001to the district mission. Our mission is to empower all students to be self-directed lifelong learners who willingly contribute to their community and lead a passionate purposeful life. Can I please get a motion for the approval of the agenda? >> So move. >> Thank Thank you, Linda. Want to turn on your >> second. >> Thank you. Um all those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstension. Motion passes. Correspondence. Does anyone have any correspondence they like to share today? Seeing none, that moves on to board president's remarks. I just my remarks brief this evening. I just happy to see everybody here tonight. We had a wonderful visit here last week and we're excited in a few minutes to be able to talk more about it. So, and thank you to the PTA or whoever provided us with the with
002the snacks here and in our premeating in the other room. So, thank you very much. That's all for me for tonight right now. Um, Dr. Ponte, >> thank you Miss Meen. I have a few comments. Thank you, Cara, for organizing uh and welcoming us this evening. We appreciate it. I know you'll have a more formal welcome in a few moments after I get done talking here. So, bear with me because I have a few updates for the board and the community that I wanted to provide. Uh first, I I'm sure several board members will comment. I had the opportunity to attend the district arts fair uh this past weekend uh two different times, one as superintendent and then one as a parent. uh which I must admit is you can't have favorite activities because there's
003so much that goes on in Arlington, but getting a picture of your child in front of their artwork is like one of my favorite things uh traditions I'll say now uh here in Arlington and then seeing the other families uh with their kids and uh and then just the scope of program uh that is highlighted at the district's art fair is really impressive. So kudos to all the teachers and all the individuals who were involved in bringing that event uh to be. It was at Arlington High School this year, which is a change, uh, obviously, but it it was great. Um, and and really just time well spent on the weekend and got to see a lot of families who were very appreciative of not only their kids and the work they're doing in the
004school, but the fact that the district provides such a space to honor the student work that goes on throughout the school year in our arts uh, courses. Uh, a reminder, and I don't know where ticket sales are at. I haven't checked. So, I will say if you haven't bought your tickets to Frozen yet, uh you may still have time to do so. I don't know. I'll be there Friday night. So, uh I bought my tickets a couple of weeks ago, but we're really looking forward to the high school production. Uh Frozen is uh being the Admiral Players are putting on Frozen both uh Friday or Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. And I think you have the chance for matinea on Saturday and Sunday. They add another show. >> They add another show. So, I know the
005kids have been working really hard cuz I saw them on the uh at the as I was walking into the arts fair. Uh just wanted to know as the board is aware and I'd assume many members of our community, we had an issue at Union Veil Middle School uh that the administration really worked incredibly hard uh to bring to resolution on Friday uh regarding rumors uh around a potential threat to the school. A and I really feel with a high level of confidence especially particularly by now uh that uh we have demonstrated that that threat not only was not credible it just wasn't true and uh it illustrated several things. is one just the work that many of our administrators uh put into to investigating things like that which can be incredibly timeconuming. Uh also
006illustrates you know the value I was at the school yesterday uh that our our faculty and our staff uh in just providing a um a consistent steady presence for our kids and our families who maybe uh are feeling a particular level of vulnerability going into school after something like that is swirling uh in the community. their professionalism I think really uh showed uh both uh Friday afternoon uh during an initial staff meeting and then uh Monday throughout the day in their interactions with kids. I I also and and I think this is just the way the world works uh because you read obviously about worst case scenarios in the newspaper all the time. Hi Mia. Uh no, take your time. Get settled in. I'm going to talk for a while but okay. Um it illustrates
007uh you know obviously the sensitivity that folks have to a projection or uh concerns around violence in schools in any form. Uh I do think Dr. Rollison did her absolute best to communicate in a timely manner uh and thoroughly on the matter. Uh we spoke again on Sunday. I put a communication out uh and and yet still you know parents I understandably so because they think worst case scenario what's the one thing I can control? Well, I'll just keep my child home. And and um I get it. I I I do. Uh although I reassured all the families I spoke to while my kids are at the high school, if they were at Union Veil Middle School, they would be going to school on Monday. And and that's uh based on everything that I saw
008the administration doing to to bring the the matter to resolution as they could over over a weekend. So, um, one last note that I'll make and, uh, there spoke to a few people and I saw some posts online and it's just something you shake your head and you say this is, you know, the world, uh, that that that we live in to some extent. Um, uh, not the example, but this comes up. I saw a series of exchanges that were occurring between parents related to this matter uh, and read through those yesterday uh, alongside the school administration at Unionville Middle School. A and I'll just point this out. one of the presumed parents that was posting repeatedly in response to other parents who were talking about it. We could not verify as an actual parent
009in our school district. So, they're presenting as a parent. Uh they're commenting uh as if they're a parent, but there is no one by that name uh as a parent uh in our school district. And I think that just illustrates in talking to a couple other families because uh Mrs. uh or Dr. Rollison, excuse me, and I called several families yesterday uh just pointing that out. a parents responding, you know, with the assumption that the parent who's writing to them is another parent in the school and they potentially are not. And it just illustrates to a degree some of the things we have to navigate uh that our staff has to navigate. Um sadly, uh but I I will say the the far majority of kids were in school yes uh yesterday. Again, the staff's
010professionalism really shown and uh my hope is certainly today and tomorrow we're just back to business as usual at Union Veil. So, excuse my extended remarks on that, but I did want to make sure I shared some things with the board related to it um in a in a more public format. Any questions about that? And I have one more thing. Okay. Would you mind passing these down? >> Thank you. This one's for you. Can you pass those down? I'm sorry I didn't distribute these. I need one of them. I'm sorry. just wanted to level set with the board and I'll ask the community uh who's in attendance to just bear with me because we're not posting this. It's just board business here. Um some organizational stuff. We have a very full agenda uh and
011have this year obviously with several projects going on that are um you know rather large in nature. So I I just wanted to outline between now and the end of the year and highlight some of the items that we have scheduled with the board uh to talk through uh between now and the end of the year. So, uh, I obviously put aside this meeting tonight, but at our next committee of the whole meeting, uh, Kevin and I have worked to have the individuals, uh, the organization INF, which did our bus, uh, conversion, our electric bus feasibility study. So, I'll provide you with a copy of that study ahead of time. Both Kevin and I have that. And then the individuals from INF will be on hand at the committee of the whole meeting to talk
012about the uh their review of the conversion of our fleet from propane because we have propane fleet to electric and some and answer your questions related to that. Uh so that'll be at the next committee of the whole. Uh we have a regular business meeting on April 28th, May 12th. Uh we just a heads up we will be meeting our new uh student school board representative. Uh that's Shante Windit. will be here uh just prior to the meeting. Uh so we'll get a chance to meet uh Shante. I know she's very excited to meet you. That meeting is at Knox Road. May 19th, that's the school budget vote in the trustee election. Prior to uh that, uh we will have a committee of the whole meeting to review the enrollment study. So I just want
013you to be aware that's now complete. Uh Kevin and I had our final review of that last week. Uh so we'll do the enrollment study. will uh answer questions related to that and then obviously we'll be awaiting the results from the school budget vote. Uh May 26 we will have Tetrate Techch and Palumbo come to a public meeting to present the status of both the Lraange Middle School and the West Road School projects. We've had a couple of meetings with them this year through committee of the whole, but we want to make sure that they have the opportunity to present publicly as well. Uh as many of you know, those plans continue to come together and are on track. June 9th, our first meeting at Arlington High School. Uh that's our tenure and retiree recognition
014at that meeting. Close your ears, Mia. We'll also be recognizing Mia at that meeting. Uh so uh just uh want to make note of that. And then I have a meeting designated for June 16th. Well, we have a committee of the whole on June 16th. Um uh in talking with Maryanne, we'll reserve that for the superintendent's evaluation. There'll be some touch points prior to that that I haven't put in here, but we're holding that for the the final review. and Maryann and I work together just to finalize the timeline for that. And then our last business meeting for the school year is June 23rd. So, we have quite a bit going on, but I just wanted to make sure you had a a sense of the scope of that and then I can answer any
015questions that you may have now or you have after the meeting, obviously. >> And um >> Oh, now we wait. We have public comment for agenda items. Do we have anybody with comment for agenda items tonight? >> Okay, thank you. Now that moves us on to reports and discussions. >> After three false starts, I'm happy to welcome Miss Conrad. You'd think this is my first board meeting. >> So eager for your presentation. >> Yeah, he assures me it's easy. Can you hear me? Okay, >> there you go. >> Yeah, you can. >> Okay. He also assures me this is easy. Okay. Well, good evening and welcome to the board of education, uh, central office administration, uh, the community, colleagues, former colleagues. U, I'm grateful to present tonight. Last week, we had a nice visit, uh,
016where you were fortunate enough to observe a range of Devon, this is going to Yes. uh a range of targeted supports that were divi designed to meet individual kindergarten student needs. Kindergarten was our focus. For example, we had a student L who was working on improving his articulation of the L sound while also building expressive language skills such as sentence structure, grammar, and functional communication within the context of instruction during his speech session. In literacy, our AIS reading teacher, Miss Berliner, shared that our students have progressed from using wordless picture books and sound search text focus focused on building story structure, vocabulary, and letter sound awareness to more advanced reading work, which you got to see live. They are now developing decoding skills and recognizing trick words through decodable texts like the geodess and fun
017and focus books that we have while also applying these skills in leveled controlled texts. This balanced approach supports the development of the automaticity and the independence of reading that you start to see this time of school uh of year. You also were able to see how our ENL learners uh during a push-in model with with our ENL teacher in a kindergarten classroom during the IE block. So, it was a general ed kindergarten classroom with where some of our kindergarten ENL students were working on interventions and the ENL teacher was also in the room with them. And at their station, the ENL station, they students were practicing accountable talk, using sentence stems, frames, and hand-on supports to build confidence in participating in discussions. The focus is on expanding academic vocabulary, and strengthening their ability to make
018inferences, preparing them for both conversation and w written responses. The other students in the room were al also working on interventions that were targeted to their specific needs. We were also able to see student N in the OT occupational room who we also thought kindergarten might be shy and they were not. Uh working through upper body strength, coordination, body awareness through movement based activities while also developing fine and visual motor skills to increase independence in classroom tasks. These skills for student N helped him feel more comfortable and confident during the school day includes including when he has to sit at a desk or flexible seating, moving safely around the classroom and participating in activities. He's also building fine motor and visual skills which translate into the classroom as with writing uh using scissors and complete
019and actually completing classroom work. And I I heard I wasn't able to be in that one but I heard he showed off how strong he was when he was with you. Yes. Across all settings, our PPS staff play a critical role in delivering targeted interventions that are aligned with their IEP goals and our RTI and MTSS framework. These supports are intentionally scheduled during intervention blocks so students continue to access core instruction. So, we were also able to see a morning meeting and we were able to see the intervention block and the students that we saw in the PPS settings, in the one-on-one settings or the small group settings came out of those classrooms. So, they weren't missing core instruction. They were doing interventions uh on on areas of things they needed to focus on. You
020also likely noticed while you were here the consistent use of common language among staff and students reflecting our commitment to the responsive classroom approach. This fosters strong relationships, clear expectations, and a positive, respectful learning environment. And just as important as our academic work, is how we continue to grow as a school community. Events like our Traver Winter Olympics, our cultural celebration which we just had on Friday, which is an initiative that began at West Road and blossoms every year, our be the one initiative, all helper all help foster a strong sense of belonging. At Traver, students are currently actively working to be inclusive, respectful, supportive, and honest while also developing important skills like emotional regulation. We also believe that strong partnerships with families are essential. We regularly invite families into our school to read with
021the students, share their cultural backgrounds, and celebrate students successes together. These experiences enrich our learning environment and strengthen these connections between home and school. At the heart of this work is a shared understanding. A community is strongest when individuals recognize that they rely on one another and treat each other with kindness and understanding. When students and staff demonstrate empathy, compassion, and respect, the entire community benefits and grows. All of this that you saw together is grounded in our district goal of reaching 80% proficiency in ELA and math over the next five years. We remain committed to ensure every student achieves at high levels through strong instruction, targeted support, and a shared belief in their potential. So, we thank you again for coming to visit. We enjoyed having you. The kids definitely enjoyed having you here.
022And we want to make sure that I want to give a very special thanks to all our teachers. I always feel so supported, especially on nights like this. Uh it's late and they came back which is so nice. I our office staff, our kitchen staff, we had um our custodial team here tonight helping set up our PTA. We're very very lucky here that we all work really really together for our students and for each other. Um so thank you. Any questions? >> Thank you, Miss Conrad. >> Yeah. No, go ahead. >> I was just going to get us started. I I would uh again appreciate how you set up the the meetings uh over the or the classroom visits over the course of our visit to the school. And uh just to kick it off,
023two two notes for me and then I'll have some things in closing. There definitely is very little shyness among your your kindergarters. I noted that they are a very social group. You know, you would have expected a little more shyness, but I I did not note that. Um, and uh, a funny anecdote because, you know, I know I can be a serious person, but you should acknowledge when maybe, you know, you make a mistake or two. And I was talking, uh, we were in Mrs. Randall's class and there was a an unshy, precocious learner there. Um, there were several, but one in particular who I thought I saw again in Mrs. Fredoso's class. And, um, Miss uh, Sophia said he was in the first class. I said, "Yes." And I started to explain how well
024we during intervention block we'll move students around and um how you know Mrs. Randall and Mrs. Fredoso would have worked together uh to have done that and set up you know intervention or enrichment based on that and uh I shared this with you upon leave I said you know that little guy he's like the mayor of the school and you know we saw him in Mrs. class and she goes and Carrie says, "Yeah, that's his twin." And so here I am thinking the whole time it's the same >> and they were wearing the same clothes though. >> They were wearing the same clothes. So I do have to thank you. You're being very gracious in that. Uh but yeah, not the same student. Um no, >> so please any board members please feel free to
025share your reflections of which I know there were many. >> Sopia, >> so it was very instructional what you actually shared with me with the blogs and all that. So that's stand. So thank you for educating me. Um I was very impressed. Well, first of all, my kids came to this school. So they were twins too. And just coming back to the place where which had such an influence in them as human beings was >> I don't know a very special experience and and seeing you and the teachers and the absolute love and devotion because that's what I saw. >> Oh, thank you. >> In every classroom, love and devotion. Yes, there's I'm sure they are very expert at what they do and how they do it and the >> all the science behind it,
026you know, to teach. >> But I saw that a dedication that was just unparalleled. I have never seen um the room with the occupational therapy. Is that what it was? And that that gave me kind of like the notion of how things have progressed >> because when my kids here were not like that, not that they needed it, they had beautiful and wonderful speech therapies. >> Um but but that was not so so for for me to acknowledge and to tell you and your team that the way that you embrace how you are forming these beautiful beings out of their hours here is just very impressive. >> Thank you so much. That's very sweet. Thank you. And the you have the flags out there, >> but you did something different with the flags because it's
027syncratism. You move you you put several identities in one flag. So, it's like several flag and I thought that was just like we are not just one thing, right? We are many things and you're honoring that identity of the kids and their families. So, I thought that was really >> Thank you very much. Thank you, >> Eileen. So, I'm a little bit of a responsive classroom nerd. Um, so coming here was was it's like textbook, right? And so I just really wanted to call out, we didn't talk about it that morning, but the morning meeting that we saw in Mrs. Randall and Mrs. Narg's class, >> um, is exactly what you would find in a responsive classroom book. Um, we didn't see the greeting, but we saw the sharing and then we saw the activity.
028And um Sophia, I love that you said the science behind it because we just saw a community working together, but really we saw kids listening, sitting, um being attentive, and then when we moved it into the activity, repracticing their skills, um doing a little reading if they were looking at the site words on the card. So that was a really rich morning meeting and I really appreciated seeing it. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Marian. You made my day. >> Well, thank you. >> Oops. As a person who spent my entire career in related service to students, um it was nice to have it showcased and to to honor the fact that all of those skills that are being developed um either individually or in small groups um >> really do help the kids access
029the curriculum, they access their community. Um, so yeah, I was thrilled. This is our first goround of visits and thank you for, you know, honoring that part of a child's experience when they're with us in Arlington because I think >> it is important. Um, but it was >> it was just great. So I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I I really en I really enjoyed the day. Um I remember at 10 o'clock we were in uh Mrs. Fazello's class and the Mrs. Bronzy I stood and I was wa I was near Mrs. Bronzy when she was doing the the ENL lesson and it you know it was it was really beautiful to watch because it was a very difficult room because um but the the two groups working with the teachers were
030really imshed in what they were doing and they were really paying attention but there was a lot but first of all there was all of us >> right which excites the children and >> all that kind of thing but but the way they were kind of able to bring them in and it was a very interesting lesson about weather. It had to do with weather. And I I just um I just thought I thought you could see them engaged with it and engaged with the picture and naming all the things in it. And despite >> stranger me standing there and other people, you know, they were able to really to do the work and um and I appreciated that. >> Oh, thank you. >> Yeah. Anybody else have anything they want to >> add? Just
031closing if that's okay. Again, uh Cara, thank you for everything that uh you did to organize the day and your staff as well, their flexibility. We know especially for our staff members really in any setting as Maryanne noted uh we had seven or eight adults walking into the room in the middle of learning and and and some uh staff members working with just one student, right? So, uh but we re the last thing we want to do is be disruptive at all. Uh but you again and your staff managed that very well. But it was a incredible uh illustrative glimpse into the range of supports that are in place for a group of primary age students, kindergarters uh in particular. And when you not look at any one individual segment, which of course we do,
032but you look at it all, it really is revealing the the coordination and the effort that goes in, the planning that goes in on on the part of your staff to make sure that we're meeting each of our kids where where they are. uh at every grade level, kids present with a range of needs, but particularly at kindergarten, first and and second grade, uh and those primary years, those needs can sometimes be most disperate. Uh but you could see how your staff was uh working towards uh bringing students towards grade level standards. And we know that may not all happen in one year, but it it happens over successive years as long as we're aligned uh as a learning community. And that was really effort uh really um evident, excuse me, uh in the work.
033I wanted to speak about effort. Uh, and I just wanted to I noted this to you and I just want to be sure to share it when your staff's here. I was so impressed with the effort that the kids were putting in uh in their work. Um, and you could see the level of planning that had gone on, you know, on the part of our our practitioners in making sure that that instruction was really aligned with whatever their needs were. But I I I would just comment that you don't uh the kids effort really is uh uh evident and we should honor that. But it's really uh reflective of the effort that your staff is putting in uh in working together to define what are students needs and how can we best meet those needs
034and the kids are working really hard because your staff you and your staff are working really hard. >> Excuse me. And I just wanted to be sure to to to share that with you and with them uh tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all very much. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thanks to everybody. It was a great day. Great hour. A couple of hours ago. >> You okay if I take the podium? >> I am. >> I think it's my turn. >> Where are you going to take it? >> I'm going to go up there for a second or two. Thank you. >> Take it back to 1958. 1958. >> Built to last. Thank you again, Cara. Uh just a few notes for the board. You have under new business this evening uh
035a budget uh adoption. And I know we've had extensive discussion over the last uh couple of months regarding the budget. I don't have any new information to share with you this evening, nor does nor does Kevin. The state budget has not been uh adopted yet. Uh so you're aware of just what we've accounted for in projections with state aid. But I do just want to go through a couple of things uh with the board uh to just re-emphasize things you've heard before as we go along through uh budget development and anticipation for your action in in just a few minutes here. Uh the first and Devin I'm thinking this is a PDF and I can't right we're going to Can you scroll down while I'm doing this because I >> There you go. So uh
036obviously uh uh as we enter into budget development uh we are trying to maintain the things that make Arlington unique uh as a learning community. And one of the things is I've begun to go out on the road. I had the chance to meet with a PTA last week and talk about where we were in the budget development process. I had the chance to meet with the Lraange Rotary uh this morning uh bright and early to talk a little bit about the budget and some of the things that are highlighted here. I just want to reflect back to the board uh some of the things that I've heard from those respective groups and then the the road show as we call it will continue. Melissa does a great job of of getting me in front
037of various uh individuals and audiences to ensure that folks are well informed and in a position to hopefully support the budget when the budget vote comes. Uh uh so one of those things is the fact that we offer this incredible uh array of programmings for our kids. uh everything from early intervention type services in the elementary school all the way up through the uh scope of programs that are available and courses that are available to our kids at Arlington High School uh and anything and everything in between. So, we've worked really hard to maintain that uh in this year's budget and and we have uh as I shared with you, there's two revenue streams that come into the district. State aid uh which is still a bit of an unknown uh given where the state
038is in the budget development process and taxes. And as state aid moderated, uh there's going to be more pressure on us to to raise the levy. Um I shared with the Rotary this morning, which uh uh how deliberate the board is in uh being mindful of uh taxes in the community. I I know those folks are appreciative of that. Um and how uh we deliberated and have over the last two years on at what level do we do we set the levy. Uh and again just having been a part of the administration for uh in years past I I I do think that this is the year given we have to go a little bit higher uh but we're keeping in mind that there were many years uh within the district where we were able
039to keep the levy lower. Uh and that's a positive reflection back to the community that we've been deliberate all along here knowing that there may be a time where we need uh more money uh by way of um a tax levy from the community. So we shouldn't look at just one year. we should really look at the work that's been going on for 15 years on the part of our board of education. So, and I think folks get that the key variable that shifted year-over-year is was health insurance. And obviously that's partly out of our control. Uh but that increase to health insurance is really what I'm qualifying as the difference between you know a levy that I think the community has been accustomed to between two and two and a half% and obviously now
040a levy of three and a half% that I've recommended to you uh going uh into next school year and the 9% increase to health insurance is really the difference there. Oh, I think my clicker started working Devon. So now now I'm like fighting. just to highlight uh folks have been uh incredibly responsive to the increase in universal prek seats uh that has received a in the limited audiences I've had thus far uh very positive reaction and I'll speak to you and I don't want to overgeneralize. I was meeting with a PTA last week that has kids in an elementary school uh for the most part. I was meeting with the Rotary today, which quite frankly, my survey of the audience, most of their kids are adults, uh, but they have grandkids uh, that are now
041coming into the school system. Uh, so they're cognizant of the costs associated with preK. Uh, and we had a great dialogue this morning around where we're at as a school district and maybe what we could do to further enhance or expand prek uh, in the community at no cost uh, to our community given what they're realizing their children are paying for their grandchildren to go to pre-K programs throughout our community. So that was something uh really interesting uh that came out of that discussion and seems to have uh uh seems to be something that folks are really interested in talking about and like to see. Uh the second piece is the early college access uh component. So I'm talking to a group this morning who has had children again come through access some of our
042dual enrollment courses and something that I hadn't considered that someone presented today. you know, if we have a child or they had a child who transferred or went to college and was able to transfer almost a seme semester's worth of credits. Uh, and then depending on what university you're going, whether that be private or public, uh, while that's at no cost uh, to to them or will not be uh, now moving uh, forward in Arlington, that's an additional savings of however many thousands of dollars depending on what that per credit cost is when you go into college. So, uh, if the college accepts it. So, uh, that's definitely something that, uh, folks were were interested in hearing more about and appreciative that we were structuring for our kids. Uh, I've spoken to PE and professional
043development in the past, so I'll I'll move beyond that. The board is pretty familiar with that. Um, we're maintaining all existing programs for students. I'm happy to report that you're familiar with some of the reductions that we've made along the way. Uh, and Devon, I don't know if it's possible this is just displaying like half and half. And if not, that's okay. That's okay. If you can come back to it, it's fine. Uh but as I shared with the group this morning, I know uh that when we reduce positions, it creates again a sense of vulnerability uh within our community. uh as Hillary has presented, I feel uh we feel good about the fact that of the positions we've reduced, we're able to minimize layoffs and ideally working towards a point where uh we don't
044ideally have to lay off anyone uh because of the other uh transitions that take place just naturally in Arlington year-over-year. So, uh there is a bit of turnover in our staff. So, uh we feel confident that we're able to offer positions to anybody. There may be movement, yes. Uh but at the same time, we're able to hold on to positions for folks who would be impacted by the reductions that we've made in staffing. So again, the budget maintains all existing programs for students. Uh Devon, I only think I had one or two other summary of the reductions we've made, staffing reductions we've highlighted. Uh again, this is just a summary. I've consolidated some of the information that we've provided to the board. Uh that summarizes the state aid we're scheduled to receive. uh the fund
045balance that we've assigned to the budget, our anticipated levy at three at a 3.51% uh levy increase for next school year. As a reminder to the board, we have the school budget vote and the trustee election. We're also scheduling two propositions. Uh the uh one of which will be the purchase of school buses and maintenance equipment. Those are taxeneutral propositions that are on each year. Uh Kevin manages the finances of that in a way that it does not uh cost any additional money to taxpayers uh for the support of transitioning additional vehicles on as we're paying the debt off on vehicles that are already within our fleet. And then the third proposition will be the creation of a capital reserve fund uh which again we need voter authorization for it. It just creates a bucket
046or a container that we can put money into in future years. We utilize these funds to make capital improvements throughout our district that are I'll say smaller in scope uh than maybe some of what comprises the bulk of our discussion. These aren't monies that are used for building projects or things of that nature. They're used for uh fixing roofs and uh uh other items that uh that occur uh throughout our district. We've done our best effort with the floor at Traver Road uh here that you navigated coming in, but you've had plenty of discussions around uh things like that that's obviously led to the addition at West Road School. And our budget vote is May 19th. >> I'll stop there. I'll come back to the >> Thank you, Dr. Bante. Does anybody have any comments
047or anything at this point? We've been through a lot of this. Oh, Jen, >> I just have a question about the third proposition, the bucket. Can you just explain a little bit more about that? Like, we're just making the bucket. >> We're not putting any money in it at this time. >> Not uh not at the the vote. Let's assume it's approved. uh what will happen and then I'll turn it over to Kevin is that when we closed out our books at the end of the school year so between June uh July and then in August uh if we have monies remaining at the end of the school year typically in August if I'm not mistaken we will present a plan on where to place those monies uh the capital reserve is one such place
048where we can put the that money there's other reserves as well that we can direct those money towards Kevin if there's anything I'm missing that you want to highlight That pretty much covers it. >> Okay. >> So, it's another taxeneutral proposition. >> Yeah. That that just simply creates the container if you will or the account I would say and then uh if there's an opportunity then in subsequent months or years uh to place money into that account or that fund, uh we would do so. And Kevin, can you speak to the uh how much money can we place in it? How do we spend it? What do we need in order to use that money just and how that's played out over uh previous years? Yeah. So, it's like a three-part process. So, this is
049phase one and then phase two would be the at the end of each year if we decided uh to place monies into it. But then if we ever decided that we wanted to use it, we then have to go back to the public and ask them, we would put together a proposition that says be it resolved the board of education, are we allowed to take this money from the capital reserve and use it for this specific purpose. So, you need permission to create it, then you guys fund it, and then you need permission from the public to use it. So, it's a it's a three-part process. And this one's for 20 years and $20 million. And you can only put in $20 million. If it generates interest, it'll go a little higher than that. But
05020 million is the amount that you can actually put into it. It's why we have to create another one because the last 20 million uh we fully funded two years ago, I think. and and so that one's uh uh complete. We do have $5 million sitting in it. We didn't choose to do anything with a special proposition this year. We're trying to manage that with the large project and we'll figure out maybe next year if we're going to use some of those dollars to help with a large project or where we may have other capital needs. Does >> Okay, any other questions? Sophia, >> with the pending whatever definition of the state funding, what is the worst scenario? >> So, we feel confident that we're going to receive at least a 1% increase in state
051aid. Uh you may recall from weeks, if not months ago, uh Kevin and I, uh felt uh included a two an anticipated 2% increase in state aid. We were both reading things that reflected uh the potential uh that there was movement behind that as a minimum state aid increase for each district. There's been very little that's come out since then. That's not uh does not appear to be what's holding up the discussions at at the state level. That being said, worst case scenario would be that we only receive 1% uh and that we would have to account for that percent difference now in state aid, which I would value Kevin at about $600,000, >> the difference between 1 and 2% in state aid. Um, and this is where Kevin's far better than me in terms
052of you're voting tonight to authorize a budget. So, we if that happens, it's still we don't have to go back and re uh vote uh uh on a budget. Uh we though as an administration would have to account for where that $600,000 uh would come from and what adjustments we would have to make to account for that if we did not receive that level of funding from uh New York State. >> Anybody else? Okay. Thank you. Um are you you are you good? >> I'm good. Yeah. >> Okay, great. So, let's move on to um section nine policy. Item A, first reading with revisions. So, first reading, we don't need any motions. Um item B, first reading without revisions again. Um we don't need any motions and these will come up come around again for
053us next time. Um and then we move on to item C, second and final reading with revisions. Um may I please get a motion? >> So moved. and a second. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um, any discussion? >> Yes. >> Yeah, Linda. >> Uh, one of the policies, policy 7410, student organizations, is not up for a second reading. The reason being that our board policy committee in which I am the chairperson, decided to hold any further action on this policy um until uh we can review it with our legal counsel and all the members of the board of education. Uh this is expected to occur during the next upcoming months, most likely during our July retreat that the board holds um in which all board members, legal counsel and Dr. Bonante will be present. In
054the meantime, our existing policy still remains in place. Thank you. Any other comments? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I um opposed. Absention. Motion passes. Um, let's see. That brings us to item D, second and final meeting without revisions. Can I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? I >> I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. Item E, acknowledgement and approval of deleted policies. Can I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing none. Um I I I will make a quick comment. Right. So this one we're deleting it says student safety. This is because it's redundant with other policies. Correct. People need to realize that we still have >> Absolutely. As is
055the case with many of the policies that we've recommended for deletion. They're they're now covered under other existing policies. We have a policy related to the district-wide safety plan. uh and many uh this is a a dated policy and many of the reference point in this older policy are now included in that new policy that the board adopted at some point in our past. >> Great. Thank you. Um all those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. That moves us to the new business section of the agenda. Our new business section of the agenda lists several items for individual resolution approval. Documentation concerning these items have been provided to our board members in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. May I please um item B, the 2627 budget adoption. May I please
056get a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um any discussion or comment? Seeing none, all those in favor? I opposed. >> Abstension. Motion passes. Item C, approval of overnight field trips. May I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. Item D, election personnel for the 2026 annual budget vote and school board election. May I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. A lot of people working hard to make sure our election goes well. Um item E, certified tenure recommendations. May I please get a motion? >> Some moved.
057>> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um any discussion or comment? Seeing none, all those in favor? I >> opposed. Abstensions. Motion passes. That moves 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 on the consent agenda? >> Some moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any comment or discussion? >> If I may. >> Yes, please. >> I just wanted to note for the board that both uh uh Mr. Sheldon and uh Mr. Cring, who is our interim athletic director, are scheduled to be appointed uh for another school year in their interim roles, but
058also with the notation that uh this this will be the school year that we're transitioning to new leadership in in both of those areas. So, uh one, we obviously appreciate the work that Kevin continues to provide to the school district and I'm thankful uh that he's able to remain on as I am Mr. praying uh and and I'm thanking them in advance obviously for their assistance in helping make the transition to whoever uh will now come next as our assistant superintendent for business and as our director of athletics. Uh just second and last I just wanted to note that your action tonight includes uh the res action on the resignation of uh Dr. Contest Sal contest who many of you know. Uh S uh I've enjoyed immensely getting uh to know S over the last
059two years and S's accepted a deputy superintendent position at Duchess County Boseies. So he's still going to be nearby and as deputy superintendent at Boseies that's the individual who's really uh managing the day-to-day operations as the district superintendent uh is often working uh at SED or on matters related to the state education department. Uh so we're we're very happy for S. we know he's just going to be right down the road and I'm sure we'll have the opportunity especially those of you who interact with Boseies um at their monthly meetings and their other professional learning opportunities that they offer. Uh we look forward to seeing Sal at those in the future. So congratulations to him. >> That's great. Um okay, all those in favor on the consent agenda? >> I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. brings
060us all the way flipped through a bunch of pages there. Uh that moves us to future discussion items. We don't have anything clear from the past. Does anybody have any future discussion items to propose? >> Seeing none, that moves us on to item 13, public comment for non-aggenda items. Do we have anyone for public comment? >> Yes, we have one person. Okay. >> Anra buswin. >> Okay, let me just then read my little spiel. No, come on up, please. Um, this is the second of two opportunities for people to address the board. Please state your name and address and keep your remarks to three minutes or less. Although we do not engage in dialogue, we are listening. Disparaging remarks concerning specific individuals or positions are prohibited. And if you leave your contact information with our
061clerk, our our district clerk or superintendent, one of the staff members will contact you as soon as possible. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. >> I am An. So >> today I'm speaking not only for myself but also for but also on behalf of Afin Aussa and Esther who are not here today but we wish they could be here. I would like to talk about I'm sorry I would like to talk about concern that is very important to us which is the high school ENL and staffing as a student who have been part of the ENL program. We can honestly say that YNL teacher are some of the most kinder and supportive people in school. All my ENL teacher were nice, patient and always helpful and always ready to
062help us. They took the time to explain things and they made us sure we understood even when it was difficult. Learn English is not easy. Sometime we feel confused, shy and even scared to speak. But YNL teacher help change that. They make students feel safe. They encourage us to speak, to try and to go without fear and make making mistakes. They are not just teachers. They are mentors. They are people who understand our struggle and support us every day. ENL teacher are also very important in society. They help student from different countries. They help us success not only in school but in life. They help build confidence, communications and opportunities for the future. This is why quality staff in the ENL program matters so much in the communities. Student don't get the attention they need
063when they are not ENL's teachers. Classes become too crowded and it become harder for teachers to support every students. When that happen student may feel lost and confused. They can fell behind not because they are not capable but because they don't have enough of support students are trying their best every day when someone are learning a new language while also speaking up with us classes That is not easy and Yenna's teachers make that possible for us. So today I'm asking that you continue to support the ENL program and make sure there is consistency and high quality teachers because when you support ENL students you support the future of the communities. Thank you everyone for listening to me. >> Thank you. Do we have anyone else, Nicole? >> Okay, thank you. >> Nope, that is it.
064>> I'm sorry, I forgot someone has questions. >> Oh, we don't we don't ask question. We don't answer questions, but if you um if you want to email Dr. Bonte or myself, that would be a way to perhaps get your question answered. >> Thank you so much. >> Sure. Um let's see that moves us on to committee reports. First up is uh advocacy. Okay. Uh we we've already mentioned this evening that there is no budget. The third budget extender for New York State was passed last evening. Um, so we continue to wait and hope that some meaningful discussions will take place soon. They are supposedly all returning to Albany later this week and great things will happen in the near future if we all light a candle. Um, and then I didn't know um, Dr.
065Dr. Benante, did we want to mention ahead of time anything about the um LHC thing or just talk about it at the cow next week because I mean I know we're going to discuss it. >> That's okay. I'll mention just a comment or two and then we'll let's talk at the cow. Uh so the >> lower Hudson Education Coalition of of which we are a part as a school district. uh it's a regional um advocacy group had a letter that they request that districts uh send a letter to the um uh to Albany um I forgot which spec the name of the specific uh commission I apologize the public service commission thank you in relation to the conversion or the law uh around converting our fleet from propane to to electric requirements surrounding that. So,
066one of there's really two pathways to do so. Um, uh, first, uh, is for the superintendent to do so and and I have just as superintendent, I felt it was important to have a letter on file. There is a filing deadline for the board to do so. Uh typically that would be a resolution by the board and then Maryanne would submit a letter on behalf of the board of education uh to the service commission. That being said, you need more information and that's why we have the feasibility study scheduled for the next cow so we can uh get us you can get a sense of what the costs are anticipated uh that that's associated with converting our fleet. So we have a lot of information to share with you and I'm sure you'll have a
067lot of questions. We'll do that at the cow meeting. Uh and then at the subsequent board meeting, if the board feels that they want uh to submit a letter, uh then we'll have a resolution ready for you to act on and then Maryanne will submit the letter on behalf of the board of education to the to the service commission. Uh so again, I've already done so just as superintendent because I I feel it's important. I also have uh and improvey to the information from our feasibility study because I have the report, but we realize we have to make you all aware of that now. and then the board can determine if it wants to go ahead and submit a letter on its behalf. Is that okay? >> Perfect. Yeah. Thank you. We just thought that
068since we're going to have our whole group together next week, talk about this topic, it would save advocacy from separating out to discuss this separately. So, we'll try to come to some consensus next week and then um put it on the agenda as a resolution for the 28th maybe is our next meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Phil, for stepping up there. That's it for me. >> Okay. Thank you. Audit. Audit. >> Uh, nothing at this time. >> Okay. Uh, Kathy, >> I think it was three weeks ago now. We were at our thresh. Seems like a lot longer ago. Um, we were able to get a better understanding of the new drop off area that's planned for kids there as well as the needs and plans for the new bus area over
069there. Um, new bus or parking for bus drivers and you know it's to make a safer area for both parents, the kids and all the bus drivers over there. >> Great. Okay. um policy. >> Uh the policy committee met this past Wednesday. Uh we continue to read and review current policies in the 7,000 section uh which concerns our students. Uh so we're chipping away at that. Um our next meeting is May 13th. >> Excellent. It moves us on to organizational reports. Um Arlington Education Foundation. Eileen. >> Uh there was a meeting last week. Um, as you know, the 5K and fun run is May 2nd. Um, there are going to be food trucks, vendors, activities for the kids. You can sign up for the 5K or the F fun run through the Arlington um website.
070>> Oh, and the scholarship member, the scholarship breakfast that we talked about earlier is May 28th. >> Do you know what time that is? >> Um, it's usually usually 8 o'clock, right? 7:30. Yeah. Yeah. 7:30. Um, thank you. Duchess County School Boards Association >> um met last Thursday evening via Zoom. Um, the speaker was Mark Stein who Michael's probably familiar with from from Duchess County Boseies. He's their their director of technology. um just giving us an update on cyber security issues and best practices. Um that was informative although I feel like we're pretty well placed here for all that stuff, right, Michael? Okay, good. Um, and then I'll roll that into well, let me let me finish. Their ne Duchess County School Board's next meeting is Thursday, May 7th, 700 p.m. via Zoom. The topic
071that meeting will be our budgets and issues that any of the districts have come across during this budget season where there's no state budget yet, but yet our votes are coming up fast. Um, and then just a reminder that the um June meeting, which is the last meeting of the year, is an in-person meeting and it's a dinner meeting. Some of us have attended that um in the past. It's moving from Milhouse this year to MOD which is on College View um 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4th. So, I'll remind you about that again next month, but um I'm sure Kelly is also going to send a blast out to everybody with that date. and then I'll just roll into um part of Duchess County School Board's um we get a Boseis update.
072Their um election and budget vote is April 28th. Two people are running for the two open seats. We've already kind of discussed that. Have we >> decided? We have to figure out >> that has to go on our agenda one of these times. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So it might have to have been tonight. >> Is that true? >> Well, because I think Fran has it and she received the materials related to when it has to go on and I think it's the I thought it was the next one. >> Next one. >> Well, that is the night of their vote. So, do somehow we've got to get our information to them. >> I remember it came into our office. >> Okay. So, I'll check in with Fran. We'll figure out how to I I
073would assume I should not assume anything, but if there are two open seats and only two people running that we would be supportive of those two people. Could we >> I think we are too. We know who they are. >> Exactly. Since they are people that have been very involved in Duchess County School Boards. Um Mark Fleshower is a Reybeck trustee and he has thrown his uh name in. And then Judy Moran is a Weebuck um trustee. So maybe we could think about supporting both of those people in case we need to get them the information before the 28th. Could we talk about it at the cow for a couple minutes next week if we have to? Well, it has to be in this. Um, we would probably have to, um, change the so a
074cow is a workshop and not a voting meeting, right? We have to we I mean we could maybe have a a a 10-minute >> real meeting, >> you know, where we can vote >> and then um >> okay, I would say step one is for me to confirm or somebody to confirm with Fran that I'm correct when I wrote down that their um vote is April 28th because then it is the same night as our meeting. So, we would have to get >> information to them. So, >> I'm happy to have we have to vote on their budget, too. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So, maybe um we could take care of that. >> Okay. >> And then basically um other than that, Jod was just giving out some dates of things that are going on
075um on the Boseis campus. They're doing May 6 the skilled trades fair in the evening. June 2nd is their community summit which she likened to a state of Boseies. It sounds like um an openhouse kind of an event that's also in the evening at 6 p.m. Um and then they've got all their graduations coming up for CTI and the resilience academy all in June which will get some of those things will come across our calendars. I was going to say I would say that sometimes that's inconsistent like some years we get all the invitations to those things and some years we don't. I uh I would love to get the invitations so we can decide but and it's also nice they usually tell us how many kids we have graduating >> through different programs. I
076can, >> you know, I've gone sometimes, but um >> we have >> I know sometimes we haven't >> the May meeting. So, I will make it a point to ask Jod how that's gonna Okay. >> come through. That gives us time till June to get those things on our calendar. >> Yeah, that'd be perfect. Yeah, sure. And I bet you get an invitation anyway, don't you? >> I do. >> Yeah. >> So, maybe we could just have Fran include it on our calendar when it comes through and people can decide if it's something they want to do. >> Okay. And if we don't have it by that date, I'll talk to Jody. >> All right. That's it for Boseies and Duchess County School Boards. >> Okay. Um PTA, PTSA Council, I was able to go
077the last time. They've very nicely moved their May meeting to um let's see. Oh. Oh, wait. Actually, first is April to the 27th, which is a Monday because the 29th is our honory ceremony. So, we had some conflicts with that. So, they're going to meet on the 27th. Dr. Bante did a very nice job kind of introducing some of the broad brush strokes of the budget. They had some questions about some of those things. Um and then they do a a quick round roundhouse of different things going on in the schools. Um they they uh we've said it many times but I'll say it one more time that the the PTA seem to be doing much better than they were a couple of years ago coming out of COVID. So it's very nice to see
078as far as their fundraising and their participation. Um, and they've got some great ideas and some new ideas from back in the day. So, it's always nice to hear about those. Um, and that brings us to district health and safety. >> No meeting currently scheduled. >> Okay. Thank you. And district equity, >> there is a meeting this Thursday. >> Okay, great. And that brings us to the superintendent closing remarks. >> Nothing further to remark upon. >> Okay. Um, and then that brings us finally to board reflections. Does anyone have any reflections they like to share? Okay, Marian, go right around. >> So, I just have to say Phil like pointed the the light on the um the art fair and as Graham I got to go and do the photo shoot with Nora and her
079first piece of artwork in second grade. So, I've joined the the club of having the picture part of life. Um, and it was it was lovely at the high school. It was a different layout, so it took a little minute to get the bearings of what was located where. Um, I'm a little disappointed because I feel like if I had won one of the >> tiny canvases I would have heard by now and I have a track record of usually winning something. >> Me, too. >> I think maybe they haven't done it yet. That's >> You still have time. They're on display at the district office. So they haven't really done yet. They haven't let you still because they usually come in little envelopes. We have them in little envelopes. >> People are starting to
080talk about my stuffing of ballot boxes a little bit. So I thought, wow, it didn't work for me this year. But >> okay, I'm going to wait patiently. >> I'm just going to tell you there's a Taylor Swift one and I'm going to win it. So don't >> I'm all in for the Pokemon and the shark teeth from Steven. There you go. how to how to make myself more exciting. >> I got there so late that and then I went through all the exhibits and when I came out there was nobody there still selling tickets and I ran into Jill Frick and she's like Maryann did because she knows I always do it. She's like did I said I did? There's nobody over there. So she took me over. So I was able to put
081mine in. Oh >> I did. I slid it right in. So I I was a little Yeah, we'll be waiting for those little envelopes. >> All right. >> So and I was throwing in the uh the random one too. You know like you can get a random one. So, uh, went all else fast. Linda, >> um, I also attended the Arlington Arts Fair. Um, I thought it was fabulous. I thought being at the high school was really good because there was plenty of parking, um, all the space to display all the kids arts. Um, I did take chances on the little canvas and I also bought a few ceramic pieces that are right now in my garden. Um, but I would like to thank all the art teachers uh in the district who work with
082our students and the students themselves. Uh, whether you had your art displayed or not. Um, it's really great that you know you're in a district that puts art right up there. And, um, thank you to everyone who put that on. It was very good. Anybody else? Uh, seeing none, can I please get a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor? I I >> opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. Meeting is journed.