001solution. We have that see the mission statement. So I'll move to the mission statement. We are committed to academic achievement and success for all students in a safe environment in partnership with our families and our community. Our mission is to promote confidence, inspire a passion for learning, and to prepare our students to become responsible global citizens. Okay. Um, we're going to need to skip Memorial Resolution number three because we don't have a copy. I apologize. unanimously adopted by the Monroe Woodbury Board of Education at its regular meeting on Wednesday, December 10th. Whereas Mr. Ronald Johnson was employed by the Monroe Woodbury Central School District as a music teacher. His employment with the district began September 1969 and he retired July 2004. And whereas the through his dedication to the district, Ron has touched the lives
002of many individuals in our district. It is hereby resolved that the board of education on behalf of the entire district extends in memoriam its appreciation and gratitude as well as its sincere condolences to the Johnson family. As the above resolution is adopted by the board, it will become part of the official historical records of the district and will reserve as a memorial lasting for all time. And I have a motion to adopt the resolution. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I Okay. Next up, we have the uh organization of the board. With Miss Caitlyn um Simmons out, there's a nom. Is there a nomination for the president of the board of education? >> I nominate Caitlyn Simmons for the board of education president. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >>
003Okay, so we have uh Miss Caitlyn Simmons will be the board of education president going forward. Since she's not here, she has up to 30 days to come in and take the oath of office. Uh she will do that at her next earliest convenience. [clears throat] Nomination for the vice president board of education. May I have a motion for nomination? >> Motion to nominate Suzanne Donahghue as >> vice president. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. Now, um, Miss Donghue can take the oath of the vice president office. Raise your right hand. Vice President. >> Okay. May I have a motion to approve the revised agenda? >> Motion. >> Second. All in favor? >> I I >> questions or comments from interested citizens. Um not aware of anything. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Presentations. We
004have update on the district goals. Good evening everyone. I am Dr. Tracy Norman, superintendent of schools. And in keeping with what we promised back in August, we're going to provide the board of ed as well as the public an update on our district goals. So we have eight goals and each goal one of our cabinet members takes responsibility for that goal as it falls under his or her purview and I will actually take responsibility by presenting on the actual goal that speaks to our strategic plan. So we will begin with goal number one. Dr. Morales, Dr. Hassler. >> Thank you Dr. Norman. Uh we have five uh separate tasks that fall under goal one which is to create conditions to increase students understanding and application of academic content. First task is to review and monitor
005student attendance which is ongoing and performance to increase student outcomes. This goal is actually a continuation from uh uh task that we started last year for goal one for a similar goal. Last year, we established new attendance protocols for tracking and monitoring student attendance and intervening as needed. Uh we have been able to successfully implement those protocols from the start of the school year. Um and we continue to track and closely monitor student attendance. In addition, uh part of this task includes the distribution and review of student achievement data. Student achievement data includes various forms of assessment data including the 3 through8 ELA and math assessment, grades fifth grade, fifth grade and eighth grade science assessment, uh, New York State regent exams. You may also recall part of the um goal one last year was
006to examine AP and dual enrollment data. Uh and that is also now falling under this uh task of goal one where we continue to track enrollment in our accelerated dual enrollment and advanced placement classes as well as student acquisition of college level courses uh college level credits and student achievement on AP assessment scores. Right now we're at about 50% completion regarding this work and this work continues to uh develop over the course of the school year. >> The next item there is a new initiative for this year establishing a curriculum council for oversight, collaboration and guidance for our curriculum development ensuring implementation across content areas and grade levels. So we've established this council this year. We've held two meetings so far, October and November. Both meetings started with um one was virtual, the first one
007was in person where we met as a large committee, broke off into secondary and elementary groups to discuss things more pertinent to those areas and then reconvening into the large group districtwide. One of the takeaways from that meeting was establishing a new practice of learning walks where our all of our teachers will have the opportunity to spend time in a if you're an elementary teacher, you'll be able to visit high school classes which will help give us opportunities to really boost our vertical articulation so that all are aware of curriculum decisions and strategies that are happening in the classrooms at all levels. where we are right now. We are saying that we are about 25% complete on that goal. >> The third task is to align K12 curriculum and state to align K12 curriculum with
008state and national standards. Uh similar to the first task, this is a continuation of work that started last year uh as part of goal one. Uh last year's focus was predominantly on the core content areas of ELA, math, science, and social studies. That work continues into this year, but we're also expanding into the various encore areas as well. Um, and that work is approximately 40% complete. >> The next item is is a rather hefty item that's incorporated into this goal, and that's the re the review, revision, and finalization of our MTSS plan. So, to initiate that, we have had one district-wide meeting back in October. Each building leadership team then developed who would be on their new MTSS teams and have developed a timeline to hold meetings with the people they've selected to be on
009that MTSS team. Some of the tasks that are falling into this action item include the initial phases of a tool that will allow us to collect data at the elementary level as teachers do not use gradebook at the elementary level the way they do at secondary. And part of ensuring that we have a complete MTSS [clears throat] plan includes work on behavioral and social emotional support across all grade levels. To that end, we are continuing and expanding our PBIS work to all schools in the district. So, all buildings have formed a PBIS team and those teams will be trained later this year. Um, this, like I said, it is a lofty goal which will likely continue into next year and we are saying we're about 25% complete there. very similar to the work that is
010happening regarding MTSS, we're also doing similar work on the in the area of special education across the school district. Um similarly, we've developed a committee. Uh that committee has met once so far as a whole group on October 28th. Uh since that October 28th meeting, we've all we've broken up into smaller groups consisting of an elementary team, a secondary team, and a pupil personnel team. Uh those three teams are each head by our respective directors in those areas. Um the goal is to review our special education program and formalize it in into a plan. Aside from being uh an important district goal, this is also a New York state mandate. So that will also bring us uh and keep us in compliance with New York State regulations. And we're saying we're also about 25% complete
011with that work at this point. Any questions for goal one? >> Any questions for goal one? >> Uh, I don't have any questions. I just have maybe a request for consideration. I would love to see the prior percentage and current percentage so we see the movement. Sometimes there'll be no movement. 25% might stay there for one reporting period to the other. But if we could maybe split that column um where we have prior and then current um I think that would help give the public too an understanding. Hey, it went from 15% to 25 or >> noted and the prior was was zero. The last time we talked about it was was August. So, but we'll make that going forward to give a good visual. >> That was that was all I have. Thank you.
012>> So, now we'll move to go number two, Mr. Burgerer. Good evening. So, uh, the HR office oversees goal number two, which is to develop and maintain systems that focus on recruitment and retention of effective educators and support staff. Under that goal, we've identified seven action steps. The first one is to develop a task force to analyze recruitment gaps that has been established. Uh, we meet monthly. Our next meeting is scheduled for next week and the purpose is to do exactly what it says to identify and analyze those recruitment gaps and those hard to fill positions and then from there we can discuss recruitment strategies that will excuse me [clears throat] attract potential candidates to fill those positions and then ultimately bridge those gaps across [clears throat] departments. Excuse me. The second action step is
013to continue partnerships with local colleges. This is something that's ongoing. I had listed a couple of colleges [snorts] that and universities that we have been working with over the course of this year. The first listed is Mount St. Mary. We've had multiple meetings to discuss teacher pathway opportunities for our staff. Uh we're currently offering an exciting program geared towards our teaching assistants and teacher aids in the district that they would enter a program through Mount St. Mary College and partnered with Sullivan Boseies that would result in them getting their master's degree and teaching certification at no cost to the staff member other than to cover their textbook materials and that is being done offered through a grant through New York State. Uh we've also had multiple meetings with Manhattanville. We have an information anformational meeting
014scheduled next week on December 16th for our staff members that would be interested in pursuing a degree in administration. So that is something that we are planning and moving towards. Um along those same lines, we have a current cohort of staff members through Sunni Newalts that are um working towards getting their administrative degree. That program started last year and they are set to complete their certification by April of this year, which means that come next year, we will have a new crop of our own staff with their administrative certifications. The next uh action item is to attend a job fair that's listed at 10% because it has not happened yet. However, we are registered for March 25th in the springtime for the Mid Hudson Regional Teacher Recruitment Day that's held at Sunni Newalts. That's a
015great opportunity for us to meet with potential teacher candidates and a lot of it is is um pre-selected so that we're able to go back to our task force to say we've identified these recruitment gaps in these areas. These are the certificated areas that we want to look for and and meet with with these teacher candidates to help bridge those gaps again. So that's that will be coming up in the spring. All right, next slide. Oh, did I? No, sorry. Go ahead. I skipped that one. Go back. Sorry. And update and implement interviewing protocols. This is also part of our task force. Again, they meet monthly. Uh, this group is charged with reviewing our current hiring handbook and interviewing procedures. The goal is to identify areas that are going to make you know for improvement
016and necessary revisions to ensure consistency, equity and alignment to to best practices in in our hiring across all departments. So um the plan is to deliver an updated hiring handbook by the end of this school year by the end of June to be implemented uh with the start of you over the summer for the start of next school year. ongoing training. So, this is something that is ongoing. Uh the CNI office, the curriculum office has done a great job working with the instructional staff at providing professional learning opportunities. The HR department has taken on working with some of our non-instructional departments. So, we'd like to make sure that we're offering that professional learning opportunities throughout the year so that it's ongoing. But focusing on our superintendent conference days, uh we we partnered with different departments
017to make sure that we were we were offering professional learning opportunities for every single staff member in Monroe Woodbury. So some of those departments included our custodians in our custodial department, food services, the business office, the HR offices, our clerical, our safety aids, again with the goal that everybody in our in our district will have opportunities for professional learning and professional growth. Uh so that is ongoing. Since then, we take information that we get from our staff members through surveys and that way we can drive and tailor our professional learning opportunities for them for the rest of the school year um and upcoming superintendent conference days. Mentoring, um this is something that is also ongoing. We're at 50%, we have continued our administrator mentoring program which was established last school year, the middle of last
018school year. Uh this is geared towards non-tenured administrators and we do have over 20 non-tenured administrators. They are grouped together and they meet monthly with different members of central administration. Um there is very targeted mentorship and topics that are discussed. uh but also it gives them the opportunity to discuss real world complex scenarios happening within their departments their building levels and able uh enable us to have professional dialogue to kind of work through those things. So it's been a great program um while it's geared towards non-tenured administrators all of our administrators have the opportunity to participate. The MWTA mentoring program this is something that we continue to partner Dr. Morales uh and I with the MWTA just to ensure that we're providing meaningful mentorship for our teachers and and teaching assistance and we look at
019the time that we're offering our that mentorship. Um you know we want to make sure that everybody has what they need to be successful and the last thing is monitoring salaries. Again this is something that is also ongoing. Um we're always collecting regional data from Orange County school districts, Hudson Valley school districts and then we use that data to ensure that we are remaining competitive um you know amongst the region. One of the things in collecting that data that we realized is that we could be more competitive in the areas of some of our substitute rates and with your um support and approval, we've been able to increase the substitute rates for food services and and our bus drivers uh since the start of the school year um to better align with with the county.
020So, um I appreciate the your support in all of our initiatives. Are there any questions regarding goal number two? >> An extension [clears throat] of what Mike has asked before. Number of tasks completed. >> How is this >> the percentages? >> So a lot of it is over um this is ongoing and most of these things are going to continue to happen over the course of the year. So you see 40% or so because that's about where we are in the school year. We're not going to stop doing professional learning opportunities at any point during the year. So um but we're so we won't really be completed until the end of the year, but it has taken place. So it has evolved. We do a lot of planning. Um some of the lower-end ones is
021because you have end specific things that are that will be in the beginning. We established um we established that they would be completed at the very end of the school year that it wouldn't necessarily be ongoing in the fall and in and in the spring. So um some of the others in um the areas of if you would go back to the the other slide, we're at 10% because again the job fair that hasn't happened yet. We've done a little bit of work to be able to identify those areas that we want to meet with and we've done work with registering and and paying to be there, but we haven't attended yet. So, that won't happen until the spring. Um, you know, the the updating and implementing interview protocols. We're having those conversations and we
022are meeting, but it's not that the final product won't be until June. So, you know, there's more work to be done there, but most of it is based on where we are currently in the school year because for five out of seven, it's all ongoing. It's already started and it will continue. It's not going to stop until the end of the year >> or the timeline. >> Correct. >> Are you guys using a formal project management methodology or workflow? Um, >> there's there's obviously different kinds that can be used. It's not a formal tool. I think we gauge based on um our own depending on who is the owner of the goal. So, >> okay. >> The technology goal is a little bit different than what uh Chris is describing. >> Yes. So, you're not
023using a formal program. >> Um because typically, and it's not a judgment. You don't run a project based on where you are in the year. You run it based on the tasks complete. Um, so like I'm concerned about 10% for the interviewing because you're saying it's based on where we are in the year and I'm saying, okay, half the year's over and we're only at 10% and creating an interviewing kind of handbook or protocol. Um, so just just to be clear, that's what >> the those two those were the two that I said that the five out of seven were kind of based on because they're ongoing, but those were the two where [clears throat] the expectation is that they're going to be completed in June. So there's still more work that needs to be
024done in those areas to produce the final product. Um, that was that was my best, you know, estimation because I there's always work that that needs to be done to get to that final product. However, the other five are the ones that have been ongoing and and you see that are listed there um where it says ongoing because it starts in the fall and it continues throughout the entire year. Those were the two that the final product is really [clears throat] will be produced in either the spring or June. >> So, I want to add I understand what what what you're asking and I want to be clear with the public and the board. We don't have an objective method to to measure these these goals. These goals were intended to be global. If you
025refer back to August, what I shared is that at the district level, we intentionally write these goals to be global. And these goals are nested down to the classroom. In other words, your departments, your buildings, they create their goals based on these global goals. And because these this is a wide array of goals, there there aren't any objective metrics. in some cases it's it's just not we put this the these percentages up here at the at the direction of the board. If it were me in my opinion I would not I would not put these percentages up there. But I understand that we want to create a visual you for the public to see. But the truth of the matter is some of our yearly goals at the district level we won't even touch until
026the second half of the year. So, as we update, we don't have a choice but to put, I guess, a zero. But that's not to say that that these goals were not we're not addressing these goals, but some of them simply can't happen. Um, if the goal is to have a, [clears throat] you know, job fair, well, there's prep that's taking place probably at the building level, the department or whatever, but it's not tangible. It's not always tangible items to to put there. Okay, go number three. >> Thank you. So, goal number three is building the resilient cyber security framework for a safe and secure learning environment. This is our year two of the three-year project. Um if you remember last year we as a district we made a decision to look at this practices
027for cyber security. There are many studies that has come out in last four or five years that talks about when this district is providing safe and secure environment learning flourish teaching flourish from that perspective last year we did the the review of uh CIS controls. CIS controls are the normed controls in any organization whether it's educational institution, banks, um hospitals. They follow the NIST under the NIST uh NIST guidelines. They follow specific uh controls. We have total 18 controls and as a district we made a decision to review six controls every year. So for this for the last year when we review the first six controls I'm happy to say there were no significant findings or the gap uh that needs to be uh mitigated or the risk need to be a acknowledged this year
028starting with the outside uh folks outside u the auditing firm they would come and they would engage us in terms of what are our best practices for the the this the next controls which is the control sets of 7 to 12 and those controls 7 to called ranges from the continuous vulnerability management, audit log management, email and web browser protection, malware defense, data recovery and network infrastructure management. Now those six controls also have um subcontrols. So this total 47 subcontrols and each control would have a line of what is our current practice? Do we document what we say and then how do we test it? If we are restoring a backup from from a file server, what is our practice and can we actually go back in a time when we say we can and
029then do it. So that work has been continuously happening um since September. We have met with the outside auditing firm few times and we have provided them all the details document. So right now they are in a process of reviewing our documents. Um and and that goal is about 75% complete. The next step generally it is they will review it. They might have some more requests for information. um and then we'll review at the end of um se uh at the end of either March or April to come up with a final decision on what are the gaps that they are finding. The purpose of doing this is identifying the gap and mitigate the gap with the support of the superintendent and the board before anybody else finding. So this is a more a continuous
030efficiency increase exercise. This is the the second year of third year. The last E6 control will be the next year as a part of that bigger umbrella of 7 to 12 uh control maintenance. Um one of the big exercise that we do now every year is maintaining the disaster recovery and incident response plans. The world is changing around us uh from the cyber world. Um where the AI is getting better in terms of instruction so does the AI is getting bad better on the not so positive side. So it is a continuous monitoring for us. what are the what are the the new type of the the attacks outside how are we prepared in terms of that type of the disaster last year if you remember when I present to you there was a issue
031with the with the wildfire um we had never done that in the area now we have a at least a plan to to address that that uh in in that scenario so we continuously monitor and update our incident response and disaster recovery plan sometimes it's simply a personnel change not just the technology change um so we we are we are on target we are um about 70% complete on that that um uh that bullet uh professional learning um that is a continuous exercise for us working with my colleagues in in a instructional and HR world um we provide um all the time the different type of the support and technology um and the professional learning specifically talking about this goal this year we took on on a specific tabletop exercise uh for the technology department
032so we have all the buildings and district we have incident command system. From that perspective, you develop a technology command system and that allowed us to to look into the little bit more deeper way to say what does this mean if we need to set up the technology command center in another building outside the district away from the district or who are the organization that we can partner and and it was a phenomenal exercise to do and it allowed us to allow us as a team to identify some gaps and then basically improvise on that. So we are just about halfway from that goal's perspective. Any question on that previous goal before I jump to the next goal? Thank you. Um next goal is another important one as well. Develop the comprehensive instructional technology plan.
033So cyber security is great but it has to be in terms of implementation uh and supporting our students and and staff instruction. Um I always joke around in technology is always great but if we can't use it in instruction that's a biggest paper or expensive paper weight. From that perspective um what we have done this year this is also a state mandate uh to develop the instructional technology plan. Our current plan will be expiring 20 u 2026 June. We're developing a new plan for the next three year. What we have done so far, we have formed um a team or a committee um the technology committee that that we have from a variety of different stakeholders perspective. Board member um parents the the uh the students the staff uh teachers uh all the different stakeholders
034my colleagues um on this table and we have started working uh in the last couple of meetings that we met. what did we do in last three years that we said we do review that perspective and then come up with the new the next three years of of what are the goals and then how would we be achieve the goals when we wrote the last technology plan there was no AI conversation and now AI may be writing half of the school district's plan so it's just the world that we are living in now um audit the existing infrastructure devices and digital resource that is actually a prerequisite for the for the uh the instructional technology plan that's why you see that it's 100% done. We have to do that in order for us to understand
035what we have and how are we using it before we ask for what we need to do uh in next three years. And then the ongoing professional development uh professional learning for educators and the effective technology integration um this is another area that we are growing um working with my colleagues in instruction and HR um along with our technology coaches we provide uh support uh and training for superintendent conference day based on AI or any technology for that matter. This year we have added a couple of more flavors. We have started the technology tip of the month. Uh this is like just a quick 15 minutes uh uh virtual meeting with the uh administrators. Sometimes that group is more often the one that that needs to be uh looking for what is the emerging technologies
036before the our teachers and students do that and it's we have done one we have second one coming actually tomorrow. Um and then the other one that we have developed is our educational technology time. This is just the the more effect of what's coming what's coming down the pike, what's available to our students and staff to to keep going and and learning from each other. Um that is about 45% complete. >> Great. >> Any questions on that? >> No. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay. I might be a bit u biased on goal number five because this is my goal, but I truly believe that it is the most important goal that we can work on because it encompasses everything. It uh lays out the future. And what I want the board to know
037and the public to know first and foremost is that I heard you and I'm going to continue to listen to you and execute the board and the community's intent. This goal is a continuation of last year during right before co this district formed a strategic planning committee and it was somewhat derailed due to co. So as I entered the district last year that was one of the task I was given. We want to reinvigorate the district [clears throat] strategic plan. Last year, we spent the whole year really laying the foundation for the work that we're doing this year and the work that we're going to do next school year. So, that began with forming a committee with all the stakeholders. All the stakeholders meaning uh teachers, administrators, board members, parents, people that make up our
038community. That is the strategic planning committee. So, we formed uh I would say a draft mission and vision statement last year. And I emphasize draft because we were just working as a committee. And as we entered the spring of last year, we got to the point where we had developed four focus areas. Those focus areas are achievement, community, opportunity, safety, and security. So that was very important the work we did last year. But the final step was now that we have worked as a committee and pretty much created this little draft and foundation. Now we need to hear from the public. We need to hear from the greater community and we discuss how do we want to do that? What is the most effective way and the most authentic way to get feedback and input
039from the community. So we actually canvas several agencies to help us go through a data collecting process and the agency that we selected was generation ready and they were vetted and they were vetted by our people not just uh Tracy Norman or the cabinet but the committee which consists of all stakeholders. So the intent for this year was to go through the data collection process. And so if you look at that first task, that's what it's saying that we're going to partner with an outside agency to pretty much figure out ways that we the most effective ways to to gather input from the community and more importantly how to make meaning of what they tell us. There's a myth in many cases that you send a survey and if the majority of people say something
040then that's what we should do. Quite the contrary. We know that for example we have a marginalized population or populations in our district and if 20% says they feel invisible then we're we're not going to ignore that. In fact we would do quite the opposite whereas 80% might say that they feel you seen heard aborted. So the intent for this year was to figure out forums and ways to collect this data and as you see on the screen some of the things we talked about was surveys, small group forums, uh community sessions, so on and so forth. Now so far we have conducted small focus groups with students and we've gotten feedback. We've spoken with non-instructional instructional staff, parents, community, and they have told us things that um that we need to hear and publish.
041We're at the point now where we're looking at our survey questions that we're going to send out to the greater community. One of the things that this community said to me was when we did our previous strategic plan, we just had a canned survey, meaning that it was very general the questions. So I promised the board and the community we wouldn't have that this time and that was one of the things that we shared with generation ready. We want questions that are specific to our community and things that we value. So they created questions but then we had our committee look at those questions and somewhat word smith those questions change words and make sure that we understood and our community understood. So now that we have the survey that's to be sent out um
042in January and you see at the bottom where we have analyzed data once we get the results back from those survey questions then we're going to make meaning of it. The next slide while you see zero is because after we get the information back then we're going to form our goals. We're just not there yet. And these goals will be five-year goals in each of those focus areas. And finally, in the spring, which says 0%, we look to publish our strategic plan. Then the following year, we're going to pursue those goals and we're going to report out on those goals and we're going to show the status, you know, to what degree are we meeting those goals or not. That is our strategic plan. Questions? Thank you so much. >> Okay, goal number six, Mr.
043Cahill. >> Okay, thank you, Dr. Norman. Uh, so goal number six is coordinate, plan, and execute uh district-wide multi-year capital and facilities management uh projects. And so the initial task with this was uh having to do with the compliance reporting with the New York State Education Department. I've mentioned in the past uh for capital projects there's a fairly involved uh process approval and review process with New York State Education Department and the uh the process begins with design and specifications that are sent to uh the state education department facilities planning group. Uh ultimately they approve the plans, you go into construction and uh we're at the stage with phase one, which is what we're talking about with the first task, where we're we've we've gone through the construction process for the most part. We're in
044a punch list stage. And so the final SED filings would be the substantial uh completion certification, which is very important. And most important in some ways is the final cost report, which is FCR up there. So final cost report is very important because that's actually what drives your building aid and it's an important step and component in any capital project because you want to finish the final cost reports and close out the project as quickly as possible to begin your building aid. And when there are delays there can be a misalignment uh financially between uh debt service repayment and and the building aid. So, we're at about 50% with that, perhaps even a little more because uh we've gone through all the front-end work associated with phase one. And for the most part, as I
045said, most of the construction for phase one is over. So, 50%. Uh next task was continued development and execution of public relations communication plan. So, we have a draft plan established. Uh we're updating some of the narratives as things change and the project progresses. Uh the I have lobby posters are work in process whip. Uh those are I was going to bring a couple of those tonight, but I I thought not to, but but we're ready to uh roll some of that stuff out right now. Uh we've had updates with the board of education on October 22nd. Now, that wasn't public. That was a working session, but we had a public presentation November 19th, and those would be ongoing. those presentations and uh and informational uh meetings, faculty meetings as needed as we roll this
046out. We've had some meetings at Central Valley. We'll have some meetings in Pineree as phase two rolls out. So 50% complete there. Next slide. Um continuing goal number six. So monitor support the 2325 capital program. And I I call it 23 and 25. I've mentioned this in the past for those that haven't heard because those were the two years where the financial authorization occurred. So $98 million was 2023 and then another 16.6 million was was last May in 2025. So we're implementing phase two as four phases. So we've we've more or less gone through the construction phase for phase one. We're now rolling out phase two design and construction work. So design work is complete at this point. We've gotten approvals from the New York State Education Department facilities planning unit. Bids and awards are
047complete. In fact, tonight on the agenda, uh we'd be asking the board to approve, I think it's five contracts. Um so, uh construction would commence spring and and summer. So, for this, we're saying we're 25% complete um with phase two as I described it. um finalized capital project financing and debt issuance plan. So that's the next task here. So we are 25% complete with that. Had a couple of meetings with our fiscal advisor, Munistat. And we have the meeting with the Palumba Group, that's what TPG stands for, to go through cash flow and uh and some budget updates. And once we bring those elements together, uh we will have a fiscal plan, a borrowing plan. We we roughly have that, but we need to be more specific uh about when we would be borrowing, how
048much we would be borrowing, that sort of thing. The upside, the advantage for us right now is that unlike many districts, we have uh a fairly good capital reserve right now. And and that's sort of in the past I've said that's sort of our down payment. And that's why and how we're able to spend about $115 million with no tax impact because we have our our down payment, our reserve, and then the building aid is uh finances the the other part of that. So the the local portion is more or less covered. So that takes some of the pressure off in terms of the fiscal plan. Um but we're going to bear down on that and and finish that I would say winter 2025. Uh 25% complete. Next slide. So I I'll speed this up
049a little bit uh because I think I'm go I feel like I'm going a little long here. So continuation of goal number six, coordinate and execute the renovation ed education center. So uh that was part of phase one and it is the the piece of phase one. Phase one was actually about seven different things. It was for security vestibules. It was boilers at Smith Clove and new boilers at the high school and the education center renovation was the final piece of that. So we're doing the windows right now. We've completed the roof. We've done the uh exterior brick repointing. We had um a little mishap with the fire at the education center. So I I have as the action step fire reconstruction and the auditorium renovation that's underway um but not complete. Uh we've acquired
050the furniture and the equipment associated with the auditorium renovation, but uh I would call us 50% complete at this point. Districtwide installation of classroom air conditioners, window air conditioners. So we've procured those. We installed those over the summer. That's 100% complete. Um final task under goal number six, develop a final feasibility study and plan for implementation of zero emission buses. Now this falls under facilities because there is a fairly large facilities component uh to the full implementation of zero emission buses because these are electric. We need charging stations uh electrical upgrades. Uh so we're awaiting a final draft report. We've we've initiated a report with CPL, our architecture firm. The report is in draft form and it's with NAERTA, New York State Energy Research Development Authority. So they are the group that signs off and
051they also uh are funding 75% of the report for all districts in the state. So that it's probably more than 50% complete. Um but I listed it as 50. Okay. Okay, goal number seven uh maintain sound fiscal stewardship of financial resources consistent with board policy and guidance. So under this uh goal, our primary task has to do with uh internal audits and internal controls. So in the past we had uh one internal audit uh annually and districts have both an external auditor who audits the financial statements. We had that presentation early November. We have an internal auditor and we also have a claims auditor. So um there and there's the state controller who is also an auditor outside auditor but in this case we're talking about our internal auditor and uh in consultation with the
052audit committee we agreed to increase the number of audits from one annually to somewhere between three and four. Right now we've agreed on three. Um we've established the focus areas. So that's one of the ideas of the internal audit. We do a risk assessment. they update the risk assessment annually and then pick an area uh of interest or risk to do a little bit deeper dive on in terms of the audit. So our areas for this year will be pupil personnel services, uh ECF is extra classroom fund and uh board and superintendent governance and planning. Those are the three areas the audit committee agreed on and uh we're 25% complete because those are in process. Uh and we have an audit committee for later in January where some of these hopefully results will be presented
053and discussed. Next slide. Uh continuing with goal number seven, maintain sound fiscal stewardship of financial resources consistent with uh policy and guidance. So develop a a fiscally responsible budget meets the needs of students, staff, and families. Um so this has to do with the budget obviously developing the general fund budget. So first steps when we're sort of you know right on the uh in the beginning stages of budget development budget call letter which I would send out to the district stakeholders and budget builders init initialization of the 2627 budget and windcap there's many dozens dozens of steps in building the general fund budget but uh meet with budget builders established general fund requested budget so these are the things that are asked for uh we review that evaluate staffing ing requests, which is obviously a
054huge part of our budget, um, and changes, staffing changes, calculate the tax cap, and, uh, project revenue, including state aid. So, those are the very highlevel general steps to the budget. I'm going to call that 15% complete because we're really just at the initial stages of that. Okay. Goal number eight, institute the mandates and best >> question. Pardon? calls for questions on >> Yeah, we can. Sure. Um, are there any questions so far? >> I have a question. I don't know if it was a rumor. I heard that the governor was looking at the bus electrification mandate and that it was going to be too ownorous on schools, but I don't know if anything's come of that. >> I'm not aware of anything that has officially come of it. But I one thing that I
055I have heard and I do think may happen is that um we can request a waiver of up to two years. So the mandate was [clears throat and snorts] any new buses purchased after 2027 would be electric zero emission. And so that would be pushed till 2029. the the 2035 date is is the deadline when the entire every bus every school bus should be electric at that point or zero emission which now means electric. So I I think that's probably realistic. I I went to a meeting uh recently which was largely it was at Orange Stisies. It was largely about the utility companies that were affecting the regional school districts. Uh you know so there's there's a lot of issues. There's issues with the utility companies having the capacity. There's issue with the power when
056it comes to our property and this is why it's a capital issue that we would have to upgrade uh tremendously the the infrastructure to bring the power to the busy yards. Then we have to have charging stations which are expensive and then you know ultimately we have to buy the electric buses which are very expensive >> training >> mechanics training that's I mean there's there's a lot to this ju just to put in perspective the typical bus now is about 150,000 the electric bus similar would be about 425 425,000 now there there is some state money for that um but it's it it's still going to cost I think in the long on more. It's not it's not neutral financially in my opinion. >> Never mind the um investment in infrastructure that has to also
057be made to charge. So um I just figured I'd ask because I heard uh I I heard a story or read something that they were looking at it. But I I know how those things are. They're rumors until they actually come down. Uh, I mean, you know, I don't want to prolong this, but one one of the things we're going to talk about, I we've we've talked about it briefly and recently is is for next year's budget, which we're going to discuss very soon, having one or more buses in the general fund budget, electric buses, that is. So, we'll we'll we'll dip our toe in uh for next year because it is a mandate. It is something that we have to do. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It it's the question was is it school
058districts and or contractors as well. It's both. So, it is school districts. So, we're self-operated and it is contractors and I I that's even that's a problem as well. You know, there may be and there I'm sure there are contractors that can't do this or don't want to do this and and so who knows how that will affect the market. So, >> like Orange County bus, I see them on the road. You're saying that they would also have that mandate. >> Correct. Okay. same mandate applies. Um I I know there's there's there's one contractor in Middletown who's who's sort of on the cutting edge of it, but they're, you know, relatively have a relatively small they service Middletown. I mean they're part of a larger company uh with a you know city area. So it's
059a little different actually. >> Thank you. Anyways, I digress. I apologize. Uh okay, goal number eight. um institute mandates best practices the field of school safety ensuring safety wellbeing of students and staff. So this is a continuation of goal uh our safety goal from last year uh having to do with protocols development protocol of safety protocols distribution of information to staff. So for the for this year uh we agreed we would and we have uh done work with the vestibules the new vestibules procedures. Uh there were some growing pains I would say I would call it with the new vestibules and how that was impacting uh the operations and the visitor management that sort of thing. So we've developed some written protocols. We've had training with staff. Uh I know Joe Tropot, our director of
060safety security, has been out to every uh every school with the new vestibule and we've kind of gone through and established what those best practices are. So we estimated that at 25% complete. Um I would say it's probably a little higher, but um you know that that's what we put that at. Um implement new remote panic alarm system districtwide. So we talked about this a lot last year and actually more recently. So I'm calling that 25% complete. for having weekly meetings with Centiggics uh and another group that they uh work with. Bargo's been very instrumental in that he's been actually leading that. So, thank you. Um but there's a lot to this. There is the technology side where we're you know establishing uh equipment that is literally broadcasting a s a signal on every campus.
061Uh there's there's the the backend configuration of that. There are I have mapping updates. So there's a a mapping component to this with all the buildings. Uh there's a lot of operational protocols that need to be ironed out and established. So that's ongoing. I'm calling it 25% complete. I I think will probably be operational maybe in the spring. Um and uh you know there's a big training component with staff as well. So there's that touches a lot of areas. Um and uh you know the final task under goal number eight would be initiate a pilot program to procure go bags/lockdown kits for the high school for the classrooms. Uh that was a recommendation of best practice. So we've we've initiated that um at the high school as a pilot. We've we've uh gotten 160 classrooms
062outfitted um with these lockdown kits. We're waiting a few final items, but I'm calling that 75% complete. And you know depending on how it goes. I think it's going well. you know, it's probably something we'll roll out districtwide ultimately. So I know that was a lot and um we have reached the end of our goals but I have noted uh some of the comments and questions that were asked and um when we report out next time hopefully within a couple of months um we'll try and be a little bit more succinct here and concise and we'll certainly make those adjustments with the uh with the metrics and we'll put the side by side to show the progress. Um and if we can you get creative to apply a scientific method to uh some of those
063we'll certainly do that as well. So pending your questions or guidance this this concludes our presentation. >> I don't have any other questions. I just know the amount of work that goes in. So really want to say thank you and appreciate the effort that was put into that presentation. >> Thank you sir. >> [applause] >> Okay, next up on the agenda, approval of the minutes. May I have a motion to approve the November 19th minutes? >> Motion. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Next up is the policy manual. We have a waving of the first reading of policy 5151 and number 5151R. Are [clears throat] there any questions? Okay. May I have a motion to wave the first reading? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. [clears throat] >> Number
06410. Policy manual update second reading and adoption 5151 and 5151R. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Districtwide school safety plan. Public comment on the district-wide school safely plan for 2025 2026. Okay. Okay, we don't have anybody registered to speak or ask any questions on it. Are there any questions from the board? Okay. May I have a motion to approve the district safetywide plan? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I committee reports by board of education committee policy committee. >> Yeah, I'll start. Uh you just approved uh a motion to I'm sorry to wave the first reading on two policies and uh we met on November 24th to discuss them and you've just approved the second reading and now they've become policy. We
065do not have a date yet for our next meeting because we are still awaiting for comments from our attorneys on some policies that we were sent were sent to them. >> Are there any questions? >> Okay. Uh we have visitation and capital project task force but Mr. Reynolds is not here. So uh unless Patrick you have any updates to >> I could speak to the capital project advisory task force. So there's five contracts for approval on the agenda tonight uh for phase two. Um we also have a small modification to the project labor agreement on the agenda tonight. I had mentioned that uh in an update to the board recently. So phase two would be starting this spring and phase two is about the uh tennis courts uh in the rear of Central Valley. uh
066reconstruction of the tennis courts with new lighting and bleachers, fencing, uh and new softball uh field lighting for the girls softball field and uh a great deal of work at Pineree Elementary School. So, we're doing exterior brick work, fire alarms, we're doing it on a roof this summer and starting the HBAC work and that will take uh some time to get that completed. And we're, as I mentioned before, we're in the punchless stage for phase one. And uh at the ed center, uh not not quite finished. Window installation is happening. The auditorium reconstruction is happening. And we're trying to um reconstruct the couple of offices from the uh fire damage. Um, it should be ready uh on or about I would say uh June 30th, >> okay, of this year. That's it. >> Great. [snorts]
067I'll give the audit committee update. Uh January 26, 2026 at 6 PM will be the next meeting. Uh the public is invited to come and it is held at the Haramman Center. Any questions? Okay. The Oxa update from Dulea. delay is not here. So, we'll get an update the next time. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we are already at the student board representative report. So, >> good evening and happy Wednesday. I hope everyone week has been lovely so far. This Monday, December 8th, I had a meeting with a good handful of honorable Woodbury High School students between grades 9 to 12. I came with a couple questions prepared for them, but the visit was more of discussion and what they pointed out were topics we delved deeper into just like the same one at the
068middle school. Starting off, the topic that students felt the most positive about was security at the high school. They loved how the police and security guards were actually walking around and doing things, not trying to look busy, but they also expressed that they feel completely safe in the building throughout the school day. Also, the imple the implemention of those lockup kits mentioned earlier adds to the safety of the high school. In terms of classes, the students said that the classes they enjoy really depend on numerous factors like what the class is, the topics they're learning, but most importantly the teachers. They also wish that there were certain classes or electives that you could take or you would thought life skills and that everyone were able to use no matter what their future entails. So this
069course that they really want is very similar back in the Monro Woodbury Middle School called Fax 8. And that class they would learn skills like how to sign checks, pay bills, how insurance works, job processes, and just everyday life stuff that you need for adulting. Um they also said that they don't have that many problems communicating with other students or their friends throughout the D school day. But they did mention that administration and teachers mainly only listen to problems brought up by a huge group of students or certain students themselves. To fix that, they problem solved and thought that having more opportunities to speak to more administration to see that their opinions and voices matter in decisions would be lovely. In terms of teachers and staff, the students said teachers [clears throat] and staff really
070make or break their moods and feelings towards the school. A friendlier teacher would make them enjoy the subject and learning more. There were also this trend bar up which was also in the middle school that teachers tend to give out more work then spend class time actually teaching the subject. This ended with complaints for both Monroe Woodbury High School and also middle school students saying that they have to teach theelves the material at home more than they work on at school. But overall, high school students said that they really like a lot of the teachers in the building and most of the teachers are really nice and friendly, which is always great. It would also mentioned that the high school has lots and lots of extracurricular activities. So, there is always something for everyone to
071do and there but there should be more information going around throughout the school day about certain clubs. So, more students could learn and join those clubs. Pep rally was also mentioned and that tends to be the great highlight of the school year that the students said and asked for more things like that throughout the year but usually the high school has a winter spirit week which I am pretty sure is coming up. Um the topics of the bathrooms at the high school was mentioned but I am very well aware that the administration at the high school is on top and fixing students behaviors in the bathroom so I won't directly talk about that. And lastly, we ended the discussion about the yonder pouches. The students stated how the enforcement of the pouches being explained to
072them in detail was great instead of just enforcing it without explaining and having the students follow it without really knowing why. They also wish that they could use certain devices like iPods or walk bands or just music listening devices to listen to school during the school day instead of them being banned. In the end, the students notice that they focus a lot more in their classes, but it was mentioned study halls get a little bit more boring without their phones. There are in fact lots of good things going on the high school and great things coming up. Um, but this switch gears really quick. That was my meeting and my visit at the high school recently. And a survey I made at the beginning of the school year for both high school and middle school
073students. So, grades 6 to 12 has officially been closed with 69 responses from high school students and 180 responses from middle school students. So, a good total of 249 responses. And to end my report today, I thought I could share a few responses I got from students. Starting off strong from a seventh grader. They said that they enjoyed a variety of clubs and likes having the opportunity to try something new that they never would have tried on their own and they really like having their class in the library. It was also refreshing to have that change of pace and get out of the classroom and they mentioned it was comfortable and fun and hope to do it more often. An 11th grader states they do the Bose CTE program and are on the wrestling team
074in the winter and they really enjoy both and those are the highlights of their day. An eighth grader wished for more food options or holiday celebrations from different cultures at lunchtime. And another eighth grader says that they miss field day in elementary school and going outside to take little breaks, especially in study hall. And also think school would be more enjoyable if there was a fun way with teaching a lot more kids so they could pay attention a little bit more. And to the question if you could change something to the school that you would do, a ninth grader in the high school said adding an escalator. A 12th grader says they dislike the fact that you cannot have music devices playing to use in free periods like CD players or MP3 players, at least
075for them because music helps relieve a lot of the stress they have built up during the day and helps them focus. And to end it off, a seventh grader said one thing that they looking for this year is holidays. Um, of course, I would love to share a lot more. I have many responses and some are pretty funny. And that's my report for this meeting. Um, my next visit is Wednesday, December 17th at Smith Elementary. And everyone have a happy holiday season because that is right around the corner. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Next up, we have personnel. Mr. Burger, >> thank you. I am respectfully requesting approval for personnel items 14.1 through 14.20. >> Does anyone have any questions? I have a motion. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >>
076I. >> Business and financial, Mr. Cahill. >> Thank you. I respectfully request approval of business and financial items 15.1 through 15.9. >> Any questions? I have a comment. I really appreciate the cover memos on the contracts and the summaries. It was very helpful. >> Um, may I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Committee on special education and preschool education. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. Second. >> All in favor? >> I reports by board and central office. >> Great report, Zoe. Very quickly, I highly recommend, and this is for the high school students that are here, that students look up the personal management course up at the high school, which is the fin the personal financial literacy course. It relates to some of the comments
077I think that the kids made of the course that they liked when they were in the middle school. It's worth definitely kids checking it out. It's a really good course. Um, just a quick reminder to everybody to please double check the district calendar and I highly recommend attending one of the district concerts. They're amazing. Happy holidays. Get home safe. >> Um, just wanted to say congratulations to Suzanne and Caitlyn. Um, thank you to the high school for hosting us, especially with the last minute change. Thank you for the update on our district goals. That was much appreciated. And thank you to Zoe for always keeping the voice of the students in this meeting. Happy holidays. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. I had an opportunity to attend the third grade chorus concert for Pineree last
078night as well as fourth grade chorus for North Main. And I would like to thank Mr. Coats and Miss Bajagio for putting on a wonderful concert. and it was great to sit in the audience and be able to watch our students faces as they took their place on stage. Coming up, looking forward to the Pine Tree Readathon and the Grade Five concert next week. Everybody get home safely. >> Thank you. Burger. >> Good evening. I too want to congratulate Caitlyn and Suzanne and their new role on the board and their new positions. I want to congratulate all of the new hires and appoint employees. I know a lot of them are starting their first day of employment tomorrow. So, welcome to Monroe Woodbury. And as Dr. Hasser stated, concert season is underway. So, I just
079want to wish luck to our students that are participating in upcoming concerts across the district and wish everybody a happy and healthy holiday season and new year. Thanks so much. Have a good evening. Get home safe. >> Thank you. >> I'll go next. Um so big shout out to high school um students uh staff and administration team uh for hosting the the straight assembly this morning. Um it was a very powerful message to our students. Um and and the message was what a one-time u substance abuse can change it to the lifealtering events. Um great great presenter and a really powerful message at the end of the uh assembly process. U with that happy holidays to every >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh, I'd like to echo what others have said, uh, tonight. Uh, I'd
080like to congratulate Suzanne and Caitlyn for their new positions, and I hope everyone has a happy holiday season and a nice evening. Thank you. >> Um, [clears throat] thank you to the cabin for the presentations. We know how much work goes into it. I wanted to congratulate Caitlyn and Suzanne on the election and >> thank you. All right. Um, thank you firstly to the high school for hosting us, especially with the wintry weather going on. Um, future congrats to all the students at the concerts, either if they rehab there or if it's in the future, cuz I know they're going to be amazing cuz they rock. Um, and again, thank you for the central office for that presentation. I know presentations take a lot of work. I make lots of them for my classes, so
081thank you for that. And again, happy holidays and please stay safe on these roads while driving. Thank you. >> Yeah, I'd like to thank Dr. Norman and the cabinet for their update on the district goals and Zoe for your presentation. Thank you so much. Uh I'd also like to congrat congratulate our new hires. And I did go to see the sixth grade yellow and greenhouse, I believe it was last week. And I cannot believe that they're only sixth graders. These our kids are amazing. And um I'm looking forward to the career fair on Friday and the readathon at Pine Tree. And with that, I'd like to wish everybody a very very happy holiday season. >> Thank you, Dr. Norman. So, I want to begin [clears throat] by acknowledging the Sapphire community and we were scheduled
082to have our board of education there meeting there tonight and I know that community was looking forward to it and did a lot of prep work and we were excited to hear those kindergarters perform. So, unfortunately, we can't control the weather, but um I just want to acknowledge the the work and prep that they put in, and I'm sorry that we wasn't able to uh to host there. And on that note, I want to thank high school for for just hosting us at the last minute. I know that we ask a lot when we ask you to shift gears and set up, but uh but you do it and you do it well and we appreciate that. also want to thank you Michael. I want to thank you sir for assuming the role of actually
083uh leading this meeting at the last minute. I acknowledge that u things happen and um people step up and I know that that's not easy. So I thank you on behalf of the community for for assuming the role and running the meeting tonight. Certainly want to uh [clears throat] welcome Suzanne Caitlyn in your new positions. I look forward to working with you in your new roles. So today I had the opportunity to continue my super sub initiative and I served as substitute at the North Main Elementary for the third grade teacher Tammy Jurro. And you know, I want to just say it's so wonderful to go back into the classroom, get back to my original roots of teaching, but I learned so much and I always walk away with rich experiences. And I hope that
084you teachers in particular are listening. You do an amazing job. And when you get away from teaching like I have uh as an administrator for many years now because you don't live it and touch it every day, you becomes abstract. But when you get back in the classroom and you see all those nuances that you all do well that's so important to the success of our students and our community. Thank you. Thank you. And I'm glad that I had the opportunity to spend time with those third graders. And Miss Jerro, if you're listening, make sure you go back and retach the things that that I taught today. [laughter] Um, this week, my wife and I had the pleasure of hearing the young Central Valley musicians at their winter concert. They did an amazing job. Kudos
085to our hardworking music teachers for a job well done. Lastly, as our students and staff prepare for an extended winter break, I want to wish all members of our community a joyful holiday season and a peaceful and healthy new year. Thank you and safe travels tonight. >> Thank you, Dr. Norman. I want to echo pretty much what everybody said. The presentations were great. I know all the work that goes into those type of presentations. So, um, really valuable information, especially, um, the updates to the community. Congratulations to Caitlyn on her appointment as BOE president and congratulations to Suzanne as our new vice president. And I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, blessed holiday season and new year. Be safe and have fun. Uh with that, may I have a motion to adjourn into executive
086session to discuss a personnel matter? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> I. Meeting adjourned.