July 1st, 2025 - Board of Education Meeting (Reorganization Meeting)

001Good evening and welcome to the July 1st meeting of the Anture Central School District Board of Education. My name is Amanda Gates and I'm the district clerk. I'll be opening the meeting this evening until the board elects a new president. We have a tobacco policy in place. There's no smoking permitted within 100 ft of any school building. At this time, please rise for the pledge. I will now take roll call. Trusty Kunson here. Trusty Jerome here. Trusty Mitchell Moral here. Trusty Goodrich here. Trusty Her Trusty Bishop here. Thank you. Item 2.01. I will now administer the oath of office to the board trustees whose term begins July 1st. Miss Jenny Jared, will you please come forward so you can take your oath of office? Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you

002will support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of New York and that you will faithfully discharge the duties of trustee to the best of your abilities? I do. Thank you. Trusty Jared, you may have a seat at the table. Next, Mr. Smith, will you please come forward so I can take your oath of office? Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of New York and that you'll faithfully discharge the duties of trustee to the best of your ability? I do. Thank you. You may have a seat at the table. Item 3.01. I will now call for nominations of the board president. Trustees, please raise your hand if

003you'd like to nominate someone for the position of board president. Trusty Jerome, I would like to nominate uh Cindy Bishop. I want to recognize that so much comes across our shared desk as a board and you do an incredible job. You always show up. you're on call 247 and I am very happy to have such a great president and to or to nominate such a great potential next uh president uh to renew the term. So Cindy, are there any other nominations? The board of education hereby nominates Trusty Bishop for president for the 2025 20 26 school year. May I have a motion to approve this nomination? Trusty Mitchell Moral may have a second. Trusty Goodrich. All in favor. That's unanimous. Congratulations. May continue the meeting. Item 4.01. Um, I would like to call for nominations

004for board vice president. Trustees. Trusty Jared. Thank you. I would love to nominate Trustee Kudson for vice president. Learned a lot watching him and I think he would be a wonderful in that role. Thank you. Are there any other nominations for board vice president? May I have a fir Oh, sorry. Go ahead. No, I just wanted to second that nomination. Um Rick, you've been you've shown a true facility. I can't see you for detail and um and excited that uh that Jenny put your name up there. So, is that a second? I don't know. Yeah. Okay. All in favor? That's unanimous. Thank you. Great. Thank you all so much. On to item 6.01. Members of Clark Patterson Lee and SC. Oh. Oh, so sorry. Oath of office. Skipped right over it. So, shall we come

005up to you, Amanda? Okay. President Trusty Bishop, please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you'll support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of New York and that you'll faithfully discharge the duties of board president to the best of your ability? I do. Thank you. Trusty Kenson, please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of New York and that you'll faithfully discharge the duties of board vice president to the best of your ability? I do. Thank you. All right. Now on to item 6.01. U members of Clark Patterson Lee and Schoolhouse Construction will be available to answer questions from the board regarding the capital project. What

006you want to take it? um if if our representatives want to come to the podium, but I will share that after um a conversation yesterday uh and work with um these incredible representatives that we have. Misslair and I took some of the discussion that we had and some of the numbers that um we were given to try and just create items that we can discuss. So these are necessarily things that we are saying this is what we think we should do although they are things we can do. Um so the document that we uh that you have in front of you the first three slides are the original slides that were in our presentations um as we were working towards uh the vote in May. The following three slides are revised with potential reductions in

007scope um or costs. So um the first slide is showing the elementary work uh and the original and I'll invite Missclair to feel free to jump in any time but the original um elementary work with construction and incidentals would have been 46 million 351152. Um what we had talked about was potentially um changing some of the content in the new gymnasium. So not changing the size, but some of the finishes, maybe pulling the bleachers out, assuming that we could purchase those at a later time. So that was a reduction of about $400,000. Um talking about renovating the music rooms, not changing the square footage, not changing the shape, but still um soundproofing and doing new finishes. So that um reduced potentially the cost of those music rooms from $2.2 million to uh 1.06. Um, and

008then doing some changes in the reconfiguration of the cafeteria and kitchen, which would include different finishes. Um, with the realization that we have not we don't have a wood floor in the cafeteria, which um does actually reduce some of the cost there. It's a vinyl floor in that kitchen or that um the gym right now. That would be the cafeteria. Um so that would reduce that from 4.3 million to 4 million. So not not a huge change there, but just looking at things that we could possibly do. So for the secondary work, high school science classrooms, um we originally had 3.96 uh in there. If we were to downgrade some of the finishings, it would be 3.5 million. Um depending on how the board wanted to consider the other spaces in the high school, we

009had um tentatively just removed the counseling center, main office, nurses office, and auditorium renovations. Not that we're trying to make decisions for the board. This is just things to consider. Um and obviously saved a significant amount of money. Um, and the campus site work, we have not necessarily made uh any changes on the possible scope, but we were talking with CPL and um analyzing the parking spaces that we will potentially need. And we believe that even if we don't demolish the bus garage, we would still have ample parking spaces on our central campus. Um, so that could potentially save another 800,000 and probably the upgrade to the east end parking lot would be able to be reduced in some way, but we didn't we didn't really have time to explore that. So, we didn't um

010remove those numbers. But, um, with those things that we were contemplating, you can see that we went from a $70 million total to a $63 million total on the last page. This is all just meant to be um food for discussion and whether the board would want to consider um breaking it up into two propositions, having it be building and instructional and then campus and site work. I think those are all things that we can contemplate and that um CPL and schoolhouse would be very uh adept at helping us work through. Did I forget anything? Do trustees have questions for our guests? Trusty Jerome, thank you for breaking this out. Um I know that at the last meeting there was discussion about um limiting the number of classrooms. I'm still unclear where like going to

011six. We had Todd talks about like what you know how the state is most like will not should say most likely will reimburse for classrooms da da da but we had talk talked about bring that number down. Is that reflected at all in this discussion tonight? We did not include that um as an option just considering the the projected enrollment um bringing it to wouldn't very comfortably fit all the students that we want to fit in the building. If that's something we want to consider, then we just have to make alternate plans for additional space for those extra students. Okay. Um yeah, just a question and again I think that I need more understanding about um I understand what you're saying that it depends on the enrollment but I don't understand like on a granular

012level like how that projects out you know because we're going to get this many people in this year and um uh you know we need this many people in the classroom and we have these many sections. I'm sure it gets quite detailed, right? Um to come up with that number of 10 and it would be great to understand that a little bit more from my perspective on the board how others feel. So from what I understand the difference between 10 classrooms and six didn't seem to be that big a savings because of the effects on the New York State Building Aid, is that correct? Didn't sound like it was a big win. [Music] So, the way that the state looks at building aid, and Chris, you can correct me if I misspe, please. So, basically,

013the district does enrollment studies. they hire out to get an enrollment study done. And based on those projections, SED looks at the peak enrollment number over a certain amount of year period to base what you would get aid on. So if you have 400 and something students, depending on the classroom size per the grade level will determine how many classrooms you are allowed to get aid on. So if all the students potentially were coming from Woodstock, you would need more classrooms to support those students, which then those classrooms would be aidable from the state because you are showing the need for those classrooms. If you don't bring the students over from Woodstock and you're just going to build the classroom addition on Bennett, you would have to show proof that you need those classrooms, that

014your enrollment numbers show the need for that for the state to support the addition essentially. So last time we had a discussion about two propositions versus one. Uh and two propositions that are if they were both passed on the same date, I think we sort of agreed that it doesn't matter fiscally. um you could bid the same contractor across the two propositions. Uh is that true or I know you're going to research that. So I think we were deferring to some attorney and whether we're fiscal adviserss just to confirm. I don't know if we had a chance to do that, Monica. I did not hear back but as far as the bidding piece that we can do. So you can bid both projects together. The issue is going to be if the work for the

015proposition is higher than what the voters approved. Can that money then be taken? And that's what we're trying to clarify that piece. But they definitely can be bid together. So you still have the economy of scale and the efficiencies by bidding two propositions as one project. Um it's where it's whether or not the funding can cross over the two propositions that that's what we're not 100% sure on yet and how we would track that financially too. Would you repeat that? And if we how we would track that financially too. So in contractor's pay apps, we'd have to make sure that their totals in the pay app wouldn't exceed either of those propositions at that point. Trusty Jerome. So, just to my fellow public trustees, one of the reasons I ask about the the classrooms um

016is because some of the things that were eliminated from the um the middle school high school work, you know, I just like to be able to have that discussion about, you know, I understand that we get we can get we can add 10 classrooms when Woodstock closes. So, we're going to build 10 classrooms, but it's going to be enough savings to build like a work on the auditorium or create nurses offices that are then I'd like to just have that out there also as a possibility. Um, that's why I asked to look at to understand it in more detail um for the members of our board. Trusty Mitchell Morell. Um I guess I just would love to discuss like from a voter perspective this being 14 million like the two pe main reasons people voted

017it down were that it was too much money or that they were hoping to keep Wood open and I feel like this doesn't necessarily solve either of those problems. So I would just be concerned we're kind of going down the same road. Like I don't think the people who didn't want to spend 70 million are down to necessarily spend 64. Even with the I understand the tax neutrality, but just being realistic. I almost feel like we're repeating ourselves. I think we need to take a look at the whole project from a different perspective. and the perspective like I know I 100% hear and understand that Woodstock folks do not want to close Woodstock Elementary School. But if our enrollment continues to decrease the way it is, we're going to have to. And there's no way

018that we can keep the two elementary schools open. There's the educational equity is not there. The services for students with special needs is not where it should be. I mean, it's not like we're doing a terrible job, but we're not doing the job that we could be doing. And and I do believe that if we look at the project from a different perspective, we may be able to even as a board, we may be able to agree that closing Woodstock and moving to a central campus over a number of years is the right move. And if we don't have if we don't include those 10 classrooms, we then we're going to have to do another proposition like we'll have I don't know, we'll have enhanced um you know safety vestibules and drop off places and

019parking areas and and all that, but then we won't have room to move all of the kids to one to one central campus to one building. So I I feel like that's why we have to really take a look at trying to preserve those the addition of 10 new classrooms and reductions in other places you know maybe downscaling the I don't know the accuchant trusty Jerome I think I look at it a little bit differently I agree it needs to be reframed I agree that if we lose $7 million in foundation aid, we're going to be at a place where we're going to have to make a we're going to have to make a move. I guess the way that I feel about it is that as we look at shaving these numbers, we could

020the voters may decide to close it in a way that doesn't make sense to us, right? without those 10 10 classrooms in place um with the middle middle school and high school at a place where people want it. Um I know that we understand what the best transition could look like, but I think it's also important to know that it might be a clumser clumsier or a messier or a less not what we had seen as the the transition. So, I still think it's important to ask these questions and if we are interested in like coming around it at different ways, it's sort of like there's several ways that this could go down. How do we how do the voters want it to go down, right? And really presenting them honestly with the different the

021different options. So, um, yeah, those are just some thoughts I had had about how it might be it might mean not the way that it looks good on paper because, you know, that's that's what we're that's where people are at, you know. Trusty Kusen, can I just say something and then and then you're next. So what just came popped into my mind was if we looked at the additional classrooms as a set of six classrooms, those four classrooms that we would be reducing the cost by could potentially be our fifth grade, which could potentially be, you know, this building could potentially become a 5 through 8 middle school and a 9 through 12 high school. So that is something that we could actually take a look at um and not and not kind of um

022make our build too small to fit our enrollment even currently. Trusty Kudson. Yeah, thank you. Um I just wanted to go back to I first of all I just wanted to remind everybody and I think this is correct that those on the margins those extra class four classrooms is among the lowest cost per unit. Uh in other words building four more classrooms is doesn't add a huge amount to the to the bottom line. Is that correct? Yes. Classrooms are usually the cheapest thing to build. It's like the cheapest thing we're building just just just from a practical and sorry if I could add you also get the most return on that aidwise. So in most terms people build classrooms to fund other things. You know what I mean? So whatever leftover aid from that you

023can use for gymnasium auditorium things like that you just get a piece of the money back. Sorry. Um classrooms give you the most return as well. So you'll make the most from the most classrooms you build, which is why typically build people build classrooms first and then use that aid to fund other pieces of the building project. Thank you. Um, so the other question I just that I asked last time that I just wanted to return to is this sort of uh potential crisis. you know, we're all, you know, have in mind that um, you know, things are moving in the in the polity and nationally and on the state level that could lead to us losing quite a bit of funding. And so we may, as as we've said before, we may need to

024make a move on relatively short notice. Um, today a lot of funding was cut from the federal budget uh in the Senate. Um, and I think that's going to filter down to our state. Um so um my my question that I asked last meeting was sort of a safety question. You know, if we're bringing uh if we need to bring more buses in, is that for example, that new bus drop off lane sort of an essential to be safe? Um, you know, I'm I'm wondering, you know, we've talked various ways of of breaking this up into multiple propositions, but to me, if we are potentially facing that kind of situation in as short as couple of years, that maybe one way to frame it is to think of a safety first, you know, kind of

025package um uh that that would enable us to to move quickly and safely if we need to. you know, if our programs are going to be compromised by a precipitous sudden um funding drop. Um, and the other uh thought that has been uh I've been thinking about is I wonder if uh um we have um it's not the full 15 million in our capital reserves, right? We have something like six, seven, eight million in them right now. We have a little over six. A little over six. Correct. Currently, so if there and I I'm still asking whether there's pieces of this that we really need to have in place to be able to go to a central campus situation safely. And maybe that's what the first six million should go to if we're not sure

026what the how the voters are going to behave, you know. Uh and uh so could could you address that um that question of just the mechanics of getting all the children in our district to this site safely and what if can we do that now or do we need some of the things that are on here? Trusty Kson, can I just clarify in order to use the six million that's in reserve the voters have to approve it? Correct. Correct. So, so what I what I'm saying is, you know, something like I I'm now I'm just imagining in my head, but something like a bus drop off lane is fairly straightforward. Um, if it was a separate pro and and if it's presented to the voters as we need to do this to be safe, I

027think I think that would pass easily. I I I think that would I would hope that would pass easily. And that's something maybe we could start, you know, a little sooner. I'm spitballing here. I you know I don't know what the best way to do this is but I I am very concerned that we not we're we're a year closer to being after the guminatorial election now than we were a year ago. So we really need to sort of figure out you know a plan B if the voters don't you know won't approve anything. So Tessy Goodrich. So I'll just comment first of all thank you for providing these slides and uh updates. Um I guess the reduction in the high school science classrooms uh not in favor of that. I'd like to keep the

028higher amount. Um we uh we seem to always uh push the science and classrooms down to make them a low priority. I'd like to keep that as a high priority. Um, the way I see if we're going to have two propositions, the way I've kind of envisioned it is we would have the elementary work in one proposition and the secondary, middle school, high school, and the campus site work in a second proposition. And from what I understand from the last meeting, uh, that could be done, each one of those could be done separately. Um hopefully that's still true. Could you repeat? Sorry. So if we did the elementary work in one proposition, one bond and the secondary work and campus site work in a second proposition and a second bond. Uh I believe those two

029could be done separately. Yeah, that's my understanding. Yes. Yeah. So um and the elementary work does include what trustee Kitson was saying does include the drop off lane. So and the other thing is I think with the 10 classrooms and if we do the 10 classrooms in the elementary work that kind of further justifies all the work in the music room and the the uh the uh cafeteria as well as the outdoor space. So, if we didn't do 10 classrooms, I don't know how New York State Ed would uh reimburse us for all that other work because we supposedly have less students. I I don't know. I I don't know what the reason would be to reduce it from 10 classrooms down to six. It didn't make any sense to me. It doesn't sound like

030it's be a big savings. Yeah. In terms of dollar figures, it's not as much as some of the other things we're discussing, but it depends on what your end goal is, too. That's part of the Trusty Jared. Thank you. So, um I did want to circle back to Rick's question about how much of this work that's in here would be considered um basic safety if we did need to bring all of the elementary school children into the Bennett campus, even if that meant rearranging our grade level distribution. And I do have two other questions after that, but I would love to hear about that. Thanks. Yeah. So I I I think the logic of of you know leading with a safety your base prop and safety concerns and things like that we could you know

031uh mix and match some of the scope work um with any kind of like main goal in mind and and I believe the safety issue is definitely a good thing to kind of lead on. We've got the you know the drop off lane, the security vestibule. Um you could potentially say that windows are a safety improvement too. So you can kind of go through this right as a team and as a group and you know um and as a committee you know decide what what as a group what is the priority there for the for the safety pieces. I think that's something we could definitely look into. So when we put this together it's sort of an if this then that approach right so we're like the existing facility could really use an improvement to

032have this bus loop for Bennett. That's the big if. Then what? So then we have the vestibule. Then what? We have to extend the building. Then what? And then it's like it just keeps growing to a point. I mean, what I'm hearing and I'm wondering is could we structure this around the six classrooms and relook at how we're doing the layout with the potential to add four more down the road, which somebody mentioned maybe that would end up being another prop or whatever. But at that point, you know, we we look at things through lenses, and this is like a new lens for us to kind of consider all different angles. So, I don't see why we couldn't look at this in a different light. So, the way the plan is set up now, it

033is easy to carve off four classrooms off the back. um with the way the vestibule is situated and the like lower four kindergarten classrooms if you're remembering the plan that have the bathrooms was always planned to be towards the front of the building. So you could easily have the six classrooms with the vestibule tied to the drop off loop and then just knock off the four at the back and like Cindy was saying that could potentially be a whole grade level that if you wanted to look at could the middle school high school support that grade level that's something that you guys would have to decide. Oh, thank you. Um, does the total here, this this new working total of 63121 980, does that include um possibly eliminating some of the elements that we discussed

034or that um you all discussed in the last meeting like the food truck hookup and the student commons. Are is that also included in this number even though it's not on the chart? Yes. Okay. Can you just tell us what those other items are that we knocked out to make that 63? It's the student commons. Are they on here? And I'm just not seeing I don't think they're listed on there. Yeah, the student commons are still there. Uh on slide five, all of the campus and site work uh remained the same. And again, I just want to reiterate uh Miss Llair and I just did this and uh worked with our representatives just to have an idea to talk about so the board can take and mix and match and put things back or take

035other things out, you know, as you see fit. But we wanted to give just an something to start the conversation. Understand? And in that case, I just would like to express my support for not cutting out of our music room renovations um in order to keep uh the student comments. I just want to point that out. I think our music program is wonderful and I think we can keep that 700 there. Thanks, Tracy Mitchell Morell. Um, I I mean maybe I already said this, but I just like kind of want to say I'm just like curious and I'm asking this very genuinely. I'm just like why would people vote like the people who didn't vote for this? Do you think the difference of 15 million will kind of push them over the edge? Because I

036just feel like the reasons we went over that people didn't vote for it. I just find those reasons are still here and I just don't know if making these tiny cuts here and there are gonna like bring those voters around. Like I'm not saying I know how to get them, but I just find this too similar. And I just am thinking like why are we making these tiny cuts here and there of stuff that could make it better when the reasons like the distrust and want to keep Woodstack open and spending a lot of money are still there. I mean, is anyone else seeing what I'm seeing or just like I just like how can we I don't I just think we need to see this from more of a voter perspective and I just

037don't find this different enough. But I don't want to cut anything like that's not what it is. I just think we could be literally doing the same thing we already did. Trusty Jerome. Well, I agree in some ways. I think that the structure of the proposition certainly if we put out if we tried two propositions I think that would be a big difference in the way that we presented uh plan to the public in the first place. Um and I'm cur I'm curious to know if you think that the same if the same way. Um and then also um kind of accepting the fact that with two propositions the path forward would look a little different than what we had laid out originally. Do you think that that's true or not true? I'm curious. I

038do think having two or even three as Clark suggested, I don't know exactly what those propositions would be would move us more likely move us forward. Like I just am scared of going through this whole process again and then being like, "Oh, whoops. We did it again." You know, like we want it to be like kind of shake things up. And I do think two or three is probably just the best way to move it forward at this point. Yeah. So to be clear, I do want everything here. I Okay, I I I do support that. That's going to be what's best for the students. Uh but as some of the other trustees said, it's it's tough to get all that. Some of the voters may not agree. And uh if we do break it

039up, if I'm looking at the elementary building work. That's 44.7 million. Um, I don't know, maybe Monica can do her magic and, you know, try to make that sound good with the way it's going to get paid from the savings of closing both Phoenicia and Woodstock. Uh, so that that one I think is going to be the hard one to pass. But if we take the savings from Phoenicia and Woodstock and we put it towards the 44.7 million bond, uh that may be what sells it. And then the middle school, high school, and the campus site work, which comes to I don't know 18 million and change. Uh that would be another separate bond and uh yeah that would increase uh the the taxes. Trusty Kenudson. So I just want to delve into this idea

040if we if we were to split the propositions. Um I don't really see the logic of drawing a line between elementary and secondary. Um, to me the essential line here is what which of these improvements either solve a a pressing problem that we have or improve our programs? And um that that doesn't fall out neatly um between elementary and and high school. Um uh so you know um I think that's the question I'll be asking myself is like if if I'm trying to decide well is this essential to put before the voters or not. Is it solving a a pressing problem that we have? To me the 10 classrooms solve a pressing problem that we have. The bus the dropoff lane solves a pressing problem that we have. The windows obviously the science rooms are

041ancient. Bennett needs new windows. We can't wait too much longer on that. Um and I do think um I do think not you know a reducing by seven or 10 million could make a difference. I just uh just having observed sort of the politics of the first bond proposition, you know, it was actually um we have a very conservative administration who doesn't like to overstate anything, right? And if you looked at the fiscal advisor's analysis, it wasn't actually just a completely tax neutral proposition. It was a slight tax reduction, right? And so, but it it did not it did not um penetrate into the popular imagination that way. So I think if we did take, you know, a significant amount off the top and we had fiscal adviserss run the numbers again, we could communicate

042it as an actual tax burden reduction uh uh proposition, as a safety proposition, as here's what we can do academically for our kids that we can't do now. um instead. And I think there were things um that in the original proposition that turned out like the I'll just I don't want to pick on the food truck pickup hookups, but that turned out that maybe was thinking that was going to be a great thing for the community and the community would would support because of that. I think it actually served the opposite of like they're they're going too fancy. Um, so there there are even even though it doesn't save a ton of money, I think in terms of perception, I think if we can kind of really pull it back to the essentials and to

043me the essentials are our fiscal difficulties that are on the horizon and our ability to deliver better educations to our elementary kids in particular, but all our kids uh with the science rooms and everything. And I think if we really stay focused on those two principles, we can figure it out. I don't know if we're going to figure it out right now at this table, but I just wanted to point out that to me, it's not it's not this building or that building. It's what's it's essential versus maybe can wait a bit is how I would divide it because we need to do the essentials first in my opinion. Trusty Jerome and then Trusty Goodrich. So, Trusty Kson brings up a a good point on what's essential. Uh, we we do have the five-year plan,

044the five-year facility plan, otherwise called the BCS plan, I guess. So, there are a number of items here on this list that have been on that uh five-year facility plan for five years, since 2021. uh the high school science classroom, the windows at the uh Benella Elementary, I believe the track upgrade and uh was there for and drainage and I think the bus garage. So there were a number of items that were on that list and you know we could start from that but they're already included in everything here. So I I don't know if that's a good way to attack it. Um, I mean, we could move the uh the windows from Bennett over to the proposition for the second for middle school, high school, secondary work, and campus site work. But that would

045probably just confuse everybody. But that's something that does need to get done. Those uh those windows up at Bennett need to get done. They're they've been on the uh five-year facility plan and and quite frankly, the science classrooms, I'm going to use this word, they're disgusting. They haven't been upgraded in 60 plus years. And quite frankly, that's embarrassing. And I see the uh person here is from the newspaper. You can quote me on that. I was just going to say those windows would be a huge energy savings to the district. I mean, we're all about we're doing the nice sort of study and all that. So, that would be a huge angle to push that. You know, there'd be a big energy savings with that and safety. Trusty Jerome. Um, thank you, Clark. Uh, Trusty

046Goodrich. um for reminding us all that those have been on the to-do list. Um there's an urgency to those and they keep on getting pushed aside. I would also encourage us all as board members to not only think about what makes sense to us, but to trust to to understand that the voters are voting for this and they may not agree with our point of view. No matter how much sense it makes, no how no matter how practical it is to take this number of classrooms. I think that that for me was one of the big steps with the previous vote. We were we were so convinced of our position and rightly but ne I think this is a call to now respond and I think that talking about multiple propositions breaking making sure that

047this this work that we've promised to be done is done. um potentially looking at things like moving windows, not moving, you know, when I don't I don't know what it looks like yet, but I'm very grateful that we're having this open conversation um and trying to look at to widen our perspective and step around this issue a little bit more than we were willing to do before. So, patting us on the back. Thank you. Uh Trusty Mitchell Morell and then Trusty Jerome, I'm sorry, Jared. I mean, it's just I mean, we all have things that are essential to us. And I guess I just wanted to say I think the I don't I mean, I have no affiliation. I've never even like been to a football game, but uh the sport the sports part I

048feel like is so important in such a rural area to have people be able to be together, have free extracurricular like that's just like I don't find that extra. Not everyone's an academic. like this is where people maybe are learning more or you know feel connected and I I just don't want that to become like a secondary thing because like it's just sports you know and so I guess like that's sort of my science classroom if I was Clark. This is so fascinating and so many great perspectives and great input and I think what I'm wondering right now is what is the process here um that creates the next plan is this you know I last meeting was wonderful a lot of really great great questions and then even more great thoughts and questions tonight

049and I'm just wondering um how we get from all of these big sort of intangible ideas to start to get into what the next version of this looks like. And adding into that on the agenda later tonight is um a proposal to have Dr. Bachmann returned to give us um a new report around building utilization and the three scenarios that we could have now that we're two elementaryaries, middle, high school. So I would just love to hear from your perspective what a successful productive discussion around getting from point A to point B would look like starting where we are now. It's a it's a good question. So, part of the process is what we're doing here tonight and and having healthy, open discussions about, you know, what works, what doesn't. You know, all the conversations

050I've heard tonight are great conversations, great hypotheticals. Um, you got some really good thought partners here at this table. So, uh, part of the process is really, um, sometimes it's, you know, knowing the vote date think, you know, potentially getting a revote date and then potentially working backwards from there. But ultimately, it would be somewhat, you know, one, we could build on the great foundation work that we've already done. You know, a vote that, you know, didn't pass necessarily isn't you got to start from scratch again. It's, you know, you build off of what you've learned, you know, and and talking about perception of things and, you know, priority list and all that makes sense. This is politics. This is planet earth. Sometimes, you know, when you think you got something practical, well, you know,

051others might have a different opinion. So, that's that's just part of the process. So, ultimately, but to get to get this a little bit more grounded, it would be, you know, committee meetings, the same committee that we had last time. It would be CPL, schoolhouse, administrators, um principles, students, even people that we would bring in to have uh productive conversations to see how we could repackage. Um but ultimately talking about two separate propositions, again, talking about perception, talking about athletics and things that are non-negotiables and essentials, you know, and uh you know, sometimes a a vote that didn't pass is somewhat part of the process. you know, you know, the give and take of things, right? The compromise, the, you know, not everybody's going to get what they want and, you know, the compromise is

052where we meet in the middle. Um, so I'm I'm, you know, I'm hopeful in a sense, but the process would be very similar to the process that we did for this vote, which was committee meetings and then recommendations and then the approval from the board on those recommendations. So, it's not done in a vacuum. It's done with a lot of people. Um, and really it's it it's how long do we want to take before we revote? And I think that's a big picture question that we all need to think about. Um, you want to kind of capitalize on on, you know, the the momentum or the buzz of things. Um, but at the same time, you don't want to go out too quick. So there there's that level of uh, you know, um, consideration as

053well. So ultimately, the process is s somewhat similar um, and and it could be different this time. more meetings or less meetings, more community forums, less. So, it's ultimately up to the group on on how we want to um you know, go go from here, but uh typically if if you're doing six to nine months later, which is you know, I know there's a legal requirement of of there's a gap, you can't do it right away. Um, you know, but the the process would be committee meetings and then talking with the fiscal adviserss, talking with your bond council, getting all these people involved to do another proposition, getting all that legal language put together. So, that that takes time. Um, but yeah, hopefully I answer your question. You know, there is a there is a

054lot to it, but it'd be a similar process to what we went through. So, that was so helpful. Thank you so much. No problem. No problem. I would just add maybe if we were to do this round again that we maybe do a few more physical presentations in the Woodstock area if that seems to be the stronghold of the no voters maybe being right there in their neighborhood more frequently might help get the word bless you help get the word out. Yeah, it's it's almost like we need a community forum just for the no voters, you know, or whatever however they voted no, you know, if they could come and talk and we could listen, you know, I just an idea, but you raised a good point about the timeline. Uh if we have um

055Dr. Bachman, you know, give us a presentation in mid October is is and we probably won't come to an agreement until this next board meeting after that, which should be the end of October, 1 of November. And is that enough time to get a vote out in December? I that sounds tight. So, I don't know. I think last time, didn't you say that like It would be either a November or a May thing or am I imagining that? I think I said I'd prefer December or May before the holiday usually happens goes much better than closely after the holiday. Okay. So, I see a lot of success in the fall, early winter and then really at your budget vote. And just one followup from that what I heard from all of you which you know

056I'm marking down like how can we move forward but like as board members figuring out for us what is essential you know um and then the vote date I think is another big thing that we can start to really think about what is realistic there and then Clark to your point um I think we held a lot of conversations who held with people who held our same point of view. I know we did hold some presenta we presented to people who held a different point of view, but did we talk to them? Um, I have questions around that, but I like this idea of maybe showing up and trying to not just present, but listen back. um and expecting that those conversations will be um you know well no I'm I'm asking the people who

057might attend to keep an open mind like we're trying to keep an open mind we're trying to get to a decision so please come and express your opinion but like with the idea that we're going to try to find a resolution together um that would be how I would encourage um ourselves and the people that we're talking with to to come to the conversation. So, you're recommending that um if we were going to do public presentations outside of the school district, maybe in Woodstock or um other areas that had a higher number of no voters that you would join us and be a part of the conversation. Yeah, that would be great. Trusty Jared, I just want I just for for the the hearing of it, I'm just a little uncomfortable that I feel like

058it's getting framed that Woodstock voting no on the prop in order to keep the elementary school open was like the contingent that voted no. And that wasn't my takeaway from the polls. So, I just and I know I've been watching these meetings for years. So, I just wanted to reiterate just my understanding that that's one portion of the no vote, but there was also a very large portion of the no vote that was voted no on our annual budget, you know, which was clearly was that like 900 and something no 600 no votes on just the annual budget. So, I think that I agree that getting out and talking to the folks that didn't see the vision is a great idea. I just want to make sure that we have the big the whole picture

059in our minds. That's all. Thank you. Yeah, that's a really important point. Trusty Jerome. Absolutely. And um I would say that you said what is essential. I think it's not only important for us to figure out what's essential to us but to really in these conversations for whatever reason there was a no vote to be clear um to understand what would be essential and can and what can we do with that um you know is it a dollar amount is it a piece of work is it you know understanding what that is trusty Goodrich yeah Just to be clear, I mean, we're we're doing this for the students. I mean, everything we're doing here is for the students, whether it's, you know, the track upgrades so that they don't have, you know, stumble and and

060break their ankles or, you know, the the turf field, you know, again, uh those things get pretty pretty ruddy and, you know, it's a safety issue. Um, you know, and and everything. I mean, it's how do we upgrade to the, you know, modern classrooms in the 21st century. I don't think we could upgrade both Bennett and Woodstock to be this modern new elementary that I don't think New York State Ed would prove it number one and you know how do how do we get there how do we upgrade everything so and and we know that you know having a centralized campus is going to really help the students and and people have mentioned as part of Dr. Bachman's initial um study that you know some of some of the uh there were many many options

061and one of them was to keep Woodstock open I think keep Woodstock and Phoenicia open and close Bennett and I think that we all would agree that at this point We know that um parents of Woodstock children are not happy thinking about their kids getting on a bus and and coming to Boyceville. They feel like it's too long of a bus ride. But I think we all would agree that picking kids up at the western end of the district and taking them all the way to Woodstock for, you know, if that were the only elementary school, that would really be an impossibility. I mean, there are a handful of kids who live out in Pine Hill and and, you know, way out by Bair who do go to Woodstock for their special program, but I

062certainly wouldn't be comfortable um making that our only elementary school. And like you said, there's probably little hope that state ed would approve upgrades for both buildings at this point. Any other questions for our architects, our engineer, our construction manager? So, what's our next step? I think the board really needs to um digest everything that we talked about tonight. look at these charts and and as I've heard, sort of create priorities and really decide what um what the board wants the propositions to look like. Um we don't have another meeting until August 19th. If we need to schedule a meeting, maybe just to talk about this and not have it necessarily be a full business board meeting, I think everyone would understand. I would certainly um want to be here and help that process kind

063of depending on the the timeline that we want to follow. I think we need to get to work. Trusty Jerome then trusty Goodrich. I know I'm like a dog with a bone, but what is the cost of the classrooms? Is it just impossible to say? Did you say that last time? I think I did. I just don't remember what remember what you said. Okay. Maybe I'll go back and I'll look. But like I would just like to know. Can't quote me on that. I want to say it was like 1.3, but I'd have to go back back and look. Okay. Okay. Cuz I'm just trying to again like as we start to like sift through these numbers and if it's in the last meeting, I can easily watch it and figure out. So, I guess

064I'm be asking Monica to do some more work here, but if we could have some additional slides that we have had that follow this like a financing summary and accumulated savings discussion and you know I guess u how do we pay for this and what would that look like to the taxpayers if we had um broken this out into two propositions? Trusty Jerome, are you asking what is the cost of a classroom like of each? Oh, six. Okay. Was that right? Was 1,300,000 the cumulative instead of 10. I think that was for the So, I was just going to see if I had my bag. I think my bag's in my truck, but I think I have it in there. I can run out or I can look on my phone. I think 1.3 was

065the savings if we didn't do the four classrooms. Oh, okay. That's okay. Okay. All right. Trusty Kudson. So, I just want to remind everybody of the novel concept that was introduced in our governance core reading of the discussion meeting. Like this seems the p the perfect way to inaugurate a discussion meeting ahead of the sometime between now and the the August 19th meeting. Hopefully maybe in July at some point. to really roll up our sleeves and you know it's a publicly noticed meeting and it's for the purpose of it's not doesn't have a full agenda but it's for the purpose of discussion that was going to be my suggestion for sure superintendent um I just wanted to clarify trustee um good's request so for us to for misslair to figure out the financing and the

066funding it would depend on what is included so we we have to have that conversation first and then based on the composition of the project, then we can get the the financing and the funding because we're not going to know what the state aid is unless we know what's in the project. So, can we pull the Not tonight, but can um can we ask the board clerk to pull the board and see if we can find a a time to meet maybe later in July or early in August? And could the board clerk include our illustrious guests as well? Is that it? Are you guys okay with that? Yeah. Good. Okay. All right. Good. Any other specific questions for tonight or any other comments? All right. Thank you so much. Yeah. Thank you. [Music] Item

0677.01. Um, may I have a motion to enter into executive session to discuss on TIA negotiations and to meet with legal counsel? Trusty Kudson. Second. Trusty Jerome. Any questions or comments? All right. Uh, we'll vote. All in favor? That's unanimous. Uh, we should be back in around 30 minutes. We are back from executive session. May I have a motion to exit executive session and return to the public session? Trusty Jerome. Second, Trusty Goodrich. Any questions or comments? All in favor? Trusty Mitch Morell, are you in favor? Are you in favor? Okay, that's unanimous. Okay. All right. And uh after this we will go to like roll call voting and um we did explain Trusty Kudson and I met with uh Trusty Smith and Trustee Jared and we explained to them that you know we'll call

068on each trustee to vote and you just you know click on your mic and say yes or no and uh we'll move forward. All right. Um, item 8.01 uh is acceptance of minutes and the board of education hereby accepts the minutes of the June 17, 2025 meeting. May I have a first? Trusty Derome. Second. Trusty Mitchell Morurell. Any questions or comments? We'll vote. Trusty Smith. Yes. Trusty Jared. I trusty Kudson. I Trusty Jerome I Trusty Mitchell Morell I trusty Goodrich I Great that's unanimous. Thank you. See it's going to take me a little time to get used to that. Um on to item 9.01 annual appointments. The board of education hereby approves the appointment of district officers, stipens, fees effective July 1st, 2025 and authorizes the superintendent of schools to sign all necessary contracts. May

069I have a first? Trusty Mitchell Morell second. Trusty Jared. Any questions or comments? Okay, we'll vote. Trusty Smith. I. Trusty Jared. I. Trusty Kudson. I. Trusty Jerome. I. Trusty Mitchell Morell. Hi. Trusty Goodrich. I. That's unanimous. Thank you. On to item 9.02. 2. Other appointments. The board of education hereby approves other appointments and stipens fees listed effective July 1st, 2025, as well as resolutions on independent contract retainers and authorizes the superintendent of schools to sign all necessary contracts. Get lost. Amanda, am I reading the other resolutions there? Okay. All right. May I have a first? Trusty Jerome second. Trusty Jared. Any questions or comments? We'll vote. Trusty Smith. I. Trusty Jared. I. Trusty Kudson. I Trusty Jerome I Trusty Mitchell Morurell I trusty Goodrich I that's unanimous thank you uh item 10.01 01 authorizations. The

070board hereby authorize authorizes payroll certificate, budget transfers, check signature, alternative check signature, petty cash funds, bonding of personnel. May I have a first? Trusty Smith. Second, Trusty Kudson. Any questions or comments? We'll vote. Trusty Smith I. Trusty Jared I. Trusty Kenson I. Trusty Jerome I. Trusty Mitchell Morurell I. Trusty Goodrich I. That's unanimous. Thank you. Item 10.02 designations. The board hereby authorizes official bank deposiitories official news news newspaper for legal notices and bids. May I have a first? Trusty Jerome second. Trusty Smith. Any questions or comments? All right, we'll vote. Trusty Smith I. Trusty Jared I. Trusty Kenudson I. Trusty Jerome. I. Trusty Mitchell Morell. I. Trusty Goodrich. I. That's unanimous. Thank you. Uh item 11.02 other approvals. The board hereby authorizes mileage reimbursement, substitute teacher rates, substitute support staff rates, home instruction teacher, use

071of facilities, school lunch prices, copy rate, 2025 2026 board of registration. May I have a first? Trusty Mitchell Morurell. Second. Trusty Goodrich. Any questions or comments? All right, we'll vote. Trusty Smith I. Trusty Jared I. Trusty Kudson I. Trusty Jerome I. Trusty Mitchell Morurell I. Trusty Goodrich I. That's unanimous. Thank you. Item 11.02 insurance carriers. Be it resolved that the board hereby confirms and gives notice that on the date of this resolution, the carrier for the district's umbrella general liability and basic uh educational liability policy is Udica National and bears a policy number of CULP-1563772. The carrier for the district's commercial property policy is Udica National and bears a policy number of CPP-1563770. The carrier for student accidents is Pupil Benefits. The carrier for cyber insurance is Cobwell Cyber and the district's insurance broker is

072Reese is the Reese group. May I have a first? Trusty Jared. Second. Trusty Kenudson. Any questions or comments? All right, we'll vote. Trusty Jared I. Trusty Smith I. Trusty Canudson I. Trusty Jerome I. Trusty Mitchell Morurell I. Trusty Goodrich I. Okay, great. That's unanimous. Thank you. Item 11.03, cell phone assignments. The board of education hereby approves the following cell phone assignments as below. May I have a first? Trusty Jared. Second, Trusty Goodrich. Any questions or comments? Right, we'll vote. Trusty Smith. I trusty Jared. I trusty Kenson. I trusty Mitchell Morurell. I Trusty Jerome I Trusty Goodrich I. That's unanimous. Thank you. Item 12.01. Board of Education authorizes district treasurer to borrow sums of money. Be it hereby resolved on the on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools that the board of education of the

073Antiora Central School District authorizes the district treasurer to borrow sums of money, the total of which will not exceed $3 million at any one time during the 2025 2026 school year and to issue appropriate short-term notes according to the local finance law. Tax anticip tax anticipation notes T and revenue anticipation notes R. May I have a first? Trusty Jerome second. Trusty Smith. Any questions or comments? We'll vote. Trusty Smith. I. Trusty Jared. I. Trusty Kudson I. Trusty Jerome I. Trusty Mitchell Morell. I. Trusty Goodrich I. That's unanimous. Thank you. Item 13.01, the board of education will discuss and establish board committees for the 202526 school year. Um the board of education hereby recognizes the permanent committees and approves the temporary committees for the 2526 school year. So our permanent committees are audit facilities, districtwide safety

074committee and health and wellness. And currently our temporary committees for 2526 are policy committee, communications committee and legislative action committee. Um I know that in the uh mandatory training and possibly in our policy and and um and our onboarding um documents documentation there is a statement that the board president um appoints the the committee members. I I choose to do that in using a more democratic process. So, I'd really like to hear um from people about what committees they want. We can discuss um you know, we have uh Trusty Kudson and I did have an opportunity to chat with uh Trusty Smith and Trusty Jared uh this past weekend about, you know, what some of the committees do and um who's on them now. So, I'm interested to hear from you all. Trusty Jared and

075then Trusty Mitchell Morurell. Okay. With enormous humility, I am going to with great respect to the fact that I've literally been in this seat for an hour um suggest perhaps um the creation of a new ad hoc or temporary committee um an academics committee. And my thinking behind this um comes from my training which I just completed. Um and also our district is phenomenal. I love it. Um and when I look at the New York State report card, I don't think it's giving us the whole picture of how we're doing. That's one thought. Um, when I look from grade level to grade level because parents in New York State can opt their students out of different exams, I those numbers just can't reflect where we really are at as a district with one grade level

076having one student opt out and being this amount proficient. The next grade level had 13 students opt out, which made perhaps that proficiency level accurate or not. but also based on the very wonderful suggestion that I think came from our superintendent that Dr. Bachman's report, he focused on instruction and, you know, student achievement. And I think that we have a very interesting opportunity right now with the shifting of our elementary buildings from a combined 456 cohort to a K to 5, K to 4, K to 4, K to 4 to also just track together as a board what that looks like as far as our students academic achievement. And that um committ also look at other issues around um academics such as perhaps the AI policies um and would make suggestions could look through the

077policies that currently are in place around academic student achievement curriculum um and just simply report to and make suggestions to the board around that questions. comments from the board administration. Trusty Jerome, then Trusty Goodrich. Um I uh support this this ad hoc committee. I'd be interested in being a participant and just again understanding um with a small class very it could be a matter of one or two students that could shift the data significantly in one direction or another as has been explained to me by board members who have a better head for numbers than I do. And it would be so great, I think, if we as a board really understood um our achievements and our challenges so that we can address them and also promote them because I am a huge promoter of

078this district and um I want to be to feel like I really know the story. So, thank you um Trustee Jared for um bringing this up as a a potential opportunity. Yeah, I just wanted to say yeah, I also support this. This is great idea. I thought we had an ad hoc committee a while back. Wasn't sure what happened to that how the people from the public got nominated to that committee. I think the last large ad hoc committee in Antiora and I could be wrong was a committee that was developed to study primary um I think it was called the primary class ad hoc something primary program ad hoc committee and there were board trustees um there were you know preschool providers um administrators. Yeah, it was a large like maybe 20 people that

079and then we broke it down into subcommittees of much smaller groups, but um that was gosh like I want to say like 2012 or something. So, um I don't know that we could I I think with all we have on our table right now on our plate that it would be hard to to manage a huge committee like that because that was quite a management issue. Um but a board ad hoc committee with you know a a small committee a manageable committee um may be something and it and I think it would be great to have a team looking at the the issues that you that you spoke about. I think that sounds like a very doable committee. The only thing I would caution is for um policy review to stay with the policy committee.

080Yeah, I would agree on that. Go ahead. I think another benefit of it is that then when you report back, it brings up academics again, which we're trying to kind of get in the conversation more. So, it's like that's another benefit. So, we have two folks that mentioned um their interest in that committee and we, you know, we don't have to fill committees at this moment. Um, one thing to keep in mind is that we can only have three board trustees on any one committee uh because four would make a quorum and then there could be decision making. Um, Trusty Mitchell Morell. Um, I just wanted to say at my training, um, my first summer, someone like from New Relle or something told me to be on the audit committee as a new member and

081I thought that was really good advice and I took it and I've actually been on the same committee for two both committees for the same years. I did audit and policy and I just thought they were very helpful in getting to know stuff. Um, Sarah recommended to me being on the facilities committee which I'm interested in. You are interested in I am interested. Okay, Jesse Goodri. So, I I really like to be I was on the audit committee, so I'd like to give that up to somebody else, maybe one more trustees. Uh I really enjoy being on the facilities committee. Um I have a lot of expertise in the safety comm. Outside of that, I'm not really sure. Maybe policy, maybe communications. I think uh Trusty Kudson probably does a really good job on the

082legislative action. So, I nominate him for that. Trusty Kudson first, then Trusty Mitchell Morurell. So I'm trying to so uh the superintendent mentioned uh in terms of academics you know keeping policy and policy. So as I understand this academic committee would be more of a sort of getting our hands around data and analyzing what's going on in our district as opposed to and and also what's going on you know in in education generally. Um but umvious so I'vevious obviously stress a lot of um interest in the AI aspect of um the pilot that you know like if we needed a trustee to to go to those meetings I would be interested in doing that um I'm interested in the communications committee just because I think that's a strength of mine um writing um and I

083I so I I took the standard advice of being on audit facilities uh last year I'm happy to stay on or on either of those. And uh if I was to, I would pick policy or or the um the academic um whatever we're calling it, student performance committee. I'm probably not going to capture all this, but um I'm gonna ask I'll send an email either I will or Amanda will um and we'll list out all the uh committees and then if I'll I'll write what I think I what I think I captured and then you can correct me. Um Trusty Mitchell Morell, what were you interested in? I'm sorry. facilities. But I was gonna give you my second choices, but I can also just put that in the email again. You don't shouldn't have to

084do this. Okay. Okay. It's fine. And that's how we did it last year. It was very smooth. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, just to be clear, I mean, if there's a a popular policy and every I mean, a popular committee and everybody wants to be on it, we have to I then I do have to make a decision. Um, Trusty Jerome, so there could be an opportunity for like a flop. So, I've been I love the communications committee. I think we've started some really great things on the communications together uh communications committee together. Um but I'm seeing interest from other people. I did have an interest in the policy committee actually um and also the academic ad hoc committee. So, I would love for the, you know, for you the board president to like think

085about where you'd like to see me, where you'd like, you kind of, we've been in the comm communications committee together, so you sort of know like my style there. Would where would I best serve? I'm open to it. I have been on the health and wellness committee and I'm kind of lame on that. And so, I think I won't do that again. I think all uh uh communications ad hoc or um policy would be the choices. Thank you. Just to clarify, you're going to email us first or should we email our preferences? I'll email you first. Oh, go ahead. Do you do you want me to create a table? Is that easier? And then I can fill in what I what I found and then everyone can comment from there. Yeah, that's probably easier. Thank

086you. I think that I think that would be great. Just just what I wrote down and then if I'm wrong, do you want to maybe you and I can compare notes. Yeah. Okay, let's do that. Okay, fine. Sounds good. All right. Okay. So, who hasn't spoken or who wants to clarify any anything? Trusty Smith. Um, just as of right now, I think I would be interested uh in the facilities committee. Um, have a little bit of a background in that. So, that would be very interesting. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Jesse Jared. I would love to be on the ad hoc committee. Um I'm already serve on the safety committee as a parent representative and I'm grateful that I'd be able to stay there as a parent representative. Otherwise, um I have three years to

087go and a lot to learn. So I would just love for you to know, Cindy, if there's trustees that after being here really want to move on to something else, I am happy to serve in on any of these committees. I'm sure I will learn a lot. I mean, I think audit is really a a great training ground and it's it's a quarterly meeting and it's usually on a Monday morning, so that might be something. Trusty Jared Jared too many J's trusty trusty trusty J. Trusty Jay here. Um, I just wanted to mention and I'm kind of maybe Just mentioning this to you, Trusty Jared, that um Amanda Allison really it's the meet and greet. It's a huge huge event for our district and I can't see her right now, but I mean we know

088how much you championed that and drove that forward. Um I would hate to lose it to lose momentum. It's a huge part of the health and wellness committee. Um and so and and it just was such a great success last year. So I'm I'm just like putting a pin in that, you know, um as a thought. Sure. I just um trusty Jared, your background in PTA and enormous events um enormous festivals, carnivals would definitely be an asset to helping health and wellness to grow in a very successful reboot of me greet me. Just saying. Please add me to the health and wellness committee. Thank you. It would be my honor. I love that event. Thank you for offering. I'll join you on that. Now I feel like everyone's saying their second choice. Are we doing

089it or should I just email it? Should I keep going? Yeah. I I also am flexible. I'm interested in academic communications or health and wellness, but again, where I'm needed is fine. Okay, I'm going to add you to communications, academic, and health and wellness. Okay, I'm gonna have to consult with a few people on this. All right, Trusty. Yeah, I know. Um, and I I can't possibly ask Trusty Jared to do one more thing. This is a lot of committees. A legislative action. I mean, and legislative action is is a I mean, it's we meet when we have to, and when we have to, it's always around lobby day. Um, NISPA has a lobby day in Albany. Um we we go um uh last year we actually were sort of we were asked by um

090Stravosis to be the lead district and um you know which just means we kind of gathered other Olster um board members and um and went and met with uh both of our senators and both of our assembly persons who represent the you know huge district that we live in. You could pencil me in as a one as a potential okay member. I'm also willing to be on the roster there if it would help. Great. Trusty Goodrich, could you just go over your your interests one more time? Yeah, the um the facilities meeting committee and the safety committee and uh probably the academic committee if there's room. So I don't know if you need any more or No, I I don't think so. Um, Rick, Caroline, and me. All right. I think we've got a good

091start on committee memberships and we'll get together and get a list together. And I think it it looks to me like everybody will get will definitely get to be on committees that they want to be on. Trusty. So who was on the facilities? It was uh Rory, Trusty Smith, and myself and Trusty Mitchell Morell. Good. Yeah. And that's a nice big committee anyway. You know, it's got a lot of community members, too. All right. Are we good with committees? Oh, what do we have to vote on? Okay. All right. So um so we're voting to establish uh the or to continue um filling the part the the places on the audit committee, facilities committee, district-wide safety committee, and health and wellness. We are also going to continue with the temporary committees uh policy, communications, and

092legislative action. and we're adding an ad hoc academic committee. Does that sound like the right title, Trusty Jared? I would defer to my our wonderful superintendent and assistant superintendent on whether academics or student performance or you know what our how our district describes this. Also, aren't we also interested in instruction and curriculum or that wouldn't be part of it? Maybe that's under academic. Maybe academic is a good umbrella. And then, you know, it's going to I think it's going to take some discussion and, you know, fine-tuning to determine what the real committee work is. Um, may I have a first? Trusty Jerome. Second, Trusty Goodrich. Any questions or comments? All right, we'll vote. Trusty Smith I. Trusty Jared I. Trusty Kudson I. Trusty Jerome I. Trusty Mitchell Morurell I. Trusty Goodrich hi. That's unanimous. Thank

093you. Great conversation everyone. On to superintendent district news. All right. Um so the end of the school year was a whirlwind of events and celebrations. Thank you to all of the board trustees, administrators, families, faculty, staff, booster club members, PTA members, and community members who attended these events and supported all of our students. Graduation is of course the culmination of our students academic careers with us. And I am always struck by the camaraderie, grace, and sense of community that our students display. the true joy and pride that they have for one another are evident and wonderful to see as they celebrate each of their peers during the graduation ceremony. Um so just thank you for to everyone who participated in getting us there and who participated in the actual celebrations. We are all set to

094welcome our students to the summer skills academy. This is a K5 program that will start after the July 4th holiday weekend on Monday, July 7th and run through August 1st. The academy will be from 8:30 to 11:30 in the morning. And we are very excited to be resuming this program after our one-year hiatus last year. As everyone has likely noticed, there is a significant amount of construction happening here this summer, and it is indeed very disruptive. We are very appreciative of everyone being patient and understanding because the end result will be such an improvement to our campus. We are especially looking forward to the new security vestibule. We have engaged in planning discussions with Alteras who is our security consultant and based on their recommendations um we have prepared an RFP for security firms in

095hopes of staffing the vestibule with trained security personnel. personnel would not be armed and would not be law enforcement but would be trained um certified security personnel. So that is how we are um considering moving forward with the vestule that will be by the loading dock of this building. Um for Phoenicia we had a walkthrough with a representative of a film company last week who is interested in leasing the building from August uh mid to late August to middle of October as a film production office. So if we can agree upon terms, this will likely come to the board next month. We also had a walkthrough with the town um with the idea that the town can pursue um creating affordable housing on the Phoenicia campus. There is some assistance in this process that will

096be coming from the county, but the town would be taking the lead on this and it was a really exciting walkthrough and there is a sense that this could really um work and they that the town would work through the process this year with the plan and goal of us including the sale of that campus to the town of Shanden on our May vote ballot. Um, I do have to take a moment and recognize that this is the last board meeting that Miss Manda Allison will be attending. At our June meeting, we had some wonderful remarks from several Antior families who have had the opportunity to partner with Miss Allison and everything that was said is indeed completely true. But from an administrative perspective, Miss Allison is an incredible team member. She is the most

097empathetic and caring administrator that anyone could hope to work with. There is no task she is not willing to volunteer to do and everything she takes on she commits to 150%. I had hoped that she might stay with us for many more years, but I can say with full confidence that she is leaving her mark in Aurora and we are better for having had her as part of our community. She will not be leaving until the end of the month, but that time will fly by. She is of course doing everything she can to support Miss Griema and the PPS department to ensure a smooth transition. We will miss her very much, but I know that she is going to continue on and have a robust and successful career. And we wish her all the

098best in Red Hook and look forward to seeing her at conferences and events where we will grab our time with her. Um, I did want to mention, um, we have an outstanding RFI for Trusty Goodrich for time on the bus for K4 students. I did follow up with the transportation on that um, transportation department on that. I will share the information when I receive it. I think they maybe got caught up in endofear um, activities and I just haven't gotten the information yet and So everyone is aware, I will be out of the office with limited access to email starting tomorrow until Monday, July 14th. In my absence, Miss Laughen will handle all instructional related issues. Misslair will handle all non-instructional related issues. And I have full confidence that they are more than capable of

099addressing any situations that may arise. And actually in line with uh the new academic committee that has just been established, I had asked Miss Laughen if she would be willing to share an overview of the professional development focus for the coming year so that the board has some insights into some of the initiatives that will be happening across the district. Good evening all. Um so there are a few items that we have developed a focus on for the upcoming school year. Our professional learning committee did a survey and it is definitely informed by the data that we received from our K12 instructional staff. Um there is some overlap between uh our grade sectors but I I have them broken down. K5 68 912 there is overlap but so I'm gonna I'm going to mention the

100professional learning focus but also the desired student outcome that we have we hope to have as a result um of that focus. So um K5 we are going to focus on strengthening the co-eing model you using evidence-based practices. That is something that we got started at the end of last school year and we really want to continue a focus on just so all students have the support they need to grow and show what they know. Um there is certainly room. we can always get better at what we do and just really focusing on and refining our our evidence-based practices. Also, at the K5 level, revising the elementary report card. Um, what we're hoping to get from that is really improve student outcomes by clearly and consistently communicating areas of student strength and needed growth with

101parents and guardians. that helps us have a a partnership and a conversation with some specificity um on each unique student. And also at the K5 level, continuing to improve our MTSS practices, focusing on the work that we started this year and really addressing those student skill gaps, reducing uh those to increase our academic success. six through eight, we're going to continue to improve MTSS, lean into really focusing at the middle school level, uh how we can refine those practices. Also, um we are going to and this is 9 uh 6 through 12, really look at some evidence-based practices in assessment and grading. Um thinking about how students uh have multiple ways to demonstrate their learning and skills. Um this is excite some exciting work that we started in our March superintendent conference day when we

102brought in Cassandra Urkens. She's going to be coming in this summer doing some work with our staff as well. So I'm really excited about the partnership that we can have with her on that and that's going to be six grade six through 12. Um also as many of you know we've talked about our partnership with Boseies um and beyond focusing on the impact of AI on teaching and learning really with a desired student outcome of students understanding the implications of AI and and how to utilize it responsibly and also with a 9 through 12 focus which is handinhand with with our assessment and grading on implementing New York inspire desires. Uh the uh graduation requirements and really refocus theme on pathways of students to uh not only um show the ways that they can learn

103and grow but also showcase their skills and their knowledge to achieve not only graduation but leadership, innovation and really contributing meaningfully to their community. So those are um those are our areas of professional focus tied with the student outcomes we hope to see as a result. Sounds great. Any questions or comments? Trusty Jerome. Um thank you. What are evidence-based pra What are some examples of evidence-based practices? So it it really depends on what we're talking about. We could go into more specificity if you want me to prepare that, but sometimes we say um researchbased practices, evidence-based practices are just a different way to say that, meaning not just what is their research on, but what does the research bear out as successful with students. So, making sure we're really focusing on what has been proven

104to work um as as a consideration and a reflection for our practices and what has been proven to work in our district or in general? In general, I mean, we could certainly look at, you know, similar populations, similar school districts, but something that has a wide body of evidence based on research. That's just an important part um because sometimes we we have to reflect on what have we been doing, does it work and how do we know and that's an important piece of that. That's that's helpful um to understand that. Thank you. Um and then my other question was you had mentioned at some point multiple ways to express their skills and I think you were talking about 9 through K. I mean 9 through 12 or 6 through 12. I can't remember. But in

105any case, I would love to know what you mean by multiple ways to express their skills. So, sorry, I couldn't remember if I had it on or off. Um, you know, the the idea on assessment and grading is how might we as a staff think about the individuality of a student? And there are there are many ways other than just one test perhaps that can we can figure out what what a student knows and just really doing some research and reflection on what that means. some of our work with um Cassandra Urkens is going to focus on um action research in classrooms, giving stu giving teachers the opportunity and the breadth to just kind of investigate um how how does this work um and and think about that with their colleagues and talk about that

106with their colleagues over a larger course perhaps of the year. And this is this is voluntary work. But the idea that that can um lead to deeper conversations and thinking because New York inspires calls upon us to do things differently or to have pathways that are different than perhaps the way that they have traditionally been done. And it does not mean that all of the traditional ways have to change, but it calls upon us just to think differently about that. And how might we make sure we're inclusive to all students, providing all the opportunities we can for them to show what they know uh and embrace their their skills and grow and and who they can be as a contributing member of the community. And for me it stood out because I think I've said

107this before in board meetings around AI. When I look at things my my motto what AI can't do. I look at multiple ways that students express their skills. I think I mentioned a science an extra credit science project that my daughter was offered in her class where she could for extra credit create artwork out of reused materials. I just thought it was a great way. again AI can't do that and it was a way for these students to gain some extra credit and express multiple multiple ways of expressing their skills. So I'm very interested in these things and maybe the the committee the ad hoc committee or whatever so we can really understand what that means and support um support you and and your work um as we sort of move into this new world.

108Right. Sounds great. Trusty Kusen, my question was going to be on that topic and just I'm curious uh so obviously as we move away from pure regents into this portrait of a graduate model um assessments are going to be a key component of that and I was wondering if stateed has given you the administration any more refined um information on where they're going with portrait of a graduate and whether this PD in in assessments um can be directed in that direction. And my second question and my second I just want to echo now that we have this ad hoc academic committee that any refinements that you come up with or any new data that you uncover as a result of these I know that committee will be thirsting to to um to to hear from

109you how how it's going throughout the year. I think that's going to be a focus of that and I just wanted to highlight that. Thank you. So, state ed has not provided us with uh a lot of detail. We've been working in partnership with the other districts in Olter County coming together with um superintendents, assistant superintendent talking about how we're going to proceed with that. That's a group that's going to begin to fold in principles as well. Um, as we think about how we meet this um based on, you know, the the leadership and what's translated from state ed is, you know, there there's not going to be a telling of us how to do this. It's up to us. So, I know the districts in Olter County plan on working together and really trying

110to lead the way. um there, you know, we're we're going to forge this together and talk about one thing that really frustrates me and and perhaps it's my time that I spent at Boseies is, you know, every single district is charged with this same task. So for the idea that we have every district working on the very same thing in a in a silo that that just has it doesn't it doesn't make sense. And there's many wonderful things happening in many districts, including ours, that lean into this work. And it's something that we plan to work collaboratively on, and really broaden this discussion. But we're going to have to lead the way. This is work we have to do. And I'm I'm excited about that. That's that's lots of opportunity. I am completely confident that

111our staff um our administrators, our teachers, everyone is is going to do a great job as we lean into that work. But you know one of the things we also have to do is like we want our students to take risks in the classroom. We have to create an environment so that our teachers can take risks for lack of a better word or I should say kind of experiment do things differently. Um there has to be space for that and and that's an important environment um culturally to create. So that's, you know, that that doesn't just happen. You can say those words, but those are conversations and actions and and focus that that people have to believe in because changing is hard. And um you know, there's also going to be a piece that we

112have to work through that we communicate with parents that this is not going to maybe look like it your experience. and why. So, you know, this is intricate stuff. Change can be hard, but it's also exciting. So, I in no way do I want to pretend there is this neat little box answer you're going to be presented with it. That's not how it's going to go. It's going to be a process of moving forward, changing, taking a right, revising. It'll be messy, but it'll be exciting and worth it. Thank you for that answer. Um, great great questions there, Trusty K. I was similar on Thank you. Um, the AI thing. Um, I I'm kind of a nuts and bolts kind of person. I can't really comprehend stuff at a high level without having some kind

113of a foundation to reference it. So, I had a hard time following the AI Bose's presentation here. U just didn't have enough information. And I know at the rural schools, the rural schools association up in Lake Placid last year, I can't remember the pres presenter's name, but he did a great job on AI. Showed a lot of good examples. And uh so I'm thinking just an idea. So maybe uh either the New York School Board Association or or Ster County Boseies could challenge all the board members in all the school districts in Olster County with hey, we're going to give you an assignment and this is what we want you to do and to so you can experience firsthand what AI can do and just challenge us. Give us a work excitement say do this

114this and step us through it and we'll get a because I've been challenging myself every once in a while. I said, "Geez, I wonder if AI can do that, right? Can can AI generate 20 multiple choice questions for New York State algebra regions, chemistry regions, physics regions, and what does that look like?" It looked pretty good to me. I was like, "Wow, right." And then they give you the answer, too. That was nice. But you know, different examples, you know, to really challenge us so we get a better idea what we're dealing with. So, first of all, I just want to um to state that we have something there's something again olsterosis collectively throughout the county called the AI circle that we're going to be working on as a year-long project that is going to

115be working simultaneously with the work that we're going to be doing with Julie that she presented on. um our first step as far as the nuts and bolts is getting together with her and we're going to be saying okay as a district what is our first step in clarifying that. The second thing I want to bring up is, you know, although boards and board stances and and board policies are fluid, right, with with elections and and changing, not every board, not every school district in Olter County has expressed the desire to move forward in the thinking around AI that we have. And I will just remind everyone that Olster Boseies did reach out to us to pilot this because of what they've observed in this school district because of the work that we do um

116that you know we have a um a content specialist working with us because of kind of our progressive nature and thinking around this. So I just want to highlight that. But I'm sure that we can work with Wes and Julie and to give a an optional homework assignment perhaps. Um, yes. And one other thing that always comes to my mind when you talk about these this practical exercise um I don't know we don't tend to have a lot of turnout when we offer these workshops for community and family but that could be another interesting as we move forward maybe we can talk about her with that because you know certain people are in AI every day you using it for work uh you know and then other people aren't and so it might be nice

117to host something like that and um help familiarize them with this this radically powerful tool that we have to educate ourselves about. Right. I think Trusty Goodrich should um attend the next Olter County School Boards Association meeting and lay down the gauntlet. Trusty Kudson, I just uh I think this has come out in some of my previous comments about it, but I I just really want to lay down a marker here that I do think there's a crisis in education that centers on AI and it has to do with student ethics. And um I I I think our job as a board is to set expectations for our students in part um to to raise bars. And um I think the critical challenge of our time is that we not allow our children our students

118to do let IIA think for them. They have to develop critical thinking skills. And um and I do think it's different for somebody who's an adult at a job and somebody who's a developing adolescent or middle schooler, high schooler. They're at that age. You're you're you are still developing your critical faculties. And it is just so easy and it is happening in all kinds of arenas where people are allowing these machines to think for them. And so I just I I want to highlight that because it's not just for me about how to use it, but it's it's really like it's it's giving our students an ethical framework um that they don't cheat themselves out of an education. That's that's my real worry with it less so than the practical, you know, how do we,

119you know, what, you know, um so I think it's a big deal and and I think um I sent around some articles to the board earlier about what's going on in post secondary education and it really isn't pretty. So I think it's something we really have to keep our eye on. I agree. And I was just I was actually going to bring up those articles that you sent around because the one article where um they were measuring brain waves and uh really brain research around how people were using AI, whether they had to um you know craft the response themselves and then run it through AI or um I forget what the middle model was. And then the other one was just let AI generate the response that the brain activity was dramatically different in

120in those uh three categories. And it it is scary when you think that uh some young people may choose to let AI do the thinking and the working and then really what does happen to critical thinking skills. And so, you know, I I I love the the challenge of let's all try it and then I also love the you know the practical um stance on let's be careful and do it right. Did you have were you going to put your hand up trusty kudson? Okay. Okay. Trusty Jerome. So and I agree trusty Kudson I think there's a lot to be wary of too. That's why bringing it back to um Stephanie's work and like what what will our how will this impact um our programming and you know how we consider teaching I mean that's

121one of the reasons why I promote music so much again because it's very very high levels of learning language um left right brain activity um and again you can't feed it in it's critical thinking it's history you know, so that's my thing. We all know that. But also just in terms of how can we surround a subject in 360 degrees and not just write a paper about it or take a test on it, right? That's the exciting part to me that um because I absolutely concur. We want that critical thinking piece. That's our leadership piece that we're building here in ONTRS. So yeah. So I wholeheartedly agree with all three trustees here what you said. Um you know at the RSA thing up at Lake they talked about the 8020 rule like the parallegal field.

122uh basically you go into AI and it generates a legal brief and uh which is pretty good for 80% and then you modify the other 20%. I don't think we want to teach our students that methodology. I think it should be the other way around. You you write first and then maybe kind of like spellch check later on then you use the the technology to to see how you could have improved it. Yeah. I don't like the 8020 rule where you use AI first. Yeah. Especially for our students, but that's just a thought. I think that works in in certain fields because of productivity, but we're you know, we're we're more interested in you know, developing brains and and uh you know, humanity, right? All right. So, shall we move on? All right. You're welcome.

123On to board district news. Trusty Jared, I think this is the right time for this. Um, the fifth grade moving up ceremony is this was so beautiful. Thank you for being there. Also, superintendent and um I think the fifth grade teachers did an excellent job, but it was so fabulous. It's our last combined elementary school class. And it's it's a special and also sort of bittersweet moment, you know, of our communities like having been together for a while and now moving, you know, apart to separate buildings. And I just I want to speak to how hard everybody worked on that and how special it was. And then I have to say that I got to because of my daughter's broken toe attend the last day of school at Bennett, which I've never done. And I

124just want everybody to know what the teachers and staff at Bennett do. They literally line the front steps of the school with bubble machines and speakers. And the whole front hallway and every single grade level was dismissed while all the teachers all the way down the hallway, all the way down to the steps clapped and cheered with like the most motivating beautiful music and the bubble machine going. And then when all the kids were on the bus, every single teacher and staff me member went and stood on the hill and the sidewalk over by the playground and every single bus went by. I'm literally getting goosebumps. All the teachers waving and the little hands out the window waving. It was so moving and I had to share it because I just want everybody to know

125who, you know, even parents don't get to see that moment. How hard Our teachers and staff love these kids and how loved they feel. You know, to see them with their little hands calling out their teachers names as they left, you know, for the summer was beautiful. So, thank you to everybody. Trusty Jerome. Um in in the same vein, I left the graduation um which we all attend as trustees and I it feel I mean I sounds cheesy. It filled my heart for days. It still fills my heart to uh Superintendent McLaren described it very very well. But boy, like seeing those kids and their camaraderie and their love and the speaker um Manny Naji was incredible and just the whole thing. My compliments to Principal Edelman and um I can't say how good it

126made me feel about the work that we're doing and our district and thanks those kids for giving me that feeling. and the people who work here for facilitating it. I actually think I said something similar last year, but just on the same note of graduation, it always like sticks out to me how much it feels like our smallalness is an asset on graduation day because everyone seems really close and you know, you know, I went here, I'm still really close. Like I feel like I knew everyone in my class and it was much bigger and this was actually a bigger class too. Um, and my kids are going to go here and it just made me feel so good about all my life decisions and um, the closeness is so sweet and I loved how

127like a lot of the times a boy would go up and another boy would yell I love you from the audience. Like I cried like five times. It just I mean if you can ever go to a graduation, go to a graduation. It makes you feel great about Dior. I have to agree. I I was thinking the same thing all through graduation. I was thinking it and I've been thinking about it ever since that our size is really a gift, you know, um that we can make graduation such a personal meaningful event. Um, someone uh just mentioned and it's sort of the a topic at the gym in the morning, the different different graduation ceremonies because a lot of the people are from art in education and um just the way that in a really

128large district they're just kind of pumping them through, you know, they barely get a handshake. It's just like next, next, next. And for us, it's so personal. It's really amazing and um it's so special. Yeah, I agree. Yes. I think one of the things that makes it so special for our students is that they get to walk up in pairs and then stand and have that moment together. And we actually received one email before graduation asking that because our district is so small, the kids should each get their own individual recognition. But I feel like having the two come together makes it more special for them. And so many of them have clearly worked out elaborate celebrations at the top of the steps and they're really bonded. And I feel like that makes it so

129special for our kids that uh I don't think our kids would want to go up individually. I think they really like that partnership. Go ahead, Trusty. Good. Yeah. What everybody else said. And I just wanted to remind everybody this was the class that spent ninth grade being educated at home. And I think they adjusted very well. Good point. All right. Onward. Okay. Oh, yes. Just I just wanted to say that I I'm going to be attending and I believe Trusty Jerome as well will be attending the Rural Scrolls Conference in Lake Placid in a couple weeks and we will report back to the board in August. And I just wanted to thank Amanda Gates. apparently you opted us into a curling event that they sent me a release that I have to agree not to

130hold them responsible for all kinds of physical maladies and terrible outcomes if I try curling on the ice. So I would be interested if any trustees that have attended formally can let me know whether that's too much of a risk for me to run down the ice and sweep after a thing. But uh all joking aside, we're I'm very much looking forward to the rural schools conference. I opened that email today and I opted out of curling as much as I wanted to and if if we were going to be able to play hockey, I would have stayed in. But curling, I don't know, trusty Jared, I completed my all my mandated state training. Good job. Can I just say the self-paced training that I did online was so outstanding. I wanted to suggest that

131if anybody just wants to review any sections, including the governance section was outstanding. I'm sure I don't know if that's allowed, Amanda, for people to repeat their mandated training in a different form, but I would suggest it. It was great. I think I think it's allowed. It's just that it's it's an expense. Yeah. It's just we have to pay for it. But if anyone's interested, please let us know. All right. If we're ready to move on, we'll acknowledge public be heard comments. The board will acknowledge the public be heard comments from the last meeting. We heard from Daphne De Jesus on behalf of herself and these were the lovely comments uh directed toward Amanda Allison. Um, Daphne also spoke on behalf of Jesswisnyski and Kylen Lighter. Uh, we heard from Stephanie Bryant and Khloe Leader.

132And we do not have anyone signed up tonight. Does anyone wish to speak? Okay. Um, do we need to take a short break? Yeah. Okay. How about let's try to keep it to five minutes because we're going to run really late tonight. All right, we're back from break. Uh on to item 19.01. Uh the board will readopt the board norms. This is not something we have to vote on, right? Uh it's just it's okay. Just unanimous. says, "Are there any um suggestions for edits or any um any commentary or questions?" Trusty Jared, and I have this brand new computer that I really don't know how to log into yet, so I don't have it in front of me, but in the It's in the packet. It's in your agenda packet. It's starts on page 65.

133Oh, thank goodness. Okay. the section about um submitting items to the agenda. Um you know, there's other places in the norms that clarify an email will be sent within two to three days and and wonderful things like that. And I'm just wondering if we could have a little more clarity about what the timeline would be to submit an item to be considered for the agenda. Um because I think right now it just says an appropriate I'm still searching for it. Somebody finds it. Um an appropriate length of time. I found it. Okay. Page 68. Top of page 68. Before board meetings, members will submit items to be placed on the agenda in ample time so the superintendent may assemble information bearing on the item before the meeting. Um, so I'm just wondering if there's if

134we can be more specific so that we, you know, because I'm sure we're all concerned with not wanting to not give the superintendent enough time or even for it to be perceived that we're asking for something, you know, we all very much respect how much she has on her plate. I think a week before would be adequate time. And if it's, you know, if if it were an agenda item that required I'm just going to make something up like like having our architects and, you know, construction manager there. And I think it would need more time, you know, because you have to check with schedules and make arrangements and all that. But I think in general a week So is it a week before the agenda goes live or is it a week before the

135Yeah, a week before the agenda goes live. So it would be the Friday before the agenda goes live. Yeah. Yeah. Does that make sense? Okay. And Amanda, will you make these revisions? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Anything else? Trusty Goodrich. So, we're talking about all the 19 items. We're talking about all the 19 discussion and possible actions or we just doing 190 over. We're just right now we're just talking about um readopting our board norms. Okay. Any other recommendations or changes, edits? All right. So, we can make that change. And with that change is does everyone um approve our board norms. All right. And there um you know, it's a fluid document. So, we've we've returned to uh review the board norms throughout the course of the year when we have to. All right. Just give me

136a minute to find my page. All right. Item 9.02 is our discussion of potential NISSBA resolutions. We've had a few uh draft resolutions presented to us via email and um I'm wondering if the authors of those resolutions would like to give them a read aloud. Um we can and then we can discuss. Trusty Kudson. So I wrote a a NISBA resolution regarding foundation aid which is obviously a big topic for many districts but ours perhaps as much so as any district in the state. So a a key ele um push and pull on this is going to be about how much and over how long a period probably that's the most likely outcome. And so this is trying to um you know these resolutions are what we are asking for for anybody who's watching at

137home these resolutions are what we are asking the state school board uh group lobbying group to lobby for with our with our state legislators. Um so with the idea of minimizing the the harm of a the kind of rapid um hold harmless phase out that the district was threatened with last year. Um, this is the resolution resolution. If a district is subject to a phase out of hold harmless foundation aid funding, the total amount phased out in any given year should be limited to no more than 2% of that district's prior year voter approved budget, even if doing so extends that district's overall phase out period. And the rationale is given rising overall costs and the 2% budget cap budget increase cap a loss of more than 2% of the annual budget in any given

138year would be unduly disruptive to programming and planning. Districts who potentially face hold harmless reductions that are greater than 2% of their budgets due to declining enrollment need time to make the adjustments and transitions such reductions would necessitate. Personally, I really like the resolution as it's written. Um, and I I can't I couldn't really think of any any way that my edits would improve it at all. Does any any trustees have uh any comments? No, same comment. That that's very well written and I'm ready to go with it. I approve. Trusty Jared, are you willing to read your resolutions? Sure. I wrote two. They're they're similar and they're also regarding foundation aid. um resolved that the New York State School Boards Association advocates for a budget threshold to protect rural districts with low enrollment and

139large geographical footprints in the foundation aid formula. rationale. Rural areas in New York State have seen a higher decline in enrollment, leading to challenges around economies of scale, isolation, teacher shortages, and rising transportation costs. The Rockerfeller Institute report on Foundation Aid recognizes that quote around half the states in our country consider sparity andor district size in their aid formulations and notes quote that districts with low student enrollment below 1500 students require higher per pupil spending to reach academic standards end quote. Many of the rural districts in New York State stand to lose significant foundation aid funding as rural student enrollments have declined since the 2000 census. These rural districts may be large in geographical footprint and therefore only minimally able to reduce transportation and facilities costs in response to declined student enrollment. Even with consolidation

140within these districts, they still face a rising cost per pupil in fulfilling their requirements to provide an education on par with other districts in the state. NISPA should advocate for the foundation aid formula to consider the unique challenges of districts with 1500 or less students in a geographically vast area. The choice to decrease state aid based primarily on enrollment would disadvantage those rural districts by failing to acknowledge the higher costs required to equitably educate the children in their sparsely populated districts. The cost of or needs for staff, benefits, utilities, and transportation in a large district are not diminished when enrollment declines. Therefore, losing significant aid based on enrollment may result in rural districts being forced to cut programming, student supports, SEAL, and other vital programs for student success. I can't think of a way to

141improve it. Me neither. I I will say just having I was the voting member in the I think it was seven hour this meeting goes on for a long time and I will say that the the as well written as the rationale is there trustee Jared it is a lot longer than the typical um what what you have to consider with these is that uh all every district that that sends representatives to this reading has to read 20 or 30 of these. And um it just might be it might benefit from just a little um concision a little more concision in the rationale to get it read. That that that's that's what I'm mainly concerned about because they come the resolutions come in a very thick booklet uh and it's it's you know 30 to

14250 pages and um and I also think So I I I would just suggest maybe looking at a way to um tighten up the the the the um rationale. I went by the kit which was a very long rationale and that's the only example I saw. So could you give me a little more guidance about how long you saw successful ration being? Sure. I uh a question. Do we still have last year's um I might have mine on my computer somewhere. Does somebody still have the you know we we all went over it in a meeting. Um the the ones that got approved by NISBY came back to us and we do Yeah. If you could forward that uh to to us then you'll get you'll read them and you'll get an idea. Cindy, do

143we need all of the wording to be formalized by the end of tonight's meeting? Okay, because I can work on it over here. I just don't know. I can just chip away at it over here with my pen. Okay. Should I? Yes, we do. We do have to approve them tonight. However, we have in the past approved them and then done a little word smithing. um to then send to our district clerk. So um I just pulled up the form for a submission. You have to cut approximately two paragraphs um out of your rationale. So one paragraph w pretty much. Yes. Or one and a half. I mean, I can show you the form quickly so you could see what it looks like, but I I can't fit it all. Is there a word limit?

144It doesn't have a word limit. It just cuts it off. Why is this not in their kit, Misba? All right. Well, maybe I'll read my second one because if we just decide we only like one, then I'll just do a little work on that one. Okay. olved that the New York State School Board's Association advocates for the foundation aid formula to consider sparity and square mileage of a district and the required transportation costs due to geographical size of said district as an essential element in determining PNI and providing equitable education. I'm just going to pause because I know like in previous years also like Monica and Victoria have had good feedback about whether one argument was more persuasive than another. So before I read the whole rationale, do we think that a separate resolution regarding

145cost of transportation in a sparse large district is worth also submitting or I don't know if the cost of transportation is going to be something that NISB is going to want to advocate because that's going to depend on each district and whether they contract out or whether they have their own buses. It's going to be very different for every district. Right? Because some districts don't even have busing. They're walking. They're, you know, strictly walking districts. So, it wouldn't apply to them at all. So, if we're looking to have a resolution that NISA NISBA is going to advocate, they're going to want to have it applicable to as many districts as possible. We're we're kind of in an uphill battle to start with. So, shall I just chip away at my rationale from the first resolution

146over here? I that sounds like a good idea to me. Great. Yeah. Thank you. Were there other resolutions? Trusty Goodrich. So, I'll just read the resolution. resolved that the New York State School Board Association advocates to limit the maximum school tax increase each year to be no more than three times the school tax levy increase when no property improvements were made. For example, if the school tax levy increased 2%, then school taxes for property owners cannot increase more than 6% when no property improvements are made. So the rationale for this res resolution for school districts that have multiple towns, school taxes can be in can increase as much as 20% or more in one of the towns that does a full property assessment. Even when school tax levy only increase 2%. When this happens, the

147other towns in the school district will typically see a reduction in school taxes until the following years when the other towns do full property assessments. This resolution reduces significant increase in school taxes for a single year due to towns that perform a full property assessment. So, I'll let Monica say if this is something that's even feasible. Unfortunately, as much as I like the idea of the school district controlling how property taxes are distributed amongst the taxpayers in our district, we can't control what a town does and we can't control what ors the office of real property when they come in and they if a town hasn't done an assessment and they change their equalization And then you have towns list such as Shandaken that has never done a reassessment. So the if if if all

148things were equal, it would work. But because we have so many towns, they aren't equal. And that what that would do is if you're saying it couldn't go up more than 6%, then where does the rest of the taxes come from? would have to come from the other towns. So then the following year, you know, like who it's still it's still going to so it'll cause it'll still cause somebody to have to go higher because in order for the district to get the full amount that it's supposed to get. So this would put all the responsibility on people like yourself to figure this out. And you and you can't do it. Not only can't we, we don't even have the the legal authority to tell the town. We we they tell us what a home

149is assessed at and our taxes are based on that. So you're So if they if if they aren't able if we're not able to tax to the assessment, then who where are we getting our money? Because now you're saying we can't tax to their assessment. we have to tax to less than that, but we still need to get all of our funding. So, where is that coming from if it's not coming from taxing the assessment? All right. So, uh I'm going to withdraw this resolution. So, it's unfortunate, but here we are. Well, thank you for your effort, Trusty Goodrich. Okay, I think I did it. Okay. All right. Rationale. Rural areas in New York State have seen a higher decline in enrollment, leading to challenges around economies of scale, isolation, teacher shortages, and rising transportation

150costs. The Rockefeller Institute report on Foundation Aid recognizes that districts with low student enrollment require higher per pupil spending to reach academic standards. Many of the rural districts in New York State stand to lose significant foundation aid funding as rural student enrollments have declined since the 2000 census. NISPA should advocate for the foundation aid formula to consider the unique challenges of districts with 1500 or less students in a geographically vast area. Do I have more space or should we just call it there? Okay. Do we think we don't need the part about or we could end with the part about costs not declining. Yeah. The costs of or needs for staff, benefits, utilities, and transportation in a large district are not diminished when enrollment declines. Therefore, losing significant aid based on enrollment may result in

151rural districts being forced to cut programming, student supports, SEAL, and other vital programs for student success. Just not sure how important we feel that last piece is because then I can cut the part about the Rockefeller Foundation because maybe we already read that or Well, I typed it in my other laptop because I didn't have this laptop, but that laptop isn't on Wi-Fi here, so I can't get into that one. So, I was just going to retype it into an email to Amanda. Is that okay? Sorry, it's late. um if you want to type it up, send it to me, and then also say, "Okay, if it's not long enough, cut here." Um and then I can just leave off what I need and add as much as I can. Great. Sounds great. Thanks. Thank

152you. So, we have two resolutions to sent to Nisba. Is everyone in agreement that they're okay? Good. Yeah. Anybody any problems, any concerns? Super. Thank you both so much. Good work. Item 19.03 is a review of the 20242 student attendance by building as per policy 1330 and 7110. Is there a presentation on this or I saw the attachments? There's not a presentation. We um we did include last year's, but keep in mind that last year we had three elementary buildings. So, this is the first year that we are in the buildings in the way we we are. Um I did note that overall our attendance has gone up a bit but again keeping in mind this is not our chronic absenteeism number. This is our average daily attendance. Um this is a required uh review

153that schoolboards are supposed to look at every year. So it's it's kind of just a data marker that we should be aware of. Um, but I think it is nice to know that our attendance is um pretty much over 90% districtwide. That's really great. Trusty Goodrich. Yeah. So, um, thank you for trusty pointing out the difference between those two files there. Um, the, um, so that's that's a good that our attendance went up slightly. Do we know what the New York State Ed number will be? What that's going to be posted next year for uh absenteeism? Yes, we we know we don't know what it what it will be yet, but as soon as it is available, we will look to share it. Okay. Any other questions or comments on attendance? Uh, Trusty Kenson first,

154then Trusty Jared. Uh, I was just going to say I looked at it grade by grade and um it was heartening to see that I believe 11 out of our 12 grades went up and only one went down slightly. Um but that said, some of the some of the tickups were quite minuscule. So we can we can do better, but uh it's good to see that um it's not just um an overall it's not just like one grade killed it, but um it's it's across the grades um that we're at least holding what we have and and and marginally improving. Thank you, Trusty Jared. Yeah, I thought the improvements were all so exciting and I wondered if you could just because I'm sure we're going to look at this probably every year. I'm ask my

155newbie question. Could you just tell me what the ADA and ADM stand for and what average daily means? That second to last column back to ADA is average daily attendance. ADM is average daily membership. Uh to get you a full definition of those, I literally might have to go look it up. Not necessary because now that I know what they stand for, I can see that's not the data that's most important. Okay, so the average daily next to the final number, it'll say like fourth grade 2.4. What does that generally mean? Is that the the unexcused absences average of that grade level, right? unexcused absences. Those numbers are pretty good really if you think about I think those numbers are really good. I was like if this really means 2.4 for the whole year for

156a kindergarten or something that's really average daily average daily so two kids missing a day 2.4 Two and a half kids. Okay. All right. Unexcused, which is different than excused. Understand? So, not with a doctor's note. Correct. Just missing. Just Yes. Awesome. Okay. Is there a reason why those 10th, 11th, and 12th attendance rates are lower? I wondered if maybe it had to do with their schedule being more less like structured that maybe that's why those grades always seem to be a little lower or no, maybe not. I don't think I have I don't have a fact-based answer for that. Okay. Trusty Mitchell Morell, did you have your hand up? I was also going to say with like how bad a winter and flu season we've had just the last two years, it also doesn't

157look too bad to me. Keeping that in mind. So basically that was just a review and we don't have to act on anything. I think it was encouraging though really better than I expected. So that's good. It's better. All right. Item 19.04. Approve board member to for impartial hearing officers. As per commissioner's regulation 200.5, the board of education approves the board president as the uh as the board of education designate to approve impartial hearing officers in the absence of the board president. The board of education approves, excuse me. Um would the board vice president um be willing to take that role? Trusty Kudson. Yes. All right. So, um, if the board approves and we'll, uh, vote on that. Um, in the absence of the board president, the board of education approves Trusty Canudson as that

158as the designate. May I have a first? Trusty Jared. Second, Trusty Mitchell Morell. Any questions or comments? All right, we'll vote. Trusty Smith. Hi. Trusty Jared. Hi. Trusty Kudson. I. Trusty Jerome. I. Trusty Mitchell Morurell. I. Trusty Goodrich. I. All right. That's unanimous. Thank you. Uh 1905 is Dr. Bachman's proposal for the study of uh of the impact of building use and configuration on instructional opportunities and fiscal implications. Uh be it hereby resolved on recommendation of the superintendent that the board of education of the Antiora Central School District approved contract between Antiora Central School District and Dr. Kevin Bachmann as a consultant to implement an impact of building use and configuration on instructional opportunities and fiscal implications study effective July 2nd, 2025 in the amount of $100 per hour to a maximum of $10,250 and

159authorizes the superintendent to sign such an agreement. May I have a first? Uh well we normally discuss it after we have a first and a second. May I have a first? Uh Trusty Smith second. Trusty Jared. Questions and comments. Trusty Goodrich. So initially I was against this but after reading through it and u giving it a lot of thought I kind of like the idea. I I'm most concerned about the timeline if we're going to try to shoot for a budget for proposition vote in November or December. If he does the presentation mid October, does that give us enough time? Um, so I did reach out to him knowing that if the board wanted to bring a vote in December, timeline would need to be moved up. Um he did agree that he could potentially

160present to the board um at the end of September. So I would ask that we add uh to this uh if you could take a look at our five-year facility plan and incorporate that into any recommendations. There's number of items on the five-year plan that's been there for almost five years. Um, so we need to take that into consideration and looking for his recommendations on that. Obviously, we had the windows from Bennett and we have the athletic field stuff and we had the science classrooms and number of other items. I I just want to say that um I I would be interested for him to do that too, but the focus of this study is really more on um uh building use and configuration um in regard to instructional opportunities and the fiscal implications of

161of that. So it's not so much about facilities as it is about instructional opportunity the impact on instructional opportunities. Okay. I can I hear what you're saying as far as the windows from Bennett. Um science classrooms that's pretty important and structural. Right. Right. I mean and I and I think that Well, I know that for the former board, all of the items on, you know, the on the list of um potential capital project items were important to us. Um I'm I'm not sure. Uh superintendent, what are you thinking? I'm not sure how he's I'm actually not sure what Trusty Goodrich is looking to fold into the report. If we're adding um a component to the report, we could ask him that. He might come back with another estimate. We might need to revise the contract

162because that's not, as uh Trusty Bishop said, that's not the intent here. He's not recommending work like the science classrooms. So, is the focus on K through 12 or K through five? It's a district study, but it I don't believe he's recommending which like to replace windows or to upgrade the science classrooms. Trusty Jerome. Sure. I guess I am just Um, just so there's some clarity around this, I haven't um been paying probably as much attention as I should. So, this $10,000 to be paid to Bachmann is to simply look at the the fiscal advantages of having our teachers in distributed amongst the the configurization configuration. Is that correct? So he the questions that he's looking to answer are actually um listed here on the second and third pages. So he's looking at how the

163future changes in enrollment will impact the district's need for classrooms and building space, student sectioning, class size, attendance zone, staffing needs, and school budgeting. Um using updated long-term student enrollment projections. What grade level and building configuration? what are grade level and building configuration options and then the impact of building configuration on instructional opportunities and fiscal implications. Okay, so it's quite specific just around that piece. Okay, Trusty Jared. Thank you. I would love to ask if it wouldn't be too much trouble that in section two the rationale section item two. Could we specify we'd like to study specifically also the subgroup of our special education children in the district both in contained and integrated classrooms. So we can consider the impact of the different building configurations on that cohort including you know if a particular configuration

164were to take place not having space to keep a part of that cohort in the district or disadvantages to instruction for that subgroup. the way that I read his um his section two uh summary, it would appear to me that that would fit in that. I just thought if we're going to dip back in one more time and that's been a really important part of this conversation that's really been elevated and I'm I'm so happy about it. It would be so great to for the community and for us to get a clear picture of what that looks like in all these three configurations. Thank you. Any other questions or comments about Trusty Goodrich? So that's a really important uh point that trusty Jarrett asked mentioned there. So if I'm reading the rationale study, this is

165basically around centered around an update on enrollment forecasts. Is that correct? I mean it seems like the key point here that you mentioned under rationale for study in that first paragraph um I'll read it board of education superintendent schools wish to determine most effective grade level and building configuration options moving forward by utilizing updated student enrollment forecast and detailed comparison of several options the study They would assist the board and superintendent by examining several key questions prior to district officials determining the next step. So then there was uh these questions below that, but it seems like it's focused around enrollment. Yeah, it's focused on enrollment and um educational equity um being able to, you know, potentially enhance educational uh programming or and and what that could look like. I think based on whether we have

166one or two K4 or K5 elementary schools So we can't make really any decisions until we hear from this report, I guess. Right. Right. Yeah. So that's why the, you know, the contract starts tomorrow if we approve it. I I don't know. I'd like to hear from the other board members if they think this is going to be useful or not. I guess I I'm I'm halfway there that I think it will be useful and I think it's nice to have another set of eyes on it, but then I we're delaying everything here. So, I wonder Trusty Kudson. Yeah, I I just want to say I am in favor of this study as it is um constituted right now. And it really brings me back to what I was talking about with the architects when

167they were here earlier, you know, is that we have we have instructional deficits and we have a fiscal problem and that's this study is aimed squarely at those two issues. And I think it will help us in a couple of ways. It'll help us. We were talking earlier about trying to figure out what's essential, what do we need to be focusing on, what's the most important um guiding principles that we can use in in rejiggering our um our propositions. And uh I think this will help not only us figure out how to do that, but also help the community understand better um the relationship because I I you know I still think this as as loud as the conversation was during the bond vote, it wasn't particularly deep and I think this will deepen the

168conversation in the community. That would be a great outcome. Trusty Jared, apologies. When I asked um my question about adding um the study on the special education cohort, I did not qualify it by saying I was thrilled reading this study description. And I feel like I'm just going to read a little quote here um from my training, my excellent training, which was that oh no, I'm famous for doing this. There it is. School districts exist to educate students. So a board's central mission should be related to student academic growth and achievement. And I feel like deepening the understanding, you know, now that we have many much more limited scenarios at play to how how does this really look for our kids best experience, their best learning environment is such a amazing and important step in

169our conversation around it and our understanding. And I think it will change I agree with Trusty Kudson. I think it will change the tone of our conversation because I think it will allow us to speak about our children really specifically um and kind of move the conversation out of like a facilities a dollar and cents obviously that's important and the board from last year did very hard work to make sure that that groundwork was laid but I think adding this additional layer and I also want to say you know for the budget our district has annually and for you know the amount of you know work we're talking about taking on the contract was I thought very reasonable not not an eyebrow razor at all. So to me I thought why not in such a

170speedy turnaround. I mean by the end of October to have this extra layer added into our conversation as we can see with the architects this is going to be a lengthy to do this correctly as you know trusty Mitchell Mel was saying like to really unpack something new to take in the feedback and to let it evolve it's going to take time and I don't think that this is is anything but essential to that conversation. Thank you. Any other discussion? Trusty Jerome. I think I sort of I'm a little bit like Trusty Goodrich like not quite sure. I do see all the advantages. I just would just a cautionary note of having been in situations where studies have been conducted or experts have been come have come in or um polls have been taken. you

171know, it can be a bit of a double-edged sword sometimes um in terms of how we're perceived as parsing the cont. Like we have to really be ready to look at these findings and not say, "Aha, see like right there, you just confirm what we said, but rather to be able to talk about them um in their full in their full scope and understand them fully. So I would just if we can go with it with that kind of attitude, then I you know, yes, more information and and trusty Jared your comments resonate around the qualitative aspects of our our district. I think that's a great uh direction to go in. Thank you. Shall we vote? All right. Trusty Smith. I. Trusty Jared I. Trusty Kudson I. Trusty Mitchell Moral. Hi, Trusty Jerome. Hi, Trusty

172Goodrich. Hi. That's unanimous. Thank you. And thank you all very much for the conversation. Item 20.01, approve consent agenda. The board hereby approves items number 20.02 through 208. May I have a first? Trusty Jerome. Second, Trusty Smith. Any questions or comments? Sorry. Yes. Uh I've looked at the uh the special U and I approve. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? All right, we'll vote. Oh, go ahead, Trusty Jerry. This included all the donations, correct? Oh, yes. Thank you for reminding me. Wow. Amazing generosity. Unbelievable. Thank you to everybody. It's really inspiring. Yes. Thank you for saying that. Very inspiring. All right, we'll vote. Trusty Smith, I. Trusty Jared, I. Trusty Kudson I. Trusty Mitchell Moral I. Trusty Jerome I. Trusty Goodrich I. That's unanimous. Thank you. Item 21 uh contracts and

173independent contract retainers. Approve all contracts and ICRs. The board of education hereby approves the ICRS and items 21.02 through 21.03. May I have a first? Trusty Goodrich. Second. Trusty Jerome. Any questions or comments? All right, we'll vote. Trusty Smith. I. Trusty Jared. I. Trusty Kudson. I. Trusty Mitchell Morell. Hi. Trusty Jerome I. Trusty Goodrich I. All right, that's unanimous. Thank you. Item 21.02, additional arch uh architectural and engineering services middle school high school science wing elevator upgrades. Be it hereby resolve that the recommendation by on the recommendation by the superintendent of schools that the board of education of the Antiora Central School District approve the proposal for additional architectural trusty bishop. We already you already did this one. Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you for stopping me. I'm getting loopy. I was like, what what's happening?

174Mom was like, stop. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. You know what? You know what happened on my um on my copy? The the little box that says, "May I have a first? May I have a second?" Um and then it it's above that piece. And so then I was just like ram, you know, moving on. So on to policies. Okay. 22.01. Second reading and adoption of policy 7370 students personal electronic devices. May I have a first? Trusty Goodrich. May I have a second? Trusty Mitchell Morell. Any questions or comments? Trusty Jared, go ahead. I had emailed uh Superintendent McLaren um some questions that I knew the data might not be compiled for. It was certainly not a week in advance. So, um our high school principal was able to pull some data. Um he didn't

175have uh access to middle school data. Uh, and I'm not sure that they kept it the same, but at the high school, I can tell you that, um, for electronic devices, um, students who violated the electronic devices policy, um, one time, grades 9 through 12, there were 74. Um, in grade nine, it was 12, in 10 it was 16, in 11 it was 24, and in 12 it was 22. Students who had two violations, there were 20. Um, ninth grade there were four. 10th grade there were six. 11th grade there were four. 12th grade there were six. And then students who had more than two violations there were 23. So there were three students in nth grade, sixth and 10th, 8th and 11th and sixth and 12th. So on the whole I think uh they

176did pretty well for the first year. And um you said electronic devices is are those their own personal devices or any electronic device you know and I'm in in terms of was it their their smartphone or was it their laptop? I'm assuming it was their personal devices. Okay. Um I had shared trustee Jared's original question and so Uh, Principal Edman. Yeah, his chart just says they violated the electronic devices policy. So, I'm assuming it was their personal device. Great. Thank you, Trusty Bishop. If I could just add on to that because my the question the reason I asked about how many and I agree it seems like that first referral is really making a an impression um is just because the middle school has a different policy than the high school within the policy. So

177I just wondered I know it says on the policy page that starting in fall of 2026 the intention was to post the sort of the results uh on the district website. And I was just thinking that if it didn't exist, it it would be interesting to know by this time next year if the middle school policy of keeping them in the locker was significantly more impactful than letting them carry it in the back. They just would be interesting to know for for the policy. That was my thinking. That would be good information. Any other questions? Trusty Kudson. Sorry, this is just more of a comment than a question, but um uh I don't know if everybody saw, but um the the overlooked newsletter interviewed our graduation day speakers, the validictorian, the class president, and the

178saludiatoran. And one of the questions they asked was about the the cell phone ban. and our validictorian said this, it didn't really stop a lot of people from using their phones, but the punishment for doing so was pretty strictly enforced. So, I find that an interesting paradox and I just pointed out because I think we still have work to do on this uh question. And um gonna quickly plug the the anxious generation book club in the fall because I think for this really to take hold um it's going to be a comm it's going to need to be a community shift in attitudes towards this because um uh our validictorian says it didn't really stop a lot of people from using their phones. So they figured some people at least a bunch of them figured

179out a way around it. Um, I'm glad that the rules were enforced when when, you know, when it came to the attention of of the uh principal or the teachers, but uh I I just want to say I think we still have work to do on this issue. Trusty Goodrich. Yeah. So, I thought it was kind of interesting that one of the um devices you had listed was calculators. Is that supposed to be in there? Uh, I believe it is supposed to be in there, but it's it doesn't it doesn't um create discipline for a district supplied device. It just didn't seem like it should be in there. I mean, we can if you want to delay the adoption until the next board meeting, we can bring it back to the principles. They did look

180at it. Yeah, I mean I would like to remove it. Sure, we can bring that back to the principles. Not a problem. And I guess my other question is how do you I mean the smartwatch that's connected to their phone that's in their backpack. You can do receive text messages on their smartwatch. I mean, how do you enforce that? That doesn't even seem to be feasible. I would think it's enforced the same way as a phone. If they're on their watch texting, their watch will be taken and they will have disciplinary consequences. It's just harder to notice, but I guess it could be done. Yeah. I had a science teacher that was really good at catching kids that were chewing gum. So at the bottom there uh it had the the statement sentence beginning September

1811, 2026. Should that be 2025? It has to be 2026 because we have to have the year of data collected so that we can post it. Okay. Thank you. All right. So, we're going to postpone the uh voting on that one until next time. And we also have the second reading and adoption of policy 3520 extreme heat. May I have a first? Trusty Jerome second. Trusty Mitchell Morell. Any questions or comments? Trusty Jared, I just wanted to know if the temperature the temperature in the policy is not up for debate because that comes from New York State. We're either adopting it or not adopting it. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Trusty Goodrich. Did Did that number come from New York State? Because last time I was in the fac uh meeting

182they said they they hadn't adopted they had adopted a law but then they two weeks later they rescended it the temperature came from the state um what has changed is that it was a requirement that we vacate the spaces and now it is where possible Ready to vote. Trusty Smith. I. Trusty Jared. I. Trusty Kudson. I. Trusty Mitchell Morurell. I. Trusty Jerome. I. Trusty Goodrich. I. That's unanimous. Thank you. Any old business? Trusty Jared, I would like to offer to join Trusty Kudson in creating an onboarding sort of flow since I'm right in the middle of it right now. I thought that would be helpful. Thank you for that offer. Any other old business? any new business. Trusty Jared. Oh boy. Sorry everybody. Um, and again, I'm not sure this is the the spot for

183this, but it relates to Dr. Bachman's study and our discussions around reconfiguration. And I'm wondering if at some point we can add in the element about different configurations ability to allow us to offer or to contract out for afterchool programming for elementary cohort. um if that scenario would be possible in each particular um configuration and what you know and what would actually be possible in terms of our own teachers receiving stipens or uh contracting out to a company like I think we did in the past at Bennett and they do at the Reinbeck School District. I keep hearing that that's a a big gap for parents and for elementary children. And I know at Bennett it was amazing to have the afterchool for the grades four, five, six. So while we're having this conversation, I

184thought it would be a great element to add in there. If one would allow after school for elementary, that would be I think great for the community to consider. Sure, that's a great idea. It's actually one of the things that we discussed in our recent retreat um that you know we and um trustee Romano and I um discussed with the superintendent when we reviewed her. Yeah. Any other new business? Any requests for information? Trusty Jared, I would love to know at whatever time was convenient, um, what teams or clubs have been paused or dropped due to low student enrollment because I know there are a few teams that weren't able to play at all this year. And I would just love to know if it were possible to begin to imagine an arrangement like we

185have with Kingston for the swim team for some of the sports teams or clubs that we can't offer any longer. I know a lot of kids like their parents take them to travel teams because perhaps let's say the girls softball team doesn't have a varsity team. There aren't enough girls. But I feel like in terms of our students being able to like student athletes get scholarships for college or acceptance to college, it's kind of a big deal for a kid who doesn't have parents with those financial resources or time resources. So, I just thought maybe we could pull the athletics department, the music department, because I know we have a similar situation with our small but mighty marching band. um and to just see in in the spirit of regionalization and pooling our resources if

186maybe we could start to imagine what it would look like to work together um to give those opportunities. Thank you. We can certainly look at that. Um I know that our athletic director um frequently looks at that and in some cases it does work like for our swimming um for our swim team, but in some cases it really depends on the makeup of the team at the other district and the other district's willingness um to join with us because we have asked for some of our athletes go to other districts and sometimes the other district says no for a variety of reasons. Um they don't want to shut opportunities off for their own students to allow one of our students to join their team. But our athletic director um often um tries to solve for

187our student athletes in that way. Any other requests for information? All right. Our next meeting is currently um August 19th, 2025 at the middle school high school auditorium. May I have a motion to adjurnn? Trusty Goodrich. Second. Trusty Jerome. All in favor? That's unanimous. Thank you.