001Okay. >> All right. So, we got hot mics. Um, welcome to our regular monthly business meeting. It's November 12th, 2025. It's slightly after 400 p.m. We're in the boardroom. Roll call vote of commissioners. >> President Barnett >> here. >> Vice President Rayford, >> I'm here. >> Commissioner Bill >> here. >> Commissioner Bullock >> here. >> Commissioner Cordano >> here. Commissioner Hhabib and Commissioner Welford are not present. >> Ask for a motion to enter into executive session and discuss matters leading to the appointment, promotion, or transfer of particular persons, the discipline of particular persons, and potential litigation regarding civil claims against the district. >> Second. >> Yeah. >> Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Okay, we'll go into executive session. Welcome to our regularly monthly scheduled business meeting. We're going to reconvene the meeting. It
002is November 12th, 2025 at approximately 5:31 p.m. Mr. Romeo, could you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? United States of America and to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> We got a match yesterday down the road then. He's going down the road. >> Okay, I'll click out of it. >> We'll begin with our student and staff recognitions. FCSD aquatic supervisor and boys and girls varsity swim coach Ed Curl was recently named the Northeast Region National Federation of State High School Associations Coach of the Year. In addition to being an an SCSD employee for many years, he is also a Hener High School graduate. Congratulations on this honor, Ed. Hinger senior Takai Baker is inspiring greatness. The Syracuse East flag football athlete was nominated for
003the USA football hero of a giant award. We are so proud of Takai for her commitment to her sport, her team, and her school. Frasier fourth grader Devin Williams is about to have his original poem published in excellence, a book of poems for the America Library of Poetry. Last year, he wrote a high coup poem about a blackout, which went on to the semi-finalist round of a national competition and qualified for publication. Devon noted that it was his first experience writing poetry and he liked that it allowed him to be creative. He said he hopes to write more poetry in the future. Way to go, Devin. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the SCSD Office of Family Engagement invited students to submit entries into a district-wide Hispanic Heritage Month photo story contest. The talented student
004winners were recognized at our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Congratulations to elementary level winners, Seymour students, Ivy Bore Lopez, first place, Daphne Kusarasio, second place, and Emma Pineda Montes, third place. As well as our secondary level, secondary level winners, Natalia Manuel from Clary, Isandra Aosta Perez, Lincoln, and Rasheli Fernandez Catala Lincoln. Lincoln sixth graders Jonalis Ria and Arianise Velasquez Gonzalez received honorable mentions. Way to go. here. >> Thanks. >> Okay, congratulations. >> Heneer student Zia Williams recently shared muchneeded perspective on the topic of belonging at a recent CMY mental health youth summit. Students from across Anandaga County participated in a youth panel with Zaya representing the Syracuse City School District. She engaged a room full of adults and peers with her warmth and thoughtful answers. Way to go, Zaniah. Congratulations. Good job. >> For the first
005time ever, the SCSD diversity, equity, and belonging deb team hosted a district-wide competition to hear what deb means to our students. Students in preK through 12th grade were encouraged to enter submissions, including writing art, video, posters, or any creative medium that medium that reflects them. Congratulations to the winners. Trilia Herod Hower, first grade student at Montasauri. Josiah Victram, first grade student at Montasauri. Mo. >> There you go. Nice. Okay, >> good job. >> Okay, >> but wait, there's more. Mohamad Mahim Fati Hamo Ali Shikner Bashi Dola fifth grade students Franklin Elementary. Guys, one, two, three. One more. One, two, three. Congratulations. >> And at the high school level, Princess Nighton, 11th grade student at Henghar, and Honey So Blood, 10th grade student at Henghar. That concludes recognitions. >> What happened to the bank? We usually
006end up doing I don't know. What do you want to do for now? Part two or >> either. Okay. >> Okay. Let's invite up Michelle Neville and Ingred Pedes. Native American Heritage Month Proclamation. Whereas Native Americans and indigenous peoples have made enduring contributions to the history, culture, and heritage of our nation, enhancing America's freedom, prosperity, and greatness. And whereas we acknowledge and celebrate the first Americans, honoring their contributions, rich traditions, and the sacrifices they have made throughout our nation's history. Are you talking? And whereas we respectfully recognize the Anandaga nation, the indigenous people on whose ancestral land the Syracuse City School District now stands. And whereas we recognize the vital contributions of tribal nation leaders to our district, our students, and our community, enhancing our collective understanding of our nation's history and heritage. Now, therefore,
007the board of education and Pamela J. ODM, superintendent of the Syracuse City School District, do hereby proclaim November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month and commend its observance to all district employees. >> All right. All right. Ask for a motion to approve minutes as submitted. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Ask for a motion to accept a monthly financial report as submitted. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call vote. >> President Barnett. >> Yes. >> Vice President Rayford. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Bill, >> yes. >> Commissioner Bulock, >> yes. >> Commissioner Cordano, >> yes. >> Commissioner Hhabib, >> yes. Commissioner Relford. >> Yes. >> Motion. >> Thank you. We do we have any uh visitors that would like to address the board that did not
008at this time fill out a blue card because we don't we don't have any up here. I don't know if anybody forgot or was not aware of the process, but if you'd like to speak for three minutes, fill out. Why is everybody laughing? Everyone's smiling. Um okay. All right. So, we don't have any speakers. All right. Sounds good. All right. Uh, president's report. Welcome, Superintendent Odum. It's your first official business meeting. I had the honor uh attending a gala for the YWCA where Superintendent Odum was giving the inspiration award. Um, so she was there. She had a great speech off the cuff. She was not prepared to speak, but she she got her done. Congratulations on your very prestigious award. Welld deserved. >> Thank you. >> Um, what else did we do? Last month, we
009went to the New York State School Board Association conference. A couple of us went down. Again, a lot of good information. Um, it's always good to connect with the other districts surrounding because we do a lot with the big five, but at the New York State School Board Association conference, you have a lot of the smaller districts as well. And it's interesting to see that we still have a lot of the same issues and talking through them and then going to the forums and the caucus and kind of just getting a better understanding of everything that all the other districts got going on, what's working and what's not working. Um, always a good time. Uh, we got our big five meeting uh December 1st in Albany. So when I give my superintendence report again, I
010would like to also give a shout out to President Barnett. She did the keynote at that very same uh awards assembly, awards assembly, awards night, and she was off the cuff too. And literally, if you ever had an opportunity to hear her story, it is very inspirational. Uh, I also am committed every time I bring you a superintendence report, I want to make sure that I give you some good news about the students that we serve here in the Syracuse City School District. So, if it's too long, I will learn. But tonight might be a little long because I just want to make sure we are recognizing our students. Congratulations to our fall athletes. I'd like to make a special shout out to the ITC football team who is heading who is heading to the
011dome to play for a class B championship this Saturday at 300 PM. The team beat VVS 28 to 21 last week. And I'd also like to give a shout out to Nottingham's Delilah Pandora who finished first in the class A sectional cross country championships. The Delilah will run this Saturday in the state championship meet in Queensbury. And one more shout out to the Nottingham boys soccer team who finished as this year's section 3 class doubleA runnerup. Congratulations to all of our athletes and coaches on a successful season. Also I would like to say we had our last on last Wednesday we had our last community conversation. Uh we held five community conversations for to giving me to give myself an opportunity to introduce myself to the community and to get some feedback from the community
012and some highlights some things that we're doing well but also to hear some things that we can do better. And so the community conversations were very successful. It is now time to hear from staff and so I will be having meet the superintendent sessions. I will be going to all four high schools and I will be bringing my administrative team with me. Uh we will be going to the high schools to definitely for the same purpose to hear some highlights and to get to get some feedback. We are going to all be committed. I'm hoping that we will all partner to make sure that we are serving our students and families in the uh in the Syracuse City School District and making sure we're moving some things all things I should say forward. And with
013saying that, you can get that uh the actual dates off the website. And one last thing, great job to our Syracuse City School District jazz band. if you didn't have an opportunity. I was able to go on Friday and I saw the jazz band at the uh at HW Smith. We had two middle school jazz bands perform. We had a coral concert and we had our high school jazz bands. Our kids are so talented and it was phenomenal to see the talent that we have in the district in all areas. Whether they enjoy art and music or whether they enjoy sports, we have phenomenal students that we serve in this district every day. That's my report. >> That was uh that was quite a superintendence report. That was very lovely. >> Uh if I got
014to make it shorter, just let me know. >> That was great. I I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm sure everybody else did as well. >> I and I I didn't take anything from your report because you didn't tell me. >> I'm going to hide it from you every time. The former superintendent would talk to me about what he was going to say in his report and I would be sure to try to say it all in mine so that he would have to say his report off the cuff, but she was not having that when I asked her earlier. Hey, what you going to say for your report? Nothing. Don't worry about it. All right. Are there any other commissioners that would like to bring anything up for discussion at this time? Um, I too
015uh attended the New York State School Board Association in New York City and so I would just um want to echo President Spartnett's comments as it related to it being able to be in uh different sessions and learning more. I would encourage us to continue to be courageous in our leadership in this district. Um I would also encourage us to um have those having hard conversations is important. addressing hard issues is important and it's and it's important for us to make sure that we are one band, one sound that we all support one another and our initiatives and we communicate as best as we can to those around us but we do it courageously and we stand for what we stand for and we know that kids first period and that was a found a
016sounding theme um as it relates to us. So I just wanted to remind us to continue to be that in our district and I know that we will >> the central New York School Board Association meeting, the first one for the year, um via Zoom, didn't have to go in. Um we had some commonalities with different districts across locally in central New York. Um there was three or four um new uh superintendent that came about. But I did share good news about how our steam school opened up and it was a success and that the um children there are really enjoying the school itself, especially since the schools that were out there were schools outside the district um on the board. So I was happy to share that information with other um board members from
017other school districts. >> A couple weeks ago at Hener, the marching band did a community performance. the day before they performed at the the dome. Um and uh the superintendent and I believe Chief Kelly was there. I didn't see you, but I heard you were there. Um and it was just if you got it's so much fun to see what they the show I hadn't seen the show yet this year. It's so much fun to see the show and to know and they're so excited. The next day they're going to go perform at the dome. They did well. They came in third place in their category and it was just a really lovely uh little gathering. I mean, it was only like 20 minutes in and out, but it was just great to see the
018the hard work that these kids had done. If you got and I think that they do they're going to continue to do it every year before the dome performance. It's an easy way to just go kind of see what they're doing for a couple minutes. Uh and I highly suggest it. The one last thing that I wanted to mention because it may not be as uh I don't know obvious or as clear as the board may think that it is. Like there's been a lot of articles on the Syracuse City School District lately. So what I wanted to do is to clarify like our communication process with everybody so that everybody's well aware this is a a business meeting. So at these meetings is when the board comes together and vote on the contracts. When
019the contracts are discussed and like when questions and stuff can come up that will be at our work session and that usually happens prior to the business meeting. So when we have a work session like at the end of November we'll have a work session for contracts that the district wants to bring forward that they want to go into play. And at that time, the community, the board member, staff, anybody's welcome to attend to ask questions on what we have that is on the agenda. I mean, you can't come asking questions about anything that you'd like, but if there's a contract, which is posted publicly that we're going to discuss during our work session, everybody's welcome to come here in an organized manner, raise your hand, and we can ask questions about the contracts that
020are coming up. The perception that there's not public dialogue or not time for people to ask questions is false. It's at our work sessions. But what happens is, you know, the only people that really come to our work sessions is the board and Nicole and Bill and any of the chiefs that's required to be here. We don't get the press. We don't get community members with concerns. We don't get, you know, educators with concerns. Everybody brings their concerns to the business meeting where you get to speak for three minutes and the board is we're not allowed to interact. So, it's kind of it's it's a little backwards. So, and the the work session prior to the business meeting is when we discussed all of the things that's going to come up for the vote during
021the next business meeting. This is a business meeting. So, this is our business meeting for November, which means the stuff that we discussed the end of October is what's up for a vote. And I don't know if that process is clear to everybody. So I just wanted to explain it if that makes sense. That's all I got. Anybody got anything else? Okay, let's go. Soup. >> President Barnett. Commissioners, I'd like to recommend approval of the resolutions in item 9.1 through 9.9 as a consent agenda. for a motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> I would like to introduce and recommend the resolution title creation of 2526 positions. >> As for a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? >> I have a quick question. Uh where
022where is the the money coming from for these new positions? >> Now we right now we have vacant positions throughout the district and various departments. >> So they're retitled. >> So right now we're just leaving those vacant. We haven't retitled anything. We're going to create those and we're going to manage the budget with some of the vacancies of some of the hard fil positions. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And just to be clear, these positions are in response to the board asking what additional resources you need to mitigate any obstacles that the district may be facing. >> Yes, they are. >> In terms of our payroll issues and other things we had going on. >> Yes. >> Thank you. All in favor? I >> I. Any opposed? I would like to introduce and recommend the
023resolution titled submission of grant propo proposals. >> Ask for a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? I would like to introduce and recommend the resolution titled appeal of discipline imposed on student index B 02025-09. As for a motion moved >> second >> any discussion all in favor. >> Any opposed? Any abstain? I >> I would like to introduce and recommend the resolution titled Appeal of Discipline imposed on student index B O E 2025-10. I'm going to get better, guys. I promise. Going to get better. Ask for a motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstain? I >> I would like to introduce and recommend the resolution titled appeal of discipline imposed on student index BOE 2025-11. >> Ask
024for a motion. >> Moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Any abstain? I >> I would like to introduce and recommend the resolution titled appeal of discipline imposed on student index BOE 2025-12. So a motion second >> second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstain? I >> I would like to introduce and recommend the resolution titled unit 3A unrepresented administrators updated handbook. >> Bless you. As for a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? I would like to introduce and recommend the resolution titled administrative appointments. Ask for a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Just want to say congratulations to everyone. >> You're always going to beat me with that.
025>> Congratulations. >> All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Yep. Superintendent Odum is pleased to announce the following appointment. Jennifer King Ree from Assistant Superintendent Elementary and K8 to Executive Chief of Administration and Strategic Planning. I'm recording in Britain. Wow. All right, guys. I have one, two, three. One, one, one, two, three, >> and oh, and the following administrative promotion, Kichus Alexander from principal steam at Dr. King to director of professional development. Okay. Ask for a motion to adjurnn. >> Move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? I. Any opposed? >> This meeting is adjourned.