001Ready? We're all set. See, >> welcome to the Central School District Court Board of Education meeting for uh Tuesday, August 12th, 2021. SC to the flag of United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. So before the meeting um again the moment of silence for a retired custodian went through the 80s and 90s sad about 40 passengers passing away. Uh so if you please join me for a moment. Thank you. Um so uh our agenda tonight we have to adopt an agenda. Uh we have an addendum uh with some consent and personnel and item for both. item financial forwarding goods for music in this unit. That's the we have um the agenda includes a consent agenda of personnel moving one through
002five and also new business. Thank you. Uh, is there anything that they would like pulled out of consent? >> All in favor? >> I post. So, we go to our first round of public comment. The uh board has received this time comments from the audience to address the board. We ask the state to give their name and address. information directly related this session to items that are tonight's agenda. Like to speak tonight move on uh to our minutes. So we need to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of July 22nd, 2025. Motion to bring that to the table. Thank you. Mr. Any questions on those minutes? >> All in favor? on the post. Great. Okay. So, we're into our first our financial and treasures reports. We got budget, investment, revenue. Mr. Forbes, as we
003typically do, we'll take that all together. Um, this is a pre- audit report that you're getting today. So, there will be some changes to it once we do some of the year adjustments. So, by no means can you read into this as a child, don't worry about that. But, uh, just some highlights in the area of utilities. We were down below budget on had the gas cut off on electric which essentially washed it out and we're even there transportation we were up slightly due to additional runs that occurred during the year for foster placement also special education that of course we get the transportation aid back on that and then employees benefits teachers retirement and employees retirement system you're pretty much right on the mark there on revenue side the big ticket has been investment
004income all year which is our treasury bills and that alone buried 177,000 additional revenue over during the course of the year. So that was very positive. We also did get 240,000 above our federal Medicaid fee which also was supporting the positives revenue side. I did mention last time that we figures that's what you have before today. Great. Any questions on those reports? Okay. Uh so we'll move on to the treasures report. Um motion not all in favor. >> Okay. So next item under financial is uh like to approve a contract renewal Johnson motion >> support. Thank you. Nothing specific here. This is the annual approval for the fire system for both buildings. very minimal increase and be happy with the services you get from that. It's pretty standard. Any questions? >> I now we need
005to approve the 202526 official tax. >> Miss Thank you, Mr. Forbes. statute. Uh well, basically the law tax levy is what was proposed to the committee on the second vote of June 17 million already 67,255. Um we did get the assessed value equalization rates which changed the end result slightly in each town but not by a great deal changes there. So with this we need a vote ask >> Mr. Johnson >> I Mr. >> Hi >> Mr. Marshall >> I >> Mr. Hi motion passes >> thank you Mr. Just one more thing uh before that just to point out we will be using the entity tax lock box again and collection of the taxes and Kathy Rick who was our prior tax collectors through the assistance that she's given us the last few years to
006get things out. We're actually ahead of the ahead of the game here but I have the information count tomorrow. So we're probably about a week ahead. Thank you. Uh well, we have one more piece under financial that's our 5G music. Mr. Kenny second. >> This is our annual music bid. Andy Bennett helps put it together, then helps review it from the music department. All came in good. either slightly under weed budget or the lines. So I think one question that's going away too is why so many companies get awards because some don't bid on some of the instruments and some >> so are these instruments that then students can use our mission last year. for that. So it's about 12,000 about 12,000 for that similar. Yeah, we decreased it by $2,500 in the budget process
007just get things together at the end there, but that's generally about reduction. Are we anticipating any any impact on that reduction or is it just that we're delaying replacing something, pushing it out or >> it was $2,500 which basically could be one instrument depending on what your board just trying to go through the equipment. >> Thank you. >> Um there's no other questions. All in favor? >> Opposed? All right. Into personnel tonight. Uh we have a a number of hirers for tonight. Uh we're going to start off uh like to approve the appointment of Elizabeth Shaw who holds a professional certification in chemistry 7 through 12 general science 7 through 12 extension uh to a probationary teaching position in the science tenure. Motion to bring that second Oh yeah, we're happy to have Liz here
008tonight. Liz, thank you for being here. We appreciate it. Also, thanks to our administrative team and anybody else who's been in to help out uh for our interview process. We've been working hard at uh filling our vacancies and we're chipping away and I think we're down to 1.39 positions. We're down to two at this point and we're happy to have um our high school science department solidified. Um and uh that's fantastic. So, a little bit about Liz just for the good of the order. um did uh some of her college education right here at uh Sunni Fredonia um a uh bachelor's in chemistry and also her masters in teaching and then also went on to UB and got her masters in chemistry as well. So very impressive. Um her most recent teaching experience was at
009West Valley and let me just sum up what was going on there. Again, small school, a lot of preps. Um, college chemistry, regions chemistry, regent living environment, project based physics, forensics, integrated science, 7th grade honors science, seventh grade science, and eighth grade science. So, here at Fredonia, the prep list will be a little bit smaller. Um, but we're excited to have Liz take over our chemistry classes, which will shift some other things around within the high school science department. We're excited. Um she also did some long-term uh sub um experience at Castle Valley. Um and we are really fortunate to have her with us. We're excited and welcomed to this. Anything you'd like to share with the group? >> Well, thanks for having me. I'm really excited to be here. >> Great. Thank you. pull
010approver and then we'll water and uh ask you know more stuff. All in favor I >> opposed welcome this shot. >> I have to say I'm ex physics teacher so I always talk next to the chemistry teacher and you know I'm all for having another science person. So it's really exciting personally for me. So >> the forensics, you did some forensics, too. That's that's a good little course there. >> That one was fun. I like that. >> Any other comments from >> Yeah, welcome. Welcome. Thanks for coming tonight. And uh once we're through the uh personnel, you have to stay. You're not compelled to stay around. Stick around. If you want, you can get more. Um this is exciting. >> All right. Well, we'll move on to our next uh approval and that is to
011approve the appointment of uh John Gotcho uh who pulls initial certification physics 7 through2 mathematics 7 through12 and general science 7 through2 extension initial extension annotation to a probationary teaching position in the science tenure. I have a motion to advance a second. Mr. Kenny, uh, >> yeah, John, thanks for being here. We appreciate it along with some familiar faces. So, um, nice, thanks for everyone for being here. Um, we're excited to have John come on board as our uh, middle one of our middle school science teachers. um education Bingington University, Masters of Arts in Adolescent Education, Bachelor's of Science in Mathematical Physics, and Bachelor's of Arts in Mathematical Sciences. So, sounds pretty impressive. Um has some substitute uh teaching experience um at Buffalo Public Schools. Also did what in his program is called teacher apprentice.
012to me that'd be student teaching um at le um down near uh Bington and also Union Ending High School as well. Um again certifications math 712 physics 712 um we're excited to have that unique combination come up and uh we're excited to to have you here John. Thanks again and uh I think I jumped the gun before you approve and then see if you have any comments for Mr. familiar family connection. So all in favor welcome to welcome any comments just I just want to say uh thank you so much for the opportunity. I'm really excited to join the Fredomi family and get to know get to learn from you know teachers, parents and students alike. >> Fantastic. Fantastic. >> Chemistry and physics. Wow. That's a double score tonight. That's fantastic. As I just mentioned,
013I was a physics teacher myself. you know, bringing that to school. That's so so important. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Um, you know, at this point, don't feel compelled. You have to stay. I know you have busy lives. If you want to leave at any time, you know, again, stay. We'll move on with the agenda. And uh the next item to approve is uh employment of uh Connor Pelican who holds an admission certification students with disabilities all grades and childhood education grades 1 through six to a probationary teaching position in special education tenure. Have a motion miss. Oh yeah, Connor could not make it tonight, but he wanted to share that he's very excited and appreciates the opportunity here in Fredonia. Um he did his uh college work at uh Buffalo State, so keeping
014the Sunni uh connection going. Um he does have a background and it was really interesting to hear him talk a little bit. He did do some work as a teachers assistant um which I think gives him a unique perspective especially working with students with disabilities. Um his student teaching uh was uh first and second grade at Wenica. Um and then as part of a high school 121 class um at Pew and he most recently has been a substitute teacher um in West Senica in a variety of um classes and buildings um there um really positive energy and just a well-rounded young educator who told me to do a great job. Mr. was excited um to have him coming on board and uh we look forward to Connor join us. Great. Thank you. So we'll uh
015first of all approve Conor. All in favor? >> Post welcome to public and uh well in his new position special education. Yes. Uh next uh we need to approve the appointment of Donna. holds a certification school psychology to a profession teaching position within the school psychologist Mr. Marsh Mr. Kenny thank you Dr. Yeah, again, Donna could not be here tonight, but again, sending her in regards and uh she's definitely looking forward to coming out more. Notice her start date because of 30 days will be a little bit into September, September 15th. And um she has her masters through Westland in the Rochester area and also a bachelor's from state. She is a certified school psychologist and comes to us with about 13 years experience. Um she has done a variety of things with a variety
016of school districts. Um two uh right here are our most Forest Kent town north Collins Pine Valley was involved in Ammeris Middle School and also has done some work in Castle Valley early childhood program Buffalo hearing and speech. So really brings a well-rounded background and she has a connection with sister. Anything you want to share? >> Donna worked with us a little bit last year through goies and um she has a lot of energy and just a strong drive to just do good things. So I enjoyed working with her in that temporary capacity last year and I'm really excited that she's going to be on board. So, this is the middle school school site position and our elementary position remains open, but that is a work in progress. We're hoping to have someone approve the
017board meeting in the near future. Great. Um, all in favor? >> Opposed? Welcome to Fredonia in the psychology position. And uh our last hire tonight is to do the employment of Oxy Carson holds additional certifications and students with disabilities and students with all grades and students with disabilities grades 7 through 12 generalists to a teacher position in the special education motion. scholar. Thank you, Dr. >> Yeah, Alexi uh was very impressive in the interview process as he describes himself as an extrovert. Um a huge theater background um so coming to Fredoni who definitely um was in tune with what we've done at the middle school and the high school and hopes to someday um be part of our productions but um a lot of experience there. He um got his masters at Buff State, did
018his bachelors at Niagara. Um also has been involved for many years in the after school programming at a variety of YCAs. um he spent um the last three years or so a combination of substitute teaching and also a wonderful student aid which again gives him I think a unique perspective and spent last year um in special education grades 5 through 8 um at the South Buffalo Charter School. So a nice mix of experience um really excited to be a part of what's happening here and uh trust people in our resources. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Congratulations, Mr. Carson. That's fantastic. So, yeah. Personnel hire. So, we filled seven positions. I was ballparking a little bit. Well, we're down. We're down to two. Down to two. Okay. That takes us out of personnel into
019uh new business. Uh so other new business we have one item to approve. We need to include a resolution. Um this piece this together. We need to approve a resolution. This makes sense to authorize the ROC which is needs risk operations to enter into data privacy agreements for vendors and 30 contractors and the board of education school district authorizes the attorneys designated by the ROC negotiated approval of EPAC approval for software technological resources motion that was second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Zil. So, we haven't talked about this in a while, but in New York State, there's something called a law 2D uh which basically says that any vendor of the district involvement that involves student data, staff data, there needs to be an agreement and they need to demonstrate that they're able to
020protect that data. Right? So, we need to have these agreements with each of these um vendors. However, we purchase many of these through OSIs or through uh through Witty Rick. So, this basically allows OSI's annual Witty Rick to enter those agreements on our behalf. So they're basically making sure that vetting those vendors and if we're going through them um for our product, they are ensuring that it's evaluated compliant and our data would be safe or at least everything is being done and everything is in place to have our data be safe. So um it's sort of a round about middleman agreement to make sure that our data is not compromised anywhere. So um this is an agreement that happens every year and this is nothing new. It's been part of what's been gathering. Any questions
021on that? And thanks to Andy Wheelock and our tech department for piecing that all together and making sure everything's operating correctly. All in favor? >> I Okay, so moving on to our second round of public comment. Um, everybody here this week to uh superintendent. Yeah, just a couple things tonight. Uh kind of keeping it short. Um this summer has been fast and furious. Every once in a while, some of you ask me what are you guys doing this summer. There is a lot um going on and a lot of people to thank. Technically, this is our last board meeting uh before we start the teachers. Our next meeting is on the 26th and that is our kickoff day. Um so I just want to take a minute to um recognize, thank and acknowledge um anyone
022attached to our buildings and grounds processes. Um right now we are in the midst of getting our sports fields up and running and ready to begin practice next week. Um but also just the maintenance of our grounds in general. Um, our custodial and cleaning staff has been doing a fantastic job. Um, getting our rooms ready, moving furniture, waxing floors, um, a variety of tasks happening there. Um, we've had food service help in uh, for the summer um, especially for our extended year also for our fiscal summer school. Thank you to everybody in food service. Um, our secretaries in all of our offices are working extremely hard to get things ready for that opening day. Thank you to everyone in all of our offices um for their hard work. Our administrative team has done a fantastic
023job. We've continued to meet weekly um to touch base, make sure we're on the same page, make sure we're checking that list, make sure we're getting people hired. Um we've definitely made a lot of progress thanks to the board of education who's continue to work um over the course of the summer preparing for uh some updates of our student representative work also thinking about our protocols and procedures. So, thank you to everybody here. Um our district clerk clerk uh Miss Corson certainly has done a great job keeping us moving um in the district office. Uh business office extremely busy times leaving um all kinds of different um deliveries that come through the business office that are given out to the building. Thank you to everybody there. Um our counselors, our social workers, um our school
024sites all have some summer days by contract. So they've been there in again for the school year. Uh meeting with the committee of special education job. Uh as you know, our teachers have access to three summer days. They've been in a lot and will be in a lot this next month. So, thanks to everybody there being prepared and getting ready. Our extended year special ed program has gone extremely well. Thank you to everybody who attached to that. Our high school summer school program has gone extremely well. Thank you to everybody there as well as we preps and uh you know try to put a nice end to the to the summer. So again, we have new teacher orientation coming up on the 18th, 19th, and 20. We um have our opening days with teachers and
025on 26, 27, and 28. And then we'll hit the ground running right after Labor Day of the students. We're excited. There's still some work uh in progress. And uh if you walk around the building, you might not think we're quite ready for after Labor Day, and that's probably accurate. But we've made a lot of progress. And uh there's still some time to finish up those things that are ongoing. If you've um noticed, our summer $100,000 outreach project has begun. We have some new forum going in right now um at the elementary school and work will start uh through tomorrow or the next day on the upgrades to the playground accessibility. So all that is happening as well. Um also wanted to come back to um an idea that people will be hearing more about. Um
026a couple years ago we started talking about um cubby seven habits as part of an idea or a thought of what if we as a district got our adults thinking in line with the seven habits. What if eventually we get our students um working into the mindset of the seven habits. So over the last year, we've done a lot of training with adults in our building. Our admin team has done a great job leading that effort and starting in September, there will be some lessons at the elementary school towards this one. Um some lessons, especially at the middle of the uh school year uh for middle school and really at the high school, it shifts to a little bit different mindset. a group of students starting to think about how they can do this work
027at this little school and really be empowered um to create um some learning um in that environment around the second half. So, we're excited. uh family members will start to see some communication coming over the next two weeks. We'll start to hear about some things happening in the building as we start the school year and uh we're excited and looking forward to incorporate those pieces into what we do as a school district. Eventually, we'd like to be able to say when a student leaves our school district at the end of their experience, um they leave knowing how to incorporate their habits into their professional work or their school work, but also their personal lives. This can be equally enormous helpful and beneficial. So, we're looking forward to it. If you need a quick reminder, those
028seven habits again, be proactive. Begin with the end of the mind. put first things first. Think win-win. Seek first some understand then to be understood. Synergize and sharpen the software. We'll be reviewing those periodically here at board meetings and we topics that will absolutely cover with our students as we get into the school. I think that's all questions in service framework. Now it's time to students really. Uh so um the uh next regular board of education meeting will be Tuesday, August 26th, library. Uh that leads us to any other general thoughts, comments from board members, you had a law conference. >> Yes, I did. I attended the summer law conference. This was um summer law conference. It was a two-day morning only webinar and we talked about um some new laws, some new case law.
029Um Mr. Leanau was a speaker talking about student health insurance and I think I asked the most questions so he doesn't like me. Um and then um yeah it was it was and then we talked about um I didn't talk about it but some which was very relaxing. Someone else talked about immigration. Uh so it was very interesting and if anyone's curious I printed off a bunch of slides and took some thank you for taking the time to do that. Like I said, I don't I don't think we had any better attendance virtual conference. >> Yeah, I think there was an inperson option, but um yeah, but thanks for >> anything else. >> Can I have two questions on that coaching approvals that I I'm sorry I meant to ask before. Can you just clarify
030for the football cheerleading there are two names of those two positions? That's a split because modified girls split half and half but I believe that usually implies that it's split between the two. I'll also double check. >> It could be that. It could be there's someone has to step away for a short period of time so this other person can step in if needed. >> I'll get some information. >> Okay. And then my other question was um trap does not have a coach. Is that what's the reason behind that? Yeah. So, we started it um as a club. That was the initial proposal. And to be honest, we'll just definitely come back to it as a consideration for moving forward. One of the um Mr. Kenny, feel free to chime in. Um some of the
031limitations there were around the equipment um and the disposable nature of the equipment and some of the cost associated with that. Um you're also you know it's kind of a new endeavor and you know that can always be a discussion that just get some information about what that looks like on a yearly basis and take and it could also be a combination of things too positions but also still doing some fundraising. I can speak with the coaches and see what their thoughts are, but um not on wood and tracks going well. Um as far as funds and so forth, the community has been very supportive. Um so we're doing fine there. Um had 19 students last year. Six of them are have graduated. So we're we're looking forward. So if there's any kids that are
032interested, we know we definitely want to. It looks like three or four that are looking to track. >> All right. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> We're going to Mr. Tamilia. >> Sure. >> I bet you feel like you've been here about a year already. No, summer goes really fast. It always does. July flies by and then I feel like uh teachers do a pretty good job of staying out of the building in July and then August 1 comes and everybody asks for 5 minutes which turns into a half hour and August goes even faster but it's great. Um I'm ready to get started with the school year. Um I wanted to first say congratulations to to Elizabeth Shaw here. Um, it's a small world because for 2 months long term for me in
033Casadena Valley and uh I remember saying to the West Valley, I can't remember if it was the superintendent principal, I'm going to steal her back. Um, and so finally I did. Um, so that's cool. And so just a a small small world kind of moment there, but we're super excited to have this come and fill the chemistry position and um, you know, round out the the science department at the at the high school right now. Um I did want to also um thank hero for her time uh at Fonia High School. Again, small world. I worked with her at Lakeshore for some time and as a special teacher, she's resigning. So, we're going to look to fill that position uh in the very near future here. Um I also wanted to mention our building cleaning
034and um all of that taking place around summer school and the movement that takes place there. So, um it's not easy. There's chairs and desks and everything in the way. the kids do a great job of staying out of the way and then they get right into the rooms that summer school was in. So, I want to thank everybody that's involved in that. Uh important and uh great first step for me was having our first um instructional leader meeting over the summer. So, we had that last week and here um about lunch for all the instructional leaders and we just had a really good sit down, talk about our goals for the school year, what each department is going to set for their goals. Um and then look at some really important things. And one
035of the things we talked a lot about in our instructional leadership meeting, and something I really want our instructional leaders to pay attention to this year is the portrait of the graduate information coming from New York State. um they held a meeting midway through July uh July 14th to be exact and they laid out what the portrait of a graduate will most likely look like um as we start to move forward and really get some information as a school on um what graduation requirements will be. They laid out a timeline um that looks like by 2029 that cohort of students starting high school that year will be fully implemented in two ports under graduates. So, while that seems like a long way away, it's four years away and uh our our current uh fifth graders
036who will jump into high school becoming the the first fully implemented group of of students on the board of graduate. So, it's something we have to be forward thinking about. It's something I really want departments to sort of come back to every department meeting as we look at new definitions that come out or uh you know they're they have a nice wheel of the the six tenants of what it means to be a graduate in New York State. Um we want to pay really close attention to what those are and how we can meet those requirements and the changes that come with it. >> I really appreciate making that act about how I mean four years does that seem like a long time but backwards. >> Yeah. And there's little steps along the way too
037that we have to be ready for everyone. You know, we have to have career and financial management for every student in the next two years. And you know, there's there's little things that we have to um pay attention to and figure out how to adjust what we do currently to what can fit in the portion of that. Mr. >> Yes, I do want to echo um the same sentiments for our cleaners. It's so strategic to map out the rotation that they've cleaned the building in. So we can share that, communicate that with staff so that teachers know when their rooms are acceptable and um able for them to come in for some of their summer days. So they have done a great job um mapping that out. um our summer our secretaries have worked very
038hard getting our summer mailings process it out so that in addition to the things that we send families through emails or text now they'll get that massive packet of you know all the paperwork and things coming into the school year um I've been very grateful to our teachers that have come in come in um voluntarily over the summer for some committee work including interview committees we also are very excited for our new hires so um I'm glad to get them onboarded and then um see them again during winter orientation. So yeah, we're excited. August flies by though. It's exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. >> Yeah, I >> Yeah, it's fantastic. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Um yeah, just along the same lines, I'm really happy to have Connor, Alexi, and Donald
039join the special ed department. Those are special ed and schools like are very hard positions to land. So I feel like we're really fortunate to have those positions filled. And again this week we're closing out our special ed extended school year program. And I just wanted to give a shout out to Kendall Lee in the cafeteria and colleague who um the food service might seem like a really small component but it's it's a lot to manage. Um before we had those ladies help us out. Like I was doing a lot of it. These guys did a lot of it and it's all consuming. So they've made it run just like clockwork. So just wanted to thank them and it's been a really successful summer with our kids. So excuse me. So we're ending on Friday.
040>> Great. Thank you. Thanks for all your efforts. All your efforts working. >> Just a couple reminders. 31 is planning on going to the first Chicago county school boards meeting uh that will be coming up on August 20th. So I know they had sent the email out to all district board members and district clerks that just a quick heads off that way let me know tomorrow so I can register. Um and then of course the statewide conference is in New York City this year registration open for that today. So if anyone is interested in traveling to New York City, would that be >> I am and I saw you registering. >> Thank you. I'm glad you got that. I was going to be my next question. So thank you. Anyone wants to party in New
041York City? >> It's good to have somebody here. That's pretty amazing. And I was missing August 20th. >> This is the first county. Yes. >> So I have >> you should if not I can forward you my >> um so uh we anticipate we anticipate the need. >> Yeah. We anticipate the need to during the executive session uh to discuss personnel tonight. We have a motion to identify and second. All in favor? >> We're in the executive session. Thank you. >> I would say 10 minutes. Thank you for driving. miles.