are participating in the Special Olympics will be wearing along with our 26 coaches, uh assistants, and coordinators on student six at Goshen High School. The event kicks off at 8:00 a.m. and we'd love to see you there. I want to extend um a very, very special thank you to Vicki Harris who actually delivered these uh shirts. I think they're hot off the press along with um Austin Wilson. I think he's in the audience. So,
015thank you so much, Vicki. Um they put a massive, massive, massive amount of um effort in planning coordinating events. Even though we're not hosting, just uh for student staff families, uh preparation, coordination, and you know, we have some exciting news. Finally, um in the future for 2027 and 2028, we will be hosting the Special Olympics here. We're incredibly proud of that. Um Mr. Green, please keep your checkbook ready because we're going to need an incredible amount of donation. So, all of you in your in your network um but it's a wonderful community event um and one of the cool thing about it is they let you uh host for 2 years. So, you know, to just revisit, revise, and redefine, and then make it even better in the following year. So, I think that's really
016a great thing um that occurs. And I just, you know, I'm grateful to everyone who volunteers their time because no one is paid for their extra service. >> Thank you. Uh consent agenda items. Item A, minutes Board of Education regular meeting of May 5th, 2026. Item B, minutes recommendations from the Committee on Special Education and the Committee on Preschool Special Education. Item C is a disposal request, textbooks, uh, Rogers Middle School foreign language. Item D, district treasurer's financial reports, April of 2026. Uh, item E is approval for these items. Uh, may I have a motion and a second? >> I'll move. >> Second. >> Any and my vote. Thank you. All in favor? >> All in favor. >> All opposed? Motion carried. Uh, personnel employment agenda items. Item A, amendment to board docs personnel agenda
017item from July 8th, 2025. Uh, item B, appointment of 2026 summer school support staff. Item C, personnel employment agenda chart for May 20th, 2026, which include uh, the retirement of Mr. Brett King III, ELA principal. >> Mhm. >> Uh, we have a resignation of internal claims auditor, Jessica Ellsworth. And a resignation of EME assistant principal, Sadie Roosevelt. That brings us to appointments of EME principal, Sadie Roosevelt. Next we have math teacher, Erica Ortiz. Uh, school psychologist, Britney Paoli. Provisional administrative aide, Lindsay Salsbury. Substitute cleaners, substitute teachers. 2026 summer school substitute teachers and nurses. With that, I'll seek approval for these employment agenda items. May I have a motion and a second? Michael and Bill. Thank you. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any opposed? Motion carried. >> Now we can clap, RIGHT? >> YES. >>
018BRITTANY AND SADIE, CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU. >> Going in opposite directions. >> After how many years? Eight years together? >> Yeah, eight years. >> That's amazing. That's amazing. >> Sadie, you want to say anything? >> You want Matt to speak on your behalf? >> No, thank thank you so much for the support. It's I'm thrilled. Thank you. >> Awesome. Well deserved. >> I also have to mention that Brittany is here, our new school psychologist. Brittany, welcome to THE BOARD AGAIN. >> OKAY. BRINGS US TO ACTION ITEMS. Item A, amendment to the approved 2025-2026 student calendar. May I have a motion and a second? >> I'll move. >> Second. >> Judy and Mike. Thank you. >> Again, this would just mean our last day of school Friday, Thursday the 25th instead of Friday the 26th.
019>> Uh any further questions or discussion? All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any opposed? Motion carried. Item B is amendment to resolution and increase substitute pay rate. Uh may I have a motion and a second to bring this to the floor? >> I'll move. >> Mike. >> And Bill. >> Yes. I'm sorry, I missed it. It We did not increase sub rates this year. Uh this will increase every all the teacher categories A, B, C uh up $10 next year. And these nurses will go all the way to 200. It's so hard to find nurses. >> Yes. >> Uh any further question or discussion? All in favor? No opposed? Motion carried. Item C, uh bid award for Pike Street asphalt replacement project. May I have a motion and a second? >> I'll move. >> Second.
020>> Nancy, thank you. Thank you. We had two bidders on the asphalt. Uh we're going to be doing up this entire parking lot, actually expanding it a little bit out towards the library and out this direction. Uh and all of you paving it, and there were two bidders, one from Mecklenburg County and Cole Brothers from Cole Brothers got it. So, we are really excited that a local a local business could get our business. >> Uh any further question or discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carried. Item D is a bid rejection for NFC Fitness Court Studio concrete slab project. May I have a motion and a second? >> I'll move it. >> Bill and Judy, thank you. >> We only had one bid. Uh it was from a very large company
021and who threw a a big number at it and it was double our estimate. So, we're going to go back to the drawing board to see what our guys can do. Uh and see if we can piece meal it to make it more affordable. We were looking at about 45,000 and it was over 90,000 was the last estimate. So, we're we'll go back to the drawing board. We'll find a cheaper way to do it. >> Who? >> The honest is No. >> Uh further questions or discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carried. Uh item E, approval of solar project financing with the Bank of America. May I have a motion and a second. Motion? >> Michael. >> I second. >> You got me. >> This will be for 11 years at
0224.15%. >> Pretty standard stuff that we've done before you. >> Uh question or discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Item S, uh policy second and final reading for policy number 7131. May I have a motion and a second? >> I move. >> Second? >> I second. >> All right, got Mark. Thank you. Any question or discussion? All in favor? No opposed, motion carried. Uh brings us to board member items. First off is board committee reports. Uh anything from buildings and grounds? >> Nothing right now to report. >> Report, thank you. Uh health and wellness? >> Sure. >> Our uh committee met last week and each building and the teams are wrapping up the school year with fantastic programs designed to support our students and families. As Dr. Lockwood has talked about, we are
023meeting next week for June 2nd for the launch of wellness. Uh we're using different resources and partnerships with the school districts in Orange County for wraparound services for uh mental health and wellness. I just want to give a special shout out to Mrs. Cole. She's the H She's presented to the board of ed the patient through data and she had um some innovative um new initiatives that she was working with Mrs. Cook as well as Mrs. Villazaro with pushing and and working with very specific um students to meet um unique needs and very hands-on support. So, we're grateful for that uh incredible partnership that the Board of Education approves uh through through ADAPP as well as, you know, her dedication her dedication to overall student well-being. This is our giving her the year. >> Okay.
024>> Thank you so much. >> Uh safety committee. >> Yes. Uh the safety committee uh meeting was held on May 13th. Mr. Tim demonstrated the critical response group mapping software. Uh school maps identifying room numbers are uploaded to the county so law enforcement has access to those maps in case of an emergency. Uh the committee also discussed creating a one-page safety protocol sheet that will be displayed in each classroom in the district. There will also be a universal lockdown symbol in each classroom denoting the location in the room that is the safe zone in each classroom. Um there's some projects that are near complete meaning just some odds and ends that have to be taken care of. Uh the day automation door swipes, uh armor one protective glass covering, window door coverings for each classroom
025doors, and cameras throughout the district. Uh the district is in the final phase of discussing changing the layout of the vestibule at the high school. And the architects are designing different layout options and calculating the costs associated with that. And lastly, uh the committee discussed using October 9th, the early dismissal day, as an opportunity for the high school and middle school to evaluate their buildings and practice uh the reunification plan at Chase Field. Thank you. >> Uh education committee. >> I'm not here. >> I've got nothing to mention. Okay. From Nispa, Michael, do you have anything from Nispa? I think you do this one. Thank you. Um from the county, Bill? >> Uh our next meeting will be our last meeting of the year, June 2nd. It will be our annual meeting, dinner, and elections.
026I have been nominated for first vice president of the Orange County School Board Association. >> Awesome. >> Very nice. >> Congratulations. >> And while you're here, DLT? >> Nothing to report. >> Thank you. Uh policy, Judy, do we have any? >> Nothing to report. >> Thank you. Uh Joe is not here for Deerpark. Nancy for Port Jervis liaison? >> Yeah. Um so, May 30th, some of these are review that we've gone over before. It's at the gym stadium junior moonlight madness and torch relay from May 30th at 6:00 p.m. to May 31st at 6:00 a.m. June 6th, of course, are the Special Olympics 8:00 a.m. Goshen High School. June 14th, 8:00 a.m. on Sussex Street is the Port Jervis soap box derby. July 17th, just in case anyone wants to know that is my birthday.
027Feel free to mail cards. There's a red, white, and bloom contest. It's a American's 200 America's 250th a patriotic home decorating contest in Port Jervis. Um so, they ride around and grade your house. There is a number that you have to call to get your home registered, which is on Facebook on the Port Jervis tourism site. The winners will be announced on July 18th. Uh August 8th, the Bella Notte Italian Festival, 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The June 7th, I'm sorry, I forgot. I'm trying to do it in chronologically. Uh is the Riverside Park Fabulous 50s, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. And then August 8th is the Bella Notte Italian Festival. May through September, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is the Port Jervis Farmers Market in Orange Square. And it's also May through September is
028Cruisin' Port Jervis, which is downtown Port Jervis, the first Tuesday of every month. That is >> So, I'm sure from the >> That's downtown. State Street downtown. The orange square is the market. >> The orange square. Okay. Thank you. Brings us to board member comments. I'll start down to my right with Emma. Do you have anything you'd like to say? >> Nothing today. I'd say have a good holiday weekend. >> You're welcome. You're welcome. Uh Johnny. >> Sure. Uh just wishing everybody a good uh finish to the year for all of our teachers and and students. Hopefully uh everybody has a good time and takes it all in and you know, enjoys uh the last month. Um also congratulations to anybody that's being recognized or winning awards over these over these next few weeks and
029everything that's going on. >> Awesome. Uh Genie. >> Yes, I'd like to congratulate Mr. King Curley on your retirement and welcome to the city. We're very excited for you. Also, I'd like to um thank the community that came out and voted and and and supported me. And I am uh looking forward to working again with Kathy. And of course uh Eric awesome. >> Thank you. Uh Mark. >> Uh I had the pleasure of of uh attending the art show uh last Friday and it was breathtaking. Truly amazing the talent we have in this district. And those students were uh were just absolutely just I don't have enough adjectives. Amazing, powerful, uh emotional. It was it was really a wonderful event. And thank you to the art teachers uh for for for setting that up. Uh
030the Cooking Dow Awards uh I was sworn at that name, but you know, that's given out to four students that really show uh community involvement and you know, certainly near and dear to my heart. So, so congratulations to those winners of each of our campuses. Also got to spend some time at the book fairs this week or last week rather. Truly incredible seeing so many students so excited about reading. It is just it was emotional to watch how excited they were to to get the books to the one you know, to to want their books. And then my second to last thought is I'd like to be the first to wish Nana a belated happy 40th. >> Very good. >> And finally two questions. Parents, ask your children what did they learn today and did
031they finish their homework, please. Thank you. >> It's awesome. >> Yeah. Uh we'll bring it down to the birthday girl, Nancy. >> Yeah. Um congratulations Brett and Sadie and I just wanted to say this is probably my last board meeting as I didn't rerun and I'm going to be away for the June one. So, I really wanted to thank the community, the teachers, the the entire staff of all the schools for and the community for giving me the privilege to serve the school. I've had three children graduate through here. I've worked with the board for the last five years and I think you have a wonderful leadership team and my three kids were very well prepared for life from here. So, I do believe that we are on the right track with our students and
032again, thank you for the privilege of serving. >> Uh Michael. After all that. >> It's going to be tough. Give your best shot, though. >> Well, I'm going to miss you guys. I don't know who's going to make me laugh. >> Who else will whisper in your ears, too? >> Not this guy, I hope. Um Ryan and Sadie, the the dynamic in that school with you two is incredible. To hear it from the staff, to hear it from the kids, to hear it from the administration. We're sorry to see you go. We're happy for you for your next chapters. Look, a book reference, Mark. And Sadie, congratulations. We're wishing you the very best. We know you're going to do a great job. Thank you to all of our administrators, our teachers, our staff, our building
033grounds people, anybody that works for the district, anybody that comes to school to our district, there's a reason that you're here. We appreciate all of you. Um Dr. Bell, uh your team is just incredible. Um I don't know where we we would be without some of you. Um We have an incredible board. We're going to have still an incredible board. Congratulations to the new members elected, and to Judy for getting reelected. Um happy to work with all of you. And I'm just looking forward to the next 10 years. It's just going to be better and better every year. >> Uh Bill. >> Pretty much going to echo what everybody else said. I'm saving the rest of my energy for the 20 14s, remember. >> Well, why don't you go ahead and just read it? >>
034D-Tech. >> Just read it. >> D-Tech. >> All right. Dates to remember, May 21st through June 16th. Thursday, May 21st will be a sophomore class presentation, Orange County Stop DWI at noon in the high school auditorium. Also, the first grade robot parade will be at 2:15 at EME. Friday, May 22nd will be the high school progress reports distributed, and the elementary progress reports distributed. Sorry, my New York came out there for a second. Friday and Monday, Friday, May 22nd and Monday, May 25th, school will be closed for Memorial Day weekend. Wednesday, May 27th, National Honor Society induction dinner and ceremony. 5:30 for the dinner, 7:00 p.m. at for the ceremony in the high school cafeteria and auditorium. Uh I've added two dates on here that I see were missed. Thursday, May 28th will be the
035middle school National Junior Honor Society induction at 6:00 p.m. I believe in the high school auditorium. And on Friday, June May 29th will be the HVE Leadership Day all day at HVE. Tuesday, June 2nd will be the high school spring chorus concert at 6:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Wednesday, June 3rd, National Tech Honor Society induction, 6:00 p.m. at Orange-Ulster BOCES. Thursday, June 4th will be the high school academic awards at 6:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Friday, June 5th will be the senior fourth grade day barbecue all day at the high school, and will be a half day for our elementary schools. Sunday, June 7th will be baccalaureate held at St. Mary's Church at 6:00 p.m. Monday, June 8th, the athletic college signing, 2:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. And also,
036the high school senior music dinner and awards. Dinner is at 5:30, awards are at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tuesday and Wednesday, June 9th and 10th, Regents exams through the high school. Wednesday, June 10th will be the senior athletic banquet at 6:00 p.m. at the Erie track side. Thursday, June 11th, scholarship awards night, 6:00 p.m. at the high school auditorium. Monday, June 15th, HVE UPK moving up, 10:00 a.m. HVE. Tuesday, June 16th, the HVE kindergarten moving up ceremony will be 10:00 a.m. at HVE, and that will be our next scheduled Board of Ed meeting with a retiree reception, and we will be announcing the top 20 graduating seniors. At 7:00 o'clock right here in the board room. And that's all, folks. >> Nice work. >> Wasn't there a second page? >> Is there
037a second page? >> All right. That brings us to adjournment. Time is 19:33. I have a motion and a second. Michael. >> I'll second it. >> All right. Nancy. Yeah. Uh all in favor? >> Aye. >> No opposed? Motion carried. Thank you, everybody. Have a good evening.