001We are live folks. >> Good evening everyone and welcome um call our meeting to order. Would everyone please stand for the pledge of >> allegiance? I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Our first item is consent agenda. The recommended action approve the following items which are included in the consent agenda. 6A minutes and six, excuse me, 8B special education. May I have a motion, please? Hold on. Make that motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> If not, please vote. [clears throat] Seven. Yes, we have a presentation this evening with um Mrs. trainer in the interact club and her student Johnny Lin Coro is not here. >> Okay, this is Sophie Spamber. Sophie
002Spamberg is here this evening. So, we welcome the both of you. I'm sure at this point you've already signed in. So, we welcome you and look forward to your presentation. >> Follow me. Okay. So obviously we're with Interact high the high school program and we put together some things that we just wanted to talk to you guys about or just show you what we've been doing this year so far and what we're looking forward to for the rest of the year. So so far for our current members, six freshman, five sophomores, 13 juniors, and 13 seniors. So we've definitely built this program up a lot. We have a lot of seniors and juniors. And from my experience in this club for all four years since my freshman year, we tend to build more as the
003year goes on. And as people get further into their high school career, we see more and people join throughout their time in the high school. I think to start off, we have a lot of scared freshmen, but when they see the impact that we have and they hear about events like the teddy bear picnic, that's a big one for us. That's fun and exciting. We have more people that join throughout the whole time. We have our president Fiona Sullivan and Donna Perez. We have a lot of doubles this year. Vice President Ireland Cassie and Rowan Mather, treasure Brook Meyer, and I am lucky enough to be the secretary for the club. Um, graduating seniors, as long as they participate in at least one activity that we offer, um, receive a stole to wear at graduation.
004Um, and most of the seniors have already completed that for this year. >> It went to the next slide. >> Okay. activities. So far, we have done locker day, damn duck race, teddy bear picnic, pumpkin decorating, and we have done our first blood drive. We also done the s'mores packing for the roast club, and we're looking forward to our next blood drive with the Red Cross. I believe >> for me, my favorite, sorry. My favorite's always been locker day. It was something that I looked forward to a lot going into school setting up my locker and especially as a senior. I got to set it up and I got to guide a lot of people, a lot of whom I a lot of kids I met through Camp Placid over the summer. So, it was
005really great for me to be able to see all the kids be very scared and very nervous and then be very excited running around finding their classrooms and their teachers. We're lucky enough to have a tight-knit community where a lot of the kids already knew the high school seniors that were in the building. Teddy Bear Picnic. This was my first Interact event when I was a freshman. It brings in support for small businesses, staff members, um local scoops, Misslair's small business, and then we also had the 80 karaoke join with us. That's how you pronounce it. >> Yes. And that's um Miss Tresca um who is a TA at the elementary school for small business. Um so it was nice to include other staff members and let them interact with the students in the district
006in a different setting. Um and I know after talking to um Miss Tresca, she was very excited to see the students outside of their regular day and then have them come up to her be very excited to talk to her about seeing them over the weekend. Then we collect stuffed animals for collect stuffed animals for taking children and the leftovers go to the Christmas fun. I used to live in the apartment buildings by Teddy Bear Park and it was my favorite time of the year when my dad would let me go all by myself and pick out my own teddy bear. I believe I ended up in the parade one year. I don't know how, but it's such a fun experience especially for the littles. And going into it as a member of Interact, it
007was amazing to see all the small businesses Interact. All the kids going up to different things, especially the library books is my favorite when kids get a stuffed animal and a book and they just get so excited about having something that they picked out for them. And it's a good opportunity for families too to be able to give that to their children as well in times when they might not be able to on their own. We've done such a great job collecting those extra stuffed animals that it was nice to instead of just have them sit for the next year, pass them off to Kora and Zach to have for the Christmas fund, too. And then they get donated in another way. >> Um, like Miss Trainer talked about bringing in small businesses. We have
008so many. It's so important to include as many as we can in this time. the Sarat Saratoga party adventure with Louie and the Shaku characters as well. Sorry, Terry. Um, we helped the Boy Scouts. They're trying to recruit and recreate Cub Scouts, so they got to talk to interested families. The fire department came with the fire truck. Um, the LPA was able to come and interact with students um and hand out books. And Lake Plazet Anal Hospital um had their uh stuffy hospital. they interacted with kids and they got to see the people that they get to bring their pets to but in a different light. So that was nice. Um because I know at least from my experience my children don't always love when I have to bring our pets to the vet. So
009it was that nice interaction like well here they're helping you with your stuffed animals too. Um here are some pictures. Uh Donna ran our stuffy table this year. Um the LPA and um then also Misslair and her ice cream cart. Um this year we um again did all of the pumpkins for the Halloween trivia that Rotary puts on. Unfortunately, we didn't get a great picture. Um but it really helps to add to um our sponsor club of Rotary and take that off the table for them. And then it becomes a real talking piece for the people that are there knowing that the club is able to do that for them and students get to highlight their creativity. So, the blood drive, there's two separate ones that we've had, the Aderondack Regional and then later, like
010I mentioned, the American Red Cross. Uh, I first heard about this when I was in [clears throat] Miss Kyler's 10th grade health class and trainer came in. We had a nurse, I believe, also come in and talk to us about what donating blood is, what you're actually doing, where it goes, and the entire process. Uh, this year we collected seven units of blood for this drive. The challenge tends to be the college trip that the big one that we do is scheduled at the same time which can be a conflict. A lot of our students that are in interact are also the ones that are taking that step to go and look at colleges. We had a lot of members that were not there. We had one student donor and that was me this time
011around. Um the blood drive was a big thing to me. I have had a lot of family members that have been in and out of the hospital and I know how scary that can be. And so the blood drive for me was a big thing because I might be scared of needles, but if that's the way that I can give back, it's a way that I can give back beyond teddy bears and books. And you never know how it affects someone. And I think the beautiful thing is you never see the outcome, but you get to know that you did something big for someone else. Um, so this is the second year we have partnered with Roost um to do all of the packaging of their s'more supplies for the campfire in Coco, which is
012held on Main Street um during the week between Christmas and New Year's. Um, and it's a large task. students are able to sign out during the day, go over to order, um hang out with the people in Roost, package up 12 extremely large bins of s'more stuff, maybe interact with students that they don't always get to see. So if So Sophie had a study hall at the same time a ninth grader had a study hall, they can go together and then talk up about Interact and all of a sudden here's this new member of Interact that we may not have reached otherwise. Um, and it does a lot for Roost, um, because they wouldn't be able to get it done without us. >> The Red Cross blood drive is coming up soon, March 20th, and
013I believe the signup sheet is out already for adults. >> The online link is out um for community members, and I've thrown it out um into generic um Facebook land. Right now, we have 22 out of the 38 slots that are filled. Um if we collect that 30 units of blood, um $500 will go um to interact for scholarships from the Red Cross. Um this is typically a more popular community drive um because people can sign up and plan in advance versus the other one which is a drop-in drive. Um so it just is kind of hit or miss if we get enough people. um upcoming um Raquel who is a senior um wants to do a cultural fair um as part of her capstone project and has asked to interact to kind of help
014out with that um and we will help with our annual park day again which we partner with the town of North Elba um and go to the parks and kind of help weed and pick up and we bring the fifth graders along so they can kind of experience interact um there is a middle school interact as well um and so we hope to gain members through that um and then as Rotary and Roost come up with other activities that are possible, um, we always partner with them or any other community organization that may need somebody else covered a few questions. I I think you do a great job. [clears throat] I didn't realize that you [snorts] have so many activities that you participate in and um congratulations on being the student blood. [laughter] [clears throat]
015That's that's a big thing. So, um but no, I'm very impressed with all the projects that you're doing planning. >> Thank you. You're doing what you're doing. It's awesome. Thank you, ladies. >> Appreciate you. [laughter] >> Thanks so much. >> Thank you. >> Joe, don't go far. >> No, I um our next item is recommended action. A motion to go into executive session for the purposes of discussing tenure recommendations. Um, may I have a motion, please? Seven. Yes. [clears throat] Joe's gonna take care of it. >> Yeah. Bye folks. >> Okay, >> we're going to uh start the meeting again and we have our first go to cause um which allows the public to address the board. Um if there's anyone in attendance this evening that would like to speak or >> Yes, ma'am. >>
016Okay. Thank you. If you could just um state your name, that would be great. My name is John Ward. >> Okay. Um, Mr. Ward, before anyone um does give public comment, I just have to read a brief statement. >> Um, the board of education encourages public participation on school related matters at the board meetings. To allow for public participation, a period not to exceed 30 minutes has been set aside at the beginning and end of the board meeting. As a general rule, public participation will be limited to 5 minutes total per speaker. Anyone who wants to speak should state their name and sign the sheet. Comments should be general in nature and should not involve concerns regarding a specific employee of the district as the board has a separate protocol for these matters. This is
017a protection for school employees to assure their due process rights in a public forum. Individuals ris excuse me wishing to raise a specific concern should follow the regulations outlined in policy 1400. So I invite you Mr. Ward if you'd like to step forward and speak that would be wonderful. Thank you. >> So I prepared something to uh uh to say. Uh hello ladies and gentlemen of the school board. I'm here today because on January 16th, I was terminated from my position as custodian and uh custodian here. And since the topic is coming up in today's meeting, I thought it only equitable for me to come here and talk to y'all about why starting work here, I've received a full work workday and some change worth of training. But the training was erratic, spartial, and overall
018incomplete. Since then, I had to train myself and or go to other co-workers and ask them what my duties entailed. Due to the lack of training and direction, I I started work here in October. And by the time before Christmas break, I was being nitpicked, misled, and talked about behind my back. and all while not being given any guidance, direction, or constructive criticism. Every time we would receive a correction from our supervisor, it would be very public in front of multiple members of staff. um when there was no when there was no necessity of them being there, therefore denying me any respect and privacy, even going as far as a verbal threat in front of other staff. The day prior, we had a m uh a musical and an art show and I was instructed
019to clean my floors twice before everyone entered and after everyone enter uh exited. Um, even though I had notified her I wouldn't have enough time, I was or even though I notified that I wouldn't have enough time, uh, I was only able to do my fours the first time, left them for the morning because I had been instructed for the entire duration of my employment. If you are unable to complete your assigned duties by the end of your shift, you can leave it for the morning and it'll be handled. Then when I came in, everybody um multiple people were upset that I had left it for the morning. Uh and the next day, um I was scowled at and said that they weren't happy and next week better be better. I took this as a
020and me understanding that I was not the most liked in the department. I took this as a threat knowing full well my job is not permanent until after a year uh has been completed. When I brought this up to my manager a couple of days later it he had said um he would deal with it. However, what had happened was 2 days after I notified him, uh I had received something called a written documentation that in emails between us was not confirmed uh that it was in fact that it was in fact a documentation. um as it was stated in as it was stated in um our one-on-one meeting after directly following with saying that they could fire me at any time. I understand that I can be let go at any time uh for
021any legal reason. Um, but I do feel as though I was fired in retaliation for notifying uh my su uh for what my supervisor had said. Only reason why I believe that it was done in retaliation is because when the missing documented duties was gone through, either it was something I was not notified of or upon seeing a slight imperfection in the flooring. Um, I have pictures of my work that I did um that I believe tell a different story and I'll I will email photo documentation of my work if requested. Um, in regards to my termination, I was not given the opportunity to have a two-way conversation in regards to any of the alleged uh factors being levied against me, nor an opportunity to prior uh nor an opportunity prior to that uh for
022developing an employee improvement plan to cover gaps in my initial training and supervised learning opportunities. in regarding in regards to the work that I completed. Uh they continuously added to my work workload in a way that in inhibited my ability to uphold uh LPCSD standards and requirements, thus undermining undermining my job stability and personal abilities. Um, so much so that in order to not stir the viper's nest, I was not taking any of my breaks and I was I had notified uh my manager. I had notified my manager that I was not taking my breaks. Uh, he had told me not to do that. I replied to him, I I have too much of a workload not to do that. and nothing in my workload had changed. Uh so I continued. Um I'm here for
023a couple of reasons today. I enjoy I I really enjoyed my job and um if there's a chance of this decision being reversed. I feel like I'm compelled to speak up here today as well as I've noticed a pattern. As we all know, this town gossips. Uh this has been the third third time this year to my knowledge that this has happened and um I know it's happened before this year. And the last issue that I would like to raise to the board's concern is that company property has routine routinely been used and misappropriated due um due to my employment here. I've personally seen uh someone drive the school plow truck uh to their home where it stayed for extended periods of time and where it was also seen plowing neighbors driveways. when it came
024uh when I came in um this person is off often not seen um anywhere on premises and it's rumored that uh they say that they're in the bus garage but oftent times they're not >> excuse me Mr. board. Yes, ma'am. >> I do have to ask um to have you stop at this point because you're approaching eight minutes and >> Okay, I didn't time myself. I didn't know >> to be respectful and let you but um >> honestly that was the end of it. >> Um that's good. No, I I just I wanted to let you finish your thought, but I do have to fairness to other people come forward >> and then when you guys do your secondary, I I got a couple questions, but that's all. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. information
025for the public. There is nothing currently in that category. There were also no I'm sorry. >> That's okay. Okay. >> Um under reports to the board, um uh there's nothing in the uh financial reports this week. So Dana, you got the evening off. Um the student board member report. Um I think our student board members are either um just um not available this evening which then lends us to our first actual report and our superintendent report and Mr. Seymour. Thank you. >> Great. Uh so at the end of January we had our grade three through five music concert. Um and once again uh this is under the directorship of Mr. Blevens. Um so Mr. Leven is in his second year here in the district and um he continues to just really surprise and delight. Um
026he's a great presence for our our students and um those who are accustomed to seeing a typical student band performance being very formulaic. Um would be surprised to see how Mr. Blevens and the students have just a going. It's a he calls it a modern band, but students are um you know encouraged to play and bring in instruments of their own. Um they're at one point he uh directed the band and uh the chorus students simultaneously in a song and of course this is our our initial uh third through fifth grade um you know musicians who are just getting into it. Um his selection of music is just awesome. Uh so in in the piece that both the band and chorus played together um they played um a Beatles song and had um invited students
027who weren't even in the band or chorus to come and and play different instruments just to beef things up. Uh so it was it was excellent. Um and a lot of modern bands are represented in the the catalog that he cho chooses to a band called Wilco which has been around for a while pretty famous. Um, so all in all, uh, our music department just continues to impress and, uh, very pleased with what our students, um, were able to show their families, um, in that in that concert. So, congrats to all who are involved. And, um, for our middle school uh, musicians, they're gearing up for the Alcounty Music Fest, which is um, a week from yesterday. Uh, on February 9th, they'll head to Acel Valley High School. So, we're looking forward to having 50
028of our students uh participate, which is outstanding. >> Um our community schools program continues to um come up with new programming for our students. So, we have two new programs that um have taken off um and are are uh very uh promising. I think um our learn to swim program with Aderondac uh health is due to start next week. We have 20 students signed up for that for six weeks of free swim lessons um right off Old Military Roads fitness center and uh that's geared for pre-K students and kindergarten students. So excited to see that. I think that filled up in like two days. So certainly phenomenal to see that. >> And then um we're also starting a middle school fitness program and this is for um students who may not consider themselves to be
029traditionally quoteunquote athletic. Um, and the goal is just to kind of show them that there's lots of different ways that they can um, hone in their their athleticism. So, we're excited for for both of those programs and thanks to Aderonduct Health for being a good partner for us. Um, the last couple of weeks have been uh, the future planning process that we do. Once again, that's when um, the admin team meets with each instructional department, each grade grade level. We look at the progress that uh those departments are making towards their instructional goal um that they present on to their colleagues in May on our day that we call impact day. Um so it was an opportunity to hear from all our departments and they also provide lots of um guidance about how um the
030the following year could be improved by looking at our purchases, our scheduling um our instructional planning. So, um I'll have more to report um over the the coming months um on kind of some of those goals and how they're firming up. Um it's four full days of meetings, so it's it's I probably have about 30 groups, so it takes a while to digest all that information, but we always get a good feedback out of that. So, I'm excited. [clears throat] Um we just finalized our March 13th professional development day. Um, and one of the the areas of feedback um that we've heard throughout the year is just that the extent of uh trauma that we're seeing amongst our students um really warrants some additional staff development. And so we're bringing in um Dave Melnick. He
031actually came into the district probably a decade ago and just was uh very well regarded by the staff. So he's the director of the trauma collaborative um in Vermont and he has 40 years of experience. His whole um uh his whole background is about transforming trauma. Um, for years it the the moniker um has been uh trauma informed and really it's about transforming trauma and and kind of um [snorts] giving students who have experienced that and staff um just some insight into um you know kind of accepting that that trauma has occurred in their life [clears throat] and um some some tools that can be useful for staff to support students uh and colleagues who who may be carrying some trauma. I mean, um, we all carry trauma. That's the nature of the human experience.
032And so, uh, I think it's a timely offering for our staff. So, he'll be here for a full day to work with us. And, um, I'm I'm excited to have that. That's good. >> He's really good. >> Oh. Oh, awesome. That's great stuff. Um, so we are um continuing uh in our future planning meetings. One of the the uh things that came up is you'll recall that we're in the second year of our Amplify reading program at the elementary school. And the way Amplify works is there's a core skills block that's a little more than an hour um for, you know, commas and punctuation and reading and all the things you'd expect from an English program. And then there's a secondary block each day that's about 40 minutes long. And that block is called the
033core knowledge block. And this is where students learn either um content in social studies, in science or in language arts. And so um this is a departure from what we used to do which was um we would have a standalone block for science, a standalone block for social studies. Now what the science of reading um has indicated is that vocabulary um in social studies and science is so significant that actually um having the content developed and and presented in an ELA block in that setting is is more impactful. Um so that's sort of the motif that we've had for the last year and a half while we've had this program. But uh there's been questions um from the department uh leaders in the elementary school particularly those in social studies and science about are there
034gaps in the content that we're covering for for our students at each grade level because uh the program Amplify has these different units um all over the place. In other words, typically New York State gives you a scope and sequence where um in social studies in kindergarten you'll learn about yourself and your community and then they'll continue to expand and by the time you get to fifth grade you're learning about US history, Native Americans and things like that. So Amplify has these units scattered all over the place and they they put the units in place um based on the vocabulary comprehension that students have at different grade levels. And so um some concern was being borne out like are are we providing all of the content K through five with our kids sufficiently and um
035it seemed like the perfect task for AI and Mr. Leon um our integrative technology teacher at the elementary school is quite proficient with the use of AI. Um and so he um I I put an attachment here just for you to see at your convenience, but he went in and looked at the scope and sequence of uh the New York State standards and the scope and sequence of the amplify units for students in social studies and science and ELA and did a crosswalk at each grade level. And you can see exactly where a given unit um was covered. So like a third grade teacher who covers one traditionally covered one thing, it's not in their unit plan, but they can see well that's still covered in second grade, so we don't have to worry. And
036it also showed a few gaps that are in the program that will have to be um borne out through one of the grade levels. So, um I thought it was a clever use of AI and also um just good to see our staff um recognizing some of the the challenging parts of a new curriculum and kind of using the tools at our disposal to to modify that. Um our elementary math curriculum um is is sort of in flux right now. uh we presently buy the envisions mathematics program and our licensing expires at the end of the year. So um to start the year we have several different pilots happening to try and evaluate which program is going to be the most impactful. Um during the the executive proposal the governor's state of the state. Um
037one of the things that she spoke about is ensuring that there's fidelity in mathematical instruction um by 2027. So everything we just went through with the science of reading uh being kind of like the baseline for literacy education that is now what's going to happen for mathematics. The good news is any of the programs that we're piloting are going to be aligned with best practice in mathematics. Um but nonetheless it is timely for us. And so um there's different grade levels uh piloting different programs right now. Um we have an envision program. We have the envision envision program. We have Eureka math and uh we have the amplify program which provides our our literacy program. Um they also have a a Desmos math program and long story short the the two differences uh between the
038types of programs is Eureka and vision and these other programs they tend to have a more um teacher centered modeling how a math problem is approached. the student shows that they can do it and then they um the whole class as a group reflects on it afterwards. Desmos flips it completely around. And so what they do is they they pose a question to students, a mathematical equation or something and then says the teacher will say, "Okay, you have five minutes to try and solve this." And won't give any guidance to the kids whatsoever. And each student has to try and use the tools that they have to figure out how to do this. And then um they work their way together. So then they compare how they achieved a different answer in a group and
039then they bring it all in at the end and said okay. So it's it's interesting to hear uh the the pluses and minuses that um our our math teachers are are kind of showcasing with regards to these two programs. Um on the one hand there's a lot of engagement with the students with the Desmos because it's so problem centered focused. Um uh on the other hand, it can be a challenge for teachers who are accustomed to teaching math a certain way to just like be free form. It's like jazz basically. Um so uh there there's certainly um those who are in favor of the Desmos program and then there's others who are in favor of um the modules uh which New York State has provided over the years and that the envision math program and
040Eureka math are based on. So, uh, the pilot is continuing. Um, by spring, um, the the math department committee will, uh, make their recommendations and, um, we'll have a follow-up discussion about what their recommendations are for the curriculum, but um, it's it's interesting if nothing else. So, lots of lots of changes at the elementary school instructionally last couple of years. Um, I just put some some information in here about uh what the governor indicated in the initial executive budget proposal. This is just for for your reference. Um, some of the high points are that um there's there's supposed to be at least a 1% floor for uh school aid increases, foundation aid. Um, so certainly we know we're not a state aid driven district. Um, it doesn't look like there's a windfall there for us.
041Uh but over the last couple of years, there's been considerable discussion about um trying to retract funding from schools whose populations have dwindled, safe, harmless schools as they're referred to, of which Lake Placid and 85% of the schools in New York City are. Um so it's reassuring to hear the word increase instead of clawback in the the initial state of the state. >> See what happens. >> Absolutely. Um yeah, let's let's hope that holds true. Uh there's there's a real push for pre-K expansion. We already have the gold standard program in Lake Placid. Um our our students uh our reimbursement rate for students is is phenomenal and has been the idol of many regional districts for a long time. Uh so it's it's nice to see other schools um are are being assured that this
042sort of funding will will happen. Uh but nonetheless, it's also reassuring to know that the funding that uh the district and our community partner in St. Magnus have relied upon uh appears to be stable. So that's encouraging. Uh [snorts] biggest takeaway uh continues to be that uh commitment for school meals remains in there. Uh so that's always reassuring. Certainly there's some interplay between the federal government and the state government um in terms of the community eligibility provision and where the money actually comes from, but uh nonetheless um we're happy to see that in there. Um I I referenced the new expectations for math um which uh there's there's no clarity yet on what those are, but um presumably everyone will be expected to do that in 2027. And then um lots of references to various
043uh unfunded mandates still that rural districts such as ours continue to um [snorts] make our way through. Um, and I didn't mean to end on a rather uh >> rough note, but um our health insurance consortium, of which the district is uh one of several across the region participating, uh we're forecasting a 22% increase in our premiums. And so this this is uh this is a big one. Um and uh we're certainly factoring that into our initial uh thinking for the budget. And uh I know there are there are larger discussions at the consortium level about uh plan design that um Dana who is our district rep on the consortium uh will uh certainly represent our interests well. But um this is this is the story of the year in terms of budget is is
044going to be the profound impact of health insurance premium. Just wanted to tuck that in there. Uh we we do have some plans in our forecast, but um it's it's a tough hit. >> No, it's really tough if it's true that just based on several highcost claimments, >> this is how this plays out. I mean, obviously across any kind of um private insurance, you deal with that every year, but it just seems that >> that's insanity. >> That's just because of a few claimments. I mean, >> specialty drugs in particular, right, D? >> It was a two two years in the making. I mean, we've had two unusually high expense years. >> 12%. >> Yeah, we had a 12% the the previous year. They really wanted actually closer to 20%. We were like we we
045just couldn't budget-wise. So, we settled on 12. And again, from last year to this year, expenses have been, you know, remain high. So, that's why 22% is [clears throat] is kind of the the number that they're throwing out there. >> Goodness. Yeah. Hopefully it's not a multi-year. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Is it primarily like retirees or [laughter] >> um no I mean it's just across the board. You know what we saw was you know toward you know in COVID we saw a big drop in going to the doctors >> and now right that first year back they saw an increase and then the second year out of COVID above. So they're really thinking that's it's it's almost like a postcoavid trend where where people did not go during that time period things got missed and
046now that they're going it's it's amplified you know whatever diagnosis it is. I mean, that's kind of like a running theory out there. >> Sudden that toe pain at three o'clock in the morning, it's real important. Got to call for help. >> Well, unfortunately with urgent care shifting, it's >> right there. >> You know, visits are built differently and so the ER is >> right. We've been notoriously up here. ER has usually been to go to because we don't have the accessibility like in urgent care. So that's if you look at it us like urban areas that have access to urban urgent care our ER higher than other >> are driving to information. There is one little item under executive content for you to peruse at your convenience. 6A minutes was under consent. Moving on
047to personnel. Personnel consent agenda. Recommended action approve the following items which are included in personnel consent agenda. 7E CSEA termination. 7F CSEA appointment. 7G amendment of CSEA appointment. And 7H amendment of CSEA appointment. May I have a motion please? Second. >> Any discussion? >> If not, please vote. >> Seven. Yes. Moving on back to actually personnel 7B teaching staff retirement recommended action upon recommendation of the superintendent accept the retirement of employee number 155 first grade teacher at the elementary school effected June 30th 2026. May I have a motion please? >> Motion second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. [clears throat] Stacy Martin, 31 years of excellent service to the district. >> Gonna be losing member there. >> Wonderful. Wonderful. Many thanks for all of her years with the district. She will be missed. >> Please vote.
048Oops. Try it again. Sorry. did not pop it up for you guys again. >> I I did it a second time. >> Yeah, >> okay. Joanna, just raise your hand. All in favor? I thank you. Seconds teaching staff retirement recommended action upon recommendation of the superintendent accept the retirement employee number 46 middle and high school ELA effective on or about October 9, 2026. May I have a motion please? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Angie Carlo. Oh, okay. >> Yep. Big big shoes. >> Actually, I think it was my senior year she was just starting and then my son had her as a teacher and she really helped him through his first year of school and got him to stay at like they were at a program to get him to get his grades up
049and now he's on high on her. So, she's a good lady. Angie >> is awesome. He will miss and big shoes to fill. [clears throat] Is yours not popping up? No, there you go. Seven. Yes. Last one is a teaching assistant retirement recommended action upon recommendation of the superintendent accept the retirement of employee number 95 teaching assistant at the elementary school effective November 2nd, 2026. May I have a motion, please? Second. discussion. >> Anna Gamzova, she's our math wizard at the elementary school. She's the first one on the bus with Mr. Aldo in the morning. Yeah. Doing the Nach run. And uh >> she's just a rock. >> She's a rock. I mean, there we have great TAs in our district. There's a long line of folks who are have been exceptional. Peggy Moore is
050is in that, right? And like >> Anna is of that character as well. So, um she she will um stay a little bit with us at the start of next year, but um once again, big shoes and we're grateful for all the stuff she's done in our halls. >> Please vote if you haven't already. >> Seven yes. Moving into our action items. Um it is National School Counseling Week. Our recommended action motion to acknowledge February 2nd through the 6th of 2026 as National School Counseling Week. May I have a motion, please? >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? We're grateful to Miss Brown, Miss Gosling, and Miss Samaker for all that they do and uh they certainly are a resource for our kids and uh worthy of the acknowledgement. >> Please vote. >> I got nothing
051but >> seven. Yes. Yeah. [laughter] >> Uh, special education was under consent. Um, moving on to linking goals with agenda items. >> Who has some ideas? >> All of Tim the students first. >> Sorry, I had to bring back. >> I know. We love that. I use that word often. [laughter] I think the whole community schools especially um swimming lessons and the activities for middle school students under community outreach and involvement other ones anyone thinks of anything later if they would like to reach out to Karen feel free. We are moving into our second good of the cause. Um is there someone either that is present that would like to speak and I'll have you check online? >> There's nothing online. >> Okay. Um Mr. Ward, you would like to speak again. I do have
052to read our little short paragraph again. Um the board of education encourages public participation on school related matters at the board meetings. to allow for public participation, a period not to exceed 30 minutes, has been set aside at the beginning and end of the board meetings. As a general rule, public participation will be limited to five minutes total per speaker. Anyone who wants to speak should state their name and sign the sheet. Comments should be general in nature and should not involve concerns regarding a specific employee of the district as the board has a separate protocol for these matters. This is a protection for school employees who assure their due process rights in a public forum. Individuals wishing to raise a specific concern should follow the regulations outlined in policy 1400. >> so you got
053two seconds for me before you start. >> You were dangerously close last time for name dropping. >> I've just got two questions and it doesn't uh include PP seconds. >> Yeah, you need your second. you were dangerously close last time of name dropping and violating this policy that is a New York state ad policy that we cannot break. Okay, so just be general in your comments and proceed. So, technology. Um, I'd first I'd like to uh formally ask um you guys haven't voted for it yet, but if you guys do vote um on the motion of my um termination, I would just like a reconsideration with what um I had said to you guys earlier. And then um I would just like a copy of today's transcript if it's not readily available to the public.
054That that's the only two things. >> Um um Mr. Ward, I wanted to say we actually did vote on this a few minutes ago. >> Okay. >> Um so um it was a vote that was unanimous with the board. >> Okay. But I do thank you for coming in this evening. I respect your your comments and um it thank you. >> Moving into the adjournment phase, our next meeting date and location, it will be February 24th here at 5:00 p.m. Are there any old agenda topics? Any new ones? >> I read through Tim's whole packet on all the building stuff. So, do we go over that again in another uh building and grounds meeting or one do we go over through that stuff? >> Um which packet? >> Oh. Oh, the building condition survey. >>
055So, it's it's totally up to us thing that made me twist when I was reading it. Fiveear plan. Yeah. >> Um, so if if you have points that you want to add. >> I guess the only thing I wanted to ask is do we do anything ourselves like a quarterly thing that just for the small things that not not a big company that's coming in to evaluate every single thing? Do we do something a small thing >> like to to track our improvements? >> Yep. >> So David in his operations report we give updates on the things that we try and do. Do we keep a log though Dana of the local improvements we make that chip away? >> We could look at in terms of what we yes expense because one of the things
056we do out of this building condition survey is just that okay what are some of the things that we can tackle >> um on our own and not you know a big project you know like uh one of the things on it was painting the concession building. We did that. They said replacing the shingles there. They threw out a price of like $200,000. >> That's when I looked at all that stuff and I'm like, >> we could probably do a do all over. >> No, that's the first time I've seen it. I know you guys have. So, I'm looking at it all. >> So, yes, >> $72,000 to paint the building. I'll go down and do it. >> We did it ourselves. Things like that. Yes, we routinely, you know, one of the things, and
057again, it was on the building condition survey, but it came out of it was, you know, when we had the the water leak and we had the same kids home, one of the things we'll tackle this summer is to put in uh turnoff vals throughout the building so we don't have to shut the whole building down. So, yeah, we're continually, you know, looking at that, okay, how can we tackle it within our budgets, you know, and then that's also things that we will then, you know, bring to you guys to say, can we use the repair reserve fund got >> to do that? some of those things, but some of them are are probably big in nature where we can't tackle, but >> I wouldn't go off their pricing because >> Yeah, >> got so
058we can put together an update of >> Sure. >> those pieces and then >> Okay. >> What I'll do is my next operations meeting. I'll go through and look at that and say here's the things that we've tackled over the last, you know, since we've, you know, the building condition survey was uh finalized and say here are the things that we have done last year and a half. And I guess from listening to Oh, sorry. >> No, you're still on it. >> Listening to Mr. Ward and I know at my place of employment, it's bad. The onboarding that we do is bad. So maybe that's something we need to work on for the next person that comes in is like I know you did the whole thing for me for the school board and there
059was like so much information that I got from that. But I know like like I said at my work, our onboarding is bad too. So maybe >> yeah, that's what that's where I was going to go. That uh that's the second time we've heard an employee say that training was insufficient. And that might be just a easy thing to dispar. I don't want to just say no. >> And then the sequence of this doesn't make a lot of sense to me because if someone is to come in and make a presentation and then there's no chance that that presentation could have had an impact because we the processes, then why go through that that artificial? >> I mean, I I have to be honest, I felt bad having to tell him. We just voted out.
060>> No, for sure. For sure. So, so in other words, you come in and juggled and handed out, you know, was it was >> it was just an appeal. >> It was it was confunctary and artificial. And so, I'd like us to think about that sequence. And then back to you know with you two now employees are saying >> so I want to be all ears when someone has the courage to come in and speak to us I want to be all ears and I want to make sure that I don't immediately say but I'm I listen to that we have a management issue >> as well as a process issue I mean that's kind of coming up from the operation side of the business and I don't think anybody here is in a real
061position to be able to a recommendation that comes >> Oh, of course. >> Yeah. >> On the other hand, too, that that's that's also what we entrust Mr. Seymour with is personnel issues and his recommendation with personnel issues. And if I know Mr. see more well enough in the process that was used. I'm sure there were multiple chances given and multiple retrainings provided and here we are and I I sympathize with the man for coming in to try to fight for his job. I think any normal person would do that. Um but from you know seeing the process done before my tenure on the board I'm sure multiple chances were given and multiple retrainings were provided just didn't work out. >> Yeah. Yeah, with our onboarding like I mean we they they [clears throat] walk
062through with the supervisor and there's there's a detailed list of how to do tasks. There's there's literal checklists of how to do tasks correctly. Um and so um certainly I empathize with that it is a fairly black and white enterprise. Um but just to your point on um the so um the sequence was was not peruncter if the board wished it not to be. So there's always the opportunity after a public comment like that when we get to the personnel section if if anyone would like more information then you could always request an executive session prior to that we could break and then >> during the meeting. >> Correct. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. And then the board president can put that motion forth and if the board wishes an executive session to discuss personnel
063and we can always do that >> and come out and then if there's additional information you'd like then we can do that. I I do want to say that I did let him go a little bit longer. I could have cut him off exactly at the five minute mark, but I did feel like he was coming to a conclusion and I was monitoring how close he was to the precipice before I would have interjected and said, you know, you're you're pushing the limit here. Um but I could kind of sense that he was not using names and all of that, but um I don't know. It's >> the principle is you've got a half hour and if you had 10 people >> You're right. >> No, he was the only person here and I think
064we I needed to let him go beyond his time to be respectful. I mean um it's not an easy thing terminating an employee. Um >> I don't I I mean it's just not easy. So um >> even though he was probationary, was he still under a CSA thing like whatever? So >> yes. So there was other ways he could have Yes. And union representation and so there's >> right >> in fact he was actually considered. >> Oh gotcha. >> In any event um >> I want to go back to what you were saying. I'm talking about the process, not the process. The faith the faith in the man schools sleep well. >> No, absolutely. >> All right. A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:12 p.m. Please [clears throat] second. >> All in favor raise
065your hands. Bye bye. >> Bye.