001Oh, and now I'm on the big screen cuz I'm puddling. >> [laughter] >> like >> Jonathan, did you walk over today? How is it out there? >> I haven't switched [laughter] the nicest way ever >> just a few years ago. Gosh, I had a scarf. I'd have to put it on. >> All right, I'll see what I can do. [laughter] >> Does anyone have a scarf there? Look, all of a sudden, I'm chilled to the bone like Holy moly. >> A blanket in the back of my car. >> I know. >> Which is probably quite cold, too. >> Too cold. >> I should have I should have >> I think much better when I'm warm. >> Run some circles. >> I'm freezing all of a sudden. Leave me alone. Hands up. >> Be connected to
002the internet. >> Hopefully I emptied the packets on the pen. >> Oh, I think you need one. Okay. I just swipe it off the couch. I >> have a number. >> Oh, I haven't said Hold on. >> [laughter] >> can never retire. He's the only one allowed to use the iPad for something in here. >> What's it take? >> Everybody start banging on the iPad. Yeah. All right. Welcome everybody. Um just a little housekeeping here. Uh we called the meeting to order at 6:05 this evening. Um we had the pledge of allegiance and the roll call. Um you may notice um Miss Anon is um excused for the evening. Um we immediately adjourned into executive session at 606 um for matters relating to current litigation and we adjourned executive session at 6:44 and no action
003was taken. Okay. So that is leads us to the approval of the agenda. So may I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed abstensions. Okay. Okay. Minutes from the previous meeting. Any questions or comments on the meeting? M minutes. Okay. Um may I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I um communications. Does anyone have any additional communications to share? >> Um unfinished business. We have none. So that leads us to our superintendent report. Dr. Janestri, you are up. >> Thank you, Mr. Balante. Uh, a couple updates for the board tonight. First, we wanted to start um with the district safety plan and Disha's law that
004had to be um by law put into our safety plan. And Mr. Feldman would like to update the board on where we are with Disha's law. >> Would you just do the next slide, Dr. Janastri? >> I can. So, Disha's law. Um, thanks for having me first of all uh to provide a little bit of an update uh to a proposed amendment uh for our district-wide safety plan surrounding Disha's law. Uh and Disha's law was named in memory of a Western New York student who died from studying cardiac arrest at school. Uh and this basically um this purpose of this law is to ensure that every public school district in New York State going forward has a cardiac emergency response plan otherwise known as a CERP. Uh the law was signed into effect in July
005of 2025 uh by Governor Kathy Hokll in partnership uh with advocates uh like Demar Hamlin from the Buffalo Bills. >> [gasps] >> So right now uh we do have there are laws on the books regarding uh AED and sudden cardiac arrests uh that school districts do adhere to including New York State. Uh the first was enacted in 2022. Uh and it was the public public access defiill um law that requires all school districts to provide uh AEDs and training on their uses uh in the building. And the second is in 2022 the Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act that requires uh schools to screen athletes prior to participation in sports and train athletic staff on signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest. Uh both of which sweet home do presently. So uh for uh
006AEDs currently uh the district is required to provide sufficient number of AED units. Uh the district currently has 25 units uh districtwide, 23 that are in the buildings and then two mobile units that our athletic staff uh does use for sporting contests. The AEDs uh must be clearly marked and accessible in all the buildings. And the AEDs must be maintained per manufacturer and health standards. Uh our um nurses do a great job in the buildings. uh they do uh daily uh AED checks to make sure that the battery is working uh and that things are uh maintained uh and then they alert me uh as to when batteries might be going dead or uh pads might be uh expired and things along those lines. So, our nursing staff does a tremendous job in all of
007the buildings to make sure along with uh Marcy Gerlock, our our athletic trainer, to make sure that we are up to date and in working order uh for all of those uh piece vital pieces of equipment. >> Mr. Feldman, um do all of them then if you take them off then connect to 911? >> So, all of them that are housed in the building, right, they're housed in the building in a in a cabinet in the wall. Uh they sit on a plunger inside that cabinet. So as soon as that door is opened and that uh case is removed, it depresses the plunger and that automatically dials 911. >> Is that ever checked or do we just assume? >> So we do so when we do we do monthly checks of that area such that
008when it does uh we have to take them offline to test it but yes they are tested regularly. Yes. um requirements for training and education uh that we presently do CPR AED training must uh go through an approved and accredited organization such as the Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Uh we do the American Heart Association here in district uh through Erie WOSEIS. Uh, and at least one staff member shall be trained on CPRs, uh, CPR and AEDs and be present at all approved school activities, including school events, extracurricular activities, and intercolastic sports. Uh, again, Sweet Home is, you know, 100 years ago for some that were around, Bev Ship really led the charge for this for our district. And, uh, I'm proud to say that we are in compliance with all of those
009items up up above. So for Disha's law, what it does require us to do going forward, uh that we do need to require a cardiac emergency response plan, uh that it must be included in both of our district-wide and both our district-wide school safety plan uh as well as our building level emergency response plan. Uh and those each of those plans are vetted through the district safety committee uh as well at the building. So those are reviewed annually. Uh and then we are required to do annual uh training on signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest and it must be provided to all [clears throat] staff and all students going forward. Uh we would need to incorporate this likely into some faculty meetings going forward. Uh but uh all of our um secondary students do uh
010as part of their PE curriculum uh handsonly CPR uh where they are trained on CPR as well as uh the use of AEDs. So this is a sample of the cardiac emergency response plan that uh is a template that was given to us uh from Erie Wambosis through uh the New York State Education Department that basically outlines all of the um roles and responsibilities uh during a sudden cardiac emergency response uh as well as lists all of the folks that are um trained on the AEDs and the locations of the AEDs. So, that would be something uh that we would implement into our uh district-wide safety plan uh as well as into our b our building emergency response team plans. Uh so those would be um reviewed every year annually at the building level uh
011filled out and then submitted with with both of those plans uh going forward. >> [gasps] >> So, one of the requirements of Disha's law now is that uh we have to have a 30-day public comment period on the addendum, the addition of the um cardiac emergency response plan. So, I will work with Miss Lyall uh tomorrow uh to place our template on um our district website uh and ask for comments uh for 30 days uh between December 16th of 2025 and January 16th of 2026. Folks can submit comments to me directly. My email address is there. It'll also be listed on um the district website. uh and once we go through the comment period, I'll be back in January uh to share with you any comments that we have uh from that end of it
012and then ask you to approve the amendment so that we can add that to our uh district-wide safety plan as well as our uh building uh respon emergency response team plans uh going forward uh and in place for the 26 27 school year. So uh I don't know if anybody has any questions at this point in time. Yes. ones. Go ahead, Scott. >> Um, beyond the paperwork to get the plan up to date, is there anything else we need to do at this point? >> I'm sorry. Say again. >> Beyond the paperwork that you need to do to update this plan, putting this stuff into the plan, is there anything else? So the only thing that we might have to look at is is to give um uh there is information that we've gotten through
013Erie one BOSI safety risk um in our our partnership with them uh to be able to provide some sort of a training for our staff on um uh the symptoms of cardiac arrest. Uh so we would utilize likely uh faculty meetings to do that going forward. But beyond that, I feel pretty strongly uh that we are in compliance with um the the laws written. >> Thank you. >> Um the building level emergency response plans, those are are they individualized for each building? >> That's correct. >> So it's not just one generic >> No. And they they they list all of the members of the the building um emergency response team including uh the administrator and the nurses and and their roles in that process. Is there a difference in the response plans from elementary to
014high school because of the age of the children, the students? >> No, it's not necessary. Uh it's just basically on who's on that team and their roles from that standpoint uh and that kind of thing, but not significant differences. No. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> When subs come in, are they made aware where the AEDs are or do they not really? >> It's a good question. I can't speak to that. I would think that you know in an emergency that there is somebody in the building that would know that but uh it's a good thought that we can can talk with our building principles going forward. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Thank you Dr. Jestri. >> Thank you Mr. Felman. >> Then Dr. Wilson I don't know if you want to make a
015pitch for our survey for the strategic plan and and an extension. >> So we're looking for voices again on our strategic plan. Um, we have a survey that is out there. It's actually pinned on our website thanks to Miss Lyall. And um, on Wednesday, it will show up as one of those popups so that every time anybody goes to our website, they will have access to it or be directed to it. Our students have already started participating um, in the survey. I was checking the numbers today. That's our biggest group so far. Uh, by the end of the week, we will have had every school participate. Each principal submitted a plan for when they would do it and u making sure that all students had access to give us feedback. It's very short. It's three
016quick questions. Um and we have it built into our staff meetings um and any opportunity we have to have committee meetings or any groups like this. And so that QR code will take you to it and um you will be able to provide feedback that will help us with our strategic plan for 26 through 29. I'll make sure to get it out in my Thursday memo to staff and the Friday memo to families as well. Okay. Then tomorrow um is really a truly historic day for Sweet Home. Um we're asking our voters to come to the polls tomorrow starting at 7:00 a.m. Um they can vote anywhere between 7 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on our $90.5 million proposed capital project. Um that's broken down into two propositions. Proposition one is 55.2 million um and includes
017the additions at Glendale, Heritage, and Maple. Um as well as um priority maintenance items um and uh renovations to libraries and playgrounds in those schools and and so much more, parking lots, etc. Uh, proposition two is $35.3 million and includes renovations to every existing elementary classroom um in Sweet Home. Um, flooring, lighting, walls, etc. Um, it would also include gym upgrades at all of our elementary schools, corridor improvements and turf replacement um, and athletic facility improvements, including turfing the existing baseball and softball fields and providing a ticket booth out there. Um, Proposition 2 does come with a tax impact of $64 per average $250,000 home. And I've included a link here. Um, but everybody, I'm sure, knows by now that you can go to our website um for more information on the project. Um, and
018then we are asking our community to vote. Um, you know, we realize it is a December vote. There is a reason for that. It's be it's due to um when our debt falls off of our our books and that will we could play replace that um this project with that debt um and make sure that Proposition One stays tax neutral and Proposition 2 is as low of a tax impact as possible um on our taxpayers. So um I sent a message out tonight via text, email, and phone. Um, and it's very vital that um that our community comes and expresses their voice and votes tomorrow from 7 am uh to 900 pm. Um, I did include the the video. I don't know, I'm sure everybody has seen it. Um, but I don't know if you
019want me to play it tonight or we but but go to our website. It's right on there, too. It discusses the needs um that we have um and and why this project is so impactful, historic, and transformational u for Sweet Home. So, tomorrow 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. right here in this room, just like you would vote um for the budget. Um and for board members, um the process is relatively the same. You will see a ballot with two propositions on it, and all you have to do is check yes or no on on each of those propositions. So, um come vote. That's the most important thing. >> I would just like to say that thank you to everybody involved in getting the word out. Nobody can accuse us of not trying to I mean
020it has been everywhere. Every time I look at the mail I mean it's just been everywhere. So kudos on getting the word out because this was a and we started early. You started early so that >> people could ask questions and you had the forums and I think there was no form of communication you didn't make use of. So good job. Good job. >> Even the Ammerb did an article for or interviewed me for an article on it. Um, and so we hit that media as well and yeah, we're we're pretty proud of the monthslong effort to get the word out there. Um, and hopefully it turns into a good turnout tomorrow. Um, but it is it really is historic for Sweet Home. Um, a lot of things are are are much much needed in
021this project and, you know, we hope for good result, but we hope for a good turnout as well. >> Do people have to bring anything with them when they come? >> Uh, they have to do proof of residency. Um, so as long as you live in the district or above 18 years old, you can vote. >> One of the things I think it's important to know and we've talked about it especially at the town hall meetings is there's a lot of things in Proposition One that if for God forbid that the things are fail, they still have to get done. We still we have an 11 million roof that has to go on the middle school. You can't keep the school open if there's leaking all over the place. >> We have Boilers and Glendale
022if I remember right. Maybe another school too. >> Heritage Heights. >> Heritage. Okay. and Heritage Heights. We have to be able to heat our building. We got HVAC stuff that's been done. So these things, I said, if God forbid it fails, they all still have to get done. We just have to find another way to do it. So I think it's important that people understand there's a lot of very important stuff going on in this project. >> Yes. >> Thank you for saying that because um this is why we do it this way. This is why we ask for a vote. It's to maximize the amount of state aid we can get on these projects. And um about 85% of this project is state aidable. And that state aid rate is 63 cents on a
023dollar. So every dollar we spend on aidable projects, we get 63 cents back from the state. And that's why we do it this way. And to Mr. Johnson's point, I can't emphasize enough. The maintenance items in Proposition One are critical for the function of the buildings and they are at end of life and must need to be and must be replaced. And so, um, that's why we structured it this way, but we must also consider the financial implications and get every dollar of state aid that we can, um, in this project. So, we're excited. We're looking forward to tomorrow, looking forward to the results. Got a meeting on Wednesday um, with our team and we're ready to go. Ready to go. >> And Prop One is tax neutral. >> Tax neutral. Neutral. Yes. Uh just
024I had this up last week, but the concert season I think there's one every night this week including going on right now um at the um um Amoris Baptist Church. Although I did see something I didn't read the email. I don't know if the weather held us back, but um that one's tonight. And then the uh sixth grade uh band and seventh grade band are at the middle school tomorrow. Heritage Heights winter concert. Um, it's always a treat and I got the invitation from Mrs. Zaylor today uh for for December 17th and then the eighth grade chorus concert at the middle school is on the 18th. Um, and then just want to say this is our last week before the twoe break um for the holidays. Uh, Christmas, New Year's are in there. Um, no
025classes December 22nd through January 2nd. We do resume classes on January 5th. Uh the offices are open on the dates that are listed uh here, but just want to um say, wow, I can't believe first of all that we're already at the December break. Um and it's been a great start uh to the school year. Um we hope everybody enjoys the holidays with families and friends. U we know, however, it is a tough time for many of our families as well. Um and we have supports in place for them. Um I know Chef is doing a tremendous amount of work in and jobs and connecting with uh families. So kudos to to them. Um and uh but just really want to say wishing everybody a very very happy holiday season. That's what I have for
026tonight. Okay, any questions? All right, moving on. Um upcoming events. Dr. Janestri hit a lot of the music um uh concerts and the voting tomorrow. Um we do have Maple Mir has their holiday gift shopping this week. Um and Glendale has their winter wonderland event. Um and then we do come back in January. We have a chef meeting and a couple more concerts and then um right back to PTSA and PTO meetings. All right. At this time we are going to move to open session number one um on agenda topics. And per board policy 1510, this open session is for topics related to tonight's agenda. Is anyone interested in speaking? Okay, seeing no takers, we will move on to new business. Uh, may I have a motion and a second for agenda items A through
027H. So, move second. Okay, just to real quick, a uh we have special ed um class placements and preschool placements, our monthly financial reports, the comprehensive school counseling plan, which we had a presentation last week, the request for proposal on driver's education with Hoffman's driving academy, the helps program resolution, um the acceptance of donations for our tech um sorry, not our tech program, our um multimedia program, um our transportation bids and um is there settlement agreement? >> Um >> where is H >> H um superintendent to enter into a settlement with Shay an employee. Oh yes to carry out the terms of agreement. Um that was our discussion earlier. Mr. He just doesn't have it on the one he's looking at. >> Oh, >> did they update that overnight or something? >> It's online on
028the online one. >> That was updated this morning. >> Okay. >> Oh, yeah. That's what we talked. Yeah, it is updated on the link. Current current link. >> What did they just read it? >> Um, it is a um the settlement agreement um with the SHA and employee 02195 to carry out the terms of its agreement. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Um, so all in favor of new business real quick. Um, class placements, uh, light schedule this week, 41 pages, but I did have a general question. They mentioned the Bloom. Is that a >> What is that? >> The what? >> Bloom. I didn't know if it was a school or >> Oh, Bloom's taxonomy. It's um, it's um, >> pedagogy teaching pedagogy. Um, Bloom is a author who is um, it's been a
029long time going back to my teaching. >> Go through all of the the levels of teaching basically >> your objectives, your your goals for the le lesson objectives, >> the the strategy that you're using, the actual plan, the lesson plan. Okay, that makes sense. And then the um and then the uh what you hope to achieve and was it achieved uh at the end of the >> I had I I thought it was a building or something. Yes, I realized. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> That that brought me back 23 years. >> Okay. Um all in favor of new business. >> I I >> opposed extensions. Okay. Moving on toformational items. Mr. Coleman, would you like to lead us off? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um during our past meetings that
030occurred toward the end of November and be beginning of December, we have discussed more long-term plans we hope to achieve for the school year. We discussed our plans and ideas for winter prep rally and the different games we want to have during then we came together and finalized our spirit week occurring this week which leads up to winter break. As December comes to an end, student government continues to work towards our goals. At our mean at our meeting tomorrow, we plan to have Dr. Luchi in attendance to help move forward with our plans to execute mental health or therapy sessions provided for our students here at Swel. Our chair of the athletics committee, Sophia Guana, and vice president, Summer Mack, brought their ideas together for this and are trying to pro provide sessions for our
031athletes monthly. Summer and I also discussed with Mr. Lenti about some key finalization points for senior tiles, although it will be pushed back as we wait for approval. We are also closely working with the music and arts committee on this by putting together a flyer. Last week, the technology committee and I as well met with Mr. Mr. Lou and Mr. Simandera to conversate on tech related goals they'd like to see happen throughout the year. I also put together a digital suggestion box Mr. Simandera is helping with. I'd like to add this throughout the school and on the morning show where students can fill out the form and add suggestions they'd like to see student government try and bring to life. The food and nutrition committee touch base on some more food related changes they like
032to make in the cafeteria. And lastly, the academics and DEI committee are working to provide feminine hygiene products to bathrooms. Thank you very much. Yeah, this is Jason. >> Um, nothing. I've been on vacation, but I did have a request. Um, now that we've had a few months to, um, see how our electric buses are, could we just have a quick report maybe next month on how we're doing with usage and batteries and all that kind of stuff just so we can for public consumption just how we're doing with >> Yeah. Especially during during the cold. We did have, you know, an incident a couple weeks ago and so yeah, we can do that next. >> Thank you. >> No problem. >> This is Jason. Just for your own edification, we are going to get
033three more electric buses on Wednesday. >> Nice. >> Uh they're due to be delivered. That's three of the four that our public voted to to um allow us to purchase uh back in May. >> So, do they like come on a flatbed or something? >> No, they they drive them here. >> Yeah. Yeah, they drive them. So, they're all juiced up by the winter. >> They're all juiced up and ready to go. [laughter] >> Good. >> And we will see them on the road with the new >> They have to go through some DOT inspections and things like that. Um, >> we actually met today uh with Wendell on submitting the next round of our chargers um to SED. So, we're working through that. Uh, but what we'll do is we'll kind of juggle the
034three chargers that we have. We'll juggle buses and when they can charge. Um, but we are working through the next round of charters as well. So, >> thank you. >> Thanks. Great, >> Mr. Johnson. >> Awesome. Um, I'm not going to read it all. Most of you may not have seen it because I sent it over to Fallon about four or five hours ago, but I caught since we I didn't do one in November and take all the way back to October. I've had a couple pages worth of stuff. Just in particular, I want to talk about the um um I went to the convention obviously with with Dr. Tedestry, Dr. Wilson, Mr. Rabbit, and we we learned quite a bit and Mr. fel should be I'm rolling down my own list here. Um they
035were quite interesting as we went along some different things that I went to. One of them yeah we had people from Vestal Central School District that's down around Bingington. They did something they called it it's they were building toward biiteracy and they did the junior seal of bilitistric program. So they're actually working on it with their middle school and elementary schools. Dr. Wilson was in there too and with the one for the high school level you get a seal on your diploma. for them. They were actually handing these out and I'll chair them around. They were giving some out so we can see what they were. >> That's great that they gave them out. Yeah. >> Yeah. So that's each of Yeah. So we could see what it was too, but this is what the
036kids get if they do it. >> Listening to the program, I thought I thought it was fascinating. And I mean, obviously a lot of it was going to be the ELELLL students, but it was also kids who learned another language wherever they learned it, whether it's their home environment, even if they weren't ELLL students or something else. And just that process. So it was and they had to put together a whole program very similar to what they would have gotten at the high school level you know might not have been quite as detailed but while we were there um one of the the people doing the presentation her son also spoke French because his father was from Morocco if I remember correctly. Um so they were talking about what he did and how he actually
037stood up and made part of the presentation too. To me I think it was a great idea. It might be something that's worth taking a look into for us. Um, I have a contact at Vestal. They did say they would be willing to to meet with us and talk with us about it if we decide to go down that road. Obviously, it's not something we want to make a decision on immediately, but it's something I think it's worth spending the time to look into, especially when you consider, you know, the the number of different languages in our population or in Swedome Speaks. Um, couple more. I did a sat through a collective bargaining update, which in all my years of NISSBA convention was the worst session I've ever been to. Um, we had two folks
038making the presentation who were telling us stories from way back in time about the issues they have with collective bargaining and never really got to the point of the session. So, that's just they they had an agenda that and and pages to go through and I think and you can keep those view on mics. Um, they I think they got maybe a third of the way through their actual agenda. Um, next one I mean it's I I did I listed these in order. The next one is an electric bus pilot program implementation. sweetheart [laughter] put on by our own Mr. Feldman and John from Wendell. Um, actually, I think it went a lot better than the BL. [laughter] >> That's an understatement. It went way better than the last. >> I think we only had
039a few people in the audience this time who were dead set against the electric buses. The rest of them actually were genuinely interested in what we were doing and how it was getting done, you know, and that we were having some success with it, understanding the the electrification plan and all the other things we needed to do. So, I thought that went very well. Um, and I also sat in on our neighbors to the uh to the west um over at Kenton. They had a student board representative, more than just a mad, and they put it on. It was their their superintendent, Sabatino Samato, and their board president, Matt Shamra. They put on a presentation, too. Let me Were you in there with me? I don't remember. >> I was for a little while. Yeah.
040>> Okay. Anyway, they put it on. They do it a little bit different. They've got two high schools, obviously, somebody from each high school. They also had their rep picked out in in the August at the beginning of August. So they had time to put together a program with the with the students so they understood it. They asked them to do very specific things. So it was kind of an interesting program. I can get some more details on that. The rest of the sessions I mentioned quite a few have been here which I thought everything was really good. Um a number of meetings they went through. Uh we a handful of us attended the foreign language honor society. It was Spanish, French and German alto together. Um, I had the ECASP legislative dessert forum. We
041had several of Western New York legislators there and our open forum that we talked about last week and there's a whole bunch more, but that's covers enough. You can just see the rest. Have you got any questions when you see the list? Like I said, I just had it put up a few hours ago. So, you got any questions? Heler. >> Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Mrs. Baglia, >> I have nothing. No updates. >> Mr. Rebel. Again, it's been a while, but uh I think I spoke a little bit about the one presentation the first day about dignity. I think again that was I thought very meaningful just a way I think people today should maybe provide a little bit of something to the person they're talking to or about or just respect them to what
042we try to understand point of view. I thought that was great. the electric bus presentation night was probably the only heckler in the audience. [laughter] I did like the final statement from Wendell, I believe, and that, you know, all of the above is probably where we end up. And again, I think that's my view of this from the from the beginning. It's an unworkable scenario for many school districts across the state. And the same thing they've done recently with electrification of buildings. How do you I mean, it's just unworkable in my mind. Um, whether you're an environmentalist or a climate or whatever you want to call yourself, you got to deal with the reality of today. And so, I think they're going to get there. It just may take a lot of push back from
043school districts and folks uh to get at least a pause and maybe a longer runway to get this stuff done. I don't think anybody's opposed to clean environment, but you got to be realistic. You got to use a little common sense in this. So again, I didn't have anything wrong with the presentation. I thought, again, you did a terrific job. I I just really wanted to hear from somebody up there, which we did, Wendell, that in reality it probably will be all of the above, you know, diesel, h I guess at some point. Um, what kind of car do you drive? Hybrid. >> Hybrid. Yeah, >> hybrid. I think hybrid makes sense. So anyways, uh, Heritage Sites had their meeting at the beginning of the month and uh, they talked a lot about the Merry
044Moose. They talked a lot about trying to get more membership, which I guess is a bit of a struggle and they're uh, they are also talked about the building project. They're excited about that. And uh, I don't know what else we did. What else did we talk about there? I'm sorry. not quite organized tonight. Um, they do do I did bring up the notion that one of our elected officials would try to promote the idea of a turning lane in front of a Heritage Heights and also a sidewalk. I guess that's not going anywhere. I don't know if you've heard anything from anybody on that. Um, they keep asking me about that. I'll keep pushing on my side if I can. And uh I did want to also talk about a little bit about the
045portrait of graduate. Um there was a notice we posted online that the board approved this back in July. I don't see anything in our notes that that was approved by us. So is this talking about the strategic plan from 23 to 25 or >> I don't know what I don't know what that is. So I >> don't say anything >> board of education discusses New York State portrait of a graduate. Uh Christine Push put it out said we voted on it back in July. I did not vote for it. Again I still have my concerns about it but um again that's all I have. Okay. >> Anything else? Uh Mr. Rib? No, that's good. Okay. Um, your Bible. >> Yeah, the um middle school PTSA, they they did not have a December meeting. Um, so
046I didn't have that to attend, but I did attend the band concert for the gold band in 8th grade on um on December 3rd and um both did a great job. And you can see the improvement made over from the various grade levels. Um even though you know the younger students are doing a great job for their age and where they're at. Um and then Willow Ridge I attended the uh well it was Willow Ridge and Maple Mirror. The they had a chorus um concert on December 10th. Now um traditionally they will sing um the best day is the day off of school. wrote a song about a day off of school and they've [laughter] had in the past three years they've had the next day off this they did not sing that song this
047year and they did not have >> see snow day is the best day right >> so um I think they'll be returning to that song next year but um >> um I I also wanted to mention I did attend the uh parent for my kids I attend a parent teacher conference both in middle school a few weeks ago and then uh for the grade school last Friday. I was happy to um you know talk to the a few teachers there and two things that stood out. One is the um uh one of the teachers talking about the new phonics program that they've implemented this year which is part of um you know the improvements in curriculum that we're making and they've said it's been really wellreceived and the teacher felt um you know doing a
048great job for for the kids. So, um, you know, that's nice to see that that all these improvements in curriculum I know we've done in math and science and whatnot that you know, you're getting feedback as a parent um the positive results and then also they had mentioned um uh the uh improve what they're seeing is that with the uh prek how the kindergarten kids are coming in, they felt even more prepared and ready not just from a academic perspective but more than anything from a social emotional perspective. They're used to the school. They're comfortable coming in. So again, you know, these are things you make these decisions 2 or 3 years ago, but it's nice to see, you know, the feedback and the results of those um uh those programs and you know what
049we're doing. Um, the one the only other thing I would mention that I I still find a little bit um a little bit of a confusion on and and I think some other parents may at times and I don't know if this is something we can change but on the report cards a three versus a four. So for like the I have had some in my own personal experience some teachers um it it seems that a four comes down the road after a couple of semesters you know you work towards a four let's say and others that are given a four you know in the very first semester. So, I I just think maybe that's something we can because I think even as parents, you may have a kid in a subject getting like really
050good grades and they get a three and um then you're like, "Okay, is it because it's the first semester? Is it because it's, you know, um uh the criteria are different?" But just maybe even on that report if that can just be delineated a little more um as to what what con you know what is a four versus because I think four is like exceeds expect but it's like is it exceed for the year or exceed for that period >> exceed the period >> that's it from my end. >> Okay. Um, last week I attended a town hall at the middle school. Um, and then a retirement get together for Mr. Rossler. Um, that's pretty much all I've got. Um, yeah. Um, just Willow Ridge did not have a PTO PTA meeting in um, December.
051So, we have ours I think it's January 8th. >> I Sorry. >> No, go ahead. Uh, I just wanted to clarify the the board of regents approved this in July, not Sweet Homes Board. >> Board of Education. >> Not the board of education. So, this was approved in Albany in in July by the board of regents, but your first presentation on this was last week. >> Yeah. >> So, we haven't talked about it at all. >> That's what I was Okay. >> Yeah. Just want to make >> close enough. Thank you. >> No, no worries. Um, okay. Moving on to open session number two. Is anyone like to address the board? Okay, Jonathan, you have three minutes. Um, please state your name, address, and your relationship to Sweet Home. >> Hello, I'm Jonathan Mley. Uh,
052I'm at live at Five Durham Drive. I'm a community member. I I figured I would give some thoughts in regards to the uh upcoming vote for the uh capital project. Uh in the um you know the first proposal for the capital project, you have much of that focusing on uh you know important upcoming uh repairs and renovations that need to be done to address uh things that are nearing their end of usefulness. Uh and for that I yeah I figured I'd bring up a personal anecdote how uh yeah for much of my time growing up my father was a management and rate maintenance for the trailer park I grew up in and uh from that seeing how he worked I've uh yeah come to see the importance of having proper funding and proactiveness for maintenance
053and repair and uh improvements in order to have a buildings have a good quality for people to be And and furthermore, when uh what can happen when there isn't appropriate funding or repairs get sherked, you can end up with with situations where uh these uh problems end up not being properly addressed. They get worse over time and you end up having to spend even more money to fix a program problem you could have gotten done fixed earlier with less money and uh at a time where it's even more con inconvenient for the people who will be affected by it. to after all be, you know, best to, for instance, you know, get the a roof on a building fixed before it breaks and you have rain coming down on students or get the heat systems
054working properly before it's uh in the middle of the cold of winter. Uh that's pretty much, you know, pragmatic to get those things done when it's uh more opportune to do so. Uh and uh yeah, with the vote coming tomorrow, I would encourage people to go out and uh cast their votes uh on the matter today. >> Thank you, John. >> Anybody else? >> Okay, moving on to um personnel. May I have a motion and a second on personnel items one, teaching and administrative, and two, service? >> I'll make the motion. Second. All in favor? >> I I >> Okay, that leads us to I think. >> That's it. Um I just want to um you know on behalf of the board um with the start of our holiday season, the board would like to
055wish our entire community a happy and safe holiday season, a happy new year. Um and we will see you guys in 2026. Right. >> See you next year. >> Yeah. Yeah. See you next year. Finally can say that. Um, so with that, may I have a motion and a second to adjourn the meeting? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor?