BOE Meeting 8/18/2025

001The will rise for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. >> Thanks everyone for this wonderful August evening. We'll start with our first uh presentation and capital project update starter and CSR. >> Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. Pizza sauce. Did I get a little >> one? Well, thank you for having us here tonight. Um, just wanted to give you a quick update on some of the preliminary work uh we've been going through uh trying to gear up for a potential uh future capital project and a vote here coming in December. Um, quickly we can just go over the smaller piece. This is just a rough outline of the

002dates and timelines that we have to meet in order to be ready for a vote or potential vote in December of this year. Um so you see that some of the first items um as far as you know the initial resolution of seeker that really gets us started um would have to be in prior to the end of September. If you look on this we have a date at a board meeting and I'm not sure if there is a board meeting on the 6th. This is just preliminary. If we do um continue down this path, we'll verify these dates with the actual board dates when your calendar comes out if it's not out already. Um and then again, continuing down the sheet, you can see the vote right now again tenatively uh the beginning of

003December. But again, that would will change as we get uh more into the weeds of this and solidify some dates as far as board meetings, but you can see it's starting the next month or two to start um the process here if we do want to go after that that December time frame for a vote. you want to turn to the uh larger sheet, we can start to run through um some of the items we've been reviewing for scope for this next capital project. Um a lot of these items came from the priorities of the last project that are priority three. Some items from the last project that couldn't be done, um like roofs that weren't out of warranty yet that you'll see come in here. Um and then a full review with the facilities

004team and what what areas needed to be addressed and what areas needed to be hit um in the upcoming projects. the the majority of the project and the scope that's being presented is infrastructure work. It's it's cleaning up things that are recently going to be out of warranty and they're carryovers as Bob said from prior projects. >> Yep. So, if we just run through the high school and stop anytime there's any questions on these items as we run through them. Um but starting at the high school, uh just some condensate neutralizers for boilers. Not not a big one, but one that needs to be done. Um and you'll see that ties into some of the other boiler work below. IT closets. Um so really updating some of the existing infrastructure. You see this across all

005the schools, just putting dedicated um split systems in all the IT closets to keep them cool. We are getting more and more items in there. Um so they are starting to heat up pretty well. So we want to make sure we can address that. Um we place some isolation valves in the boiler rooms. Just again, this will tie you to some of the boiler work you see below. And we'll see this across the schools, but uh ran into some issues where some of the the valves in the main boiler rooms haven't been um exercised in a long time since they've been installed in early 2000, 2006, 2007. So, and we run into issues and the facilities team tries to address them. It's hard to even isolate things, isolate things to replace pumps or boilers to

006really maintain the system. Um so, that's a key piece there. Um another big piece you'll see across is catching equipment replacements. Um as we dip down this list, you'll see that the high school is the main priority here to address. We are carrying dollars in each of the schools for some of the kitchen equipment. Um but talking to the um food service director here that the high school was in the most need. Again, this is very preliminary here. So there are buckets of money and all these and it can be you know moved around as we move forward through this process. But a good chunk of money there to replace some outdated kitchen equipment um and some serving line items. Uh and again boiler boiler replacement. So, we'll see this across the board, but boiler

007replacements. These boilers um for the majority of the district outside of this building that we're in today, uh were installed in 2006, 2007. So, you can see when we get into this project would be 2007208, the boilers would be 20 plus years old and again starting to become at the end of the useful life. We start want to start to get ahead of those um so they aren't past the useful life before they replaced. Replacement of cores for interior doors. So, in the last project, we placed all the exterior cores. So every new every building has new exterior cores and Chad and the facilities team have a direct list of who has an exterior key now where before it was kind of random. We know who had keys and where they were. But right now

008every exterior door is on a new key and Chad has a dedicated list of who has those keys in hand. We're trying to take that next step and do that on the interior of the buildings and get a little more uh sophisticated with how those rooms are separated classrooms versus offices. Um so it should be a full replacement um of all the interior floors of that building. And again, you'll see some of these repeat throughout each of the buildings. >> Bob, if I may interrupt for a second, the installation of those cores though would be done by our BNG team, correct? >> Yeah, we can do we can do it both ways. In the last Yeah, it was last project. Uh your team took care of it. Yeah, we got gave Skip all the cores

009and sometimes it's a little easier just as far as security is concerned. So, it's dedicated just with the district. We'll facilitate it and get um you everything you need, but it's a sometimes it's nicer to just have you guys do it so it's clean and easy. we know exactly where the keys and cores are, who's installing them. >> Thanks. >> Um, next item there is a new walk-in freezer. Um, so we did some temporary work to get the walk-in freezer at the high school kind of um to limp along here for a few years, but it definitely does need to be addressed. Um, the roof was um, for lack of a better term, almost collapsing. It had settled. Um, so we did put a new roof on. We put some gutters on there. Um, we

010got it to a point where it can last for a couple more years, but definitely needs to be addressed as part of the kitchen upgrades. Um, another item we added was uh replacing the unit um on the gym to have air conditioning in that space uh both for testing, you know, at graduation, anything that that space is used for. It is quite a large space that gets used very often and we want to make sure we can condition it if possible. Um, and you'll notice on the left side of the paper, we have some of these priorities um one, twos, and threes. And these can fluctuate um but you'll see that that generic conditioning the priority three where if we can squeeze it in, let's do it. If not, um, there's some other things that

011might take precedence over that, but again, those could shift. This is just where we where we see things landing. >> The the other benefit if if you were to move forward with air conditioning, the gymnasium, it's another large capacity space where students can be moved to meet SED regulations on your hottest days of the school year. So, it becomes another space that students could be moved into if their classrooms were too hot for traditional teaching to to continue. The last item at the high school is the roofing replacement. So, we did the majority of it in the last project. There are two small roof areas that are still the old spray foam that come out of warranty in 2027 and this would be the time to address them in this project. >> That would bring

012the entire house high school up to warranty with new roofs. Those are the last two. Correct. Um any question on the high school there before I continue? Okay. Uh down into the middle school. Um so you see the first item there. A lot of the boiler stuff was crossed off of this because it wasn't building wide here. This was updated in 2016 2017. So this is we are good here. Um but again split systems and all the IT closets just to maintain the cool temperatures in there. Uh kitchen equipment a smaller line item here but again to upgrade some of the outdated kitchen equipment there. Same thing with the interior cores. Um, another item that we carried was a concern that was brought up for some bus shelters up at the bus loop just to

013kind of break the wind and some of the harsh weather that we get up there where students are waiting for the bus. Um, so some different designs and different ideas of how to do that. Um, but right now just carrying some dollars to to have that center area flooring modifications. Uh, so this would be the center where we remove those stairs and put the railings up. Um, right now we're looking at just removing the carpet that was placed down and replacing it with Terzo so it blends in a little better with the center corridor there. Replacing the faded uh purplish tile in the center of that um area and just kind of giving it a refresh to take it one step further from what we did by removing those stairs. >> Stop there. Uh we

014talked about that space quite a bit and they informed me that we can't do too much in that space because when you start altering anything they're going to want to close that staircase up. Um so that kind of limits what we do in that space. So I don't know if you want to elaborate a little bit more on that. >> So SED um SED wants that stair that goes to the second floor that is open at this point. There's a there's a fire door at the top. If the district chooses to spend money in there, they're going to force our hands to enclose it completely. So, the entire stair would have to be in an enclosure. We could do that with walls and glass and doors, but it just adds a significant cost that we

015run into if we start to do too much. So, we could do alterations up to a certain level. Once it hits a level three, they're going to make us be totally co-compliant with it. So, it's it's something that we didn't hit that threshold in the prior project and we were able to the risers out and to neaten it up some. But as we continue to do work there, we want to be mindful and do it in small chunks of each capital project as to not to trigger um larger code implications in the space. >> Cody, as two years in that building, have you been concerned at all about safety on that staircase? Have you seen kids being dangerous on it? >> No, they use the stairs to go up for lunch. They'll have the entire

016eighth grade class going up and down. Never concern of on the stairs. Our science, they do projects off that. They'll do the egg drop, things like that. So, it's more use as educational purposes rather than ever seeing anybody being harmful on the stairs. >> And it would be for fire rating reasons. They would want to close. >> So, not for safety kids messing around, >> not for kids messing around. No, >> it's for fire. And we couldn't do that in a new school that was designed today. Code has changed since the building was originally designed. If we designed that building brand new today, it would need to be enclosed. There's no question. So the question is how much they can force a district's hand to bring things up that are currently in compliance. That's the

017dance we try to play in these projects to keep the things safe, the students safe, the building occupants safe and healthy. Uh but not to put needless money. >> We we talk about what the cost of filling in that sunken area and I think Mike said that he feels like that kind of work would trigger Correct. You're going to do that, you're going to do this. >> So that's why we're looking at just changing some colors and moving on. >> And it is used, right? You guys use that sunken space for for various >> the different grade levels will use it for smaller assemblies like sixth grade will go in there to do their scholar of the month awards. Um larger scale things will just walk right into the auditorium. But you know, I know

018most classes, they'll use it as a space almost like it's a like a PE space. a couple students are working with PT um scholar scholars that are working with a PT but honestly it's more of a small scale like group space not a large scale I don't want to labor anymore but I wanted the board to be aware the conversation we've had around that space any concerns about that >> okay the ne next item on here u is the track resurfacing um so that is just a simple new coating on the track so that track is um going on seven years old. By the time this is done, it'll be 10. And that's kind of when they recommend that resurfacing. Again, it's just a new top coat on the track. Um this price does include

019an upgraded surfacing on that. So, it should last 10 to 12 years instead of 7 to 10. Um but again, just the time as we get in there. By 2027, it will be that 10 year old mark. So, that's the time to to try to get ahead of that um before we run into any issues. Uh Bosey's room flooring replacement. Um, so we've noticed a lot of areas specifically where there is slab on grade. Um, so like we're above the sixth grades above us. So that's not slab on grade. And some of the other wings where the slab is directly on grade. We've noticed the moisture coming through various spaces. Um, specifically in some of the Boseies rooms um on the pool side over here and then in the seventh grade wing. Um, so this

020number is to remove that, put some moisture mitigation down, and then put new flooring in there to replace the floor. Um, similarly down here, I don't know if you've noticed walking through the corridor here, same thing. some moisture coming up and you can see some of these VCT tiles start to pop. We did do some testing in the last project just to get an idea what we're doing and we do have some high moisture content in the slab here. So again, we remove it, put some moisture mitigation down to not to keep that moisture down and not pop our tiles. So that's those two. The next one, admin secure vestibule. So we did secure vestibule modifications at every building um outside of the entrance down here. So we will reevaluate what the entrance down here

021looks like and how we make that a little more secure. for people in the building. And then roofing replacement. So, this is a big one. Um, this roof is out of warranty in 2027. The roof in its entirety is out of warranty. Roof in it entirety is the old spray foam system. Um, we will do uh the roof and replace it with a tpo, the white membrane that we did all the other buildings in the last project. So, the goal after this project would be that every building would be up to date with new TPO membrane roof and away from that spray flow roofing. Any questions at the middle school? Okay. Um, boulevard. Same thing with the boiler condensate. Same thing with the IT closets. Same thing with isolation, kitchen equipment, boiler replacements, uh, interior

022cores. The big one um here down there is the redesign of the gym entrance atrium um and skylight area. So, that would be Mike can speak a little more to it what what the thoughts are there. It will be eliminating that glass skylight that has become both safety um from kids climbing and from causing some ice to form when the snow melts. >> It also creates a greenhouse. >> It's a very very warm space. We would get rid of the majority of the glass, reuse the existing steel, put in more traditional walls and windows and a flatter pitched roof, a sloped roof on it. So it become like any other part of the building. We still want to bring in some natural light, but we want to raise at the entry side and the playground

023side a little bit of height so students can't mess around and climb up on it. We also want to get rid of the the solar gain that you have during the course of the day. It is so hot and humid in that hallway. So, we think we can also aid with a lot of energy efficiency in that corner too by doing that. The goal would be to reuse it. It won't be treated as an addition to the building. and reuse the original steel and foundations that are there for the current system to build around them. That should um save considerable cost. That's already factored into this number. I guess I'm saying it could be more expensive if we had to treat it as an addition. right now you get ice up with the sun and

024whatever it gets icy as can be and that's that's the number one bus drop off pick up morning >> and we we started talking about this specific item prior to planning the 2015 project. We did a little bit of work with a new ramp on the back side of of the gym at Boulevard and that project tackled a smaller one but this is something that the board has talked about back to 2013 or so that we just haven't made a priority in the past. >> Next item is the parent drop off loop. So, this would just be some some minor tweaks, mainly striping and curving just to add some um just to help out with the parent drop off on the basketball court side of the building. Um we would like to utilize the far

025parking lot back by where Dunkin Donuts used to be. We did some prep work for that in the last project. Um, and then part of this would be relocating the dumpsters that all the way back there, bring them a little closer to the building, which would then in turn open up that back parking lot uh for some of the access staff to park over there so we can get them out of the parent drop off zone. >> You would add lighting back there, correct? >> Correct. Yep. So, we we prepped for that. We have conduit ready run back there. We have pole boxes. So, we'll be adding some lighting um and moving that dumpster pad out of the way and bringing it across closer to the building. >> The next item was covered glaze block

026with ceramic tile. So, we've done a portion of this in all of the projects. Um, we did a lot in Park Terrace in the last project. In 2015, we did Summit Boulevard. Let's just be continuing through and covering some of that glaze block to really just brighten up um and bring those those corridors um into the current century and brick reporting. So, just some miscellaneous stuff throughout the building. We did some in the last project, but there really needs to be a full evaluation. If you drive past now, we did some temporary measures just to hold some brick that was looked like it would, you know, potentially fall here in the near future with some other freeze thaws. Um, so that is temporary protected right now, but we need to do a full evaluation of

027that building and really do some brick repointing, make sure that everything's secure back there. Any questions on Boulevard? All right. Uh, Kingsboro, again, these first uh six items here, they say, "Let me discuss all the other buildings. And then uh McNab again, same thing um that we discussed at all the other buildings. The gym rtus, McNab number 008 really was supposed to be in Kingsboro. So that was um just a a bad labeling on our end, but that would be for the RTUs at Kingsboro. They are every other rooftop unit at Kingsboro would be replaced with the federal funds that we did in that project. Um the two on the roof at Kingsboro are old. Um, and they were leaking. We've done some temporary work to try to seal them up and protect them so

028they don't damage the wood floor, but they do need to be be replaced. >> So that art that gem RTU should be on Kingsboro. >> Yeah, sorry. McNav McNeb 008 and 009 should have been pulled up to Kingsboro. Actually, I apologize. 07 through 09 should have been pulled up to Kingsboro. So 07 is just um, and you'll see when we get down to the park, is adding a similar sign we did at Boulevard. the simple LED display sign that is at the left entrance of Boulevard to do one of those at Kingsboro as well. And then when we get to park, you'll see it there. So, just hitting the main schools with one of those those simple LED display signs down into Park Terrace. Again, you'll see the first uh six items are similar uh

029to every other project. And again, adding that building entrance sign at the bottom of the the roadway. Again, just a simple digital Boulevard. Uh the big one here is as as we get into some of the site work at Park Terrace. Um so this one is the Husky field regrading and leveling. Um this value here is for natural um natural turf. So that would be all the drainage grading um sprinkler and you can see here kind of in the list of everything that would be uh captured in that um as we assume right now. And that would be um about $3 million. If you look at the bottom of the page, we did price up an alternate look under the alternates. Uh PT al01 would be to um do the similar work but with turf

030instead of natural. >> So turf is cheaper. >> No, that would be on top of that. So be yeah, it's 3 million plus 1.8. So Bob, that's one that's issue in and of itself. I think something we should probably pause and let the board kind of weigh in on because I've heard numerous thoughts and opinions. I've heard I know people in B&G who think we're being shortsighted by not turfing it because of the amount of money we save in labor. >> The cost >> um makes sense. >> Most schools have gone to tur uh artificial turf. Am I right in that? Um, but I know the the cost allowances because it's an elementary school as opposed to high school is not there. And I you I think you've said that Tim is going to make

031this decision for us. Um because the money we're we don't have the money to spend out there. The state does not allow you to spend that kind of money on a facility outside. Is that correct? >> They they don't allow you to do it um fully aated on their support and dying. So there would be a much larger local impact if you decided to do it. We're trying to state tax impact. >> Right. And that doesn't matter. I'm sorry, Mike, to cut you off, but that doesn't matter uh the cost allowance for this particular project. That's just as a rule because of where that facility sits. >> That's right. >> Right. So, that doesn't it's not like something I don't want the board to think, hey, we do this work now, we kick the can,

032next project, the cost allowance would be there. It's never going to be there. So, you're saying >> it's it's never going to be there. And a lot of that is because the that primary field is at a at an elementary school. And so all of the aid is generated by the population for the students in that building. So to justify the cost and to provide the aid on that cost when it doesn't have the density of population of either your middle school, your high school does, the money will um replenish in the piggy bank at the high school and middle school at a much greater rate than any of your individual elementary school sites. That's why it's hard to it's not an hour. It's hard happening in a way without a taxing. >> So is

033it something I don't know if this is a question the board should contate about what it looks like in 10 5 10 20 years I guess here's a a question is this something this district should consider some point down the road I'm not saying this meeting this project or my tenure is considered down the road investing in facilities athletic facilities on this campus because of the ability able behavior. Is that accurate? >> 100%. Yeah. >> You would have more money to use if it was either put in the center of the field inside the track at the high school if we did it >> if we did it here out back. >> A lot more aid at these two buildings at this campus than you will ever have at any of the others. But at

034the at the conception of the prior project in an earlier project in the early 2000s, the district committed to spending the money on the locker rooms and getting the facilities up and running at Park Terrace. And it seemed too soon for those facilities because they were still being paid off from a debt standpoint to step away. And you don't right now have those good team rooms. When you do for basketball, you do actually you do um you know it's it's how those facil are are used at the high school in a way they haven't been. Football's been segregated and and down at Park Terrace forever in the lower level. Um what's the storage impact? Can it work with other sports functions, those team rooms and locker rooms? >> So if this district wanted to save

035for a local to turf that field, say we create a reserve, say 5 10 years we're going to create a reserve and at some point this district is going to want to turf those fields. But in the meantime, we should get them up to stop using natural grass. >> Yeah. And what what we would do I'm sorry. The drainage, if we do the drainage of this project, that will not need to be done over again. >> That's correct. The drainage, nothing nothing under drain would need to be redone if you went with turf in the future for the work we're doing now. And if you look in the the remarks column that Bob and his team put together, they noted everything that's in the base bid. So everything subbase and down um would remain. We

036would have to go back in um the turf field would require a concrete apron to be able to pin the perimeter of the turf down. That's all trenching work that would have to be done. We would have to add some additional catch basins around the outside of the field to take the water is taken differently with turf versus natural sod. There's there's it's just a different layout, but everything in the main primary field and under drains would remain in place. That's not wasted money if you proceeded with that now. What are your opinions of the current field at parks? >> The current field, in my opinion, needs to be torn up and replaced and regraded and and have u drainage isn't this is a super big problem now, but it can be so much better.

037>> And why why is that? When did we let us work on that field? Do you know any projects I worked on? >> I did. When was that? I think that's when I played >> those late that was early 20s, wasn't it? >> The field has some the top soil is rolling in some areas. I know that it's a constant um maintenance issue for the district to maintain um getting any vehicles on it. You've got soft spots with tires. There are areas that don't grow grass well. Um pretty much that entire site is currently sheet draining towards the corner of the site heading down over the hill down by like where Burger King is. I apologize for not knowing those street names. Um a traditional football field would be crowned in a very different way.

038So as part of the project, we would be crowning the field in the center and putting it around the perimeter the same way we would have it if it wasn't turn. >> So what would the life lifetime expectation be for what you're proposing here? >> So I don't I don't know why it wouldn't be 30 plus. I don't know why it wouldn't be 50 plus to be honest with you. Because with the new design, we put detention structures under the field to hold water. Um so that now we don't want all the surface water coming off of the fields working back towards off of your property line down the hill. We'd be storing it and retaining it on site below the field like we did at the middle school and the high school. Um that

039is a requirement of DEC. What that does is it it allows for a system that's designed to last a lot longer than your current systems. >> So, beyond mowing and marking the field for play, what other maintenance would we have? >> I think I think Chad does a yearly um treatment to the field, which >> that's it. That's all we're going to have to do. >> Yeah. And we're going to head's going to be fully sprinkled, you know, so it's all going to be pretty pretty maintainable. It's obviously going to take more effort than a turf field, but it's still, you know, you're going to be left with a pretty pristine field that you could maintain >> our turf field here. >> Um, has anyone evaluated that? >> As far as >> condition, >> weren't

040we? Weren't we told 10 years when we first got that? >> The the the carpet life itself for the turf is, I believe, a 12 year warranty. So, that would need to be replaced every every um 12 years. Typically, we in a fiveyear capital project cycle. So that wouldn't be part of this one. Um but it would be in the next one. We would have to look at it. I know that the district has a maintenance agreement with the turf field. So there's um there's GMAX testing that's required to be done seasonally before the field is used. The that's record document for safety to be sure that the crumb rubber is spread properly and there's enough of it in right places so that it's safe to play in. That's a sectional requirement. And I know

041that the district does have service agreements in place and I believe you do all of the maintenance um third party offsite. They aren't district staff maintaining. >> That's correct. >> Field company. >> We do some maintenance but not when it comes to servicing the front of the goals and whatnot. That's probably the biggest wear and tears around. >> Do we know know how old that is? >> That was a 2015 project. >> That was Yep. The 2015 project. It was probably installed in 2017. >> 2017. Yes. Fall of 2017 is when that was installed. would be that, you know, 29 time fra um they have had no, as far as I'm aware, no issues because we do have that service agreement. Field comes out twice a year. They do everything. So, they m they basically

042are maintaining that 12-year warranty for you. They come and like >> Mike said, level everything out. They actually suck up all the crumb rubber, run it through the machine, they basically wash it and put it back down. And they do that two times a year to maintain it. So, you do get that full 12 year longevity out of it. >> The biggest issues I've seen in that field is uh weeds on the perimeter. That's why we cut back a lot of the uh trees on the hillside. You push those back 10 15 feet. I haven't been I haven't walked it in a year. I don't know if but I told Chad that's got to be addressed because you can't let your field. And the other thing it has been um a longerterm maintenance issue and

043it really isn't related to the field itself. The the wind breakers, the the wind barriers that are around the back perimeter to keep um because it is at the top of the hill to keep the the wind down. Those have broken down over time. I believe those might be left up um 12 months a year. And with the trees, I know the trees have been cut back from them so you don't have leaves falling which lead to rot and kind of break the product down. So that that's been really the only thing that I'm aware of that's and we just replaced that in the last project. >> I think he has some limbs that destroy that damaged wind brakes. I think we replaced them. >> We replaced all the ball control netting um with an,

044you know, upgraded netting. And they also came and did a full-on training with Chad and his group of how to easily take them down and put them back up so they don't leave them out there. And I think they're allowing um that backside especially leaves collected them and then deteriorate the netting. So I think Chad's on his team are on top of that to better maintain those so they last longer. So that there are incredible benefits with going with turf and the playability and how quick in the season you can get on the field and and how much more playing season you have to use it. The downside is the district doesn't really do any of the maintenance on it. So now the district has long-term maintenance agreements with vendors that install the field and

045there is a cost to that >> and you're replacing every 12 years. >> You're replacing it at least every 12 years and you get to a point if you don't replace it where it's not safe to play. Um, you can't just keep throwing more crumb rubber on it. Um, the fiber and the height of the pile of the fiber also breaks down and deteriorates over time. Um, the system that we specified um, I believe in this district we have a pad under it. >> Correct. >> So everything from the pad down is good for two replacement cycles for 24 years. But there is work that could have to be done below the carpet fabric set itself, the turf fabric in a future capital project once you're 25 years plus. So even that they only warranty

046for two cycles. There's an upcharge when it goes in as part of design. It does help for safety and add additional safety factors and get you two carpet replacements for one and a half. If if we go natural uh in this project, would we lose the season of playability on it or would we turf it in the spring and be able to play football in the fall? We >> was just talking just talking about that before this meeting. Um there's there's some different ways we have we lose the very least we lose a season of something. Um you know there there's I don't want to speak for just do this on before the meeting, but there's potential we could you know do it after the last home game of football season. Get out in the

047fall, get as much work as we can before the snow flies. unfortunately lose baseball and then hope to have it up and running for the fall of the following year. >> It it would be one sport or the other. We we would talk about doing an earlier phase. So to jump on that if the project vote is in December, um we would want to start right away with that work. We we'd honestly probably want to recommend the district do the survey work this fall before the vote um knowing eventually something would be done there because we don't want to waste the time not having a survey be able to be done when there's snow on the ground. So the goal by taking the risk and doing the survey earlier is the design team can start

048right away. We would want to get it into SED soon. So we would have sed um we would be bid ready or under construction in the fall. So um natural turf were probably a minimum of six weeks once we put sod down on it that you have to stay off of it. Um so again was seated, you're almost a year and a half from from seed to get to it, be safe enough for a plant service, but we would put natural sat down instead of turf to have a a less impact. And and again, like Bob said, it would either be baseball or football. >> So scope, what how many months start to finish. So say if you started right after baseball, >> but you would lose football, >> right? But be ready for baseball

049the following year. >> Okay. depending on that the fall, right? We have we to make sure that that sod, you know, needs needs time to establish where if we did it the other way, you would definitely have time that way. You may lose a little bit of that spring depending how that spring and fall shake out. Sad is also like asphalt, the literal plant shut down. So, no one's cutting sod for installation in January. We have to wait for growing season so that it's it's good money being installed properly with an opportunity to airate and the roots to actually break through the sunbas. But, you know, we wouldn't want it to all turn brown and and die. And and that's that's a thing. We can't even buy it around here. >> Um at at times

050I don't want to. >> Well, baseball is a national pastime, right? >> I'm just saying we don't want to lose baseball. >> In this conversation we'd be having whether it was natural turf or artificial. I I guess you know this obviously spent a lot of time on this but I think it's important because it's a big topic a lot of money >> the the the money is not there without impact on taxpayers if we wanted if the board said we want turf artificial turf we would have to raise taxes in this project is that a fact >> I wouldn't say it's a fact yet but it it's pretty close still running the numbers they haven't fully run it I know they were going back and forth with Kathy today um and she threw some other

051ideas out there. So, I think we need to solidify that with Tims, but the way it's trending is that it would be a tax to do it, too. >> Well, I was going to say we, you know, we have capital reserve money that we could use and you have to use that according to Tim's prior to any borrowing and then also uh we could appropriate up balance to help help offset the cost if we wanted to do that. >> Well, I think it's important for the board to give us direction on this topic. >> We talked about having a a discussion with um the Tim's group just to get like if both ways how much it would impact the taxes and if we used the capital reserve and if we used an appropriate fund balance.

052So >> would that be just the football field or the entire area? Would you guys scope that as baseball and football or just >> Yes. So that this is that would be everything down there right now. So if you look at that $1.8 8 million alternate that would be turfing everything >> baseball field and everything but the base the baseline included or the >> right now the we can look at that right now the baselines are included it would be everything >> that's a big area >> yeah I you know I don't mean to press the board on this but I think it's important because we're going to put a lot of time and effort into it. Do you want us to get those two numbers and or do you do you have an opinion

053like hey let's go this direction. >> I mean I'd like I'd like to see both numbers too. Uh yes, but equally I think there because of the funding there should also at some point be a conversation of location like and I didn't realize that the elementary schools get far less due to the amount of head the amount of bodies for funding. So I mean if it comes down to a financing in the future that might have to be a conversation >> that that field in between the track is not large enough for a football field. >> So that's another problem. >> That's correct. >> I I didn't know that. Yeah, >> wind issues up here. I mean, >> you got a lot working against you to try to >> You got a lot of wind

054there and you got a lot of >> back back to my question. Of course, I'm having some fun with my friend Al who's a football guy. Um, but even if you did put the Well, say if you started working in the fall, right after football season, and his weather, as long as weather cooperated, you got some work done, when would you put sod down? as soon as possible. You're going to get it done in the spring, >> like >> late spring. >> And how long does it have to be there before football could actually play on it? >> Six weeks. I would do a little more than that if we can. Um, but again, having the full irrigation and everything there, it makes it almost easier to get that six weeks or closer to that

055six weeks, but six weeks is is typical with the proper watering, proper temperatures. You know, if I put it down four weeks ago right now, it's not going to be set just that massive heat. It seems like there was an issue the last time we solded that down there where >> I thought it was up here that we saw >> where it was used too soon and >> it was up here >> back. >> That was here. >> Yeah, we had to resaw, didn't we? Out back. >> There were areas that were brown. >> There are we actually replace they came to replace. >> Yeah, that was we pinned that more on the contract and that was their cost. >> So both numbers What? >> I don't think it hurts. >> How much time when

056do you guys need to advance for our purposes for timeline for >> we're trying to set up a meeting with Tims this week. So hopefully you know by the end of this week we can get some board numbers if not really next week. Um >> how about for a more definitive like this is what we're going to put in front of the taxpayers. >> So secret we have to start working on the secret action out of this meeting. I'll touch base with our consultant on that and if we could ask bond counsel Kathy >> if there um if we need for bond council purposes when we write the secret action whether it matters to the state environment quality review whether it becomes turn for natural I don't know that that language matters so that's something

057um we can clean up and Kathy I'll get you an answer on that if you can get bond council's opinion >> so it possible board meeting is that's scheduled board schedules out. The September meeting is the 6th. >> The eth is there time for this board to hopefully make a decision on the eth direction that works. >> Okay. >> All right. We'll try to get the board the best numbers we can forget. >> Will there be a way to like figure out how much you'd save going from turf to like with the maintenance and stuff? You said >> I've had people throw those numbers at me um our own people, but I didn't trust who was throwing them at me. >> Right. So >> here question if if not there but if we were would

058we lose a season they walk through the turf we still lose a season >> he still would okay >> you you had mentioned the field um with the drainage kind of going one way so you're going to correct that? >> Yes. >> Okay. So no matter what that's going to be in the project >> with regrading >> and structures that are actually catching the water and directing it storm retention systems and yeah all the above. >> So those parking lots while we're on park terrace um is there's not this or that like >> there there is. So the next item below >> there's more site work there. >> Yeah. Um, so there's the next item below that is Husky field replacement. So again, that's replacing all of the perimeter fencing. Um, the gates, everything around

059Husky Fields right now that are damaged, falling apart, not functioning. So that would be to upgrade that all. We're assuming a nice black vinyl that we put across the district in other areas. Lower storefront, that's just the entrance to the um the locker room area there that that um door needs to be replaced. It's old. Um, it doesn't close sometimes. Guess spends a lot of time uh adjusting that and modifying it. to replace that. Um the next item, the last item here is parking lot um resurfacing and parent drop off. So what's included in this number here is extending the parking lot. We left it stone after the last project down at the lower practice field. It would be basically extending that parking lot to get staff out of the upper parking lot and to

060use um as event parking um for for events at Husky. Getting the staff out of the upper parking lot would allow us to do some redesign. Um, some simple redesign, striping, curving to help with the parent drop off and the large quantity of parents who go behind that school. Um, to keep buses in the front, parents in the back and try to pull the staff out of there so a little more room to adjust how parents queue up in there and drop the kids off. So, that is included. That is all all of those items are included in that uh that line item as well as some repaving. Um so in the previous project we did the entryway road um and then we did the tennis court area that turned into parking and in front

061of the building but the main bus loop area and the roadway that connects those two in front of the building needs to be addressed. Now we did some minor u minor work on some drainage in the last project but it really needs to be uh repaved up there. >> Would if you have the teachers parked down below I'm assuming you'd be taking off the taken off the pavilion. >> Yes. Um would the entrance and exits still be the single uh back and forth by the school that downward that road that goes down? Yes. So be to I know we talked about that large field finding another exit point. >> Yeah. We talked about I don't know what it would take to run a road. You see there the remnants of an old baseball backdrop closer

062to the road by the guy sells hot dogs. uh punching a punching a a road down the hill to alleviate the traffic coming in and out of that bus circle. >> Yeah. Because my my concern is if all the teachers are coming are down there with that circle and parents there will be merging back into that chaos again. So will we be having an additional problem at that time more traffic coming from below. Now >> we we'll certainly look at it and see what it would take to put the road in. There are some grade considerations there, but >> no grade is going to be worse than the hill you go up. >> It's longer. I mean, obviously we >> do those are work and it's substrate and all that. >> As we talk through

063these items though, every anything we talk to outside of the building, we're in the same boat. So that's taking away any dollar you could spend anywhere else as far as site work. So it's still that limited capacity we have with our MCA. So any site work at Park Terrace, whether it's down on the fields or up top comes to that that same conclusion that we're limited to the amount of money we can spend in scope. So that'd be my only concern about adding that road. I get 100% what you're saying. We did try to widen that in the last project. You can get a couple more cars down there, but that would that would take away from other fun. >> Oh, that's true. That's true. That's a good point. The the other thing we could

064do with this line item because it still is a sizable amount of money. We could do this in in parks with this project and potential next project. I I would like to see what would happen by adding the additional parking lot on the east side of the building, the side closer to the fields to see um having faculty and staff and a lot of visitors out of the front entry of the parking lot. How that helps with student drop off and parent drop off. I think not having all those cars up there could help a lot. So maybe we don't redevelop all of the area with the parent drop off and do something that is as as drastic as what was done at Kingsboro on the upper side >> in this project. Maybe we see

065what's going to happen where we take all the faculty and staff out of the park lot first. >> That might free up more money to do the road. >> That's true. >> There is that access road in the back, too. I mean, it's kind of it's obviously in disrepair, but it goes down to that side Hill Street. Correct. >> Goes down to Hill Street. It's old pavement. Once upon a time that was pave um I don't know if that could be an option to alleviate the bottleneck that you see out in front of the school. But just a thought if you guys have ever walked or looked at it. >> It's rough. >> It is rough. >> It's rough. >> Yeah. >> We could look at it from a different lens if that's something we

066want. And I really don't even know if the city owns it or the district. >> I don't even know where it comes from. >> It connects well. There's a side street. It connects to Hill Street right there. Okay. Behind it. >> We might have thrown a log over front of it or a jersey barrier. >> Jersey barriers. >> Okay. Um, anything else on park? All right. Uh, Donna Tiko. Um, again, all the same things we talked about at all the other buildings. Probably don't need to worry about some of these. We can probably um, you know, potentially kitchen equipment and some of these others cross off the list. Um, the one thing that we did want to add to Mo, um, is we did want to continue with, again, there's one area on that building

067that has the old spray foam roof. So, we did the majority of it in the last project. Talking with uh, Dave last week, we do want to continue with making that building leather tight. So, we will take care of that. we'll add it to this list to replace that last section of grateful roofing. Um so then again after this project district wide including Miko McNab everything is up to par as far as concerned. I just want to add one thing about the replacing the interior door course um that scope that I would strongly recommend if you do it in one building you do it in all the buildings at the same time. It's going to be hard for for building and grounds and administrators to have different keys set up for different buildings. So if

068you do set up universal classroom cores that could be set up per building or that could be universal for the district and it's much it's much easier from a management standpoint to do all of the door interior hardware at the same time. Um it can be done it can be done building by building if you go that approach. You've got about 14 key chains until you're all done with it. You've got some on old, some on new and it it just is a lot more complicated for Chad and his staff. I'm pretty sure the kitchen equipment MIGO could probably be scratched up. I can't see money to replace that. >> Anything we pull out of some of these other buildings. I was even thinking McNav maybe we could >> I don't know unless we make

069this McNav's got a couple hundred,000 with the kitchen equipment too, right? >> So, we we didn't we didn't want to make those decisions for the board. So, we provided the same amount of money and and wanted you guys to get back to us and let us know if there were any buildings that you didn't want. to scratch kitchen equipment at Mo. >> Okay. And and McNab, is there any way does it make sense to maybe take the best of whatever replacement of some of the other buildings and >> put it in there? >> I think later this week there's a food consultant coming to meet with uh Craig. >> Yeah. Meet with Craig, the district, food service director to evaluate all the buildings and determine what we can do. So I think that's a great

070opportunity to discuss some of those things. The other big one at Nico is a boiler and is that that needs definitely needs to be done or >> so they're all on the same cycle. Um you know something else with boilers that could be done. I don't remember off top of my head how many boilers Nico has. So if Nico has two boilers and we wanted to save money, we could replace one and deal with it in a lead lag >> and let the new one be the dominant one and only have to rely on the secondary one in the most severe days of winter when both need to kick on. So I would I wouldn't recommend doing less than half of the scope at right now. All of your boilers districtwide are set up lead

071lag where they're not all the dominant boilers. They get rotated. But again, the recommendation is now to replace them all in time. Mo, it would make sense to just do one, >> but I would do one. You do have an investment you need to protect and we don't want to freeze. >> Hopefully, we could have better uh information for you come the 8th of September. Clarity, >> what would you do? Would you highlight some of those things we just talked about? >> Yeah, we we'll highlight them. um and and revise the numbers um make some of the corrections I needed to between uh Kingboro there. Um but just the last last one on the last page is the transportation facility. Um pretty much the standard that we're doing at the other building. The only um

072different one is that the last item is the waste oil tank. Um we have done some some minor maintenance on the waste oil tank that is currently underground in front of the overhead doors as you pull up to the transportation facility. That should really come out. Um the DEC doesn't want it down there. It's tough to maintain down there. It's had a lot of issues. Um, so what this would do is we move that tank and have a above ground in the storage room um off to the right side of those overhead doors. We already have a space laid out for up on the mezzanine that has the the reframent for it. Um, so it' be getting that out of the ground, removing it and putting it above ground storage tank for any changes. >>

073So there's a lot of So that's the last piece up there. We've done a lot of work at transportation. So we did the boil water separator. So that's for any oil that leaks off the bus is anything from the maintenance that drains into the system then gets separated between oil and water and then gets pumped out. This is directly for where he does an oil change and he dumps the five quarts of oil into a bucket. That bucket is now underground. >> Um so it' be getting rid of that. You can see why the D wouldn't want it underground like that. Um so it' be removing that and then >> and the work that was done was done as part of an emergency project that the board acted on because it needed to be fixed

074right away. this scope of work didn't fit under either the costs that were approved or the scope of work that deemed it an emergency to be done that way. That's why it was saved to scope for a future capital project. Yeah, we did I don't want to say it's the last component, but a lot of the major components up there have been addressed. You know, the storage tank for your fuel oil or for your your gas and diesel for the buses was addressed and um updated. Oil water separator was replaced. now is the last piece up there that really needs some some attention. So, as you look down at some of the totals, um so this is where we're tracking you can see the broken out by building and then broken out by priority um

075for a total of 375. Um that's the numbers that we shared with Tim and some of the more information they'll get from us if we do need to shave that down or what we need to do with that to get us in a good good place. But we think we're right around there. Um, so again, we'll have that meeting with Tim and provide some of that budget information from a financial advisor to get better understanding there. I do just quickly want to touch on the other two alternates that we did price up. Um, so if we continue all the way down at the bottom of the page, um, park terrace alternate number two would be for the batting cage. So this number would remove the batting cage from its current position and put it on

076the third baseline. So, we'd be digging out the hillside a little bit over there and getting that batting cage um off of that area so that potentially in the future we can continue to create more parking um and storage down at that field. Um so, that's alternate number two. Alternate number three was something we had discussed um just based again on the new state guidelines for temperature. Uh we did a lot of work in the federal funded project where Kingsboro is now fully AC. This this building has been fully aced. We did half of park terrace. This last number would be for ages one and three. that would be the other half of Park Terrace which will then leave you with another um full um air conditioned building. So again, just an ultimate that we

077can look at if the district wants to pursue that um as an option. This was something we did explore um when we looked at budgets for the federal funds and couldn't afford it as part of the 2021 2021 project. Um what we did in that project was we did the west side of the west side of the building. Um, with this project, we would want to do the east side of the building that faces the fields. So, we would do exactly the same scope of work, but put in rooftop units, AC in those buildings. So, that would be another building that would be great to get off your list. As of right now, um, because of the work that was partially done, there isn't teachers on the west side of the quarter of AC. Teachers

078on the the east side do not currently in that building. >> Will this include the gymnasium, too, or is that not including the gym? This is not >> that's not this is basically just a classroom way um which >> second floor or both first floor and second floor >> both floors >> first and second floor on the east side and the last project we did the library cafeteria and first and second floor on the west >> admin is done so it really would be after that's the only space that wouldn't be conditioned is the gym and we we could evaluate that again for that if you wanted a larger space >> well you just said home builders out >> and Kingsboro didn't have the gym either in the last project so Kingsboro also doesn't have

079the gym air conditioned. If we replace the RTUs, which is one of these items, it would be in this project. Those were newer pieces of equipment that weren't out of their useful life yet. So, it didn't make sense to replace them with everything else over there at the time, four years ago. >> Feels like yes. Yes. >> I just have one question on transportation. Um, when do we start or plan on electrical work for that stupid electric bus mandate? >> And yes, I work at DC. >> Um, that that's in my mind a district decision. I don't I don't see it being really a mandate they can stick behind, but again, that's something we got to. I don't know if you see. >> Never met her before. I love you. Um, so again, in this

080capital project, there isn't any scope of work or any budget that's been established to pursue any of that work um for the electric bus systems. I don't know, Kathy, if there was a a status of the study. There was a report, correct? >> Yeah, we're still waiting. >> Yeah, still waiting. >> Yeah, the preliminary conversations with SEAS, I think, about what the impact the solar array would have up there. on on their ability to charge buses, but it's all preliminary guessing games. >> Yep. So, it's it's my understanding the district is currently following all the mandates that the state has required and part one of that is to pro procure and get the study. I believe there was some eight funds available to provide that study. Recommendations of that study are going to tell Gloversville

081what the recommendations are and it will break it down by what infrastructure available, what sites may be best. Um I'm sure as part of it they look at um your bus runs because you don't have the distance with the electric buses that you do with diesel or with gasoline. So um there are a lot of there are a lot of things that are going to come out of that study that will lead to the need for a future project. Um I I am not working with any school districts currently in New York State that have gone all in and provided um plug-in charging stations for a fleet of 40 buses. So again, we've been looking at it uh 2030, I believe. What's the year on >> 27 is when you're supposed to start buying them

082and there is a waiver process now >> so a lot of districts have started buying them on the required percentage per year basis that the states listed in that place you would do smaller charging station for just those buses which you may already have the infrastructure for but it's not jumping all in in designing how to handle the fleet if every bus is replaced We've made a strategic decision to not be on the front end of this. >> The only thing we have seen other districts do is if we are doing work, say we want we were going to replace all the asphalt up there because it needed to be done. It was part of this project. We would then throw some conduit under the ground leading to the spaces where we would potentially put

083chargers just so we're not going backwards on new work and cutting up new asphalt. But we're not planning that right now. So if we were doing asphalt work at the transportation, I would say yeah, let's throw some forge conduit underneath. bring it to where your charging station would potentially be. So, at least we're not going backwards. Um, but we don't have any real sight outside of the storage tank to remove that waste water tank. There's no oil waste oil tank. Um, there's no real site. We're suggesting that transition. >> There's got to be funding if we're going to create a solar array or something. I think that would have to >> that's probably the same thing as our solar array. But at this point there were no recommendations associated with that in in this current

084capital project. We're buying buses. >> It is going for >> any questions for Mike. >> Sydney was kind of bored. She needs some questions. >> As long as we kept them on the ringer. >> Nice job, guys. >> Thanks, guys. try to get with Tim this Kathy and then >> you should have Tims come when Seammens are here. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Thanks. >> Next we have a invitation from Sanini to turn it over to you. Hold your applause, Cody. All right. Hi guys. Uh great to see you in person. I got to see you guys over Zoom last year. Um so getting to report on uh updates uh regarding Echo Education and uh the work that I and uh my small but uh mighty team of consultants are doing with the district being

085able to partner with Gloversville. Now uh this is our third full year. Um, and I don't know just for clarification, uh, if you got slides, handouts, anything. If not, I'm just going to talk through a couple points. All right, great. Um, so just to review kind of where this started, we really began our efforts with employee engagement uh, in the spring of 2023. uh and we're looking at uh kind of a new and uh researchbacked uh way to engage employees uh focusing on u career motivation instead of just career aptitude and spilling that down into some of the counseling programs and uh really looking at uh districtwide how we can incorporate that into programming. And so that led to uh in the uh fall of 23 a revamp of the new teacher and new hireer

086orientation u that went from a one day to a two-day um and really incorporated a lot of that um intentionality with um helping the new hires and then the new teachers not only figure out really what it is that they would want uh to get from their time in Gloversville um as a as a staff member, but also and making sure that with a revamped mentorship program which uh I was happy to work on with uh Amy Venostrin um a really a way to kind of uh the intention was to extend our retention efforts for these new hires. And so over time then we've developed uh more programming that in response to uh the needs of uh the district as communicated by Dave and Chris and have been able to develop uh coaching for uh

087new administrative administrators and leaders um in both the departments of the certain grade levels and then coming into buildings we've been able to work there and that work has been driven largely byhes who is a a leadership coach with a ton of experience in education. Um, and then uh as we look at this year in particular, really wanting to increase our uh teacher capacity. And so, uh, Cheryl Dobertton will be working closely with teachers, uh, this coming year, beginning with the superintendent's conference days on, uh, increasing their effectiveness, uh, targeting a lot of different, uh, tried and true, uh, in-class, uh, techniques u, and kind of working together now with uh, running that K12 all the way through admin on how do we see that as administrators, do walkthroughs and all of that. So by

088and large echko u uses a model u the ecc of the c's is the e is engagement the c is build capacity and the o is ownership and um our goal really has been to more and more uh bake these uh concepts and these skills into uh the leadership team at Gloversville and um I'll let Kristen and Dave speak to its effectiveness. I have uh found a very receptive administrative team who wants to learn, who wants to get better. Uh a lot of leaders including a instructional coach uh building level uh leaders uh as well who are receptive to u the the training and are looking to put it in practice. U by and large I think it's been very beneficial partnership and uh we remain as as flexible as we can be to every

089year what are the needs of the district you know something that we can u we can outfit them so um even just this morning met with the leadership team for the full day uh we're able to work through K12 alignment of systems and processes start to identify some areas that we can really have a predictable experience for a Gloversville student as he or she goes through the process and then uh looked at how we can use the evaluation process to be uh more effective in giving teachers feedback and helping them develop professionally as well. So uh I live in suburban Denver. Uh it's not easy for me to get here, but I love coming out. So uh it's really this is a district where you can tell uh that it's leaders want to get better

090and it's a blast to work with them. So any questions? I know that's a lot. I talk fast. Sorry. Uh but um anything you guys might have questions on or Dave, anything I might have missed? >> No comments from Cody. >> I'll just say that the work with Sam and his colleagues has been great for this district. I believe I, you know, to not elaborate too much, I think he did a nice job keeping it concise. Is uh he's made us more reflective. We've become better reflective practitioners. I think it's not just the leadership. Uh it's the instructional leadership and hopefully the teachers themselves. I think we kind of hit a couple roadblocks last year with walk through attempt, but it was well intended. Um, and we're hoping to get there one way or another

091to improve instructional efficacy because we all collectively believe it's the most important thing we can do to improve the outcomes of our children. Period. And I think this work has been instrumental in uh illuminating that and honing our understanding of that. I appreciate you. >> Yeah. I I what I love about the ownership part of it is that it's it's just really naming the good things and and making them systematic and not um by happen stance. And so that's something that uh has been really I think effective in creating a consistent experience for students and teachers across all grades and buildings. >> Any questions? >> All right. These guys know how to find me if you guys have questions. Uh thanks very much and look forward tomorrow morning. post all of our new teachers. We

092have uh over 30 uh new hires tomorrow morning. So, uh this room will be turned into a classroom again and we'll keep uh we'll keep developing this next class of Leversville hieries. So, anyway, thanks. Appreciate it. >> All right, Max presentation. I'll turn them over. Good evening everyone. Um coming tonight to talk about two courses that the high school is uh hopefully implementing this September. Uh two courses would support our scholars pursuing the arts pathway is a graduation option that allows students to replace one exam with a creative arts portfolio. Uh the first class would be our arts history which would build critical thinking and cultural literacy through artistic traditions from prehistoric to present artwork. Uh the second course would be advanced ceramics that would focus on technical skills, craftsmanship and just expression through studio

093practice. Um why I'm bringing these classes up to you is because one of the things that's present historical art, um, religion and nudity. So, we do have a permission slip that I handed out to all of you. That is a draft. Um, one of the things that we asked our attorneys to look over was this permission slip, but it clearly states that um, these scholars that would be taking this or these courses, you know, could be encountering representation of the human form through um, painting, sculpture, physical figurative study. Um there's no explicit pictures. There's no live models coming in. This is all through the college textbooks that the teacher would be using. There is no textbooks for our scholars. These are all things that they might encounter though when going through the curriculum. Um we

094did put in some safeguards. We did label those out. One thing is that we do have the permission slip so all of our families are aware. One thing that our attorneys did ask for is just to put two columns to say, "Yes, I acknowledge I want my scholar to take this class. I acknowledge I don't want them to take the class. I acknowledge, but I still want them to take the class, but I don't want them to be um seeing the nudity in the elements that were presented. All those pieces are there so we can provide alternative assessments if need be. One of the other things that we kind of took into account was any scholar that's taking this has to have that permission slip signed and returned before we really get into any of

095the content. We've asked our our teachers, we've met with them and saying during these periods, our classrooms are closed off to other scholars. We wouldn't want a another scholar from a different grade, like a ninth grade scholar going in to work on their project and being in this class. So, they wouldn't be allowed to kind of go in during this period. Um, and all material materials would be in that class. So, like I said, there's one textbook that our our teacher is using. They will use their doc camera to kind of present materials. Um, but that would be the only textbook that would be used. So, it wouldn't be out in the building for our scholars to use. Any of the materials that are on powerpoints or, you know, presented through the Prometheian board would

096only be housed in those art rooms. Um, one of the main focuses too is we want our scholars to be looking at the artwork, but if the nudity is taking away from what we're doing, then we will crop that out. So, like if you think of the statue of Michelangelo's David, um there's a lot of elements in that sculpture that we could look at if we just cropped that photo into the upper half of that statue and we can still get every element that we wanted to discuss, everything that we really need for that class to kind of get what they're needing to get out of the course um without having that. other paintings that might not allow us to crop, you know, images out, we can use a sensor bar or just, you know,

097using kind of photo imaging like just putting like a sensor bar over the top of things we don't want. Um the pathway is so if you have um scholars with permission to see all content and others that don't have it, >> how are you going to are they going to be divided into different classes or they're going to be together in the same class? How how are you going to police that? >> So realistically our teachers want to just make sure that the content that they're trying to get across is the main focus. So if they have to crop all of the photos, they're going to try to do that as much as possible. Um they need to find a different piece of artwork from that same period, then they're really looking at that. Um,

098realistically, this is a very unique population that would be trying this pathway. Um, they're going on a career path that is going to take them into that realm. So, realistically, they have to be aware that, you know, religion and and nudity is a part of, you know, the Renaissance period, these different periods of artworks that it's going to be something that they have to face. But for us at the high school level, even though that they're taking a college level class, we have safeguards to kind of make it more on what we really need them to learn, like I said. So, if they have to crop to the top of that sculpture, they'll do that and focus on the different elements that are on the top half of a a painting or things like that.

099Um, you know, Miss Krauss has set examples of how she can modify some of the pieces and it doesn't take away from what the learning would be. having like a, you know, a black sensor bar, you know, it's pretty tasteful and hard to notice in some of the artworks that she's cropped out parts. >> So, I think what I'm hearing, if it's a class of 10 and you've got one student that your parents do not give permission, you're going to be cropping everything in that class >> essentially. And I think that's their focus. They would rather be more focused on the artwork rather than, you know, trying to take away from anything else. So, the real focus is making sure we have these different course offerings. so we can provide the pathway. Um, you know,

100looking forward into our future, we don't always have all the answers yet with the pathway or the for uh a portrait of graduate because they haven't released all the information just yet. Um, but we know this would be a 4 plus one pathway. So, they would have to take, you know, three um three units of study to create their portfolio, have to show progress throughout their portfolio. So without more offerings, we can't provide this pathway. And that's one of the reasons why we're looking at how do we extend our offerings um to a certain population of our scholars. >> So I I fully support this and I ask to come in because I don't want the board members the rare possibility that you get blindside at grocery store. Do you know that they're looking at

101nudity in high school classrooms? I do not foresee this becoming an issue. I'd like to think you treat like adults. They act like adults. When I was a high school social science teacher, I sent permission slips home to show clips of Amastad, the movie Amastad that had some pretty disturbing uh uh imagery in it. But the in context, there was nothing sexual about it. It was horrific if anything. Um and the kids hand I prepped them and they handled it extremely well. Uh I think it's important. I mean I think it's it's it's important for education us as educators to expose our children to what's out there. This is classical uh art that's been in the western world has been uh on display for half a millennium. I certainly support it and I just wanted

102the board to have the opportunity to know about it, hear about it. If you say no or I think I don't think I know you and I think you're going to support this, but we do have the measures in place if needed. But I'm hoping we can uh that the parents and the guardians are going to see the value in in what we're trying to achieve here. And I do have copies of the textbook in my office. Uh I didn't bring it over. I could have, but uh anybody wants to see the imagery that uh in this college textbook, it's nothing you haven't seen. and National Geographic and or anywhere else in our museums across the world. Nothing else. >> And the elements that would be showcasing are what's in that textbook. Like I said,

103there's no this is not the level of art class where we have models or you know graphic pictures coming in. These are the works that I think all of us are aware of. I said for example, Michelangelo's David, you know, that's a a pretty well-known sculpture. Those are the things that they would be exposed to. >> We're going to do those heat instead. [Laughter] >> Do you know the level of interest of student number? >> Off the top of my head, I don't have enrollment numbers for both classes, >> but there is interest in class. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Next, we got public comment. >> Scared him off, >> right? All right. Move on to a board discussion. We have the both meetings from July 1st. Any

104comments, questions, discussion on either of those? Motion to approve both of those. Kelly, Kevin. All in favor? >> All right. Anybody have anything else for board discussion tonight? All right. Move along the superintendent report. My report should just take about an hour. >> Before I start, I just want to point out, as I always do, a couple retirements on tonight's agenda. Uh Dennis B district administrator current uh associate principal boulevard is retiring after 12 years of service. Uh Mr. B will continue for the next 10 months September through June on a uh on a work agreement as a retired administrator from our district. He's done a nice job at Boulevard and very happy for Dennis uh to see the end in sight and uh happy to see him going out. He's happy with what he's

105doing and he's doing a nice job for us. So wish him a long, healthy, happy retirement. And the same for Linda Snell Boulevard uh custodian cleaner who's been with us for 30 years. She was part of that film that Andrew and I recently did with highlighting Pete Agnesopoulos. Linda was brief cameo in that video. So we wish her well. Joined her husband in retirement. U Bill's been waiting patiently, right? We wish Linda a long healthy happy retirement as well. So, just a few things I want to bring your attention. Should be pretty quick. Uh, new cell phone law, it's gone in place. We had a public hearing last week. Uh, one parent showed up and uh, she was her concerns pretty quickly. We're luckily uh, kind of ahead of the curve on this. We ordered

106the yonder pouches last year. um they're going to be there for those kids who are have a difficult time self-regulating. But plan is put them away, put them out of sight. If we if you come out, that's going to be addressed. And part of that is, you know, insisting kids use yonder pouches who are unable to self-regulate. Um it's interesting. I feel like the governor kind of went down a rabbit hole a little bit with this one. I I wish he just kind of provided the cover and left local discretion. Um, I think our plan falls within what's expected, but I was kind of surprised how far in the weeds she got with the details on this particular issue. I feel like there's other issues in education that more clarity could have come from the

107state and that. But, um, I think Glovers had a successful 24 25 school year regarding cell phones, 6th through 12th grade. Um, huge drop in social issues as a result of cell phone use. Cody, I guess you're the only returning building administrator. Would you say we had a successful year last year? >> Yeah, at the middle school went very well. Um, you know, most scholars as soon as we came in, they were putting them in the under pouch had them away. For the scholars that, you know, went by saying that they don't have their phones, they were off and away. Um, you know, I would say that's a success in itself. For the most part, we had very few scholars who, you know, outright refused. I probably would tell you there's incidents where we had

108to call home for you know parents to come up to help you know intervene but for the most part the scholars you know came in they were very comp like you said the biggest difference was that we didn't have as many issues with social media drama you know things going back and forth kids were talking more and they were figuring out their problem so it was nice >> yeah so I I mean this isn't a huge nothing's a big change for us I think we're in good shape we're complies with the law and more importantly we're already a year uh down that road. So, and we expect that success to continue and I think uh there's an expectation that fifth grade is going to be part of that as well. I think what's the good

109thing about the the law is that uh now there's no discussion with parents. Before it was like no this is our rules. Well, now it's just the law of the land. It's not just Glover's opinion. It's it's the governor and the legislator's opinion. So, I appreciate that cover. It's their right to to uh to to make this decision and uh help kids focus on on their academics and focus on socially growing by interacting with their peers. >> Do we get any do we have any data on the progress of launching the underpressious decreasing referrals for cell phones social media stuff? I would guess I mean I don't want to speak I don't think I've seen it drill down that far but I would I think Cody and Christina and Dave would say down 80 to

11090% of those particular issues would you say >> I would say the larger issues you saw a decrease we would see an increase overall in numbers just because we weren't policing if the kids were putting their phones in so you would see a like it's a different problem the year Before when we were having techn we call it technology use violations it was a different way of looking at it right they were using their photo or pictures or texting or Snapchatting in class they're using their phones to communicate that always the best light where this year was they had their phone in a pouch they had it out >> which were not as big of distractions but it was still something that we were addressing that makes sense >> yeah it's one of those things

111that definely We wouldn't say why that was a failed initiative and definitely is working out well for us. Uh speaking of initiatives our summer reading initiative uh we don't know how effective it's been but just wanted to thank the uh administration and Courtney Wood and other people secretaries and anybody I miss apologize who's helped make our summer reading initiative uh a success getting the books in the hands of kids uh the reading logs in an effort to combat summer slide. It's something that's well documented across the country that kids lose a lot of what they have obtained in uh in the previous school year over the summer especially the elementary level. So uh putting a big emphasis on on summer reading and we met with PTA this week and they are certainly willing to uh

112kind of take the ball and run with it with a park program. Used to be known as parents as reading partners now it's pick a reading partner um because it doesn't have to be a parent. It could be an uncle, a cousin, sibling, a neighbor. Um to really trying to push the importance of literacy in our district and really want to build that uh partnership with the home and help empower parents, guardians, family members to be those teachers in their children's lives. So, uh just getting this off the ground. Think this this summer was a good start and it's only going to get better. uh communications. Obviously, I wanted to introduce Andrew Ditto, who's doing a great job, our new communication specialist, the man behind the camera. Um maybe we'll highlight highlight him one of

113these days. So, >> not that one. >> I'm all right with that one. >> So, Andrew uh you and I did the uh our spotlight our unsung heroes. Uh we used Pete Agnesopoulos and I saw that that was at like 10,000 views and the comments were all positive. And Pete is certainly one of many uh unsung heroes in our district who uh care about this place, care about the people here, the children, the adults, and and go above and beyond to to to help. And uh it's probably long overdue for us to to really spotlight those folks. So, we just finished one with Jen Frasier, the Boulevard uh secretary. That should be coming out shortly. Plan to Kathy's giving me permission to uh highlight the business office. She didn't want it just about her, but

114uh we're going to make it mostly about her. No, Kathy's been here a long time and obviously she heads up a very important department in this district and has done a great job. Uh she only gets celebrated once a year budget time. I'll pull her out, give her a golf clap, send her back, >> but uh we're going to torture her in her office. We want to do the IT department, the food services department, transportation department. Uh, and you know, we want to get as many people uh, uncomfortable in front of the camera as possible and we appreciate the positive comments the staff and parents and former students have uh, already put on this. So, nice work, Andrew. I was worried when Osama left us that it's going to be difficult to find somebody to

115replace him. And Andrew is somebody who's uh, fresh out of college and the cinem or the videography is a piece I was concerned about. and uh he's relieving that concern pretty quickly. So, doing a nice job. I think staff's going to uh really enjoy working with you. So, welcome to Glovers. >> Appreciate it. Thank you, guys. >> Got it. New teacher orientation. Sam mentioned, uh we have uh over 30 people. There's actually 33 new hires that are going to be in this room tomorrow morning, 26 of which are teachers. So, that's a that's a a large group. Um and you can see in the back side of this form or this paper is the agenda uh for the next few days. And I want to also give shout out to Chris who does a lot

116of the planning with our administrative team. Uh and Courtney Wood plays a role in some of this and obviously uh Amy Venostrin the uh mentoring coordinator. Her and the mentors uh obviously come in and work with their new colleagues. And I think what has really grown over the last few years to become uh I think an effective way to welcome people into the organization. You know, one of the reasons we started working with Sam was that career factors uh piece of what he does. He wrote a book called Career Factors and which he talks about what makes people satisfied and stay in their careers uh with various organizations. You know, these 26 new teachers, you know, we didn't have 26 retirements. We obviously know the the uh the way education is now. People can leave.

117Doesn't matter if you got 5, 10, 15 years under your belt. once upon a time was unheard of to leave. Um nowadays it's very common. So you lose people to home districts, less people are going into education. So it's difficult to find uh people in certain certification areas. Talked about this numerous times. Uh so despite those large numbers, obviously we're happy that we have uh been able to replace retired folks, people that are moving closer to home, are leaving a profession, whatever the case may be, that we uh I think we've done a nice job hiring despite the competitive environment we're working in. I'm happy with the people we're bringing in and I think we're doing a nice job of welcoming them into our organization and hopefully help them hit the ground running. So I

118really thank Chris and those people I just mentioned and anyone else who've been part of that effort. So that the folks that are not teachers or TAs and aids who participate in that orientation. Correct. So our new our clerical B&G food services do not. So just for clarity transportation update I said in my week update I mentioned that we uh are expanding our our transportation offerings out of necessity. um obviously mostly due to special education placements higher needs and Bosey's inability to meet those needs because as I mentioned people are leaving Boseis loses special education teachers because special education teachers are a commodity and teachers by nature many of whom would rather be in the district they it's more of a home often it is their home district whatever the case may be uh Boseis

119has been a victim of of I don't want to say staff pirating but We believe in that organization which means a lot of their uh classrooms that they've had historically and you can count on them providing those classes are is touch and go whether or not those are going to be available. So I think Sarah and her team have done a nice job of finding homes for a lot of kids. Uh a month ago it seemed much more dire than it does now. Right. But uh in those kids best interest we had to add a you're looking at seven eight different facilities. I think I sent you the the places those kids are going and it's unfair to those kids. You take your your uh most at risk scholars and put them on a bus

120and ask them to drive around the capital region being and have their peers dropped off at various places before they get dropped off. It's not ideal. So yes, we consolidate runs and we have multiple kids going to different locations on the same bus, but we are sending four buses to the capital region. So that gives you an idea of the complexity of those out of district placements. Uh the need to to meet the needs of those kids and uh meet them where they're at. It's you know we're unable to do it cost effectively in house. Boseies is increasingly challenged to meet those needs. Uh and frankly even those capital district placements uh have waiting lists and we often have kids who uh are in our tutoring center waiting placements. So it's just another sign of

121the times. It's tough business in education these days. So Sarah, I applaud you and your your staff for doing everything you can to to help get these kids placed. Anything you want to add to that? >> There there still are a few students who are waiting for placements and um even today I was in contact with other locations about uh the potential for them to to start in the fall. So >> it's a moving target. What do we have right now? Seven kids in the tutoring center pending placement. >> Seven. >> Okay. And we've had more than that in years past, but I mean that seven is still a lot because those, as I said, are our highest need kids. Fortunately, we have a great tutoring staff right now. All retired teachers who do a

122great job for us. Danielle does a nice job scheduling. And last but not least, our district goals. Obviously, we're having a a board retreat and some of these could be massaged, but you know, we don't plan to change much of what we highlighted last year as our district priorities being relationships, academic performance, and post-secondary planning. The one caveat to that is a couple years ago we had AI as a standalone goal like asking our staff to stick their toe in the water, start educating themselves on AI and uh anybody paying attention to the the world realizes that AI is rapidly evolving and and becoming uh immersed in all aspects of our life. Uh our keynote speaker is going to be Bill Dr. Bill Daget. uh for our staff and he's excited to not just have

123our teaching staff, all of our staff are going to hear his message. It's going to be about an hour long message about the impact AI is having on on the workforce in America and the world. Uh the jobs that we're preparing our children for are being impacted by AI and changing in front of our eyes. Uh it's called arms to me in education that we need to be nimble. We need to see it for what it is and not this is one issue we cannot be late to the dance on that we need to do our due diligence buckle up and and educate ourselves get our hands dirty and figure out how we can uh stay ahead of AI not stay ahead nobody staying ahead of AI how we can educate ourselves as best we

124can on the impacts AI is going to have this year this next year and certainly in the lives of our children when they leave high uh what we prepare them for in postsecary planning. That's why I put it next to that. Um you know, I choose not to be worried about it. It is what it is. It's a reality we live with. And uh you know, if anything I've learned about kids 25 years in education is that they are adaptable. They are flexible and they will adapt to it much better than the adults. But it's it's on us to help the adults uh be exposed to it. ask them to familiarize themselves with another and not uh you know focus on what they've been doing for years and years and years. We have to look

125at the kids in front of us and say what are they going to be doing in the years ahead and how can we best prepare them to be successful in life with this ever evolving uh albatross that's impacting every aspect of my life. I don't know how else to put it. I don't know enough about it. I use it. It makes my life easier. Uh and I'm sure I'm just scratching the surface. In fact, I know I'm just scratching the surface, but it's made my life easier as a school superintendent. So, any questions on that or my report? We can go into more detail on that during our retreat in September. I'll try to have some more information for you about what we're thinking. But the truth is, uh, it's on everybody's mind. I attended

126a meeting up in Lake Placid last week. It's a generic yearly briefing. FBI came in and talked about swatting and how best to react to swatting threats. Uh I told them, I'd like to get the administrative team and our clerical team together. And these FBI uh agents, special agents are willing to come in and talk to us about how best to handle swatting calls. Um and the real the rule is don't overreact. You know, try to educate yourself on what the caller is saying before you before you overreact. So it's interesting. You thought the law enforcement would be telling you to, you know, Yeah. Yeah. Exercise caution and but he's saying their their take is that the districts are making those mistakes. Um and there's been some in the capital district that they've used as

127examples that uh overreacted to swing calls. So I think it's important that we pay attention to that. But the other part of that conversation was all about AI. And it's the third year in a row it's been all about AI. And uh you know this is something the profession is wrestling with. And I think we have the right person coming in to talk about it because Dr. Daget does has done a lot of things over his career in the last few years. I think he's been zeroing in on on AI and he's certainly an authority. That's why he's traveling the world's coming to us from Edinburgh, Scotland uh right before he's he meets with our staff. So excited to have him and excited for the coming school year. Looking forward to seeing all those smiling

128faces and the kids. Looking forward to the students and staff returning. Any questions for me? That concludes my report. No executive session. >> Next, we got recommended items 6.01 through 16.44. >> 1101. Can you pull that to vote separately? >> 16.34 as well >> and 12 All right. So motion to approve the vast majority of those items minus 1101 1634 and 1213. John second by Kevin. All in favor of those. All right. Motion to approve 11.01 01 Ed Kelly all in favor of that one. Kevin abstain on that one. Now it's turn to abstain. Motion to approve 16.34. Kevin by Kelly on that one. All in favor. >> All right. And then 12.13. John. All in favor? And now motion to adjurnn the meeting. All right, everybody here wants by Heath. All in favor of

129that one. All right. >> Thank you everyone.