0011 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Call the meeting to order the 1st point on the agenda is any public comments? Is there anyone? Okay, before we get started I would like to thank everybody for coming to the meeting. I hope you find it interesting and. 2 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And useful and we'll proceed now to the re reports. The 1st one is a problem presentation. 3 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) There we go. 4 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So, can I just 1st to introduce yourself, please? Sorry. I am a new You're the senior class president for this year. 5 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) This is Bryson Becker. He is the junior clock president, and here we're just here talking about prompt just a little bit that we have, we'll probably get more times on this
002is just a general overview of how the data will go. So this year, prom. 6 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) A Saturday 6 June, the event will be 10:53 P.M. at Settleshill gateway, and events. This is in New York, which is just weird waveford. The day of prompt similar to last year, letter will be sent out that students will. 7 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Have to fill out and returned about prompt just some overview and signatures. Then the students will meet at about 05:00 here at the school and they'll be on a meeting like some pictures, and then the stuff happens soon. 8 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) To walk with this, pretty cool. 9 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And then the buses will depart around 06:00 and the trial time is expected to be about 1
003h and the schedule ensures it's just a smooth organized way of the So some of the expenses for the. 10 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And the breakdown of it. So the cost per person is about $57. That's factored to be on the high side. And the breakdown of that, so the cost for the venue and the food together is about $47, the meal is about 34 plus 15 % grativity and 20 % administrative. 11 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) B and that factors in sales tax. Cost of decorations and favors, those are about $3. We have some older things that we can reuse and repurpose. Cost of the DJ, that's about $7 per person. The cost of transportation, we figured that would be about $11.50. 12 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Which is not factored into our
004total and our estimated attendees is about a hundred and 50 people. Any extra costs will come out of our class funds. So this is the venue of settle hill. 13 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) This venue is typically preserved for like weddings or other private events. It's common the wedding, so here a lot of their pictures online are for a wedding. So this is just the entry right at the front. Here, this is typically with a hole and having it food catered. 14 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) It's not a picture spot, it's like a wedding decorated intersection much. This is it like litz for my event. And then this is just typically for the day. 15 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) It's had a bunch of tables at this space, it's a large room, so people in
005the focus systems, people think feel free to mute. You might be wondering why off campus we're from? 16 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So an off campus event or venue allows us to provide meals, amenities, and high quality problem experience for the students, and it's in one dedicated central space. Keeping all attendees together at all times ensures that students are accounting for and safe at all times. 17 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) We currently would like to ask if the board or the school would provide transportation via school buses and accompanied drivers that would save our class a lot of funds. Students arriving in Lindasine, they do so, but the limbo must be between the buses. 18 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And that also ensures the safety of the students and that they're accounted for when they
006get there. 19 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Settle so offered a beautiful space and safe layout, and the atmosphere needed to help create a memorable prompt and night for all students that attend, and NO student may drive themselves and that also ensures that they were their safe. 20 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) That is what we have. Does anyone have any questions? Any questions? Okay, well thank you very much for your presentation. I would entertain a motion for the school to touse the buses for this transportation for the motion. 21 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Second. Any discussion? All in favor. Okay congratulations and have a wonderful event. Okay, the next point on the on the agenda is the student representative report and apply the. 22 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) This opportunity to welcome and say here to
007the school board and that we're very much looking forward to your contributions and if you have anything you don't have to, but if there's anything you'd like to talk about why you want to conserve and what you hope to accomplish, we will. 23 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Don't feel like you have to. I'm very excited to be here and sorry for missing 1st two meetings at soccer names on both days and our team was in a bit of a situation like one or two subs sometimes done. 24 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So, good to be here but very glad to be here. We're very glad to see you. Would you like me to stay? Oh, go ahead. 25 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Okay, so the 1st significant thing I'd like to talk about that we
008did over since last meeting was, can you speak a little bit louder if you could? Yes, thank you. Our breast cancer. 26 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So in the month of the month of October was a breast cancer awareness month. So mid October, miss Councherman and her students decided to start an initiative to spread awareness and support for our community members who have dealt with breast cancer, and there are a few throughout the different buildings of the school. 27 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So initially we began by wearing pink every Thursday and support, but as the month progressed, students in this countryman became more ambitious and began raising money for breast cancer related charities as well as organizing an event on the last Thursday of October. 28 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Where the entire school
009would dress in pink and stand in the formation of a rippon, which was shown on the news the following morning. Participation was unprecedented and a strong sense of a community was built throughout the month. I'd say about. 29 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) 90 to 95 % of students had some sort of pink or any, you know, sort of representation on that final day when the news came in, which was very impressive, and we held, we held the spirit day as well, like a Spirit Week as well. 30 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) With with a lot of participation and you can see that, you know, it was meaningful to the kids and teachers, so it was special and it was the 1st time we did this. So, second, is the the debate club. 31 "Canajoharie CS
010BoE" (2789476352) So, with the initiative of students interested in contemporary politics and social issues, a debate club has been created this year. So far meetings have taken place once a week during lunch in mr. Petino's office. However, numbers have increased enough. 32 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) That the club might just outgrow the space. The club is really grateful to have members springing from all areas of the political spectrum, so it hasn't just been a total echo chamber. Every topic that we've discussed, we've been able to have constructive disagreements on. 33 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Which has been, been fantastic. So additionally debate Club is hosting public discussions on Friday mornings in the high school atrium by the coffee table. 34 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So, in the morning we'll have students come up to get
011the coffee and we'll invite them to have discussions with us about certain topics. So we'll have two tables for two different sides of the discussion of of the political spectrum and students manning those tables and. 35 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) You know, we'll have constructive conversations and, you know, really get to know what the students are thinking about certain issues, which is, you know, something you usually don't get to discuss unless you're in, you know, one of the few specific classes in Cangy area that like offer discussion of those issues like our contemporary politics class or maybe an economic class. 36 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Economics class, but I think it's valuable for us to, you know, spread, you know, the, the th those those issues and get kids thinking about that. Do you have
012a particular issue in mind for tomorrow? Well, last week we did. 37 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) You know freedom of speech related to hate speech and whether it should be, like, there should be limitations like legal punishment for, for hate speech. 38 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Tomorrow we're gonna debate about abortion, and the legalization of that. So, the ultimate benefit of the political is is growing the political literacy of students who choose to participate. 39 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And encouraging them to be active and educated members of our democracy who can simply discuss pertinent and modern issues. In October there was the Honda house hosted by the history Club for their fundraiser. 40 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Which was a impressively large student wide effort in collaboration to create something special for the community
013to enjoy. There's lots of intricate planning and story making involved in setting up the abandoned mindset theme onto the house. There was the red cross red Cross blood drive on 3 November. 41 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Hosted by the American Red Cross. 42 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) With the help of candra's National Honor Society and some volunteers throughout the day students and community members came to donate blood in the high school gymnasium and plenty of students who were either 1st or second or 3rd time donors came in and were very excited and proud to you know make a difference by donating blood, so that was also something. 43 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Special to this call. Any questions? All right, thank you very much. Appreciate that. It's nice to have a positive record. It's always
014a good thing. Okay, the next thing on the agenda would be the superintendents. 44 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Update and just some went over the building project today a little bit so we know we're moving forward on 4 December of that vote. Again, it'll be 2027 and 29 projects about $30 million. Most of it again has to do with renovations in our buildings because this building will be 27 to 28 years old by the time we. 45 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) We do the renovations and the middle school military school is 70 something years old, so a lot of renovations that need to be need to be done for most times. 46 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Oh I'm sorry. We have rooftops and sidewalks, HVAC systems, things of that nature, make sure the school keeps
015running, so we have our solar project that's that's on our way right now near the bus garage, which will save us about 85 %. 47 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Percent of our our electric costs or lectric costs are over $200000 a year. So that'll allow us to kind of offset some costs that way. And we have a geothermal project which will put heating and cooling into our middle school elementary school throughout the entire school, and that'll start next spring. So some, some good things moving in a great direction so by. 48 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Oh. 49 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) $45 million worth of projects, and we just did the $7 million ones, so we're over $50 million worth of upgrades for our, for our district, which is kind of nice. Merger process, the
016CMP developmental panel will meet on Monday to talk further about next steps and what we plan on doing with that in terms of timeframe. 50 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Right now, it's estimated that we'll look to do a June. 51 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Vote for another straw vote and then an end of July, finding vote if that was to pass. In the meantime, from January through April, we want to put together focus teams with students, community members, faculty members can be on. 52 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) To talk about things like educational programming, right? What is it gonna really look like? What's the configuration of the buildings really gonna look like? We need recommendations from people on that. What student transition programs will look like? What staff transition programs will look like? Financial. 53
017"Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Information and background in terms of what would happen if we merged. 54 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) There's also a regionalization shared services committee. If the merger doesn't go through, then we would look at regionalization efforts and shared services like business office transportation, continue sports mergers, things of that nature, to make sure that we we look out for the number one thing, which is giving our students the best opportunities. That's the whole idea. 55 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Yeah, we don't want to be stuck in status quo. 56 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) We wanna continue to progress our programs for our students because the world is happening moving at a fast pace, and we don't want our kids to be any less, any less program or any less opportunities than a student
018from Shenandola or North Colony. So we don't want to miss that boat. 57 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So that's why we're looking at that. And remember, our job here is not to look at this next year. Our job is to look five to 1015 years down the road, and what does this look like, right? And so that's why we're looking at the whole big picture. Some people say, well, if it gets voted down, well, we won't talk about it again. 58 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Say NO, this is gonna be an ongoing concern, something that will never go away because there's just too many factors built into this and say what do you mean factors financially? Right now we got word the other day. Mark and I went through a meeting where state is looking
019at probably zero 1 % increase for, for. 59 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Foundation aid, which is extra money that we get from the state. The federal is looking to cut. 60 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And just to let you guys know, we're a business. If your revenue or money coming in stays the same or goes less, that's not good. Cause your expenses always do what? What happened to your expenses? I ask all you guys, do gas prices, right? Do everything else goes up? 61 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) We still have to pay for things. So it's dangerous when that happens because you start to affect programming for our students and we don't want to do that. So we gotta think down the road. So our plan is to January through April is to is to
020gather stakeholders to start talking about those items in those areas to really make sure that we get the proper information out to people. 62 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And to really make sure that we educate people on making a formed decision when they do come out and vote. 63 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So that's our process moving forward with the merger. We'll come out with some great details after the meeting next week. We'll put a newsletter out in December where people can sign up for the focus teams, and then we'll, we'll solidify everything for next week. In your board of education or in the meeting, there's also a combined code of athletics. 64 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) What the coaches and I just something I would encourage all of you to consider getting involved in
021this process because I think student involvement will really be crucial to getting out to the community and explaining the, the whole idea of a burger to why it's important and and why we'd like to see it go through. 65 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So I would encourage all of you to think about getting involved. I think we can make a huge difference. 66 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And again, we have to look down the road five or ten years because what will happen is the merger will happen for two more years and then it'll take two or three years to get everything into into place. So you're still talking three to five years down the road from this year to make sure everything goes as planned. And just to give you some quick numbers. 67
022"Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And two in the year 2000 here we averaged 93 students per class. 93 students. That's the size when the school was built. This year we averaged 60 per class. We dropped 35 % enrollment since 2007 four plain, 35 %. 68 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) The smallest cohort, which means that I mean the excuse me, the earliest cohort, kindergarten through 3rd grade is averaging 5th students per class. So we've gone from 93 to 50, and they've gone from 70 something to 42. So. 69 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) What's 50 and 4292, right? So if we merge, we would be the same size as Candy Harry was in 2000. So not that much larger, that type of can just go to that. 70 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So anyway, that's where we're heading
023in terms of what we're planning for this and kind of taking it from there. Built in in your meeting is the athletic code of conduct that I met with the two athletic coordinators, gave him kind of an outline and said, hey, go start to put this together. We met him. 71 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And looked at it, superintendent from from poor plain as well. We'll vet this out with the coaches again and we plan on putting this into place for the spring. So pretty much what it does is it morphed everything. So make sure everyone's on the same page when it comes to being late to school, when it comes to academics. 72 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) When it comes to certain rules, so we built everything into one. So I think it's a
024great step moving forward. Good question? Yes. On page seven, under chemical substances, in the parentheses in the title, it says alcohol tobacco vaping drugs, but the, but the verbiage. 73 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Which says student athletes are prohibited from using possessing or selling tobacco products. 74 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Alcohol marijuana or illegal drugs. My concern would be that there are tons of baking products out there that don't contain tobacco. Yeah. Could I make an argument if I'm a kid or a parent and say my kid got caught with a bake, but that's not tobacco, it's not alcohol, it wasn't. 75 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) It's a marijuana vape and it's not illegal but an illegal drug. 76 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) It just seems like since it's in the heading, maybe it should
025be in the team is illegal for kids under age of 18. Yes. For them to purchase, not possess. Yes. So I just say. 77 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Or safe if it said big new products or something in that sense and secondly OSJ, we're being asked to approve them as part of a merge team that they would follow their own athletic. 78 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Correct. Not this. Okay, I have a comment and a question. The comment is there was a section on coaches conduct and I was very impressed that that they actually had something in there that said. 79 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) The coach's motivation should be to coach the effort, not the outcome. And I think that's a really good approach which is to help kids to have a wonderful athletic
026experience regardless of whether they're winning or losing, and that's I think what. 80 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Should be part of the the the you know the whole purpose of our athletic program. I mean it's wonderful to win and don't get me right. But I I just really like that approach. The question I had was there's a thing called a past program in terms of academics. Is that something new or better? 81 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) We do a little bit of what they do in terms of, they just frame it differently and we're gonna use the past program, so pretty much what would be is students who are founding the class have to show improvement as they move forward. So if a student is at, you know, 60 and they go up to a
02762 or 63, rest, they're able to stay. 82 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) On the team. So that motivates students to make sure that they continue to improve and in the same token. What we find is when we take students off the teams, the grades going worse especially for kids who are struggling. So that's kind of the the crux behind. Any other questions, comments? 83 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Hey, thank you. Now move on to approvals. And again, I just would like to explain to the students who are visiting the meeting. We do a thing called a consent agenda, and what that is, is where we agreed to just have one vote. 84 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) On all of the subjects that we'll be discussing rather than have a separate vote on each one. If
028there are any issues that come up that we want to pull item out if we can, but basically this is just to help get move the meeting along more efficiently. So I just wanted to explain that to you so you understand what we're doing. 85 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Okay, so I would entertain a motion for a consent agenda for a moment on a favor. Okay, then we'll start with the minutes and any questions there? Oh I I have one on the approvals. 86 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) It says A through l, but there's also an M. 87 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So I think it should be just correct about that? Yeah, you're right. Okay, so we can correct that. 88 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Okay moving on to the treasurers report. Any comments
029there on builds, anything there? As usual I have some questions that also come to. 89 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So we have 6670 07:38 INF associates LLC $38000. That's the electric charger up at the bus grad? Over for those truck for the electric. 90 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Then we have 67766 curriculum associates LLC. $10.8 thousand. I'm sorry? That's elementary, that's curriculum that's either our iready program or it's our maths. 91 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) That's what we use for our math curriculum. And then 677784 main motor card $42000. That's the new band that we have. 92 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And we have number 01:24 SCI design group with 2.5 thousand. I thought we had switched to King and King. We're still using SCI for a couple of other old projects. Okay. They're still
030involved in Okay. 93 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And I think that's about it. So thank you. Okay moving right along, sorry for my usual questions. Budget transfers, anything there? Management response letter and. 94 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Anything on that? Okay, except buttons and budget modification we got from Hemory County for heroes. We just have to be getting the money and we have to pay that so we have to put it into the fund. And I would like to ask what is heroes? 95 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Nobody prevention program we've had them here for I think two or three times over the last seven years. They spent time with our students and our staff and it's restored pieces, so. 96 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Oh, they, they go all throughout the country to speed,
031so. Okay, thank you. Energy grant stipends. This is just what we'd normally put out each year stipends with the grant that we got. 97 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Because they help with the process, so this is part of the grand, meaning that we we go in and teach classes, so we have director of facilities has to do some extra work because we're taking on an extra position in extra areas and. 98 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) The director of finance has to do all the grant paperwork, and that one was only for the last year of the three year grant. That was built in, like I said, through the grant, so nothing coming out of general funder. Okay, and then there's an agreement with cobble Skill Richmond? 99 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) I'm sorry. Oh, budget
032calendars, sorry, just that's the draft for the calendar for the budget this year. Nothing really changed, just a couple, you know dates because the year changed. We're on track, that's our calendar. We sent things out today to start the budget process already. 100 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) 2627 budget. Any questions on that? Okay, then we have a few agreements with Richmond Montcomery County, which is the home run program Mongomery County for the turnout program with me for the middle school. 101 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And the use of, ok, we'll go with those any questions on either of those? Jen isn't here to say that it's all the skills of placement of a studio. And we know the program, right? Okay, and then she's kinda nice. 102 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Yeah, that's the County
033user facilities becoming here and do training for their sheriff's police and they're doing the use here. 103 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Surplus, just some things from the fitness center that are just old and kind of beat up. And the prove combined sports programs which would be baseball and softball with Ford plane. And earlier all levels of boys and girls track with Ford plane. 104 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Also up in highly in Fredo Fredo, st. Johnsville School District for Spring 2026I know ESJ was part of work plan last couple of years so they don't come up for this year. 105 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And this is all to have adequate numbers to participate because each of the schools separately are having declining participation. That's couple of years stuff modified numbers should be ok, but
034we'll we'll address those as they go. 106 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Can I just pull the merger back? Just can't pull it forward if you don't get it approved. Okay, and finally, there's a request for a an 8th grade student to enter the APP process for bar city wrestling. Any questions on that? 107 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Recommended by the superintendent. Yeah, that's pretty common. Okay, I would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. Second, all in favor. Thank you. Moving on to personnel. Can we do a consent agenda on that as well? 108 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) I would entertain a motion for consent agenda of personnel. Second, all in favor. Thank you. Okay, point Clerk of special vote. This was for the 4 December hours and of course the chief inspector would
035be for the same. 109 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And an inspector inspector inspector would also be for that vote. The resignation of a custodian, a part time custodian at a full chat with the county, so she moved on for that. Hope we had one ready to go. 110 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) That would be number G correct ok and then winter coaches, we have, if it'll come up, I can read it. 111 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Girls and Carolyn Adam's Firstly girls basketball. Oh NO mine came to. 112 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Okay, any questions on those? All right, I want to contain a motion for a consent on the personnel. Second or in favor. Thank you. Oh, there's NO old business. 113 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) New business discussion of presentation topics. Just put
036it out there to start thinking about them, next one we can discuss them. That makes sense. I'll do them in March, April May like we And then the next point is a. 114 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) A report on the convention that was out in New York that both Nick and I attended, and what I'd like to do is just 1st of all to say that it was a very, there were over a thousand attendees, most of those who were school board members from around the state, which is a wonderful opportunity to kind of get to interact with. 115 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Them and discuss, you know, what we're doing with and I have to tell you that I was really proud that when I was talking about some of the things that we're
037doing, people were taking notes because I think we're really, you know, at the head of at the head of the curve that it's like, you know, when we were discussing some. 116 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Attendance issues and and. 117 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And struggling students that I talked about the home run program, e.g., you know, people had never heard of such a thing and it was really, you know, it was just really very encouraging to to see the, you know, we're really making some real progress in in the education of our students and. 118 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Just really very satisfied. So, the 1st, and I'm just gonna go quickly through some of the things I went to and it started off with the assembly for all of the attendees, this new
038ballroom and it was filled. 119 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) We know something. And the 1st one was why school boys matter and what he was talking about was, you know, that they're important to the for the success of the schools and. 120 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) They he you he recommended that you stop initiative fatigue, you know, where you have too many things on your list to do and he said just try to keep it down to five or six. He talked about addressing the climate of the district if there's any problems with that and you know where there's some you know disagreements or low morale. 121 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) You talked about engaging with the community actively to keep them informed, and I think that the district does a good job of doing
039that. I think, you know, one of the things that we might talk about is how the board could get involved in that more directly. At least you have accountability and. 122 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) He said that you shouldn't have short termism. So you should have to take a long view. So that was it was an interesting discussion and this 1st session I went to was the rural school issues and one of the things that blew my mind. 123 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Was apparently on average, other states in the country, not new York. The state provides approximately two thirds of the school budget, each of the schools versus New York, it's one 3rd, and the rest has to be made up by local taxes. 124 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And I think that's really
040a very sad thing to, to, to hear because it puts a lot more training on local taxpayers and on, you know, property taxes and so forth. So that was a question about that. So what if their budget's lower than our budget? So if they're not, you know, if you're paying two thirds of a lower number. 125 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Number. 126 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) You know, it might actually even out, you know what I mean? Because some of the states aren't doing what we're doing, you know and and that's certainly a cool. This is the average national that includes a lot of states that are doing a good job educationally, you know, so you know it's it's just disturbing that where. 127 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) You're not liar on that question. 128
041"Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) They also talked about the significance of the portrait of a graduate as a way to help students in rural schools to be prepared for the for the working world and the world that they'll be moving out into. And and and basically they they talked. 129 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) About the common denominators in most school districts which is declining enrollment, financial stress, and difficult finding difficulty findings staffing, which is a pretty good statewide world problem. We have been very fortunate in that we've been able to build just about all our positions, which is a real. 130 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Question. 131 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And they said so safar in a lot of ways from a lot of the other school districts. So that came through a thousand unfilled
042positions this year. Next one I wanted to say one quick thing to Down New or City they're actually. 132 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Then some of the states this guest speaker from this weekend, they're taking GE students with GEDs to build positions and they're putting down the lower levels because they can do less harmed now. That's really just so. 133 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Okay, I also went to an athletics presentation because I got I got closed out of what I wanted to go through, but it would turned out to be really interesting. It was that the head of the New York State's public School afletic Association. 134 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And what he talked about is that, you know, they, they are really, exploring issues around transgender student participation in athletics. And it's
043the position that they're also very strongly engaged with DEI issues in terms of athletics. 135 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And they're not giving that up in spite of what's some of the pressures that are coming from Washington on these questions. And so that was really, you know, very surprising and and encouraging them to see. And they also are fostering, you know, the DEI fostering inclusive. 136 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Athletic environments. The the last one I went to that day was the the Nisba advocacy liaison meeting. And I was thinking that we were gonna be talking about lobbying and talking to our legislators, but I walked in there. 137 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And they had a buffet and a free open bar. I just didn't mean. So so that was that was one of
044the best meetings too. Okay, so now we got that's that was all on Thursday then on Friday we had an assembly. 138 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And of again of all of the attendees and the the the topic was achieving dignity for all dignity versus content. And it was very interesting. It's a group that has a thing called a dignity index. 139 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And I just wanna, I'm just gonna read through it really quickly. It's kind of interesting. It starts from one, which is the least dignity up to eight, which is the most dignified. So number one, they describe it. 140 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) They're not even human. It's our moral duty to destroy them before they destroy us. Number two, those people are evil, and they're going to ruin everything
045if we let them, it's us or them. 141 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Number three, we're the good people and they're the bad people, it's us versus them. Number four, we're better than those people. They don't really belong. They're not one of us. I hope, and this is what you're trying to avoid in the debate club, I think. 142 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Number five, the other side has a right to be here and a right to be heard. They belong here too. Number six, we always talk to the other side, searching for the values and interests we share. 143 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Number seven, we fully engage with the other side discussing even values and interests we don't share, open to admitting mistakes or changing our minds. And then number eight, each one of
046us is born with inherent worth. 144 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So we treat everyone with dignity, NO matter what. And obviously that is the best. And what was really interesting you know he talked he talked about how they are using this, and then I, in addition to that, I went to a. 145 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) You know a workshop on the same issue. And what was really kind of challenging or interesting is the person who was speaking for people and they say, ok, this side, here's a question I want you to deal with. And I want you to come up with a number three solution. 146 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And all you guys over here that same issue, I want you to come up with a number of five solutions and over here
047I want you number eight so and it was, and they they kept coming up with different problems and different issues, and it was really interesting to see people trying to figure out different ways to interact. 147 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) On the, on that level. And what they said and what was interesting is they said their their aim is to have students, faculty and staff in schools to function on five or above. 148 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And as a way to interact with each other and to and to show dignity, and that was the thing that they want to introduce and you know they they it's a nationwide effort that they're, they're implementing. And so I, I just thought it was quite interesting and engaging. Well it does go with the debate, you know,
048the debate team. 149 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Okay, so, then there was oh then I went to a a session on on the reducing youth suicide and upstream. 150 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Of prevention. And what they talked about there is that the traditional way of dealing with preventing suicide is when you get kids who are in the crisis, that you give them try to give them counseling and help them to be better. And what this talked about. 151 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Was to not just look for people and kids students and crisis, but to try to have all students have a feet positivity and and have a positive outlook. And what they said is the power of upstream, upstream. 152 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Peer initiated public health approaches to prevent leading causes
049of death by of death by strengthening leading causes of life. Strengthening leading. 153 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Causes of life. And so they basically are trying to have people think more positively about life in the world so that you don't have to get into the area of crisis. But that was an interesting research, the interesting presentation. 154 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Well, then there was one on the public PBL project based learning and what was interesting about that is that they, they talked about engaging with the community. 155 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And they, and they started by recruiting some students from three different districts and they went to Utah on a rafting and camping expedition. Most of them have some of them have never even been in a plane, but they certainly had never
050been drafting and camping in Utah. And it said and the the. 156 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) It's that they had five participants at this conference and they talked about how it really forced them to And these are all kids that didn't know each other necessarily. So it forced them to really struggle to communicate, to understand, to struggle to do things they had never done before, and it really helped them to come. 157 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Back and engage in the community and make problem based learning something that was definitely related to the community and and engaging with the community. And it was just a kind of a fascinating subject. And then after that there was another one on conflict resolution. 158 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Which didn't talk about because he and I were
051the presenters for that one. Yeah, it could be that Mark and I did a really nice job presenting, you know, conflict with between board community, that type of stuff had to handle conflict when board meetings occur or community issues arise, and I thought it was extremely interactive. People were talking. 159 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) You can always tell our people with responses and questions. Probably about ten or twelve people at the end came up for over the next day or so came up and said wow, that was a good presentation and sought us out to say it and one board member from Amsterdam said was the best presentation she's ever been to. So. 160 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) I think overall, you know, we we set out what we wanted to do is give some
052people something to talk about, learn a little bit, and think about things differently and I think we accomplished that with our presentation. Okay, and then finally the Saturday Saturday, the closing presentation they had was called. 161 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Of certain kindness one on one, and it was a presentation by Steve Hartman, who's the CVS newsletter, and he's been there for years, and he goes around the country trying to, and to to meet people and just to find kindness and find people that are trying. 162 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) To make the world a better place. 163 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And it was just a very, very moving presentation. He had his kids come up on his page and talk about things. And there was a dr. who was in his seventies and
053never takes any time off, and if you go to see him and you can't pay for it, that's ok. And he was there. 164 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) So he came up to the stage that was interviewed and talked and he was just a wonderful way to end the conference because she just went home feeling wonderful. And let you know that dr. got cancer, Surrence didn't cover the community that he served for free. 165 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to give to him and he didn't need that much when he swear through it back into the practice to pay for more people. So very inspiring. And then the final thing I wanted to just share with you is it was a wonderful student art exhibition. 166 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352)
054And the and the stuff that they did it well I mean Canjo, we do really, you guys do wonderful art and i'd love going down the hall and looking at it all the time. But this was also really, really impressive, and I'll just pass this around and as to you as well if you wanna take a picture, there's a QR code here. 167 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) And you can see see all the pictures that. 168 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) That these students, you know, did if you wanted to. And I think I'll pass it to the students 1st cause you'll be longer, if any of you want to take a picture of it, feel free to do so. If you don't, that's fine too. Just take a picture with your phone and then. 169
055"Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) But then, I think that's the end of I'm sorry to run on so long, but I just wanted to give you a sense of what the conference, some parts of the conference were about and I would entertain a motion to move into exec in a few minutes after the students get. 170 "Canajoharie CS BoE" (2789476352) Change to copy the CR code. So you don't have to copy the CR, the QR code you don't want to go, but you can.