001Good evening. Since it is now 6 PM, I will now call the Boeb Valley Central School District's August Board of Education meeting to order. Would you please stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag? It's located on the wall to the right. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Mrs. Bzile, would you please take the roll call for attendance? >> Tom Robert, >> here. >> Paige Crowder, Salma, >> here. >> Paul Fenton, >> present. >> Darlene Hooper, >> present. Sarah Pullman here. Deborah Spalding >> here. >> Nathan Welch >> here. >> Satie Burgess here. >> Okay. Attendees, if you have not done so already, would you please sign in
002so we have an accurate attendance record. The signin sheet is located on the table by the door. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Next, we have a KAS presentation. Dr. Meyer, would you please provide us all with a little background information and an introduction? >> Uh yes. Uh so we uh intend on removing some carpet uh that come out to campus and there was some concern uh around there uh having the potential for there being asus tile underneath the carpet uh and some questions that the board had with the removal process. So, we uh we invite uh Aaron from K in here to answer those questions for you. Um uh Aaron, I if you don't mind uh if you want to talk a little about K Kas, what you guys do? >> Yeah,
003I'm I'm Aaron Roth. I'm with Cass. our local environmental consultant firm, the branch manager for plat asus inspector for years, work school districts, written management plans, including what you guys have here, formed inspection, surveillances, trial inspections done for a number of districts. So happy to answer your questions whatever I can. Does anyone anyone board member have any questions? >> What did your inspection entail? >> Yeah. So, originally you have some inspections that date back to the 80s here. Right. So, that was when the original regulations for school replace tile tested. The carpet and subsequent mastic had not been tested. So, our inspection included carpet. Nothing in that area where it is now. The carpet mastic tested out as having less than 1% of specus. So when you're looking at aa New York state speesus regulations,
004they regulate materials that have greater than 1% speesus. These have less than 1%. So the only real regulations that apply are OSHA regulations and that would pertain to worker protection and safety of the individuals. And it looks largely at work practices. So in this case, carpet mastic. You'd be pulling up carpet. You wouldn't want to grind on it, dry sand on it, things like that that can create dust, create asbestous fibers in the air. >> Anyone else? >> Pardon? >> May the public ask questions. >> You're meeting. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um, so I'm not familiar with the log. It's been a long time. I was architect rep in the 90s when we encapsulated that part. >> Yeah. >> Um, is it is the tile hot or is the tile? >> The tile is
005there's nine 9 by9 floor tiles. >> When you're when they're removing carpet, >> um, I'm assuming there's going to be considerable amount of dust and dirt generated. So it's going to be virtually impossible to run micron filter tests on the air quality in that >> right it's not it's not regulated by a hair or any of those kind of things so there isn't a requirement for air sampling during if the tile was being removed that would be a different animal or tile itself would require air right so the the process that I've kind of gone over with them you know how to do it you pull back the carpet If tile starts going with it, they have to lay it back down and then it's at spec that way. But if the carpet mastic comes
006off leaving the floor tile undisturbed and any subsequent mastic below it undisturbed, that's okay. You know, these regulations look at the disturbance of speestous containing material. So if the child begins to lift, >> lay it back, lay it back down, >> you get half the carpet up in the room and now you started to encounter that condition. >> This is probably not your fault, but it's true. This is what the game plan is. >> Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, I think what you'd have to do is you'd stop and you would take the seam of that. >> Well, right. You'd have to replace that half with new Tylen the old one. And you know, if kids aren't around, you'd have to get a specific contractor. >> I just you you guys also do
007do uh testing and inspections for disturbances to quantify him as a third party inspector, right? >> Sure. Sure. >> So assume if we had a situation like that, we would have Cass do the do the inspection and quantify it to determine whether or not we need to date it. Is that accurate? >> Yeah. Right. So, you know, um, carpet's coming up, the floor tile is coming up with it. They could contact me and we could look at it. Generally, we're talking about nonfryable materials. So, the way asbestous works is non-fryable materials are things that you can't reduce to a powder by hand pressure. Okay? Far less risky and potential exposure than say a fryable material like a a pipe insulation where if you knock into it, you can release fibers. That's that's a real problem
008in this case. If the tile comes up, it's coming up substantially intact. You lay it back down and then you need to have it faded. >> Dr. Myer, sorry. I'm sorry. >> I just wanted to know, will you be monitoring this process? Will you be >> Is it required? I mean, we're we're obviously happy to work with the school district and and collect air samples if that's the desire of the school district, but it isn't required by the regulation institute. You had no concern after 30 plus years of June backing on the carpet grinding on on the surface of the tile and any dirt that might have migrated down >> creating a a major surface area in those multiple conc. >> Yeah. No, I mean I I think that as with anything there is some
009some level of risk, but I would consider this to be a low risk, you know, and and generally I would recommend you take this up and then you're not dry sweeping. You're mopping this stuff up, right? Working with anything wet on the surface so you're not generating any kind of emissions. There's no asbesus fibers that are becoming airborne in the cleanup of any dirt, dust, stuff that you're finding. it best to actually dampen the carpet to minimize airborne. >> Well, in an ideal world, you'd use almost like a mastic remover or, you know, an adhesive remover, but with tile and mastic underneath it, you don't want it to penetrate the floor tile. So, that that's the tricky part is that >> I'm just talking to minimize the dust level. >> Absolutely. No, but I I
010I do agree. I mean, you should pull this stuff back. There is going to be a fair amount of dust and stuff under there that should be wet. >> And um will have the people who are doing the removal and installation been trained in this procedure. If there is an incidental discovery, >> if there is an incidental, yeah, >> um they should have asestous awareness training. So that's the level of being able to identify a speesus containing materials and know to stay away and not disturb those. So in this case if the tile they should have direct um you know guidance that if tile comes out up that they're required to lay it back down and it >> all right. Anyone else have any questions? >> For respirator for the respirators during this process >>
011for for the workers. Yes, >> I think with a manual removal, you're going to be okay in that. Um, you know, and again, no grinding, no dry sanding, anything like that that is going to generate those asbestous fibers. That could be an exposure issue, right? >> Anyone else have any questions? >> You asked, you asked two of mine already. >> Okay. >> I do have a follow up more for Dr. Meyer. Has the contractor been selected? The bid process is done. Do we have a timing of when when this is going to occur? You may have shared that already. >> Uh yeah. So our our our intent was to uh do this over the summer, but we you know running out of time to do that. So we might be able to get some of
012that done over the summer, but we'll likely lead into some of the the breaks depending on um again when that happen. But yeah, maybe working with um uh Mr. Rice want to ask you for your assistance. What is the who is the gentleman that we're working with? >> Using the reinstallation of the carbon tiles for >> and who's doing mobile >> we were going to do in house >> all the employees here trained even the summer. We could discuss some more, but it it might might just be a good idea to see if Cass has has some some additional awareness, training, and some guidance that we can we can have have the employees that are doing the removal sign off on that to ensure that they fully fully understand the hazards and what the procedure
013should be. what we do where I work at the mail where we have have any kind of work around material or anything else. >> Absolutely. Actually, I'm doing that for another school district next week. So, I'd be happy to do an asbestous awareness and we could, you know, focus that training even specifically on this project. >> Yeah, it doesn't have to be anything extensive. You know, 15 10 15 minutes, hey, this is >> Yeah, here's your here's your hold points if you run into them. here are some of the hazards that they need to be especially considered. >> Yeah, >> I think that's a good idea. Thank you, Jason. Anyone else have any questions or comments? >> And then and then the other the other thing I was going to ask is so then we'll
014ensure ensure we'll have a a time period a after the remote after the the project before the room is occupied by anyone other than those working on the the flooring. Right. I don't know what the right time period is, but you could probably you know, let the the dust settle literally. >> Yeah. >> I don't know if there needs to be an air movement plan or ventilation plan, but I'm sure they can figure that out. >> There's best practices and I think, you know, with the level of concern, it would be reasonable to put a piece of pollen, you know, at the entrance, you know, some kind of weighted or airlock at the at the entrance and stuff and make sure that it's adequately cleaned, you know, prior to the garden. is the best the
015best situation would be the summertime rather than trying to leap frog during the during the school year um >> from classroom to classroom >> definitely ideal for you know a period of time so that you could tackle all these classrooms and stuff um summer's ideal you know but an extended break Christmas break or something like that >> you could do going in the Christmas break >> I would think so I mean depending how many rooms are allowed Was it six of each? >> We have 14 rooms in this building that have best tile underneath carpet that was installed in the 90s. So out of that 14 rooms, we were going to go with a two-year approach to try to pack what happened. So the issue we run into with this building is there's students in
016this building all summer program. That's why this summer we we're gonna try to get the upstairs done then the next year possibly the students upstairs so we can work downstairs prudent to run a negative air unit set up during the removal just as a secondary precaution to minimize any airborne particles. >> Sure. I mean again as a best management practice it's it's not a bad idea. I mean, you know, for this level, perhaps even a fan in the door just blow or in the window rather blowing out so that you know, you just have air entry exhausting into the hallway. That would be reasonable. Yes, suspect. Again, we're not talking. >> Okay. Anyone else? All right. Thank you very much for your presentation. Again, I applaud you guys for taking this serious and health and
017safety is a a very real thing here. So, I'm glad you got >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Okay, moving on to number six, executive session. Specifically, the board anticipates entering the executive session to discuss number six, the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or persons. Do I have a motion to enter into executive session? Thank you, Paige. Oh, Paige was first. >> Okay, second. >> Okay, >> Tom seconds. Thank you. All in favor? I opposed. Abstensions. Motion passes. We anticipate being back at approximately >> still still hard to tell, but I'm going to say 30 to 60 minutes would be my estimate there. >> Hopefully 30. We'll shoot for 30. minutes. >> Okay, we should be back shortly. Thank you. Um, >> Paige made the motion. Deb
018seconded it and 7:15. Okay, we're back. Oh, not all of us. I guess we'll have to wait. >> Apologize that it took so long. That was unavoidable. >> We're waiting for Mr. Welch. Okay, we're waiting for one more person and then we'll begin. >> Oh, two. Josh, are we doing prek different this year? >> Oh, it is. >> It is. >> We don't have an agreement with yet. >> We didn't have an agreement. >> We usually an agreement in August. >> Last year we did but the agreement I have to check the dates on it but last year was just >> okay I guess we're ready ready to begin back in session. Um number seven is the approval of the agenda and the minutes. We'll start with you need a motion to return. >> Oh
019I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Okay. Okay. May I have a motion to return to session? Gent. Thank you. And a second page. Thank you. All in favor? >> I opposed. Any abstensions? Motion passes. Thank you. Okay. Now we'll go on to number seven, the approval of the agenda and minutes. First 7A, the approval of the adoption of the agenda. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make the motion. Second. >> Okay. Thank you, Paul. Thank you, Tom, for the second. Okay. Um, all in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions. >> I'm going to abstain because there's some things I couldn't get through, so I want to just >> Okay. Deb abstains and motion passes. All right. And the second part, the approval of the adoption of the Yep. That's wonderful. All right. Approval of the minutes for the
020July 1st, 2025 reorganization and regular meeting as presented. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make it. >> Okay. Thank you, Paul. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Tom. All in favor? >> I opposed. Any abstensions? Okay. Motion accepted. Okay. Moving on to number eight, 2025 2026 tax levy. Letter A, resolution confirming the tax roles and author authorizing the tax levy. Do I have a motion to approve the 202526 tax tax levy number 8A resolution confirming the tax roles and authorizing the tax level? Motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay, Tom. Thank you. Second. >> Anyone second? Paige. Thank you. All in favor? >> I opposed. Any abstensions? Motion 8A is accepted. Public comment. Our agenda offers two public comment sections. Opinions, ideas, and concerns that are offered by the public will be considered
021and taking taken under advisement. We have set aside 15 minutes uh period giving the audience time to share their thoughts with us. Please raise your hand to be acknowledged by the board president. When called upon, please identify yourself, give your address, limiting your comments to three minutes. Is there anyone who would like to comment? Make a comment. >> No, no comments. Okay. >> Oh, one. Yes. >> Um L Grove. Um, dear members of the board, the parent community continues to hear the results of Lake Principal, I'm here to ask for transparency, please. Um, I would I would like to quell the worry among many of us. Under his leadership at Lake View campus, educators and parents have seen measurable progress in academics, attendance, school culture, and family engagement. All which would be reckless to dismantle.
022Test worth following the implementation of a fragile that meets state standards was voted in by the educator to the top by the board. Chronic absenteeism has been reduced by 6% or 26% which is below the 28% national average. There are now clear disciplinary systems consistent or programs and and enhanced student of the month recognition through I'm learning surveys that help me not be confident to say anything um weekly Friday focus letters integrating staff appreciation observe active I've observed active social media updates and events like parent a walk and bike from school and field day family lunches. There have been teacher trainings, targeted interventions, and opportunities to address issues and concerns and find solutions collectively. Thousands of dollars in grants uh to support nutrition programs, literacy and class innovation um for equity and inclusion. Student voices
023are welcomed by the elementary student council at a safe environment for self-exression. Removing a leader's level of initiative and follow through without transparent evidence-based justification and failure to reach improvement plans would be an abuse of power. It undermines the ethics of board should embody and send a message that personal agendas outweigh student success. I ask the board to prioritize their commitment to serving the best interest of students and educators and doing please have more transparency regarding any progress made towards the council project. Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you very much for your comments. We appreciate it. Anyone else have a comment? Mr. Jackson, >> yes, I wasn't going to make a comment, but I think I owe to myself, too, regarding the pending carpet removal. Um, I realize that there are levels that are supposedly low
024at this point. As far as I'm concerned, no level looks appropriate, but that's a legal issue. One of my major concerns is the fact that we're going to go through the expenditures of manh hours, purchase of new material, installation, labor cost to do that, monitoring, etc., and we're all done. We're right back to where we were before we started what we had covered up 30 years ago. If the anticipation is to come back at a later date, if the next capital project is approved and remove it properly at that point in time, so be it. But we haven't really gained anything in process except spent money, wasted time. Um, and if it doesn't pass at the next capital project, now we're sitting here with a dilemma and no resources other than what we currently have
025built up in reserves, but I would could have done it this summer had we gotten out there at the proper time. Uh, it's not that the board hasn't been brought up to speed on the appropriate times to get these things in in the works. I just I think it's a foolish move to do this at this point in time. That's all I have to say. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Jackson. >> Yes. >> Sarah King. I live in West. Um I appreciate the concern around the specialist potential law. And as much as I don't like the idea of spending money now that might, you know, that we then might have to change whatever is happening in those classrooms later. As someone who has taught in those classrooms, having taught on carpet that is 30
026years old, that is already deteriorating, um has lots of stains, um I think that there is there is a benefit to replacing these really disgusting little carpets for faculty and for students and for custodians. um just something that you can clean and it feels clean afterwards and it doesn't have an awful smell just when you walk in the room. Um which I think it's pretty hard to make 30-year-old car. Um I I would say that and I don't know the exact cost to the district, but I would take in consideration the benefits of the the people that are in those rooms every day for seven eight hours a day. >> Thank you for your comments. We'll take that into consideration. Anyone else? Okay, since there are no further current uh comments, we'll move on to
027financials number 10. Do I have a motion to approve 9A1 through three? Oh, any discussion on it? First of all, number 10. You said >> I said 10, didn't I? Oh, number 10. >> Number 10, financials. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I >> uh opposed. Any abstensions? >> Okay. Motion passes. Excuse me. >> We will be getting a warrant for the next meeting. >> Yes. Um, I was wondering, uh, we were wondering actually there were some, um, warrants that weren't included this time and we were hoping that we would get them in a little more timely fashion in the future if that could be possible. Okay. Thank you. Number 11. Okay. C, CPS, and 504 recommendations, letter A. Do I have a motion to accept and approve the committee on
028preschool special education, committee on special education, and the committee on 504 plan recommendations as presented? Motion Jason. Thank you. Second. >> Second. Paul. Thank you. Um all in favor? >> I opposed. Any abstensions? Okay. Motion is accepted for 11A number 12 action items consent agenda. Do I have and first of all is there any discussion? >> All right. Number 12. Do I have a motion to approve a action items 11 A through C6? >> A motion. >> Okay. Thank you, Deb. A second. Thank you, Paige. Um, all in favor? >> I I opposed. >> I >> Okay, >> the books haven't been prepared yet, but Meer assured me we get them in within the week. >> They're in the >> No, they're they're in the drive. You guys have a hard copy. >> Okay. >>
029The hard copies have printed yet. >> Some of us have a problem with the drive still. What's that? Like I'm getting some of my stuff but not the other and it's not in a folder. >> We don't print them until they're approved. >> Okay. >> But they don't go to printer until they're approved. So I maybe I misunderstood your question at the beginning. >> Okay. Are you opposed? >> No. Yes. >> Yes. Okay. None opposed. Any abstensions? >> Okay. Motion accepted for number 12. Number 13. Personnel consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve items 13A through 0 10 plus the addendum? We add the addendum in now. >> Okay. 13 A3 Q 13 Q and 13 all. Do I have a motion? Thank you, Paige. A second. I thought we going right through
030all of them. >> Yes, we vote on them all together unless you pull them out at the very beginning. If you remove something at the very beginning, >> excuse me. >> Go through all the way to Q. >> Yes, with the addendum as well. >> Yes, through O. Right. >> R. Well, then the addendum was added on, right? >> Yes. >> Through Q. Okay. Through Q. And then the addendum was the addition of 13 A3, 13 Q, and 13R. Correct. Okay. So, we had a motion. We did have a motion. We had a second. All in favor? I >> I opposed. Any abstensions? >> Okay, one abstension, Mr. Funton, and motion is accepted. Okay, moving on to number 14, policy. As recommended by Erie 1 policy services, approve the revision of policy number 5681, school
031safety plans. Is there any discussion with this before we vote? Okay, since there's no discussion. >> All right. Do I have a motion to approve the revision of policy number 5681, school safety plans? Motion. >> I'll make motion. >> Okay, Jason. Thank you. Second, >> Paige. Second. Thank you. Um, do I have is there any discussion regarding this policy? >> What is it? >> Excuse me. >> Did we have this on a >> He didn't get it in drive. It didn't come on the drive. >> Okay. Um, we are having problems with some people not getting the information. So, we may have to have our tech person take a look at that. Okay. So, all in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. >> Okay. Mr. Fenton abstain. All right. Motion to approve the revision of policy
032number 5681, school safety plans, was accepted. All right. 14B, first reading, the waiver of the second reading per policy and adoption of policy number 5685, maximum temperature for school buildings and indoor facilities as recommended by Erie One policy service services. Do I have a motion to approve 14B? >> A motion. >> Okay. Thank you, Deb. Second. >> Second. Thank you, Tom. Is there any discussion prior to voting? >> Can I ask a question? >> Yes. >> Before or was this not a policy? >> It was not a policy. >> Okay. Anyone else have a question? >> I have a question. I know this was written this policy initially because of temperatures during this the summer months but will this apply to throughout the year for example the temperatures in Lake View when they reach a
033certain >> Yeah. Yep. It it is uh um implies >> across the board um and talks about the mitigation strategies uh as well. Okay. So, yes. >> All right. Good. All in favor? >> I opposed. Any abstensions? >> Okay. Motion approved. Number 15. Board discussions. Old business. I don't believe we have any old business at this time. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Can I ask a question on old business? >> Sure. Um, will there be further cell phone policies uh delivered to the stakeholders for the new? >> Yep. Do we have a plan to reach out to all the parents and students previously >> to make like to make them aware of the policy? So that that's part of the the handbook and you know part of that initial when we start you know
034reaching out with the letters and things like that. Yeah, they will go >> but nothing specifically just for it. I think >> it is a big change. >> It's a huge >> I'm super excited about it. I want it to happen. I just would like to ease the problems. >> Sure. >> So I think if there if it's >> like >> it's got to be a little bit more than just a certain >> Yeah. >> I agree with that. I think that's a good idea. >> Okay. >> Parents know that it's coming, but they're not quite sure what it involves. >> Yeah. They don't know >> the specifics. What are the repercussions? [Music] >> I agree. >> All right. New business. Future of Boat Valley Central School District's facilities. Now, as we all know, the
035board approved the recommendations made by the facilities committee last April for new construction and renovation to be done at the Bokeut Valley building. The committee determined that this was the best option available considering the size and conditions of both buildings and the associated cost factors. Plans have been submitted to New York State Education Department and we are still waiting for approval before we can put this up to vote to the taxpayers. Since the projected date for construction to begin is fall of two if the proposed building project is indeed approved by the taxpayers. We thought a discussion regarding the future use of these facilities should begin now. Now, I do want to um dismiss a rumor that has been going around that we are trying to close the Lake View building for this year. That
036is not true. Okay. It's simply rumor. There was a board member who was concerned. >> There was a board member that requested it be put on the agenda for >> Okay. And when I met with you or you and I sent a letter, I said I knew that that would not be able to happen for this year. >> So the email was sent July 10th >> from from one board member >> from one board member >> to be put on the agenda and we met on Friday the 8th and your email was August 6th. So there was there was a little bit of time in there. >> Okay. >> But I do want you to know that that was not a discussion of the full board. We had not discussed that possibility at all. And
037when I did meet with Mr. uh Dr. Meyer, I did say that I knew that that was absolutely impossible to happen for September. So our discussion will be for the future. Okay, we need to start thinking about that possibility now rather than waiting until just before it is going to happen. There needs to be a a plan in place. Okay. So, Mr. Fenton, since you were to be uh would like to begin this conversation since you had requested it, do you have something to add? >> Well, no. Of course, I was looking for a September, but that's not going to work. A little change. Uh, but I think it's the only thing we can do. We have plenty of room here. The other school is in need of a lot of repair, expensive repair. If
038everybody comes here, there will be plenty of room. It always has been 450 students. You shouldn't have any problem. It may even reduce the u the tax levy as time goes along. And I think with today's changing world, we're not getting a lot of people in Elizabeth Town or Lewis new that I'm aware of. So I think this is this is the time to do and if we could have it happen by next next fall, that'd be fantastic. kids would have a chance to get here, take a thing, open up a school in, you know, in July or August, so they can come in, all the grades could come in and look and see where they're going to be going and what they're going to be doing. That would be that would be it. That's
039my view. >> Okay. Anyone else like to join in in the conversation? >> How would that benefit the students? >> Excuse me. You can add that during the uh comment time. Right now, this is just the board discussion. Okay. Whoever said that >> board member >> Oh, I'm sorry. I thought it was this lady. I'm sorry. Go ahead, Sarah. >> How would that benefit the students? >> How would it >> trying to cram two buildings into one for what purpose? >> Well, >> no, it's a legitimate question. How would that benefit the students? We're here as a school to educate students. We're here for the students. How would that benefit the students? >> They would still be here for a day. There'd be plenty of room. >> How would going from two buildings to one
040building benefit the students? >> Okay, I can speak to that. Something that I was going to address. Um, personally, I'm concerned about the health and safety issues regarding the continued use of the Lake Bu uh Lake View building. Uh I understand at the end of last year the roof was leaking again. Uh we only replaced two portions of the roof. There are is my understanding there are 10 portions to that roof. So there will continue to be other leaking that will occur. The boiler has not been working properly for many years, resulting in ex excessive heat in some rooms and frigid temperatures in others. Um, with this new law in place regarding the exa excessive heat, we cannot expect our students, our teachers and staff to be subjected to room temperatures that are in the
04180s which require clause uh coat or temperatures that require coats throughout the day. these conditions are not conducive to learning. So that is one reason why I think that we need to have a discussion because I have spoken personally with many students that attend the Lake View campus and many teachers and there is a concern about the excessive heat in that building and the fact that sometimes the roof does leak presenting water in the building, tiles filing down, um mold devel developing. So I do think that there is a benefit for the students to do that. Anyone else? >> You regularly uh monitor the temperature in either building prior to this policy coming into >> Not really. No. >> Well, we'll probably have to start now with this new policy in effect. >> I believe
042that was the question. >> Yeah. I'm going to put my transportation knowledge in. It'll save 25 minutes of bus roads um for elementary to go down in the morning and middle high school to go down in the afternoon. That's 25 minutes. >> 25 minutes a day in the morning, 25 minutes in the afternoon. Save ride for those kids that are on a bus. Another thing, it'll bring siblings together all into one room. parents will know that their kids are on one building, not have to worry about being down here for over here for 245 or 250 release at least down there at 3. They have one building. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> Sorry. No, >> I I don't feel like I have all the information at this point to make a well-informed decision. >> Oh,
043I don't think we're going to make any decision >> or even opinion, I guess. Yeah. Um I I think there are definite benefits of consolidating all of the students together. I mean you gain uh flexibility to provide more opportunities for kids I imagine with with staff and teachers. Uh the camaraderie, the sense of the sense of one culture I think probably improves um and and and I'm sure there are I'm sure there are countless other benefits. Um but I definitely have concerns as well. um the the space being primary and and number one. Um and I guess it's been, you know, even round one when I was on the facilities committee, I I never felt like I really saw this is how what it would look like if we tried to do it. This is
044our this is the best way we could possibly do it if we tried to do it. And and that's that's some information that that I would I would want to see. And maybe it has been presented. I just haven't haven't seen it. I think it has been put together. >> I don't know if we've ever if you've ever presented information to see if if you did have to do it, say an emergency happened at Lake View building and you needed to get those students out of there and it was going to be a time timely period before they will be allowed back. We have to bring them here. How would you We should have an emergency plan in in place and some kind of a scheduling um to bring those students over to this building.
045Could we look into that? >> Buildings are just for that. >> Excuse me. >> Both scenarios are just for that. >> It could be. Yeah. Either way. >> Well, for to to actually move the the students here. Now, I know that um there are modifications that could be made to our current usage of space at the Mountain View building that could accommodate most if not all of the students. Um if additional space was needed, we could always rent portable classrooms temporarily until the construction was done. Okay. Um this would result in a huge cost savings to our district. Dr. Myers has stated that over time the amount of savings from closure to Lake View building would result in about $3 million a year. That money could be put toward the cost of the building construction,
046toward the purchase of land for our athletic fields or a new bus and a new bus garage. So, I'm not saying there's no decision that will be made tonight. I think we just need to start having a conversation and start exploring these options to see what is beneficial to the district and to the students. I think I can I understand that there are cons some concerns regarding how it's going to affect children but I think if we have a plan in place we can do it in a manner in which it will not be detrimental to the students it will be advantageous if we do put a plan in place and really give it a lot of forethought rather than um doing it as a lastm minute thing. So, um, in summarizing, anyone else like
047to contribute? >> Yeah, Dr. Meyer. Um, before we had our capital project vote, you did a public presentation on this topic where you had like the room overlays showing how there were not enough. It's not about square footage. It's about having enough actual classrooms. Any chance you save that 15? >> Uh, yeah. So, and just to kind of summarize that, one of the examples I like to say is that we have plenty of desks here. We have plenty of square footage here to do then. And probably true for the other campus as well, but Mr. Figel's here, so I'll pick on him for a second. Right? If he's teaching a physics class with 10 kids in there and there's an empty 10 desks, that doesn't mean we can put a, you know, 10 first grade
048students in those desks. That's not how that works. >> So, I no one has ever argued that it's a desk or a square footage issue. It's just the way the rooms are uh are are laid out. So, um, what we've been able to demonstrate is that there I mean, you know, if you want to, we we could go down to one section of elementary and cut all the electives and opportunities for students and we save a ton of money, >> but that's not good for anybody. So >> no, I think maybe we just need to look and see. >> Sure. >> You know, if there's a way to do it that it would not be detrimental to the students education. >> I fully understand that impact, right? I don't think there's a board member at
049this table that want that that wants to move on something that's going to negatively impact the students. >> Absolutely not. >> Have we ever had a space study done in either building, old buildings? I've seen the list of how many students per class like grade level class just >> right half as many gyms and half as many cafeteria. Yeah, I I I would I would have to look. I don't know if you've done like an official like space study, but we have done a lot of things where we've studied the space and you know >> Yeah, I've seen the list of in this building the teachers and what they teach and how many they have period and all that stuff, but um >> sounds great on the paper. Yeah, perhaps we could do space study
050>> and uh just to see what our options are for the future. >> Does that go to facilities committee or president on the committee to take a look at this? >> How do you >> Yeah. What do you want to what do you want to do? >> Well, >> I mean, we should take a look at it, but how do we >> how do we >> how do you want how do you want to proceed? >> How do we proceed? >> Can I make a recommendation? Sure. Why don't you give me a month to get into it and we will continue with the discussion in September. >> And September. That's a good idea. Okay. So, Dr. Mild Meyer will explore the situation, do a space study, and then we'll continue the discussion in under old
051business in September. Okay. All right. Moving right along to number 16, superintendence update. >> Number two there. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. All right. Number two, uh, board meeting location and setup under 152. I'm sorry, Dr. Meyer, did you want to discuss that? >> That was your request. >> Oh, okay. Um we had talked before the board of education that we would under um the advisement of many people in the audience that we they would like to have the board meeting set up in a room that was um set up for the audience that was attendance attending so that they would not be squeezed in. um and also to have microphones so that everyone in the audience could hear the entire proceedings. So we are looking to your advice how this can be done for
052the future. Now I know this meeting could not be set up in the um auditorium here at Mountain View because of the floor problems, you know, the the resurfacing of the flooring um for this time. uh in the future, could we perhaps look at setting it our meetings up in a larger room and one that had microphones set up so everyone could hear? >> So, uh short answer is yes, but uh there's a little bit more to it. So, I will I will tell you that um so both this room and the library in Lake View uh we've not exceeded the capacity by the room. we don't typically have come anywhere near exceeding capacity by the room. Um and they're generally easier to set up for our custodial staff. So that being said, we can
053certainly regularly use the um the auditorium spaces on two conditions. I refuse to displace a student for a board meeting. I'm not doing it. >> That's understandable. Absolutely. Um and the sound system, you know, when typically we need it, you know, a couple times a year. This is a regular thing. The board needs to consider offering this as a stipen position for someone to set up to expect someone to do that. >> Okay. >> That that's that's a big ask. >> Is that agreeable with everyone that we should have some type of a stipen for someone to set up the microphones? Maybe someone could be trained. Um, >> I don't know. >> So, this person do one school or do both schools? >> I I I would I would think it's one person, but you
054know, I think it depends a little bit on who's interested. >> Okay. Could you look into that then? See it? See if there is an interest in anyone doing that. public comment as well. So, we welcome comments from those that attend regularly. >> Excuse me. >> I was saying the public com there's another public comment session on the agenda. So, if anyone has has input, we would welcome it. >> Okay. >> All right. Now we are on >> 16 16 right? >> Okay. Superintendence update a district's wide safety plan. >> The district superintendent. Am I on the right section? >> Yeah, I'm just going to stick that real quick. Superintendent recommends the approval of the district wives uh school safety plan revised June 20 2025 as presented. So >> So there were just two very
055very minor changes um in the district safety plan. Uh the nursing home was still listed as Horus Nye where the uh the current name is Essex Center. So made that change and then for whatever reason the town the phone number for town of Lewis was not included uh and it is now included. So again two very minor changes and so with that I would um recommend the approval of that plan. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the district-wide safety plan? >> Okay. Thank you. And a second. >> Second. Thank you Tom. Um all in favor. >> Any discussion? First of all, any discussion? All right. All in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Motion passes. >> All right. 16B, superintendent report. >> Okay. Great. Uh, so grants update. So, um, Mr. Kyler is
056here. So, Mr. Kyler, if you don't mind that you speak to this. >> Uh, so our UTK grant, the lot is slightly higher this year than it was last year. Build to reflect on the higher payload. That's what the asset title was previously done. The title grant aotments for title board were just released by the federal government a couple weeks ago. So now we can work on those grants and we'll submit those by the end of the month. And the IVA grants previously. Uh the other grants I want to touch on the community foundation received that $10,000 generous acts grant for literacy. So you may see on social media all the bookshelves that local businesses and the plan for literacy and numeracy nights throughout the year at campus all supported with that $10,000 grant foundation
057and uh there'll be some articles in the press republican news in the coming days of that and uh you have a handout in front of you about uh the women's nature institute program that is a program that was correct. Okay. That's from a teacher at the Lincoln campus to bring to our school. Last month I incorrectly said it's a curriculum. It's a program that supports our existing and supports existing science standards. Uh the exciting thing is when I found out about this I found out after budget so Dr. Meer gave me permission to go ask somebody for some money and JC West communications without hesitation agreement program for the school year uh which is really exciting. Uh so in exchange they would just like their logo on March uh and on the program flyers that
058we sent out aformational meeting coming up in a couple weeks for the parents and family members that are sort of the programs in your classroom prep. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We have right now we have one for grade level. We need at least two. So we're going to have a meeting at C. We may have to shift it to just pre the grade levels for the program each one. So we may get >> Okay. So just a couple updates uh capital project uh update for you. Um so again this continues the work of the facilities committee. um the uh proposal that was approved tonight for both a geotechnical investigation where they do soil borings and then a site survey which is a topographical survey. Both those are on the agenda tonight. The first with
059ATL which is a company we worked with in the past and the second for AES uh which I don't know if Mr. Jackson getting paid to wear that shirt here tonight, but uh but he was reving revving that hard today. Uh and then finally, the energy performance contract here. Uh if you remember, this was approved uh in the spring. I want to say in April, I believe in April it was approved. So the pro the um project is now um at state ed for uh process review and we're awaiting a vote date. I just want to um I just want to continue to say this. Uh the way the EPC vote works is very different from a capital project. So the board approved the EPC, the energy performance contract. That is happening. If that happens,
060we get reimbursed at 80.1% of the rate. If the community votes and approves it, we get an additional 10%. So >> Yep. So it's eight. So it's 80.1% is the reimbursement rate, but if the community approves, so if there's community support, then the state bumps that up to 90.1%. So um again, we will talk way more about this, give more much more specific numbers, uh but we're just not there yet. Like I said, it's still in front of uh in front of state ed right now. Um and um we are you know that that could be anywhere from six weeks to six months. >> So they haven't given you any idea how how long much longer there would be. >> No, which I mean it's going to be I I think months, right? Uh a
061couple facilities updates for you. So small project over at Lake View campus. uh the ramp going down to the library, the outside door, a couple drains put in there. Uh historically, there's been um some flooding that gets in there. And so with these two drains, uh hopefully that helps to solve that problem. And here on the Mountain View campus, the auditorium had some damage a little more than a year ago with uh some flooding that occurred uh based on um a storm. Uh and so through insurance money and FEMA money um we're able to get that fixed and uh we are um hoping that and uh get get fixed here pretty soon um as school is starting. >> Was Dr. Myern >> yeah the root cause of that damage has that been mitigated now >>
062um on this campus? >> Yes. >> Yeah. There it was uh one of the the drains in one of the um >> custodial closets backed up and so the flooding came from there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Uh uh one more item here for you. Uh there is a CBES. So our Bose uh CBES they're they're having a land sale that every resident so every resident of the Boseies not just our district of the Boseies you have the opportunity to vote on this um it's a public vote on August 26th to authorize the sale of 15 acres of Boseis owned land in Platsburgh. So the Boseies is selling it to the county to Clinton County for $420,000. The land was originally purchased in 2020 for $8,000 per acre and is now being sold at fair
063market value at $28,000 per acre. The proceeds go back to the 16 component districts. So assuming this passes um and we as as a district, we were part of one of the 16 component districts part of that purchasing. So we along with our, you know, 15 other districts paid the $8,000 per acre and now the county is deciding that land back. So we're selling it back five years later for $28,000. So making a little bit of money on that sale. So we'll get our um our percentage of that. It is not 116th of that. There's a formula um both for the purchasing and for the the selling of of how that works, but we'll get a little bit of money back for that. So that's uh presuming that that that it goes to uh voting
064will take place 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the learning hub in Platsburg and also in Mineville. My understanding uh all the information is on their website. The website's up there, but just go to their website. You can see my understanding is regardless of where you live, you can vote in either location. Uh you of course cannot, you know, go to both locations only. Um, and I believe that's it. Any any questions? Our our next meeting is second Thursday in September. At that meeting, just as a quick reminder, we usually invite our new employees to that meeting uh where they can meet the board members and um so hope to see everyone there to meet our new employees. Any questions? >> Um did you were you did going to discuss the grant update or was
065has that >> Oh, yeah. >> All right. Any questions? >> I do have a question about the credit. We can accept outside students outside districts that I bought. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, it's it's a little complicated. We just were approved. We got the final approval from New York State to operate integrated prepaid which allows us within a certain ratio to accept out of district students and get fully reimbured by the county. >> So, that that rate has not been set by New York State. So we don't know what that 3% rate is but there's a ratio you cannot bump a pet student for example but yes for pre >> and is that separate from the rest of the school >> so this is like a separate on paper right but >> yeah the prek students
066wouldn't know what piece of paper got them into the building >> yeah no the policy I mean we don't accept our students in the rest of school that was really the Right. Totally different. >> And they would provide their own transportation if we're not transporting the out of district. >> Yeah. In exchange for being reimbursed by the county, they they cover everything as far as it's called stack reimbursement and transportation. They they give us money and they cover everything and there's an exchange for that. It's >> so the child we have to pick that child up. >> They provide transport. >> Oh, they provide. Okay. >> It's it's it's amazing. It's is very very beneficial for the families, for the school. It's it's mutually beneficial. The fact that we were approved for this program is
067like very very exciting news. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions? All right. Now, it is time for number 17, public comment. Letter A. Our agenda offers two public comments. Sections, opinions, ideas, and concerns that are offered by the public will be considered and taken under advisement. We have set aside a 15minute period giving the audience time to share their thoughts with us. Please raise your hand to be acknowledged by the board president. When called upon, please identify yourself and give your address, limiting your comments to three minutes. Do we have any comments? Yes, Brooke. >> Brook in Lewis. Um, I just want to commend the board for thinking ahead to have a plan in place to get those kids moved over here because you don't know if that addition is going to be approved.
068And you don't know because it's hooked with the money for improvements on Mountain View. Those are hooked together, right? Those referendums are hooked together. In May of 26, the vote for the addition and improvements. >> I don't know if we actually planned that out yet, have >> are they hooked together or are there going to be different referendums? She's saying the money for the renovations, >> the renovations for Mountain View >> for Mountain View and the money for the additional the construction. Are they going to be two separate issues to vote on or are they tied together is what she's asking. >> He's looking like I'm talking Greek. >> So are a couple of them. So I I Yeah. So I just want to make sure. So you're asking if The money we get from
069the state is tied to a public vote. >> No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm talking about next May of 26 is the vote for the facilities uh outcome of that committee to build a new addition for the great school. >> Okay. >> And money for improvements here at Mountain View, like the boiler, the roof, or whatever it happens to be. But I I got the impression it was booked as one referendum. We could do it as 10 referendums >> because what I'm think saying is if the public the community votes that addition down and the money booked for improvements on this campus, they both go away because you don't know that the towns are going to approve that addition. Personally, I believe that this school with three new additions since I was in
070school, there's plenty of space at this place. This one being a good example. We're in a classroom. Why is a secretary have a classroom as an office and the superintendent a classroom as an office? It's too much space in today's age when you really need a computer, maybe a file cabinet, a desk. It's too much space that these are being used for the old classrooms. Counselors have a classroom. Do they need that space? Do they need that many couches? You know, and I'm glad that the board is got a plan to have a plan B because you don't know it's going to get voted. Yes. The last one got voted down by a very large portion, the new campus. So, I'm glad to see that you're you have to have a plan in place if
071it doesn't work your way. >> Thank you. Thank you for your comments. We'll certainly take it under consideration. Anyone else? Yes, >> Mrs. Robert. And I live in Westford and I would also like to address this idea of moving all students to this campus. I have sat on facilities committee a number of times first in Westport and the last two recent facilities committees for the first district. I do realize that there are concerns, valid concerns about the conditions of building in West. However, this board of education or the board of education approved the recommendations of the most recent facilities of city which was to build an addition and do renovations to this building which recognizes the fact that there isn't enough room in this building for all of the students with the curriculum as it
072stands. It is true that there are secretaries in a classroom. It is true that there is a superintendent in a classroom, but there are not enough extra classrooms to bring all those students here. These people are using classroom spaces now because they're available, not because they are choosing displaced students. >> Thank you for your comments. There there is a need to to consider an emergency placement in one location or the other in an emergency and in those cases do you make accommodations but it is not in the best interest of the student or the current curriculum to try to shove everybody into this building before it's ready and before there is additional switch. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. >> Yes, this is >> Rice Sarah Rice in the audience bridge credit.
073I don't have a microphone. I don't have chairs. The board of education is concerned that this space is not adequate for adults to be autonomy to get up and leave whenever they feel like it. How can we expect less for our students than for the people in front of us except for themselves? I don't have microphones. We're always low capacity at any notes. I think my students are the most important on this list that ever since. And what you're saying is it's more than adequate to have all of the students K through 12 in that valley. I find it darkly exactly ironic that in the same conversations about inadequate. Um, but I suppose it won't be as much of an issue because I can assure you the first thing that will go should be the
074electives that public speak by student will no longer be able to thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Yes. >> Daniel, um, parliamentary procedure is really hard to get that. cumbersome, but I believe that is what you guys are using to run your meetings. Um, agenda items 7 through 12, there was a motion, there was a second, there was no discussion. Thank you, Darlene, for taking that up. I have agenda item 13. However, it goes both ways. When you ask Josh to do something, you need to call for a motion and a second. So, when you ask Josh to set up all this text, that needs to go the same way. Whenever you have action items on the table through parliamentary procedure, you need a motion and a second and a discussion. As far as I
075understand, if you guys are doing amended version of that, it's good to know. Secondly, um I am on several volunteer groups like all of you are and we appreciate the work that you do. However, it is disheartening as a member of the community that's listen to you say we have tech problems. That should not be at the meeting. We don't accept that for our students. So, we shouldn't accept that for you as well. When you show up at the meeting, you should if you had a tech problem and getting to your folder, deal with that before you get to the meeting. We can't sit here and listen to you guys tell us that, oh, I couldn't look at this because I had a tech problem. Well, that shouldn't be the excuse that you're using the
076day of the meeting. Solve that before you come to the meeting. And one more thing I can say. >> Uh I do need to add to that to just to clarify that there are a number of people that have been having tech problems that have expressed these concerns and um it's not the first time that we're expressing it. So that has been expressed before. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Anyone else? Yes. Hi backart. Um just uh first of all because you asked for input I think that this room is fine and the library at the other campus is fine for schoolboard meetings. I as an audience member I can always hear um what people are saying and I I I hear it better in a smaller room than when we have used the
077auditorium with microphones for all the facility committee meetings and all the larger meetings. I actually find it more difficult to hear in those rooms. That's just my experience. The other thing I will say is that I was at the presentation where Mr. Ry walked through this building site plan. You can't turn these two classrooms into 14. We need 14 rooms to bring the littles over here. I'm a mother of two young children. I understand that that other campus is not ideal for their health and for their safety. However, I also understand that we're working on building something better for them and that they will eventually be in a facility that is better for them. But I can tell you right now, if I had my choice as a parent, I would 100% never ever support
078bringing them over here and smooshing them together and putting them instead of having 12 people in their class or 15 people in their class to have 30 in their class. Okay, that's the number one thing we have going for us as a district is our teacher to student ratio. And I can tell you this, if you actually support the education of the children in this district and all the needs that are coming our way that we have in our district that are coming down the pipeline, you would acknowledge the fact that the cuts to curriculum are not just in electives and choice for students. That would also mean that we're putting students in classrooms like my students, my children's teachers here today because I'm sure talk to you afterwards about the difference between having 13
079kids in a room and having 26 of those same age children in the same size room. We don't teach like we do anymore for a reason. Education has evolved. We have tried to evolve with it. So, please let's not go backwards, okay? Let's try to maintain the status as much as we can and plan for the future. And I agree that in an emergency, we need to have a backup plan, but it sure as heck sounds to me that this is not an emergency contingency plan that's happening here. This is people saying that they believe that we can all just fit in here eventually and that they want to vote on that. And I'm telling you right now that people will leave this district if that's what you decide. >> Can I just clarify for
080you that there are contractual items for the teachers regarding class size. So that is not something that we're looking at because they have teachers have in their contracts the number of students that they can have the maximum number. So then we don't have enough rooms in this building is what I was saying. We don't have those rooms. And unless you want to knock out a bunch of walls and make a bunch of smaller classrooms, which I would love to see the price tag on that versus building new and getting more state aid for a new building, these numbers can be run. So please run the numbers before you use numbers from decades ago to inform the decisions that you made that will impact not only the kids in the district now, but the potential for
081your town to have families in the future. and thank you for your your input. We will certainly take it under advisement. Okay. Any other comments? >> Yes, Mr. Hooper. >> All over Russia, New York. Just like they say that having a speaker system, being able to hear is not going to break things. And before when you hear the rumors in the public and you hear it in the school, if you don't get the word out and you don't get the meetings out there, what took place and stuff like that so people understand, you might be surprised they might just support a larger school for one school, but they're not going to support anything that you keep from them and you don't let them hear. You know, when those things are out there, you're hearing this
082and you're hearing that. When people don't want you to know something, that is usually a sign that, you know, it's not good. And those systems aren't that much money. And I'm sure portable systems could be taken down, dropped back here, whatever. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, Mr. Fel. My name is >> Jason Felics. Appreciate the board things out. appreciate the community that comes to try to figure things out. They're showing up and the care so figuring it out together. I like that. Um I really love our communities. I have for a long time put a lot of effort into them. Um Mr. Brenton said that there's plenty of room for 450 people in a town. There always has been. He also said that there's not like a lot of people are coming to these
083towns. So, I think that attitude is what um discourages us from kind of having a vision because I know there's a lot of young families that have um a lot of energy for the children and they want the best for them. So, before we just say u you know, let's make this decision or that decision, I would really encourage everyone on the board and in uh to do the the research for what it takes to teach students nowadays compared to 50 years ago. um and the mandates that are there for spaces and such. I think that's very important and so much time has been spent to fix these things already. You know, we the the KO building well you mentioned how it's ideal to have everybody in one place. That does great stuff. Uh that
084got voted down and so now we're adjusting and trying to do that again. So with the spot that we're at, can we please give the kids more and more and more than what they have now instead of less? That would be great. And I encourage people to do the research to find old facility committees, talk to people on the city because some questions that are asked have already been answered. So it' be great to gather up that information from the hard work that you know the facility committees have done and people in the community have done. So encourage forward. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Anyone else? Yes, >> the list. So, I'm very concerned the amount of information that is going around. So, 450 students apparently um fit in this building and always
085had bringing that up. So, my internet goes back as far as 2012 to 2013. Now, there's 278 kids in the school. Now, that was what over 10 years ago. Okay. So, as we've been talking about, education has evolved. We need to we're no longer lecturing students in front of us. We're differentiating the classroom. We're applying the information so that we produce good students, students qualified and ready for college. Um, I brought my children here because of the of the student uh teacher ratio. That's why I'm here. When I was a keen back in 2010 when we had when had about the same number of uh students residents were sending kids to Keen for a better better education. I don't want to hear about that. Oh, we have excellent teachers. We have hardworking teachers. I love
086this community. I love this group of teachers and administrators. And I think we should honor the work that we do that they do. And we should start focusing on how will we yes give more to the students. look at the facilities committee. They have online on the Northwest Valley um school district website. There's all of the presentations, real information in it. There's all of the minutes, real information in it. I ask you to go look at that that information instead of just listening to people around you with arbitrary numbers. Um I have looked at the map. I can't read what the map is for. I think it would be very helpful just for me um to get an idea. I would like to see a map of how many classrooms we have and you know
087maybe just a little idea of a mock schedule of what these classrooms are used for because as facilities committee people have mentioned there may only be four extra rooms. We can't fit 14 classes in those rooms. Um, so this is 25 to 30 kids per test. We're asking for our students to fail. Um, and that is incredibly >> Okay. Thank you very much. We appreciate it, Mrs. Rice. >> If we do get a presentation of a mask, I think it's really difficult because you could quite easily put English classroom my room. It is also a test accommodation lab, but it's a structured study hall room, beautiful AIS class. Um, it is a model debate room. It wears a lot of hats. It has a lot of reasoning. And I will tell you over the course
088of last year, I may have had 10 periods throughout the entire year uh which would have been identified as teacher preparation periods where my learning was not. So right now a lot of times teachers will leave their teaching space to go into a room that is not permissible for student use because um to do work in there so that our classrooms can be used. So I think that it's a little tricky to the public too. Um, so if I give an assessment, it's not unusual in my classroom in order to get accommodations for our students with um need for five or six students to exit all meetings, their own location and their own provider in those locations. Um, so I think it's really tricky. It's easy to label the English room, but it is a
089whole host of other things. Um, and so it's pretty uncommon or pretty. >> Thank you for that information. >> Yes. >> Oh, just to add to that, we are legally obligated to give accommodations to children with IEPs and 504 if they have a testing accommodation. That is legally binding. Right now during state assessments for instance when it is whole grade level sometimes three grade levels testing at once we use every single nook and cranny. I tested in Dr. Meyer's office. I tested for a whole week giving accommodations in that room. There was someone else in this room with the students. That's not ideal because it's, you know, two humans and in this large space. So that's what I'm talking about in terms of the many ways that education have evolved and it would be much
090smarter. If we could have a building or a facility and eventually a K group or preK through 12 facility that took into account things like testing accommodations, those that legality is not going in there. We're not getting workarounds for that. So I just please please be aware of that fact that there are all of these nuances of how these rooms are utilized throughout the day depending on the we >> thank you that I just might might uh feel the need to add that you know I was a former educator and I retired in 2011 and all the things that you mentioned were in place back then as well with the testing and modification. So that that has been in place for quite some time. It's not really something that's brand new. >> Yes. >> I'm
091sorry. Can I just because it's what you're talking about. So right now we have 61 students who require separate location for testing. >> So that doesn't mean that take the group of five bring as a group of five somewhere. That's 61 >> individual >> separate. >> 61 students qualify for separate. Some of those are individual. So I I I there's a full breakdown in the report that I gave you, but the number 61. Okay. So my only point is it's a bank, >> right? Yes, I do. I do know that. All right. Thank you. Yes. >> Special education that is very different than it was upon your retirement. That has changed tremendously. And the other thing I would want to say is that I think that one of the things that the educators and I
092know done a fine job with is maintaining confidentiality and integrity for students who have accommodations um so that they are not shoved in some closet somewhere to take an assessment because we're checking the box. I think that we can provide them with the same uh classroom spaces um as the other students who are we are definitely going to run into situations where that is in um >> okay thank you thank you Mrs. Rice we will certainly take all this information into consideration when we're making decisions yes Mr. Jackson up. >> Excuse me. >> Um the uh I can't speak to current curriculum post merger. I realize that it's expanded greatly from the time I was in school. Um SED requires considerable things that uh that put us great strain on school districts. Uh I can
093speak to pre merger numbers and the fact that pre merger numbers which I believe are very close to current student enrollment at that point in time we were uh accommodating everything quite nicely everyone quite nicely with the one cafeteria and now two gymnasiums here as opposed to uh the one small one that we had earlier on. Um the issue that the public that interacts with me speaks to are things like they don't take care of what they got. Why are we trying to build new? The degradation of the school bus garage which has been pointed out. It was an existing problem. It's not Mr. Dr. Meyer's initial problem, but it it's something that needs to be addressed right now. The roof is deteriorated on one portion now bad enough that this past fall it blew
094the siding off of it which I'm sure is impacting other interior portions of it. We're not dealing with stuff like that. The public drives by it every day and sees it. the board is heading in the right direction by at least taking the time to put a committee together and review classroom space hopefully interacting with SED because there are rooms and maybe it's not a perfect scenario but there are rooms that will facilitate one-on-one testing and a much smaller room that are available and currently being used for storage if SED permits the use of that type of room for these different deals. I applaud the comments I heard earlier by a noncurriculum specific room being used throughout the day for multiple functions which is the way a room should be used. maximize the utilization of
095all of these rooms and you need to put a plan together because there is the possibility that when the vote then comes up for vote it's going to get voted down again and when that happens I don't know how that impacts the timeline on the allotted merger percentages uh you know with whether we can jump in quick and get a you know move forward with something else to get out before the voters but if this thing goes down we're going to be looking at another period of time either stay in the situation we've got between two schools or have a plan in place to utilize this to the best of the ability. >> Okay. Thank Thank you, Mr. Jetson. >> Yes. One more question. >> Yeah. So, you can't tell me that everyone in one
096building that's being used for all those different functions, but I I I really think like I really would love to see a map with all the functions in every room because I I don't know how you guys are kids here. I don't. Um, also, can we talk about the prek? What's going to happen in prek? They have different standards to be here. Are we going to lose that program altogether? That helps the parents in our community work. that helps uh officer students that are ready for kindergarten. Um just something else to throw on there. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Yes. Thanks. >> Just want to tell the board that different rooms can be used for different things. When I was at the hospital, I was utilization review risk management and discharge planning. And
097you know what my room was, my office? It was a bathroom. a bathroom and that was at my office, but it didn't affect what I did. I still was able to do my discharge planning, risk management. It was a bathroom. I had a toilet, but it didn't work. It was unhooked. I couldn't see what was going on outside because I had no window. I had to go out in the patient's hallway and look out the window. Oh, yes, it's snowing. Oh, okay. But that's what I'm saying that you can put people in a small room and it doesn't affect what they do. I don't think my evaluations were fine after I got moved to the bathroom. That was my office. I did my job and I did it well. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Yes.
098Just I want to say really quickly, I understand the need to plan for a contingency like if it's in in 2026 the voters say no to the referendum. However, if this is the referendum that the board has approved from the facilities committee that worked all year with public input, you know, we have plenty of public input or opportunities for that. What I would hope is that whatever plan y'all are signing off on that you push it out in the community that you are behind this enthusiastically that you are not whispering about contingency plans out one side of your mouth and the other side saying, "Oh, well, here you go. Sorry." But if this is the plan that you really want to do with the addition, then please be the ones, be the leaders in our
099community getting the word out to people about pride. This is the best plan. And I know some of y'all sat in those meetings, every single one. And you all came to the table and said, "Yes, this is the plan." I know there was some dish, but overall, you voted yes on this. So, please be the leaders our community needs in getting out the information that needs to get out there so we don't shoot ourselves in the foot before the vote even comes. I think that's what we need the most is we need everybody talking to as many people as they can and getting good information out. But it comes first from the board because this is your plan. The facilities plan that you voted already approved on approved last spring. That is the plan in
100terms of my unless the plan is going to shift break. That's the plan that my understanding is what we're moving forward. >> Okay. Thank you very much. I think we've had a lot of very good input from and I thank you all for your willingness to speak. >> We still have another one. Okay. Shar >> Sarah Broad New York. First of all, I want to d you know what Sarah has just said. Again, having served on the facilities committee, it would be incredibly disappointing to me personally if this board put out a put out a referendum that they didn't support verbally in the community. If this is what you are asking the community to vote on, you have got to be the leaders in in letting people know that this is the best plan for
101our school going forward. At this point, I also want to say in response to Mr. Speaker that when I was teaching in Willsboro, I was a re I was a resource teacher. My classroom was in the boiler room. Do you think that was fair to my students? It does make a difference where you are and what space you are teaching in and what place you are learning in because you are sending a message to those kids that they don't count. It does matter where they are. >> Thank you. Thank you. Okay, I think we have probably time for one more comment. Yes, >> Reynolds board member for six years. I was going to say similar to what Sarah Shar did. I'm very concerned that few of our board members don't support a plan going forward
102and they're looking at this contingency plan to use as a problem solve for everything. And I'm really disappointed that our board at the end, the attendance of our meeting has been overcome with people that are highly negative and instead of supporting doing better for the school, we're trying to do less, do less for our students, do less for our students. I understand we're in difficult financial times, but our future shouldn't have to pay for that. So, I'm not going to say any more about that, but what I will say is also we host a new visions program in this building for CBPS for the entire uh southern part of the county where these students who have medical uh aspirations for their careers. They're able to spend their day here for classroom and at the local
103hospital just steps away to do training and advanced bill. We would not be able to post that by bringing people here. So these students would have to be displaced somewhere else or maybe perhaps that program would not be able to survive because they had to have opportunity to high school. So there's a lot of people saying what everyone else said. I just forgot. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. As I said, I think that there's some wonderful comments and we certainly will take all of this into consideration. I think our purpose for the discussion, I just want to verify that was to have a plan in place in case it never hurts to plan ahead. Okay, it's not that we're not supporting what the facilities committee has proposed. If the community supports that, which
104we hope that they will, then yes, we will move ahead. But it doesn't hurt to have an alternative plan in place in case it doesn't. We need to be looking to the future and looking for a way that if we do have to transition to this building and if there is an emergency that we would have a plan in place to do so effectively and with a minimal amount of disturbance to the students. the faculty and the staff. Yes. All right. I'm gonna one more and then that's it. We have to continue on because we're over 15 minutes now. my confusion that talked about. So you can understand why the public is a little bit confused about our status because that is not that somebody organization looking for that is confusing to the public. So,
105I would just say clarifying those sorts of things, you'll probably understand. >> All right. Thank you very much. All right. We're going to continue on with number 18, executive session. Specifically, the board anticipates entering into executive session for the following reason. A number six to discuss the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or persons and number two uh the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition, sale or exchange of securities but only when po publicly would substantially affect publicity would substantially affect the value of these things. Okay. Do I have a motion to enter into executive session? >> Thank you, Paige. Thank you, Tom. >> Excuse me. Are we going to be making any decisions after this executive session or is no decision going to be
106made? >> Um, I do not believe that we will be making any decisions after the executive session. And it may prove to be lengthy. So, some of you may not want to stick around. It's entirely up to you. But it will be a lengthy session. Okay. So we have a motion and we have a second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Any abstensions? Motion accepted. Okay.