001Good evening. It is 6:03 p.m. and we're going to call to order the Ethnic City School District Board of Education November 18th special voting meeting. Our first item on the agenda is executive session and we have a resolution and Jacob, I understand that you had a hand in crafting this. >> No, but I will happily read it. I I had some involvement in making sure that our resolution language was as precise as possible. So >> I shouldn't have said no. I should have said close. But um >> would you like to um the proposed resolution? >> Happily. Motion to enter into executive session regarding the board of education of the IT school district to discuss the performance and evaluation of untenured members of the IT teachers association. And I think there's more than that on
002the board does. Um just that's all that's the only thing on board docs for executives. >> I think that's it. >> I know. So second. >> So well read second by now. >> Any discussion on that? >> I will add that we'll be back before seven. Those words have been said before and regretted. >> I hope we're back before 7. >> But I would guess 6:30. But Jesus, >> but we're not back by seven. I'm going to cut off the conversation. So, um, give me a vote on this. So, that was the discussion. All those in favor? >> Okay. Second session session. And we're going to skip over public comments. >> Can we amend it? >> So, we need a resolution to do that or can we just >> Okay. So, we're going to vote
003on modifying the agenda to move item four to later in the meeting and proceed with item five so that we do not have public comment occurring for 700 p.m. >> on the agenda >> to 7 p.m. Okay. Okay. before. So, how about after superintend Do you have >> an hour of comments? >> No. Then we got to move. >> We can amend it a second. >> Amended a second. All right. All right. I'm learning. All right. So, >> I just vote on that. It has to be resolution. >> Vote on it. >> Yeah. Okay. So, we heard >> you guys go ahead. I'm just going to answer. for us. uh to after become uh item 12 before item 12. >> Okay. So to 11.5. >> Sure. Second. >> Okay. >> So, uh, Emily has moved.
004>> Take a second. >> Seconds. Any discussion? All in favor? The agenda is so amended. And therefore, we move to item five, which is the consent agenda. >> I motion to approve all consent agenda items listed in consent agenda. Consideration of accounts, personnel report, students, and minutes at previous meetings as presented. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Moved by Jacob, seconded by Emily. Any discussion on that? All in favor? That passes unanimously. Second agenda is approved. So, we next move to our superintendent, Dr. Brown. >> Thank you for the opportunity, Dr. Uh, two items. Uh the first one I'm looking back through my notes each year um I've had to have a conversation about uh emergency closing and procedures. Uh we were close to having one over the other day. But anyway, uh just
005want to alert folks to our website and I'm looking and our communications team have done a great job of building a web instance specifically dedicated to emergency clothing closing information. um the spaces that we will send that information to, the radio stations, the newspapers that are going to share information about our closings that are listed there. Also, the process we go through and to make that decision. We try our best to make a decision by 6:00 a.m. on a given day. there's a weather forecast or if it's actually it's snowing or raining or whatever it could be, we try to make that decision before 6 a.m. But anyway, I just want to alert folks that we have a web instance that highlights all of the procedures and the information about emergency code including two-hour delays.
006The other item is, and I see Katherine here too, she did an outstanding job on the radio last week or two weeks ago. Um, and I've also had a radio interview. We've been talking about the tentative agreement that we now have with our teachers association. Um there's much information on on our website that folks can access around what we've decided where we intentively reerform. Our team is working and her team is working now to solidify some language we hope at some point to uh bring this thing to closure. So it's it's an ongoing process but there is a tension agreement and some final language being worked on right now. I think those are the two items I have for this evening and simply happen if there were questions I can feel from. Yes, >> I
007think I know the answer, but I'm just asking this in case anybody else is curious. Emergency closing procedures are on their website, but we'll still get text messages and all that. >> Yeah, everything is still in place. No, they're supposed to update the student information system with the most recent contact information. >> Yes. Uh I think that's all I have. All right. So then we move on to No, >> I was >> I thought there was a discussion about maybe um providing any information but >> oh question I are there questions about the tentative agreement and particular question >> and if there were we I can answer those stuff is on the website the live session what we've agreed to specific questions we're here to answer those >> in terms of timeline for agreement. How
008like what does that technically look like? >> Um I'm not sure. >> I can tell you what a tentative the tentative work that we're trying the goal that we're trying to move to at this point is we are hoping to finish up language this week. Um we can if we can finish our language this week get the language to the members of the ITA before Thanksgiving. We our process required us to have a twow week window for ratification voting. So if we can get it to people before Thanksgiving, we'll open that window as soon as we get back on December 1st. We could if we can stick to the timeline of getting language solidified this week. You could be knowing the results of our vote by your meeting on the 16th, but if we don't
009get it done this week, then it's going to Thanksgiving soon delay and we'll backtrack it from there. >> Thank you, Cath. >> Yep. >> That's up to you. Nothing depended upon that vote. >> Yeah. And we have a meeting on Thursday that we're hoping will be the one we can get it all together. >> I'm I'm also curious. So then for like once the um OTAA ratifies in terms of information that like we get like does the um I guess what do I I three questions I think. Um does the contract get looked over by our council? um when would we receive it and then when would we expect a presentation to help us make sense of everything? >> Well, in advance of when you hope to to vote and much of that timeline is
010on you. As soon as we're done here with our language and we get a final contact um in language that we can put it on our council and vet it, we will get it to you and then the rest of the timeline is on the board. >> Okay. So, Okay. So we determine or we ask for a reasonable timeline council is given it to bet and then um I don't in terms of a presentation is that something that will be happening >> we serve the pleasure of the board if you wish for another presentation we can do that for sure >> okay I know like then is that a board question should I raise a motion is there like motion that like in advance of like the vote that we get a presentation on >>
011I would anticipate it would be an agenda item if it's on that. Yeah, if it's an agenda item, we would present and that's something I'm assuming you would talk to board offices about. I think that would be a reasonable thing to do. >> Now, um seems like we only have one board meeting in a votive meeting in December or do we have because we don't have the 30th during school closure. So therefore, Emma the 9th of December December 9th and the 16th >> or the 16th. Oh, >> nine and 16. Oh, 9 and 16 because the 16 is a facilities and finance. So shift and shift. >> Okay. So nine and 16. So by the 16 that's >> and yeah I'm asking my the intention of my questions is I want to make sure that
012we're how does it work in terms of because back pay then happens for the contract, right? So I'm just like I'm just thinking about it sounds like contract effective dates. >> Yes. Thank you. >> We know that or >> Yeah. The attentive agreement include retracted pay going back to July 1, 2022, right? >> Yeah. So it go it will be retroactive to July 1, 2025. >> Cool. >> Thank you. Another question for Dr. Contract the RFP that we did for the demographic studies last year. Yeah. Um and we did secure an entity to review things. >> Yeah. >> When will there be a presentation? >> Yeah, we are we requested a final presentation from a entity be contracted with and we're hoping to have that within the next few weeks and then hopefully then schedule
013time to put that same presentation in front of the board. Our team have not received a final report yet. Um, so we're hoping to get it soon because we wanted to get that in for the board before the 12. >> So, um, so it was embedded in there by November 30th. They have to present. Tell me this is also not an item to bring up now, but I know that what feels like some time ago, we talked about how we were looking into revisiting this location for board meetings. I'm just curious what traction has been made or in determining a permanent space for our board meetings. >> Yeah. Um I would I mean I think it's broad. We've been exploring different options as a team. Um, we have not sent the recommendation, but not >>
014I might have. So, how how would it work for us to because I know like the decision to move the room like this didn't happen. Are you saying that this would be a board who determine a final space or whose division? >> I just don't like living. >> Well, there you have it. We're here and now here now and soon we're not. So we've been looking we've been looking at other options. Um at this point we haven't fig we haven't found a better option or option that we feel like we need to shift towards at this moment. Um and I will say to you as we think through this and as we look at the different options if we have a different recommendation we will share that with the board well in advance. The last
015one was made in probably short order. Yeah. Um and I anticipate the move to any place else other than this phase will be something we talk about quite a bit. That seems right to me. No. Okay. Anything else? All right. So then we move to items 11, the NISSBA conference sharing. Uh we had three board members attend the conference. My understanding is that those three members wanted to report back to the full board. Is that correct? >> So four so Emily and I attended in person. Maline and Karen. >> Oh, four members. Okay. Maline care both attended I know some of the sessions online virtually um virtually. Thank you. Um Emily and I put together a presentation based on what we experienced like during the the full day sessions and then I'm sure if Karen
016and Melan have takeaways and learnings as well they can um if it's okay with you share after we I go through this. Is that okay? Or >> Oh yeah. I mean only if you want to mine go right um Trisha we we prepared a little slide deck I'm gonna set a timer to make sure we don't go more than 10 minutes >> 10 minutes is brief um Karen and I have different definitions of brief um I'm going to I'm gonna look this up later So all right. Um so what we put together was just oh my goodness so many things. We put together I think five takeaways around some of the things we learned from the sess uh from the session. So, one, uh, Emily and I attend multiple sessions, um, and talk to a
017ton of people that emphasize the impact of having a clear multi-year strategic plan where a district outlines vision, specific concrete goals and actions, clear actions to get there. Um, when we spoke to districts because we were really interested in this, um, we found out that generally the planning process ranged from short, what districts described as short, three months, to long, six months. that most district and board goal setting and subsequent decision- making is grounded in that strategic plan. Here's where we're going for years from now and so let's take actions for that today. That therefore board meeting agendas should largely be about monitoring updating the goals set based on the strategic one you know goals around student performance, student experience like teacher retention etc. And that the strategic plan like I like it says at
018the bottom is heavily centered around students. So, as a result of this and I think my earlier conversations with my colleagues, no Trisha, it doesn't work. >> You should be able to >> Aha. So, Sean, while he's not here, um led the led the charge in adding strategic planning to today's agenda. So, hopefully we can begin the process starting with the motion tonight. Are there any other questions, takeaways around this? my colle. All right. So, um the next one was around open meetings. I think um you've probably noticed um we attended a legal session um that emphasized that executive session topics um should actually be very specific in the agenda to prevent um boards from like discussing topics that actually should be part of an open meeting. We learned that many districts and I should
019probably replace many with most overuse executive sessions, use them inappropriately. And so to avoid that um we think that we should have specific language that changes from session to session to match the agenda items. For example, tonight our executive sessions it we're going in to talk about whatever the one specific topic was and that's what you should expect um moving forward from us. So again, we've changed our language um and hopefully to be more specific, still maintaining privacy so that like if we're talking about a specific person, we wouldn't put identifying information, but to be as specific as possible without revealing confidentiality so you know what generally is happening in exact. >> Next thing I'll save this um for when our board reps are actually here. Um the other one was around data. So we
020had many conversations with other schoolboard members and district leaders that talked about the idea of like openly discussing district data and again like teacher recent data, student performance data, student experience data regularly in schoolboard meetings and hearing how the district is working toward clear articulated goals. Um and so the idea was that our agendas when you look at them should match the priorities of the district and have regular check-ins on student outcome. So, we recommend and I'd love to actually hear folks thoughts on this that we have like a recurring monthly item where the superintendent and or his designates like share sort of like district project progress towards goals, strategies that are being worked on and next steps so that we could better center the student experience and student outcomes um in the meetings. So
021because this one I think is probably the most different from water current practices. I just love to hear if anyone has additional thoughts, pushes. I don't know if it's motions just what are our thoughts. Oh, I I've seen at our curriculum meetings that this data presented and discussed and and where we've even um had at board meetings where our data specialists um would present what the survey results were and then there would be a followup let's say that was um requested at one point every three months. So are you with the next steps and the recommendation you're actually stating that we don't have this discussion currently and to have it on a monthly basis. So therefore, we need to find out from the team is a monthly basis having an update like that because um
022throughout New York State now when you said that you've spoken to other school board members what is the size of their district because just to make sure we doing the same comparison enrollment numbers how much data and breadth of data will be talked about and provided. Yeah, I think those are great questions. We we talked with a lot of people um from a lot of different districts and sizes. Um but nobody no one district was the same type of agenda that they were necessarily thinking about which is why it's so critical that we have um it seems like what everybody was doing was building up it off of the goals and priorities that were set for that year. Um, every pretty much everyone that we spoke to had already at this point had set uh
023uh board goals for the year, had set um had worked with the superintendent um to approve uh uh district goals for the year that were all public and all of those things. Um they worked with the superintendent in order to identify however many measures they agreed made sense. And I know that we've already talked to Dr. Brad about these things um or I certainly have um about you know what are the things that we're most interested in and whatever those measures are um about just kind of regularly hearing updates about them about how they're going or how the um the programs or strategies that are trying to influence them are going throughout the year. I would say more often than not in my conversations, it was often um principles that were being asked to come
024and kind of talk about things at a at a um school level. Um and I will say that there were a lot of folks who have been like making adjustments in this throughout the years. So they've always been doing this but found like this is uh this is too generalized. this is too many times to ask principles to come. This is too big. So I think it's like a work in progress, but what we heard consistently was the establishment of those goals early on about making decisions about um having a few measures with which they wanted to kind of um continue to hear about throughout the year um and to establish ways to to do that. >> So to be clear, this isn't a NISBA session you went to. This is just these are anecdotal
025conversations that you had with random people throughout the conference. It's not like a you so you don't really have a data set on what you're sharing. You just said you've talked to people who have shared this. >> So there's no like NISBA stats that you're coming back with this. These are just conversations that you've had >> outside of the actual presentations presented vetted by NISB. >> Yeah. I mean, I would say that if I I know that there's probably some disagreement uh here among some of us, but I think that the value of that meeting to me uh was 9% of that was being able to sit in a room with schoolboard members from all across New York and be able to learn from them about the things that they are doing. They're not necessarily
026the sessions from, you know, a a better >> Yeah. national organization talking about um a topic. I think that some were were much more grounded and hopeful, but I think in general it was an opportunity to sit down and talk to other school board members from across the state and and superintendent and and to be able to learn about what they were doing. >> It's it's understood. I mean, I was at the convention last year. I was unable to attend this year, so I I do understand how it functioned. I just want to like your exciting anecdotal conversations I I think a lot of the NISPA actual convention set I mean they're put on by school districts by board members by educators. So I I I kind of just I disagree with you that the
027total value is from having conversations. Um, but what I want to know is I because we do do a lot of this in our meetings currently and so if we want to completely like I want to kind of talk about this more with more context than what is here because again you're citing anecdotal steps but we have had these very things in many many many of our meetings. >> Yeah. I guess I completely wholeheartedly disagree with that statement. I believe that we have not we have we certainly as as Karen mentioned talk about data sometimes and get great presentations from the district. I don't as as far as the time that I have been on the board I have not been aware of a time that we have taken annual goals that were set talked
028about the me measures with which we were most interested in tracking and regularly checking in on all of them throughout the year. I would like I just to respond to something you said Erin it was through anecdotal conversations I'll also name it was in multiple sessions and as part of my new school board member training at NISPA it was a topic of conversation as well so the strate like strategic planning as far as I could glean from my training and from the session was a frequent topic of conversation and seems to be a widely understood practice that district should engage in not from both the conversations Emily is more sociable than me. People actually enjoy talking to her, but also from the but also from the sessions. >> No, I get I get that, but
029I I would really love some actual if we're talking about sharing data, I want some data points on on on this instead of just anecdotal, right? And I love the idea of sharing data. We get it at our uh you know that's part of the reason we have our um oh my gosh our committee meetings and and it it is on the the committee's chair to bring that to our full board meetings. And so I I love this idea and I think maybe we should think about having our committee chairs, you know, bring that information to the full board meetings, you know, like I I don't creating more meetings. Maybe we condense our meetings and and have more context here rather than the committee meetings. Anyway, >> that's an I I don't it's an interesting
030question about like who would share the data and I'm not sure if the if it would be on committee chairs or >> no not the committee chairs the um when you have your committee the chairs bring whatever information is shared and request that it be part of the agenda item for the full voting board to move it along. I think the one piece about that and I think that many of us talked about this last year and I hope that we continue to improve this process is that the the agendas that are set by committees are not uh are are kind of in the hands of that committee and are not necessarily I hope that they are and I tend to see that they are aligned generally with the goals but they're not the the
031board together are not setting those committee meeting agenda items which may be said um it doesn't nec the data that they're and information that they're getting while incredibly valuable is not necessarily the same chunks of data that the entire board would say that they're most interesting. We were just going to narrow it down to you know three to five of them as we do. >> Okay. Okay. Well, I mean, I think we have uh a recommendation from two board members that can be deliberated in committee and if should be decided, be brought to the full board for consideration. >> When you say deliberated by committee, what do you mean? >> Well, there's no there's no item on the agenda for us to debate. Both this is just a presentation of what you learned at the
032at the meeting and presented it. So uh >> so could I so could I oh well I guess we will discuss um I know later strategic planning is an item and maybe I'll just do a request for an agenda item to discuss this specific element at a later um we have a few more things more than 10 minutes. I'm sorry Karen you were right I was wrong. Um the takeaway five was around cell phone responses. We attended a session on implementing the New York State cell phone ban. It was very interesting. I think there were probably around the to 75 representatives from districts there >> and a lot of the stuff affirmed I think what we do in terms of like you know we had like a clear policy we rolled it out we got
033community input. Um I noted that there was in my mind like a one big difference which was that a lot like districts spoke to success. Um, and it seems to me like the like in the room it was like a lot of districts. Um, like with clear gift then policies for students having out cell phones. They also had a couple people sharing from other states. Um, so for example like if you take out your phone at a school and I'll be curious when you all report out in a little bit. Love to hear your thoughts. um an administrator confiscates it, has a conversation with the student and then a parent guardian needs to pick up the phone and then the process escalates from there combining restorative um measures um which I know is something within
034our policy uh not within our policy but within the practices but also the clear accountability piece for the student and to make sure that the communication with the parent guardian is there. Um, and so I wanted to note that and I mean given that the conference sharing is on the agenda, I would be maybe I should ask like can I get a motion to discuss this topic a little bit more? I don't know a better thing that I do a motion like that. >> No, not not here. >> Sorry. >> Okay. Well, I mean there's a process to put items on the agenda and that's to approach your board president and ask for items be put on the agenda for the next meeting so it can be published and public will know and we'll talk
035about it. >> Okay. >> So I can so I'll then bring it up during the other discussion item >> and and with other agenda >> with regards to this this is a cell phone policy that we now have this is new for this year and it would go back to the policy code we in place. did state that we will visit the cell phone policy with the administrators and hear feedback from the students. They've been giving us updates since too. So it would if there needs to be an adjustment to the policy goes through the process of going back to committee. >> I guess helpful in terms of thought that I also I also felt like like when I heard something that like made logical sense to me and I heard that like a district
036was talking about it given the impact it has on the students. I I feel weird about I just feel weird about holding up until I think the original discussion was scheduled to be in March. But I would feel weird discussing it further without even having feedback from what's going on in our schools because I haven't, you know, I haven't heard much that there are any issues right now. So changing policy and going to an in-depth discussion ahead of that feels um not very productive and I take feelings out of it and put in process for it right what is the process that we have to have discussions and deliberations like this we bring it back to committee where a lot of the work will happen and in terms of policy committee I know like Emily
037and Maline are you you're on if that's something that you feel like you'd be able to address. And I'm also curious just from Emily, I think you had said like there's another way to get topics on the agenda. And so I'm um learning the ropes still being. So can you tell me more about that? >> Well, at the start at the start of a meeting um you can raise a motion to absently add to the agenda. Um you can even do it throughout the meeting. Um if you wanted to add something to the agenda once the agenda had been adopted at the beginning of the meeting um then we then you would just require a super majority vote. Um but there are opportunity there are two opportunities on the day of to um make a
038motion to add something to the agenda. >> I'm sorry to asking things. So like so right now if I wanted to say I like because I I don't know like I don't want to put anyone on the spot like I see someone here who like represents like the principal voice and like in like the the association and so like I would love to hear from people who are here that might have context if they have it that might inform work that the policy committee has but um >> I guess that's the kind of thing where um >> again 100% % make that motion. There would be a discussion um about it before a vote happens and I um and that's where folks can speak on the public sense or I support that and then if
039pass um I'll hold that for now I'll wait until the student board. So speaking only for myself and Karen please chime in as you always are on top of procedures but speaking only for myself I would only want to add items to the agenda if there was a timely nature to them that they had to be discussed that day. The rationale being we try to publish our agendas in advance so the public knows we're going to discuss and the public can decide to attend or not attend based on the published agenda. So uh unless there was a urgency to it, I would resist adding items to the agenda of at the meeting itself. Now with respect to item five, I think we can take the policy committee because there's process in place already to re-evaluate
040the cell phone policy as Karen had reminded us. With respect to item four, it's not clear to me what committee, if any, that would go to. So I will bring that up. I noted already. I'll bring it up with the board president and we'll discuss putting it on a future agenda if that addresses your >> It somewhat does. I think the one thing I would mean is like in my mind the cell phone piece in particular is timely but does when schools like if there were to be an adjustment made which personally I see that benefit to given the conversation at MISPA um then doing it like right after a break is appropriate and so the more timely the better like if there were to be make a change this year. So, I will again
041I'll I will see if it's worth revisiting after like we hear from more people, but I just wanted to I want to highlight that's why in particular I'm thinking it might be useful to discuss sooner rather than later. And I appreciate what you're saying because I agree generally I don't want to add items. I try to email in advance and this is one where I thought on it more. I'm like no like I maybe it is worth discussing. Um the last thing we wanted to share, Emily and my and I and then I know Karen and Min uh there was more was around um student reps of the board and I I know we don't want to wait on that. Um, so we just wanted to say that it was exciting stuff that we learned
042in mitzvah about how some districts have approached student leadership in terms of like starting with opportunities in middle school and the high school being actively cultivated by like principles, board of education and superintendent sort of leading towards a focused group of student reps to the board who like take on more projects policy related um with their boards. Um, and so I know that's something that Emily will be advocating for um, discussing in the policy committees and because they're already talking about June reps, that is why it doesn't feel like a necessary agenda item right now. It's just something we wanted to make the public aware of fellow colleagues. And that is that for our presentation that was totally just five minutes. So that anything you wanted to share? >> Well, I I attended virtually um
043to make sure we totally lose anybody from anyone who attended. So, I was able to um hop on to some sessions and what I appreciated about the virtual because I heard about I attended in person last year and I heard from others who attended virtually last year that it wasn't that good and they definitely improved and NISVA is New York State School Board Association just for those who may not know that acronym. So for us as school board members this was a professional development opportunity to attend and there was one session on achieving dignity for all where the keynote speaker quoted Dr. Martin Ming Jr. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. And that resonated because um your last slide you had about civility and we saw that in some schoolboard meetings
044that it can get heated and we have experienced that here. I know I definitely have experienced that here. So I appreciate that um um Dr. Brown had welcomed like the culture of love to this district um some years ago and and the student group um students have at the high school one of your um clubs letters of love. I don't know if you are aware of the because I would always try to scan like what clubs are happening at um at the high school and letters of love where they're writing letters to people in nursing home people shut in and being pen pals and and and here it is where using the term love and as Dr. Martin Luther King had said only love can um drive out pain. So, it was just a reminder
045for me and I had shared with um Emily and Jacob and Meline like my takeaway from that first day uh at the Misa conference and they talked about um co-ops with our nutrition program and building bridges and not barriers and they also did a virtual Jeopardy and too bad I didn't sign on to that early enough because I did get a few answers right. So, Why am I not surprised? >> Not really a Jeopardy fan. So >> I think you're getting the questions right. >> Yeah, especially Robert's Uber Water. So >> So overall, it was a good virtual session. >> Anyone who's interested, the session, it was like an organization called the Dignity Index. They just had a really interesting framework. Uh, it made me feel proud to be involved in like local politics and
046civics where I think there's like so much more of an opportunity to actually get to know people, understand differences and opinion and like not um not judge people, not put people into buckets where it's easy to demonize or glorify folks um like happens nationally and maybe statewide a bit. Um, too bad. I just want to add one more thing just to clarify since we were talking and I you know I kind of pushed back and so just there are more than 700 school districts in so when I kind of push about you know anecdotal and more than 700. So I I really do want to have this conversation. It's not that I disagree with having a concrete plan and reviewing these things, but I really want it based on more than anecdotal conversations when there
047are more than 700 school districts in the state. And like the small fraction of of people that represented those is so minute there that anecdotal is not enough for me to base changing the way that we do things. So I really want to review that more deeply with you and have those conversations in a board development session and really work through it. Right. But my push back came from that like but thank you. >> I will I will add to that and thank you Erin. there. Um there is a book about um uh effectively effective school boards and how to run and effective school boards that um both Jacob and I um are reading right now. And there were two different school districts that we met out of the 700, but there were two different
048ones that spoke about having a book club based off of that book and have been reading it. Um, and a lot of the things that we spoke about are also uh topics of that book. Um, and so it might be an opportunity for for all of us to look at it and discuss and certainly not all positive or negative things, but um, things that will allow us to kind of talk about them and and there are things in there that are useful. >> And as you said with um, book reading too because we've had um, Dr. Brown always say the will of the board and he's introduced book to the boards older than me to it and provided. So if we um choose to do that as a board you buy a book while we
049were >> I said I was going to buy a book. >> Not what I can honestly the book is a better read than Robert's rules of order but >> I was going to say is that something that we need a motion for? Can we get a copy of it? >> I would I think it would be a real I think it would be an excellent >> it Yeah, I think it would speak to a lot of um Erin like take a little bit from like what you described with our with the anecdotes and make it a little more universal. It's written by someone who's like done a ton of work with school boards >> and spoke up in the conference a few years ago. I I motion to move the the items that have previously
050been moved and also post to wait until um after fall given that it >> I am going to undo Emily's motion. >> I'm just kidding. I don't do we need to do that. I feel like we should get into public. >> You want to move resolution? I >> you want to make a motion? >> I was going to make a motion to move under four uh uh from where we put them after number 11 and 412 and move them up to >> right now after 11.1. >> After 11.1. So Garrett, you have to um ask for a motion to amend the motion. >> Yeah. Uh we could do that or we these are all proforma. We could just knock these out in about 2 minutes. Uh cuz I have nothing to say on any of
051the remaining item 11 action items. So unless someone feels strongly why don't we just knock these out of the way and then we can jump straight to item five. >> What that means? Yes. Thank you. So, for the folks who just came in, uh, we had an executive session that started at 6:00. It normally goes to 7:00. We actually came back at 6:30 early, which never happens. Uh, it's the first time that I've been on the board. So, rather than just have a half an hour of unfilled time, we jumped ahead to a few items. Some of these are procedural. Uh, items 11, we just finished 11.1, which was a report on the New York State School Board Association conference that four board members attended. Uh my preference if the board agrees is to to
052continue to just knock out the items in section 11 and then we will jump back to uh item five or rather item four which is the receiving and hearing a delegation specifically public comment and schoolboard student reps. So can we just knock through the remainder of section 11? So 11.2 two is a resolution to appoint a board member to the New York State School Board Association advocacy uh appoint a school board member as the New York State School Board Association advocacy liaison. Is there any board member who would be interested in doing that? So I just, you know, I got a I think as a result of again being hazed by that um legislative meeting, the six and a half hour meeting, they then emailed me from NISPA about how there is an advocacy on
053the program. Um that sort of like becomes a point of contact for governmental relations. Um I had emailed Sean about it to say while I am not I'm not like hellbent on it, I would certainly be happy if no one else wanted to do it to do it. and he said that it seemed like an appropriate thing to raise for the board to see um just like to discuss and see if anyone is interested. >> Okay. So, is that a self nomination? >> No. Yeah. So, I mean, so I'm curious if anyone wants to do it. >> Okay. So, we could then replace the language of 11.2 to with motion to appoint Jacob Shiffran as the official NISBA New York State School Board Association advocacy lead for the Ethica City School District Board of Education
054for the 2025 2026 school year. >> I don't think you said >> I I wanted to see if there was anyone else who wanted to do it. >> I'm looking. In that case, I'm happy to do it all. Well, I'm gonna I guess I should uh >> I motion to appoint Jacob Shiffron as the official NISBA advocacy liaison for the IPA city school district board of education for the 2025 2026 school year. >> I second. Okay. >> Moved by Aaron, seconded by Karen. Any discussion on that? >> Just that Jacob will remove Higgins from the >> I would use that for the rest of >> Thank you. >> All those in favor that passes. Thank you, Jacob. Strategic planning. Would anyone like to move safety plan? >> Oh, sorry. Safety plan. Would anyone like to
055move the language there? I move to direct the district clerk to prepare and publish legal notice of public hearing for districtwide safety plan at 400 pm on January 6, 2026 in the boardroom of the district admin administration offices of Ithaca City School District. >> Second. >> So moved. Seconded by Jacob. Any discussion? All those in favor? That passes. We move through 11 for these move to approve a resolution that the board of education of the Ithaca City School District hereby authorizes the superintendent or designate to develop one or more request for proposals or RFPs seeking professional service entities to support and or facilitate a strategic plan as they relate to future direction of the ICSD the school district resolved that the board of education of the IPA city school districts hereby authorizes Wait I don't
056yeah thank you that's second >> okay so um some discussion I would just translate that to for the public what that means is that we're going to put together a proposal to request outside groups to we're going to put together an announcement that would request or suggest or open ourselves to outside groups to make a proposal to the school district to help us with drafting a strategic plan. Did I say that right? >> Right. >> Okay. So, is there any discussion on that? >> Yeah. Um I would just like to uh recognize that um there are many things there are many ways for strategic planning processes to happen. Um and so I don't know exactly um I want to make sure that at some point before that there there's discussion and input from the board
057and collaboration with Dr. Brown before the RFP is finalized to make sure that um there's uh that we are all in agreement about the kind of support that we are actually looking for. I know that we as a board have had discussions in the past that have referenced two or threeyear processes for strategic planning. I know that as Jacob mentioned, we heard about processes that took, you know, three to six months. Um, and so just recognizing that there are many, many different ways of going about this. And so part of um my voting yes for this is also recognizing that we are going to have those number discussions about exactly what it is that we're looking for um before the RFP is finalized and um >> so I don't want to put words in your
058mouth but I'm going to guess that Dr. Brown would draft some language and then share it with the board and that we would have some agreement on that. more proposal request for proposal went out. Is that >> I would add we would I would be suggesting a process that's similar to the most recent RP proposal sent out. We did one for banking services. We've done one for the consolidation service. Uh and each one of those we uh drafted language and we put it in front of the board committee at that time but we conducted put in front of the entire board for feedback on the draft of the RP the announcement and then once it's announced then we include the board in the selection process and so forth. So we have a template for this
059process. We can even run the template for the process by before we make any um next steps here. >> And I thought this I'm not interested in the template, but I'm interested in seeing it when I when >> Okay. So again, I kind of bungled that, but the RFP is request for proposal. So this would be the district putting together announcement requesting that outside groups could propose to us their services and helping us guide us through the process of strategic plan except better that >> all right so all those in favor no session okay that passes >> um I'm sorry I didn't get the second >> it was moved by Aaron seconded by Jacob thank you which brings us to the last item 115 athletic merger with Edwell Aaron, >> I move to approve the
060athletic merger with Maine and well for varsity girls ice hockey for the 2025 2026 season. >> I think that's a typo. Season, not session or session. Does it matter? >> I'll say session. >> Season >> um I'll make a friendly amendment that would say season uh instead of session. >> Well, in boards. Okay. Okay. So um moved by Aaron as written in board docs with season and seconded by Jay is there any discussion of this? All those in favor that passes. So we've now moved through uh all the item 11 items and then at the amended agenda we're come back to item four which is public comment. So we have uh one person who's signed up. Uh usually Adam reads the names. Um, Adam here all read the names. There's only one. >> Jake could
061read the name. >> Jake, you want to read the names? >> There you go. >> You have one. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Um, Beverly Tan. Um, speak to us. >> Oh, hi. >> Uh, my name is Beverly Tan. I'm a social studies teacher at IHS. I'm also the adviser to the IHS reps over here, which is why I've been here ever since. Um, I wanted to take this opportunity actually to thank you guys for a couple of things that have been on my mind the past couple of months. Um, I've spoken a couple times. I wanted to thank you all for your part in getting to a tentative agreement with our ITA. Um, I want to thank you and especially Todd Fox who's not here at the moment. Um, for all the moments of transpar transparency
062in the process. I know teachers and the public always wish there could be more. But I just wanted to thank you guys for the moments of clarity that really helps us see what's happening on the other side because I think in in all the struggle back and forth. I think that's really all we could really ask for uh in the process. Um I also want to thank Melan Cardona as well. Thank you for coming yesterday to meet with our student reps. Um taking time out of your day to meet with them and to talk about student reps and the future of that. I just really appreciate that. Um the bulk of what I actually wanted to talk about is to express my gratitude for is actually professional development um offerings that we do have for
063teachers and staff. I actually didn't know I was going to speak today until 400 p.m. Um because I was just talking to a colleague and we were expressing gratitude about all the different PDs that we've done that we've really enjoyed. So, for example, AVID training that I did with my ninth grade PLC has been really integral when it comes to building the supports I have for my ENL students. um pine training that I did over the summer um really reaffirmed for me that all people struggle with executive function and that my husband with ADHD found it really fascinating as well and also helped me reaffirm the idea that a spectrum is not a line but more so a wheel and there's different factors and we all have different strengths and different weaknesses on that. Um
064so I'm just saying like these trainings have really changed my perspective. Um TCIS training when I took it I took it twice. I was going to send you guys an email u but I forgot. Um for those who don't know it stands for therapeutic crisis intervention for schools training and it is hands down the most helpful training I have ever done and I tell everyone all the time. I've done it twice and has impacted not only the way that I interact with students but it has been the foundation for how I handle all hard conversations all conflict resolution with all my professional and personal relationships. So it is the best thing ever. Please never let it die. Please keep talking. Please please please. Um but also the main thing I wanted to thank you for
065is also credential strands that you have promoted for the will be soon four years that I've been here in the district. Um I loved that you made it a hu part huge part of orientation for new teachers in the district and making um us go through that process. Um uh for anyone listening that don't know um the cultural and linguistically responsive micro credential strands very long um are specific professional development opportunities that the district offers staff in the district to and they build upon each other. I think there's four um and it builds our ability to be anti-racist, inclusive, culturally responsive and student- centered adults um not just teachers, right? Like all adults and staff that work with the children in our community. And strand number one is the identity strands which ask us to
066take a closer look at ourselves and it's been some of the most vulnerable bonding experience I've had with colleagues. I'm so sorry. Um I'll I'll wrap this up but um I've taken the PD three times now. I've done the presentation twice and I'm actually going to be leading it as a facilitator come after Thanksgiving. Um so honestly it has it has changed me as built the way that I I interact with everyone. I've done the curriculum anti-maralization curriculum planning um sess uh session twice now and have integrated it into my curriculum. All I'm trying to say is thank you uh for any other staff listening please come Thursday. It starts the next session is Thursday uh December 4th after Thanksgiving break for the identity strand. Um thank you for the PD, thank you for the
067micro credentials. Thank you for everything. Please keep them coming. Thank you for all the offerings and just more more more more please. Nice to meet you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else? >> Seeing no hands, I'm going to invite the the board and Dr. Brown should you wish to respond if there's any responses. >> Thank you for sharing. >> Thank you. I I can't thank you enough because there we have so many professional development offerings and I I don't we don't get enough feedback and I know how much work goes into offering them. So I really appreciate hearing about this and I think too for students to hear like that lifelong learning piece for lifelong learners and to hear how excited you are about what you're learning. Thank you. Yeah, I'll just also add
068Thank you. Obviously, um it's always refreshing to have someone come up and speak positively about things in the district and I wish Mary was here. >> Oh, no. This whole time I'm like, God, I wish Mary was here. So, thank you, Mary, for your leadership and in making sure that everyone has access to all of this great um professional development. Um, I will say that I have heard the same thing about TCIS from training from so many teachers and I know that I've talked to Mary about this as well and I wish that it was 100% required of every single teacher um that teaches in this district. I'm pretty sure that there are contract issues that make it so that that's not possible. I'm not even I'm pretty sure. that I feel like it without
069question that every single teacher should should be required to take that training and I'm thrilled to hear that you took it more than once because that means that you get new things from it every time they can change it. So, thank you for at least being an advocate for it um throughout our district. >> Okay. Well, thank you for the feedback and I'm glad that the leadership team is also here to hear that. Thank you. So we now turn to our student uh board reps. >> Yeah. Um hi everyone. Before we start I want to mention that one of our student rep Louis couldn't be here due to elements and I would like to start by sharing that winter sport officially start yesterday and student are excited as team begin their practice for the new
070season. We're also really happy to see that our girl wrestling team has grown a lot, increased from four member last year to around 14 member this year. And our quarter one ended two weeks ago and this Friday our school will hosting our PL festival with snacks, games, sport activity and movie area for student to enjoy. We have also been working on to send out a whole school email so the student can learn more about their student reps and probably get in touch. Thank you. >> Uh so last week we were invited to the policy meeting to work on some policies about exeicio board members. Um and so all of the board reps from IHS and then Julian came to that um and we got to some we got to have some really meaningful discussion I
071think and um we got some homework to survey students and we'll be releasing that soon. I think Jing is working on that. Um, Jacob, to answer your question, our school does have a pretty clear phone policy. Like I we do have one of those like if then policies. Um, but it's not really enforced. Like I there's teacher or there's I mean that's anecdotal. That's just from my experience. But um sometimes when I'm in class someone will have a phone out and the teacher will say, "Put that away, but that's it." And I mean oftent times that works, but it's not following the policy that the school does have. And that that's my experience with it. But um we're also releasing the we're re-releasing the phone survey um that I presented to you guys before. We're
072re-releasing that um starting somewhere in the beginning of next year. Um next year is in 2026 in January um to get some more data and then get some comparisons. Um, so I I talked a few meetings ago about um some issues in 504's IP and disability justice in our school and I had a lot of admin and board members reach out to me. Um, Aaron, uh, Margie Sha, Miss Grover, um, all all reach out to me and I really appreciate that. I actually met with Miss Shaw and I had some really meaningful conversation and we talked about um, ways that things are going to improve in our school and I I I just really appreciated that and I want to thank you guys all for that. Um, other than that, uh, all county band is
073starting this Friday. We're sending a lot of students. Um, it's two days of rehearsal. So, uh, we've had our music for about a month to work on alone. And then we'll go and rehearse at Dragon High School for two days. And then our concert is, um, at 2 p.m. uh, on Saturday at Dragon High School, if any of you would like to come to that, um, our model UN team went to Rochester, not this last weekend, but the one before. Uh we won 12 awards which is pretty good. Um and it's the largest cohort we've brought in years. Um roughly 50 people. Um and then our my last thing is we're all going to be leaving a little bit earlier around 8 uh 8:15 because we have multiple tests tomorrow. So that's it for me.
074>> Hey guys, as you guys know, we did come in and try to help write the policy or try to fail to write the policy and then come back with a lot more data. But um we did have the pleasure of hosting Miss Cardona um on Monday with uh Miss Arnold and we're deliberating about the possibility of having a board rep kind of mentor us throughout this process since we already have Miss Arnold and Miss Tan who are all in building staff and maybe we could get someone else with a different perspective to expand and like have us pose our questions before we come to the board with them. And then um we just like thank you for coming. It was great to have um someone to give questions to. And then um we're doing
075the board rep election form and we're sending that out next Monday. So that'll be like what kind of um election process do you want to see? Um what do you think are the most important traits of being a board rep? And other questions so that we can help draft the policy um for next year. And then just a little bit about the cell phone policy. So, um, us as student reps, we have not really seen anybody use their pouches. Um, of course, we're waiting on the data to give us substantial evidence for that, but just from our experience, not a lot of people are using pouches. And also, I think uh, Miss Arnold said that a lot of the teachers are also reporting that um, students have been taking their phones out more in class.
076And then um, lastly, Code Red is doing their coffee fundraiser. So, if you guys love coffee or um love robotics, you guys definitely come support us. And we've raised uh $4,500 so far out of our $10,000 goal um during like the mid week of like fundraising. But yeah, >> yeah, I guess I'll apologize on my behalf first for being a bit late to the meeting. Um like never in my mind did it occur that executive session would end half hour. So, I apologize for that. And on behalf of Bo and Emily, Bo is actually still at LACS for tech week managing the LACS Shakespeare show and Emily is as she described it I think in the depths of a cold. So she so she's also absent today. Um I guess first though, first and foremost,
077I'll start with talking about the ITA. We are really really happy to hear about the updates from the ITA and from the district around the contract situation and we were really so pleased to hear the tenative contract agreement was reached like that. The school was truly so happy to hear that uh like we we the students of LAS we continue support the ITA and our amazing teachers in in attempts to continue to reach that final contract goal. So we can be done and we can move forward uh teaching, learning, doing everything rather than than having to worry about this. So I guess in the words of Beverly Stan, uh like thank you for that transparency and and for working with everybody to to get to get to this point and we hope we can keep
078moving forward as a student body. Um couple couple things as well. I just mentioned boats at LACS right now managing the helping uh manage the text week for our LACS Shakespeare show that's coming up this weekend. We'll be having at the Bo auditorium. It'll be on set 700 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Sun Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Again, we love it to see any board members come to that. It'll it's much to do about nothing. It's one of my personal favorite Shakespeare. It was my sixth grade show actually and it'll be a lot of fun. at the winter the LACS winter carnival is coming is coming up. If you don't know, it's one of our largest fundraising events of the year. It's where we gather the entire community in the school. We have
079events uh like our concert and talent show where uh my my trip in particular be holding a silent auction. Uh we in the past years we've had boats get auction everything from boats to gift cards to food everything. Um, like we actually had the food, super definitely the best homecooked food you'll find in all all in one place. Um, or if you really feel like you can come throw a pie at the teacher, we have that one. Uh, it'll be December 12th at 5:30. Again, we love it. If anybody if anybody came said hi, um, you might be able to throw a pie at me, too. Um, a couple quick hits as well. Same with IHS, our uh, second cycle, second quarter that just started. That al that brings new projects mainly. Um, a few
080highlights are the ice skating project down at Cass Park and the mock trial team which are getting back back up and running again. Um, again, but this type in particular, we have a focus on community service project. It's kind of more than we usually do in the spirit as a school that is focused on community service. Um, a couple examples are we we have students volunteering in elementary school classrooms throughout the district reading the students. We have a lot of students in the Bosey's early childhood program. They participate in that. They're working with a lot of students hands-on there. And we we also have students helping run the immaculate conception and TCA food pantries along with organizing our own food pantry at LCS which we're running monthly at this point. Um as well as the
081open doors to English program where uh LAS students go to their go program. They work with non non-native English speakers to help learn English just through conversation, through interaction. And it's been a those those connections like going out into the community more. Those are really valuable experiences for us. And honestly, all those programs are really good. I've done a few of them. And we're having a great time pretty much. I don't really have much else more. Um I I was going to mention uh last last week's or yeah last week's meeting around that but I I think like Judah and Jing did a good job summarizing that. If you have any questions on our policy for reps or out the book so thank you. >> Okay board responses. Well, thank you as usual for coming
082and bringing such great information. Um, I'm excited to hear that you all are sending out an email and um, sharing a little bit more about your role as board reps and ways to get in touch. Um, it'll be interesting if that um, if that brings any new new responses or new people to the floor. So, that's very exciting. And thank you all for uh, coming to the policy committee meeting. Um, I think there's lots of great discussion and appreciate all of your ideas. Um, I think there's so many opportunities to um to better use the time that we have together and to also strengthen a program that's already very strong and and doing a lot of really wonderful things for all of us. Um it did get me thinking about the value of you all
083spending time in um committee meetings um and how one opportunity of being able to kind of split up the work. I'm throwing out ideas that we should have talked about the other day was like thinking about how like sometimes you come to like a committee meeting and sometimes certain things because having discussions like we had the other day that's where like a lot of the like needy discussions um happen and so being able to get your input on those um would always be really valuable. So, I know that you guys are incredibly busy, but keep an eye on the agendas and if there's something that comes up in any of the committee meetings that looks really um interesting or engaging or that you feel like you have a perspective to bring, please please let us
084know um ahead of time so that we know that you're coming so that we can plan to engage you in those discussions because we appreciate all of your input. Um, uh, it sounds like we need another, uh, presentation, um, with updated information about cell phones, uh, from the district kind of related to your questions. um you um and just I I've heard anecdotally about I'm curious about how effective the um uh the tracking has been in Canvas school tool in school tool about how much time I'm sure that it is a burden on teachers to even think about having to go into school tool and kind of report or if it's even them that are doing it. I bet a lot of that's getting lost and I want to make sure that we're finding a
085way that we're getting accurate data about how many times teachers are just kind of giving up or having to talk to kids um in class before they like call in the administrator which um is part of the actual um the actual plan that's put forth. So, um I'm not going to make a motion about anything, but I'll just kind of say out loud that sure would be great if we had some administrators come sometime soon, chat with us about that, but we'll follow up about that. Um and that's it. Actually, thank you guys. And I'm going to try to bring my kids to the winter carnival. That sounds like a lot of fun. I just want to say thank you, but let's uh zip it so you guys can go home and study. >> Yeah.
086Um certainly welcome to stay, but I'd also invite you if you want to get home and start studying. We don't want to touch being a board of education. We don't want to stand in the way. I would just add to uh get I'll let it up. You're on me all night, too. Okay. Well, if there's nothing further, then I believe we have covered up to item 11, so we jump into section 12, which is other business. Uh, Trisha, do you want to just talk through upcoming dates for board meetings? >> Yes. Um, with thanks be Thanksgiving being next week, we are having our HR meeting tomorrow that starts at 5:00 pm in the boardroom. And on Thursday, we're having facilities and finance at 5:00. So, it's a busy week. >> Okay. So, on other discussion
087items, I'm just going to note again that I've uh we'll bring up with the board president the uh item five and four uh Jacob and Emily in your presentation. That is so noted. And beyond that, are there any other discussion items for future meetings? >> Uh, a presentation on cell phone data. >> With that a disc I mean and with that I'm I'm I'm curious to raise the discussion around the measures taken when cell phones come out. They're addictive devices and I'm just uh I'm worried that our I am curious how we can make our measures adequate so that the natural tendency of all things to fall towards this order gets reversed. But that's just part of what I'm like saying. Can I request one more agenda item in the future and have the session
088forward? I want to request 10 more items now. Um so I um it it came to my attention that in the school district we don't have um limits around screen time for elementary schoolers. um that is like there isn't um a you know students should not independently be on devices in K through2 for more than 30 minutes or 60 minutes um which I'm imagine they are not on devices in the vast majority of classrooms for that long but it concerns me um I'm curious to get information about how long we believe it be is too long for young students to be on devices and what if any policy remedies um we might want to have about them. So I would love to see that as an >> okay so those are both noted and we
089will um discuss one's the best way uh to bring those about and I guess the latter one probably we could consider putting booking committee but we'll have a discussion about that. Um, so if there is nothing else, can't believe I'm saying this. Let's just make this 7:38. I'm noting the time. >> So that brings us to item 13, which is adjournment. >> All right, we're journal.