001under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Um Mrs. Adina, can you please call the roll? >> Mary Ann Meehan >> Here. >> Mary Ann Quinn >> Here. >> Sophia Banay Hallis >> Here. >> Brian Arnold >> Here. >> Jennifer Boyd >> Here. >> Linda Gaines >> Here. >> Jeffrey Hayes >> Here. >> Donna Logan >> Here. >> Eileen Snook >> Here. >> Mia Newsome >> [clears throat] >> Here. >> Okay, reading of the district mission. Our mission is to empower all students [clears throat] to be self-directed lifelong learners who willingly contribute to their community and lead passionate purposeful lives. Hey, please get a motion for the approval of the agenda. >> So moved. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes.
002Correspondence. Does anybody have any correspondence they'd like to share tonight? All right, seeing none. Um that moves us on to Shelby Myer's remarks. Sorry, I'm coming in from vacation. I'm a little bit rusty on the edges here, but um I just want to welcome everybody. What a beautiful day. This is always a great uh reception. It's nice that we follow with our meeting. It's kind of a tough transition for everybody milling around and having cake to like listening to us drone on about things, but it's always and you know, a wonderful [clears throat] moment then we get to hear from the students at the high school. And um they usually do wonderful presentations for us, so we're really excited about that this year. Um I'd like to just extend that again to the the 10-year
003and retirees, the boards uh congratulations on both of those very auspicious moments. Um can't be underestimated uh the gratitude we have to our retirees and the trust we're investing in our tenure candidates and um very happy to see what they'll bring to our community over the years to come. Um and finally, I just want to say that uh this has been the first year that we've had an ex officio student board member and and tonight is Mia's last meeting with us and I just want to say um we'll have a moment to thank her more more specifically, but uh what a pleasure it's been to serve with her and what a wonderful job she's done. So, um thank you very much, Mia. Um and that concludes my remarks. And that moves us on to Dr.
004Venante for news. >> Thank you, Mary Ann. Um it's an incredibly uh celebratory and with that uh busy time of the year. I just want to just speak to a few of the events that I'm sure others will comment on, so I'll just be brief, but uh fantastic uh Charlie Johnson uh award uh ceremony Memorial Day recognition. Thank you, Ms. Nixon, who I think is here somewhere who was charged with organizing uh this year's ceremony. Uh wonderful event and congratulations to the students uh that were part of it. Uh we had the uh School Foundation Scholarship Breakfast, which I'm sure Eileen's going to mention, but a really uh just again uh wonderful event to meet many of our students and our families uh as well as those who are contributing to scholarships as well. Uh
005in many cases on behalf of someone who was important to them who who who may no longer uh be with us, uh but wants to honor their memory by contributing to the life of of one of our graduates. So, just a a wonderful uh ceremony that we many of you and I had the opportunity to attend uh last week. Uh we had the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents dinner for our valedictorian, uh who's Ms. Courtney Folts. Courtney's heading to Penn State. Uh thanks to Marian cuz Marian was away. Uh but thanks to Marian who uh joined uh me and uh we had a great time with Courtney. Uh she was a trip. Uh wonderful person to spend time with and um made all sorts of friends while we were there. Um and uh a
006great evening. Um and this is the time obviously for Courtney and Mia and um hundreds of others of their classmates uh that we get ready for graduation. We uh have the CTI graduation next week uh at um uh the Netherwood Center but also at our Dutchess County School Boards meeting uh last week uh uh we had uh the ability to hear from several uh graduates uh from BOCES and who shared with us and uh some of the trustees that were present the impact that the BOCES program had on them as they consider what's next for them in their in their career. So uh that's just wonderful. Um Uh I'll I'll stop there because uh Marian you acknowledged Mia and I uh just wanted to share some things as well uh about Mia if you don't
007mind. Um my my my shoulder mate here over the course of the last year uh at the dais. Uh Mia has been the first uh ex officio member of the school board and it's never easy uh being first at something. I I I can say that uh there's and there was some figuring out early on where I know Mia and I were talking about so what does this really entail or what about this, you know, in terms of the agenda and how the agenda's organized and where do I contribute and how can I best contribute and uh we talked through that very early on but as everyone knows Mia's a very quick study. So um you know, uh she was off [clears throat] shortly thereafter and I just wanted to express uh my gratitude and
008I'm sure all of our gratitude uh for the very meaningful contributions that Mia has made uh along the way. Uh that included issues that we were grappling with. Um plenty of budget uh items as well uh but Mia uh contributed uh around the programs that we were discussing and that were important to her or that she also reflected would be important to her classmates. And I I really appreciated that and I know that made a positive influence on the board's deliberations as well both in this meeting and in another deliberations that we have. And I will say to Mia who now I truth be told I I remember Mia when she was in kindergarten so a long time ago in Mrs. Warner's class if I'm not mistaken at Trebor Elementary School cuz my I have
009a son who was also in that class. Mia, you you have represented yourself, your family, and the student body with grace and enthusiasm. And having had the opportunity particularly over these last couple of years since I've been in a leadership role in Arlington and seeing your interactions among the high school student body which I I know at the at the table here not everybody gets a chance to see but how involved you are everything from the trades fair last year in your organization of that and then just again on a day-to-day basis how you're engaging with the broader student body. We have a value in our district and there's just two key words I want to highlight compassion and and empathy. And I know that as I reflect especially at the close of the year
010and we're recognizing so many of our students as they begin whatever's next for them in their lives you have continually modeled a sense of compassion and empathy in your time here in Arlington and in your leadership in Arlington. And I know that I speak for all of the adults in the room that the world is seems to be increasingly lacking in compassion and empathy and that's a point of concern for us but we find a sense of of hope in the sense of compassion and empathy that you have modeled over the course of your time here in Arlington and your star that shines very bright Mia. So with that we do have a gift for you that we arranged so we'll ask that you open at least part of it now if that's okay Miss
011Medina. Yeah, come on over Miss Medina. We we we couldn't keep it here cuz it's a little big right so we didn't want you to know but if you could pull out one of those things just cuz folks know what you're up to next year and you'll see kind of how we organized this for you. Whichever one you want just grab all. Yeah, there's your uni- we got you some University of Maryland swag. Yeah, so there's a couple sweatshirts in there and some things but again if we can join in just congratulating Mia and thanking Mia for your service as our ex-officio board member. Congrats to you. That concludes my remarks if we can turn it over to Mia. >> Now we have to say Mia, it's time for your ex-officio student board member report.
012>> Um hello everyone. Sorry I kind of have something longer to say tonight but I just wanted to say a few words about my experience on the Board of Education as my time at Arlington sadly comes to an end. Um serving on the board has been one of the greatest honors of my high school career. For the past year I've had the unique opportunity to sit at this table and represent thousands of students whose voices deserve to be heard. This experience has given me a greater appreciation for all of the hard work and dedication that goes into every decision made for our district. While students only see the final outcome of decisions I've been lucky enough to witness discussion, collaboration, and genuine care that goes into each decision made. This opportunity has strengthened my respect
013for public education and the many people who make it possible every day. Sometimes new positions of or roles you take on can feel intimidating and scary, but from the first day I sat down at this table, I've felt welcomed. Thank you guys for truly making me believe that my voice matters and making me feel as if I belong here from the start. My time on the Board of Education has taught me so much and I'm incredibly grateful and honored to be sitting here right now. I've learned the importance of civic engagement, leadership, and service. Lessons I will carry with me long after I graduate. Additionally, I've learned how to use my voice properly and respectfully when the student body brings an issue to my attention. I've also learned that budget presentations are very long. However,
014I would rather sit through another through another budget presentation right now than accept the fact that my time on the Board of Education is coming to an end. Most importantly, I've learned how impactful it is to speak up for others who feel like they can't. I realized how difficult this can be to accomplish when the topic is controversial, but the more difficult it is, the more crucial it is that you speak up about it. As I prepare to begin the next chapter of my life, I leave with immense pride in our school districts and confidence in its future. My next steps include attending the University of Maryland to study global public health and hopefully becoming a pediatrician and a leader in public health someday. I'm excited to translate everything I've learned from this opportunity into
015my future plans and career. Lastly, thank you to my fellow classmates for allowing me to represent you through my role as student body president and on the Board of Education. Thank you to administration and faculty for your unwavering dedication to providing me with the highest quality of education. And thank you to the members of the Board of Education for your mentorship, support, and commitment to our community. It has truly been a privilege to serve this role and I will miss it next year. >> Thank you Mia, well said. Does anybody have any questions for Mia tonight? No, but maybe just a thank you again. Really, you've done a beautiful job and you dipped your toe in and now others will follow and you've set the bar. So, thank you. >> Do you know what a
016terrapin is? >> It's like a turtle. >> Okay. >> [laughter] >> Sophia. >> I also want to acknowledge how difficult it is to be the first one in anything, but you did it phenomenally. And I don't know if your parents are listening or here, but I just want to congratulate them. They have raised a phenomenal human being. So, take make the best of that example that they have set for you because what you are right now is generations of work trying to make women and girls shine in everything that they want. So, for you to say right now, I want to be this in the future, it's it you are standing in the shoulders of giants like your parents. So, congratulations to you and to them. >> Okay, well, thank you. All right. Now, we
017get on to the boring stuff you love so much. No, not today. Today we have all the high school presentations. That's terrific. Um, but first we have public comment. Do we have any public comments tonight? >> We do not. >> Okay. We're moving right along to uh reports and discussions, Arlington High School. >> So, I'd ask that uh Mr. Murphy I think is going to join us at the podium here and just welcome us to the high school and you've heard about the um Winter Circle project over the course of the year. The board supported that as part of our budget development for this school year. If you haven't had a chance to check out the car is out in front of the school. I know some of some folks have seen it. Uh, it
018may not have been there as you arrived, but on your way out perhaps you can check out the car. But prior to that cuz the kids are going to give an example of the are going to give their presentation on the winter circle project. Uh, Mr. Murphy's just going to welcome us. Thank you, Mike, for hosting this evening. >> The one with the person. There you go. >> Welcome everybody to the high school. Um, the I know that you did uh, tours of some of the other schools and I do know you were not able to do that here. Just so you know, I was looking to steal the keys to that car so I give everybody a ride before, >> [laughter] >> but they hid the keys so I can't even give those to
019you. But it's out there and you'll see it. Um, so the the high school this year other than focusing on the the obvious, the academics, which is what we're here for, um, the social emotional becomes a very big part of it as is driven by the culture of the school. So this year when we started the year uh, as a as a cabinet, we'll call the administration of the high school the cabinet, we discussed um, the importance of product, if I had a better way to put it, energy within the school, energy within these walls, and the night and the feeling of of change. Um, we also fed off because most of the faculty is here, I was here years ago in '98, um, is here from when I was here and I remember what
020it's like. That's back when Dr. Benante was a student here. So am I. Um and it it's a phenomenal place and I I don't say that uh easily. I I come from other places and this is the place I'm proud to be back in for sure. And I remember those lessons. So we focused on the culture of the building to energize the building and to kind of bring back and listen and hear. >> It's too heavy on the >> Oh. >> I got you. >> There we go. That's it. So basically we took a look at the the from to and I'm going to draw your attention to the bottom uh first and that is uh this whole concept of transactional uh what we do every day and most of our day is transactional. That's
021exchanging of ideas or exchanging of actions or whatever. And what we tried to do was to move that from that transactional uh we're able to be transformational. In other words, to transform that learning process. Um there is uh back years ago we had that whole common core concept that didn't fly so well for one reason or another, but there were portions of that that were good which was placing that learning on the student shoulders. Let those students figure it out. It's okay to fail as long as you take a look at what you you failed at. So what we tried to do is move towards that transformational in our first year. And basically, I mean you can go through that the traditional school culture of the past uh sitting in rows, that traditional to the
022empowered school culture having students hands-on. Uh the focus on compliance. That is do your homework, study for your test to the focus on commitment and growth. It's not just learn it and spit it out, it's understanding what you're doing. So, we're trying to move that along with the teachers. Isolated classrooms, uh moving in silos, I think that the winter circle is a great ex- example of that because that was three different phases to this one major project and they will talk about that a little bit later. Um so, the idea is to work together and using PLCs, which have been here PLCs were here when I was here a long time ago, but they've changed. Those conversations have changed. Uh they're much more enriching, if you will. And um they're more focused instead of on
023departmental, they're they're focused by those subject matters. So, everybody who's teaching the same thing gets to have those conversations, talk about how their approach is. Um data used for judgment, in other words, here's your here's your test, here's your score, and move on to data used for growth. Where are we Where are we missing um the opportunities? In other words, have students reflect back on those tests, see what they got wrong. But even the teachers, the teachers taking their data, which they will do for me for next year, they're going to take the data they get at the end of this year with these finals, and they're going to look at those in their PLCs to say, "Where are these opportunities?" So, it's something we haven't focused that closely on in the past. Uh top-down
024decisions, um distributed leadership, leadership within the departments, leadership among students. May is a great example of leadership that's transcended the building. Um so, making sure everybody owns a piece. The leaders own the piece and the movement. Uh my student to our students, if there's one thing that is in place at Arlington and always has been, these are our students. Um we share them. The teachers cross talk to make sure that we're for where some of the students that we might have in common are tripping up or what they may need or whatever maybe social emotional supports are needed. Um, reactive approach to proactive approach. I think that's how we try to live our lives, but we often forget. And I know as an administrator in the building there's a lot of reaction throughout the day
025to what's happening. But if we can switch that and somehow get ahead of it and look forward um that would yield even greater results. Um one thing that's impacted the and I would love to take total uh credit for this that's impacted the uh the high school is the cell phone policy. So that law coming into play happens to dovetail with our focus this year. Um the cell phone what you're seeing in the chart just to give you an idea. Now that's through January. We will compile this again uh at the end of June to see where we are. My guess is that we're kind of floating where it that lowest point is. But those are um cell phone infractions. Those are takeaways. Those are where students had. So you start in the beginning of
026the year in September and there's that curve of students getting used to it. Is this really going to happen and so on. And if you take a look at that that started to nose dive very quickly. And that's because all the teachers were on board. The teachers felt felt supported by safety who was following up and by the high school administration. And it was complete follow through. So we created a process um that wasn't necessarily punitive. It basically was saying we give them a chance. We work with them. We actually uh are I think we're the creators of the the new term being pouched. So students would go you got pouched and they start making fun of each other because they got caught with their phone. Um but when you look at that nose dive
027for the first semester that's incredible. Um the students really started to attend to it and I'd love to say it's because we enforced it for whatever it was, the the potential discipline that might have come, but it wasn't. It was the students started to realize the values of not being attached to that device. Um to the point where uh teachers were talking about that when they came into the room before the bell rang for class, they actually heard conversation going on in the room, which they haven't heard for years. Kids were actually talking to each other. Um one of my assistants actually reported at one meeting that when she was walking through um the cafeteria, I think it was C or D, that she caught kids taking a piece of paper, folding it over twice,
028and then going back and forth with it, so created a triangle. That is a football. And then they start hitting it across the table, trying to getting it to the edge, and they were playing games, and they were talking to each other. Um we did have a few try and hack the policy because they used their their cell phones for their music, and they were actually cooperating in iPods or Discman's. Things that we had as regular, they were then resorting to those. Um so that and and the the cafeteria volume went up. It was noticeable. You would walk into the cafeterias and it was loud. Uh but not a scary loud. It was very healthy. It was great. Um so that cell phone policy was tremendous. It was tremendous. You're not seeing the kids in
029the hallways. They're they're communicating. They're talking. Um so I give that cell phone policy as much as I'd love to take credit, uh a big kudos. Also this year, um and you'll see at the top, this is us. Uh uh probably a a violation of uh copyright or something, but um that that is the phrase that we coined, "This is us. We're in it together." So, we started the year, that's what we started with. Uh we made some changes in here, and I'll just highlight um the school had gone to a pep rally that was mainly for the juniors and seniors. So, we reimagined that back to the old days, and we created or we brought back the full game the full day pep rally. Not the full day, but the full school pep rally.
030So, they filled up those bleachers, and there's no shot of the bleachers, but you would be amazed. The kids were in colors by their class, um and they competed against each other on the field. On the way out, it was packed. The uh bleachers were packed. There was a parade coming. It was loud, and I was standing next to Dr. Bedont, cuz we walked out, and he looked at it, and he said, "So, who's the full school?" And I said, "It's everybody." And he said, "What were you thinking?" >> [laughter] >> Um but it was a tremendous day, and it energized the year. So, um So, this is uh part of a a quote, and the bo- I'll give the bottom part credit to uh one of our house principals, Katie Nixon, but the top,
031she found this quote, and um I'll go through it. Dan Quayle, in an interview about his newest book, Flourish: The Art of Building meaning um meaning, joy, and fulfillment, explained to Adam Grant on his Rethinking podcast, that as humans we have the natural love of a deep connection. We have the ability, the capacity. Those efforts to connect are extraordinary actions because they unlock the sense of togetherness and meaningful exploration that we're all craving. This is what Katie added. The sentiment is echoed in our own work to change the culture of Arlington High School. It hasn't been perfect work, but in its messiness, we have created a renewed sense of aliveness, of commitment, and of community. This capacity to move towards progress has always been in Arlington, but our present conditions have renewed opportunities to move
032us forward and to keep our kids at the forefront and heart of our decisions. So, that energy that started at the beginning of the year um went right through the whole year. And as administrators, we're not always popular. We take our our hits along the way. We do what we believe we should do, but we're inclusive. And when it we look at it, the high school, we have an administration, but this building's being run by every single person in it, custodians all the way up to the administrators. And it is an energized building, and it is a positive building despite some differences. Um and I know that we've seen growth in many different ways this year. Um and I know that that's going to continue because that is something we're going to keep focused on.
033Um if I had the opportunity to talk longer, which I could easily, um >> Mhm. >> I would then I'm not going to steal anybody's thunder, but I would then love to talk about the opportunities that we have in the school cuz it's unbelievable. Um and not only is it unbelievable and it's you look through our our program, I call it a program of studies, but our course program, um there's so much in there, and we're always adding and renewing. Um so, the the the case in point will be the group that follows me to show you that one addition that we that's been added and is powerful. It's very powerful. So, thank you. >> Does anybody have any questions on this portion of the presentation? Comments? I just will say that I I love
034the thought of working on culture. Like it, you know, and and energy. And you're right, taking the moment of the cell phones where people are just looking up and like, "Oh, look what we have here." You can kind of reimagine what you have there. So, that's I'm happy to hear that that you've taken that. And I look forward to hearing more about it in the years to come, how how it rolls out and how you assess if it's if it's developing the way you want it to. >> Yeah. And I I think there are I think the students would tell you this is a welcome change. They plenty of time to do that later. >> Yeah. >> So. >> Great. Thank you. Anyone else? Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> So, that moves
035us on to the Winter Circle. >> Mr. Orquitz going to go ahead and >> So, thank you, Mr. Murphy. We have behind me are members of our Winter Circle class, which Dr. Benante said mentioned that this is the first year we're we're doing this class in Arlington. We're tremendously excited. And if you would just join me in welcoming up the students are going to take you through the same presentation that they made at the final evaluation of the Winter Circle project. And I'm not going to steal any of their thunder, but I would like to bring them up now. Welcome, Winter Circle project. >> Go start. Go on. >> Um Good evening, members of the board families and teachers or whoever is here still just one year ago Arlington racing was an idea today it
036became a student well today now it's become a student led program that has provided opportunities for learning leadership and honestly just growth and opportunities across multiple different industries such as automotive industry automotive engineering and just we've just been given so many great opportunities this year okay Arlington Arlington High School one phrase that echoed throughout the halls for years AOE Arlington over everything it represents pride diversity dedication and just who we are as a school today Arlington racing proudly carries that Legacy forward across our three teams marketing viscoms and builds we like to represent what Arlington truly means to us and we carry that that tradition and everything across multiple schools since there are seven schools in the program what started as just a simple project became something much greater a family a community and just
037students learning from one another and learning and just becoming a team more than individuals that were just placed together in one class cuz at the end of the day Arlington racing is so much more than just a competition team it's a family and we do so much more than just building a race car we prepare ourselves for the future and now here's John from the build team >> there we go there it is you got it this program that this is a program that gives students so many opportunities through hands-on experiences. It was created from Hyatt, the CEO of Winter Circle. And it started off with his idea of giving students hands-on experiences and with helping young people gain real-world experiences. The program focuses on collaboration where students will work together as a team to
038solve problems, share ideas, and come together and achieve common goals. Through hands-on learning, students have gained experience in areas such as engineering, technology, communication, and leadership, rather than just learning it from a textbook. Winter Circle also provides valuable experiences that have helped students prepare for future careers and college opportunities. It encourages creativity, teamwork, and confidence while showing students what they are capable of achieving. Overall, the Winter Circle project is about creating opportunities, building skills, and helping students become successful leaders and innovators for the future. And now, here's Zion to tell you how he made this program more like Arlington. >> Uh thank you, John, for introducing me, of course. Uh So, our purpose for um Arlington Racing was to incorporate our uh Arlington values into uh into the project. So, like with uh keywords such
039as determination, creativity, we uh empower our students to um do their best in the real world and uh gain real-world experience throughout the program. And for our vision statement, uh we want to uh further uh introduce these values and push our uh uh future generations of students to become better and truly get this newfound um newfound experience through this program. And now, introducing Alex for uh for our marketing. >> Uh hello, everybody. My name's Alex. I wanted to highlight uh what we do in the marketing class. Um in marketing, we handle stuff like uh sponsorships and fundraisers. Um we go out to local communities and ask for sponsorships. We have different levels of sponsorships, you know, varying on the amount of money they give us. Uh we also work on the fundraisers. So, we had
040multiple fundraisers this year, go uh varying from pie in the face fundraisers, where we got to pie some of our teachers in the face. Um we also had a launch-a-thon, where we can send a text to parents and families, and they can donate through an app. Um we also worked on our uh logia logo design, sorry. Um we had class discussions about and input on what we wanted and what we didn't want in our logo, and I think we can proudly say we landed on a pretty good logo. Um we also in marketing, we worked on our social media page. We We run Instagram, Facebook, and a couple other social media accounts. Um we strive to post every day and keep our community involved in what we do at Aris and Racing. Um and then
041a little bit of what visual communications do. They take the videos and photos of what we do in the class, not just on what we do on the car, but also what we do in marketing. Um so, some pictures you see on the side is what visual visual communications do. Uh marketing also works on the newsletter and flyers that we post up in the school. Uh the newsletter is a big part of the program. Uh it's a big point uh big part of our final grade for the project. Um and some of the flyers that we we hang uh hang up in the school also encourages students to follow our Instagram and Facebook and other stuff like that. Uh now I would like to introduce Mateo Stokes from the build team. >> Thank you, Alex.
042Hello, everybody. My name's Mateo from the build team. I'm just going to talk to you a little bit about what went on in the class this year and um some things that made us stand out. So, as a first school first year school in the Winning Circle project, we didn't have as much relationships and resources as some of the other schools had. So, we really had to focus on our strengths and cost-effective ways to make the car stand out and um make it Arlington. So, because of that we had unique touches like our bug catcher as you might have seen on the car which is the hood scoop that kind of brings out that American muscle style in the car. And as you see right there, you know, we able we're able to show how
043it's uh old Cobra and just the muscle style on the car. We also have embroidered Arlington mats. Um shout out to Dylan Marickus's grandmother. He uh actually embroidered the mats. She embroidered the mats for us, so >> [laughter] >> that was a pretty cool touch. Oh, yeah, it was pretty awesome. And um one thing that really made the car stick out this year was that we did the paint job in shop. So, we were one of the only two two schools in the program this year that painted the car in shop. And um if you ask Glenn, not not too many of us came in the program with uh bodywork skills. So, it's pretty hard. And you know, you see a lot of stickers there. They're covering up a couple scratches, but but I mean,
044we did what we could. So, um you know, it was fun. But I would say that's the thing about the class, you know, there were a lot of challenges, but every challenge became a learning opportunity for us. So, um you know, our team was able to gain really valuable experience, you know, we're painting cars, working on cars, mechanical stuff, things we're able to apply outside of just this class. And you know, I feel like I'm speaking for most of the build team when I say this, Um it wasn't just about you know, coming here working on a working on a car. You know, it was something we were able to create a product that we were all able to be proud of and it was an amazing feeling. So, yeah. Now, Kat will come back
045up. >> Okay. So, to us, the Winter Circle program obviously became so much more than just a competition. Throughout the year, Arlington Racing connected with our school and our community and just former alumni through fundraising, outreach events, and team initiatives. Like Alex said, we had pie in the face, which is pretty fun. We got to pie some of our favorite teachers. And we even did Texathons, which really showed us the importance of leadership, communication, and teamwork skills beyond the classroom. Most importantly, we built a culture that encouraged confidence, opportunity, and belonging. Through events such as our car show, which included pretty rough face painting, and our community outreach events, we learned what it truly means to support one another and show what Arlington pride is all about. This project has taught us that meaningful success
046happens when multiple people come together and work as a team towards one goal. In addition, beyond the classroom, Arlington Racing has had the unique opportunity to go on many field trips that helped us grow both academically and personally. Visits to Factory Five Racing and Dyson Labs, which were overnight field trips, helped us learn more about engineering, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and career opportunities just within the automotive industry. And we also had additional experiences such as our New York City field trip, Supercharged Entertainment, which was also a part of our overnight field trip where we got to go go-karting, do a ninja warrior course. Really helped us like bond as a team and bond with all the other schools since it's such a big program now with seven schools and everyone has two to three teams. It really
047helped us expand our professional network and creating long-lasting memories. Like for example, one of our students on the build team has wanted to work at BMW for who knows how long. He got to go on BMW, network with other people, learn what it truly means to be a part of a mechanic and engineering style team. And now here's Xander from also the marketing team, but our best sim racer if you'd ask me. >> Um I was one of the head sim coaches along with John here. Um we had a terrible terrible start to the season. Uh we ran out of gas in our first race. Um which you'd think on a video game would be pretty hard. Uh it's it's easier than you'd think. Um we were really slow for about the first half of
048the year and then we just came alive with three races left. Uh two wins in a row and then second in the last race after a wreck. Came back from two laps down. Uh some of you guys will learn, not sure who yet, on Thursday uh with the the board race and I think principals are racing. I- it's a lot harder than it looks and it really takes a lot of practice, takes a lot of work. I mean John and Nick and Josh for for weeks were just on Lime Rock running laps trying to figure out everything that we could do to make the car any quicker. And you know, we we ended up pretty happy with our results. Um now I think Mazie's up, I believe. All right. Next slide. You are. Okay. So,
049as a first-year team and as a new team, this applies to more than just the winner circle and stuff like that. It applies to all teams. At the beginning, it's going to be very hard. There's going to be a lot of issues at the start. And for us, it wasn't getting traction. It wasn't getting our foot in the ground. It was focus. Cuz when you have 45 kids or however many it is, they're all excited. This is a new thing. They're like, "Wow, let's do this." But, there wasn't really a lot of okay, let's do this. It was just excited, let's do all of this. And I don't know how they did it. Miss Loria, Mr. Flan, I have no idea who they are. And Miss Hogan, somehow just took that focus, that excited energy,
050and put it forward to make to Sorry, guys. They were they were able to take They were able to focus that energy. And when you have 45 kids, 46 kids, they're focused, put their end towards that, you have something that's amazing. And the results really spoke for themselves. Cuz at Lamar, we got third place as a first as a first-year school. I know we keep highlighting that, as a first-year school. All the other schools who got last place, I think there was how many other schools got How many other schools were their first year? Was it Klein Cain? One school. Every other school has been there for a couple years, and we got third place. And yeah. Am I Is it commercial now? And this is our commercial. Should we move the the TVs? Okay.
051And then How to play it? Oh, okay, cool. I don't do stuff. Oh, I got Okay. Okay, I guess I do this stuff. Sorry, guys. Okay, so for the commercial, there's a lot of things that went into it. We had to make something that was uniquely Arlington. And what was uniquely Arlington? Our pride, our energy, and our unity. The cobra on our logo doesn't just represent the the brand of the car, the type of car. It represents the energy that Arlington is. And so we took that and we made it to make something that's Arlington. And something I do like to gloat about, this was completely student-made. Every other commercial by every other school was made through outside resources, whether it's Mateo who's a filmmaker and other resources like that. They went They got outside
052resources hands-on. Everything that was that was in that commercial shot, edited, produced in high school by high school students. And again, three departments, one goal. You have visual media team, marketing team, build team. And as a visual media person, I wanted to kind of focus on that, obviously. But, you know, we had to incorporate through voiceovers, through shots, through layout what every team did. And to create something that was, again, us. Arlington over everything, AOE. And now I'm Jack, is it next? >> Hi, I'm Jack Alfaro. Um, part of the build team. The Winner's Circle program uh gave us a lot of opportunity. It From the beginning, everything was an opportunity. There's almost no other high schools in the country, maybe even in the world, where you get to go and build a race car
053in the back of your class. I mean, it's full of opportunity. Everything is. The challenges even are opportunity. None of us here, I doubt, could have um fixed a head gasket when our head gasket blew. None of us really knew how to put on a starter after our starter blew up as well. I mean, all of it was opportunity, though. All of it was a learning experience and all of it was something we profit off of outside of just the experience of the class. From the marketing, the visual, and the build itself, outside of that, there was scholarship opportunities offered. There was some places that they wanted factory and he got to network himself and meet people and now he wants to work there. Another student in our build team, Josh Ketcham, found out that
054he wanted to work at Dyson racing. So, he reached out, he started talking to people at Dyson, and got himself an internship for the summer. Me personally, I even got an internship with the Trans-Am race team. It's always been a dream of mine to work with race cars and work in a racing setting, and I got that opportunity. And it means a lot to us and every student in this class, cuz beyond the build, there's an opportunity for everything in this class and throughout this project. So. Uh who's Am I calling up? You are. Sorry. I'm going to test. So, at the end of the year, we have our championship announcement. We have a whole day at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. We basically just look at all the schools' cars. Um we have a
055presentation, um basically what we're doing right now, but it's a little more serious this time, then it's we get graded on it. Um and then we, as you see the picture of us at the podium, we get announced, they announce the top three teams, and they get to go up to the podium. So, after months of work and dedication, we got third place. And it wasn't first, but with when considering the points differentiation between the top three teams, we were all within a point of each other. So, it was pretty awesome, and it was a, you know, really close. So, a couple more homeworks done, and we might have been there. The third place still felt pretty good, and I would definitely say this was one of my favorite moments throughout the whole year because
05620 minutes before we were standing on that podium, I was watching real professional racers standing there getting awards for their race. So, it felt, you know, pretty surreal surreal and incredible to be up there. And um it wasn't just about the award, you know, it was a celebration of the countless hours we spent Flan spent staying after, making sure our car was all good. And um it was just an amazing achievement and I'm excited to see what future teams will be able to do. So, I'll bring it up to Mazi. >> Oh, Xander. >> Xander, sorry. >> Um This time last year I I mean, I'm still not you know, what what the you guys are looking for. I'm not an A+ student. I'm not an athlete. Um but this this has made me a
057part of something real. This is 40 45 of my classmates that I'd never met before. Um that's not true. Couple people I'd met before. Most of the people I'd never met before. I'd never taken a business class with Mr. Hogan. I'd never taken a visual media class. I taken uh small engines with Mr. Flanagan and that was it. I got the the sign up and I took it and it was the best choice I think I've ever made cuz that's my family now. We're we're sitting here you know, with our no trophy. We got third place. We didn't win, but it's still it still means the world to me to to be standing here talking to you guys about it. I at the start of the year I would not have stood up here and
058talked to the board about uh this and and now I'm I'm here standing here and and it just means so much. Um yeah, thank you. >> Wow. Just wow. You guys did a great job. It's not easy to stand up and talk in front of us, you know. Um and you really you did you did a great job. So, what we're going to do is I'm guessing we're going to have some comments and some questions maybe. You can all you can any of you can answer, all of you can answer, whatever you want to do. Linda, I see your hand's up. >> Um I have a question and a comment. My comment is for Xander. I am never looking for the student who's the A student and the one who could walk on water. I'm
059looking for the student like you. You're up here smiling, you found your passion, you found your people, and I am so proud of you and as well as your teammates, but thank you for that what you said. That that brings it home that not everybody is maybe book smart or may go to college or or you know, is in a lot of clubs, athletes, athletic or or music or art. But you found your passion. I'm so proud of you. >> Yeah, thank you. >> Here, here. My question is for any one of you. What's next? Will the car be sold? And if not, if it is going to be sold, do you get another car here at Arlington or um do you enhance this car for next year? >> Uh we get a new car
060next year. We get a '35 hot rod truck. And we're keeping this car until next year and then we auction it off. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Of course. >> Is '35 like 1935? >> Yes, yes. >> Cool. >> Any more questions? Sophia. >> Can you come up? >> Yes. >> Tell me your name. You never say your name. >> Oh, my bad. My name is Katrina Rodriguez. >> Katrina, I want to tell you that the way that you are representing everybody is a moment of pride for you and for your family and for the school probably. Um one of you acknowledged your teachers and I think that was a very important moment in your presentation because you're acknowledging that you are a product of the knowledge and the dedication and the time of
061that those teachers that I see the smiles on in this in this room. So, that is a very nice thing in any presentation to acknowledge those who helped you get to where you are. And I think this just gave me the the confidence that that part of the mission of the school that we are inclusive is coming alive here cuz you're a combination of skills, background, voices. Um if you were a chorus you would all be in all, you know, type of of of voices. Um and it is just the the personality as a group that comes in very clearly as that we we can do this. And maybe there were some faults in the in the road and some roadblocks and you all overcame them. Third place is a reason to be super super
062proud. I don't want to hear these, "We didn't get first." You got third on the first year. So, please stand proud about that. It is it is phenomenal. Thank you so much. >> Well, first our teachers, a lot of them are the reason we are in the program. They came up to us, told us about the program, gave us an application. I know Ms. Hogan, I've had her for 3 years. She kind of helped build me into the person I am today. And she handed me the application and from there it was just And also, I don't think any of us are like, "Oh, no, we got third instead of first." We're more motivated for next year, well, the juniors cuz I'm a senior. They're more motivated till next for next year to know that
063they can push better and they can beat some of the schools that's been there for 3 years cuz the school that got first place, they're kind of like a relic. They've been there for so long that if they didn't get first place, that would have been an issue. But yeah, so our teachers just kind of helped shape us into the people we are today. And third place is like something to be proud of. Third place is something to be proud of, but it's like we know we can do better, so. >> Okay, very good. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Jeff. >> Um not sure who to direct it to. Um so, essentially this is three classes, one team. Is there anybody interested in taking one of the other classes who
064different parts of being on the team still, but different aspects of it? >> Yeah, so I was on marketing this year, and next year I'm signed up for Mr. Flanagan in the build room. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. And kind of opposite for me, I was on the build team this year, and I'm hoping to get into the visual com or marketing next year, so. >> And was there a lot of collaborations with the three classes or the three >> was. We were often in each other's classrooms, and all our more specifically, they came in here to film the car, take pictures of the car, and market it online. It was very collaborative, and it was a great experience. So. >> All right. So, the nuts and bolts of what you did, this is this is
065a group made up of juniors and seniors? Is that Okay, so it is open to the whole high school? >> No, it's sophomore, junior, senior to apply. >> Okay. >> And you don't have to apply with an application from one of the business or engineering or technology teachers. >> Okay. Cool. And those of you that are seniors, now come back next year and root for your team, right? Go to Lime Rock and be the cheerleaders. Cool. Thank you. All right, well, thank you very much. This is incredibly impressive, and you know, I think um the car is really impressive. And um Mr. Flanagan threw me the keys, and I dropped them on the floor. I I thought to myself, he's like, "Can you drive a stick?" And I was like, "Yes, but no, thank you."
066Um you know, um I don't I don't think I was prepared for for a for a wonderful presentation and to be very impressed, but I'm specifically impressed with with you all. And what you can articulate about what you got out of it is really important cuz you'll carry it better with you if you looked at what you gained, right? So, kudos for that and thank you very much for joining us here tonight. Means a lot to us. Wait, we have more Yeah, sure. As many questions as you want. It's fine. >> Do you guys sell the gear at all? The hats? >> Uh yes, we do. Um the merch is currently closed, but we're going to have new merch for next year. So, um if you follow our our Instagram, you'll see like links and
067stuff of where you can get the merch. >> It's a great logo. >> Oh, thank you. >> Just Sorry, just before we move on in my haste to introduce the students, I forgot to acknowledge that their teachers are here, too. Uh so, Ms. Loria over there was their visual and communication teacher. Ms. Hogan is back here. If you want to just stand up and wave really quickly, she worked with the marketing team. And Mr. Flanigan in the back uh is the one who was doing donuts in the parking lot before with the donuts. >> [laughter] >> So, just round of applause for >> Well, that was great. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for having us. >> Oh, sure. It's our pleasure. You got to come back. You know, and you know, keep us
068on your mailing list. We love We love stuff like this. Um All right, so I'm going to move forward although it's hard to move on past this, but you guys don't necessarily have to stay and listen to all the next things we're going to say, but but you can if you want. Um Mia will tell you, you know, So, >> [laughter] >> um that brings us to our new business section of the agenda. Our new business section of the agenda lists several items for individual resolution approval. Documentation concerning these items has been provided to our board members in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. Um item B, ten uh certified tenure recommendations. Can I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? All those
069in favor? I. Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Congratulations to all the tenure candidates. >> [applause] >> Item C, civil service settlement agreement. Say that three times fast. Can I get a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I. Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Item G, non-unit salary increase. Can I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I. Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Item E, retainer agreement Keenan & Bean, P.C. Can I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um, any discussion? >> I would just note to the board, um, this is [clears throat] one half of our legal services, or
070at least part of that's anticipated for next year, and then we'll likely we will have a another retainer just in managing different functions of of legal counsel for our for our district. So, a reasonable question was asked of me this week, which I don't know if I've spoken to the full board about as to when would we, or would we, consider consolidating our legal services given that, you know, we're splitting it. And that that can be a lengthy process to go through the RFP. It's a good question, and and we should, but we just need a little bit more time to organize that to do a thorough review. So, next school year, we will have that as a as a priority, organize an RFP, hear from whoever responds to our request for services, and then
071make a decision at that point. We're obviously in a bit of a period of transition here and I think the board went through an RFP process 3 years or so and I just I obviously wasn't here but I Mary Ann I think it's pretty pretty time consuming for the board and then >> It is it's because it's a very important decision and we also of course it's not even though the board might you know kind of manage the process in some way really it's our it's the people of the administration that use the services and so we need to get input from there and it was a multi-month process you know so as we kind of move through that um So we'll look forward to that again next year. >> There you go. >> But
072that's why we're not doing it now because it was really too too late. We were in the middle of budget season by the time that came up. It would have been kind of a rush to get it set for July 1st. So I think but the way we're proceeding I think it's the it's the right way for now. So look forward to that. So any other questions on that? Does anybody have any questions on that? Okay. All those in favor? I. Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Brings us to the business consent agenda. Our consent section of the agenda lists several items for approval by a single motion. Documentation concerning these items have been provided to our board members in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. May I please get a motion for this consent
073agenda? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any comment or discussion? >> I just wanted to note two things. One this is we're starting to get into the time of the year where we're making appointments. We recognized our retirees so we're filling those positions and and you'll start to see more of those as we're going through the final interview process and welcome to those people who are now joining Arlington and we have a more formal welcome as we get closer to the school year. I I did just want to draw attention to the with your approval in a moment to Dr. Lisa Rollinson who's being appointed to the director of teaching and learning position for our secondary schools. Lisa is very well known there she is. Sorry Lisa I didn't see
074you. Lisa obviously has been leading Union Vale Middle School for for some time now and really providing excellent leadership of that school and school community and I'm pleased to see that the way this role is fashioned Lisa will now have the ability to work with a our our new principal at LaGrange Middle School and I know Dr. Juda was here at some point this evening appreciate him coming to this evening's event. Whoever is the new principal of Union Vale Middle School when that time comes and obviously as Mr. Murphy further establishes himself here at the high school with with the team here. Lisa's background experience will really lend itself well to creating a cohesive curriculum or teaching and learning program for our students here at the secondary level. >> Okay is that it for your
075comments? Does >> It is. >> Okay great. So everybody else? All those in favor? >> I. >> Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Congratulations. Um oh now Skip all these pages. That brings us to page 28. Um future discussion items. Now everybody's been paying close attention knows that we do have a future discussion items to discuss tonight. Linda brought up last time discussion of our 50th student board member. I don't know you want to give a quick recap of that and then we can go from there? >> Yeah, sure. >> Thanks. Uh so, first of all, Leticia, you did a wonderful job. You set the foundation as our first um student board member. And um that's important. Because right now, what I'm looking to do or having discussion about is um can we do uh more? Can
076we give more opportunities to students like yourself um going forward to the next uh student board members um more opportunities maybe for interaction with us or mentorship or or whatever that discussion turns out to be. Uh but you set the bar very high, and um I know I'm speaking for myself, but probably for the board, uh we appreciate how well you did, um your um your grace in doing it, uh when you spoke of several times about different issues, and um I appreciated that. So, my again, my discussion going forward would be to maybe look at this further as a board, um how could we offer more opportunities to our student board member? >> Okay. So, um I'll just remind everybody we're actually not having that discussion now. What we're having is a discussion to
077task ourselves with that discussion in the future. Um I would I would say and then um in any case, I would welcome Leticia with Dr. Benante any reflections that you may not want to make in public about others that you're welcome to share. We'd love to hear from you, but it doesn't need to be tonight. Um you know, so uh what I Lena and I spoke, and I want to propose for for your consideration that, you know, we wanted to also talk as a group about we visited all the schools but this one. Apologies. Um and that was fruitful, but but you even if you do something fruitful, you want to reflect and and say, "How did it go?" And and I think that this would fit pretty nicely with as we look at, "Okay,
078how did this year go? Are there any tweaks or improvements we can make to next year? Those are things we do over the summer, either in our retreat or some other time. So, if if people are collectively comfortable with adding this to the list of things we would kind of go over in the summer, um that would be my suggestion, but I'm also open to other suggestions. I'm seeing some nods. Okay. >> What is the alternative if we don't if we don't add it to the agenda for say? >> So, we could decide not to have a discussion about it. So, so it's it's easier when you think of it as something else, like a future discussion item. Say we wanted to task the administration with creating a budget report on I don't know, fork
079expenses in cafeterias or something, right? We would then discuss if that's um something we want to take address their energy to, right? And then if we if there's not enough of us to say, "Yes, Phil, go off and count the forks." Then we would not have him do that. This is to prevent people from putting things on an agenda that we don't all we don't want to fracture his attention into doing pet projects for all different board members. So, what we try to decide when somebody brings us something new is is this something we all agree is something that deserves a little bit of time. What's different about this is it's really we're tasking not the administration, more ourselves, although I'm sure Phil will participate. You know, um it's not really a job a to-do
080list for him. Sometimes they are um like if you remember, I think one of the ones in recent memory was the food service one. We had a food service and food insecurity, and we discussed together whether or not we wanted to hear a report and what the nature and extent of that report was, so that they're not chasing rainbows trying to find us what we want and need, and we decided it through some parameters. So, what would the difference of not Certainly, if anybody's got another thought, we could do it a different way. Or, um we could not technically we not do it, right? We could just decide I don't you could you could advocate and say, "I don't really think it needs to be talked about. Um, I'm I'm good." So, um, does that
081answer your question? >> Yeah, it was more about I don't think there's or I haven't heard that we do not want to talk about it. It's just that they they offer on the table is that we add it to um the agenda for our um, reorg meeting. Um >> Not so much the retreat. Now, I mean I What I What I would say is what usually happens is if we were voted to be tasked to do this as a group Mary and Phil and I would regroup and see where it fits best in our calendar. >> Ah, okay. >> And then that conversation would come on. But what uh, Linda and I talked about and the reason I'm kind of ruminating out loud that we'll try to find a place this summer is it might
082be um, more relevant if we've had that discussion before the next student begins in September. So, that was kind of the why. But our our retreat's pretty packed, I'll agree. But you know, we do have these sort of administrative issues of ours and this this I think if if I was trying to make little clusters of things to talk about, that's why I thought this might go with that cluster. But I'm open to other suggestions and probably what's going to happen if you task us is we're just going to go off and and propose something that fits in the calendar. I The most salient thing is that we agree that we we want to participate as a group in this discussion. I think that's what we need to achieve >> Yeah. >> tonight. >> I
083I agree. Okay. I just think the retreat is already we already have a pretty packed >> I agree. Yeah. Yeah. So, it would only go in if um, if if something else uh, Mary and I are Mary and I are determined to ring the last minute out of that retreat. So, if we have like an hour at the end of the day that we haven't used, we might we might put in some of these things that we need we know we need to do. I got we'd like to talk about our trips to the buildings. I'd like to hear people's reflections on that. So, we have a But But most important are the things that are already on our agenda, 100%. So, um But that's what we're we'll manage over the next month and a
084half or so, 2 months. I'm see I'm seeing some head nodding. Not Not No heads going this way? Donna, yes. >> I'll say say some words, yeah. >> No, I I would like to discuss it in in detail. I think it's an important role and I felt like like I I would like to discuss it in my I was really glad when Linda brought it up. >> Okay, great. >> Would we include the new member coming in at all? Because she's coming in with the expectations of what Mia's role was and what she did. So, would we want to circle her in to some of the conversation? >> Um >> So, she's not walking in >> is I think it's So, how how this has really worked is that um Mia has interacted primarily with
085Phil. And uh in part because she is a student, you know, and we're um elected random people from the sidewalks outside. You know, and uh you know, that maybe whoever comes into that they don't they don't really have an experience of any of us or our our our role. Um I think that certainly we would need to communicate anything else to her. And also, she was um selected as part of last year's process with an understanding. So, I I don't know how the where our discussions will go, but you know, um she has an understanding of what the commitment and the responsibilities are. So, you know, we would have some obligation to let her know what that was. How we feeling about that? I think we're good. I do. >> And I would just note
086that me and I will work out a time to either sit down or just talk through closing rows from the previous year. So me as feedback can be incorporated into that discussion assuming you don't want to come back for a board meeting in August. [laughter] I think you'll be pretty busy at that time. So we'll be sure to collect that and I can provide it to the board ahead of time. >> And I also think as much as Mia has brought her whole self and her her concerns and her interests and her you know her the vibrancy of her personality. We would expect our next people to have their own take on it, right? And we don't want to necessarily you know edit that out. So Are we good? >> Yep, good. >> Okay. All
087right. Does anybody have any other future discussion items to present to offer today? All right, seeing none moving on. Do we have any um comment public comments for non-agenda items? >> No, we do not. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Moving on to committee reports. Advocacy. >> Hey, PA. Um there's a budget. >> All right. >> Finally in in June. Um in terms of advocacy, the only thing that we need to gather my committee for is to talk about the um resolution process to get ready for the board the Nisba board meeting in the fall. So we'll look at some There is a hard and fast deadline. I believe it's July 17th if we were thinking of pushing forward any resolutions of our own, but we do need to review what is being promoted already through
088the survey that we all got a while ago. So I'll be chatting with you ladies in the not too distant future future and we'll pick something in terms of a date. But, beyond that, nothing for right now. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, audit. >> Uh, nothing at this time. >> Okay, thank you. Kathy. >> Nothing at this time. >> Okay, policy. >> Uh, next meeting is next Wednesday, our last meeting of the school year, uh, June 10th, 3:00 p.m. >> You mean tomorrow? >> Tomorrow. I'm sorry. That's next next >> That is technically the next Wednesday, but I don't think we refer to it that So, it's tomorrow. Oh, okay. >> [laughter] >> All right, sounds good. Perfect. Um, organization reports. Let's see, Arlington Education Foundation. >> Um, Dr. Bonante mentioned that we had
089the scholarship breakfast last week. Uh, it was, um, a lovely event. Really well attended by the students, which doesn't always happen. We they moved the date up a week so that we weren't conflicting with as many finals as we have in the past. Um, and then there were six students that had finals scheduled. We were able to put them right at the beginning. Um, and the the message got to the students that this was an important an important event to come to, um, I think more strongly than in the past. Um, so it was well attended. Um, students were there as Phil said, um, many of the sponsors of the scholarships. And just reflecting on that, um, m- many of those scholarships are memorial scholarships and you see in the description how those people that
090we've lost were tied to Arlington and how the families really want to give back in this way. So, um, and I also just wanted to express my thanks from, um, LeJune and the rest of the AEF board. Um, they're very grateful to the senior house administration and the guidance counselors that helped them, um, really put this together. So, thank you for that. And, oh, two big fundraisers coming up. Uh, one is at the Hudson Valley Renegades on August 28th. Um, you buy a ticket and you make a $5 donation and just go to the game. And then, um, in September is, um, an, uh, pickleball event where you can get lessons, play games, and that will be on September 26th at the Hudson Valley Pickleball and Golf Center. But, all pickleball, no golf. >> Okay.
091>> I started playing. >> Thank you. Um, Dutchess County School Boards and BOCES update. >> So, uh, several of us attended the end-of-year festivities at, um, MOD last Thursday. Um, and besides a lovely chance to just speak to people in person as opposed to all our Zoom lives, um, it was so similar to the Winter Circle event in that, um, BOCES students were given a chance to speak. Um, these are CTI graduates that have been in the BOCES program. So much like this, the most eloquent speakers for their programs, for what they've learned, and a lot about their teachers as more than teachers of content, but as mentors and as people who helped push them to feel like they could do things that they may not have started out thinking. Um, and if I'm not
092mistaken, we had two Arlington graduates in that group, but we heard from students from around the county. And each one of them did the most wonderful job and was it was just it was one of the better things that I think we've done in Dutchess County School Boards. It It was It was great. Anything else people that were there that you want to add or Sophia? >> It was It was phenomenal to see the spirit behind what we heard, which was about community. >> Yeah. >> It was not only them telling us what they have achieved, but it was everybody that was involved to get them to that point. >> Yeah. >> Um and the two students from Arlington were like our moment of pride right there. It was It was so It was great.
093It was phenomenal. It would be It would be great. It was just um you know me by now. I was just I was reflecting on the um stereotypes that we have on certain practices like electricians and and estheticians, you know, the gender. Um it it would be great to see something more varied in the future, but I guess it is, you know, it's work in progress. >> And I do think one other thing that was so powerful was every single one of their teachers were present. So, that just also shows you the connection that these teachers have to their students and the students to the teachers. It was It was so heartwarming. It was a good one. >> So glad. >> It was really good. Um so, that is everything in a nutshell. >> Not
094quite everything in a nutshell. Didn't they elect new officers to the Dutchess County School Board Association? >> Let's just gloss over that. >> that our Marion Quinn is now the president of the Dutchess County School Boards Association. >> Thank you. >> So, we can look forward to excellent events in the future. >> Right. Let's have a little round up on that after next year and we'll see. >> Believe it's a 2-year plan. >> We'll talk it again. Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Um PTA PTSA Council. I'm um we're dividing and conquering. I think you're you're going to the CTI dinner. I'm going to go to the PTSA dinner next next Thursday at dinner. >> also this week, people. >> Right. Not next Thursday. >> next Thursday. This Thursday coming day after
095tomorrow. >> tomorrow. This is the big meeting. >> That's right. We'll be there. And um I'm I'm looking forward to that. It's always so nice. I love to to to meet again, like you say. We we meet on Zoom throughout the year. So, it's it's nice once a year that they they probably see each other more, but I get to see them more at this at this event. That brings us to District Health and Safety. >> Nothing to report. >> Okay. And District Equity. >> Uh we had a meeting last Thursday, June 4th. Um So, we of course had a share out and the thing that was uh new cuz that a lot of people just kind of updated on like the Let Girls Program at Vail, how that's going and expanding. But, um I
096learned that Overlook and the high school through My Sister's Keeper has had a pen pal program. They targeted students that were chronically absent at Overlook. Um and it really was driven by the MSK students to um have this interaction between the kids and um this it built a reading buddy relationship and I can tell you that that's like one of the best things when you have an older student a younger student reading together. Um and it was pretty it was very successful. Um and then the crux of the mill the meeting was finishing the building level plans that are based on the um the surveys. And then there was discussion just feedback for next year and reflection for next year. And the thing that I took away from that um was that each of those
097each of the building equity leaders are really hungry for time just being able to collaborate with each other. So, um when we went to Knox and we talked about their mentorship program and I had said that needs to be shared out in equity and it was actually in this meeting, but um different equity leaders then said, you know, that's what I need to be able to talk to them about it. Or you're doing the light grow program, we want to do the light grow grow program. I need to be able to talk about that. So, I think um I'm assuming that we'll see some restructuring right of that so that there's more collaborative time um in that. And that's it on equity. >> Thank you. Um superintendent's closing remarks. >> Uh very celebratory evening. I
098just did want to know I'd be remiss if I didn't. I want to be a good husband. Uh you know, you miss a lot of family events as superintendent. You know that going in, you sign up for that. Um I'm missing an important one this evening though. My wife and I told her I would give her a shout-out that uh and and one of our my wife is a teacher in Arlington, but also uh one of her good friends and colleagues is uh Charlene Stratton who's a teacher at Veil Farm Elementary School. Both of whom are being inducted into the Hyde Park Athletic Hall of Fame this evening as teammates in their boat. Uh they were rowers uh together national champion rowers. I should uh add, but uh two of our employees uh being and
099one of whom is my spouse being recognized >> Well, that's a lot to take in. >> for that this evening. So, congrats to them. >> Yeah. You look right in the camera. >> She's not watching tonight. >> Uh but she'll watch later. >> [laughter] >> Um Thank you for sharing that. Uh that brings us to board reflections. Eileen. Um >> had an opportunity to go to the first year teacher recognition recognition celebration. Um It was a beautiful event. And as I kind of worked the room, I always I went to people that I know because the first year teacher and the mentor comes. So I knew many of the mentors. And then asked them to introduce me to their first year teachers. Um it was interesting to see have a mix of truly first year
100teachers. A few students, you know, people coming right out of college. But we have quite a number of first year teachers that have come from someplace else and come to Arlington. And so to have those discussions why they wanted to come here was interesting and we should be proud of that. And then um the other thing I wanted to reflect on is what we saw here and then tying it to you talking about the BOCES students. And just we talk about this all the time how important engagement is. And for so many kids it's not sitting in class and and listening to a lecture or even having discussions with your fellow classmates. It's really getting in and doing doing that hands-on work. And so Phil, what's the framework that you're bringing next year to for
101the teachers to learn? >> Universal design. What is that? >> Say it again. >> Universal design for learning. >> Sorry, my bad. My bad. >> Um It that that part of that will be looking at different modalities, right? >> Correct. >> So um I'm excited to see what happens. That's my reflection. >> Well, and to just sort of play off of that, you know, I saw that at the skilled trades fair that you put it. I actually couldn't go this year, so I went last year. And um my takeaway feeling from the skilled trades fair was it was terrific in so many ways. But what I really noticed was the kids' faces cuz you can tell when a kid is experiencing they can't control themselves when they're experiencing something that didn't occur to them before
102and they see a possibility for themselves and I saw that on so many faces that night and I was just very pleased to see that. So and I know that was you so we're going to say that again right now. Um And of course the Charlie Johnson Memorial Day event. Um you know, that they uh uh every year they find a way to breathe freshness and and and life like it is it is the most amazing event. Um uh even Sergeant Ricky's you know, comments you know, fresh every year you know, um I talked about what the first the first 15 minutes. You know, it's funny when you have a you know, it's the first 15 minutes of your day and how you set your intention for the day and it's interesting it's not often
103you hear a speaker that you can a week or two later remember what your one takeaway from that from that event was. So um and for all the people involved I also super loved the board with all the kids and where they were going. Loved that because it came a point to be able to talk to them or to understand and that kind of thing. So that was terrific. So lots of wonderful things going on there and of course just that a point of pride for our community that we do such a beautiful event every year. That's it. Anybody got any more reflections? Seeing none can I please get a motion to to adjourn to executive session to review the employment of a particular individual. >> So moved. >> Thank you. I need a second.
104>> Second the motion. >> Thank you. Um any discussion? Seeing none all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passes. The board will be adjourning from that meeting. We will not be coming back here. Thank you.