001The balloon's great. I didn't even notice. So, well, we did the pledge and we have some different recognitions tonight. We have a big crowd here who want. But first, we want to start off with our student board member and he has some school news and has update. Max. Hi everyone. I hope you're doing well. Got my report for October and the end of September. So, we'll start off volleyball doing all right. They got one win so far in their senior nights tonight. Football, we're uh two and four. Little Ralph were facing a lot of industry in injuries, sorry. Boys soccer ended the season four and nine. Girls soccer, however, they're doing pretty good. They're 62 and six right now. They're in the making playoffs. They're currently the two seed. Uh homecoming went well. Our king
002was Sean Everett and our queen was Victoria Ducatelli. Uh the football team won that match. Soccer pinkout games also went well. The new gym is being used uh more and more as we see more rain days and uh weather's getting colder. Everybody's liking it. Furthermore, the other gym, the new lights, students are noticing the new lights. They're liking those new lights. Um the phone policy once more, it's going well. No real issues. Everyone's like I said last uh month adjusting well. Uh Thursday coming up tomorrow we got our Joe Massie event. So that's looking good. But overall October's looking pretty good. We had a good September. Hopefully we got a good year in for us. Thank you all. >> And we would like to start off the night with Mr. Gibbons to help out with
003some of the recognition. So we have recognitions. I think they're all from the high school tonight. >> Mr. Start with >> So the first um recognition that we have tonight is going to be for the National Merit Scholarship. I just want to quickly explain how that works. So juniors across the country take the PSATs in the fall of their junior year. Last year there were one and a half million juniors who took the PSATs. We have two students in the high school who we want to recognize tonight. The first is going to be Fat Manditu. So, let me just quickly explain Fatie is one of just 34,000 students who are a commended student. If you do the quick math on that, that's 2% of of all students. But the way the um National Merit Scholarship
004works is it's actually based on your state. And since New York is such a high achieving state, he's actually it's even more exclusive than that. So congratulations to such. And then the other student who I have the pleasure of recognizing is actually Max Dykeman. Max is a national semi-finalist. So Max is one of just 16,000 students across the country. I know you submitted your application last week. We're hoping that he moves forward in the process and becomes a finalist, but it's been a number of years since Island Trees has had a commended student or a semi-final. So, congratulations to Max. >> Um, and then you want to move along to uh the capstone? >> Yeah. >> All right. Perfect. So, the other thing that I have the pleasure of talking about tonight is um our
005AP capstone. um research certificate award winner winners and the diploma. So if you're not familiar with a capstone in the high school, there's two year-long classes that students can take. Um they can take AP seminar and AP research um which are college level classes. The students are really doing some high level research and and seminar and the presentations are some of my favorite parts of um of the spring. So, the first student I want to recognize won the AP Seminar and Research certificate and he's being recognized for having a three, which is a passing score in both AP Seminar and AP Research. And that's Sean Ice. >> And then the next group of students are students who are going to receive the AP capstone diploma. So, these students not only got a three on both
006the AP research and AP seminar exams when they took the classes, but they also got a three or higher on four additional AP exams. So, in order to get the AP capstone diploma, that's six AP exams. So far, they're still seniors, so there's still a whole bunch of more high scores to get um that they've already earned college credit for. So, I'm going to say their names. If you could come up and grab your certificate. Um, we've got uh Kaylee Avagano, Victoria Ducatelli, Max Dykeman, Vincent Fishino, Juliana Gualieri, Darlene Cower, Mecca Larazzi, Lee, JP Minelli, Richie Manalo, Hibmani, Gabriella, Alexanding, and Zeluma. Congratulations. Congratulations. Two more. Congratulations. This is our largest group by far. All right, good job. [Applause] So that was nice, you know, nice to see our student board member getting a couple
007awards up here. So being uh his score was the equivalent of over 1530 on an SAT score in order to end up becoming a Paris scholar. So that's very impressive. Max, I don't know what your overall score is, but I know the New York cuddle off what it is. So to get that you you've got to have an impressive score. So you you're number 15 or above. You're in uh major league company. And for the people with the AP capstone awards, you've all put yourself in a great position for the college process coming up this fall. Good luck with all your applications because you're going to do very very well uh by taking six plus AP exams already moving into senior year. So, I'm sure many of you are 10 plus, maybe even 12 plus
008when the whole thing is said and done. So, congratulations to you. A lot of hard work involved. So, speaking of hard work, tonight is uh October 15th and every year about this time we have board recognition night and we have uh a number of groups that come up and just honor the board for their hard work that they put into helping develop programs like the AP cast and which we this board did a number of years ago uh implemented and uh now we see the fruits of their effort. So, we would like to call up a couple of groups that want to say some things to the board. Maybe we could start off with Tom Spawner from the teachers association. >> I got a partner with me. >> Oh, Mrs. Zack from the events association.
009>> Oh, and I got a partner. I got Daryl Smith from the CSA. >> Everybody wants to open a partner. [Music] >> So, we went a little out of the box working together for some comedy night. So, my partner here. So, you know, we were trying to think of what to get to the board for the board of education week, >> but then we remember they already have everything. >> Endless emails, >> late night meetings, >> policy binders thicker than a Harry Potter novel, >> and public comments that start with this won't take long. >> It always takes long. If our board were a car, >> they'd be the GPS. >> Constantly rerouting us when we say, "I think I'll take a shortcut." >> Recalculating again. >> If they were a sports team, >> they'd
010be undefeated >> because no one wants to play them in budget season. >> You know, we love our game on theme and our board are are the true coaches behind the scenes >> except there's no halftime and no Gatorade, >> just spreadsheets >> and often frustration. But they keep calling the plays and we keep moving the ball forward. Game on board. We call ourselves Bulldogs for a reason. >> Determined, loyal, and maybe a little stubborn. >> Our board fits right in. >> They never let go of a good cause >> or a budget question. >> Once a bulldog, always a bulldog. >> You might be on the board of occasion board of education. If >> you've ever read a 300page budget and said, "This was the short version." >> You've ever nodded. thoughtfully during an
011acronym meeting, pretending to know what MTSS, ENL, and AIS mean. >> Or if your idea of a wild night out is staying out past 900 p.m. in the high school auditorium, >> that's dedication or caffeine, or maybe both. In all seriousness, >> and we mean it this time, >> we're grateful for our board's time, dedication, and faith in our students. >> Thank you for keeping our kids learning, growing, and smiling. None of it happens without you. Plus, plus very clever. >> We have Mory Deale from the Clark. Are you going to invite Mr. Smith up to do? >> I got you, babe. >> I have to follow that. So, um, on behalf of the Island Trees clerical unit, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the school board for all you do. Your
012hard work and dedication to making Island Trees an outstanding district has paid off once again. As everyone already probably knows, the Island Trees was just ranked number 43 on the 2026 niche rankings of best new school districts. This ranking is a direct reflection of the decisions made here at the board of education meetings. Decisions that help our students to reach their full potential and excel in all areas. Decisions that make sure our teachers are topnotch. Decisions that make sure our students can learn in a safe, healthy environment. Decisions that make sure there is a caring support staff to help our students with all their needs. The clerical unit appreciates the support the board of education gives us to do our part in making trees one of the best school districts in New York. So even
013though board of education day is only once a year, please know that every day the staff, students, and community appreciate your time spent making island trees the phenomenal school district it is. Thank you, >> Mr. Smith from the CSA custodial food service. Quote Tom short, but it won't. >> Uh, good evening. On behalf of custodial maintenance grounds, cafeteria and monument teams, I want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the board of ed for your unwavering support, leadership, and vision. Your commitment to Island Tre's community has never gone unnoticed. We're entering a new era of collaboration, one built on trust, partnership, and shared purpose. The board's confidence in us has empowered our departments to take ownership of our work and proudly create and execute our own vision for improving the district. That
014trust has allowed us to raise the bar in every area of service, maintenance, and care for our students and staff. We are not just employees, we're also parents, many of us who have students in this district. That makes our work deeply personal. is what drives us to deliver the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and dedication. We want nothing less than the best for our schools, our children, and our community. This past year truly showcas what teamwork and your and your support could accomplish. Our custodial and maintenance teams completed one of the most thorough and successful summer cleanings in years. With your backing, the maintenance department took on its largest in-house project in Island's history, installing hundreds of air conditioners and upgrading infrastructure across every building. The board has allowed our grounds department to transform our
015campuses, creating beautiful landscapes, installing new irrigation systems that make our schools welcoming and full pride. Our kitchen has longtime members such as Mary Miller who have dedicated 39 years to Island Trees to a new generation of kitchen staff that has worked tirelessly to provide meals for our children every day. Let's not forget our monitors of watchful lives and caring hearts. I can't read who ensure that every child is safe and supported from the moment they step on campus to the moment they at home. These accompl accomplishments reflect not only hard work but a partnership built on mutual respect. The board's support and belief in our members has been the foundation for these successes. You have given us the confidence to think big, act boldly, and take pride in knowing that together we are moving trees
016forward. As we look ahead, we are excited to continue this partnership, working together as one team, one community, and one trees family. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. And uh I'm not sure is Mrs. He act Oh, there she is from PTA council. Good to see you. >> You too. Okay, so on behalf of the Island Trees, PTA, PTSA, SEPTA, and Council of PTAs, we would like to extend our gratitude for all that you do for our children and community. from the policies, the advocacy, safety measures and enhancements you provide our children um and the hours that you freely dedicate to your mission. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We truly value our administrators, parents, community members for the dedication and commitment that you provide to Island Trees. And please
017accept this gift card as a small token of our appreciation. Very nice. Thank you. I think that's all the groups that we're presenting today to the to the board. Board members wanted to comment on that. List guys, that was uh that was fantastic. That really was. Um thank you guys so much uh for the recognition. You know, certainly appreciate it. But really, we do appreciate what you guys really did. But somebody said, you know, we might be the GPS, but you guys are the actual ones who are, you know, charged with, you know, getting our kids there. I say it almost every meeting and it is so important. You're the ones that, you know, are taking care of our community's most prized possession, our children, and uh you guys do a fantastic job. So someone
018mentioned about, you know, the good uh ratings in the Nichi thing with the state ranking, stuff like that. And no while there's some direction from here with the hands-on stuff is really you guys all parts the teaching whether it's the admin the maintenance the everything clerical so I mean you guys are all you know doing your part in making this district as successful as it is. So really uh thank you guys so much for you know for everything and for the recognition but really we thank you guys for the services that you guys provided for our community our district our children. So, thank you guys very much. Thank you. [Applause] Anyone else? All right, we have 21 items to go through on the board of education, but this board is so good. They told me
019earlier, give everyone a break, take a five minute recess before we get to our agenda items and let everyone go or wants to go at that point before they have to go through the drudgery of the rest of the board meeting. So for the students, there's some social media spots if your parents want to get pictures right outside. We'll give five minutes for everyone if you'd like to leave now. But if you want to sit through the 21 items that we're going to go through, you're more than welcome. So from now the five minute clock has started. Enjoy the evening folks. My video right. Let's go. [Music] Yeah, I didn't say Any business on the agenda real quick? Make a motion to accept the minutes as presented. >> Any questions on the minutes? All those
020in favor? I >> action items. Action item one, please. >> Approval of new policy 5282, student participation of two scholastic athletic teams during the same season first. >> Any questions? All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Action item number zero. Approval of PI policy number 6540 defense of 100 employees. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Action item number three. >> Approval of revised policy number 8411, school bus scheduling and routing. Second reading. >> Second. Any questions? All those in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Action item number four, >> approval of budget preparation dates for 2026 2027. >> Second. >> Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Action item number five. >> Approval of varsity wrestling participation in public school. >> Second. >>
021Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Action item number six. Approval of Island Trees High School field trip to the Whitby Museum of Second. Any questions? All those in favor? I oppose. Motion carry. Action item number seven. Approval of field trip to High Note Festival and Six Flag Adventure in New Jersey. Second. Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Action item number three. >> Approval of Isle Tre's high school world language field trip to Quebec. Second. Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. >> Action item number nine. >> Approval of choreographer consultant services varsity kick line 202526. Second. >> Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. >> Action item number 10. >> Acceptance of the financial statements for the period ending June 30.
022Second. >> Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Action item number 11. >> Acceptance of the internal award risk assessment facilities maintenance 2025. Second. >> Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Action item number 12, approval of the 2025 energy performance contract finance. >> Second. >> Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Action item number 13, >> approval of a budget transfer for health and safety specials. Second. >> Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Action item number 14. >> Approval of a budget transfer to accommodate teacher column movement. Second. >> Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Action item number 50, >> approval of revised summer transportation contract. Second. >> Any questions? >> All those in favor? I oppose.
023Motion carried. Action item number six to declare surplus. >> Second. Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Action item number seven, approval to declare surplus and dispose of facilities, equipment, rent. >> Second. Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Action item number. >> Approval declare surplus dispos of music equipment five items. >> Second. Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Action item number 19, >> approval to declare surplus and dispose of 265 library books from Michael F. Stoke school. Second. >> Any questions? >> All those in favor? I >> opposed. >> Motion carried. Action item number 20, >> approval of use of buildings. >> Any questions? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. >> Action item 21. Approval of personal report. >> Second. >> Any
024questions? All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Can >> we just take a a moment on that within the personnel report? we have a tenure uh approval that was in there and Colleen Kaufman, she's a middle school teacher, a middle school elementary teacher. She's here tonight uh and we're going to recognize her later in the year with some others, but she is here tonight and uh she would be awarded tenure now and then get a recognition with the board at a later point. So, Colleen, congratulations. All right, on that note, let the record reflect the board accepts the financial report for July of 2025. And in closing, uh any visitors on holding business? None of us. All right. Motion to go into the chair. >> Second. All those in favor? Motion carries. Good
025night everybody. >> Congratulations.