Amityville BOE Mtg 3/18/26

001Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Anvil Union Free School Board Education March 18, 2026 meeting. on the meeting's order now at 5:36 p.m. In attendance at the meeting tonight is myself, board president Lisa Johnson, first vice president Juan Leon, second vice president Chris Ner, trustee Megan Westman. It's anticipated that trustees Carol Seahhawk and Lesie Pretz will be enjoy will be joining us later on this evening. Also in attendance tonight is our superintendent Dr. Gina Talbet, our assistant superintendent of virtual instruction, Barry Stevens, our director of human resources, Dr. Landau, and our interim assistant superintendent for finance and operations, as well as the legal counsel, John Sheen, is here. At this point, can I have a motion at 5:37 to enter into executive session for one advice from council regarding particular person's employment history

002negotiation update regarding csea and for interviews for our high school assistant principal. >> Motion Chris is first >> second one is second. All those in favor. I motion carries 4 Z. It's anticipated that we will resume open around 7:30 this evening. Thank you for joining us. >> Patience and our delay in coming out. We are resuming open session now at 8:03. Please note the exits that are clearly marked in the case of an emergency. And if you can kindly silence your cell phone and now please join the board of education the pledge of allegiance. At this point in time, I'm going to turn the meeting over to Dr. Talberts. Good evening, Madame President, to the board of education community colleagues and all who are in attendance. In my superintendence report tonight, I'm pleased to share

003several highlights from across the district. Uh tonight you will hear more about the drama club and their proud presentation of Cole Porters Anything Goes. Their performances will take place on Friday, March 27th at 700 p.m., Saturday, March 28th at 2:00 p.m. and 700 p.m. and Sunday, March 29th at 2:00 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door and are priced at $15 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for senior citizens. So, wherever you find yourself, there's a place for you. We encourage our community to come out and support our talented students who you will hear from momentarily. The Tide Mascot survey is now available on our website and through our social media platforms. The survey takes approximately 2 minutes to complete and we encourage all stakeholders to provide feedback by Wednesday, March 25th. During our

004St. Patrick's Day visit to Northeast Elementary. The building was filled with a sea of green and even more laughter and excitement. Our prek and kindergarten students eagerly shared imaginative stories about mischievous leprechauns who have visited their classrooms. We had lots of laughter throughout the day and we also had the opportunity to observe some great rigorous uh instruction by some of the exceptional staff. On March 13th, students at Edund W. Miles Middle School participated in career day, gaining valuable exposure to a wide range of professions, including law enforcement, first responders, social work, health care, education, and journalism. And as always, members of the National Junior Honors Society demonstrated great leadership by assisting with coordination and guiding our guests throughout the building. At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, our fourth grade students recently participated in an informative

005text writing celebration. The event was a tremendous success as students enthusiastically shared their work and spoke proudly about their writing topics. Congratulations to our scope education services award recipients. Miss Sandra James received the teacher service award. Dr. John Cardone the administrative service award and Miss Sandra Donovan support staff service. Each year, only three individuals are selected from each participating school district, making this recognition especially meaningful. So, we proudly acknowledge their dedication, professionalism, and positive impact they have had on our school community. Let's pause and give them a round of applause. We also proudly acknowledge Dr. Maria Vineyard, assistant principal at our high school, who was recognized by state senator Monica Martinez for her leadership in education during the annual Black History Month celebration. Dr. Vineyard was awarded as a dedicated and inspiring leader whose commitment

006to students, staff, and the broader school community is evident in all that she does. Congratulations, Dr. Vineyard. Did you stand? And although the scope recipient awardees are not here tonight, they will be acknowledged on Monday night at the scope award dinner. But we do have with us Dr. John Cardone. Would you stand to be acknowledged? These events that we have shared with you reflect the vibrant learning environment and experiences and the strong sense of community that we have across our schools. At this time, we are going to ask Principal John Cardone if he would come forward to acknowledge the Amityville Memorial High School top 10 graduates. Thank you so much everyone. So these students are simply the best of the best. I'm so incredibly proud of them. When I was reviewing their transcripts and their

007scores, it was pretty stressful uh because of the the courses and the the hard work uh that that they exhibited. the amount of AP classes and college level classes is really unbelievable and how they performed, you know, is really inspiring. So, um it's an honor to be your principal and I'm so glad that we get to recognize you all uh this evening. Um so, we want to their pictures slide. Okay. Okay, we'll recognize them one at a time. So, um number 10 of the class of 2026, Aoso Ojo. Number nine, Angelina Gomez. Number eight, Sydney McFersonson. Daniel Salazar could not make it, but he was our number seven. Our number six is also not here. Brian Lucina Perez. Our number five, Remy Johnson, also could not make it, but we do have our number four,

008Ryan Dailyaly. Number three, Heidi Chavez. our saludiatoran Eliti Lacuadera and our valictorian Christian Chicas again. I'm so incredibly proud of you are. This is just the start of many celebrations from now until the end of the school year and beyond, you know, and uh we're a family. We're here to support you forever, you know, for the future college, you know. So, uh you're always welcome at Annu Memorial High School in the school district. So, where would we like to take the picture? Right. Right. The top 10 graduates will have their pictures taken here alongside the board of education. And with the parents and family members of these scholars, please stand so that we may celebrate you. Let's give our parents a round of applause. You were their first teachers. You've done well. And our board

009of education Okay. So good. That's That's my son's class. That's cool. >> At this time, we invite Dr. Fran Fernandez, our director of fine and performing arts, if she would come forward to introduce our next group. Okay, good evening everyone. Uh the month of March has been ne designated as music in our schools month by the National Association for Music Education and Youth Art Month by the National Art Educators Association. To commemorate the celebration of the arts within our schools, many of our district's students will participate in various art exhibits, music performances, and drama experiences throughout this month. to showcase this month of the arts. Tonight, we have a very special performance for you. Please help me welcome two members of our Amityville Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club under the direction of Mr. Joe

010Demato Garcia with a preview of their upcoming performance. Thank you very much. Um, Anything Goes is a lively, fast-paced musical comedy set aboard an oceanliner traveling from New York to London. Featuring the witty, sophisticated songs of Cole Porter, the show follows a tangled web of romance, mistaken identities, and comic misadventures with colorful characters including nightclub singer Reno Sweeney, love Lauren Billy Crocker, and a band of quirky passengers. The story blends tap dancing spectacle with clever humor. Packed with classic songs like Anything Goes, I get a kick out of you and you're the top. The musical celebrates love, chance, and the delightful chaos of life at sea. Please see the Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club's performance of Anything Goes next Friday 3:27 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday 3:28 at 2 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sunday

0113:29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and 15 for adults. The Saturday 2 p.m. Matinea will also feature a senior citizen discount where tickets will be priced at $5 for that performance for seniors. Please enjoy this performance of You're the Top from Anything Goes performed by Naomi Chavez Duran and Jackson Nearing. Express. Mickey You're the smile. on the other hand. The pain. You're the You're the You're the great You're a dancing. You're a You're a You're the top of Russia. Baby, thank That was fantastic. Let's give them one more big round of applause. Thank you so much, Mr. Damato Garcia, Dr. her friend Fernandez. Get your tickets today. It's going to be a dynamite show. They did an excellent job. We're so proud of you, Naomi and Jack. At this time, we're going

012to transition to a transportation presentation. This presentation will be uh facilitated by our director of transportation uh Mr. Nate Nate Spence, who was recently selected by New York State as one of six master safety instructors throughout the state of New York. Yes, congratulations. And on the agenda tonight, the board is going to entertain two resolutions that pertain to transportation. These propositions may appear on the May 19th ballot based upon the board's final decision. So tonight you will hear discussion about the two resolutions that are presented and Mr. Spence is going to walk us through some of the requirements and other pertinent information that would be beneficial to the discussion moving forward. So without further ado, I present to you Mr. Smith. >> Thank you and good evening everyone. That certainly is a tough act to

013follow. We're going to, as Dr. Talbert said, talk about transportation mileage for in district. I wanted to give you all some reminders. The mileage that we are currently under is prek to grade three half a mile, 4 to six a mile, 7 to 12 a mile and a half. NYED minimum mileage is uh K to 8 miles and 9 to 12 three miles. For our special education students, we're required to transport them up to 50 miles and last year we changed our private and parochial mileage from 15 to 17 miles. I'm going to present three different options to you. Option one is keep the 1994 mileage specific specifications. Revert to the building level mileage is option two. And option three is adding mileage to the middle school and also subtracting a bit from Park Avenue.

014Option one, this is the one that we are currently under. We are going to continue the 1994 referendum should we choose this option. That would mean that the grades preK to three stay at a half a mile, 4 to six a mile, and 7 to 12 a mile and a half. The estimated budget for that is $7,183,000. Some facts about the this option. Um, as I said, it's the current plan that we're following. The reason why we went to this plan is previously we were doing building level mileage. So, um, we'll talk about that in just a few moments. Um, this plan, the difficulty that it's caused this year is students have different mileages in different grades. So, an example that I can give you with this, if a student lives an eighth of a

015mile away and they have a third grader, that third grader meets the mileage, but the fourth and fifth grade students do not meet the mileage. Option two. Now the changes I've highlighted in yellow so you can see and as I said this is what we were previously doing for many years. We would revert to building grade level mileage. So we would go prek to grade 2 half a mile third grade to fifth grade a mile and 6 to 12 a mile and a half. We would save $200,000 if this were to be adopted at $6,983,000. As I said, this plan was put into place many years ago. A referendum was not put out to the voters at that time. The plan has been in place for, from what I've heard, over 15 years at this

016point until we've reverted back to the 1994 referendum this school year. This plan would align the buildings to have no differentiating service for the different building grade levels. And this plan goes back to the most logistical routing option and it reduce costs of routes. Option three that was asked of us is to add mileage to the middle school. And as I said, this would uh subtract a little bit of mileage from the third grade. So we would do prek 2 grade half a mile, 3rd to 8th grade a mile, and 9 to 12 a mile and a half. This would add $250,000 to our current estimated transportation budget for $7,433,000. As I said, this plan would increase or increase service level to the middle school and the three through eight grades would be eligible for

017a mile or over. This would be difficult to try to put into place because we would need about four to six more bus routes at the middle school. Right now, our high school gets out at 2:00 and the middle school gets out at 2:10 and there's no way for us to use those buses at the same time. And I would definitely suggest further analysis be conducted if we were to choose to do this option. I wanted to give some writership analysis of what that would look like. So, if we were to stay with option one, we would not lose any riders. If we were to choose option two, third grade, we would lose about 36 students in the next school year. And sixth grade, we would lose about 80 student riders um if we were

018to go back to the old referendum. Option three, we would decrease um 36 students from the third grade, but we would increase 80 or excuse me, 50 students to the seventh grade and 85 students to the eighth grade. >> Sorry, Mr. Spence, can you just go back to that? I'm still reading. >> Sure, no problem. So the cost analysis for this as I said this maintains our current 1994 proposition and no new voter referendum is required and as I said the cost is one 7,183,000 and we maintain 116 student riders having buses and there's no change to the bus routes. If we went with option two, this would revert back to what we were doing in previous years. We would need a new vote to authorize this. It cost $200,000 less and it would reduce

019116 student riders and the bus routes and hours would be reduced in billing. Option number three, uh we would also need a new vote. The cost of this is a $250,000 increase. This option decreases 36 third grade students and it increases 135 student riders. We would have an increase of bus routes and hours build to us. Because of this, I'd also like to remind everyone that safety is in everyone's interest. Please talk to your students about waiting and watching their surroundings. Everyone, please stay alert on our streets. Parents, please teach your children traffic safety. And as a community, I think we all need to learn how to slow down a little bit. With that being said, I'd like to thank you for your time and answer any questions. >> Thank you so much for the

020presentation. Uh, do any board members have any questions? >> Yes, I do. Uh, two questions. One would be for Mr. Spence and the other would be for Dr. Talbert. Um, so what would the impact of the school safety zone um study beyond this? >> So we did a little bit of preliminary school safety zone work and what we found is we do not have any eligible school safety zones that would enhance the mileage or give us a enhanced sed um state aid. My question for Dr. Talbert, I don't know if it there would be any way for you to get this information, but um I'm assuming this would help increase the attendance at the at the middle school level with these changes. Is there any way to tell what that impact might be? >> Well,

021certainly we have a number of students who have challenges um getting to the middle school. We have fielded uh inquiries and phone calls from parents regarding particularly middle school transportation. Um as noted, option three would increase wrership for our seventh and eighth graders. However, it would decrease uh ridership for our third graders. At Park Elementary, it houses third, fourth, and fifth. And at the middle school, we house sixth, seventh, and eth. Increasing transportation on any level would certainly increase attendance. And Dr. Talbert, I did forget to mention one thing. The 1994 referendum, the reason why the grade levels are different is we had different grade levels in different buildings at that point. So that's why it looks that way. So it did match what they were using for those buildings. Any other questions? >> I

022just just move moved the mic closer. Thank you. >> Question on um option one. It's listed here. continue 1994 referendum grades prek to three.5 miles and then you have grades 3 to 6.1 uh 1 miles. So is that a is it prek to two that we have now for.5 miles? So option one is preK2 grade 3.5, right? >> Four to six, one mile. >> Oh, four. Okay. It has three online. That's why I asked. >> It may have been an earlier version. I did notice that later in the day and I changed it. >> That's okay. Thank you. >> Can you just clarify for me? Um, for option two, you have grades 3 to five as one mile and for option three, you have grades 3 to eight as one mile. So in that slide

023where you give the columns of the grades option one, two and three, why does the readership decline in option two and three if the mileage remains the same for grade three? I'm just kind of missing this. >> So the reason for grade three that it declines is because right now we're providing a half a mile for third grade. So it would up third grade from a half a mile to it. It's a little bit confusing. I work with it every day and it's still a little bit, you know, I have to make sure I >> keep the right numbers on my head. >> Um, could you just review the 1994 referendum once more? >> Absolutely. >> So they would understand the current mileage. >> So the current option one is what we currently abide by.

024It's prek to grade three half a mile, 4 to 6 a mile, and 7 to 12 a mile and a half. But I think like stated before that being that the third grade, if if it's if a household had someone in the third grade and the fourth and the fifth grade, one person would get the bus potentially if they lived 0.8 miles away, but the other >> Exactly. Yes. And I think we only had one or two circumstances where that occurred but those people were um quite displeased. >> And then last question I know Trusty Mesman is waiting to ask a question is years ago there was we have parents who were coming to the board meeting because their children lived on County Line Road up closer to Southern State Parkway and I think they

025were just under that. They were at at a mile but not a mile and a half. So their seventh grade and eighth grade had to walk to to the middle school because they they were under that they were a little bit more than a mile but not at a mile and a half. So if it was option three then that means everyone from grades three through eight who lived within a mile would would get transportation to the school. >> Yes, that is correct. Thank you, Trusty Mesman. I think you'll >> uh Sure. Thank you. Um thank you for the presentation. I didn't realize the urgency of casting this vote. I was that we need to have the uh notice for the ballots, I guess, to create the ballot. So, we have to vote today. We

026have to vote today to be able to add the referendum for the first public notice. >> Correct. >> Okay. Okay. So, I just want to say that because um it would have been nice, I guess, to have this discussion a few meetings ago so that the community would have an idea of what we were considering. Um I I like the idea of being consistent per building. I was thinking that grades three through five due to the age, just being younger students to keep that at a half a mile. Is that something that you had looked into, Mr. Spence? just Park Avenue being a half mile to 35. >> No, I did not do the analytis for that. >> But we can tell you, Miss Mesman, that that would be significantly more expensive because it would

027add all fourth and fifth grade, >> right? >> A significant number of children would then be eligible for transportation. >> Yeah. And I'm asking because of the age of the students and thinking of them walking if they have to walk. Uh and now hearing that the safe zone appro like study that we embarked upon a year ago I suppose right when we were kind of going through this last year this time and you're trying to get us more state aid essentially right so any just to refresh my memory on the safe zone study >> right so if we did have any eligible child safety zones we would be able to get reimbursed for state aid for those zones >> okay but we Um, so >> I hear you about adding more, but I'm just thinking

028about the age of the students in this building, 3 through five for the half mile. Um, and and not changing 6 through 12. So, it's a little in between, I guess, options two and three because I think you're saying, Mr. Spence, that really the difficulty in option three is the start time of the middle school and the high school. Am I correct? I was, you know, I was thinking while you were talking, so I might have not heard you. >> The bus contractor over several years have has gotten requests like this and I've been working with them to try to figure out what the numbers would be. And there before this administration was here were requests for the same type of information where they talked about needing to change the bell schedules to be able

029to get the buses more in alignment with sharing routes and using the buses in a more effective manner throughout the buildings. >> I just do you have more questions trust me before I say something. So I for me I know option three would be more expensive for for the district but I just reflect on um when parents did come to the meeting like I said this was a couple years back and they were speaking about the distance that their child had to travel when they lived there on Caroline Road and crossing crossing over um I don't know the name of the street but they were cross over because they were down by the Southern State Parkway and they had to come down all the way Countine road get to the light make a left or

030even they continue downline road. There was a lot of traffic on Caroline Road on even on 110 and a lot of things they um if they have to cross over on 110 there's no crossing guards in those areas as well. And you know one I remember one parent just speaking about the experience of their child and carrying the instrument um to to school and anything and whatnot and the distance that they had to walk. So it wasn't the distance, it was the amount of traffic that was the biggest concern for that parent. Not the distance, but the amount of traffic that their child had to deal with and the danger of the traffic, especially when there were not any course guards in some key areas. So, there's a part of me that I lean towards

031option three for the simple reason that it addresses a lot of kids that would have to walk from that distance up that area up behind 7-Eleven and up and over that area. >> Understood. Yes. >> Um, so it would cost more money, but I I think for the safety of our kids, we've been very fortunate. We haven't had any issues with any kids getting injured, but it only just takes one child and from there. Go ahead, Trusty. I'm very concerned with a third grader walking a mile or riding a bicycle for a mile. I I just that's a big concern for me, even a fourth grader. Um it's just it's just not a good thing to me. You know, safety has to come first. And >> it's always been a while though. >> Yes, absolutely.

032And you know, these are great options and they can be, you know, but not everyone's going to be happy. We know that. Not everyone's going to be happy. And um they uh I for me the community voted in a proposition last year. I I'm thinking we should stay with that. It's in the budget already. Um the these other options I I just don't know if they're going to work. And I think basically because of the third graders because the young kids for a mile going for a mile. That's just my opinion. I agree with what Trustee Cretz just said, so I'm not going to reiterate it, but my question is, can we see the report where we didn't meet the criteria for the safety research? >> That was a report that was done by me.

033We chose not to go with Boseies because I've done reports like that in the past and in talking it over with administration um previous administration, Mr. Snider, >> we both agreed that it would be in our best interest for me to just do the study and not waste 5 or $10,000 with Boseies. >> But we took into consideration we have students crossing over Sunrise Highway, Southern State. >> Unfortunately, those child safety zone standards are more designed for upstate when they don't have sidewalks. As soon as you put sidewalks into the um mix, it it really it lowers lowers your score to be able to get a child safety zone >> even with ramps coming off of highways and whatnot. >> I totally agree with you and that's something as a master instructor that I'm going

034to try to strive to change in the state. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Comments. >> Thank you, Mr. Spence, for your um for your presentation. Just just so you know, I I was a student from East Masipua that walked to Edmund W. Miles Middle School across Sunrise Highway. And by the time I got to the high school here, I lucked in change. I still didn't get a bus. So, it was just tough luck for me, wasn't it? But my my my point, and this is more towards the board members, is that generally speaking, macro macroy speaking, it's tough to take something away from children. once they have it. Okay. So, I wouldn't be in favor of taking away any busing to any children. That is to me a promise

035from the school district to that parent to that child that we are going to get them care safely. They're already in and to take that away from them is not fair. Um, so I wouldn't I wouldn't be supporting um any kind of plan that reduces busing. And before you were here about 2 or 3 years ago, I well the board had a very serious discussion about busing. I'm very adamant about increasing busing for a variety of reasons. you know, in increasing busing, I think, could increase uh students in chairs, which could increase learning test scores. These are all hypotheticals. >> I'm sorry. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. Trustee um or Vice President Leo. Go ahead. >> I'm I wasn't sure if Carol wanted to say something. >> No. Okay. So So um about two years

036ago, we had a very very good discussion with Mr. Dragone in his first incarnation with us. He's now in his second incarnation with us. And the idea was this. It didn't catch traction, but the idea was this. To be able to use buses more efficiently. So when one route ends, it can pick up another and there is little to no waste. I know you know about that and you can appreciate that. Mr. Dragoon a couple years ago mapped out a very in my opinion a very good a very comprehensive plan. The only thing was that start times for a school would had to have changed. So really the question was do we want to increase more busing and get more children to school safely but start a school earlier or no start the schools at

037the same time and don't increase busing. That was my take and I'm not sure if Mr. Done I'm sorry um Dr. Talbert if if it's right for Dr. Draon to weigh in on that because I know he was kind of the architect of that. you said it very well that it it is possible to provide um better busing services by changing the start times. I will tell you that the high school principal will have some difficulty if we tell him that his start time is going to be 8 o'clock and his children I'm just making this as an example and his children therefore don't get out until 3:15 and intercolastic athletics Mr. caucus will kill me because we won't be able to have any teams. On the other hand, if we started the middle school

038any earlier, I am sure there will be parents who say to us, "Are you kidding? My kid is standing out on the street now at 6:30 in the morning." So, there are all sorts of issues with changing the bell schedule at the schools. Um Nate does a remarkable job of connecting. We call them routes and within each route there's runs. I may have that backwards, but one bus is utilized for several different purposes and we make very efficient use of the buses that we currently contract for. Um we could you know we always are looking to improve that but you put it very well. We can we can increase services to children. You should know that the state requirement is that children be transported if they live grades K through six more than two miles

039away from home and 7 through 12 more than three miles away from home. So our busing services are more generous than that. There are some districts that provide universal busing. Every child is entitled and Nate would be contracting for 20 more buses and we'd be spending not 7 million but 10 million. So, the issue for the board, and the reason why this is your decision to decide to present to the voters, is would you rather spend $3 million more on busing or $3 million more on educational services? Um, and that's your decision with the community. That's your decision to make. >> Thank you. And Madam President, I will I will leave it off with this. I will reiterate what I said. I would not be in favor of any plan that reduces the current busing.

040>> So I yeah I agree with you one. I don't I'm not comfortable with option two reducing the busing and I unfortunately it seems like option three is not really fully vetted. Um and on top of it we haven't really seen and digested the overall budget. So, we're looking at this on the like by itself and without really understanding what the proposed budget is for next year and the proposed additional academic services or anything else. So, I at this point in time I would be inclined to leave things the way they are, especially if only a handful of families were really negatively impacted and we're complaining. >> So, I still I still like the idea of option three. I do think that we do need to look at this a little bit further. more discuss

041not more discussion on it um but similar to what um trustee Mesman said if we had a better idea where we were at in the budget then we would be able to decide better about option three. So I think right now even though I like option three I don't I think we should just stay where we're at and don't change anything. So don't adopt proposition one or P proposition two just stay where we're currently at. So that means that we do will not be presenting a proposition to the voters. We will leave the budget at 7,143,000 or whatever that 7,183,000. Um and we will return to this question 2627 for the 2728 school year. that. So, as we go around, I just um >> Yes. >> So, you want to stay with where we're at

042right now with option one, >> trusty meman. >> Agreed. >> Yes. Option one. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, thank you. So, that means thank you for the presentation and further discussion. >> Thank you for having me. Right. And so when we get up to the um when we get up to um 2C2, there's no there's no Go ahead. >> So um I would recommend that you uh make pass this as a resolution because you you took a consensus and it's not a real action. So I think there should be a resolution um either or rejecting the proposition that's on uh the current uh agenda would have the effect of keeping things as is. So I still would still would move uh the resolution that's on the agenda even if it ultimately ends up as not

043passing. So make a motion for um proposition one and then have a motion for transposition propos transposition proposition number one and then put up the vote and then if it fails it fails and go to proposition number two. If it fails it fails and then that means >> and that's okay. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry madam president before we vote could we just continue the discussion? I >> I'm not voting. I just I was just clarifying. >> Oh okay. So my my my question really is um like where where did this come from? Because it sounds like we're all very comfortable with leaving things the way they are. I mean I'm not sure if I don't know if Mr. Spence wants to come back up but answer that question. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I'm sorry.

044Well, Dr. Talbert, I mean is is there something Yes. >> that hasn't been said that should be said? No, I think everything has been said, but we did have a conversation with the board last year when this was brought to our attention by one of the trustees regarding our present transportation. And as a result of not being able to locate a referendum that authorized the district to continue the transportation that had been in place 10 to 15 years, as Mr. has been said. We dug up the last referendum which was 1994. At that time, the board had to revert to what was legally authorized to carry out. And so we reverted to the 1994 referendum, which did change mileage at that time. And what our conversation was here at the table is that we would

045bring it back to reconsider for more discussion for the 26 27year vote. And so at or around about March 1st, we shared with the board of education the propositions and the options. And we did not discuss them in public, I don't believe, last meeting. And so we continued and provided you with the propositions again this meeting so that the board would have the option to keep what's the present uh transportation arrangement or to put out a new proposition on the ballot. So the reason it was brought back is because the board said that they would like to entertain it again for this voting cycle. Any other questions or clarifications on this? So, seeing none, I'm going to move forward to the agenda. Can I have a motion for well for agenda items 2A 1 through

046three? Can I do them all together? >> We didn't. We skipped community input. >> I'm sorry. Community input on agenda items only. I apologize. uh please come to the mic. Um as a reminder for everyone who for community in for any input whether on community for agenda or non-aggenda items um just please be respectful when you come to the mic and remember to fill out a card. Thank you. >> She has the card. Uh Danell Cron in Amityville, New York. I just was looking for a little bit of a clarification. Am I saying it uh pronouncing it correctly? Reovs. Yes, it's on the agenda. Am I saying it correctly? >> Yes. Um, excuse me one second. Can we just do the timing? >> Thank you. >> Okay. I just want a clarification on my understanding

047of it. This is a grant always taxpayer funded money that comes in two forms. It's for mental health and for learning loss. Correct, >> Dr. Telman? The grant has those two purposes and districts can write for either one purpose or the other. And they're awarded for either one or the other. >> And this this amity bill has written for one or two. >> We were awarded for learning loss. >> Learning loss. Okay, great. For the amount of >> Yes, the Stevens. >> It was $1 million. >> A million dollars. Okay. Now, does the It says it has to be matched. Is that So, is that money that comes out of our budget? Is that what the word match means? >> So, we are required to do matching funds. They can come from the general fund

048or other grant sources. >> Okay. And where is our or where is ours coming from? >> So over the course of the grant, it comes from different sources depending on the programs that we're using. Our current school year program, we are funding um some of the transportation and security from the leaders of tomorrow grant so that um we're matching because it's in the same time frame. >> Okay. And just a quick question in reference to it. Um the sto the total number of students that are involved um enrolled in the program is approximately >> so there I I would have to get you an exact number. There are different so we're running different pieces to that. So there are afterchool programs I would say there's about 200 students. I would really have to get you

049an exact number. Um >> exact is it necessary? weekends. Uh we're running Saturday programs. They have currently just under 50 students running for Saturdays. Um our we're hoping our our school lunch programs will start up um after approval tonight. So those don't have registration yet. Um and our first parent workshops will be this Saturday. >> Okay. And the student teacher ratio, how is that decided? So we look at best practice. Um currently we're looking at approximately 10 students per teacher. >> 10 per teacher. Okay. And there is transportation involved like because you're saying it's after school. So >> there is transportation for the afterchool program. >> Okay. And what about the Saturday program? >> There is not transportation. We chose the middle school because we thought that it was the most centrally located for all

050of the buildings. >> Okay. So parents or caregivers are provide uh they have to get the students there the 50 students. Now the after schools they're in each of their buildings or is it one central location? >> It's in each building. >> Okay. Now is does this take place of extra help or is this in addition to extra help? >> This is in addition to extra help. >> Okay. And how are the students evaluated for their educational growth once this and how long is the program? Is it the entire school year? Uh no, the program just started in this second semester. It will run through the end of the school year. Uh so each building has identified students who are experiencing learning loss and based on the measure they use to identify them. There are

051benchmark um assessments that they do report to us for our grant reporting process. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Any other questions regarding agenda items? Good evening, Nikita Wolf, uh, president and teachers association. Uh, in consideration or something for consideration since, um, you are going to be moving forward in your decision with transportation. Um, has there or can you maybe take into consideration a plan where it is that you have a uh or just get some financial some financial uh information relative to prek through uh prek through 5 uh 6 through 8 and 9 through 12 and see what that looks like. um because then you wouldn't be taking away. Um you might also uh be addressing some of the issues that it is that you have with some of the parents

052uh some of the members in the community. Um and as uh trustee members have said, they do not feel comfortable with taking uh buses away. Um, and in addition to make sure that we do have uh increased writership that could also potentially help with attendance just so that the community could see what um how much it is that that would cost, whether it would be um the same thing, whether it be an additional cost, whether it would lie someplace in between um you know what it is that was proposed this evening. The other thing that I wanted to ask is that when community uh when information or when people come up for community input on agenda items, sometimes when you've already voted on it, is there an opportunity for any type of reconsideration or tableabling

053of an item based off of feedback that you get from the community? Thank you. >> Thank you. So the the consensus wasn't like a formal vote, right? Like you were just we were just trying to gain consensus of like what we would call, right, Lisa? >> Right. Clarify what was questions. >> Yeah. I I think I think he was just saying I think he was just saying in general that if there is something that has occurred, if I understood correctly, if there's something that has occurred that we've already voted on, it would be if it's something that the board would reconsider. I don't think he and maybe I took it wrong. I don't think he was referring to our our conversation with the with the transportation and what we're talking about there. >> Christopher Peele

054Emville. >> Okay. About the about the buses. Okay. Um I kind of agree with Trust Well, I don't kind of agree. I agree with Trusty Leon. you know, we have to put as many kids in the classroom as possible and we have to get them off the streets. You know, um the traffic is awful. There's places, you know, down south of Mer Road that have no sidewalks whatsoever. And we had two major snowstorms this year. One where the snow didn't go away for for three weeks. So, I guess what I'm asking you to do is to um you know, if you don't like Proposition three and you want to tweak it, that should be offered up as an option. You know, let's let's get as many kids on the buses and out of the traffic

055as we can and at the school. Okay. And the second thing was something, you know, I watched the last uh major board meeting uh last week on the uh Zoom and I do have a problem with, you know, non-village residents coming up here. >> I'm just going to end you there because that's not a um an agenda item. So, >> can it come back later and bring it up? >> Yeah. >> Okay, fair enough. Okay. Thank you. That's all I can say. Thank you. >> Any other questions on on agenda items only at this time? >> Can I ask something legal? This is related to I think two community members are now asking us to reconsider like a hybrid and I just want to ask something. Do we absolutely have the proposition on the first

056notice or can we have it on the second or third notice because I feel like we might have missed the first notice last year maybe inadvertently but I think we did with the transportation proposition. >> You did. >> We did. >> You did. So um you know there is a provision in the education law that that provides that there is no uh election is not overturned for want of notice. Um so it it is you know as best practice to have the the uh notice in the in the first u but it it is permissible to have it in later notices. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So, I guess in that vein, I mean, we could still explore it. And we haven't >> we haven't had our line by line budget meeting. We really don't

057have a budget, but I know for today, >> we're going to I know what we discussed for today, Lisa, but I'm just saying >> if it's something that any of us at the board table want to cons continue to discuss, >> right? So, I'm not not that I'm disagreeing with you. I'm just saying that let's stay focused on the agenda and then if that's something that we want to bring up down the line in our discussion under all the new business let's do it that way. All right. Um let's move on looking at end community input on on agenda items at this time. I'm going to go to the voting section. Can I do agenda items 2 A1 through three all together or does anyone need anything done separately? >> Uh Madame President, I would

058respectfully ask for 2 A3 to be done separately for a possible amendment. Okay. Can I have a motion for agenda items 2A1 and 2 A2? Please >> motion to approve. Second one. Leon is first. Leslie Cretz is second. Any question on these two agenda items? >> Hearing and seeing none. All those in favor? >> I motion carries 6. Can I have a motion for agenda item 283, please? >> Motion. >> Chris Narren is first. Second, >> Megan Memis second. Any questions or discussion on this agenda item? >> Uh, yes, Madam President. I I I'm asking the board of education to consider um on page three. I know you don't have it open, but it says the item that was voted on proposal of resolution to draft RFP to obtain search firm. If it's possible, can

059we amend that to put in superintendent search firm? Because search firm is just very bland in general. Is is there any objection to that? Does does legal have any objection to that? I I could show you exactly how it reads. >> Yeah. Okay. So, was this as I guess my question is is this how the agenda was um and this is this how the resolution was read on that evening? >> I we didn't have a copy of the resolution. So, um, it was red. So, I don't recall if it stated superintendent, but I I think it I think it did because that was sort of a question behind. >> So, so if it did, then certainly. Okay. >> So, yeah. So, um, if it if it's all right, can I just make a mo make

060a motion to approve as amended? >> Sure. >> That's what I'm doing. >> Okay. So, there's a motion on the table. and it was a first and second. So now what we're going to do, we're going to amend the motion to approve this item by adding but but with adding the word superintendent search firm. So we're amending this item to add superintendent the word superintendent because search firm is already there. So, we had a first, we had a second. So, I'm just amending the this item to add the word superintendent. So, we can just now vote on it. Do we have to excuse me, do we have to approve the amendment or no? >> So, you have a um that's a motion to amend. >> Yes. >> Right. So, that's so that's you pro you

061approve that now and then you take the >> Okay. So, can I have a motion to amend the add the add the word superintendent? >> Second. Uh Lizzie Kretz, Chris Neran. So all those in favor of approving agenda item 2 A3 with the amendment of adding the word superintendent and we're voting in them. I >> I motion carries 6. Can I have a motion for agenda item 2C1, please? >> Move. >> Second. >> I'm sorry. Carol Suhov is first. Megan Mesman is is second. Any discussion on this item? All those in favor? >> I motion carries 6. Can I have a motion for agenda item 2 C2 related to proposition regarding proposition number one for the transportation? I think we need to clarify the difference between option one on the in the agenda option one

062on >> No, it's proposition one. >> So on on the >> yeah on the on the agenda it's it's proposition one. So >> so proposition one so the community understands it's related to in the presentation it's related to option number one. So proposition number one is related to op option one in the agenda >> but we need to specify that that is not option one on the presentation. >> Right? So what I'm saying is proposition number one in the agenda is related to resolution option one in the backup but it's not the option one in the transportation presentation. Does everyone understand that >> really not a proposition we're remaining the same? >> But I have to vote on it. I have to I'm putting to the vote that for transposition transportation proposition number one which

063is option one as a resolution in our backup which is not the same as option one in transportation so the board understands this it's proposition number one all those in >> Miss Johnson may I suggest >> sure can >> the motion just says the proposition which would reduce the cost of transportation and and second >> proposition which would increase the cost of transportation. >> So that way the record will be clear that you've looked at two propos two potential propositions. One of which would reduce the second of which would increase the cost of trans. So, I'm I'm looking Can I have a motion for agenda item 2C2, which is resolution option one, which is a reduction in transportation cost of by $200,000. >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you. Juan Leon is first, second, Megan

064Mesman is second. Any discussion on this item? >> I don't like it. You're going to vote no. >> Right. Right. >> All those in favor of it. All those opposed? >> Opposed? >> I. >> Motion fails. 6. >> Can I have a motion for agenda item 2C2? >> Motion to approve. >> Hold on a second. >> I'm sorry. >> Option number two, which is the increase in transportation to $250,000. Go ahead. >> Motion. >> Juan. Leon is first. Carol Seahhoff is second. Any discussion on this item? All those in favor? All those opposed? No. >> Opposed. >> Everyone to know. >> Yep. >> Motion fails. 06. >> Okay. Going to So, we we're past that. We're past that. We're up to agenda item 2 2C3. Can I have a motion for agenda item 2C3, please?

065>> Motion to approve. >> Juan Leon is first. Leslie Cretz is second. Um just a discussion on this particular item for the legal notice. Just be aware there's different times in here and that is correct. Those are the times that need to be there. And also on page three at the top there's a word that says beginning. So that needs to be removed as well. So I'm going to just make a motion to amend this item to remove the word beginning on page three on top of the notice. It it's already it's it's it's already been stricken in the in the backup. >> Okay. So >> it's so you don't need to amend it. >> Okay. No problem. So I strike that. >> Okay. So any any other discussion on this item? All those in

066favor? >> I motion carries 6. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3A1? Please. >> Motion. >> Second. Chris Neran is first. Carol Seahhoff is second. Any discussion on this item? Yeah. Any discussion on this item? All those in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries 6. Can I have a motion for agenda items 3B, 2 A, and B, please? Motion. >> Chris Naran is first. Carol Seahhoff is second. Any discussion on agenda items 3 B2 A and B? Seeing hearing none. All those in favor? >> I. Motion carries. 6. Can I do agenda items 3B4 A all the way down to 3B4 BV al together or does anyone need anything done separately? >> Stop at O please. >> Okay. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3B 4 A to 3B 4 O.

067>> Motion. >> Second. Carol Seahhoff is first, Chris Narren is second. Any discussion on agenda items 3B 4A to 3B 4. Seeing hearing none. All those in favor? >> I I >> I motion carries 6. Can I do agenda items 3 B 4 P 2 3 B 4 DV al together >> TT please >> TT 3B TT >> All right motion to approve second >> Juan Leon is first Chris Nar in a second. Any discussion on this item? >> Um yes. I'm going to stay consistent with my vote. I had voted no to the recovs out of querying how do you ensure um that there's no double compensation. Um and really it just came down to just the master scheduling. Um and this one we're bringing up doing the recubs during lunch periods. So that

068just made me question too like how are we doing that with salaried staff having them work and getting paid for their lunch period and how are you bringing students during their lunch period. So I there's a lot um that I haven't had a time to query and understand and see backup. So I'm that's why I'm asking for this to be separate. >> Okay. Any other Thank you. Any other questions on this? >> Yes, Madam President. Um I I have a question that's similar but different regard regarding recovs. Um and this is more towards the superintendent. Is is there any possible way that we can also more gear rec after school especially figuring that we don't have any afterchool grants. Is is is that not possible? Mean meaning that we don't have a grant for after

069school because it's ending. Could we use recubs for students to stay after school and do learning instead? Like could could we kind of kill two birds with one stone? >> So recubs there there are a combination of ways that we provide intervention to closing gaps in learning loss. Um I'm going to ask Miss Stevens to elaborate a little further. And there is an expiration date as to when the fund >> right I just want to make that it expires June 30th. Um and this is our last year of leaders of tomorrow as well. >> So were you asking to replace it thinking forward? >> Right. So so both both of these funding sources expire at the same time. >> Right. >> Okay. All right. I didn't know that. Thank you. Thank you for the clarification.

070>> Any other questions or comments on this? All those in favor? I >> I. >> All those opposed? Anyone opposed? >> Opposed. >> Motion carries 51. >> Have a motion for agenda item 3B4. Uu to 3B4 VV. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Wo is first. Chris Narren is second. Any discussion on these items? Just as it's filled in on the copy everybody has. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All those in favor? >> I motion carries 6. Can I do agenda item 5 A D to five? I mean 5 A to 5D all together. >> Just lump it together with like seven. So, can I do 5 A to 5D? 7 A to 7 J K >> K >> goes to K. >> Mine is a K. >> I have a J. Oh, I

071don't have a K. >> All right. See >> um so 7 A to 7 K 9 A through 9 H 10 A through 10 F right so once again 5 A through 5 D 7 A through 7 K 9 A through 9H H and 10 A through 10F. Can I do them all together? Does anyone need done separately? >> Yes. >> Okay. I have a motion, please. >> Motion. >> Chris Ner is first. Megan Mman is second. Any discussion on any of these items? All those in favor? >> I. Motion carries. 6. Can I do agenda items 3 C1 through six al together or seven altogether? Does anyone need the done separately? Be questions. There'll be if there's questions that's fine. >> Yeah, I have questions. >> Okay. >> Questions? Yeah. >> So, do you

072want me to do it separately? Will I change a vote if the discussion? Anyone know? >> Well, I I I have a question on I have a question on C. I'm sorry. on C4. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. In C2 and C C4. C2 and C4. >> Those are my questions. >> So, I'm not trying to put you in position. Would you want me to do them separately or altogether? Do you think there the questions are going to affect your vote? That's my question. >> Whatever you Whatever you like to do. >> Okay. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3C1? >> Oh, wait. I It actually might. >> I'll do 3 C. Have a motion for agenda item 3C1, please. >> Motion. Second um Carol first, Leslie Quest is second. Any discussion on

073this item? >> Um I don't have my backup here, but this is a scholarship. I think it was an amount of $250 maybe if my memory is serving me. I just was wondering who >> I'm sorry, a donation. I thought that it might have said scholarship, but I could be wrong. Um got the donation. >> I think it did have the word scholarship in there, but it was a donation. Yeah, it just Beth it says Bethlehem Church scholarship fund. So go >> that's exactly why I have the question. Uh so thank you. So that's it. I just I read it as a scholarship and thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions on this item? >> All those in favor? >> I motion carry 6. Okay. Have a motion for agenda item 3C2. >>

074Motion. Sorry. >> Juan Leon is first. Chris Ner is second. Any discussion on this item? >> Yes, madam president. Discussion. Um, this is more of a financial discussion. I will send over to superintendent. Um, I see that we are paying out to the farmyale school district and also the half hollow hills central school district at two different rates for providing services. Um my my understanding tell me if I'm wrong is that we have students from our district that are attending school in those district private parochial whatever and we have to pay for health services the cost per pupil was I'm going off memory one was roughly 1300 versus another one was roughly 1,500 or so um is there is there an explanation for why that is >> yes. And just to clarify exactly what um

075Trustee Leon has said, the Amityville School District has the financial responsibility for the cost of providing health and welfare services for Amityville residents who attend private schools. And so the services are supplied at various rates per school. And I'll ask Mr. Dreon to elaborate a little further on that. The health and welfare services being provided are calculated in accordance with a schedule that the state education department gives us to complete forms. Um, and therefore calculate the rate at which those services are costing the the school district. we call it the school district of location to provide those services. So it seems to me that Hollowo Hills Central School District using the same formula that Farmingdale uses is paying their teachers for health and welfare services that they're providing more than Farmingdale. And therefore, the state

076formula, which is prescribed, does a calculation that says Half Hollow Hills is entitled to $1,500 per child and Farmingdale is entitled to about $1,400 per child. There are five different school districts. You'll notice that the Hemstead School District is charging us $1,080 per child, significantly less. And that's because Hemstead is paying their staff that provide these services less than Half Hollow Hills. If we have private schools, if we have, and we do, St. Martins as an example and uh Half Hollow Hills sends a student to St. Martins, we would be billing Half Hollow for the services we're providing at St. Martin's school to the children who are residents of Half Hollow. >> Thank you. >> At our individual rate, whatever that turns out to be. >> Yeah. So, thank you. Thank you for that because

077what what it says to me is that we are at the whim of the bargaining of other school districts. We have to pay that >> whatever they bargain with their members. Yes, it's it it is a requirement that they complete a form in which they spell out the cost of special education services, nursing services, the medical doctor, all of the services that are considered health and welfare services. They complete a form. They divide by the total number of students in their district and then they charge us pro rata for those services. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussions on this item? All those in favor? >> I motion carry 6. Um can I have a motion for agenda item 3C3 and 3C4 please? >> Motion. Chris Ner is first, Leslie Cretz is second. Any discussion

078on these two items? >> Yes, Madam President. On C4, collective bid for tree maintenance service bid. I saw in the backup that this was a bid from two years ago. Now, I know we've had discussions on and off, but what how often do we go out for these bids? My understanding is that it should be every two to three years. >> Dr. Delbert, >> uh, sure. We looked into this in depth because we were, uh, surveying our services as well as our bids for tree maintenance. And I'm going to ask Mr. Dragon to give us an update on this. So the requirement is that under general municipal law we are required to procure services at the best rate possible. Um many school districts go out to bid every year for some of the services that

079they provide. Some school districts like us use cooperative bids where we're one of a group of school districts that decide to divvy up the bids that need to be let. There's costs involved every time we go out to bid. So, if we get together with 10 other school districts and we do the tree service while they do the um landscaping service and somebody else does irrigation services, then we all cooperatively give a broader scope of work that we should probably get a lower price for. Now in this particular circumstance, the bid that was awarded two years ago um was the the vendor is willing to hold his price with no increase for the past two years going into a third year. In my estimation, as your business official, we are not going to do any

080better going out to bid and incurring the expense of legal reviewing the bid document, advertising in the papers, collecting information, we most likely would get an increase in price, not the price being held. Number one. Number two, the amount of service that we've gotten from this bid in Amityville has totaled $14,000 over the space of two years. In my opinion, again, as your business official, it would not be in our best interest to spend another $1,000 to procure a service that we've spent $7,000 a year on. And that's in accordance with general municipal law. And the attorney will correct me if I'm wrong with that. And finally, this bid is a cooperative. There are a number of other school districts that are dependent upon this bid being renewed. So, um, those school districts would suffer

081from our not extending the bid. they'd also have to go out to bid or wait for us to do another cooperative. So, for those three reasons, I recommend it to the superintendent. I I heard your question. I appreciate it. If I thought we could get better pricing, I would recommend that to you, but we're actually freezing the price from two years ago, and to me, that's a good deal. >> That's Mr. Done. Your point is well taken, and I understand where you're coming from. Um, the point is this. If if this were to go out to bid and they came back to us with a bid of $930 or whatever it is, they would be the lowest bid and they would be the prevailing winner here. So, I understand what you're saying, but on principle,

082I will be a no on this because it could lead to moving this same line of thought into other aspects of the budget, saying here we are looking at the budget, page 56, we have this price. I don't think we can do better, so we'll just leave it. I'm not going to do that. Every two or three years, go out to bid. Any other comments on this? Anyone? >> All those in favor? Okay, >> hold on a second. I think you just called three and four together. And I do have comments on three. Um >> I'm sorry. >> So, we'll just go. So, on three, there's a $6,000 grant um that we're going to use for professional development and to support multilingual students and parents to communicate with teachers. I'd like to understand a little

083bit more how this money is going to be utilized and how we're going to I guess measure the effectiveness of whatever we're spending the money on. Dr. Tel. >> Sure. Uh I'm going to ask Miss Stevens to elaborate uh regarding our partnership with SUFFK Suffix Edge Teacher Center and how this has transpired over the years and what it means to increase our budget for $6,000 to accept this grant. >> So the districts that participate in the Suffach Edge Teachers Center uh are awarded this grant annually. We work with the teachers association to determine what the needs are that would benefit teachers and students in the district. Um so one is focusing on professional development. So being able to um offer inservice credits for the teachers in the district and the other is to ensure that

084teachers can effectively communicate with parents for parent teacher conferences, phone calls, things like that. So, in the past, we've bought devices that they can use during parent teacher conferences and this year we're looking at some software options to help with that. >> So, instead of the device, you're saying you're investigating other options >> in addition to So, we have devices. Um, so we're looking at options for presentations. Um, some of the software we could use that would instantly translate for families. >> Okay. Excellent. That's good to understand better. Um, thank you. >> All right. So, I'm gonna um Can I have a motion to resend a motion 3C3 and C4? Because I'm going to have they're going to have to be done separately. Can I have a motion to resend the motion 3C3 and 3C4?

085I have I have to do them separately. >> Motion. >> Second. >> W is first. Chris Near in a second. All those in favor? I >> I now can I have a motion for agenda item 3C3 please? >> Motion >> second. >> Chris N is first. Carol Seahhoff is second. We had a discussion on this item. All those in favor of 3C3. >> I motion carries 6. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3C4 please? >> Motion second. >> Carol Hoff is first. Chris Naran is second. There's been discussion on this item already. All those in favor of Virginia, I >> I guess I have something Juan discussed it, but in in hearing Juan, um I guess I would just ask that next year we bring this earlier few months earlier to when we

086need to execute the agreement so that we can go forward and evaluate our policy and make sure that we are complying with um the rotation of every three to five years >> bids >> with the bids. Great. Thank you. Um, all those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? >> One opposed. >> Motion carries. 51. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3C5, please? >> Motion. >> Chris Neran is first. >> Second. >> Leslie Creds is second. Any discussion on this item? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> You want to go through? Um there's 11 items on here. Um >> speak more to the mic. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. So we're moving money from 11, you know, 11 lines over to equipment maintenance. Can you give me an example maybe of one of

087those equipment maintenance? There is a lot of money here. >> Sure. Mr. Dra, would you like to explain it? If you look on the back page, it does have the school that it applies to in a brief description, but I'll ask him to elaborate on it for for you. >> I apologize. I didn't see it. >> No, it's quite a it's uh because it is a somewhat unusual transfer. What we're doing here is, as you know, we can only spend money on equipment that has been approved by voters. We cannot move money into an equipment code. However, there are a number of pieces of HBAC equipment that we need to replace. >> Maintenance does not have money in their equipment line to do that. The lines from which these transfers are being made are lines

088that have not been expended to date for equipment. And if they haven't been expended to date, there's no expectation that they will be by the end of the year. So therefore, we're moving that money into the equipment line for maintenance so that we could appropriately purchase the equipment that's necessary to repair our HBAC systems. >> Okay. So there like student um student furniture $11,69. Okay. So that cleans them out. >> Yes, it would basically >> put clean them out and all. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. And at this point, M. Yeah, >> it's it's March. >> Um, this equipment should have been purchased in September, October if it was needed for the year. So, >> well, all of it, even the athletics, the equipment for athletics that >> exactly the same rationale if it

089hasn't been purchased yet. >> Yeah, it's a demonstration to me that that line was going to have money left in it. So I'm using it where it's needed, >> which is replacement of HBAC equipment. >> I think um second vice president Garing had a question. >> My question was essentially answered. I was going to ask if any of these categories are going to be losing out with the finances being taken, but I believe that was answered in that previous explanation. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments or question on this? Did you specify which buildings had the HBAC improvements? Did I read that in the Friday memo? What was the >> I did not. Um I know that there are a number of areas in the district that require um air conditioning units to be

090replaced, etc. And and if you want, we could in the news and notes send home to you um a plan that Al Galina has to expend this money. >> Oh yes. Yep. That would be helpful. Great. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions or comment on this item? >> All those in favor of agenda item 3C5. I >> I >> motion carries 6. >> Do you want me to do six and I'll do seven. Can a motion for agent item 3C6, please? >> Second. >> Carol Seahhoff is first. Chris Near in a second. Any questions on this item 3C6? >> Hold on. I think I think I just wanted to make sure that we spoke to and I don't know Dr. Tal but I think you had given us a nice explanation really for six

091and seven to really explain what it is. >> Yes, >> she did. >> But just to say it now. >> Okay. Uh the Amonyville Union Free School District is grateful to our assemblyman uh Quani Bio Faroh who um gave us an appropriation a grant in aid of $75,000. And this $75,000 we are recommending it for the purpose of repairing our track. Um, our track repairs are at about $10,000 and uh we track season is upon us and it is certainly a need in our athletic department. We know that our track is aged and eventually we will have to consider other options with capital improvements for our track, but right now just to patch it up for a one-year repair, we're recommending the allocation of $10,000 toward that end. In addition, the softball field at the

092high school um is in need of repair and attention. Uh, as you heard from the superintendent student leadership council, as we've been hearing from the athletic director and the softball team, they desire for their field to be section 11 compliant. And we desire it even the more. And so, um, we are recommending the allocation of the remainder of those funds to go toward the repair of the high school softball field. Any other questions on this? >> Thank you. >> All those in favor? >> I motion carry 6. >> Can I have a motion for agenda item 3C7? Motion >> W on first, Chris Ner second. Any question or discussion of this item? >> Seeing here. >> So, we're just So, this is a $2 million grant that we're replenishing what we borrowed from to balance

093last year's budget. >> Thank you. >> All those in favor? >> I motion carry 6. Have a motion for agenda item 3D1. Please >> motion. >> Second. >> Chris Naring first. Leslie Kretz is second. Any discussion on this item? >> Yes, madam president. I do have discussion. So although many of these um questions are going to be directed towards finance, um I know Mr. Dragoon hasn't been here all that long and this isn't really his work, but still do have some questions here. So, well, I I I'm sorry. I'll address them to the the superintendent first, but there are there are several line items that are already withdrawn um and and depleted before the end of the year um which is which is concerning. It's it's okay to be a little bit under and you

094shore it up from somewhere else. But when I review this, it's it's very similar to when we got into that financial trouble. And that is um just for example, by going to page three, if we go into um the uh the A1620 lines, which are custodial salaries, and and again, we're not picking on anyone. They do an excellent job. What I'm trying to figure out is why are they getting over spent like this so early in the year? Either it's bad budgeting or controls not in place. So just for an example, according to this custodial custodial, we are over districtwide $38,000. According to this, I'm going to skip around. Uh custodial overtime for the high school, we are over $11,000. custodial overtime for the middle school over $13,000. And I just remember seeing numbers like

095this or a little bit worse like I said when we got into that financial trouble. So what can we do here? >> So prior to Mr. on giving us some more specific information. I want to bring us back to when the budget was developed and the $2 million that had not been received uh from our assemblymen at that time. And when the budget was brought back to the board of education, we were given an explicit instruction to balance the budget without the $2 million. And here at the table, we discussed that there would be programs and services that would be reduced until we're able to get the $2 million on the table. So, we highlighted at that time that overtime was being cut from custodian uh department to balance the budget. So, we knew going

096into the school year that the custodial line items would not keep up with the trend of overtime. In addition, this winter has been a winter like no other and we've certainly increased in overtime across the district and through in all of the buildings actually. So we realized that there are several line items that have exceeded its allocation and previously we talked about this being the season to make those transfers to balance out this prior to the end of the year. Uh the prior business official gave us a early estimate in January that we would land somewhere between two and $4 million. Um just last month. No, no, you've only been here six days. >> Yes. >> Just recently, Mr. Dreon pulled that in a little more and said it we're looking at about 3.2 million.

097So, we are going to definitely end the year in the black. It's just a matter of transferring these line items appropriately to balance that out in the end. And Mr. Dregon, if you could give further specificity to that, please feel free. I'm so glad that you picked that particular example >> because we have a number of staff members who are positions that were not filled and as a result you will see in some of the lines a surplus like the high school line has $103,000 in surplus. Now, how are we doing that? If we have missing staff members, we're paying substitutes and we're paying overtime to the remaining staff to cover those assignments. So, what you will see at the next board meeting is another budget transfer taking money from contract lines, salaries that would

098be paid under contract to the overtime and substitute lines to make up for the fact that we were missing staff members. Am I making sense to you on >> that? Makes sense. >> Okay. And uh the other the other thing I would say, Dr. Talbert said it very well, the overall budget will end up in a surplus by about $3.2 million. I'm going to make another estimate at the end of March on March 31st. I'm going to make another estimate. I my first estimate was based on February 28th. Going to make another estimate March 31st. And the number I come up with on March 31st will be probably more accurate >> because we'll have spent more and I have to project less. Every month I'll be giving you a new fund balance estimate and by

099June of course we'll have the real number. Um, but just to keep you um in calm, >> we need >> I'm already pretty calm. I'm okay. Thank you. >> We need to keep the budget in the black in accordance with what's called the ST3 level of accounts. So all of these 1620.16 codes that you're looking at, >> some of which are negative, some of which are positive. The fact is that we have more than enough money in those lines together so that at the end of the year 206 will be in the black, >> right? I I understand that those budget lines >> in in within within the >> in the end are in a positive, right? And that's good. But these the way I the way I see this is that those line items

100that are in the negative are being held up by those that are in the positive, >> right? >> And that's how they're balancing out. So my question really is going forward and this is part of the budgeting process and that is can we be more accurate in predicting what the salaries are going to be >> and which is exactly why we're not having the line by line meeting for tomorrow night >> because when I do present the line by line to you will see a list of every single employee in every line of the budget and their projected salary for next year so that I can reasonably tell you that unless we get somebody to resign um unless somebody resigns and we can replace them with a lower paid person um we're going to have

101a pretty accurate budget for next year. >> All right. >> Yep. Understood. I'm sorry. I don't want to delay the point, but there's a couple of other things. >> Can I just want to mention something before we move to a different line, we've had this discussion over these specific lines a number of times. um which to just in the notes that I have from the February 11th meeting um I had looked at it and these numbers from dating go going back to October we spent $14,000 but in overtime lines but then those numbers seem pretty comparable. I didn't do the math on it but they seem pretty comparable to the report that we're looking at right now. So I I pointed out a few months ago that that these lines were well over spent and

102we had similar explanations from Dr. Talbert and Mr. Snyder at least a couple of times since then and it's nice to see that there hasn't been much of a change between those those these two reports. So it's at least not being spent at the same capacity that it was. Um and I know we did get um I don't remember the exact number um Dr. Talbert if you have it on the Friday transmitt the number for that we spent just from the snow removal. >> I knew it was it like >> 30,000. Okay. >> 30,000 for overtime and 8,000 for supplies. >> Okay. And we still I'm sure it's still too early to tell what the cost will be to do any repairs in the parking lot or anything else that may have happened from the

103from the weather. >> Okay. So, moving on. And by the way, our our previous financial person when we talked about overtime and staffing and things like that, he he one of his answers or responses were there was nothing he can do about that which Yes. >> Yeah. He says that there was nothing we can do about that. And that's where I got a little little weary on >> actually on that. Was I'm sorry just to interject on the overtime. How do you try? How can you anticipate the overtime and how are we going to do that in next year's budget? Because I think that's to your point, Juan. Um, we were told it's really you really can't do anything about it. So, how would you say how are you planning on doing that in this

104next proposal budget? So what we're going to do is we're going to present to you not only this year's budget and next year's proposed budget, but we're also going to present to you for each line of the budget the past five years of expense. >> Okay? So that you will be able to track >> right >> from 2022 23 20 24 >> and you'll be able to ask me you know we've been spending $30,000 a year in this line. Why are you budgeting only 10 >> and I should be able to answer that question. >> Okay. >> Right. Or we we've only spent $10,000 a year in this line. Why are you asking for 30? and I should be able to answer that question and if I can't I know that Mary Stevens can. >>

105Well, thank you Mr. Done. I think I think you hit the point on the head and and that you know my main question my inquiry is is it poor budgeting meaning did we not put enough in those lines or two is it is is it just you know is is it bad forecasting or what is it? >> No, it's the circumstances that we're in. many of these lines we've had people that we've had to hire to be substitutes because teachers are on leave. >> I understand >> because whatever the snow is a great example. I mean I don't know anybody who would have predicted after the past five years where if we saw a flake of snow we said oh my god it's going to snow. This year we had how many inches in the

106space of right two days, >> right? It was record snowfall. >> so again going along with the the Envision report here, um I'm I'm not going to go through the whole thing obviously, but some of the major parts that stick out. Administrator salaries, Park Avenue. This shows that we're over $48,000. That's that's already that was supposed to last us for the year. Um, moving along to A2110. And >> I just ask a question on that because I did notice that. >> You did have a question. Sure. Go ahead. >> And I think What page is that on? >> Page five of 27. I I would assume that that again has to do with staffing, but we also have some kind of hybrid model going on there with our administrator. >> That's what I think I

107was looking at because I don't think that that's not happening this year. So, but it was the previous year. And is that what the difference is? >> That's why we're spending money. >> Could be. That could very well be the difference. one AP was at Northwest split between the two and now this year he's full-time. >> So was it >> was it being was the the budget line being split because it the the resource was being put in two different buildings? >> It actually and it will be corrected when we um allocate because Dr. Lando, I want you to know this man did a remarkable job in projecting where we are in staffing now. And I've just given to payroll a whole bunch of corrections that need to be made in the expenditures. So, if

108we've had a person that was at Northwest and budgeted at Northwest who's now at Park Avenue, the transfer will happen between the $57,000 surplus at Northwest and the $48,000 deficit at Park Avenue and it'll disappear, >> right? If it's if it's being if it's being absorbed from somewhere else, then it makes sense. >> Well, it is >> okay. >> Expense line. >> Yeah. The expense line will shift. Great. >> The budget will be adjusted and the expense line will be shipped. >> Another area, non-instructional salaries in the high school. $39,000 over will be budgeted for >> 2020, >> right? 2020160-08 instruction non-instructional salaries high school. >> Right. Again, that might be because the person was being paid out of the high school line when in fact they were working at the middle school. You'll notice

109right above it >> that there's $76,000 available in the middle school line. So I I mean I don't want to waste your time with this, but understand that when staff members move from one building to another, sometimes the payroll code doesn't shift from one building to another. That's why Dr. Lando and I are working really hard to get the budget in line with where the staff are really working. >> Right. I I understand that. And that's why I ask these questions because you can't get that explanation on the spreadsheet, >> right? >> So that's that's that's very valid. Um, few more. A21101 130. This says teacher salary high school overexpended $442,000. Is that another situation of teachers coming from? very well could be because again if you look right above the middle school has a

110$672,000 surplus. >> It does. >> So therefore, and I'm not going to bet my professional career on this. I'll check it out. But what I'm believe is that there was some people who were being paid out of the high school line but are really working at the middle school. >> And the reallocation that Dr. Lando and I are doing will make that disappear. >> All right. Very good. >> And we're probably going to give the same answer to the next 73 questions that you're going to ask Mr. Leon. But >> Mr. Done, you've been here for six days. Be nice. But um listen, like I said, I'm not going to go through all of them, but I do believe it's a Let me say it this way. I do believe it is the job of

111a good board member to go through the finances and ask these questions. >> Absolutely. All right. I'm very happy that you are because there are some board members who just accept these reports and say, "Okay, not my problem." >> I want you to know when you hit generate on these, it meant something. I read them. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> All right. Madam President, >> can I um just ask when we see the line by line comparison, are we going to see 2627, >> I'm sorry, 2526, our current year with the adjustments. >> You're going to see 2526 budget 2627 proposed budget, >> right? You're also going to see in the next treasurer's report 2526 with the >> the transfers of expense. So you should see many fewer large surpluses and large deficits. >>

112Okay. I guess I was asking when we compare >> are we going to be looking at the corrected? Yeah, you're going to be you're going to be looking at five years worth of expense. >> I understand that. >> But but we are by law >> we are required to compare the budget. >> Okay. As >> to the budget, >> okay? >> Not the adjusted budget, >> not after the transfers. >> When we present this to the community, we need to present a comparison of next year's proposed budget to this year's adopted budget. not adjusted but adopted. >> Okay. So, we'll do all the adjustments at the next work session. >> I hope so. >> Okay. >> Can I ask one more question? Charter schools had a huge >> I believe 100 >> 200 200 thou

113no 200,000 deficit. So where we just calculated wrong last year? >> I think there were probably last year I if I remember correctly 74 students in charter schools and this year there are at about $20,000 per child. >> That explains it right there. >> Any other questions on this? >> All those in All those in favor? >> I motion carries. I motion carry 6. Have a motion for agenda item 3 E1A. Please >> motion. >> Um Chris Ne first. Carol have a second. Any discussion on this item? All those in favor? >> I motion carries 6. Can I do agenda items 3 F1 and 3F2 together? Yes. >> No. Can I have a All right. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3 F1, please? >> Motion. >> Chris Near first, Carol is second.

114Any discussion on agenda item 3 F1, please? >> Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor? >> I motion carries 6. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3F2, please? Leslie Cretz is first, Chris Narren is second. Any discussion on agenda item 3F2 please. >> So I understand this to be uh a consultant to provide parent workshops to go over Google Classroom um and square different platforms that we've been using for a number of years. And I'm not sure why we're going to a consultant if we can. Um I thought the high school was providing parent workshops for that already. And I guess that's my opinion to do it inhouse rather than go to a consultant to provide the parent workshops. So to have a greater contextual understanding of why Bright Mind's technology is

115utilized for this service, I'm going to ask Miss Stevens to offer an explanation. So one of the requirements of the rec grant is that we contract with MWBE providers. Um so this helps us to fulfill this requirement. We did work with Bright Minds over the summer for providing teacher professional development. We thought the presenters were outstanding and so we thought that it would be great to work with the the parent group. Um the presenters are bilingual. They're experienced in working with parents on the platforms and helping make the connection to the learning loss. So understanding how if you're able to monitor your child's progress that you'll be able to support them better. >> Okay. I guess you hit I mean I had no idea about the MWBE requirement. So is this does this fulfill the

116extent of the M what else do you do for the MWBE requirement? >> So we do have a list of vendors that we use for various purposes. So we can order supplies from the MWBE vendors. Um, so it's not just this, um, it's a percentage of our grant that we're doing. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions on this item? >> Sure. Go ahead, Dr. T. >> The parent workshop that Miss Stevens is speaking of will take place Saturday, March 21st from 9 to 11:00. Uh, continental breakfast and refreshments are served. It's a parents guide to school technology. So, please spread the word. It is posted and it has been circulating on social media. Parents as partners for student success program. Thank you. Any other questions or comments on this? All those in favor? >>

117I I motion carries 6. Are there any is there any old business? I'll start with >> um Madame President, not not old business, but to um in response to Trustee uh Leslie Cretz, the appropriation status report that ended January 31st, just just so we know, payment to charter schools, $197,548. It continues to grow. >> Over. >> It's over. That's the amount over yet. >> Yes. She said, "Yeah, yeah, she said she said like $200,000 over." >> No, no, no, no. I wasn't correcting you. I was saying it out loud so everyone knows what the report says. That's all. Like I me I mentioned you because you you had mentioned it initially. That's all. >> Any other question? I mean, sorry. Any other old Any old business? Anyone have any old business? >> Yes. >> Go

118ahead, Dr. Talbot. >> Yeah. >> Make one comment. Um Trusty Leon's point is very well taken. Um actually we shared with the board a resolution that about 14 other districts across Suffach and Nassau County have passed regarding charter schools. And so um certainly we would like for the board to discuss that particular resolution and to bring it in April in hopes of a supportive vote that charter schools um are pretty much siphoning public school dollars away from students in public schools. So perhaps we can have a greater discussion on that at the April board meeting. Thank you. >> Oh yeah, I was going to bring it under new business, but that that's fine. No, that's fine. Go ahead. Any other old business? >> Uh yes. Um so we've been talking about bringing in scope for

119the summer program and I was hoping that the contract would be ready for 318, but if you can provide an update. >> Sure, Miss uh Stevens. I am still working with scope. Um, we are waiting for them so we can share their proposal with our legal team. So, >> Oh, so you don't have the proposal yet? >> No, I'm still waiting for it from them. >> Okay. Is are you asking for summer and the school year or should we >> So, we are talking about both, but we're trying >> to get the summer through. Correct. Yes. Correct. >> Uh, the three through six gifted program. Dr. Tower, you shared an outline of brainstorming and how that outline is going to come or the program is going to come to fruition. Um, I know we're having

120a line by line budget, but I have it in my notes here. How are you anticipating that implementation in the budget for next year? >> Uh, so we're not. The board's resolution that was passed indicated title title 4 funding >> to support gifted and talented. So, it's not in the general budget. I know Miss Stevens has been working on that. Would you like to provide the update that you have today to the board? >> Sure. Um, the Park Avenue committee has been looking at other programs. They're moving ahead with their timeline um to make recommendations and then start implementing. So, the title grant is written over the summer, but we're looking to use the funding from title 4 to uh support the programs that they end up recommending. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, okay. We

121had discussions early on in the year about the lack of a contract for the vending machines and I went back to the corrective action. You're laughing at me. >> No, because I'm I just it was a like a flashback about the vending machines. Not laughing at you, but just a flashback about the vendor machines and and the whole issue with the fundament. So, not not at you. I'm just smiling. >> It's okay. I don't >> about that response. No, no, not you. >> I mean, I brought it up. You can laugh at me. It was my issue. >> No, no, no, no. I'm just I'm >> And I'm And I'm actually prepared to discuss it tonight. >> No, I'm not. Please don't get offended. >> No, I was laughing at anyone. I'm just like >>

122these the vending machines, they don't they won't go away. That's all my >> Yeah. So, um I went back to the corrective action plan and we had indicated that we would go back out to bid by the end of the year by the December 31st. So I wanted to inquire about and I know that Mr. Draone is filling a new this role. So I just wanted to bring this back up and to understand where we stood. Was anything in motion to go back out to big to engage and get a contract in place um or this is where are we? That's where I'm stand. >> We're pretty much where we were uh when Mr. Snder gave the latest update. I have shared the corrective action plan with Mr. Dreon. Um, we have a pending meeting

123to go through the items that we are continuing to address and we will provide the board with an update. >> All right. >> Can I chime in on that real quick? >> Again, um, you know, I'm sure Mr. Draon has bigger fish to fry than the vending machines. But on principle, on principle alone, there are a number of vending machines not owned or operated by the ATA. Those are fine because there's a side agreement with that. But there's I I believe that there there is a side agreement. It's in the contract. Yes. So what I'm what I'm talking about is there are a number of machines where that are being serviced. Individuals come in, restock it, collect the money. Nobody knows where the money goes. Um it's it's a mystery. It's not a lot of

124money, but I mean the school should be entitled to something. Our previous financial um assistant superintendent felt that it should that money should go into our food service program. He he felt that that's where it truly belonged. Um but anyway, to to to rehash it for a second, that was the issue that there's a number of machines. No one knows where the money's going to. They're not compliant with our school policy, our healthy food policy, and they're just basically operating on their own. Again, not not the biggest issue of the day, but at some point, maybe when things die down, I would like to see some kind of resolution to it. >> Any other old business? >> Uh, yes. I so I had questioned the one-year seat on the ballot and legal had provided uh

125a response that the one-year seat would go to um the candidate with the fourth the fourth highest votes. So I just because that was a little conflicting. We >> kind of intuitively were like, "Oh, it should go to the highest vote getter." But because they get uh appointed that night, but legally had confirmed that it's the other way around. >> So the the first >> That's correct. >> The first three people with the highest votes get the three-year term, >> the longest terms. >> The longest term, and the fourth person will get the one-year term. >> Correct. One year and 42 days. >> One year and 42 days. So, to recap, there's four seats open. Whoever comes in fourth place >> wins the prize of a one-year term. >> Yes. Thank you. >> All other

126participants will receive a three-year term. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? >> Sorry, I blundered that. Um, has the wellness committee met this year? because we do have the annual review of the wellness policy and I just want to you know we want that in place for the start of the new year and it might take some back and forth. I was just curious if where that committee stood. >> I'll ask Miss Stevens to give us an update. >> The wellness committee has had two meetings so far this year. I believe they have one left on the calendar. >> Oh, okay. So, they've been reviewing and updating the wellness policy to bring to the policy committee. They have been working on the requested recommendations. Yes. >> Thank you. Um, okay. Sorry. Um, for the budget

127meeting that we have not rescheduled yet, but we're we'll figure that out. Um could we please have the reserve balance all of the reserves and the balances available at that meeting? Um few months back I had asked to see the past like three years of it so we could kind of see the trend of where are we pulling money from or where you know how much are we spending out of these reserves because we still have to figure out what are we doing with the $4 million in excess of our that's sitting in our unassigned fund balance and we have to also think about if we really end the year with $3 million again in excess where is that money going to go? Um, so I would I would like to hopefully have all of

128that together when we're talking about uh next year's budget. That's my request. I don't know if we need a board consensus or No, >> I'm just I'm saying that's good. Yeah, that's fine. Okay, >> that's something we can provide. >> Okay, thank you. >> Any other old business? Anyone? But for new business and Dr. Talbert mentioned for me was um there was information that we all received about the charter school and the resolution. Hopefully everyone has an opport has had an opportunity to review it and it's something that I think that we need to think about. I think everyone has the the right to make a decision where they want to attend school. I think it's very important. We just need to look at as a district that when we have students who attend a

129charter school, it it costs us a district. So just look at the resolution and please be prepared to discuss that at our next meeting. So therefore, we can either decide either we're going to not support it or we're going to support that particular um resolution. Um there was one other thing I had but it just went out of my mind. Does anyone else have anything for new business? As I get my back again, >> we revisit the transportation proposals. >> We can look at that. Yeah. Continue to look at that. The transportation uh proposal. I don't think it's I don't think it was meant to we look at again tonight. I think we were just saying that let's I think we need to continue discussion. I think we need to talk about if there's any

130additional options that we want to look at. Um you know I still I think that's that's one I think it requires more of a discussion on on that particular matter. Um >> but I think we need to have that discussion tonight so they can look at those options and have those prepared for us so we can make a decision. >> Okay. I I I think for for me Oh, go ahead, Christy. Um Christine Nir, I mean would second vice president Leon. >> I mean I don't I don't know what the math would be and I know there was a few options that we were discussing. Um and you know I know uniformity for the buildings is obviously makes things easier I would think. So are we able to look at combining option two and option

131three and or really probably even more than that. Um what the cost would be of prek through five at half a mile >> and then 6 to 12 at a mile. >> Is that or is that No, that was that wasn't 6 to8. Yes, that's right. six to eight at a mile and then 9 through 12 at a mile and a half. >> Yeah. And that that so once again you you said prek through five >> prek through five. So that would be northeast, northwest and park avenue >> and.5 miles and then 6 through 8 a mile. >> So that would be >> middle school. >> The middle school >> and then 9 through 12 one and a half. Yes. So that means every building all grades in each building have the same mileage and

132then we wouldn't be taking away from any of the students >> that are the grades that are already getting transportation >> is that >> so I would be no we would >> just go more to my estimate of how >> but I feel like we should get a consensus or I mean if there's another option that somebody else wants to look at >> so Then we have multiple options like we did today. >> I I would want to see what that option looks like as as one. >> I would be interested in 3 through five being a half a mile. So it's option two. So it's prek to two half mile. 3 to 5 half mile and 6 through 12 remains the same. A mile and a half. >> Oh, so you're saying so he

133he would So you're saying 6 through 12 a mile and a half. >> That would Yeah. >> Okay. >> It remains the same. >> So basically it's the same thing. PE he prek through five basically 0.5 miles and then 6 through 12 would be one and a half miles >> but right now sixth grade is a mile >> I'm sorry I was looking at option two so I was looking at the hybrid of option two but >> so then we would be >> I was just >> right now sixth graders but sixth graders right now >> or a mile so then we would Right. So I >> So you >> So I So sixth grade would still change so that it was consistent with the building. >> So you're looking to take it >> increase

134the mileage for sixth graders from one mile to a mile and a half. So then we'd be taking away from the sixth graders. >> Okay. >> But I I would I just think we need to think of >> it's just an idea. It's just that would be consistent in the building, >> right? Uh, and what I had expressed earlier was just the age group of the the, you know, the third, fourth, and fifth graders at Park Avenue to go to the half mile. So, >> I think >> that's what I would be interested to see. Um, saying that we're going to approve it, >> right? That'll be another thing to look at. I I think so. PreK to 5.5, 6 to 12, uh, one and a half. I I just want to I just I

135think we need to really keep in mind that with the middle school and where it's located that we have kids who are up north further by on Countyline Road close to the southern state going across 110 going down by 7-Eleven and all that area that it will not if it's a one and a half they would not get busing and it's a lot of ways that they have to walk >> just like if it's the other direction down here. If it's if it's from 6:00 to 8 and it's down in East Massape and South Anvil, they're going to get a bus because they're more than a distance away. So, I think we really have to and even if there there may be certain individuals that right here in the village area that may be a

136mile from the from from the village into to to to the middle school. So, it's thinking about all those kids coming from all different directions and the and the way that they have to travel and there may be sidewalks it but there may be issues but there's a lot of busy roads that that are out that way. And so that's why as we look at as we get the course then when we get the when we get the course these are things that we need to be able to discuss >> to make some decisions. So we're getting course for once again prek through 5.5 6 through 8 1 and 9 through 12 1.5 miles and looking at number two P preK through 5.5 miles and 6 through 12 one and a half miles. So looking

137at the course for those two as well. Is there any other options that people want to look at? I just want to point out, I'm not saying to not get that that other option because I would like to see it, but I'd like to point out that there's been a number of people that have raised concerns of students being pulled from the district going from Park Avenue to the middle school. And I feel like if we're going to be reducing the busing going to the middle school, that would if that's the actual trend, then I would think that would make that number even worse. that people are going to see that um all right if I if I'm going to send my kids to the middle school um they're going to they're not going to

138get busing what they would have last year if they were going here. >> Okay, I understand. I was just going off of the option that the transportation director had put together and taking into account that he had identified that having different mileages for the middle school and the high school was going to be extremely challenging and with the start times of the buildings and I was simply suggesting a different option, not one that we're necessarily voting on. That's all. >> Right. I know I'm I'm not saying to not consider it. I'm just I wanted to point that that out. So while we're moving to that point to consider it, people could think about that. >> Yeah, we just it's just I think people are just giving their opinion based on different things. So we'll get

139we'll get the course for these two. Any other s um suggestions that we would like to see? Um anything different from what was already been presented? So we're looking at any additional suggestions for options. >> That's all. >> Well, Madame President, my question is when when is the hard deadline that this is needed by? That's my question. >> Dr. Talbert, that was my clarifying question as well, Trusty Leon. So, thank you. We mentioned if we are submitting this in the first legal notice that the vote would need to take place tonight if there were going to be any changes, then the question was posed, could this be extended to the second posting of the legal notice? And if I heard correctly, legal >> legal done that it's not a preferred option, but is it a

140possibility? And while we wait, >> I just need to look at your policies. Okay. So, while while legal is doing that, I I'll weigh in. When it comes to busing, I'm easy. Okay. I will not vote for anything that takes away busing from children that exist that currently have it. I'm in favor of increasing busing to get more children dedicated rides to the school. However, we do that, the board decides. I'm against decreasing. I'm in favor of increasing. >> U Mr. Drago, did you want to weigh in on >> the transportation? >> I've already had a conversation with Mr. Spence um while we were having this discussion and asked him to cost out some of the options that we're talking about. Now, um I feel freed a little bit by legal telling us that it

141would not necessarily be a fatal flaw to have the second legal notice different than the first. Um listen, as you know, people could litigate anything and if somebody was really anxious to have us not have the position passed, they may litigate the fact that it wasn't included in the first legal notice. I'm sure John would give his best legal counsel to defend us, but who knows what the commissioner would call number one. Number two, the second thought that I have is this is not just a matter of cost. It's also a matter of revenue because we only get state aid for transportation services provided more than a mile and a half from school to home. You can do anything you want in terms of providing services. You could make it zero if you want, but

142then every child who gets on that bus who lives less than a mile and a half away from school is not going to generate state aid. Now, we get a significant amount of state aid for our transportation costs. So, we're talking about not just increasing costs, we're also talking about reducing revenue. But this this board represents this community and what you want to do, we will figure out a way to do it. Um, I know that Nate is very concerned about making sure that he could make efficient use of the buses. To give you an example, let's say we make six through 12 a mile and a half. Everybody is or even a mile. Well, we can do it. We'll just have to get >> two sets of buses. One to run the middle school

143and one to run the high school. And we'll be doubling our secondary transportation costs. I don't think we want to do that. Go ahead. >> So I I think it's good to get get the numbers and kind of see I just I just kind of feel that this really requires more of of a discussion. So therefore um the board >> I would I'll speak for that I'm comfortable with it and hopefully all the board members will be comfortable with any proposition that would go forward. So I think we should get the information and also allow enough time for the community to be informed about a potential proposition that would affect the bus in one way or the other for the buildings to be informed as well. So I think it's important for us to get

144the information but I also kind of think this is my opinion that we need to slow it down a little bit so therefore we are definitely making an informed decision >> and looking at all the avenues. So I I look forward to getting the information and then as a board we can continue the discussion to make a decision about what we want to do regarding this proposition. >> And if I could ask Miss Johnson, everyone on the board, please go out and look for bus drivers because we don't have enough bus drivers now for our existing routes. So >> increased cost, decreased revenue, and not enough bus drivers. Those are the things. Those are the factors that we're trying to, you know, I'd love, as Mr. Leon said, I'd love to provide universal transportation to

145everybody. >> I didn't say that. >> No, you'd like to increase, but you'd like to increase rather than decrease service. I understand that. I'd love to provide every kid with a taxi from home to school. It just is not possible. >> Right. And if if if I could just say this that if if we stay with the plan that we currently have, everyone is used to it. It it's not bad. It exceeds New York State requirements. The only thing I'm saying is if we can find if it makes sense financially and we're able to however we want to do it either increase the building or the grade level even slightly whatever the board decides is is appropriate that's that's fine. That's something I would consider. So we we have the suggested um additional things that

146we would like to be looked that we want to get information on regarding what would the cost be and so any other conversation on on the transportation >> any so oh you >> to answer your question >> sorry >> that was pending thank you for the uh the time the last day for proposition to be submitted by voters is 30 days prior to the budget vote. So that would be the really the end last possible date for a proposition to be approved by the board. Um you know we do uh so that's April 19th. Uh but we do re you know we recommend that it be uh as soon as possible you know preferably with the first um you know annual not to go in with the legal notice but it's not possible then 30

147days prior to the vote would be the last possible day certainly earlier the better. >> Thank you. Any other new business? Can I go to community input at this point? So, community input on nonen items. >> Before you get started, hold one second. Let's we got the time all together. As a reminder to everyone that comes to the mic, please be respectful when you come to the mic and please fill out the card to give to the district clerk. Thank you. >> My name is Julie Karafi. Um good evening. Um I'd like to um I went to the last meeting last time and there were some issues about school um declining attendance in the school and school safety and I'd like to discuss uh discuss that. This seems that there's a law lawsuit currently against

148the Amityville School District um which is allegedly a violent sexual assault which occurred in the Amityville High School a couple of years ago and it um alleges that there's a woefully inadequate and um negligent supervision at the high school or so this highlights concerns that about student safety and uh Oversight research research shows that students um don't who don't feel safe um have the less academic engagement and learning the learning suffers which may contribute to the um district's low proficiency scores. So, I have a few questions. Since um the alleged lack of supervision at the high school um was a big key factor in the lawsuit, um how are what is see what steps has the board taken to ensure that there's adequate supervision at all schools? >> So, I I have a problem with

149that question. >> Yeah. is that uh >> this is a legal counsel that's speaking >> an attorney for the school district. Uh you're making an assertion based upon allegations. >> I I never I never asserted anything. I said alleged I know alleged you're using >> I was very careful to use >> I know but you are you you let me speak please you are using that as the basis as a leading proposition for your subsequent question. So um that in my opinion is not a proper question because you are making an assertion based upon allegation and then assuming that that assertion is true, you're asking a follow-up question. Um I would ask that you rephrase your question without stating those allegations as something that is taken as the truth as a fundamental to the question.

150>> Okay. So what steps has the uh board taken to ensure adequate supervision at all the schools recently? Have you done any recent um >> as it pertains to the health and safety of our students and staff at our schools? Um our teacher to student ratio is proportioned to what is in the best interest of child welfare. We have adequate um administration uh that provides proper supervision. Uh we have duty personnel who assist with um supervising students inside the classroom as well as outside of the classroom. So we have factors in place that provide proper supervision for all of our students inside as well as outside the school. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I have another question. Um can the board provide any data an anonymized data on the instance of violence, bullying or other

151safety concerns over the past few years? >> Sure. Uh there are various reports where we report uh school climate um and safety measures uh internally as well as to the state department. So yes, we do have data and measures that are taken. >> Are these data about incidents that have occurred? Is this data I mean anonymized? You know, so nobody's name is mentioned just numbers. >> Yes. >> Where where is that available? Uh that information is located in the district. Um if you were to uh email, you can email me and or see me right after the meeting >> and get my information and we can see what your request really is and how we can provide the information. >> I just had couple more questions. Um what procedures are in place for reporting incidents?

152There are various procedures in place. It depends on the incident. There's a dess reporting procedure that's followed. um for students when there's a bullying or harassment situation. We have a code of conduct um that governs what the uh incidents may be as well as the um consequences of behaviors exemplified by students in school. >> Um as the at what point is the um local police notified of incidents in the school? That varies based on the incident. >> So could you give an example of what would be reported to the local police? >> It varies based on the severity of incidents. >> Could you give me a specific example? >> I don't think we can. It's legal. Can we give a >> So the code of conduct provides uh if the um that the conduct is

153constitutes a crime uh then there's a report >> if it's a crime. Okay. All right. Um here's another question. Um, is there a gender imbalance at Edmonton Tiles Middle School as compared to the other schools, the elementary and high school? >> Are you asking regarding enrollment? >> Yes. If what's the ratio of girls to boys at the Edington Miles Middle School? >> Oh, I don't have that information readily a available, but we can provide that to you. >> Yes, I'm very interested in that. Okay. And one more question. Are there programs in place to support students who have been exposed to trauma or unsafe situations? >> Yes, we have PPS staff, we have social workers, we have uh school counselors, we have school psychologists, and we also partner with various agencies to help help meet

154the social emotional needs of our learners. >> Okay. Um I from what I understand there are six school psychologists in the Emityville school district. Um compared and that the ratio of student to psychologist is 1 to 470 and neighboring school districts have a much lower ratio of psychologist to students. It's like 1 to 340. So I was wondering why isn't that prioritized? you know that since there's so many atrisisk students in the AMDville school district why don't we have more school psychologists that's my Am I done >> okay thank you >> I'm sorry can I can I address Miss Karaki for >> I think Dr. Table is getting ready to answer the call. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Oh, >> so I would like to say that our student health and safety and emotional well-being

155is addressed um through our PPS staff as I described in addition to psychologists. We have social workers and we have school counselors. And so they work collaboratively together across the district to help meet the needs of those students in so many different ways. So, is there a case load? I mean, like how much how do they have is there any information on the case load or the waiting list? How long ch children have to wait to get to >> There are some mandated services and they also provide non-mandated services. >> Okay. Well, thank you so much. I'm want to in the next few meetings I want to follow up on this. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for coming. Any questions? >> I Well, I just wanted to make a suggestion, Miss Karafi. Um

156just a suggestion many many of the the metrics that you're looking for a good brie and open to the public source is if you go on to the New York State Education website and you look or go on to Google and type in New York State report card that's open to the public that's open to anyone and on there you can see various metrics such as um student population their ethnic makeup uh studenttoteer ratio ratios, graduation rates, and a host of other things. You can compare AMDville to schools in Suffk to New York State. You know, the you you can go as as far as you like with that and that's open and free. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Right. >> Good evening, Caroline Fanning. Uh, I have a question about the

157switch from um paper report cards and progress reports to um online via Infinite Campus. I think at this point we're less than two years into the change and um does a district do you have any sense of the impact of it from parents as far as parents being aware and on board with it? >> Dr. Talin. >> Sure. Uh thanks for asking that question as it pertains to report cards. I'll ask Miss Stevens to just provide any update that we may have at this time. If not, we can certainly get back to you in more detail. >> I can speak anecdotally about it. Um that we do provide support for parents who indicate that they're unable to access on the portal. Um so we would print report cards for them if they needed it. I

158know that anecdotally there aren't a lot of requests for that. There are a lot of comments about the ability to track students grades in the portal um and see it not just at the end of the marking quarter. So we are getting positive responses about that. Okay. Um, I guess I would I mean it sounded like a while ago the students were surveyed and they were asking I don't know if it was just one school or districtwide for a better balance of paper and screens and I would imagine that if you ask the parents the same question they would give the same answer but I understand why you're not asking the parents that question more broadly. Um, I do think it would be good to ask the parents the specific question. Would you like to

159also get paper report cards and progress reports? Um, we all remember the days when we were inundated with paper, but I feel like those two pieces are so important relative to everything else if that's what other parents want. I don't want to speak for everyone, but I do think it's important to find out um because things move so fast. And if you have a kid that's struggling and they're not being told by a teacher that, you know, they're at risk of failing math, um the earlier the parent catches it, the better. So you, Miss Stevens, mentioned parents struggling to get on and it's great that they have help. But I'm sure there are many parents who are just distracted. They don't know the kids's in trouble um until they find out three weeks after the

160fact, oh, progress reports are posted. Well, too late for me to do anything now. Um so that was my first commentary. My other, this was not on my radar until I talked to a parent the other week who was talking about her disappointment. Um, does the district have a policy that they issue a minimum grade of 50 if a child scores below that on a test or report or a quiz? >> In terms of policy or practice, >> that is a practice. Um, a minimum score of 50. >> That came as a surprise to me. parent told me, "How is that not grade inflation?" >> Um, so the theory behind it is that students can't recover from a single failing grade, right? So if they scored a 36 on a test, it would make it

161more difficult for them to do so. But the 50 is a failing grade that they could recover from. And just to my knowledge, it's a common practice ac across many school districts. >> Okay, I I can understand that. But once again, speaking from the parents perspective, if you have a parent who's not fully engaged, maybe they see a 50 on a test and don't understand that's really a 20 or whatever it is. How do you make sure the parents understand how poorly their kids are performing if you have this minimum? I think that's in the communication with the parent. Um, so those are phone calls to parents, meetings with guidance, meeting with teachers to conference about performance. So is it automatic then that if a child does that poorly, the teacher has to reach out?

162I would say it's expected. Okay. >> Thank you. Hi, Chris here. A laminville. Okay. Uh, two things. Okay. The uh line by line budget um is cancelled for tomorrow. >> Yes. You have to direct the question towards me over here, please. Thank you. >> Okay. It was cancelled. Okay. We have a seabbat presentation that's due on March uh April 15th. Okay. We'd like to have some kind of an idea when that is going to come forward so that you know when we walk in here that day that we know what we're talking about. >> So we're looking to reschedule the line by line hopefully one day. Um we'll try to get a meeting rescheduled uh for next week. >> Okay. And the second thing was, you know, I watched the I watched the um the

163BOE meeting last time out on on Zoom and I tell you when you're watching from your den, it gives you a different perspective of what you see. And the perspective I got is we let a whole lot of people who didn't reside in this district talk in the public sessions that we never should have at the expense of time for our own district residents. There should be some kind of a resolution that only district members speak at these proceedings. I'm talking about like this public this public uh talk and one we had earlier. >> So I'm just going to inter um >> there should be nobody else talking. >> Um correct me. This is a public meeting. So as a public meeting anyone is allowed to come to the mic and to make a comment.

164So it's a public meeting. We cannot deny anyone from coming to the mic to ask a question >> at the expense of somebody else. >> It's it's a public meeting. So leave go ahead. >> So that the the committee on open government has opined that you cannot uh limit the speakers to only residents although the commissioner of education has a different opinion on that same topic. >> Yeah. But those people can come forward at any other time. Why does it have to be one of these? >> It's public. >> That's that's the opinion of the committee on open government. Uh they have a a website. You could always uh put your opinion into the committee on government to change that opinion, but that's their opinion. >> All right. As I you know, I heard them

165talking about a lot of non-educational things when they came up here and that shouldn't be allowed. Thank you. Thank you. >> Good evening. Nikita Wolf, um, president of ATA. Many of the, uh, presidents on Long Island, um, have received information and have had uh, conversations and meetings surrounding charter schools. Um, and one of the things that we want to make sure that when boards are considering uh the resolution that came out of the Long Island President's Council is that this is not a this is not about choice. This is not an indictment on choice. This is a matter of accountability for charter schools. This is a matter of having community have an opportunity to voice how it is that whether or not they uh want a charter school in their community. This is about whether

166or not the monies that are going to charter schools, for example, if a student leaves Amityville and goes to a charter school and then for whatever reason because a charter school can um you know kick that student out and then that student returns to the district, the district doesn't get that money back. So the district is without that money and then uh the school has to find money in that budget to really kind of pay for that student twice. So please, we would just want to make sure that when we are um speaking about this charter school place, this uh this charter school resolution, in no way, shape or form is it about uh teachers who are saying that we are against it when it comes to the board or that we're against choice. We

167just are advocating for number one, accountability and community input. um because typically charter schools pop up and community doesn't really have input but the budgets that they approve for their uh public school districts to um have monies are taken out of that to go to those charter schools. So I just want to make sure that there is no misunderstanding as to what that resolution is about. It is not about choice. It's just about accountability and community voice. Thank you. >> Thank you. Go Dr. and just wanted to thank Mr. Wolf and the uh teachers union for sharing that resolution as union presidents have shared those all across the island with their superintendent to bring to the board for consideration. So, thank you for making sure AMDville was in the loop. Hi, good evening everyone. A

168few months ago, I asked >> Just give your name for a second. >> Deborah Lee. >> Thank you. A few months ago, I asked the board to reconsider and revisit the removal of policy 902040RR, which addressed diversity initiatives. Um, by any chance, anyone has, do you have an update? >> Um, no, we do not. We have not had a policy committee meeting for a couple months. We were snowed out, I think twice it was. So, we're looking to meet again. >> Okay. Thank you. Good evening, Patricia Hopson. I It's been a while since I've been um to a board meeting, but I do want to say to the school board um thank you. Despite um comments and criticisms that are made here, I want you to know as a community member who speaks to children

169in the community, um thank you for what you do. There are children and families that do appreciate the work and the programs that you do. Um there was a time whenever presentations came forth, whether it be athletes or from your theater production. I'd like to see more of that. I think as a whole, the community needs to see, the board needs to see the wonderful things that you are doing for children. It is sad to come to a meeting and sit here throughout the night and hear criticism, contradiction, um, disrespect. We should be better role models for the children. People that are not happy have options and I think they should exercise them in a better way to show support for the adults that are volunteering their extra time outside of salary and that we

170find better ways to say thank you for the work that you do. I appreciate you and I thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Cheryl Quintan Best for Delaware Avenue. I want to say it is refreshing to attend a meeting where civility has endured for the entire duration of this meeting. I do appreciate that. This is what meeting should be like. I want to highlight that the issue of charter schools is not unique to Amitville and to reiterate also that currently Brentwood and Central Icelip. They have a lawsuit filed against NIST because they recognize that charter schools are taking resources from the district schools. I also want to comment about um the community members who come and speak. Those people inverted commas they have a vested interest in our community. They're business people, places

171of worship. They have family members. They were resident here before possibly and they are resources for our community. So I welcome hearing what other community members have to say. You don't have to reside in Amitville to have a vested interest in Amityville. And finally, I wanted to talk about transportation and if extending the mileage is going to provide students the opportunity to get to school. So, it's going to improve attendance. It's going to improve safety. Then I think that's something we can cons we should consider. What is money? What is dollars? What is $250,000? When we think of the worth and the value that we can get from investing that in our students. Recently, we extended transportation by two miles for a category of students. And we should consider how we can also get more

172of our students in school on time and safely. And certainly we do not want to take away from third graders. Those are the most vulnerable of the population. So we don't want to undo what we have, but I think we should look towards improving on what we have. And whilst we do want everyone to have door-to-door transportation, that is not possible. But we should consider looping in more of our students who cross some very dangerous streets and who walk some very lonely alleyways and cross over backyards and fences and so on to make a shortcut to school. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Are there any other community input and non-aggenda items? Um, seeing none, I have a motion to >> Can I just make one comment, President Johnson? I just wanted to mention

173that um, Second Vice President Nearing, myself, of course, Superintendent Talbert and, um, the cabinet attended the National Honor Society induction ceremony last week, which was just absolutely beautiful. It was wonderful and rewarding to see the amount of seniors that are part of that society and the way they welcomed undergrad students into the society. It was an absolutely beautiful evening and I just want to thank everyone the cabinet involved in putting it together and once again to see that many seniors and other students in the society speaks volumes. Thank you. Thank you. Can I have a motion to adjourn at 10 at 10:56? >> Motion. >> Chris Nan is first. >> Second. >> Carol for second. All those in favor? I I motion carries 6. Thank you for joining us.