001any public comments. All righty, we're going to get right into our reports, our committee updates. If we could start with Christian and the policy committee. >> Um so the policy committee we have a you know a tenative date in the first week of December for our first meeting and agenda in I sent out an email today so the remaining people can just um uh make sure about their availability. We can give it a specific date. So I'm thinking we're looking for December 2nd or third sorry December 3rd or 4th um based on what I've got the feedback. so far and that is it policy committee. Um I have a few other things though while I have the mic maybe uh yesterday was the November meeting for Oxa. Uh the presentation was on the New York
002State's initiative to create a portrait of a graduate and the basic story is is that there are many decisions to be made and they have decisions have not been made yet. So more to come. um and just talked about the anxiety by a lot of administrators about what this will look like and there was some discussion about both what will be the logistical uh burden that this will create as well as um how this will impact different districts. Um just as a side note and this is my just my personal opinion um what the portrait of gravit graduate is giving different ways to evaluate students competency for graduation um in addition replacing at least or giving a substitute or an alternative to the regions examinations but this will not happen until I think 2030 so
003no student currently in high school would be under the rubric but in Cornwall where our graduation rate under the current system is in the mid 90s This probably will not be a wholesale change for our district but allow us to give us more flexibility on the margins. So perhaps 10 to 12 students who would not have passed on the regions might have a chance to demonstrate proficiency in an alternative way. Um it might have a bigger impact for other districts which is why I think um it I I was also asked to remind people that the regions are not disappearing they are just being uh desentered within the overall graduation framework. So that was OxPA and I will add uh this is sort of the audit committee but this weekend I was um I was
004up in Saratoga Springs for the New York State Retirement System uh delegate convention and learning a lot of things about the teacher pension system and I will say that even though it's not official that they're anticipating that the contribution rate will probably be lower this coming year than it was last year. So perhaps that is a little more flexibility but I think in January they'll have their preliminary numbers um or preliminary projection of what the contribution rate will be. >> Thank you Christian. Uh let's facilities Jim. >> Thank you Christine. Um so a couple things to report. One we had uh interviews for a new uh construction manager. We had two uh folks answer that RFP. Thankfully we had two very qualified candidates. So um we had the board members um that are on the
005facilities committee as well as Megan John and Walter Moran all sat down and interviewed those folks. Um we uh made a decision between the two wellqualified candidates to go with Triton Construction. Um so that was a couple weeks ago on Wednesday. The ensuing Monday uh October 27th we had a facilities committee meeting. In conjunction with that, we had a special board of ed meeting, as you all know, at the table, and we were able to approve Triton as a new construction manager. So, they have uh begun their work. Um, and I think John and Walter have a a kickoff meeting set up with them today, tomorrow, sometime this week. Um, so they're going to hit the ground running um to continue working uh towards presenting a list of projects to bond out to our voters
006in the spring. Um, so in that October 27th meeting, um, we sort of we had, uh, the list of items that were on the, uh, what's the report the architects just did? Building condition survey. Thank you. Uh, blocked that out of my mind for a second. So, we we we joined that list with the previous list that we had um, put together as a facilities committee. So now we have one master list um which John and Walter are going to go over with the construction managers. Uh looking to have a meeting potentially in a couple weeks. That might be a little short of a time frame. Um probably early to mid December. Um really going to depend on on how quickly the new construction manager can get up to speed. So next meeting will be
007coming soon. Uh really excited about bringing them on board and uh continuing our work there. Uh, and I think the only other thing I'll add, uh, we did put it in the minutes for the meeting, uh, which we posted on the website that, um, Megan actually brought a point. She said, "Hey, we're bringing up a lot of this boiler is no good. We need a new fire alarm in this building." Um, all important things. She said, "We we we need not lose sight of what's our space constraint." And we we've talked about this before as a committee, but you know, from especially as an elementary perspective of um can we add on to existing buildings? Is there an argument to be made to have a fourth elementary school in this district? Uh where would that
008be cited? So um just a brief discussion on that, but uh important addition to make sure that we don't lose sight of that. Uh in addition to all the necessary maintenance and upkeep type items that we need. Jim, anything on uh legislative liaison? >> I don't think. Okay, thank you. Uh moving right along. Uh visitation Carl. >> Hi. Um just wanted to let you know that that so far this has been very enjoyable this year and um so we have two reports tonight real quick. Uh Richie wants to just step in and let you know what's going on this week. And then Christine, if it's okay with you, I'd like to hear your report on Willow. everyone. So, this week we are going to be visiting the Cornwall Middle School. We've been invited to uh
009visit the world language teachers pushing into our sixth grade classrooms. Um they started doing this a few years ago just to expose um the sixth graders to the French and Spanish language and culture and that helps them choose which language they'd like to study um in the following years. So we're going on Friday from 11:50 to 117. Uh this date was just finalized a couple days ago. So, I'm sorry the board doesn't have more notice, but if you would like to go or think you're available, just if you can let me know at your earliest convenience, I would appreciate that. Thank you. >> Um, so I did the visitation with Richard uh at Willow A and it was really a fun day. It was that the first Friday celebration. They did the principal awards and
010I don't want to misquote it, but for those of us who remember safety patrols, they kind of have like a kindness patrol. So, the fourth graders got up and they did this presentation on kindness. And I was so impressed with their public speaking with um the story, you know, that they told to kind of illustrate to the younger kids what this was all about. Um and they wore their green shirts very proudly. Um and yeah, so it was just it was really cool. I couldn't believe they were fourth graders. I was like, "Wow, these kids are great at the the public speaking part." And then we got a tour of the building, got to pop into a couple classes just to say hi to teachers and to students. Um, and it was a really really
011nice um event. It was great. It was great just to see the kids in the hallway and how they're so um disciplined. And Richard, do you mind if I share what the the kids said? Well, now it's literally I kind of let the cat out of the bag, but like they're also so disciplined. So Richard came with a um a Cornwall hat on, but one of the young men was like, "Hey, no hats in the building." And I was like, "Oh my goodness." Like I just thought it was so impressive that like they take that seriously, you know? And um so it was uh yeah, it was really impressive. So, it was a really nice experience and I'm really glad, Carl, you set it up the way we're doing it now. So, thank you for
012that that vision of how we can interact differently. >> Yeah. I I just I think it's wonderful. I'm I'm having a great time. Everyone we've every principal we've spoken with, the students, we're just having a good time with this. So, that that's uh that's what I wanted to do. >> Okay. Brendan, communications. >> Yep. Um so, we met a couple weeks ago now. Um and we mostly talked about uh how going to be supporting the capital project. If you remember the last time we did it, it was kind of in stages where the first stage were like intaking information and then once the board approves the project, then we go out with that information. So, um our target is to have a uh public forum in December. Um that's date is always difficult to to
013find, but we'll we'll find it. To uh to support that, we have a survey that that uh our target was to have out by mid November. and you know, you look down at the clock and it's, you know, it's early November. So, we'll we'll get that going internally this week. Um, and having had the facilities meeting uh last week, I think it was very helpful because I I think we have a sense of what our choices are going to be that we're going to have to ask, you know, the community which they would prefer. Um so we'll uh I'm sure in concert with the district we'll we'll be pushing that out to you know all the all the different channels. Um and uh in order to entice um attendance ver either in person or virtual
014at the forum we'll have we'll ask for question we'll not only ask questions but um solicit questions in the in the survey which we will then answer at the uh at the forum. Um so that's uh that's the capital project side of it. We also uh discussed, you know, there was a um earlier this year and then it's kind of been a general question um that's been bandied about last couple years. Uh you know, how is the board how what better ways can the board interact with the the public and and more um be visible in public and and make ourselves accessible? Um we talked about some some different ideas. I think the one that rose to the top was having a recurring, let's just call them office hours where before a meeting we could
015make and this could be not only open to the communication committee communication committee um but anybody on the board to uh make themselves available you know in this space perhaps for an hour before a meeting and we would publicize it and anyone who wants to come and ask a question can come and ask a question it's not part of an official meeting you know um if they just want to talk they can talk if they want to interact then we would be open to to interact so I think that made sense to us in that it feels it's structured it's managed um it's not really asking any of us to you know give up time on a Saturday or something that's just going to be very difficult schedulewise uh and it would also give the
016community like a natural cadence to be to become familiar with um we can present to the board what we feel like that could look like and then I think it would make sense to open it up for discussion as a board. So since it would involve the full board um but just floating it out as as you know preliminary idea and if there seems to be interest with just judging by nods it seems like there's at least interest in exploring it then we can put something together and uh put it on an agenda um either later you know later this month would be even fine. >> Ask a question. >> Yeah, sure. >> Is it um would you envision and I don't know if it's allowed the whole board being here for those office hours
017or you we would rotate whoever's there? So we'd have to get up up to four. >> Right. Right. >> And then I would just maybe for consideration if you make it the hour before but make it virtual too. So the four people that are here are visible together but people that might have a difficult time getting here >> could pop in virtually. I mean they would have to show their face and everything else but something to consider for the >> and I think to the to the point of four you know we'd we'd create we we'd set the dates uh we we talked about maybe once every two months once every three months. Yeah. You were big on quarterly. Um, which I, you know, it it I I think it makes sense for not demanding
018too much of the public too, you know, to expect them to always uh uh be knocking on the door, but we would we would have a schedule for for the year so everybody can can sign up for their days. So, you know, it would be equitable in that way. Um, it's not like anybody can just snag all of the slots. Uh, but yeah, if it seems like there's some at least preliminary interest. So, I'll I'll put something together along with the survey. Maybe we can pass it back and forth and feel like, you know, if we're good about it, then we'll maybe throw it on the agenda for discussion. >> Cool. >> Sorry, I just wanted to add I think something uh important about that, too, is it's for people to be able to talk
019to us, but also some people that might feel uncomfortable speaking in front of people, right? Like if they just have a question, >> I think we I think we determined, although now I'm questioning it would not be it would not be on YouTube, right? It's just a conversation for that to to that point. Yeah. people might feel like a little self-conscious. >> That's why I think maybe virtual maybe not every time because I think the idea is to, you know, if people are feeling a little sheep or uncomfortable about bringing something up in public, it's they can come ask a question if they'd like. >> Yeah. I wouldn't put the I wouldn't put it on YouTube. I just meant as a way to connect. >> Yeah. >> Any other committee reports? I just like I
020would like to give It's not an official committee, but I would like to give an update on the superintendent search. Um, there will be some more information coming out about that with some more details about where we're at. But as a quick update, our search committee district-wise has completed a majority of their forums, both public forums, as well as those with um faculty, staff, and other uh units within the school there. I think there's one or two more that they're completing. But what I also would like to mention is that we have a survey that's available. It is on the CCSD website. It's the landing page, I believe, the last time I looked. It's in the bottom corner. That survey is available until November 30th. So, it is open to everybody in the community and
021we just really encourage you to um take the time to fill it out because it does help guide what is most important to the community and what folks are looking for in a leader overall. So, please take a moment and um let your voice be heard because it does matter. We're going to update the website uh within the next week and just try to keep that as our flow of communication so people can check there for um you know any updates or or progress that we're sharing will be done through that mechanism. So thank you. All righty. Moving on to our consent agenda. We have items two through four. Would anyone like to pull anything from the agenda? Christian All right. The purpose of the consent agenda. Use of the consent agenda permits the board
022of education to make more effective use of its time by adopting a single motion to cover those relatively routine matters which are included. Any member of the board who wishes to discuss individually a particular piece of business on the consent agenda may so indicate and that item will be considered and voted on separately, thus preserving the right of all board members to be heard on any issue. It is the recommend It is recommended that the board of education approve the following consent agenda as submitted by the superintendent of schools items 2 through 4. May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Brendan, thank you. A second. >> You guys are usually fighting to give a second. Richard the second. Thank you. All in favor of approving the consent agenda?
023>> I oppose. Opposed. Anyone abstensions? Okay, thank you. The motion passes. >> Can I just add something real quick? >> Sure. >> Uh the donation items were from our two of our PTO's and I just quickly recognize all the work that goes into raising all of that money. Um you know, really does impact the uh the student experience in a positive way. So, thank you to everybody who did that. >> Yeah, it was a significant amount and it's really the hard work of a lot of people. Any other public comments? Any final public comments? Okay, I going to ask someone to jot down the time because I think this might be a record of all time. Yeah. So, um, and we didn't rush. So, um, I am going to ask for a motion to adjourn
024the meeting. Carl, thank you. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Brendon, >> lose that record time. >> I know, Brendan. Thank you. All in favor of adjourning the meeting. >> All right, the motion passes. Thank you everyone. Have a great night.