ICSD Board of Education Annual Reorganizational Meeting - Tuesday, July 8, 2025

001Morning. Welcome to the VORG meeting for the 2025 2026 school year. Um we're going to do something a little different today. We're going to stand for the pledge of allegiance. Is there anyone who would like to start it off? I'll start it. Whoever did I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all. Trisha, can you tell us a little bit about that? Is that a new So historically we've always done the pledge of allegiance and when I started in 2018 we were doing it. I want to say during co it just happened to fall by um the cracks fall through the cracks and now we want want to start something I guess we begin the um

002doing that again. Thank you. Yes. So where is the flag here? And so we need to get a flag in this room and we also have to let people know that if they wish not to stand, they don't have to stand also when we if we're doing it at every meeting. Yep. Is it a legal thing or is this like a decision for the board? Did not anticipate this would garner as much conversation. Um it is officially part of the policy and so if you look at the order of the meeting, it's a policy. So the policy committee can review it and change it. But figuring if it's part of what the run of order of for the policy and meetings are then we should follow that. Thanks. I would like to begin with a

003motion to nominate a temporary chairperson until the president is elected. Do I have a motion? Sure. I move to approve the appointment of a of a temporary uh board member to serve as chair until the president is elected. Uh who would you like to nominate as temporary chairperson? I I nominate Sean Bradwell. Sure. Oh, second. Sorry. All in favor? Thank you everybody. Uh we will continue with the agenda. Um we need a motion uh to appoint Trisha Barersford as the clerk. And you can see the language uh an agenda item uh 1.4. Okay. I move to appoint Trisha Barersford as the clerk of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York, for the 2025 2026 school year. Second. Uh, I heard Emily's voice. There may have been somebody else, but moved by Adam, second by

004Emily. Uh, discussion, debate, conversation, questions. All in favor? Fantastic. The motion passes unanimously. Uh, Trisha, we'd ask for you to take the oath. Thank you, Sean. I, Trisha Barisford, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the clerk of the board of education of Ithaca City School District according to the best of my ability. Thank you, Trisha, for all that you do and for your service. We are greatly appreciative. We will continue on. Uh, next is um not a motion but uh a uh sort of a resolution but the swearing in of Dr. Brown as the superintendent. I read no thank every um I Dr. Lou Brown do solemnly swear that I

005will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Superintendent of Schools according to the best of my ability. Thank you, Dr. Brown, for your service. Thank you. Um, agenda item 2.2 is the administration of the oath of elected school board members. And we have three folks who would taken the oath. I believe they're listed here in alphabetical order. And we will begin with board member Aaron Croyle. I Aaron Croyle do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Board of Education member according to the best of my ability. Thank you

006for your service. Aaron Jacob Shiffren. I, Jacob Shiffren, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the b the office of board of education member according to the best of my ability. Thank you for your service, Jacob Baron. I, Karen Yearwood, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Board of Education member according to the best of my ability. Thank you. And for a forced moment in this meeting, we oftent times applaud for new members being elected. oath. We thank everybody for your service and prior to

007leaving today, you get to sign a historic document. You will sign your oath into the uh book that Karen has here prior to leaving today. Trisha. We're starting early. Fantastic. Thank you. Um moving on, we will go to the nomination of the president of the board. Uh I think it bears repeating that after last year's process the board and the policy committee uh created a new process. Um that process for both the uh board president and the board vice president begins with a nomination process. Uh as many people um as would like or for board members would like including self-nominations will be nominated. Uh we will then hand out ballots for anyone who's been nominated and second. uh and we will continue that process until at least one person receives a majority vote of the

008of the board. And so that is the process and we'll do the same thing for the board vice president as well. Uh if you're looking at board docs or you want the uh policy number um it is policy number 2210.1 um which outlines and illustrates the process for the nomination uh and the selection of president and vice president. Any questions before we begin from board members? All right, we will open the floor for nominations. I'd like to nominate Dr. Sean Eversley Bradwell to serve as president of this board of education. Second. I probably should say that I will accept the nomination since it's not a self-nomination. Uh other nominations Sean to be clear this is just for president and vice president is separate correct that is correct hearing no other nominations we will ask Trisha

009to hand out ballots. Uh the process is to write who you vote for as well as then sign the ballot as well. We will then ask Trisha to collect all the ballots and then uh read the names as we did in prior years. thinks. Sorry, it's easy to do half. You don't need to say who voted for who just and then but they will be entered into the minutes of who voted for who. Okay, we have one um yes for Shawn. Another yes for Shawn. Third for Shawn. Fourth for Shawn. Fifth for Shawn. Six for Shawn. Seven for Sha. Eight for Sean. It's unanimous. Nine votes for Shawn. Uh that is very kind. Thank you board colleagues. I appreciate your faith and look forward to the work ahead. Um I believe there is an oath

010of office later on which we'll we'll get to. Um we'll proceed from there. Um we will do the same process of nominations and then ballots for uh vice presidents uh including discussion if need be. Um and so we will entertain uh want to make sure I'm following my agenda correctly. Both now.3 Yep. I, Shaun Eversley Bradwell, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of president of the Board of Education according to the best of my ability. And now we will go on to agenda item 4.1, which is nominations for vice presidents. And we will entertain motions. Uh, I motion to nominate Emily Workman for vice president of the board of

011education for the 2025 20226 school year. Second. I motion to nominate Garrick Leilock. Oh, sorry. We needed to vote. I'm sorry. Right. One at a time to vote. No, all nominations at once. Okay. I motion to nominate Garrick Lelock for vice president. I second. Additional nominations hearing none. We'll ask Trisha to pass out ballots. We just have to this would be the right time for that to happen. Yeah. And actually, I didn't even ask if Garrick or Emily accept the nomination. So, for that, I apologize. Emily, do you accept the nomination? Garrick, do you accept the nomination? I do. Provide time or space for either one of you to say anything should you like. agencies. Um I I think that I'm like well positioned to take on the role of vice president. Um I think

012that the role of the president is an enormous job. Um I think that especially Can you please speak into the mic? especially stepping into the um supporting community relations which I think I'm well positioned to do both from my professional experience and by doing um and supporting a lot of that work this year already um I think could be uh really supportive and collaborative in nature. Um I also uh have tried to do my due diligence to work uh with Dr. Brown throughout the year and to have conversations with him about every topic across the board. um that we work on policy-wise. And so think that I can also contribute um to working collaboratively with both uh Dr. Bradwell and Dr. um Brown to be thinking about agenda setting and about thinking about the big

013picture of the issues that are coming up in this district. Um and then I also think that we doc uh Dr. Bradwell and I have worked really closely together on the policy committee this year. Um, and I think that we've proven to be able to work in a a collaborative, mutually respectful um, way, but also approach ideas from from different places sometimes. Um, and I think that that's really important. And I think that being able to especially right now come on and to be able to um offer what I have been offering especially recently about um thinking about board procedures and processes differently and thinking about different ways of being able to um to do the work and set the agendas and um engage in communication across all of the board members has been helpful

014and I think that people have been receptive to that and so I would love to be able to um bring the the the depth of knowledge and experience um with kind of some some new thinking and some new strategies that we may be able to do the work more effectively. Eric, anything you'd like to? Sure. I would just say for those who are new to the board, I would say the role of president and vice president is not a policy role but a procedures role. Meaning that again just to be clear, president vice president don't have any super votes or don't vote any different way than anybody else. The role of those officers is to ensure that we follow the right procedures and to ensure that all voices are heard before decisions are made. U

015I would just point to my record on that. Um I think I've been a diligent member and following the procedure. But my particular personal reason for uh wanting to serve as vice president is that we are very fortunate on this board to have the leadership of Dr. Bradwell who has an encyclopedia knowledge of school policy. Uh I'm told he will not serve as president forever. There will be an end. I don't know when that will be. uh but before that day comes uh I would like to avail myself of his expertise and work with him and uh absorb the knowledge that he has accumulated over the years um and and basically learn from him. So uh that's it which we've done in the past. Uh board members, are there any questions for either nominee? I

016just want to thank you both for your willingness and also thank you Sean. Like that's acknowledging it's a huge role and you know stepping up is is very much appreciated and you're all very talented, hardworking people and I appreciate you all. Any additional comments, questions? All right, then we will pass out ballots and we will ask Trisha to walk around and collect them so we're not handing them in. We have one vote for Garrick, one vote for Emily, another for Garrick. Garrett, Emily, Garrick, Emily, Garrett. Uh, that's it. That's everybody. If my math is correct, that is five votes for Garrick, which is a majority of the board. Uh that means uh Garrick has uh become the vice president and uh we will uh administer the oath of the vice president. I Gus saw me

017swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge duties of the office of vice president of the board of education according to the best of my ability. Thank you board members. Uh we have a president and vice president for next year. We will continue on with the agenda. Um for new board members, the reorganization meeting is uh a required annual process which some um items may not require much conversation but I think as I wrote to everybody at any point in time please do ask questions. Uh some of the best onboarding is learning by doing. Um and other items are sort of for lack of a better word proforma um in terms of who is appointed in what

018positions and what way. Um, board colleagues, I feel as if we should probably go through each one individually, no matter how mundane it may be for the day. Um, but again, it would help everyone sort of understand sort of the structure and organization of the district as well as some of the key roles that folks play. And so, uh, if we move to agenda item five, um, we have three appointments that are located there. Um and we will begin with uh 5.1 which is the appointment of treasurer and we will entertain uh motions. I move to appoint Lori Mudge as treasurer of the Ithaca City School District Ithaca New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. That's correct. Uh questions, discussion, debate, conversation. Hearing none, we'll call the question.

019All in favor? Uh and we have something that we can either do the oath now or we can do it later. It has to be within 30 days. Uh later. Fantastic. We will do that later if that works for the board. Uh agenda item 5.2. Two, appointment of the tax collector. I move to appoint Emily Ship, assistant school business executive as tax collector of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. Questions, debate, conversation? Hearing none. We'll call the question. All in favor? Motion pass. I think that was unanimous. Yes. Fantastic. Emily, I'll assume that we'll also do it later. Fantastic. Uh, agenda item 5.3, appointment of the claims auditor. I move to appoint Courtney, excuse me if I pronounced this wrong, PA.

020Is that correct? Paka as claims auditor of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, conversation, debate, hearing none. We'll call the question. All in favor? Motion is unanim passes unanimously. Thank you. We'll also do that swearing in at a later date as well. Uh we'll move to agenda item 6 point or agenda item six. Uh there are a number of appointments that are here and again we'll go through uh each one uh if that works for the board. Beginning with agenda item 6.1 sorry what what is we have to do these all individually or what is the uh we can definitely do them all together. I I think it is a cleaner process to do them all individually. There are no

021oaths that are here. Uh we've gone and and done it in different ways at various times. sometimes to spend the entire sometimes to spend one by one. I guess to me it seems redundant but I um well for me it seems like a good learning experience for us as board members to know the different positions that are in this district in the business office and and so forth. I move to approve Sharon Warren as deputy claims auditor of the Ithaca City School District, Itha, New York, for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, conversation, debate. Hearing none. All in favor? It is unanimous. 6.2. I move to appoint Dominic Lissi, assistant superintendent for business and finance and or Emily Ship, assistant school business executive as purchasing agents of the

022Ithaca City School District District, Ithaca, New York for the fiscal year 2025 2026. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Adam. Questions, conversation, debate hearing. None. All in favor? Motion is unanimous. Uh 6.3 deputy treasurer. I move to appoint Emily Ship, assistant school business executive as deputy treasurer of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Question, conversation, debate. Hearing none. All in favor? That passes unanimous again. 6.4. for appointment of the deputy tax collector. I move to appoint Lori Mudge as deputy tax collector of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Adam. Questions, conversations, debate hearing none. All in favor? Passes unanimously. uh 6.5 uh appointment of the records

023access officer. I move to appoint Dr. Daniel Bryman, administration officer as records access officer of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. Questions, conversation? All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. 6.6 Six, uh, records management officer. I move to appoint Emily Ship, assistant school board business executive as records management officer of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York, for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, conversations. We'll call a question. All in favor? Motion passes unanimously. Agenda item 6.7. Yes, my my apologies. No, no, it's okay. I'm just trying to uh I move to appoint Heather Williams, coordinator of the facilities as asbestous design eh er a of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca,

024New York for the 2025 2026 school year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Any questions, debate, conversation? We'll call the question. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh 6.8, data privacy officer. I move to appoint Zachary Lind, assistant superintendent of human resources and technology of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York, to the 2025 2026 school year. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. Questions, conversation? We'll call the question. All in favor? Motion passes unanimously. Uh 6.9 DASA coordinators. I move to approve the following appointments of Dignity for All Students Act, DASA coordinators of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York, for the 2025 2026 school year. Um Bel Sherman Elementary, uh principal Jeff Tamasic. BJM Elementary Principal Samantha Little. Boon Middle School principal Lauren Wright. Caroline Elementary School principal Jessa Celabichi

025that uh Kuga Heights Elementary School principal Eileen Granger. Dwit Middle School principal Dan McGrath. Enfield Elementary School TVD. Fall Creek Elementary School TVD. Ithaca High School principal Karen Arnold. La uh Layman Alternative Community School Principal Keith Harrington. Northeast Elementary School Principal Julie Humble. South Hill Elementary School Principal Arthur Brown Jr. Second moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, debate, discussion. Is it a problem that we don't have anyone for Enfield? They will be on our next agenda uh to make sure that those are officially approved. Any additional questions? Hearing none, we'll call the question. All in favor? Motion. Sorry. Motion passes unanimously. Is that correct? Thank you very much. Uh 6.10, appointment of COVID response coordinator. I move to appoint uh Carrie Burke, director of athletics and wellness as CO 19 response coordinator of the

026Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York, for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. Sean, can I ask a quick question on this? Of course. Um, CO 19 response, and I I don't think we need to get in the weeds on this now, but given where we are at the pandemic, should this be more of um infectious disease response or, you know, should we have a more general term given the nature of infections? Question, Emily. Okay, I'm going to repeat what you said. So, it's in the microphone for anyone else listening. So, uh Emily Ship discussed this with Carrie Burke. Um and it is actually mandated that we have a CO 19 response. So this is a very specific response that is mandated and something we can explore probably throughout

027the school year. So thank you. Yes. And I was going to say that is my understanding as well that it's a mandated requirement. Uh we can make a note and come back to it should that change or just provide additional information at our next board meeting as well. Any additional questions, comment? We'll call the question. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Thank you. to agenda item 6.11 uh appointments of treasur of activity funds and faculty counselors. I move to approve the following individuals for the positions indicated of the Ithaca City School District Ithaca New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Uh, Ithaca High School, uh, treasurer of activity funds, Lucky Lucas, faculty counselor, Karen Arnold. Karen Arnold, forgive me. Uh, LACS treasurer of activity funds, Christy Neely Lehman, faculty counselor Keith Harrington. Boon

028Middle School treasurer of activity funds, Deborah Tudy. Uh, FAC faculty counselor Lauren Wright. Dwit Middle School treasurer of activity funds Alyssa McLaclin. Faculty Counselor Daniel McGrath. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, conversation, discussion. If folks notice, these are only our secondary schools. Those are the schools that have activity funds, clubs, and organizations. For anyone who wants additional information, I would highly advise you come to one of the most exciting committees that we have on the board, which is the audit committee, which we discuss this in great detail. hearing. No, we'll call the question. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh, agenda item 6.12, appointment of deputy district clerk. I move to appoint Robert Vancur as deputy district clerk of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York, for the 2025 2026 fiscal

029year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. question conversation. Uh, we are in need of a deputy district clerk. Should Trisha not be available, someone would need to step into that role in official capacity. If that were to happen, it would also begin the meeting with a resolution to acknowledge this as well. Uh, but we're just having someone in in line hearing. No other conversation. We'll call the question. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh 6.13 appointment of workers compensation cooperative board. I move to appoint Dominic Liy, assistant superintendent of business and finance to represent the Ithaca City School District on the workers compensation cooperative board for the 2025 2026 and further that Emily Ship, assistant school business executive shall be designated as the alternate representative. Second move by Aaron, second by Jacob. questions,

030conversation, discussion. Hearing none, we'll call the question. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh, agenda item 6.14, appointment of community members to the audit committee. I move to appoint the following community members as audit committee members effective July 1st, 2025 through July through the July 2026 annual reorganizational meeting. Uh, Heihei Chan, Jed Ashton, and Christina Marie Ren Camp. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. Uh, a quick point, not a quick piece of information, all three folks served on the audit committee uh, this year and have agreed to continue their service for this upcoming school year as well. And I'd like to publicly thank all three community members for serving on the audit committee. And the audit committee is a committee that meets about three or four times a year. I remember um our my

031board colleagues and I we received an email asking if um the district books are audited. Yes, they are. New York state law requirement too. So thank you community members for serving. Uh and there are multiple audits. There's an internal audit and an external thirdparty audit as well that happens annually. Any additional questions, conversation, discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh that would bring us on to agenda item 7.1 pertaining to undertakings and we will entertain motions. I move to approve the bonding of all persons and positions required by law or regulation to be bonded through a blanket undertaking from a duly authorized corporate shity. covering such positions as officers, clerks, or employees. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, discussion, debate? Hearing none, we'll call the

032question. All in favor. The motion passes unanimously. Uh this will bring us to agenda item uh eight. Um some of these may require additional conversation and and discussion. Please feel free to ask questions obviously at any point in time. Uh but we'll begin with 8.1 uh the designation of regular meetings and discussion sessions of the board of education and we will entertain motions. I move to approve the following designation of regular meetings and discussion section sessions of the board of education. Uh the board of education will meet twice monthly on Tuesdays. A discussion voting session for in-depth public discussion and a voting meeting. Second moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, conversation, discussion. Hearing none, we'll call the question. All in favor the motion. Uh, all opposed. Any abstensions? I would favor. All in favor?

033The motion passes unanimously. Um, agenda item 8.2, the designation method for calling regular meetings and special voting meetings. I move to approve the designation of the method for calling regular meetings and special voting meetings be in accordance with ICSD policy number 23000 calling regular and special meetings. Second move by Aaron, second by Jacob. questions, conversation, discussion. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh the designation as operative, all existing bylaws and regulations will entertain motions. I move to approve the designation that all existing bylaws and regulations of the city school district, New York, operate uh operative at the close of the school year 2025 2026 B. and hereby are approved for the ensuring year or until action by the board of education changes or deletes such bylaws and regulations. Second. Questions, conversations, debate. For the

034most part, this is that we will continue on with our current policy book um until any said policy is changed or practice is changed. Uh we'll call the question. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh, agenda item 8.4. I move to approve the designation of board of education standing committees for the fiscal year 2025 2026 as follows. Audit committee, curricular innovations and strategic partnerships committee, facilities committee, finance committee, human resource committee and policy committee. Second. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. questions, debate, conversation. Why does curriculum like uh I noticed that most of the committees, all the committees have sort of like a standard title except for number two. Um why is it called curriculum innovations and strategic partnerships? Uh I can answer that question in a minute. I would like to make a

035friendly amendment that is simply renamed as curriculum committee. Second. Is that a friendly amendment, Aaron, since you moved it? Absolutely. Uh there was a point in time when we were doing some different community partnerships and so the name was expanded to capture more of the work. Uh doesn't mean that we're not doing that work. Um Adam was chair last year. I probably should ask Adam if he also feels it's an appropriate name change. I do. Um so I that's a great question, Jacob. I think it just should be curriculum committee. Cool. Uh we are not required to have any of these committees other than the audit committee. That is the only required committee. And so I'd like for us just to take a second to make sure that these are the committees that the board

036has operated that will operate with. We do tend to have a fairly cohesive structure of how and when committees meet seems to have been working for the board, but it doesn't mean that's the way in which we have to operate. And so I just want to make sure we give some space in case there's something a different idea, question, thought beyond the name change, which I'm in complete agreement with. This isn't uh the time to get into it fully, but I just want to take the opportunity to note that while I do support um having all of these committees, I also um want to work with the board to make them run much more effectively to have um additional kind of sharing out and working collaboratively as an entire board both on um agenda setting

037and um collaborating on on the issues and then also reporting out. and otherwise I think that they're far less effective than than are worth having. Um some thank you Emily for that. Uh board members may have seen that there is a committee charter template um that has been in existence for about a year now. Um it would be my recommendation that each committee spend some time to actually complete those charters to be much more specific about what the charge is about the meeting about agenda setting. Um I think all that is included in the template and I think it would be a good idea for us to have those completed um by committee members whenever those committees get assigned. So I'm I'm in agreement. Um the my quick response would be I again I'm in

038agreement. Um I also think that we have committees for a reason and so I want to make sure that the division of labor is also present as well. Uh that's the whole point of having the division of labor. But I agree that we can do a better job communicating, we can do a better job reporting out, etc. So, um, I will share that. If folks have not received that template, let me know. I think I've shared it, but I'll make sure I share it again. So, I would ask a question just to put this on the record because we have some, uh, new members. Yep. Committees can be attended by uh, so the process for committee membership is we will send out a survey. Uh by we I mean Trisha will send out a survey

039asking board members of their committee preferences. Um we are currently a nine member board. Uh it has worked out well. The board president is historically not a member of the committee of any of the committees though can be. There's nothing that prevents that from taking place. Um the board officers will meet to for lack of a better word assign committee membership. uh and usually it's three members uh a quorum of two to be able to make sure a committee runs. No committee can act uh or take any action. They make recommendations to the board. Those recommendations come to the board and then the full board decides if it's going to follow that recommendation or not. Um and yes, uh all board members are invited to attend all committee meetings at any point in time. I

040um I'm curious about how common cor uh committees like this are for other school boards in New York State. Great question, Jacob. There are 770 plus school districts in New York State and my experience is that every school district does something completely different. Uh sometimes there are no board members on the finance committee as an example in some school districts. Um others the board sort of leads the finance committee. Um, sometimes committees meet once every 3 months, sometimes they meet once a month. Uh, so I would dare say my experience and I'll look to some of my colleagues and maybe even Dr. Brown. Um, I don't think there is a consistent common approach to board committees. Is that fair, Dr. Brown? I would agree and I would also add that I think we have more

041committees than I've seen and our committees meet more often than I've seen as well. So the um given my desire to spend time with my kids when not in board meetings, I don't I I don't I don't intend on attending every committee. So I guess I'm just curious does the existence of committees prevent any schoolboard member from being involved in the name in the suggestion of motions or p like if there's something in the HR committee if there's an HR issue but I'm not on the HR committee can I nonetheless bring issues that can be discussed at the full board. I think that's partly what Emily is asking for to share agendas in advance well beyond just committee members. Um with rare exception I don't think all board members attend all committees. Maybe some board

042members attend more than others without question. Uh but the answer to that is no. There's not an expectation that all board members would attend all committees. And for that's for me the very reason why I said that there's a division of labor for that very purpose. Cool. Dr. BL. Yeah. I would just add uh what I often do is watch the YouTube recordings and then you can jump around and play at a little bit of a faster speed and that's a way to understand what's happening at the committees if you can't attend all of them. And it also warrants uh a kudos to our communications team which I think does an amazing job of providing summaries of every meeting and every committee meeting which also then includes links to the exact minute of which that

043item is discussed. So a number of board members will read those summaries as well to be informed and you could also check in with uh committee chairs or committee members and ask you know what you guys talk about. Yeah. Yeah. My my question was just about making sure that decision making is not that like work could be delegated but not decision again no committee and we we should probably all this something we'll be talking about no committee can take action on behalf of the board. Yes. So if you can send that template Sean that would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to um add on to what Emily said and I think clarifies that even within the committees there needs to be more structure not just the reporting out and set an agenda. So there has

044to be either this template or some sort of oversight within the community committees when we first meet how we are going to operate. Yes. In some committees and I I completely agree again with both Karen and with Emily. Um I think uh the finance committee is a really good example um that oftentimes will set a calendar for the entire year about which topics will be discussed. Um I'm not sure that can happen with all committees because things come up but at the same point in time there could be much more collaboration between uh committee chairs and committee members and board members. I have a question please. Are we able to request to add a committee? Yes. So yes, any board member can request to add a committee. Um I just will make one note that

045at the end of the agenda there is a section for us to discuss um advisory councils and committees. And so we have usually anything that is outside of this we have uh thank you Dan. Um we have uh created an advisory committee and advisory council for very particular issues. Um, right. So, last year, if I'm not mistaken, we had a revenue exploration advisory council and we had a legislative advocacy advisory council. In years prior, we've had a capital project advisory council. We've had an early childhood education advisory council. I'm sure I'm missing some, but there's just some examples of not necessarily committees, but advisory councils, which would include the opportunity for folks outside of the board to also participate and if not chair those advisory councils. Does that answer your question, madam? And and one

046thing to note, if we're adding any committees, we the board members are responsible to participate on committees. So with nine of us and six committees and just making sure that we have the bandwidth to do that, but if you'd like to make a recommendation, we also would love to hear it. We can have that conversation. So feel free to share if you if you'd like. Yeah. If you if you think that it would be if you'd like for us to consider it as intentional. For me, it will be um just requesting to be considered like an athletic committee and or a um also special ed committee so we can like focus more on certain just topics and thoughts, comments, reactions. Well, further on in our agenda, we have discussion on advisory councils and committees. At

047that time, I would say that we should go into discussion. At this time, I'd like us to just focus on whether or not we're approving these six committees at this portion. And just for for the Maline and Jacob for being new. So, these committees are like the official standing committees that are are typically very common. So, a special education committee, for instance, is something that we've discussed over the years, having sort of an advisory um oh my gosh, council committee. Thank you. Council um and there's more flexibility often with those. And so, I think with what Karen is saying, like voting on this to make these committees official, we can do now. We can move forward and discuss other ones. But that does not mean that if we ever wanted to go back and have

048a conversation that we couldn't form an official committee at another voting meeting. So don't think like what we vote on now is set in stone. This is all fluid. That's correct. Thank you. That was kind of my question. Thanks. And I know there's been a conversation about some sort of council on mental well-being for students. Um later on I'll be uh advocating that we have a a special advisory council on sustainability um to review the sustainability action plan. um things like that. So we have different ways of doing it and we can also discuss different models as well. So I'm not sure I believe SEPTA is still active. Am I SEPTA's had a bit of a resurgence so it's it's kind of under new leadership. Yeah. And SEPTA is a special education parent teacher association

049the PTA. So there may be a way in which we may not have an advisory committee but we work with SEPTA as board members to help support and or be informed. So there's different ways in which the board can do its work. Um, but those are all great questions to ask and let's put them on the table and let's see where board members are. For folks who've been around, do are any of these committees anyone recommend that any of these committees be consolidated or removed? I just know generally the more committees the worse. And so maybe this is the right number, but the only time in my time on the board uh and folks could have other ideas, the only committees that have been combined at one point in time was finance and facilities. uh

050we have purposely separated those given that we are in the middle of a capital project and potentially exploring an additional capital project and so while they are connected because the facilities include the finances um they are also separate and so we felt the need to give attention to each one. Um beyond that uh my experience is that each of these committees has more than enough work to do to fill its time and finance and facilities meetings occur you know back to back just so that information can be kind of together so it it kind of is it's not formally combined but it is definitely united in its work. I think actually two meetings last year were combined. Yeah. additional questions, conversation, suggestions, debate. So, if I understand correctly, the motion was to approve the six

051committees that are here with the modification, the amendment that we renamed the curriculum committee to just the curriculum committee. Does that work for everybody? Yes. Any additional discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Uh, agenda item 8.5, the designation of the delegate to the TST VOce executive committee. And can I actually suggest that we can we discuss this before we move? I believe that would be a good idea. So, we can suspend Robert's rules for a quick second and have a conversation about this. Um I will gladly open that conversation to give background because this um for folks who are new but also just for us in general as a board. I feel like this role has always been a little bit confusing and

052it took me being the one of the delegates to really fully understand this role and I think it's way more important um than we recognize as a board and I'd like to point that out. So um and I I am like I'm sorry my neurodiversity is failing the word that I'm trying to find as we look to it's not globalization what is the word regionalization this is more and more important and Karen I don't know about you but so I I want to say that so the TST school board association is a meeting of local area school boards so you are able to meet with schoolboard members from Newfield uh Dryden, Trumanburg, all the component districts of TST Boseies. Thank you. Um and you're really discussing issues that we're facing at each school. This meeting

053happens on the Boseies campus. It is really enlightening. It's a great way to understand what other districts are facing. It's a great way to learn what's coming from Boseies. It's a great way to better understand those regionalization efforts. And I think it really behooves us as a board to take this role more seriously. Um I I mean in addition to having board representatives, I hope that we can include a formal report in every voting meeting so we can have a better understanding of what's happening. So whatever representative goes to these meetings, we can kind of explain what's discussed. Um especially when it comes to, you know, when we're having budget discussions as a as a school board here and talking about how difficult things are here, it really helps to have a temperature on what

054is facing the region. And I think sometimes we get caught up in our own district and we don't recognize that things are actually not so bad here or this is working better there. And really being able to bring this information back to the board, I think can really help us in our work here. Um, and so when we nominate a board rep and an alternate board rep to this board, it is a once a month, I think it's the first Friday of every month where you attend a lunchon meeting with other members. uh Bosei superintendent currently Lily Talcet not that there's any I did like she's leading but um you know we all know her well uh she is always there and they are always bringing in sort of um uh central New York schoolboard

055association leadership and other leadership from across the state and this is a really powerful meeting that I think we need to kind of pay more attention to and so with that Karen I'm gonna let you also speak right I thank I I agree it's an important meeting. I disagree with your comment that we haven't taken it seriously or paid attention to I mean or something of that as a full board um that it goes back to what Emily was saying about committee meetings and report out and structure. we have to do more of that and where this should be an item on um on our regular monthly board meetings to give a report out if so be um with regard to regionalization our superintendent also attends a meeting with um TST Bose superintendent and other

056superintendent within um the school the TST Boseis region and all so which um they talk about things what's happening and so forth. So they they will be in full discussion and continued discussion on regionalization as well as other topics. Um I do agree that consistency is needed in attending this meeting. if you're if discussion I don't agree that we should have three representatives from ICSD to attend this meeting but two because it's been good like um Erin and I have been playing um team tag and attending and keeping each other a breast at this past year we were able to give a report on out on school layers the student layers which um is now mandated that every school district has that within New York state so we have been having that in place since

0572013. So, I think it's it's a great opportunity to hear from other school districts as well as report out as to what is happening within our school district. And last, if I'm not mistaken, well, you just said it right. Uh Karen and Aaron served um in this role last year. Uh Karen, were you in the role previously as well? Um no that was our first year do it asking for two individuals and it was that same TST Boseis um school board association that elected um Eldrid Harris who served in that capacity for years a prior board member to ICSD had elected him and as an award winner for Central New York School Board Association which occurred the end of April. um that Eldrid always brought forth um um enlightenment and information to the discussion table.

058So Erin and I did it for the first time this past year 2024 25 and would either one of you be willing to serve again? I I would be willing to serve again. I would also but I want I don't want to bogart it. So if others are interested I'm very interested. Karen, do you want to arm wrestle over it? I don't want to arm wrestle. I said I'm interested in serving and I know that when I left um the meeting this at the end of this school year, they said hope you will return and we said we'll wait and see. So, no, I listen I um I I will gladly I I want I want to like get updates from y'all. Like so it doesn't have to like I'm very interested in this, but

059I agree. I think three is too many and honestly I've got plenty of other stuff going on on Fridays. So, um I I will relinquish my my role there. And board members may remember we just received a letter within the past two weeks from the TST Boseies reminding us of the importance of uh making sure that we had someone representing the Ithaca City School District for this position as well. Um, before we do a motion, I can I just I the the language on this motion, making one a board rep and one an alternate board rep feels like one is lesser. Is there a way that it would we be comfortable rewarding this motion to just say motion to designate two board reps to choose to alternate as needed or just two board reps and

060let folks work it out? Yes, I I'd be in support of that. on other board members. Yeah, because that's what we did this year. We would contact each other if we couldn't make it at any given time to give updates and so forth. So, and my only other quick caveat would be um not that there would be a report out at every meeting, but similar to the way in which we do committee updates that this would then be listed as a committee update and that time frame as well. I may be confused, but I think the online or docs resolution is as worded as you suggested and the paper one is worded as alternatives. It's it's a both and the recommended action includes alternate but the public content says it much more the way in

061which I Oh, it's actually right under there be it resolved. So, I'll gladly read this if we're ready. Um, what would be for any other Oh, yeah. discussion. I mean, we can also move it and still continue to debate it and discuss it as well. Okay. I move to designate Karen Yearwood and Emily Workman as members of its board of education to be the delegates to the TST Bosey's executive committee for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Additional questions, conversation hearing. None, we'll call the question. All in favor? That is unanimous. Thank you both for your willingness to serve and we look forward to hearing uh the updates. Uh agenda item 8.6, the designation of impartial hearing. Should this say impartial hearing officer or partial hearing uh appointment? Uh

062this I'm not even sure how many we had. Can would it be Dr. Briman? How many impartial hearings did we have last year that board members had to four imposs? Yeah, it wasn't many. Yeah. My apologial impartial. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And what is this exactly? Can someone explain? You want to talk about what an impartial hearing is? Come on up. Yeah. Good morning, Mary. So, an impartial hearing is the right for families through the special education process to disagree and and have the process audited with a mediator in support of the state. So, our representative is Heatheruite. That's one person we've worked with. We had about a, you know, I don't have the exact number. I think it's roughly a a half dozen um this past school year. And Sean, correct me if I'm wrong,

063but I I was I think I served as this one year and often times it is something that a new board member takes on because it is such a rare occasion that you have to attend this. And not to say that we don't take it seriously. It's just a nice way to sort of slowly, you know, get to know the system. I have experience doing this sort of thing. Um, and I'd be happy to to do if if needed. I'd like before. Would anybody else like to put their name forward? I move to designate Jacob Shiffron as the member of its board of education responsible for appointing an impartial hearing officer in accordance with the rotational selection process established by the commissioner of education section 200.2e of the regulations of the commissioner of education to

064conduct hearings in the district pursuant to section 4404 parenthesis one of the education law. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Adam. Discussion, debate, conversation. Hearing none, we'll call in question. All in favor? The motion passes. Uh, all Aaron, are you in favor? Oh, sorry. Sorry. Yep. Zone out. Yes, I am. Let me try it more. I apologize. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh, agenda item 8.7, the designating um official depositories. I move to approve the designation of the following banks and/or trust companies as the official deposiitories for the funds of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York during the fiscal year 2025206. Tomkins Community Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Mnt Bank, uh, Shimong Canal Trust and Nclass, New York Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System and Five-Star. Second. Moved by Aaron, seconded by uh Jacob.

065Question, conversation, debate, discussion. Yes, Erin. Uh Karen. Um we had a slight snafu with one of our banks about two months ago. Are have we resolved that? Is the bank, you don't have to state is the bank listed on here? Are we looking into doing anything? Thank you for the question. Yes, the bank uh uh is listed here as as others are and and we're looking to do an RFP to um look at our banking services in general and hopefully that RFP will be uh sent out in the next week or so. So, would the intention of the RFP be to find new banks essentially? Like is the intention to stop using the one bank that we had the major issues with? I don't think I can say that, but I think we're going to

066look at our services in general and we're going to be very specific about our needs and with hopes that someone can meet those. Okay. Additional questions, comments, debate. Hearing none, we'll call the question. All in favor? Motion passes unanimously. Oh, my apologies. My apologies. Uh, all opposed. Any abstensions? You're sitting too close to me, Todd. Uh 8.8, the designation of the official newspaper. We will entertain. I uh I'll I'll move and then we can discuss. uh move to approve the designation of the Ithaca Journal as the official newspaper for the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York, during the school year 2025 2026 for the publication of all legal notices and such other data as is required to be published by law and for which the same may be qualified to act. Moved by Aaron,

067seconded by Jacob. Questions, debate, conversation. Yes, Karen. My question con continues about using Ithaca journal given that it's not a um how do I say this nicely? It's not a um regular paper that's accessible to the community and it's not even in the community although it's um considered Ithaca Journal and it doesn't say here that we have to use a written periodical. It says published. We do have some other online newsletters or news reports they call themselves. There are several of them that um why are we providing information only to the journal and by the time our community receives the information it's outdated. Yeah, I agree. What are the minimum like what are Yeah, to Karen's point, what are the requirements? Does it have to be a newspaper or We believe that at some point

068in time the state may change this. Um it's a question that we've been asking for years. My current understanding and I'm happy to follow up and again this is something that can be changed at any point in time. My understanding is that it has to be a daily paper that is available in print. They claim they are daily but they are not available in print on a daily ba basis and especially when it's being distributed to um businesses or homes it is not distributed on a daily basis. I I'd like to point out um a couple things given that this is my background. Um I think uh and then also something that I I care deeply about. one, I uh when we get to talking about advisory councils and whatnot, I wonder if this is

069something we take up on uh legislative advocacy if that does exist again. Um due to the systemic dismantling of free press in this country, there is there are no like really local communities, small communities just don't have this. this is an outdated mandate that we're facing and it's problematic. Um, and so that makes us have emotion within our policies and designations that is not equitable and not really truly something that is useful for our community. So I feel like right now this is just a mandated requirement that we have to approve. But as a board when we really want to communicate to the to the community, this is something that I think we should focus on and examine and work to change on a state level. Whether that be NISBO, whether that be local legislators,

070this is something I think that we need to start taking on because there what this mandate asks for does not exist anymore and that's not doing due diligence to our communities, any any school district's communities. It's not fair. It's not equitable. It's not sustainable. It also indicates that oftentimes our laws are two to three years behind the reality of lived experiences. Yeah. Um I'd also be careful and I'll take the risk and say it. some of uh the ways in which things get reported locally I would not consider to be journalism but more tabloid. Um and so trying to find something that is actually journalistic also makes it something that's difficult as well. Uh but the last time I asked this question which was about 6 months ago uh with our legal team it's the

071same response that I got that the the mandate the statute has not changed. Um, this is something I believe I don't know if we have any public notices between now and August 9th. Um, I think I'd be in fa I think I'd be in favor of adopting it with a note and expectation that we will research, find out what our options are, and move forward. But I think I'd be a little uncomfortable not having a newspaper of record in case we needed one between now and and August, if that makes sense. Normally, I'd say we should table it, but but that doesn't feel right either, given that it's possible that something may come up that we'd have to Can I add something? Of course. Um, I just want to say that when I'm doing the

072school elections, we've always used the Ithaca Journal as well as the Trumanburg Free Press. So, those those are the two newspapers that we use for uh notices, legal notices. I mean, and Sean, I like your idea and thank you, Trisha, for that information. I think, and I don't know if this is something we'd want to open up and do a on the-fly thing, but as a as a board member, I would propose we really explore not choosing one, but really just um Excuse me. sending notices to all local publications instead of one. And that we can do whether we have a policy or process or not. Right? We're just adopting the official paper, but we could send it to other media outlets, other forms of media um that we can act ask to do now

073without without sort of um waiting to see what the response is. Yeah. And even I would love to if you know ask our communications team to identify basically every local source that our community accesses and that we can blast through those channels whatever information needs to go out. We will stay off next door but I understand. Yes. Additional questions, comments. So we'll make a I'm making a note. This is something we'll come back to. We'll do some additional research and bring it back to the board. That works. Uh hearing no other comments at this point in time. Uh we'll call the question. All in favor? All opposed? Any abstensions? The motion passes. You received you got the votes. Fantastic. Uh 8.9 designation of signers. I move to approve the designation of Lori Mudge, treasurer and

074Emily Ship, assistant school business executive as the authorized signer for the dispersement of all funds of the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York during the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. Questions, conversation? All in favor? That is unanimous. uh 8.11 receivers of money. And here we can just say as listed if that works for you. We got to What about 8.10? What about 8.10? Uh 8.10. Okay. Sorry. I move to approve the designation of Questar three Boseies as internal auditors for the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. questions, conversation, hearing none. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Now to 8.11. I move to approve the designation of the following positions as receivers of money for

075the 2020 for the school year 2025 2026. Treasure at the city school district. School treasure Ithaca High School. School treasurer Layman Alternative Community School. School treasurer Dwit Middle School. School treasurer, Boon Middle School, librarians and library clerks, school secret clerks, school secretaries, all schools, cafeteria cashiers, tax collector, tax clerks, gate person, purchasing agent, assistant superintendent of business and finance, school lunch clerk, transportation director, director of athletics and wellness, athletic facilities manager, athletic equipment manager, director of child nutrition. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, debate, conversation. Hearing none, we'll call the question. All in favor? That is everyone with someone out of the room. Um 8.12 designation of independent auditor. I move to approve the designation of Insero and OC uh CPAs as independent auditors for the Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, New York

076for the fiscal year 2025 2026. Becca moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions baked conversation hearing no discussion. It says OC that's not it's co it's a typo. So it's um yeah uh just a friendly edit for what I said. It's it's end company. That was a typo that I read wrong. Additional comments, questions? We'll fix the typo and the recommended motion though it is in the public content. Uh call the question all in favor. The motion passes with the noted absence. Um 8.13 designated custodians of money. I move to approve the designation of the following positions as designated custodians of money for the school year 2025 2026. Treasure Ithaca City School District Schools treasures for the following. Ithaca High School, LACS, Dwit Middle School, Boon Middle School, school secretaries, all schools, cafeteria cashiers, tax

077collector, tax collector, tax clerks, p purchasing agent, director of child nutrition, transportation director, director of athletics and wellness. Second. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. Question, conversation, debate. All in favor? Everyone in the room with noted exception. Uh this is brings us to agenda item nine. Uh we are making good progress. Stay with us folks. We're we're closing in here. Um this is the authorization for use of telephone, wire, and electronic banking services. I move to author authorize Lori Mudge, treasurer Emily Ship, assistant school business executive and Dominic Lesi, assistant superintendent attendant for business and finance individually to utilize telephone, wire, and electronic banking services at the Ithaca City School District designated official depositories during the school year 2025 2026. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, debate, conversation. Call the question. And all

078in favor, everyone here with a noted exception. 9.2. I move to authorize Trisha Barisford, clerk of the Ithaca City School District, Itha, New York, and Dominic Lesey, assistant superintendent of business and finance to sign agreements, reports, and claims to the state education department in connection with the operation of the National School Lunch Program in the schools of the school city school district, Ithaca, New York, for the 2025 2026 school year. Second move by Aaron, second by Jacob. question, conversation, debate. I may be a vote. Hearing none, all in favor? That is everyone with the noted exception. Uh, agenda item 9.3. I move to approve. I move to authorize Dominic Lease, the assistant superintendent of business and finance, and Emily Ship, assistant school business executive, to sign agreements, contracts, and any obligations with vendors, consultants, contractors,

079or other service providers for the 2025 2026 school year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Question, conversations hearing none. All in favor? Everyone with a noted exception 9.4. I move to authorize Robert Vancen, director of human services and labor relations, Zack Lind, assistant superintendent for human resources and technology and or Dominic Lesey, assistant superintendent of business and finance to certify all payrolls prepared on behalf of the city school district Ithaca, New York for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Debate, questions, conversation. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. 9.5. I move to approve authorization for the cooperative bidding as authorized by general municipal law section 119-0 for the purpose of selected items for use in and by this district. Questions, conversation. Oh, sorry. We need a second. Moved

080by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, conversation, debate. Hearing none. All in favor? Motion passes unanimously. 9.6. I move to delegate the authority to invest school district monies to Dominic Lesey, the assistant superintendent of business and finance and or Lorie Mudge, the treasurer andor Emily Ship, assistant business school executive in accordance with sections 16004-A and 1723- of the education law and any other pertinent regulations. Second. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Jacob. Questions, conversation, debate. All in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh 9.7. I move to authorize the establishment of pettyash funds for the fiscal year 2025 2026 in the amounts listed and appoint the designated positions as custodian custodians to the funds. ICSD treasurer $100 and ICSD transportation director $100. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Questions, conversation, debate, hearing none, we'll call a question. All

081in favor? The motion passes unanimously. Uh 9.8. I move to approve recognition of select district employees who are required to carry district-owned cell phones in order to meet their job responsibilities. Second move by Aaron, second by Jacob. Question, conversation, debate. This is 9.8. What why do who do we provide cell phones to? Why and how much does it cost? I've worked in districts that do that and they stopped doing that like a decade ago. Great questions. Zack, you want to come on and we would love to get out of the cell phone business, too, but we have some thinking to share. Uh, yeah. So, this has been a conversation point um over the last couple of years. Uh, oh, Zachland, uh, an assistant superintendent for human resources and technology. Uh, all right. So, we actually

082in board docs, we submit a list of all the titles that we designate. So you should have that for pew. It's not listed in board docs at this time. Exactly. It's in the executive. Yeah. Um but to answer your question, uh usually we're providing cell phones to uh folks in usually in leadership roles or really active service roles where they're they're needed to be on call as part of their job. Um but they're not always in a specific location with a cell phone. So, a good example would be um you know, director of facilities who's going in and out of buildings, might need to call a contractor, might need to um call back the office, ask questions. Same thing for a lot of our um administrative uh staff who are, you know, building principles, associate

083principles who are um in and around the building, but not necessarily always in a specific location. And how much is spent on them? Uh so a cell phone uh per it's it's about $60 a month depending on how the the plan is structured. Um the Verizon is our the service that we've been using and usually that provider provides you get like a zerocost phone. Um and then you just have a monthly fee. So I'm just asking for more directing. So like how much is Oh the total like the total cost we paid for? Um, I don't have that right here. I want to say for the just guessing off the top of my head, I think it's something like $80,000 in a year. But but then but but really that's okay. Sorry. No, go ahead.

084I'll just say I I think that I can think of a lot lot lot better ways to spend $80,000 a year that would directly impact kids. And I guess I'm shocked. I don't know. I'm shocked and maybe I just don't have the context, but I'm shocked that we did this. Jacob, for the list, if you go into the executive session section, there is a list that identifies all the positions as well. So, I'm just letting you know that you can see the list that's there. So, it doesn't we'll get to the the amount in a minute, but I'm just giving you an example of where the titles are. Yep. Jake and I'll add um uh as a former CIO I've been dealing with cell phones for about 20 years now and would love to get

085out of the business of providing cell phones to employees and I know the requirements and that number is much cheaper than it used to be and uh their e- rate federal rate reimbursements that our district receives um based on how much we expend with telecommunications. So that's why it's hard to give you a hard number but there there is a number there is a cost and if moving away from providing cell phones we would need to talk about policies and ways to provide access to principles 24/7 and others and that would be contractual obligations and so it gets rather complicated and challenging very quickly. I think I I'll just jump in because I agree with you, Jacob, and we talked about this in in other years past and we had conversations like this and kind

086of said, "Well, you know, we can look into it. We could look for some other options. We'll see about it, I feel like." And then it keeps coming back up on the agenda. Um, and we really haven't had conversations about it. Um, and it is very expensive and it does seem like uh there are a lot of other options because everybody has a cell phone that they're carrying around 24 hours a day and we could purchase second lines. We've talked about all these different options before. So I I agree with your sentiment. One one thing to note is after discussions over the last two years, we actually have we did audit a lot of these and we did cut back significantly um on the number of phones that were distributed throughout the district. So um

087that was so just to your point there there has been action around that in response to questions but we're we're really and then I will also note um it has been a discussion item um with the different uh bargaining units about which uh you know use use of cell phones. We haven't come to any conclusions but it's certainly something that we could discuss in the future. Karen. And we have to take into consideration that our um the district's employees may not want to use their personal cell phones for um business purposes. Whether or not there's a second an option for a second line and so forth. Um because if anything should happen to the cell phone needed, they're giving up their whole cell phone, their personal cell phone. So we have to take into consideration

088that. We've also uh started using Talking Points for a lot of our um schools sort of the teachers and many of our administrators which is a software tool that sends text messages via a computer directly to using the list from um school tool directly to caregivers and actually in fact translates into target languages and is is you know works really well. So we've we've been transitioning many of our employees to that when appropriate. That's on their um computers. that's on their computers, then it doesn't necessitate a phone. Yeah. I Yeah. I mean, I think like I' I've experienced like concerns before about using personal phones or like sharing out numbers. I think like that's why we have Google numbers. It's like anyone at this point can hide their number if they don't want it shared.

089I guess I'll just say like $80,000. I have talked to parents and principles and teachers. I could list out right now 500 things that would be like like act like like things that would directly support students. Um I think it's really a huge I think we should not I think we should not do this. I I I agree about the the cost, right? That's something that we're all trying to do, right? is to minimize expenditures and increase revenue whenever possible. Um, some of the school districts that I've worked with have gotten out of the cell phone game, but they have then created uh monthly installments into people's contracts to pay for the use of their personal cell phone. So, even while the district is no longer providing the device, the reduction in cost isn't an

090$80,000 reduction. It may be a $20,000 reduction because you're still providing a monthly stipen for someone to use their personal device to be available 24 hours a day, which some of our principles need to do. Um, so I think it's to Adam's point something that keeps coming up. It's been coming up. It will continue to come up. Um, I don't know if there's a way in which we could set a different timeline or conversation about it, but I don't want us to think just because we take away cell phones that there will not be an additional cost. Um, and it would probably be a negotiated item as well. So, part of it would be uh working with our unions if that's something that they would be willing to negotiate around. So, it's not as simple

091as the board saying we're not paying for cell phones anymore. So, we can't we are contractually obligated to I'm I I'm not making that statement. I'm saying it's a conversation that is a little bit more complex than simply saying we're not providing cell phones. And we've heard from a number of administrators who have significant concerns about using their personal cell phone 24 hours a day for work without having a separation between work and and again and I know other districts that have done that but then have provided stipens to folks to help cover that cost. Just a bit more 80% of our cell phone costs are covered by federal rate reimbursement. So 80% of that cost is covered or is a rebate or a refund. Although some of that can be questioned and going forward

092but uh and then also some of the other concerns we hear from folks is a personal phone could be foilable or subject to foil um if using that. So folks yeah struggle with using a personal phone for any type of business related items because of that issue. Yeah I I was just going to say the same thing which is that uh I just think any change to the policy should be run through BSK because of subpoena power. Should be what? Run through BSK. uh Bon Shanik and King BSNK for short. The acronym is the legal legal council. It's our legal counsel for the school district. The the the particular concern is whether uh there would be a situation which an employees personal phone could be subpoenaed because if school district business occurred on their personal

093phone, there's legal action taken, the phone is subpoenaed, then you're subpoena and personal property. I'm not saying this would happen. I'm just saying that we should seek the advice of BSK to be sure that's not a concern. Thank you. And I I'd like to finally add, you know, in making this decision, yes, it's a lot of money, but I I'd like to hear from the employees that are advocating to have dual phones. I mean, I I imagine if this is something they're wanting and they're trying to get in their contract, I would like to hear their reasoning before I make a unilateral decision. Um because that is like their our phones are attached to us all the time, so wanting to separate yourself a little bit once in a while um is really important. And

094when we talk about mental health, you know, being able to turn off your work phone on a vacation or whatever is critical. So I I I'd want to hear their reasoning before I'd make any decision. For me, lastly, the irony is that a good number of people who are on the list are on the list because they are responsible for student well-being and so the phones are connected to the job in in that way. If you look under the executive session, I don't I I'm not able to do Can someone teach me or is without question are you are you on board docs right now? Yes. Are you signed into board docs with your official information? I don't know how to upper right hand side upper. Yeah, there's a little person. And so if then

095if you go to agenda item 10.1 it says enter into executive session. It's not opening for me. can't open but that open uh this is something that we can uh I don't we'd have to have a conversation. I don't know if we can table it. We can hold the conversation until after the executive session to uh we can move it to agenda item I'm looking here 10.4 for approval so folks can get a chance to take a look at the list. I think it I would think it would be nice to at least do that because um I looked at it earlier and I recall first of all the the title the role titles are like not super clear. Um and there was like one title that had like 14 phones allotted to I'm I'm

096sure there's like 14 different staff. I know what I mean. Um, but just to kind of we're talking a lot about like admin and and folks who are who are really um directly focused more on student stuff, but I think it would be helpful to understand like who all of the employees are because I think there's like over 30 maybe. Um, and also the form is incomplete. So there are descriptions um for some um of them about why they need a phone and other ones are left blank. Uh so it would be helpful to have complete information as well. And just one one point, I agree with Erin that it can be helpful to separate out, but I also just want to name the district not paying for it doesn't prevent people from doing that.

097It's just saying that the district would prioritize using those funds elsewhere. And that's that's what I'm advocating for. Like, yeah, that's what I'm advocating. But yeah, let's let's do what's next. Well, there's a motion on the floor. Motion to Can I motion to table that motion until after executive session or um we can It's funny. I think we already have here right that I am, as many folks know, I am not a fan of Robert's rules. Uh, I find it to be oppressive and problematic at best, though I understand the need for some form of uh, procedure to make sure that meetings run smoothly. If there are no objections to the board from the board members, then I recommend we move this current agenda item, even though it's been moved to agenda item 15.4 to

098revisit as the last piece of the voting meeting. Uh, if that is okay by folks. If there are objections, then by all means, please. I amend my motion. I I'll move to table this. Well, table would mean that we take it up next. Sorry. I motion to move item 9.8 to item 15.4. All in favor? Fantastic. You got that. We are going to move agenda item 9.8 to 15.4. Great. That brings us to agenda item uh 10.1 and we will entertain motions to I move to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing the following uh discussions regarding proposed pending or current litigation collective negotiations pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law. the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation or matters leading to the appointment, employment,

099promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. Question, debate, conversation. All in favor? Fantastic. Uh, the board will be headed next door. Is that we're headed to for executive session? I cannot give an indication of how long we will be. Uh I hope it will be efficient. Maybe 45 minutes. Patience. We are returning from executive session. Absolutely. Um we will continue on with our agenda. Uh and um prior to that um we'll ask if there are any modifications to the agenda as the remainder of the agenda. Yeah. I move to add um an addendum supplemental report to item 12.1 of our agenda. Moved by Adam, second by Jacob. Questions, conversation, discussion. All in favor of that modification. That is unanimous for the people who

100are present. We're missing one board member. Okay, got it. Emily, fantastic. That will bring us to the consent agenda and we will entertain motions. I move to approve the consent agenda as presented with the addendum. Second. Moved by Aaron, seconded by Adam. Questions, conversation, debate. Well, just a point that I will vote in favor for the consent agenda only that I will have to abstain from the minutes from June 24th since I was not present at that time. Any other discussion or conversation? We'll call the question. All in favor? Fantastic. Uh we will continue on with school business. uh that includes the adoption of the two yeah the 2025 2026 board meeting schedule and we will entertain well before we entertain motions um again we'll have a quick conversation board members I do have a

101conversation or a question that we may want to consider um if folks can see the calendar that is presented um my recommendation in short would be for the month of November uh we currently have a board meeting scheduled scheduled on Tuesday, November 25th, that is the week of Thanksgiving. The following day, that Wednesday, is the beginning of Thanksgiving break. We have tried not to have meetings the night before a break. Uh the way in which the schedule is listed currently, we have a voting meeting on Tuesday, November 18th, and then on Thursday, we have facilities and finance committee meetings scheduled. I would like to propose a modification that we hold the facilities and finance committee meetings on Tuesday the 18th and a special voting meeting on Thursday the 20th and not have a meeting the

102week of Thanksgiving. That sounds good. Although I cannot see the calendar. I think it was locked for a number of folks. But hearing it does doesn't does sounds good. Um, and I've gone through the calendar and make sure that we avoided some other things we did. So, for example, the month in June, uh, we have no meeting scheduled during commencement, moving up ceremonies, things of that nature. Um, and, uh, Trisha did a good job of making sure that we move meetings around when there are breaks that are taking place as well. That was the only one that I thought would be a good idea to move to move from there. So, with that being said, if folks, if we can entertain motions with that one change for the month of November, uh we'll go from

103there. Motion to adopt. I move to adopt the 2025 2026 board meeting schedule as presented with the modification uh presented by Sean. Moved by Aaron, second by Jacob. questions, conversations. All in favor? Fantastic. We'll work on getting that meeting schedule up on the website for our community members. Uh a resolution, the next one, agenda item 15.2. I move to expend funds for board members Maline Cardona and Jacob Shiffren to complete statemandated new board member training courses. Second. Moved by Aaron, second by Adam. question conversation. Adam and Maline, I hope you are made aware that you are required to complete Jacob. My apologies. Um, not Adam sitting. Yeah. Uh, and I would assume that many board members tell you they find that training to be helpful. So, I would recommend trying to complete it sooner rather

104than later if your schedules allow. Do online or in person? People have done both. I both have been eyeed up. Yep. Cool. All right, we'll call the question. All in favor? Fantastic. That passes. Uh the next item is agenda item 15.3. Um I think we can have a small conversation, though I would recommend that we put this back on the agenda for August 9th. U most likely these um advisory councils wouldn't begin into the school year anyway when we can get educators to be a part of them. Um, Maline, if I heard correctly, there was a conversation from you or recommendation to consider a special counsel on athletics and a special council on special education. Um, that would be one idea that we should explore. Um, I'm recommending that we have one on sustainability or

105to uh focus on the sustainability action plan that was presented to the board. That's one I'd like to discuss as well. Um, in the past, we've had legislative advocacy committee. Um again uh that's something that we can discuss as well. Are there any others that we should be thinking about andor doing some work between now and August to be ready for additional conversation? You know Sean, I think that um what would be useful is that we internally send some of the descriptures where you the the formation of these committees has specific wording and charges. So I think anyone who has an idea for committees should create a charge and we can work together to create the language for that. So when we come to our next meeting we're ready to discuss these in full. Um

106and you know for new board members who are interested right we can direct you on how to do that even talk to legal and share some of the past emails we' shared with these discussions so we can make this kind of expedite the process because it's it's cumbersome to discuss in a public meeting. Yeah. Uh if it's okay by the board, I'll create a um document uh for suggestions that will include some of the former language so you can see both the charge and the timeline and how these are then voted by by resolutions so we can maybe streamline the process and answer some questions via email and then bring them back for August 9th if that works for folks. Fantastic. Uh and then we moved an agenda item to 15.4 before uh about uh

107cell phone um use your cell phone for select employees. Um I think it'd be my recommendation that we do officially table this until August 9th. Um August 9th is So then what date am I talking about when I keep saying August 9th? I'm gonna say the 12th. I'm gonna say whatever that Tuesday is in August. August. Yep. So mid August. to the 12th. I I I agree. Do we have to do a formal motion to table it? Uh if we we should but Okay. Do you do you want to do that motion? I move to table item 15.4 um discussion about cell phones until the August 12th meeting. All in favor? That is so tabled until the next meeting. Uh, I believe that is it. Good folks, we will bring the meeting to a close.

108Thank you all. We'll see you all soon. Board members, we'll see you tomorrow. Sorry, we're meeting over there tomorrow, right? We're meeting in the