001Uh thank you everyone for the October 7th uh policy committee. Uh we will begin with public comment if there is public. >> Uh we have Nancy Braun who would like to speak. >> Do I need to use a microphone or we don't have a microphone in here? Well, there's a microphone there but you can project. >> Okay. My teacher voice. Okay. >> Um thank you. I'm Nancy Braun and I am kindergarten teacher. Um so I have a question um for the policy committee. It's about policy 5140 the entrance age um for students or for kindergarten I guess specifically. Um, it looks like it was adopted in 2013 and it was last reviewed uh 2017 and it's it's simply children who reach their fifth birthday on or before December 1st of the year of metriculation are
002entitled to attend school and may be admitted to kindergarten. And then it, you know, talks about proof of age. Um, so I guess I just I would love um I know that the policy committee is doing a lot of work and a lot of reviews. So just as a kindergarten teacher, I would love just some when we get to it updated thinking on um the policy, what research says. I mean, I've been doing a little bit of my own research. Um, uh, and obviously I have my lived experience as a kindergarten teacher. Um, and so I would just love, um, to request another review of this, the research, um, and what sort of the guiding principles, you know, should you, you know, keep it the same or make any changes, what guides the thinking? Um,
003I've already communicated through the curriculum committee meeting. We talked about having listening circles and um, I I specifically said I'd love to have an early childhood one. I'd love to have more conversations about how we start our kids off in ICSD. We talk a lot about, you know, graduation and and how they how they finish out, but um, I'd love to have some conversations about how we can set them up for success at the very beginning. Um, so that's just a request that we, you know, embark on looking at that when it gets into the policy. >> Well, thank you. >> Thank you. >> I think uh New York, sorry, New York State, I think, is one of Committee. >> Oh, sorry. No, go ahead. >> I'm wonder Go ahead. Go. Uh New York State
004is one of only like four states in the c in the country that um sets their kindergarten cut off date at this odd time in the middle of the year around December. Almost every state um sets it sets it around October I mean August September sometimes like October 1st. Um so it's pretty rare. Um but in New York State is is one of those um states that does that. There's, you know, endless amounts of research um on the benefits or drawbacks to sending it at certain times throughout the year um and or whether parents choose to register their kids, meaning keeping them back a year um if they're right around that cuto off date. um to for the most part that research has not been conclusive enough on one way or the other um for
005states to often like make a shift in that in the policy. Um it really is even more like they find it different for like kids who have um birthdays in like January to March. It's like different than for kids in like other parts depending on what it is. Um, so I don't know like how much leeway we have in um beyond the state the statemandated policy. >> Yeah, I think my first response would be to take a look at the law that's listed here and see if there is any leeway whatsoever. Um, it's still always worth the conversation and the questions. Um, and it does remind me we used to have an early childhood advisory council uh that I want to say ended just after CO. um then it may be time to reconsider that
006group again trying to coordinate a number of community organizations, a number of community efforts around early childhood education. And so um it may not impact the policy as Emily stated giving New York State Law um but it doesn't mean we can't engage in other dialogues and conversations about how best to bring our youngest ones into our district. Right? I mean that's part of what I've heard. So um we'll put on an agenda just to have the conversation. We'll reach out to our legal counsel and see if they have any input. See if any I I'm going to again assume it's New York State law. Um but we can we'll ask questions at the very least. And I think I'll find I can find the report and send it your way. The Early Childhood Advisory Council
007uh presented to the board about their work um that they did during that time and I'll forward it that your way. It may or may not be helpful, but at least provides a little bit of context to some of the conversations folks have had in our community. >> It's really a nice feature that the on the policy page, it had the links to the New York ED law and I actually saw some contradictory stuff. So that's why I thought we >> Thank you, Nancy. Thank you for your work as well. We follow any you have respons. Any other public comment? >> No. >> Great. Great. Uh, next agenda item is approval of the minutes from the September 8th meeting. >> Goodbye you Maline or Goodbye you Emily. >> Yeah, >> I will abstain have not
008been in attendance. >> Um, we also have August. >> Yes. >> Is it fit? >> Yeah, I think I shared that with you last night. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What was the reason I think? >> Yeah. >> I'm good with all this I read. >> Fantastic. Good. All right. This will bring us to our discussion items um and possibly important items for the day. First is the safety plan. We have Dan Briman here to join us. Uh we know we say it all the time, but I'm saying it knowing that we're are we recording in this space as well? Yeah. um that it is a requirement to review the safety plan every year. We post it up on our website so everyone has access to it. And in addition to the district safety plan, each
009school building has a safety plan as well. Uh but we make modifications as we hear feedback from folks and as things change and regulations change. So >> Sure. >> Dr. Briman, what do you have for us? >> Um I'm going to share some of the updates, acquired updates from the state. I know I did this last time, but I also wanted to give you time to look it over and let me know if you have any suggestions. So, we received a few memos this year um to update our safety plan um and we have some new standards for drills, emergency planning and communication. Um the state's moving uh towards trauma-informed drills um and they want to create unnecessary stress for students and take into account emotional needs of students and staff. and and the way
010they the way that we're doing that, we're following this uh through the state is we're working hard to have advanced notification of all of our drills to parents and guardians. Um so there's no confusion so everybody knows that a drill is a drill. For example, the high school had a lockdown drill on September 30th. They sent advanced notification about that. And um of course when we're doing our drills, we always say this is a drill. Uh, and that that's the next thing, clear identification of drills. When we say our drills, we say it's this isn't a real emergency. This is a drill. We don't say that for our classic evacuation drills um per the state. We just want pe and because of that, we want uh the reason we're doing that is we want people
011to practice leaving the building as fast as possible and and and working on that. Uh other things that have happened that the state have asked has asked is labeled floor plans. Um there's also uh some different um terminology used for our shell which is our uh shelter in place, hold in place, evacuation, lockdown and lock out. So there's some changes in the language there and we'll be updating those in our documents that we send to all uh buildings. Um, I've already provided a safety update for our administrators and for all our um, administrative assistants in all our buildings as well. Um, and some other things that we're including, something new that we're including in our safety plan this year is the extreme heat and emergency response. Um, that's another thing. Um uh when it reaches
01282° um we are to take uh certain measures where we uh turn off overhead lights, lower shades, operate fans, open doors. Uh we actually and if we know if we know hot weather is coming, we do it the night before uh just to make sure we bring in the cool air at the night so that the building is uh cool when it reaches 88 degrees in our instructional spaces. Um uh and so the language has changed. Um Governor Hokll's new language says relocated to core areas whenever practical. >> It's it was at first I'm I'm sure you remember but at first it was a mandate but now uh language has been added that includes whenever practical. And to be honest, uh when um last year when some of our spaces were reaching uh these temperatures,
013probably in the last few weeks of school, some of the classrooms uh didn't want to move or it was not practical for the classroom to move. So we did is we just brought in uh fans and other other things to make the space cooler. Um, also, um, there's an interesting way to, uh, change to, uh, the state wants us to take the temperature 3 feet off the ground using a psychrometer. I was say, um, which >> I'll have to ask Google. >> I was on a roll. I was on a roll. >> Um, so, um, we have each one of these devices in our schools. We've trained each one of our custodians and that's how we'll take the temperature. Of course, we're also monitoring the temperature in all the classrooms using our it's called the
014continuum and that lets us know uh the temperature of each classroom. Um those are the major updates for the safety plan and and that's as fast as I can get through them. Um they're on page number six. So that's what I'm doing every year. I'm just putting uh an update page. Let's see. >> Oh, I So page number six outlines the changes that are >> correct. >> Um Dan, two questions before we ask some additional ones. >> One, um and talking about this new temperature measurement system. Yeah. >> Um are we logging temperatures anywhere? Like is there >> Well, actually uh yeah, we um uh before I asked Petrtech to to give us a year of temperatures in all of our spaces and do a historical um heat mapping literally of all our spaces and
015we do have that data and I've shared that data um uh with our administrators. Uh really it shows us that we just have to look out for September and August. Those are two or not August, I'm sorry. Uh June rather, but towards the end of June in the last uh three weeks, um we can see what rooms uh get the hottest. It's always the second floors, right? It's upper G and upper H, but we're not going to have uh the same problem with upper G&H because now we have 400 tons of cool air that we can move anywhere within the high school. And we're going to send it to G&H uh first because that's our highest. Gotcha. Two more quick questions to that. Um, one a comment is I assume that historically, yes, it's been
016June and, uh, September, but we just had an 85 degree weather day in October, >> right? >> So, we know that those things are changed. I'd be curious about that. Um, I know there's some confusion amongst community folks uh, and just in general about this particular mandate that there's an sort of an expectation that we must we must cancel school or we must remove folks from the classroom. But the language of the mandate is a little more vague than that and just requires steps and actions be taken. Is that >> That's correct. Yeah. I think when uh Governor Hok added the language of um if if classroom spaces reach 88 degrees staff and students will be relocated to cooler areas whenever practical. I think when we say whenever practical it it changed the mandate also
017in the uh it's only educational it's only instructional spaces so our food you know there's some carveouts for kitchens and other other areas as well. Now, that's not to say that we wouldn't make steps or make changes, right? Understand that's not a good situation for educators or >> um and then lastly on the safety plan. Um and I'm sure my board colleagues have some questions as well. We've had a couple of incidents over the past week and a half of uh for lack of better possibly swatting but threats that have come uh through regional districts being allocated. Can >> um I know some of that is outlined in the safety plan. Can you >> is it possible for you to walk us through what happens when the district receives a threat? Why? Um, so I
018I worked uh very closely on the threat that happened this week and immediately when we received it, I called our contacts at the IPD leadership and I asked uh Captain Schwarz uh to um send an officer but to also uh start working on evaluating whether it's a credible versus noncredible threats. Um uh the officer uh was here within a few minutes. Um, I gave him the report and a few minutes after he left, um, uh, IPD leadership, uh, command was able to tell us pretty quickly was a not credible threat. >> Um, because of that, uh, credible versus noncredible is is really big for us in terms of communication. Um obviously if there's a credible threat um communication will happen immediately and u law enforcement will be on site immediately. Um for the non for
019the noncredible threat um typically I've been asking IPD for recommendations. So um you know IPD uh would recommend um you know checking in with building leaders um following uh general safety uh procedures um uh checking in with safety team if needed. Um, but for a non-credible threat, we don't typically um, because I know this has come up quite a bit, uh, send out communication. Um, because sometimes we'd be sending, we've had, uh, multiple threats since the beginning of the year. Um, we don't want to, uh, send out communication all the time um, as well. But we do take it on a case-byase basis. This last one was unusual because it was um uh not just us but it was in our entire region and it looked like it might have been throughout the state as
020well. Um so based on our case by case evaluation of this we did decide to send out communication. >> So I'd like to ask about the communication part in a minute. Let me stop and let my folks uh colleagues ask a question. But I'm certain that we work with just more than IP. >> Yes. I also called um I did call the sheriff as well uh because our schools um um IPD has been our source for uh defining whether an event is credible or not credible. Our largest school is with you know the high school is within its own. Uh the sheriff uh covers um DIT Boon um >> andfield Caroline covers four schools. the remaining of our school and well yeah the rest of our schools are covered under a IPD. Um so except
021for heights of course um but um so we because IPD has the bulk of our schools and the the largest of our student population we look to them to making to make a uh a determination on credible or not. and um we've been meeting with him fairly regularly. Uh even before this, we're starting to have uh regular scheduled meetings with um Chief Kelly and Captain Schwarz. >> What do you think? >> Yeah, >> I have a quick question. >> Yeah. So in the meantime while we are figuring out whether it's credible or noncredible are there any thing that we're doing like are we contacting like principles in our schools or >> we're following the direction of law enforce >> okay >> so um we were able uh IPD was able to quickly determine that um
022and then um we follow the direction on what they so for this most recent one we were not we were not recommended um to go into lockout. We were we were because our schools are our schools are secure. Uh we have a central point of access because of all of our uh the work we done we create we did on our front entryways. We have keep you know we have swipe cards and many access points. We are essentially um locked in our buildings. Um and that was not the recommendation I I received. I follow the recommendation on law enforcement because each um each threat or each event we get is it's very specific specific and different. That makes sense. >> Yeah. >> One of the messages we got to that point was that whether we
023go in lockdown or not, there may have been young people outside during recess. Is there something that's in the plan or something we should consider that if we do get a threat even if it is noncredible that we for lack of a better word we pull young folks back into the building. >> Um that's a great that came up um at our board meeting on Tuesday night and I talked to some people afterward and then I I did communicate uh to that building. Um I think yes I think that's a that's a great point. We did cancel. Um I will say uh one of our buildings was planning to do a very large evacuation drill on the day of the threat. >> Um and I worked with the building principal on probably just yesterday as
024long I wor with the build I worked with the building principal and law enforcement uh to stop that drill. Um yeah, I think we're realizing that um we have to we need to make sure we communicate to all of our buildings um to not do additional drills um and take some extra precautions. So we can certainly we can certainly work on that. Thank you. So our goal here would be to see if the board or the policy committee agrees for a send this to the board for a first reading go through the process have a similar sort of presentation that board ask the questions but also to post it one it's already posted so the community can see it but the additions will be posted um for an upcoming meeting is that the >> yeah
025full disclosure Krie did want to add some information on um um some health information. Is it um can we still move it forward while adding some additional information? I just found this out. >> Yeah. >> Recently. >> Um I think the real question is when do we need to have the language ready to announce for you know 45 days or 30 days for >> so I think the sooner we get that the quicker we can make the announcement for the public hearing to go from there. So >> perfect. Um if that works for committee members >> um we'll make that happen and we typically hold the public hearing before a voting meeting >> uh on Monday. So keep us posted and then highlight those changes for us as well. >> Certainly. >> Thanks. >> Nothing
026else on school safety. >> Let's hear the fun about use of school facilities. >> I know I'm bringing a lot of fun today. Hold on. Well, uh, I will say on the on a positive note for building use, I'm really happy to say that our track and our stadium are open um all day Saturday and all day Sunday. >> We are locking them to secure them in the evening. Just take some precautions, but um I'm really we're really happy to see people using it in the public and that has been a problem. Of course, the tennis courts uh remain uh wide open to the public as well. So, we're looking to um open our doors as much as possible. Uh so, the building use >> Let me ask you a couple question. >> Yeah. Yeah.
027>> What is the um impact that you found on staff and uh union agreements and things like that of having people come and walk up? Oh. Uh, because it's been it's been fine because uh Bob and I worked a while back with EA on an overtime MOA. So, we have a a really great procedure for offering overtime. >> Um, and we have it really spelled out. Yeah. No, it's it's been it's pretty minimal. It's somebody coming to unlock and somebody something uh someone coming to secure the facility. Yeah. And if I'm not, that's a great question. If I'm not mistaken, part of it was also that it's a difference between it being open and being able use versus a an event, >> right? And that was part of the issue we had last year was
028that someone trying to plan an event for during Thanksgiving if that was April. >> We Yeah, we can start I I'm happy to work with that group again. Um the issue I believe was just that they wanted to be inside the facility um uh to do sign in for the running. Um, I'm happy to open our doors for that piece. Um, I think they're they're just they were just worried if it's rainy or it's cold. It's it's just it's not a it's always a rainy cold time. I mean, let let's be, you know, let's be honest, today. Yeah. So, all right. So, the um it's been a while. Uh um I uh I forgot to bring this back to you all, but um I wanted to bring it back. Um, and I don't Would you
029like me to just recap both of these policies quickly? Does that make sense? 1500 and500 are >> uh, sure. >> Okay. >> I mean, I think Emily and I have seen these ad nauseium, but I >> Yeah, I don't know if >> this is from so yes, I think it's an important policy. >> Okay. Yeah. I'm sorry for the how many times you brought >> No, no, no. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. So, of course, we recognize that buildings and grounds are a valuable and important community resource. Uh, we want to make sure it's available to the community. Um, supports educational activities, supports the public good. Um, we um we do have a pay schedule um for outside groups. Um uh and one part of the policy here is that the district can wave
030these costs if the outside organization is using spaces during times when school is in session. For example, if the group wants to use it in the if the if the group wants to reserve a space in culp for fine arts and we already have custodians working, it wouldn't be an additional cost to us. Um uh we we are happy to uh wave those costs. Um of course it has to do with uh with staff availability, space availability, vacation and holiday schedule. Um we have a 10-day period, but we're happy to uh we include we include language that the 10-day period can be reduced, which we actually do quite often. Uh we don't we don't make people we don't say to outside groups that if you're out if you're with if you're within the 10 days
031um you can't try to reserve the space. Don't do that. Um also superintendent and designate has a right to uh wave fees. Of course it's for the PTA and other groups that are um in partnership or sponsored by the district. Um and then there is a clause about forprofits. So the the one thing with forprofits is that anything any of the fees um that they've gathered or any of the the money they have um gathered from that event, 100% of it has to be donated to an educational charity. Um and that's because um forprofits cannot profit off of taxpayer resources. That's about as fast as I can go for the first part. The second part, uh, 15R, it's just a companion policy. Um, there were questions about the $1 million insurance policy. Emily, I'm happy
032to take your s suggestions from I know it was a long time ago at this point, but I'm happy to take your suggestions and and change the language from $1 million policy to the language that you included, but I don't have it exactly in front of me right now. Um, all groups have to have a ballot certificate of insurance. Um, we are happy to work um we are happy to work with people. we're having a hard time with the master library system. Um, we're happy to sit down with them and walk through uh the process with them. We're also happy to print out the forms and have them fill it out right there. Um, so real quick before you continue, um, Maline, part of this policy came up 1500 is, uh, folks were wondering why
033they couldn't have access to the tennis courts or and the track specifically, um, while other spaces were available. A playground at a elementary school was available, right? Or a basketball court at LACS. Wondering why those two spaces. And so it um it pushed the board to have a fuller review of just the policy in general about how people are using our spaces under what conditions. Um and uh Dan took the lead on writing and making some changes. And so on the Google doc you see anything that's highlighted are the changes that were recommended and then uh Emily put a number of questions. So yeah, and good suggestions. Emily, I don't know if all yours have been answered or there's things that you want to discuss about this policy as well. [Music] >> No, I think
034we're I I guess I'm still >> certainly make changes. >> No, I mean I think that for the most part it's great. I think um >> we had all of these conversations about like the playground and like how that's a little bit of a like gray area, >> right? And so now I'm thinking about well now that the track is unlocked it means that people don't need to go through any of these processes right and we are saying >> explicitly right now that they can therefore when it's unblocked they can freely use it. >> Yes 100%. >> So are we saying and if we're saying that or obviously saying that about >> like the playground we treated it that way. >> So as long as we >> Yeah. >> I guess this comes back to
035the same thing of like Is there any reason that we would want a section on we talked about like adding a section on like open space or school grounds or something like that? >> We were going to but if it's if we're talking about like unlock and freely available, do we want to be explicit about what we're actually saying? Is there ever a time that like open spaces we would still want folks to go through this process? because I know sports. >> Yeah. The only thing is so for Northeast example uh for Northeast um I know they're doing modified soccer on the field there. So that that coach in the athletics department puts that in. >> Right. >> So how did you specify the difference? >> Um I think we said isn't there a card
036out that says we have the right um the district and the and the um in 1,500 uh conditions of use for district facilities. The district reserves the right to determine if a repressive use would interfere with or disturb the district's educational program. That probably doesn't quite fit that because they're not to your example, they wouldn't be putting in a request through master library. Um >> but why would a modified sports team have to put in a request if it's >> sponsored by IC? I mean, I know for scheduling purposes >> they do. Well, I think maybe a a better example might be um because we're opening the state. Um I know and I talked to coaches who said, "I want to do uh you know, I want to invite my JV or by my varsity
037player to do a shooting or something." We do that. Um um I recommend he or she put put it in so that if if there's a group already out on the field um we we we don't have a a difficult interaction. It's it's more of oh I'm sorry I reserved this. I'm the coach of JV whatever. So, um, maybe maybe that supports Emily's point of adding one more section about open spaces because I guess it doesn't specifically spell it out in this policy. >> What, Emily? What are we hoping to clarify with the phrase about open spaces? um that someone that it's clear that someone now who would uh who we used to asked to fill out a form to be able to run private run the track I guess it's it's like giving them
038the the permission ahead of time saying that like this is not what this isn't related to. So, and maybe that's just fine. But as soon as we're kind of like, well, of course you can use it because it's open, then we're basically that saying, "Of course you can use anything as long as it's open and available." And that's fine if that is what we're saying. I think that that's covered. But if there's ever a time that we're saying, "Yes, it's open and available, but you can't use it because you need to fill out this form because you're a sports team or whatever." >> It sounds like it's it might just be a few sentences that just adds that sports team Uh it's and it's not just sports. It'll be you know fine arts if ICSD
039theater group wants to use a space but uh running in places theater is also trying to book it for the same time. Um I can see how adding a few sentences could clear up that. >> Right. I know we made some attempt to make sure we're talking about the difference between individuals versus organizations or if I'm running a youth bureau soccer team, that's a vastly different thing if I'm just kicking around a soccer ball with, you know, my my young one, right? So, um, okay, we can do that. The question becomes, will we see this in 2026, 2027? >> I think that if we can >> I can bring it back to the next >> I mean, could we not? Like could we not like could we just like talk separately at sick of a
040line or two and then just take it straight to >> the full ceremonic. >> Yeah, I I don't think we need to go back to >> Okay. I'll just >> uh with what's today? Today is the 7th. We don't think it'd be ready for the 14th or you do think it'd be ready for the 14th? >> Yeah. Yeah, I think it's just a few sentences. Yeah. >> And if I'm not mistaken, this has already been up for first reading. Am I right or wrong about that? >> Let me double check that. >> I'm researching >> positive. We've seen this >> right a couple times. >> Yeah. >> So, let's clarify. The reason why I'm asking the question is I'd like to put it on the agenda for whatever it is. If it's a first reading,
041great. But if it's a second reading, then let's put it up for a second reading at adoption for the 14. >> Okay. Okay. The next couple days, we'll send it right. >> Yeah, I'll send it to you in 48 hours. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I understood it. Understood. >> Additional questions about either one. And I did put on there. It is a normally we put it as a procedure. I think we put it down as a regulation. It's policy hyperlingo. I'm not too worried about it, but it's 1500 1500- R. >> Yes. All right, fantastic. Uh, we'll keep it moving if that works. On, uh, agenda item 4.4, which is student exeicio members, the board of education. Um, this is a policy. Dan, I think you're staying with us on this kind of program, right?
042Oh, I didn't. >> Okay. Yeah, >> we can we can send a date as well and Meline as well, right? Um this is a policy that came from uh Governor Hawk as well. Uh last year New York State passed a mandate that all school boards are required to have um at least one student exeicio member on the boards of education with various responsibilities outlined uh by the board of education. Um there's a couple of legal questions we're still waiting on. Uh, ICSD has had a board rep and Trisha, thank you for the research. We could find at least from 2002, I think is what I was asking. Um, so we've it's been a long-standing practice um of the ICSD board of education to have a student rep. Um, the real question about this policy um,
043as I read it, uh, happens in two different ways. Um, one, there are special considerations for small city school districts which Ithaca is considered and how a exeicio member of the board or a student rep of the board would be selected. Um, it seems like possibly what we do um would not be uh permitted under the current mandate as I have read it. Others may read it differently. Um, and then, uh, making sure since we have two high schools that we're writing language that talks about both Ethica High School and the Layman Alternative Community School. Um, and then just again general student responsibilities as outlined. We received a template from the New York State School Board Association. We used that template um remove some of the language in the notes just because they don't necessarily
044apply and what I believe is posted on to board docs um is a draft without question. We've sent it to uh Ithaca high school reps and lacs reps. Um I would imagine they probably have not had time to view it and yet there's still plenty of time because this is our first reading. then go to the board for a first reading, then I'll come back to policy, then I'll go back to the board again, so there's time for some dialogue. Uh Emily, I know it was short order, so I don't know um that question that came up around whether or not smaller city school districts can elect by a vote of the general body. There's been Yeah. No, >> I'm thinking creatively about even if the student body did that and then made a recommendation
045to the principal, but couldn't the principal then make a recommendation to the board and that would still meet the requirements >> or make a recommendation to student student government, right? Yeah. I mean, I think there are a couple of workarounds. Uh I would like to run that through um BSK. >> Okay. and see what they say. But for the most part, I think the only thing that we were primarily stuck on was can ETHA high school specifically vote as they have been for student reps. Um, I don't know if you all read the message about LACS as well. I I do think that's a very interesting argument given a democratic process and given that the entire school is in essence the student government council. is is their policy or process a little bit different than
046the high schools? Um, and we can ask BSK around both of those questions. And then as I ri as I've written to folks, um, because we've had board reps since 2002 and this mandate states that we've been doing this for longer than 2003, there is a possibility to continue on with your current practice. The unfortunate thing is we never had a policy about our student reps. So there's no policy that dates back to 2003. Um, but we have clear uh minutes from meetings that indicate that we've had board reps from I think as long as I remember. >> Yeah. >> Went back to I think 200. >> Yeah. >> Was what? >> So how would uh board colleagues how would you like to proceed around this policy? What are our thoughts? I mean I know
047we want to get feedback from our current student reps and their adviserss as well. I'm in agreement. >> I think I would rather like wait and hear from everybody first to just make a more formal decision about it. >> How many thoughts from you? >> Um, yeah, I think that's fine. I think we have a couple of like specific items I think we need to get their insights on. So maybe you're interested about what those are. >> Should we try to outline those now? I mean uh if I'm hearing about the other process uh similarly right that uh if we write down these questions and wait till November when we talking about the first month of November which means it wouldn't go to the board until the middle of November it wouldn't be adopted until
048mid December. Um, is this a policy that maybe we won't have ready for the 14th, but we could have ready for late October if we do some of the work prior to the next like we could we put it on on the October 28th meeting, for example, if we have some of these questions as a first reading knowing that we're going to bring it back then in November as opposed to waiting for November to put it back up for a first reading. Does that timeline work for folks? >> Um, it's the Google doc is already created. We'll ask folks for feedback and see if they have any suggestion notes. We'll reach out to BSNK about these three questions. I'll try to summarize them, include everybody on it, and then we'll see if we can't put
049this on for the Is it the 28? >> 28. >> Uh, are there thoughts? Do you all have thoughts about specific consents that are particular interest from them so that we can guide those conversations a little bit? For me, the legal questions are Ethica High School's current practice, LACS's current practice, and are we grandparented in by the 2003 uh stipulation of the mandate? Those would be the three that I'm interested in. I think there are other more specific questions that I think I would love to discuss with our student reps. Um, should there be an equal number of student reps from each school? Uh right now I think we have seven total. Is that is that the right number? Um especially uh since the state only requires one um ex official member. Is there I
050mean I think those are larger questions um as one board member. >> Okay. Yeah, I agree those um I have a lot of questions about the numbers and then also just about the selection process. So the law was really explicit about making sure or encourage wanting to help make sure that the students were represented with a student body. Um and so even if we find out that legally the current processes work, I I would like to hear from the schools and uh the students about um about how those processes are ensuring that that student representatives are um are really reflective of the student body both. And if we want to add anything about like requirements around um advertising it or being more explicit about what the role is or how it could work or thinking
051about >> um transportation. Like there's just a lot of pieces that probably inhibit some students from being able to participate including I and I'm not familiar with the process at all, but student government is one of those things. It's also not not very uh inclusive all the time. I again I can't speak to IHS specifically but just I want to make sure that we use this as an opportunity to strengthen those ones instead of the policy. Um >> and even if it doesn't work between the policies a conversation that worth having hearing. >> Yeah. >> Um because we are being reported. Let me just say what the and not everyone is going to read the policy. The mandate gives six different options for an exofficial member to be selected. One, the student body president of
052a high school. Uh two, duly elected by the student body, which is something that small city school district are not allowed to do. And that is my understanding of our current practice that they are duly elected by the student body. Three, selected by the high school student government. Four, selected by the high school principal. Five, selected by the superintendent of schools. or six to buy a majority vote of the board of education. Those are the options that are currently available and we're trying to find ways that are the most sort of equitable representative um and keeping within the mandate as we understand it. So, um we'll resend it back out. Uh Emily, should I rightfully or wrongfully assume with all your writing that you're taking some notes on this possible? Do you want to reach
053back out to Maline and I about >> Sure. >> discuss effects if I can ask of that. >> I guess the other piece um is just about like the role that they play because if we if we change the number total dramatically that'll impact it. But if we also want to keep a relatively large number, what about like a if there's a exopicio or student who is identified that has more engagement opportunities versus like a second group that that is engaging a little less. Our our student reps at the last board meeting pointed out that we already our our current policy already indicates that they could be engaging in conversations a lot more that they are. So I know that there's a interesting eagerness there and an acknowledgement that we have set an appointment that
054would be really difficult. So thinking about how we can balance getting as many student voices as we can and also not staying in court meetings until >> Yeah. And just so folks know, one of the pieces of language that I changed, it said something like the exofficial member can leave with permission of the board president. Um and I was like I don't think that's uh a necessary thing to have at any point in time. Right? If a student needs to leave early then they can leave early. But it does outline things that they they cannot participate. Right? They are not a voting member of the board. They are not allowed to enter into executive session. Um they do not speak on behalf of the board. And so there are both things that are great value
055and things that the the mandate says that ex members can't. I Emily to your point, I'm really interested in that question as well. I know hearing from some other school districts, they've had a group of student reps and one exopic field member. Um, and I don't know if that's something that we that would that would work here or not, but that's that's the conversation for us to have with everybody. All right. So, that'll be I'm certain a lively discussion on the 28th. We got that. Any additional things on that policy mic as well? Um all right. Uh then we'll go on to agenda item 4 uh6 which is student voter registration and pre-registration. Uh another mandate from the state is that Ithaca not Ithaca New York State school districts are required to uh help facilitate
056voter registration and voter pre-registration for 16, 17, and 18 year olds. Uh we've been doing a good number of this work. Um, anyway, I think the difference is the pre-registration part of it. Um, but I know, uh, Emily, you've been in conversation with some folks and Maline, you've been in conversation with some folks, and so maybe we should get just a rough idea of what we're currently doing. Um, and then we can continue the outreach efforts uh, from there. And again, I agree. I think the conversation have been starting on um I know for seniors they take government um but like to to incorporate those in like uh the junior classes to start that conversation at earlier um age and maybe some to some curriculum changed a couple of things or add some stuff to
057just the overall importance of it and why their participation is critical to the outcome. Yeah, I think that there's an opportunity to um both of the schools seem to be doing a really great job of engaging students in one way or another um to make sure that they understand the registration and and have an opportunity to get registered to vote for 18 those um those younger students. And I think that um you can jump in as well here, but I know that they there were ideas about even just getting support from the district around uh promotional materials so that those can be more widely shared um across schools that I think could be a huge help. And I I do think that the policy uh will schools will need to think about how to expand
058it across all of their ages because they don't want it to be related to um course credit. Uh and so the governance courses are probably have a really good model that can be adopted in a way that's non non-course related. Um but I think again working with the schools to just basically take what they're doing and explore it a little bit to make sure that we're reaching all students. Um, I know that there's opportunities uh or there's I think I think that the policy explicitly or the guidance explicitly talked about partnerships between um like the nonprofit work here about getting voter registration done. So, I know a little bit less about that. It sounds like LACS is does does some of that, but also just thinking about how explicit or not we want to be.
059We're just kind of acknowledging that there are organizations in the community that can partner and um encouraging the district to do that and >> I uh had a great conversation with Keith at LACS, Keith Harrington. um he he has a great idea to um start this work in their family groups at LACS. I know this is it's more of like a deep and meaningful home base. Um I'm Sean, I know you're well aware of it, but he's he's wondering how he can uh work with the district to get um uh presentations and posters and registration forms and start to deliver the message uh through family groups. but also use the ASM model too as well to to connect um on a on a larger scope with the school. Um you know Emily did a nice
060job connecting to some of the teachers there. It sounds like they are working already with uh Rejoice the Vote uh League of Women Voters. Um they're they're you know doing free Ben and Jerry's uh that's very getting free free Ben cherry to to u as as a kickoff but um it sounds like the district can work to support Keith in terms of u maybe ICSD communications with forms posters um presentations and then he was wondering also if what he's doing at LACS could be similar to what's happening at IHS as well. They could work together as partners. >> So, it was a you know, it's brief, but it was a he had some fantastic benefits. >> I don't miss an opportunity to say thank you to a uh for me a community icon of Jeff
061Ferman, who was partly behind Rejoice the Vote and definitely behind us getting Ben and Jerry's ice cream. >> That's so funny. Yes, he is. He's the reason behind it. Okay. >> Um, so then what would be the next steps, right? I know this is our first time sort of looking at even a draft of the policy, doing some data collection about what it looks like. The policy does ask for us. The mandate asks for us to be a little bit more explicit in how we're going to make this happen. And so it does need to be in writing. So, the ideas are phenomenal, but we're going to have to have some sort of action plan uh to put into the policy. >> Okay. >> And this one I'm okay with waiting. Well, I'm not okay
062with waiting because we have elections coming up in November. Uh but while we can probably do both simultaneously, right? Sort of use it as a way to both do registration and pre-registration prior to the November elections as well. Okay. So I would I would ask that we continue doing the research and the work and try to come up with some specifics and put it back on the November policy committee would be my recommendation. had we um I really appreciate the research on the other districts had there were some in some of the things that I shared there are some common threads and um but I'm I'm wondering also if either of you have any strong feelings on on some of what some of the other districts are doing as well. Uh I I my quick
063answer is no. But I will say what I always say to my college students uh that my faith in this policy is strong. Uh because if voting didn't matter, we make it easier. So whatever we do, uh I want people to have as much access and democratic process as possible. And I think if it's financial support and we know that wouldn't be significant, right? If it's a couple hundred dollars to be able to put promotional materials out there, then let's have that conversation. If it's >> um you know, I think if I'm not mistaken, the policy explicitly states that it cannot be connected to a course as part of a grade. That's >> right. And so we may have to rethink some of what and I don't know if it currently is or isn't. I
064know it does come up in my class. Although maybe other subjects history or something else you can mention. It's part of >> I also think we want to be a little careful because we have in writing policy it means that you do have an opportunity to not be too explicit. to make sure that, >> you know, I think that one of the takeaways that I had from some of the other district policies is that they're not >> they're not like super explicit about exactly what it seems like I I was very heartened to see in here about the things that are already going on. And so I think that there's an opportunity to write it in the way that the the board is uh directing the district and the superintendent to be able to do
065a lot of the thoughtful work in partnership with the principles and also just kind of keeping language in there to make sure that >> we're being explicit about the ones that are in the guidance. But I think there's a way to balance the two. >> Yeah. Um should I have a draft? Would you guys like me to share some draft suggestions? >> Um Well, we we have a draft currently, right? So, it's just it's incomplete at best. Um >> I mean just for the 16 to 17 >> I think some language >> some language would be very helpful outside >> governance. Okay. Happy to do that. >> Uh and I appreciate Emily's reminder uh of maintaining flexibility, right? Can't it shouldn't be too prescribed because then it gets locked in. For me, I just want
066to make sure that we just don't create certain events for families and not all families can attend. So, just being able to facilitate that within school for all students so they are all aware and well informed. >> Yeah. >> To me, that's likely. >> Anything else on this policy? >> Sure. Yeah, we can both work on it. Yeah, >> yeah, sure. Of course. >> Thank you. >> And feel free to just throw it into the Google doc that we're working on editing >> uh power. >> Um our last policy to discuss this evening comes from um a number of ongoing conversations over my entire tenure on the board. um sometimes uh some very interesting conversations but that is um the naming of spaces, rooms andor facilities. Uh the board does not have a policy on
067this. it sort of has happened. I don't want to say randomly, but whether we're talking about a sign for the baseball field or we're talking about a gym at the elementary school, um it just sort of has happened as things have come up. And in the past, I want to say year, we probably gotten five or six requests and it just made sense to us to think about that we should probably have a much more formalized process that is equitable so we understand what's taking place. Um, so we pulled together, thank you, Trisha, for polling folks across the state, uh, seeing what other school districts do. Uh, thank you, Emily, for creating that a chart which tried to outline some of the key highlights of what are included in some of those policies. Uh, those
068policies, I will say the New York State School Board Association policy, I believe, was like three sentences long. the board reserves the right to support naming of spaces. That's what we're trying to avoid. Um, other school districts, there's a creation of a committee or there is a presentation that's required at a board or there's a petition with a certain number of signatures that are needed. There's in any number of ways that folks have been going around sort of naming spaces. Uh, but we knew that this was a it's it's probably um a policy that the community is very interested in without realizing they're interested in it yet. You know, it's one of those things that when you need it, then you're looking for it. So, um, open floor. This is this is our first conversation
069about it. We've been batting around via email, but our first time to talk as a board. So, any thoughts, any things that we should consider, any lessons that you've learned looking from across the state? A couple two were outside the state but most of them were all inside of New York. So open conversation. I I I think I worry I don't know if I have an unbounded worry or if I just watching what's been going on in the country the last several years like I reading it I just felt like man that's a lot of uh responsibility to put on the superintendent >> because it seemed uh it seems like a pretty smooth what I'm looking at is basically a process that allows like people to petition or submit um requests and to kind of
070like make their argument um for why it would be uh a good name to be used. Um I think also we would add something about like the superintendent could also kind of start that proposal and process especially if it were like a new facility. We wouldn't necessarily have to wait for a a community member to petition to have something kind of cherry to the named. Um so we would want to add that. But when I was going through all of them, like you said, Sean, there were huge variations and some of them just seemed like they take forever. >> Um, and so there's that balance of making sure that we have community member input and that we're especially community members that are a part of that school or community or or whatever it is. >>
071Um, and also allowing for a little bit of like moving things forward, right? by giving more um uh opportunity for the superintendent to kind of keep it moving. So I that is all to say that I don't I don't I'm not really saying anything in particular but just being sensitive to the fact that naming things can has become so fraught and how do we I guess I I don't know yet and I would love other other input on like how to balance not having one person like the superintendent or even the superintendent in board except being blamed for doing something. >> Yeah. but also not, you know, putting together a committee that approves another committee that approves another committee, which is what some of the um some of the other policies indicated. So, I don't
072know. >> Uh I think I have two thoughts so far as I was been researching this and looking at it and have participated in different ways. Um, one, I think the uh decision making of naming spaces should be at the board level. Uh, I think that's part of a democratic vote. Um, I I would feel much better with the board making a decision and some sort of process. Um, two, whatever process we have, I think I would like for there to be some sort of public hearing. So, it may not be a committee like I I mean, some of those committees were, you know, you need three people from every stakeholder group. And I don't know, just trying to wrangle everyone together would take a significant amount of time. Um, and then the one that
073I think I did see was that there had to be some sort of like research or proposal to justify and not to make it overly complicated, but I do think there's value in someone making the argument about why this space should be named, right? So, as one example, I believe we were asked to name a space at Beverly J. mark in last school year. Um, which made complete sense and without question deserving and without a process it it seemed like we would be opening ourselves up to naming every space possible. And I know this one comes from uh one that is also close and dear to my heart uh of naming a space at Buoyant which I also without question support still want to have a a process for. So that was sort of my
074quick thinking as it was like it definitely should get the board level because then it requires five votes or at least right some community conversation or interaction and some sort of you know I don't mean like a four-page you know thesis you actually would be we call that a short essay but um but something like that and then maybe some there may be some other steps to it as well that would be worthwhile >> I think one of the things I agree all of those and that does bring up an interesting question that I didn't see in the other policies about like which spaces do we name like do we want to be explicit about so it doesn't come up of even if people went through that process are we sending them in every classroom
075or something >> um in a school so whether we want to be explicit about that and then the other I don't see it in here but I know in one or two of the policies like it was it explicitly directed the superintendent to maintain like a list of names that had been submitted and I think that That's important too because when more than one name comes through like the for the Boon gym like I would like I'd be so sad if that name like was kind of passed over for this one in instance and then didn't come up again. Um so that that would be a good >> uh so that made me think uh to that point one there are uh plaque options that are in you're well one of the policies right that
076you can also have plaques and obviously naming spaces um but the one of the big conversations that we had a couple years ago was also a conversation around um financial donation and if someone is able to provide a a large financial explanation and then have a space or a field named after them. And I didn't see that in any of the policies, but we've experienced it. So I for me, I'd like to have that conversation like how do we separate the two of those um that it's not buying a space, right, to be named, it's naming honor of right, either the commitment, the service, the I don't know how it was to say it, but >> but that was a conversation we've had before as well. So, I think this one is going to take
077us a little bit to and I'm okay with I think this is an important enough policy that will probably be around for a while to sort of think about some other options and to do it right. Um and there's probably between now and uh November um maybe there's a time we discuss possibly all trying to get together and maybe this is one of those policies that we find a way to get together either through Zoom or um here at the board building to talk about try to workshop this one a little bit doing some additional research. Um that's what I would like to do and then bringing forward a proposal uh to the board understanding that there are other infinite number of options but from our research this is what we know we may think
078would be worthwhile. >> Is that okay? Is that okay with you and >> so let's put this back on for the November meeting with an expectation that policy members will try to get together and get a draft uh soon. I can't I don't think we can promise 48 hours like Dan. We do have Dan on record saying 48 hours by the way. So it's all >> uh other discussion items would be um something that we need to return back to and we can put on the November policy committee and that would be to return to the list. I think there are 12 policies left over that were still passed in the 1960s and 1970s that were recommended for deletion. We deleted five of them already. Um Emily and I went through those. I think we
079identified the next possible batch, but we can still do that as well. And maybe at that same meeting that we talk about naming spaces, we can identify another five policies that need to be deleted um with an understanding. Some of them we we had some concerns about because they may have an impact on other policies that were existing. So it may take a little bit of research, but that works as well. Um, and I can make sure I can resend that link to everybody about those those policies. >> We also had a discussion several meetings ago about the tuition cap for ICS teachers and talk about doing >> a tuition cap or >> well a cap on the number of students who receive tuition. Uh, >> my assumption is that is a negotiated item that
080it's currently in the contract. I the reason that we talked about it at a board meeting a couple of or sorry at a policy committee meeting a couple of policy committee meetings ago is because I and I could be wrong here so we need to follow up about this. My understanding was that they talked at one of the earlier negotiations about taking that out out of the contract and Dr. Brown indicating that he'd be more interested in in having it become a policy and I believe that at the next meeting a couple of that was when um we had a couple of folks come and talk about that and so I think that we need to talk about looking at it from a policy perspective as well instead. So, two quick things. One, um I'm
081not sure if this is I I support that completely, right? I support examining making sure that there is more space available for students. That part I feel I can say maybe I shouldn't say I do. Um I believe that question also came up because there is a policy that states if you do not live in the school district that you are not allowed to pay tuition to attend the school district. That's a policy that um I as one board member, maybe this is something we bring up to all board members. That's a policy that I am still in favor of um for a variety of reasons. Even though I understand when it was written times changed, the economy has changed. The housing market has definitely changed. Um but for me, I see these as slightly
082different conversations. one as sort of a benefit for teachers um and a retention move for teachers and one as can I live in Courtland and pay tuition to attend ICSD schools which is allowable under the law is my understanding school districts do do that that it is a board decision but we decided whenever that policy was passed I don't know >> we were both here right 2012 something like yeah >> that um that that was not the option. So, uh I guess what I would say is let's talk with our negotiating team and see um what their take is. Let's uh talk with our legal counsel and see what options are even available to us. Um and if it is the want of the board to revisit that policy just in as a general practice,
083then by all means, let's revisit it. Um, and if it's about current negotiations, then let's have that conversation as well. So, um, how do we want to capt one? Let's make sure it's captured in the minutes. Uh, and then I will, uh, follow up on possible next steps about where that where that is. And well, let me ask the board is the board members of the policy committee. Is it the desire of the policy committee to revisit the general policy and practice currently of folks who do not reside within ICSD catchment area to pay tuition to attend? >> No. >> So, we're really talking about the first one. >> Yeah. I guess what we really need I guess I need to we need to get clarification on from Dr. Brown if he was interested in
084if both both negotiating teams were interested in having it not be. Um, I think that when we were at the policy committee, I was surprised to hear things like one even if one um uh like the child one child in a family was able to come from outside of the district that perhaps the second child couldn't if we reached the cap that I guess is within the contract at this point. Um, >> well, there's a process for that. It just was it got started to get expensive, >> right? So just yeah maybe this isn't even a place to I think that there's an op opportunity and it sounds like some other districts maybe have in policy something about just staff. So yeah just something to explore. >> Yep. So let's have it reflect in the
085minutes that will follow. It may not come back to another policy committee if it's determined that it falls somewhere else. I just want to make sure that's clear. But let's continue the dialogue and conversation that makes complete sense. any additional items to revisit. I just want um clarify the safety plan >> was what first name is that what you were saying? >> No. >> Was it a safety plan for >> or 155- R. >> Okay. Dan was gonna get back to us within 48 hours with some updates and sensor to >> the safety plan. If I'm not mistaken, Dan was gonna work with Carrie. >> I have to get some information from Carrie, but then I think we're ready to >> I would dare say the committee would probably be more than happy that once
086we're ready to post for 45 days, let's move that along. Okay. >> Because it still would be be, you know, before or after our next policy committee meeting. >> That makes sense. So let's as soon as we can get it out there, let's try to find a date of board meeting. >> Okay. >> To schedule the public hearing >> simultaneously. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Perfect. >> And 1500 and 1500 are um person. >> Yes. Y and um I'm depending on what I didn't see I haven't seen next week's agenda. depending on what's on what's next week's agenda. I'm would be more than happy to have you come talk about the safety plan as well if we're moving forward with public hearing. >> Okay. >> It's not like it would be up for a first reading.
087It just be letting people know about the updates that are >> um in this this latest draft. >> Okay. >> And that a public hearing will be coming. And once that public hearing then go for vote about >> Sure. And to te and put Okay. Great. Yeah. Perfect. And then right we said we would get going to gather additional feedback about exeicial members. If I'm not mistaken, I heard Emily offering also to do some support around voter registration and then we'll try to connect around uh naming spaces, see what that looks like. >> And the process for getting feedback on exopicio is just following up and asking them to deadline. >> I uh asked um I think I believe you both were on the email, but I asked Mary and Dan to take the lead
088on that. So, whatever that looks like or how that happens would be great. >> I was I was I was texting Carrie to send me I was texting Carrie to send me that quick text. >> You were you were trying to see the Yankee game >> start >> uh you're you're gonna work with Nate right on that. >> Yeah. If we can just get like a deadline so that folks know like if you want to provide feedback on the exeicio because we want like this is the date so that because we're hoping to talk about it on the 14th. What did we say? >> No, I believe the 28th. So we want enough time like getting that feedback from them and being able to review all of it. Drafting something. >> Okay. >> Sorry. Y
089does that work for all right? Fantastic. is any other business. All right, we will see everybody soon. Have a good evening. All right.