001Uh, thank you all very much. We will call to order our May 12th, 2026 meeting. Um, we'll entertain any modifications to the agenda. Hearing none, we'll continue on with our next agenda item, uh, which is the receiving and hearing of delegates, our public comment period, and we do have a student who signed up. Uh, Lionel, I am unsure of how to pronounce your last name. It's Marley. >> Thank you, Mark. Thank you. Elena, if you'd be happy to join us. It just helps the microphones pick up. >> You I just need to sign into the Wi-Fi. >> Understood. Absolutely. And I'll be sure to also forward the email that you sent to the policy committee to make sure all board members receive that as well. That helps. >> That's great. And while Lionel is logging
002on to the Wi-Fi, let me make a public apology to Lionel who has emailed me over the past two weeks uh directly in the middle of Epica College finals as some other folks may know. So I have been unable to respond. Uh but I greatly appreciate your diligence and letting me know that I have not responded as it's been well received. First game Thank you. >> You said there's a microphone. >> Yeah, your microphones are here. Just better if we had people sit at the tables. That's all. So, thank you so much. >> Hi. Uh, so I am Rhino Malgolan. Uh I am the external affairs coordinator for the uh superintendent student advisory council. Uh so I'm just going to give you a little kind of crash course on what we are and then talk
003about how we relate to the policies that you're going to discuss today. So the SSAC which is what we call it is a group of around 25 appointed students that conduct inquiry and deliberate to produce formal recommendations on district policy. uh and there are many um ways in which this promotes diversity since the members are actually appointed and therefore don't come under constraints of um the election process which could have uh issues in representing everyone equally. Uh we also believe that this process promotes the voices of quieter, less communicative and less confident students. Um because instead of coming to a big board meeting, they only have to talk in a 25ish person body in an informal discussion or even in kind of breakout groups um and still get to contribute to these things. And the
004important point here is that the goal of this selection process is not to produce a perfectly representative group of the whole uh student body at the secondary level. It's to create an organization that's capable of doing important work to find different perspectives and assemble recommendations. uh and for these system for these reasons I believe we believe that the SSAC is suited uh well for work on longer term deep cutting issues uh because its process involves months of discussion revision and compromise on these issues. Um, so it it's less able to respond to things quickly, but it it it's able to cut deeper into that. And we want to make it absolutely clear that the SSAC is in no way uh some kind of contradictory mode of student representation to board reps. Uh it's a complimentary
005one because each of us covers the other weak the other one's weaknesses. Uh which I'll get to soon. So I also want to say that >> I'm going to tell you normally be about three minutes. We're going to give you a couple more minutes because you're here and of all the time and energy that you've put into this. >> Okay. >> Fantastic. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you so much. Um the rest of it is pretty short. Uh we believe that the current board rep system uh that we've had for the past year has been insufficient due largely to the systemic systems of the way that it works on a basic level. elections simply do not reach all parts of the community. There's obviously communication issues with that, but also like if you're only going to
006select however many board me exeicios, student reps, that's only that many people to represent the whole community. Um, board reps are designed to comment on specific issues at a specific time and not as capable with these systems to work on deeper ones over time. And we also believe that adequate representation especially at IHS is essentially impossible. 1300 students with what we have four board reps this year that that's not possible. Um so we believe that we need a multimodal system of representation at the district level uh both to the board and to the superintendent um just general. Uh so that's why believe we believe that it could be valuable to have some elected exeicial members as well as some appointed members which could all which could help us to fill in those gaps um that
007the the board webs are seeing right now. Yeah. If anybody has any questions feel free to email me at any time. Yeah. I >> will forward that email around to all board members. Okay. Yeah. Thank you very to speak. Uh board responses. I just appreciate you for sharing. I've always sort of had wonderings about benefits of election versus appointing and I think you've nicely highlighted that tension. So given me and I assume others a lot. >> Yeah, I appreciate that as well and also I'm uh very excited about multimodal systems. So I appreciate your bringing attention to that and the value that it offers to um to just look at things in different ways and not only use one methodology. So I think that that's a good thing to point out in a person. >>
008Any other responses? >> Well, thank you very much Lionel. Um you stated that the board process has been in existence for one year. The governor's requirement has been in existence for one year. Itha is unlike other school districts here that we have had this policy from 2013. The superintendent you said SA SA >> we call the SSAC. >> Okay. Stu superintendent advisory counselor acronyms going back and forth, right? But I'm familiar with it because my daughter was on the superintendent advisory council. Yeah. I thought it was a beneficial and continue to think it's a great council that um I my hopes is always as it was before and continues re reaching the masses within the um within IHS. Um I agree with the election process of the um student reps at the moment. Um because
009I think and you said it complements it should complement both groups should complement one another and both groups should be working together to hear from the students and to hear from the voices of the students just like when the Tatler produces articles one would hope that they're representing the students in the articles that they produce. So, um yeah, I think um 1300 students, the four board reps, the 25 um student advisory council members there. It's something that both groups should get together as well as other groups because you also have your clubs too. Your clubs are representing the student body and how is information being disseminated. So we we would hope that through the various vehicles that um information and and the beauty about the superintendent advisory council is that there's some issues and concerns
010that the superintendent might bring up as well as the students may bring up and you get to explore and see behind the scenes scenes of what's happening within the school district. I remember when my daughter was part of the group, they went to the um transportation department and that opened their eyes at exactly how the transportation department was running, why snow days were called where they were and um it really brought some light to the students and that they didn't complain about the delay of transportation when they saw the whole bus routes and all across um Ithaco, what the transportation um has to do. But thank you very much for your continued involvement in this and other areas. >> Thanks. >> Um I just want to go on record to thank Lionel and Andrew. Is
011that correct? Right. Um Lionel and Andrew have attended five, six, 15 meetings uh on this topic alone. Uh have given incredible thoughtful input. Have done outreach of their students. Have both used the advisory council, have met with board members, have met with administration. Um it's really uh a phenomenal example of sort of uh participation in a school district's policym and so uh I know I feel like I can speak on behalf of the policy committee and just offer a tremendous thanks that the that labor network did not go unrecognized and um I believe you will see hopefully it will be reflected in what we intend to be the final policy as well. So we'll we'll get to that point in time when the time arises. But um uh again as two students who have done
012amazing labor, I want to make sure that we recognize and thank you for that as well. So thank you both. Greatly appreciate it. >> Fantastic. >> Okay, that will bring us to well that policy will be up on the agenda momentarily. >> Bring us to our student reps. Uh both you have the great fortune of being the sole representative for today. So welcome. >> Okay. Um, all right. First, I just want to note sharing my appreciation for Lionel. Um, I certainly think I certainly think that SAC SSAC is especially useful at IHS. Now, it would it is of course going to be useful at at our school. However, I think that to some degree it is not quite as necessary given that we are such a small integrated like school community. Um, but regardless, uh,
013I certainly think I can try and speak for my absent board members in saying that I think we are excited to work with you guys and alongside you guys in the future because um, it's true that the systems are complimentary and do not necessarily clash with each other. Um, moving on, as I've mentioned several times now, we have trips coming up, but now it's next week. So after uh next meeting, I'll be glad to report to you how uh Spain was. You know, I'm kind of excited about that. Um as for uh board representation, we have our elections coming up in the following few weeks. But importantly, tomorrow, I want to highlight that we are having a discussion in our all school meeting about diversity in that election and how that we can elect a
014diverse group of boardwalk group. uh but how we can diversely elect them so that we are as representative as possible including like electing students from different backgrounds. Um with that being said, I'd also like to thank each and every member of the policy committee for working so diligently with us and others to create a wonderfully written exeicio student board rep policy. Um I personally haven't attended those meetings but regardless I know that the other members of my uh team have and are quite thankful for that. Um now uh this so this is coming from the word this is coming from the mouth of Julian. Uh he could not attend today but he wanted to personally mention that he was glad to have voted in this election. I am I am personally not of the age
015to do so but he wanted to share that. Um, thank you so much. >> Thank you. Well, uh, board responses. I'll say I begin by making sure that Julian wears his I voted sticker to the next board meeting and we'll we'll have them available. Other board responses. >> Thank you. Always have a safe and enjoyable trip. >> Certainly will try. Okay, hearing none, we'll continue on with our agenda. Thank you, Bo. Uh, we'll moves us to the consent agenda and we'll entertain motions. >> We move to approve all consent agenda items listed in consent agenda. Personnel report in minutes of previous meetings present. >> Second. >> Moved by Adam, second by Jacob. Uh, questions, conversation, debate. Hearing none. We'll call the question. All in favor? Motion passes unanimously. Uh we'll continue on with our agenda
016uh that to school district business which is an athletic merger with a legal free academy for varsity girls field hockey for next academic school year starting in fall 2026. We will entertain motions. >> I move to approve athletic merger with the regal free academy for girls varsity field hockey to the 2026 2027 school year. >> Second move by Adam. Second by Jacob. questions, conversation, debate, dialogue. Hearing none, we'll call the question. All in favor? That motion passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Um it moves us to um one of two policies that I believe we have on the uh docket for this evening. Uh this one will probably take the most conversation or try to bring the board up to speed, but that is agenda item 7.2. two. Uh this is a revision of the
017current policy that the district has had uh in place as Karen says since 2013. Though it warrant saying that the board of education, the Ethica City School District has had student reps on uh be present at the board table since before 2000. I believe 1999 1998 is the first year. Uh that is notable for a couple of reasons. one, I think it speaks to the way in which the board has historically believed the role of student voice. Um, but it also has implications by way of the governor's mandate that allows us as a small city school district to do some things that we otherwise would not have been able to do because we are grandparented in to a process. We have the ability to keep our process or change our process completely. Uh, I will
018ask for Meline and for Emily to share. Um but before we do this, maybe we entertain motions. I believe this is a first reading. Um even while some things may be taking place at different schools, uh it is uh possible that this would come back to the board policy committee. But let's entertain motions first and then we'll give some additional context. >> I move to approve the resolution for the first reading of the draft policy title 2245 student exeicio members of the board of education. >> Second. moved by Adam, seconded by Jacob. Uh this policy came down with the governor's budget uh last August. Uh again, thankfully the our city school board has already had a policy in place for student reps. Um and we've been working on various versions of this uh meeting with
019uh the administration of both LACS and ETHA High School. I should make note that the student exeicial member only applies to high school students. Uh those are the only members that are uh outlined specifically in the uh governor's legislation. Um and we've had I think it's been on almost every policy committee agenda since probably last August, if not before then. After multiple rounds of conversation, um questions about representation, questions about uh the fairness of holding schoolwide elections, um question about uh the role of an exofficial member. Is it to sort of be uh for lack of a better word, sort of a school board, school board internship? Is it supposed to be student advocacy role? Is it to be an official exeicial member? Um, we've been round and round all of these conversations and debates.
020Um, and I think where the board has ended up is trying to merge student voice which was very clear about maintaining an advocacy role from a student perspective. Um and then uh at our last policy committee um Emily, not the last one, two policy committees ago, Emily, myself, and Maline decided that it may not be the board's purview to tell ETHA High School or LACS what the exact process should be, but rather to work with the administration of LACS and ETHA High School and having them develop a process that takes into consideration things like representation, the role of election, whatever that may be. And so the way in which the policy is currently written after all that, I think it's gone from like six pages to four pages down to two pages um which is
021that the board asks the leadership of each school to develop a policy then informing the board what that policy is. Um, and going back to our original version of that would be four reps from Ethica High School, two reps from LACS, just by way of sheer numbers, and then working with the administration of each building to be able to develop a process that is fair, equitable, and as representative as possible, acknowledging that we would not be able to do so, and maybe trying to think about some other modes of communication. I think as Lion also um eloquently stated where the complimentary organizations and groups are in dialogue together. So that's a quick overview. Emily and Maline, I know I missed something um additions uh things that you had and then we'll entertain questions from board
022members. >> Um yeah, I just I'm trying to think so I don't repeat anything you just said. Um, I guess I just want to reiterate that we really did go like across the gamut with everything. And I think that the thing that we realized is that even in our conversations that there was a lot of um responsibility that we that that the discussions themselves um were putting on these four or seven total um uh members of of our student reps to really take on so much responsibility to make sure that they are bringing a diverse perspective from all students within their schools. Um obviously just for um size if nothing else like at the high school was was the focal point of those discussions and realizing that our intense desire to want to make sure
023that um the perspectives that were brought from these few board reps was really representative of the entire student body. And I think that the one of the reasons that we were having such a hard time with it is we realized that especially in our roles which are pretty removed from the school building that we have very little actual control or ability to kind of help facilitate and foster that. Um, which is why although our approach now is putting a lot more onus on building leaders, I think that it creates um or I was hoping that it would create opportunities for them to really look within the buildings that they spend all of their time to be a to be able to identify the most effective ways of reaching as many students as possible and hearing
024the conversations even about board reps and SSAC and I appreciated Karen's, you know, raising about um different uh uh clubs that are already at the school and the student government like there's already like all like so many groups of students that are coming together for a multitude of different reasons and so we're I am hoping um and I think that kind of as we discuss discuss that it would be we would really like to see building leadership and um and the adviserss especially at IHS for the reps and the reps themselves to be the ones that can think about how to partner with and utilize all of these different leaders of all of these different student groups to be able to reach as many people as possible. So though it will be more work, I
025think it's an exciting opportunity for some partnership between administration and students to think creatively about how to how to reach so many more students and to be able to bring those um all of those perspectives to us. Maline, any additions? >> Not really. It's been a long process for sure. I do appreciate the commitment um of the SSHc leaders. Um it it I I'm hoping that this serves as uh like where other students can just see you guys being engaged and being able to be part of the conversations and the discussions being had and be a good example for others to be involved. Um yeah, that's like the whole goal for me at the very least. encourage it. There you go. That's the word. Yeah, m and I really want to thank you and Emily
026as well for having a focus on um bringing raising the concern continually about representation um and uh that there is a need for us to hear um I know I've said it regularly people say me all the time like you know uh the etha community and I say respectfully there are multiple etha communities uh depending and what same thing happens at the high school there are multiple communities within the high school even as small as LACS is there are still multiple communities within the LACS and so we're will not be able to reach all those communities but keeping that at the forefront of who is not in the room is equally as important as who is in the room. So I want to thank folks for constantly raising that as well. So let's step back
027for a second. This is a first reading um it will come back to the policy committee then back to the board again. And we know that there's some things need to take place between now and then as well as elections are happening. But let's entertain questions from some board members um and see where we may find ourselves. >> I have I have a few questions. Um I Okay. So with so the change would be in terms of student participation. So for example like right now student reps speak at the beginning of the meeting but now they would be full participants throughout the is that accurate >> that has always been the case. It just happens depending on who is serving in the student rep role. Some student reps have speak during meetings. They do get
028the privilege of the floor. Should the president or whoever is in the role acknowledge that? But yes, there still may be I would assume a board student official report out and the ability to speak during deliberations. >> And then I I know that you referenced like around 1300 students at the high school. I actually don't know how many high schoolers are there at LACS or >> high schoolers. That is a good question and I actually think I might have to get back to you on that because just because I I always have the full number like the full student enrollment number rattling around but if I had to guess would be somewhere in the realm of close to just over a 100. Okay. Okay. That I guess then for me that raises the question why
029I guess why two representatives from LAS. No disrespect to LAS. I just if we're thinking about part of the goal is representation um one two students representing 100 and four students representing 1300 seen >> these are all questions that we debated multiple times round and around it's historically currently has been three from LAS that happened during COVID uh where there was an additional person so the question uh we felt four still is too much but didn't feel that this was the time to change it and so maybe the questions is at some point in time three and one. Uh I still would be a fan of at least two students coming from a school to bring at least multiple perspectives. Uh so it's not a sheer ratio numbers game. We just had a conversation about
030what it would be. And our original policy from 2013 does say four student reps from Ethical High School and two student reps from LACS. So I just wanted to add that it's kind of it's kind of that representation piece like when the the change from one to two and two to three is massive because like one to one to two students is the change from a single voice a single thought to two people that are able to think and add on to each other's thoughts and the amount of like not to say to cover a community but in terms of like rep like the students direct representation of a community is much larger when it's two people rather It's 132. >> Thank you, >> Jacob. just did do you have other >> um I'm good
031for now. >> Um one of the things that uh we we have talked in the majority of the conversations about uh having like a design who was going to be the person the the student rep who was going to be speaking. Um that's not I think reflected in this version. I think partially because we've jumped around so much into thinking about so many more complicated uh versions of this beforehand, so it might have just gotten dropped, but I think that there there's been like pretty consistent recognition that we can't have six members who are speaking who are participating in the discussions the whole time. Um, so we will need to go back to that and some of the things that we, you know, we we threw around ideas from having reps uh either be assigned
032to or take turns attending committee meetings and having one person, one rep from each school being the one that was that was like um speaking at that general board meeting. Um and so or sometimes at one point we talked about like would somebody be like assigned that role for the year and actually take on a little bit more of a leadership role within their school of helping all of this work get done. We also talked about I think that from students perspective we heard more of a um desire to like take turns. Um, so that is something that I'm sure the policy committee would love people's input on as as we all think about it more about best way to do that. But acknowledging that we can't we can't add an additional six people to
033every >> I I I wouldn't be in favor of us um requiring them to be participating in committees because they have a heavy workload. as it is, it's optional if they want to take that one, but I I I wouldn't want to see that written into a policy. >> Yeah, we've went round to round about that, thinking about time commitment as well. Would it prevents, you know, a number of our reps are involved in theater productions or athletic competitions. So, we that was a concern. But I do want to reiterate Emily's uh comment about one of the conversations we did have was at the beginning of each meeting, would one rep from each school be designated as the ex the official exofficial member for that meeting? Meaning that they would be the person um who
034would have the privilege of the floor if they had something to say about the agenda item. Um that would help make it much more manageable for whoever is facilitating the meeting. And so that is not reflected in the policy but that was a conversation that the policy committee had did have had. >> And is it the intention to add that change or is there >> at this point um what we fell back on is at this point in time it has not pro proved itself to be a significant concern. Again, depending on the year, particular student reps or groups of student reps have been more vocal or um not as vocal or have communicated via email prior to and so um it's currently not in the policy that is it's of it's the board's decision
035whether it is in the policy or not. >> I I think it's worth considering. And I also um I I I think that the messaging for student reps has been very inconsistent about whether they are or are not able to speak and to participate and so I don't I don't think that there would be broad agreement among them that and I don't want to speak for them. This is my guess that they that that people almost as excuse me not necessarily feel like they understood whether they could participate or always had the opportunity to and so I don't know whether we can really judge like how much they would >> I I would just I appreciate that and I'd like to acknowledge that there's been some transitions and changes over the past two years that
036there uh the there has been clarity in the past there may not be clarity over the past two years or maybe even since co uh for that matter Um, and I would ask our board members to take a look at LACS's handbook for student reps, which is a extremely well done document. Um, it was emailed to you at one point in time. We can get it back out to everybody. And so that it already seems like in many regards LACS has already done most of this work and has it ready to go. Um, we may have to work um and give our high school administration a little bit more time because this is a new approach. uh they've been waiting for direction from the board and at the last minute we're like we were going
037to ask it from you. So, uh we have to be patient in that regard. Well, you had your hand up. Were you going to say something? >> I was just going to say I was going to just to add that it has been slightly unclear for us, but we we've kind of worked through that and just kind of trial by error. Yeah. But I I would like to see a little bit of clarity just to be just so we're especially for incoming board reps just so that they are 100% sure of what their allowed degree of participation is. >> The current policy does state that they're able to participate. They just cannot vote. Um that is in the current policy. But yes, we get much more clarity and I say this with great admiration. uh
038Julian regularly uh participates in our deliberations >> and and something like that could also be part of like a process role. It doesn't have to be in the policy um to dictate um who represents each school and share out. >> But if that's something will the board the next policy committee could create a sentence that says something that and not necessarily put it in but uh present it from the board if that's something that folks would like us to. Well, that's also um we talked a lot about uh like kind of setting an expectation with building leaders about basically creating something similar to what Lex has, but really to make sure that um that the board has an opportunity to see like what what is the election process that you designed and like can you
039show us kind of how how you're really leaning into making sure that it's you know getting a representative sample or how what are the processes that you've put in place in order to make to show that you're you know helping students connect with one another and different things like that. So I think that there's a lot of opportunity and maybe that's another alter not alternative but an additional like sentence about something I'm know we talked about it I'm not sure it's here but like to make sure that um the board can kind of like check in on those things and say like where where are these processes like do they kind of reflect the general ethos of what we're putting into the policy. >> I think here is also where these two conversations combine. So
040if the idea being and I am in favor of a sort of half election at IHS and a half appointment at IHS um but the question becomes then about again about representation and so if we're only identifying one person to be the official ex official member to speak they may not be speaking you know they're speaking from one particular perspective that may not provide an alternative perspective. So we are trying to balance what does that mean and if the facilitator of a meeting um or if the facilitation of a meeting is not going well then we may need to limit who's able to speak but it was clear from the policy committee members and other folks who are present um that hearing from students is an extremely valuable source of information for decision-m and we
041are trying to find ways not to limit that but also not to make it so overwhelming where it stops the meeting right or stops an agenda item And so that was the the balance. Um you all did a phenomenal job of advocating for yourselves about how important your voice is. Um and so we were trying to honor that student advocate voice and figuring out how to do that or saying to other people, you go figure out how to do it and bring it back to us. I remember in the like the MISVA misba summer training orientation conference whatever it was there was a session on this and I feel like what they talked about that really struck me I'm curious the degree to which this has been a conversation or what our thoughts are was
042that there were systems within the school to sort of like over time build up towards board prep where it was sort of like mentorship stuff in like ninth grade and or like eighth grade nth grade etc. always somewhere to like a superintendence um group and they did I mean for what it's worth they did at least the model district that shared with us talked about the importance of appointing as opposed to elections um because of I I think it was like because they were viewing it as a more I think as like an internship and a leadership responsibility and also because of the tendency for high school elections to not necessarily lead to a robot like to a representative sample in as far as it's even possible to have a representative sample um which I
043would argue it's not but I'm just curious if >> seven months of those conversations. >> Yeah. So, so then are so I guess then I I guess I do want to know more about then why we would be leaving the process to the individual school as opposed to saying that we want to se like want a selection process or are we saying that or is the intention to say we think there's value in both? >> We think we feel there's value in both and students have advocated for both. um they've advocated for both the election process as well as an appointment process. there is some concern about an appointment process right um who appoints who what does that mean again as well so you can't go it's it's I think the idea of having a
044a multimodal or biodal approach was the conversation the board the policy committee began by thinking of it more as sort of an an internship sort of a leadership role building up there was a little bit of push back again about time commitment about additional responsibilities in addition to academics we're listening to that as well. Um, and I don't know what the model district was, but the the legislation does allow for uh an election from by the whole student body. And so that is one of the options that is available. Uh, and usually small city school districts are not allowed that unless they've had a policy in place prior to 2013 or actually it's prior to 2007, I want to say it is. Um, so that's why we figured we would keep with that conversation. But
045the questions you're raising, Jacob, I would um humbly ask for folks to go back and take a look at the board summaries. These are conversations we had over and over and over again. >> Yeah, that Katherine Sera joined us for a couple of the meetings and I know that this was a big an important sticking point for her and I don't want to I don't want to speak on her behalf, but I think that she she she voiced some strong >> Oh, here. >> Oh, hi. Do would you like to I know that you >> wish piece >> about the election why you felt the election process like the democratic process of having an election uh seemed important to you. Um, I mean, I think that as overall I was really listening to students talking
046about their desire for process and knowing that the two schools have very different cultures and knowing that when you're not embedded in a community that there's and especially as when we're talking about young people and adults that there is a certain level of power that people who are not part of the community determining how the people of a community should elect the people to represent them did not feel adequately representative or it got a little >> I I'll rephrase it if I can Catherine uh what I heard students saying is that a lack of an election would also take away their voice right that they should have the freedom and the flexibility to also elect who represents them in addition to appoint a possible appointment that was the conversation that took LACS has been doing
047this already. They have a different process via their all school meetings. And so we were primarily talking about the high school at that point in time. Um and that's where the student the superintendent student advisory council also gave input as well about um and that's supporting both right a both and um can work. It's never going to be perfect. that part we know but that's what we're trying to >> thank you to the committee and to the students and everyone for their work. I only have seven more questions. >> I'd like to ask a question before you have seven. >> I'm kidding Karen. Yeah, you go. >> Yeah. Um so um I high school has a process where they do election there's campaigning that goes for like a week long or something when um they're
048at the cafeteria. So, um I I guess we're continuing, everyone's continuing in their process because it's been working for so long. >> Not necessarily. We'll learn. I know Dan has been working with the um or at least has been in conversation with both principles to have this conversation. I you know, one idea would be that half of that process continues that maybe there's not an election of four reps but an election of two reps and then a different process by which two additions are appointed. Those are conversations that are still ongoing. We I don't think the committee anticipated any change in LAS's process given that the handbook has just been updated last year. So, we thought that that would probably continue and we didn't see a problem with that continuing other than making sure the
049number was two and not three. >> So, um so if we're in communication with the principal at the high school, we're also in communication with the activities person because it wasn't the principal that was doing all this with the high school student. So, yeah. And in the additional provisions, it says the superintendent are design responsible for arranging an orientation. So, we're putting this on the superintendent to arrange orientation when not that I want to put things on the board clerk, but the board clerk sees a lot of um orientation and training for the exopicio come through their email. So, so that could be a designate or >> No, I think you raised a good point. I think that there when you say that I'm thinking it makes me think about two different orientations. And I
050think that the reason that I the language is like that is thinking about like the orientation of the process that the school itself has created to, you know, work with their advisor. again talking about IHS specifically, but like working with their advisor and how they're going to what strategies they're going to develop to like reach different students and blah blah blah blah. That kind of orientation of like what does this mean like as a school rep for our school, what does this mean? I think is the way that we were talking about it. But you raised a good point if you know we we really did go from like all the way of like we want them to be like interns and we're going to like you know we as board members are going to
051like take them under our wing and help them learn all about you know and and I think that we moved like so far away from that um that we should probably think about whether there are pieces about just like setting expectations of what the role means from the board perspective or if the board just partners with the schools as they're creating their processes to make sure those things are covered in there. >> I think during those conversations, the students like spoke up and said they didn't want to um have like a mentorship. >> Yeah. >> Um and be too attached to the board and have more freedom of being able to speak on what they thought it was uh >> yeah important. >> I think definitely it's important to highlight that traditionally exeicial members of
052a board are members of the board with exopicio status. It was clear from our students that that was not what they were looking for. >> They did not want to be members of the board. They wanted to be more student advocates in an exeicial role. And so that was what they were doing. Uh the conversation about sort of onboarding I think is a good question. That sentence specifically is pulled directly from the NISBA sample policy that was stated. But that makes me question because that would fall under the student ex official um board member under government governance if they're going to be advocate student advocates then >> wouldn't that be a different >> this is the this let's not revisit no but you're right I mean this was the conversation we kept having yeah >>
053repeatedly what was going to be the role what going to be the responsibilities uh in terms of the onboarding maybe it does make sense to change that to the board clerk. Uh move from there. Um the board clerk helps with our onboarding with new school board members. So it wouldn't be I don't believe it'd be too ownorous of a task. I'm talking about a position, not a person, but I'm looking at a person. So um uh maybe that's a slight change in wording that we consider at the next meeting and have a conversation about. So thank you for raising. >> Yeah. at the um TST Gross School Board Association monthly meetings. We brought this up where um training we we see some of the emails that come through Central New York School Board Association on
054exopicial training. And most recently, I said it's unrealistic to have a training in Syracuse or elsewhere at 8:30 a.m. that you expect students to be there or or if it's a nice day outside. And um and I said to the um executive director, is it possibility for them to join via Zoom and all but now they want inperson and all. So we can't always rely on outside training. So what internal training or what other MISA training is available especially since they're not running? >> There is NISBA training. There's MISPA training available and there's workshops that our board reps get and uh we can be we can consider what a an onboarding handbook would look like for our student reps as well. >> Yes. >> So I have one real quick question. Apologies if this was
055already floated, but I didn't see anything about a term limit. Is that something that you guys considered at all? >> Um I thought we mentioned you had to >> a year. Well, no, it's for one year, but we have had board reps serve three years, >> maybe. >> Okay. >> I don't think they serve four because though that that would be possible under a new system. >> Yeah. Within the current LACS policy, we allow for only two ter two consecutive terms, but I was just curious if that were something, >> which is interesting because LACS has also served three terms. So accidentally >> I think um IHS has a term because there's always graduated um positions where they have someone coming in that freshman saw. >> If I may clarify, it's not an explicit term
056limit in the policy. It's just a natural one coming from the fact that you have to be in IHS to run. So you you you the earliest you could start is in 10th grade realistically. But under a new system, it is possible that someone could be appointed as a ninth grader if there is an appoint if that is the direction that the high school goes and if there's an appointment process. So I think the question of term limits is a good one and one for us to consider to at least put into the policy or or no term limits because we definitely have had folks from Ethical High School serve three years and folks from LAS serve three years. >> Do they has that h do they like run again though? can get elected >>
057because then we can still like they're not being elected for like three years. They're getting elected for one term. >> So >> I feel like that's still as long as we're >> well I feel like one term requires them to rebrand which feels more important than saying like they can't >> again. >> Are there additional questions about this policy? It's still again this is the first draft. If there are additional recommendations questions folks can email them. um we'll put it on to the June policy committee hopefully for some sort of premier final language to bring back to the board um first meeting in June. I see your line. Yes. >> Um this is just something uh me and Andrew brainstormed as one of our bunch meetings. Um we were earlier thinking about a system with
058a a much more reduced number of board reps sorry of exhibitions overall. So this applies more there. We were thinking about um some form of alternates especially for LACS having only two um that you could have someone who if neither of the members are available to go then at that point they could be um they they could go and that would be one way to pursue attendance which is a big issue policy. We're electing them just we just we kind of just not to say that we've made that just made a final decision but because we're we use rank choice voting it's very it's fairly easy for us to have a planned alternative of simply the next two because we're using a point system for our rank choice. So simply the next two point top
059point holders. >> So we'll we'll consider that as well. I'm sure Emily's taking all the notes. So thank you. All right. But right now, we wanted to introduce it to board members. Given the months of conversation, we know that the policy is not perfect, but it didn't for us it was good enough to at least move the conversation forward. We welcome any and all questions or suggestions moving forward. But for this point time, I will call the question for a first reading to send it back to the policy committee. So, we will call the question all in favor of this policy for a first reading. Fantastic. Thank you all for your thoughtful feedback. Greatly appreciated and we'll bring another version to you. Um the last agenda item for this evening is um agenda item 7.3.
060Is that what it is? Um and it was a resolution for the board organization meeting. This is for first reading, but let me give some caveat. Uh folks are able to see the policy. All we are doing is changing the language in the policy to match New York state law. So, it's more of a requirement than it is anything else. And so, if there is a supermajority vote of the board, we could pass this v this policy um at for adoption. You can we can make a motion to pass it for a first reading and adoption with a supermajority vote of the board. uh we thought that that's a good option given the fact that again this is a requirement that we have to change it not someone trying to say this is what our
061preference may be. So motion >> So motion to approve the resolution for the first reading and adoption of the draft policy title 2210 board organizational second. >> So moved by Jacob, second by Adam. I like the switch. Um discussion, debate, questions about this policy, about the this it's a single sentence that's changed. Uh it used to be just for the community at home who may not be able to see it. Historically, the reorganization meeting had to happen prior to July 7th, July 8th, >> Within the first week of July. Um, now what it states is that uh the reorganization meeting should happen prior to July >> the first Monday following July 20. >> Prior to that, >> prior, right? So, >> prior to the first Monday following this strange, why did you like what was
062there? >> It's New York State. I think um they were finding difficulty. If I'm being real, uh July for public educators, particularly public administrators, is um probably the only time that folks can get a quick break and recognizing that trying to hold folks to a first week during a holiday week was not the smartest move and people were bing difficulties as we have bound difficulties with our schedule as well. So I think that's the real rationale here. So, is everyone's um policy same with that whole word in on the day in July that it's gone on before the Monday after July 28th? >> You know how many times I had to read that? Let me get my calendar. >> I want to thank Emily one for catching that our policy was not up to date.
063And I will tell you uh 99.99997% of the time Emily has pulled directly from whatever New York State is telling us to do. The language was uh as recommended by NISBA directly from the bills passed. >> So Emily 100% of the time will check. >> Additional questions, comments hearing none. We'll call the question. All in favor of adop of first reading and adoption. That is unanimous. That policy is hereby adopted. Uh that is all of our business for this evening. Uh as we know we have a uh facilities finance and audit committee session uh Thursday, right? Um >> a little earlier little earlier >> than normal. A couple of candidate forms coming up um and most particularly the budget vote that's happening uh next Tuesday uh May 19th. >> Yes. Just one quick note for
064anyone looking that um they have child care starting at 5:30, but I believe the PTA council forum starts at 6. Um I think that they both start at the same time as the legend, the PTA council on Wednesday and Thursday. So, >> thank you for that. Fantastic. Uh we encourage everyone to vote. Use your democratic process. We'll uh bring the meeting to a close. Thank you all very much. A two big red for