001Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Amville Union Free School District um combined meeting. Um today is October um 15, 2025, and I'm following the meeting's order now at 5:42 p.m. In the event emergency, please note the exit clearly mark. At the meeting tonight is myself, board president Lee Johnson, my um second vice president Chris, trustees Carol, Leslie Cretz, it's anticipated that our first vice president Leon will be arriving shortly as well as trustee um Megan Mesman. We will be Can I have a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of interview for the director of the human resources position and advice from council? >> Motion >> second is first. Um Leslie Cretz is second. All those in favor I >> I motion carries 4. And I forgot to say also person
002is our superintendent Dr. our assistant superintendent for curricular instruction Mary Stevens our um director of human resources Dr. Lando and our assistant superintendent for um finance and operation Mr. Richard Snder. So, thank you. >> Starting the meeting, um, we are resuming our open session now at 7:55. Um, please note the exits that are clearly marked in case of emergency and please join the board in the pledge of allegiance. At this point in time, can I have a motion to move agenda items 3B1 to 1 A1, please? >> Motion to approve. >> Wang Leon is first. >> Second. Chris Narren is second. All those in favor? >> I motion carries 6. Now can I have a motion for agenda item 1 A1 which is the 3B one. >> Motion. >> Chris Nar is first. >> Second.
003>> Carol Seahhoff is second. And this is the tenure recommendation for the Northwest Elementary School. um teaching assistant. All those in favor? >> I >> motion carries 6. Congratulations. I'm going to pass it over to Dr. Tala now. Thank you, President Johnson, and good evening to everyone. At this time, we are going to hear reports from our exofficio student board members. We're so happy to have Aaliyah McQueen and Sarai Mullins to give us an update on this evening. >> Good evening everyone. I'm Malia McQueen and I'll be giving tonight's report. Now that we're a month into school, I would like to give a brief brief update on how the cell phone ban has been doing. From what we've observed, students school spirit has gone up. We've seen more students are participating within the school spirit
004weeks. And from what we've heard from teachers, they reported that students are more attentive, grades have been improving far more than it's ever been. Students listen easier without the reliance of their cell phones, and have been more open speaking amongst each other. As one teacher we' spoken with states, it's changed everything. Several students also participated in the Sources of Strength training last Tuesday. Sources of Strength is a mental health and suicide prevention awareness program that encourages teamwork, increases social support and partnership among students. The students played games, created posters, and discussed the importance of having an a positive and meaningful impact within their community. We would like to give a thank you to Mrs. Rankin, Mrs. Noon, and the other staff that played a part in this training. Our homecoming parade is this Saturday at
00512:15 and the game is at 1:00 p.m. Additionally, members of the student council have sold over a 100red tickets for the homecoming dance that will take place this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Tickets were sold for $10 for students that met the academic eligibility. Thank you all for coming out tonight and be sure to attend the homecoming game and parade and congrats to all our student students of the month. Thank you. Thank you, Aaliyah. And good evening to everyone to our board of education once again our faculty, staff, students, and community. Thank you so very kindly for joining us on this evening. October has been an exciting and productive month across our district as we continue to focus on the theme recommit, reconnect, and re-imagine. This month we conducted glow and grow walkthroughs at Northwest and
006Park Avenue elementary schools and an instructional leadership walkthrough at the high school. These visits continue to highlight the strong teaching and learning taking place in our classrooms every day. Park Avenue is also preparing for AI training, which will give staff new tools to support innovative instruction. All of our schools hosted back- to-school nights with record parent attendance, which is a great sign of family engagement and community pride. Thank you to our PAR parents for their ongoing support. We're excited about our contest this Saturday. Thank you, Aaliyah. Against Eastport South Manor at 100 pm. Please come out and support our students and staff along the parade route which will begin at the railroad at the train station. It's always a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate our student scholars and our school's spirit. October is
007also National Bullying Prevention Month and our schools are engaging in unity day activities to promote kindness, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for every student. October is also Hispanic Month. Our very own Angelica Rodriguez was recognized by Senator Martinez as an outstanding educator and one who's making a difference among students. Would you please stand? Congratulations. Thank you for represent representing Amityville so well. The town of Babylon recognized our eighth grade student, Francancy. And Francancy was recognized for being an outstanding student leader, and you will be hearing more from him as he is moving through the ranks of student leadership in our district. There are truly great things happening all around our district, in classrooms, on our fields, and throughout our community. I'm proud of the energy, the teamwork, and commitment we continue to see each
008day. So, thank you to our board of education, administration, faculty, staff, and students for doing a great job. For this next portion, I'm going to move to the podium to do some proper acknowledgements and recognitions. I would ask that Miss Stevens would join me. So before we begin tonight's agenda, I'd like to take a moment to recognize our board of education. In honor of National School Board Recognition Week, October 13th through the 17th, our very own Governor Kathy Hokll has issued a proclamation in their honor October 13th through the 17th for the impact that they make on our statewide public school systems. We are deeply grateful for your leadership, your time, your effort, your energy, your unwavering commit to our students, our staff, and our families. You represent the heart of public education, our educators,
009our classrooms, and the hopes of our entire school community. On behalf of students throughout the district, you have cards of appreciation from Northeast and Northwest elementary schools. Miss Faber and Miss Lancer's classes, Miss Ayonatada, Miss Chandler, Miss Versa, Miss Christopher, and Miss Publissi's class have prepared wonderful appreciation cards for you on this evening. The banner that if you look around, there's a little decoration you see displayed tonight are compliments of our art department. A special shout out to our talented student artists for celebrating you so beautifully. Thank you to our art teachers for facilitating the creation of these amazing banners. Miss Nicole Papus at Northeast, Miss Leavano and Miss Khan's class, Miss Lydia Robinson at Northwest, Miss Susan Zaratin at Pays, Mr. Tyler Cunnler at the middle school, and Miss Sheila Osen at the high
010school. And now to add a musical touch to this celebration, our director of fine and performing arts, Dr. Fran Fernandez, will now introduce our special musical guests who are here to perform a special rendition in your honor. Thank you, Dr. Talbert. Good evening, everyone, and happy board of education recognition week. Before I introduce our performing group for this evening, I would like to take a few moments to let you know about some very positive events and honors that the music and art departments have been given this year so far. During September, the high school art department presented its annual pinw wheels for peace event at the high school. In preparation for this event, many of our high school art students created pinw wheels that contained peace themed images and messages. The students then created a
011peace sign installation of the pinw wheels on the front L lawn of the high school for the community community to admire. From a music perspective, the music departments in each school are in the process of preparing for a variety of fall and winter district performances. In the upcoming weeks, our music students districtwide will be contributing their talents during various Hispanic Heritage Month programs that will be hosted by our schools. Our high school band will perform in the News Day Marching Band Festival on Tuesday, October 21st. And this group will also be featured in our homecoming parade and will perform at the Amityville Veterans Day ceremony on October, I'm sorry, November 11th. It is also my privilege to announce that several Amityville music students have been accepted into various regional honors ensembles and events. Five of
012our fourth grade students have been accepted into Scamia Peak Festival for exceptional fourth grade students from school districts across Suffach County. The Amityville students who have been selected for this festival are Belle Joseph Alana Ventura, Alisa Gomez, Jason Ramos, and Brooke Cooper. These students will participate in a variety of music workshops on Saturday, October 18th at Northport High School. From the high school, we have also been notified of several county and state music honors. During November, four of our 11th and 12th grade music students have been selected to participate in the Niscane Suffach all county music festival. From the orchestra, Samir Sha will represent Amityville. And the following students will perform with the Nisc Suffk All County Chorus. They are Susan Leech, Aurora Morales, and Naomi Chavez Duran. Additionally, Naomi was selected as a member
013of the highly selective select selective, sorry, Scamia All County Vocal Jazz Choir. The jazz concert will take place on November 8th at Bayart Bluepoint High School. Then later in in December, Naomi will attend the Nisma Allstate Conference in Rochester as she was selected to perform with the NISMA Allstate Treble Chorus. Each year, thousands of students audition for the All State Ensembles from across New York State, and a very small percentage of students are actually selected for these highly competitive statewide ensembles. This is the second year in a row that one of our high school chorus teachers, sorry, our high school chorus students have been selected into an all state ensemble. It should also be notate not noted that Naomi achieved this honor as an 11th grade student. It is very rare that 11th grade students
014are accepted and she is the first 11th grade student in Amityville history to be accepted into a minisma all state ensemble. She accomplished this outstanding achievement with the help of her teacher Mr. Damato Garcia. Thank you. >> So, to honor the board of education tonight, we hope that you will enjoy some of the artwork in the form of banners that each school has created in your honor. They're hung up behind you. And we also have a very special music selection for you. Please help me welcome the members of the some of the members of the high school select chamber choir under the direction of Mr. Joseph Damato Garcia as they present the song For Good from the Broadway musical Wicked. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you Dr. Fran Fernandez, Mr. Damato, and to members of our high
015school chorus for that beautiful rendition. I am going to ask if members of the superintendent's cabinet, Dr. Lando, welcome. Mr. Rich Snder, if you would stand and assist us with the red bags that are behind you and we can do the certificates after. So, the boxes of crumble cookies and the red bag on top of the cookie box goes to Aaliyah McQueen and Sariah Mullins, our exopicio student board members who would like to follow the girls home and our president. Thank you for all that you do, Miss Lisa Johnson. >> And our first vice president, Mr. Juan Leon. >> Our second vice president, Mr. Chris Naring. Just kind of wave so they'll know who you are when your names are called. And thank you so much, Trustee Leslie Cretz, Trustee Megan Mesman, and Trustee Carol
016Seahhoff. We do have certificates for you. If we can work out their names, you can distribute them now. If not, we can certainly uh make sure they receive them later. At this time, we are proud to recognize our outstanding educators who were granted tenure last month. Tenure represents not only years of dedicated service, but also professional excellence and a deep commitment to our student, scholars, and community. to assist me with this presentation of our tenure recognitions. Please welcome Miss Mary Stevens, our assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Thank you, Dr. Talbert. Tenure represents an important career milestone in public school districts. It is both a recognition of excellence and a commitment to continued service. This evening we celebrate educators who have demonstrated sustained dedication to their students, their craft, and the mission of the Amityville
017Union Free School District. Dr. Talbert and I have had the privilege of seeing each of these individuals in action, engaging students with care, collaborating with their colleagues, and continuously striving for growth. Their commitment to our shared vision of academic excellence and equity is evident in all that they do and we are proud to honor them for reaching this milestone. I invite the audience to join us in applause as I call the names of these exceptional professionals. Honores, please come up and join us at the podium and remain for a group photo after. First from the high school, Kadijah Alahi from Northwest. Stephanie Germanicos from Northwest Tessi. Hayasi from the high school. Amanda Ayavino from the high school. Antonia Spadey and also from the high school, Rebecca Stalman. We congratulate all of our tenure recipients. We
018want to take a moment to celebrate our staff and student achievements across the district. We're proud of their outstanding performance, leadership, and character that make our school stronger every day. Congratulations to all of our honores. At this time, Miss Stevens will provide a brief Well, before she provides that update, we want to do those proper acknowledgements of our staff and students who we are acknowledging this month. Thank you. I'm going to begin with our staff members. I know not all of them were able to be here tonight, but I think it's important to recognize the reasons that they were chosen. First from the high school, Fred Shepard. Fred Shepard is a custodian at the Amityville Memorial High School who has truly gone above and beyond. With the recent retirement of the building's head custodian, Fred
019independently stepped up to take on a leadership role, ensuring that the building continued to run smoothly and efficiently. His dedication, strong work ethic, and sense of responsibility are evident in everything he does. Fred's positive attitude, teamwork, and pride in his work make him a role model for everyone he encounters. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone like Fred leading by example and setting such a high standard for the entire school community. Congratulations, Fred. Darren Avera from the middle school. Mr. Avera has been an outstanding team player, always willing to step in and support both students and staff. At the start of the school year, he went above and beyond to assist our sixth grade students with learning how to open their lockers and find their classes. His patience, kindness, and positive attitude helped ease their
020transition into middle school and set a welcoming tone for the entire grade level. I know Mr. Versa couldn't be here this evening, but we congratulate him from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary. Mary Sharf. Miss Sharf transferred to Park Avenue from Northeast and hit the ground running. The ability to do that in a new building with a brand new classroom support team is a monumental task. She serves our most vulnerable population and to do that she brings an uncompromising energy and passion that can rarely be seen be seen in any profession. Miss Sharf was unable to be with us, but we congratulate her on this recognition. From Northwest, Jacqueline Witchabe. Miss Witchabe was nominated for the staff of the month because she approaches her work each day with a smile and a positive attitude. She loves her
021students and that love is evident in all that she does and in the way she approaches her work. This year she embraced the transition to a new grade level and position with professionalism and grace. No matter the circumstances, Miss Witchabe remains upbeat and serves as a role model and an inspiration to her colleagues. She never complains and always looks for opportunities to support students and staff. Congratulations, Miss Witch. and from Northeast, Kenneth Greenberg. Mr. Greenberg is a highly motivated worker with a strong work ethic who leads his team with fairness and empathy. Together, his team accomplished the monumental task of managing the kindergarten transition back to the northeast building, ensuring that the facility was clean and safe for the opening of school. Mr. Greenberg is always responsive to the needs of the staff and cares
022for the building as if it were his own home. Thank you, Mr. Greenberg, and your team for your outstanding work and dedication. And now we'd like to recognize our students of the month. So students, I do invite you to come up to receive your certificate when I call your name. First from the high school, Diana Zacharias Carbajal. Diana is an outstanding 12th grade student whose dedication, character, and leadership make her highly deserving of this recognition. She is known for her strong work ethic, responsibility, and reliability in all that she does. Diana's contributions reflect a genuine commitment to excellence, leadership, and service. She exemplifies the values of our school community and continues to make a positive impact both inside and outside of the classroom. Congratulations, Diana from the middle school. Grayson Egan. Grayson consistently demonstrates academic
023excellence, kindness toward his peers, and serves as a positive role model for others. Throughout the month, Grayson has shown a strong commitment to learning and continuous improvement. His hard work and determination have led to the remarkable to remarkable academic success, including achieving the highest score in both reading and math on the I Ready assessment. In addition to his academic achievements, he treats others with respect and compassion, always willing to help his classmates and contribute positively to the school community. Congratulations from Park Avenue. Braayson Cruz Mirage. Bracen is a conscientious student who is always willing to help others in the class. He is always working to his potential and is respectful of others. He is always sure to bring kindness and smiles to everyone he encounters. Braayson embodies our core values at Park Avenue and we
024are lucky to have him as a student. >> Congratulations, Braayson from Northwest. Liam Canning. Liam is a kind Liam is a kind and happy student with a positive attitude and a love of learning. Each day he comes to school, he works hard, he helps his peers, and he eagerly takes on challenges to grow his brain, inspiring others to do the same. He is a true role model and a leader in our class. Congratulations, Leah. and from Northeast, Amelia Ernnandez. Amelia is a kindergartenner who demonstrates excellent listening skills and serves as a positive role model for her classmates. She is always willing to help her peers and consistently puts forth her best effort in everything she does. Congratulations, Amelia. If any of the principles are here, would you please join us with your student scholars over
025for a photo? We know that um Miss Dr. Collins would be here as well as Dr. uh Miss Hutchinson and they both had extenduating circumstances. So, if there's anyone to represent them from the middle school, please come forward. At this time, we're going to ask the board of education if they would please rise for a group photo. We know how you love this moment, but we can't let the evening pass without getting a group photo to acknowledge you for all of your work. Maybe AP can assist us with the backdrop. at the end. Yeah. And before we transition into tonight's presentations, I ask if the ATA president, Mr. Nikia Wolf, will come forward with words of acknowledgement. Let's celebrate him for his leadership in the ATM. >> Nikia Wolf, ATA president, 100 Court North Drive.
026Um, good evening everyone. Um, I would like to extend my congratulations to all those who've been honored tonight. Um, congratulations on your recognition as well to the school board. Uh it is an honor to stand before you tonight as the union president, as a fellow educator, to celebrate this incredible milestone, which is tenure. Um I know many of our members had to uh leave a little bit early um so they didn't get caught in what could possibly be a long night. Um but I'm hoping that they will be able to listen as this is not normally our um official celebration. We tend to do that towards the uh end of the year in May. Um, tenure is more than just a professional achievement. It's a testament to your dedication, perseverance, and commitment to our students,
027your schools, and this district. You've earned this moment through hard work, resilience, and an unwavering belief, and the power of education. Let's be honest, the past few years have not been easy. We've watched as colleagues left the profession in large numbers. We've weathered excessing notices, staff shortages, shifting expectations, and moments of uncertainty. But through it all, you stayed. You stayed for your students, giving them stability when the world around them felt unpredictable. You stayed for your colleagues, lending strength, encouragement, and collaboration when it was most needed. and you stayed for this community because you believe that every child deserves a caring, consistent and dedicated educator. That is what tenure represents. It is not just a status. It's a symbol of commitment, continuity, and courage. It means you're vested your heart, not just your years into
028this calling. But none of this gets done alone. Behind every tenur educator stands a network of family members, mentors, and building administrators who have supported, guided, and believed in you along the way. To the families who have listened, listened, encouraged, and understood the long nights of grading and lesson planning. Thank you to the mentors who have shared their wisdom and helped you grow. Thank you. And to the administrators who nurtured your potential and supported your development, your partnership deeply matters. As your union president and as your collective union, we could not be prouder. You are the reason we fight for respect, for fairness, and for the future of public education. Tenure is not the end of your journey. It's the foundation for everything that is still to come. A reminder that your voice now carries
029even greater power and responsibility. So tonight, celebrate this milestone. You earned it through passion, perseverance, and purpose. Thank you again and have a good night. >> Thank you so much. At this time, Miss Stevens will provide a brief back to school academic performance update highlighting the key takeaways from instructional walkthroughs, fall diagnostic results, and our instructional plans. Miss Stevens, >> thank you. So far this year, as we've traveled to our school buildings, Dr. Talbert and I have seen students and staff recommitting, reconnecting, and reimagining. Our secondary students focused on engaging in face-to-face discussions without distractions. Staff members districtwide are working on targeting instruction during small groupoup instruction. Smallroup instruction is a key instructional tool for struggling students because it allows teachers to provide targeted differentiated support based on each learner's specific needs. In a small
030group setting, students receive more individualized attention, immediate feedback, and guided practice that addresses their skill gaps. This structure promotes active participation, builds confidence, and enables teachers to scaffold learning in ways that are not always possible in whole group instruction. By tailoring instruction to students readiness levels, small groupoup work helps accelerate growth and fosters greater engagement and achievement. Tonight we're going to look at some I Ready results. Uh starting with reading. I have one for Northwest for Park and for the middle school. So this shows the spring 2025 scores and the fall just completed diagnostic. Spring and fall I Ready results are expected to differ because they measure student performance at two distinct points in an academic year. The spring assessment reflects student learning after a full year of instruction, while the fall diagnostic captures where
031students are at the start of a new grade level. often before key concepts have been rettaught or reinforced. Some regression over the summer months is typical, particularly in reading and math. So, it's normal to see lower SC lower scores in the fall. The fall results serve as a new baseline for us to measure growth throughout the school year and guide instruction to help students progress toward grade level expectations by spring, starting the cycle over again. The I Ready Diagnostic organizes student performance into five color-coded levels that illustrate progress toward the grade level expectations. And I know it's difficult to see on the screen. Um, so what I did do is show kindergarten and first grade on their spring scores and then the same students, so it would be grade one and two in their diagnostic
032from this fall. Um, so the stripe green, which is to the far left, are students who are mid or above grade level. The lighter green early on grade level, the yellow students who are one grade level below, and then the plain red two grade levels below, and the striped red three or more grade levels below. These color indicators help us to quickly recognize where students are excelling and where additional support is needed most. So, as we would expect, we see more green and yellow in the spring as students have progressed through the units that they did during the year. And now in the fall, when there is a new benchmark for how students should be progressing on grade level, there are more students in the yellow and the red, leaving them room for growth during
033the year. So, these are our Northwest scores, our Park Avenue scores. Again, we looked at grades 2, three, and four from the spring and compared it to two uh to three, four, and five for the fall diagnostics. So, we're looking at the same uh classes. And then finally, at the middle school, we looked at grades five, six, and seven for their spring, and then the fall diagnostic, grades six, seven, and eight. So what's critical in the work that we do is that we're looking at how individual students perform and we're targeting what their needs are. I Ready aligns with the New York State assessments. It's a predictor for how our students are going to do and it helps us to actually identify the areas in which students need support and provide that on an individualized
034basis. Reading is at the heart of our students academic success. We continue to work on reading skills. When students cannot read proficiency proficiently, their access to content is limited. Reading is the foundation for all learning. Our vision is clear. All students should be reading at or above grade level. To achieve this, we're committed to a comprehensive, cohesive, and research aligned preK through 12 reading program that includes a consistent instructional framework grounded in the science of reading. More recently, research supports that effective reading instruction is not just about exposure to texts, but about explicit systematic instruction. The path to proficient readers starts in the early years, and the research has never been clearer. Foundational reading skills must be explicitly taught, systematically reinforced, and responsibly supported. We will continue to provide professional development in the science of
035reading for all educators, including content area teachers, interventionists, and special educators. We will provide and build capacity so that all staff understand and can implement foundational literacy strategies and ensure that classrooms have access to highquality instructional materials that reflect the diverse cultural backgrounds and reading levels of all of our students. We will engage in early and ongoing diagnostic assessment systems, provide targeted interventions based on those assessments, and most importantly, the belief and systems to ensure that every teacher is a teacher of reading. Our teachers don't relegate the responsibility of teaching reading to only reading and ELA teachers. Math teachers explicitly teach how to decode and interpret word problems. Social studies teachers model how to annotate primary sources. Science teachers guide students in making meaning from technical texts and data charts. We are committed to ensuring
036reading instruction is infused into every classroom. We will continue to embed reading into the fabric of our schools through cross-disciplinary reading routines, family literacy nights, and classroom libraries in every content area. Transformation will not happen overnight, but it will happen when we stay focused, invest in our staff, and hold ourselves accountable for ensuring that every child learns to read. These are I Ready results in math following the same pattern. We looked sorry at Northwest uh kindergarten and first grade in the spring and first grade and second grade in the fall at Park Avenue. Grades 2, three, and four in the spring and grades three, four, and five in the fall. And finally at the middle school, grades five, six, and seven in the spring and grades six, seven, and eight in the fall. Another critical
037component of our academic achievement efforts is in foundational math instruction. Our students performance data in math also indicates that students are performing below grade level. It means that our students are struggling to grasp the essential building blocks needed for future academic success and real world problem solving. Foundational math skills include numerousy, number sense, fluency with operations and conceptual understanding. Performance in these areas is predictive of long-term achievement in math and science. Research shows that early proficiency in math correlates more strongly with later academic success than early reading proficiency. Strong foundational skills are essential to ensure our students can access algebra, geometry, and higher level thinking in middle and high school. Our goal in this area is also clear. We want to ensure that every student develops a strong foundation in math by building fluency, reasoning,
038and problem solving skills. Our work in this area has begun with the adoption of the reveal curriculum. It is a coherent research aligned curriculum that aligns with standards for mathematical practice. We will continue to invest in professional development for teachers. This will include focusing on math discourse, the use of manipulative, number sense routines, and the diagnostic use of formative assessments. We will continue to use data to drive instruction and intervention. Our use of I Ready is at the core of this plan. We plan to strengthen math culture and confidence by addressing not only skills gaps, but also mindset gaps. We will promote a growth mindset in math classrooms and build confidence through success with challenging tasks. We will provide families with the resources they need to encourage the development of math fluency outside of the
039classroom. Building foundational skills in math is our district-wide priority. This is a multi-year journey and while the assessment changes are important, they are only one piece of the puzzle. What truly matters is how instruction will change in the classroom, how students learn to think like scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and authors. We will continue to monitor progress, support our educators, and provide families with updates and resources to understand our new expectations. Thank you. >> Thank you. I just I just have one quick question. So, actually just two questions. So the question I have is um from the information that you provided like in the fall exams not exams from the IRA testing for do we know how many of those students that how many students attend like a summer summer academic program? >> Yes, I do have
040data on that that I'd be happy to share. >> All right. And then also um if a student did not attend like a summer academic program, I know things are provided for the students to do over the summer. Is it just maybe some students are doing and some students are not doing the anything during the summer? That's just my question. >> Without direct instruction, right, that's part of it, the direct explicit instruction, it may not be at the level that will support them in moving. So, we do think that doing work over the summer promotes growth. Um, but the direct instruction is what's going to help the most. >> Okay. And do we have um any data on the percentage of students who were new to our district in the fall and >> I can
041correlate that data for you? Yes. Any other questions? >> Um, yes, I do. >> I do. Um, thank you, Miss Stevens. I um I had asked for this curriculum presentation back in June and I think I was pretty explicit that I was really interested to understand what curriculums we were using going into the school year. Um if there were any differences, an emphasis on, you know, real understanding of the science of reading, uh the new SEAL, um that wasn't captured here. So, I'm a little bit um I guess not happy. Um but regardless, we saw this last night in email and it's very it's just very high level. We continue as a board of education to be given very highlevel snapshots of student performance. Um, I brought to this board of education a request that
042we start to see disagregated gate data by different subgroups within the student population. It was voted against. This does not show the board of education. I think we have probably four years of I Ready data. We're looking at one like it's nice, okay, spring to fall, but we have at least four years of I Ready data that we could be using to at least show a comparison of year-toear. Um, there's nothing about the state results. I think the state results are available online and we're not performing. We're performing below average on the state results. There's nothing about the high school in here. Um, and there's no real measurable goals. Like, we continue to have this problem that we're really not as a board, as the governing body of this school district defining measurable goals that
043we want this district to be moving towards. So, we look at these snapshots and they look really upsetting. They're very upsetting, right? 50% of our middle school students three grade levels behind. And I know, okay, it's just I ready. Maybe the students aren't taking it seriously. But if this is literally how we're going to benchmark our students, then we have to figure out another way or we need to do a better job at disagregating the information and presenting to the board of education. What is our plan? because this was not a plan that was just described. Um, and I know we're going to be appointing a director of curriculum today and that's a very important role and will help, but they're not starting tomorrow and we are in the middle of October. So, I really
044was hoping to understand more of an assessment on the curriculum that's being used, what curriculums are being changed, and why. Um, that's what I was hoping for in October. In September, I had asked for the principles to come and talk to us about their goals on the building level, but I was told that it was too short notice to ask them of that. Um, but those are my thoughts. I was going to say that the that when the um principles were going to present, the meeting was cancelled. So, that's just to clarify that. Go ahead. They weren't on the agenda. >> They were the They were on the agenda, but the meeting was cancelled. >> Anyway, um thank you, uh, Miss Stevens for your presentation. Um, it was very insightful. But to Megan's point, um,
045in preparation for this meeting, I have been, and I have it up on my screen, the New York State report card for Amityville, um, and how we compare in different grade levels compared to New York State. I think it's fair to say that we do have some work to do. >> Any other comments? >> Yes. Uh, thank you Miss Stevens for the presentation and I would like to just thank our principles for their preparation for their presentations which was scheduled to take place in September. Tonight's presentation was to give the board an overview as to how we ended with the benchmark data with I Ready and how we are starting as a launching pad. This is not absent of an improved teaching and learning system that we assess through a systematic evaluation of student performance
046using formal and informal methods to assess our student work. So, I want to once again thank our our staff and our our principles for their instructional leadership. And we do have smart and measurable goals on each grade level and each each building based upon student performance and that is progress monitored through an an ongoing system particularly a quarterly basis and we do hear report outs from our principles regarding their academic achievement uh along the way. So if the board is clear uh and to us about exactly what you would like to see, we can certainly prepare that and bring it back in a more comprehensive um u method that you would like to see. Just make it clear to us and we can certainly do that. >> Thank you. >> Is there Stevens? Could we
047could the board be um provided with the presentations that were not given by the building administrators that would specify their building level goals? Can we just electronic copy of that? We do have that information uh from our principles and we will discuss with them on next steps and make them aware of the board's preference. So that's the board preference. So do we have to agree now? Does any is anyone else interested in seeing that from the board of education? >> So my concern would be to present something to the board in writing without the context and explanation from the instructional leaders. that would leave you with a myriad of questions and I would like for them to have the opportunity to discuss this with them and to um provide the board with feedback based on
048that discussion. >> My preference would be for Dr. Talbert to do that and then and if anything if they do a presentation for us at one of the other meetings that way we have any questions we can ask questions to them directly. So, okay. So, thank you. So, I guess that's just no one else has an opinion. >> Well, I was just going to suggest that being that it was prepared as an in-person presentation where you don't put all the information on the slide that they would have the opportunity to add anything else to that presentation for us. >> Okay, I appreciate that. But I just, you know, by the time we do that, it's going to be December. And that's why we had scheduled the meetings like intentionally that we would have the back
049to school goals. September, you know, October, we were going to talk about the curriculum enhancements. Didn't really see that tonight. November, we're getting into the budget process already. So, >> right. Um this this would have been presented to us in September but that meeting was cancelled where the building leaders would have been able to provide us that context to the presentations. >> So I would say let's let's just look at doing it in in November and we can talk about it with Dr. Talbert to do that presentation to us in November from the building. >> Go ahead Dr. >> President Johnson. At this time uh Mr. Snider, our uh interim assistant superintendent for finance, will present to us the district's fiscal condition, our 202425 operating results. I'd like to thank him for the uh historical
050data that he is providing for us on tonight because it's a clear perspective as to how we can navigate where we're going because we now have a great sense of where we've been. Mr. Snder, >> good evening. It's my uh pleasure to present the board an overall, you know, picture of where we stand financially and give you the historical context, specifically 15 years of data, where we have been within the context of this presentation. We'll talk specifically about the 2425 budget and how it ended. It certainly is good news. Um, so before I get into that, I just want to make sure that terminology is clear because in our profession. When we say things like surplus and deficits, it means different things to different people. So bear with me while I just make sure definitions
051are clear. >> Surplus. >> Excuse me, Mr. Snider. Just kind of You got to speak a little bit closer to the mic because what happens if someone's listening at home, they they can't hear you. You may have to take the mic out. >> Have to bend down. >> You have to take you can take the mic out if you want. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> That better. Okay, >> perfect. Thank you. So surplus is what we're talking about is in one budget year we add up all of our revenue and for school districts that's state aid, it's tax levies, it's tuition revenue, it's even book fines. We add up all of that revenue. We subtract out all of our expenditures which are of course salaries, benefits, transportation, boseies, all of those things. And if you
052have money left over, that's called a surplus. In private industry, they call that a profit. Now, the opposite is true. If all of that revenue we just spoke about is less than your expenditures, you have a deficit. And in private industry, they call that a loss. But this is government. It's called deficit. Now, deficits are an important thing to keep in mind because if you have a deficit, it means you spent more than what you took in. So, think about your checkbook. it's really going negative. To pay for that negative, you need to have fund balance and reserves, which are like savings accounts to pay for the deficit. And if your fund balance and reserves are not enough to pay for the deficit, you've got a very big problem, a serious one. When you have
053surpluses, which are good things, again, it adds to your fund balance and reserves. So with these definitions on the table, there's a very important piece of data that the controllers's office uses to measure the fiscal health of school districts. And the concept isn't exclusive to school districts. It's used by banks and mortgage brokers to determine your creditworthiness. They ask you for all of your income and they divide it into your spare cash and they come up with this percentage. It's supposed to represent for every dollar of budget you have, how much spare money on the sidelines do you have? And they express it as a percentage. So for a school district, they take the voter approved budget and they divide it into all of your fund balance and all of your reserves and they come
054up with a percentage and that is used by the controllers's office for their fiscal stress designation. It's also used by Moody's to determine credit ratings for things like our TANS and our construction bonds. Now, it's not the only metric that gets used to determine fiscal health. There are plenty of other metrics that get used, but it is, I would submit to you, the most important one because it measures a school district's ability to absorb and pay for deficits. And if you don't have enough fund, balance, and reserves to pay for your deficits, the big problem you have there is really insolveny. It's state, you know, it's bad news. This as of one year ago is the total fund balance and reserves the district has. You see right there everything a reserve is like a restricted
055savings account. And then you have your fund balance of 1 million3. It all adds up to 8,382,000 which sounds like a lot of money and it is but is it a lot for what we're dealing with as a school district? Do we think that that's an appropriate level of savings accounts for a school? And the comparison I would submit to you is a personal one. This number equals 7%. We're going to see that in a second. So think about your total income and then take 7% of it. Now AI, whether it's right or wrong, AI says that a good average income for Avenue bill is 150,000. I don't know if that's reasonable or not, but let's use that for this discussion. 7% of $150,000 is $10,500. That's sort of the equivalent of what we were
056dealing with as a school district. Now, ask yourself if you the only thing separating you from bankruptcy was $10,000 and you had a roof problem, you had a medical bill, you had a car repair, how vulnerable are you to not being able to pay for cost overloads? This is a five a 15-year history of where the district has stood with surpluses and deficits, total fund balance and reserves, and our budget. And the rightmost column is the fiscal position. In 201011, the district had 17.9 cents of fund balance and reserves for every dollar of budget. That's how you're supposed to read that. That's how the controllers's office presents it. That was our high. I didn't go back prior to 15 years. Maybe it was larger. Now you see going down the deficit column where in 201011
057it was a $ 1.5 million deficit followed by another one then you have small surpluses deficit surplus surplus deficit big surplus you know back to break even. And what I'm trying to present to you is the volatility of the annual operating results going back and forth between surplus and deficits to ultimately arrive at a fiscal position one year ago of 7.1%. The average fiscal position for 120 Long Island districts as of a year ago was 21.1%. for us to get to 21.1% if the board agrees that that is a reasonable target and it's important for you to know that fund balance and reserves later on in on the agenda there's a corrective action plan and one of the findings where the order is recommending that you develop policy related to fund balance and reserves part
058of the issue you know I believe you should address is where should we be with fund balance and reserves I'm simply telling telling you that the average was 21.1%. That would mean we would need 24.8 million in our savings accounts. We have 8.3 million. So, we need 16.4. And as we get into budget season, one of the things I do is we talk about how are we designing the budget to achieve a surplus, to maybe achieve a deficit, or to break even. And we have to be upfront with what our intentions are because we need 16.4 4 million. If you agree, we want to be at the average. And you're about to see we chipped away at that big time. The financial performance of the district was nothing short of stellar last year. Stellar. Just
059an FYI, these are the rankings of fiscal positions. If you care to look at that, you know, we have the lowest position. There's a lot of movement in this data. You know, there are districts there that are, you know, keeping us company that were once the wealthiest school districts on Long Island. As you move over to the next slide to the wealthiest districts on the right, some of those districts struggled a long time ago and were in fact very cash poor. And you know, some of the flip side to being some of those top 10 wealthiest districts is the controllers's office criticizes them for having too much taxpayer money in their bank accounts. So, it's a double-edged sword. You don't want to be at the bottom, but there is one district there, we won't name
060them, that they were scathingly reviewed by the controllers's office and it made it to News Day. So, you're seeing both sides of the coin. There's definitely movement in and out of these rankings and we are going to move dramatically from the lowest fiscal position down to, you know, maybe the 30th fiscal position. This is where we are unawited. Now, the board is going to see the audit report next week, so I'm calling it estimated, but the numbers are already in my possession. We have $18.9 million in fund balance and reserves. Our surplus for 2425 was $10.5 million. Outstanding financial performance. We are no longer huffing and puffing and hoping that our checks will clear. It is outstanding performance. board will have to decide in the budget process how they want us to design the budget.
061And it's a hard thing to do to put a budget together to say this budget is going to achieve a $2 million surplus or we're going to design a budget to achieve a deficit. But we have to be upfront with what our intentions are. Right now, our fiscal position with that $10.5 million, I'm sorry, it's actually $10.6 million surplus. We are at $15.7%. We haven't been there in over 15 years. So, we're not in the seller. We're getting out of the woods. I would submit to you we should probably be about the average, but that is a board policy decision. We just want to know what your intentions are when we design the budget because we'll put a budget together that is designed to achieve a surplus if that's what you're looking for. But 15.7%
062is outstanding financial performance considering where we came from. Thank you. >> Um any questions anyone? comments. >> Yes. A few questions. Thank you for the presentation. So, I'm looking at the the appropriation status report that that went home with us today or went home with us um on Friday. So, the bottom number is $10.3 million. And what does that represent? >> It represents unspent funds. Surplus funds. unspent funds. Okay. Do those funds also include the $2 million um funds that were given to us from New York State? >> On the revenue side, those funds are on that side. So, yeah, I think I think you're looking at the expenditure side. >> On the revenue side, the $2 million one shot is there. >> Okay. And realistically, the surplus that was up on the screen, I'm
063sorry, not the one thing I want to actually mention is that we're going to have to analyze that surplus and determine how much of it is going to reoccur or roll over. And that 2 million that you're bringing up, sir, thank you for doing that, is going to get discounted because it's over. We're not going to get it again. >> Right. So, so with the appropriations um at 10.3 and then you also sent home a reserve status report which shows a negative um 2.1 million. Can you please explain that? So, does that mean the 10 minus the two gives us our true >> Are you looking at the where's the I'm sorry I don't have it in front of me. So, where's the two coming from >> revenue status report? the revenue I I'd have
064to have it in front of me so I can provide you with the accounting of that. But when you take the 10 surplus on the expenditure side >> and net it against the revenue side, >> right? >> That's you're going to arrive at the 10.6 million. >> Okay. >> And there's a page in the audit report that we will review a week from today where that accounting will be laid out for you. >> Okay. Excellent. So, I I guess the only thing I really want to say about this is that it's it is good news to have a surplus. It's definitely better to have a surplus than a deficit. And and I think it's a good step in in the right direction. But still, I'm I'm a little bit cautious. And I'll tell you why.
065I'm cautious because of those surplus funds that we have, we had to find cuts or savings along the way. And I looked at the appropriations and I saw where we saved where where the board had appropriated funds for things last year and we had money left over. Some of the major items which I'm sure you're aware of $2.5 million in regular school instruction. That that's money that the board allocated and was saved. And things in that in those line items include things like teacher salaries, supplies, ESL services. >> Yes, sir. >> So, it's something to think about. We did save, but at what cost? Another major item there was 2.7 million, and that's from special education. And and within those budget lines come OT, come PT. Um and also I noticed that we are servicing
066more students than we ever have before and pulling them back from Boseies. As I saw we found a lot of savings or cuts whatever you want to call it by not utilizing Boseies like we have in the past. >> It's an observation. I think that would require further analysis but the numbers would I think >> the numbers would support that. Sure. So just again just again I listen >> it's better to have a surplus than a deficit but my question not my question but being cautious because we also cut 80,000 or saved from health services 72,000 from psychological services uh 37,000 from budgets that we put together for our libraries here districtwide. 209,000 from the custodial line which is used for extermination, janitorial supplies, student furniture, 74,000 from grounds and maintenance and that's part of
067our budget that pays for building expenses and repairs. >> Yeah. >> So to get my to get my my feeling out, savings like this are not sustainable from year to year because at some point the levy breaks. At some point, you can't save $74,000 a year by not doing minor repairs. At some point, the repairs have to happen. So, again, surplus is a good thing, but at what cost? The real the for me, the real test is going to be how that surplus money is redistributed and put back into the schools. That's going to be the key. Do we redistribute that into ESL um infrastructure or whatever the board may decide? That's going to be for me the true test. >> Oh, I just want to say just um thank you First Vice President U
068Leon. One of the one of the biggest challenges that we had last year with doing the budget was deciding where we were going to make cuts and were we happy with some of those cuts that we had to make in order to present the budget to the community that they would would accept. Were we happy with those cuts that we made? Absolutely not. And to your point, these are things that we now have to take a look at. And we lost we lost teachers, we lost um monitors, we lost TAs, we lost custodial staff, we lost we lost people in order to meet the budget. There was a lot of tightening of of belts that had to occur in order to um present an acceptable budget to the community. So what you're presenting to us
069definitely represents um that work that would that took place in order to present a presentable budget to the community. Now to your point which you did mention already now we have to decide now what are we going to do as we move forward? Um are we going to try to increase this amount even more which means we don't do what? And that's what we have to decide during that that budget season. That's number one. Number two, we also know that as already mentioned that yes, we got the $2 million and that's not going to come back to us again. So we have 18 that may really be like 16. So instead of being at 15.9, we may be more at 13 something. >> So we we've moved up from the 7.1 not as high as
070we would like to be. So all those um cuts that um that first vice president Leon mentioned is very accurate but in the same token we had to do it in order to present an acceptable budget and the question is what are we going to do for the next budget season? You know what how do we how do we want to proceed as as a board of education? What do we want to prioritize that we want to provide back to our district? And that will be part of the budget process that we have to discuss and make a decision on. >> So, >> Madame President, I just I just want to make sure we understand something that and maybe if I'm wrong, please correct me, but those things that I mentioned, which are our savings,
071which is our surplus, right? Those things, right? Those things were not cut prior to the board as to the board voting for the budget. It is the budget that we voted on last year. And within the within the budget that we voted on, we found these savings. >> Yes. I I don't I'm not aware of the specific cuts that happened to arrive at the 2425 budget, but that first column in the appropriation status that is the voter approved budget. So if you made budget reductions, they were already reflected, >> right? So >> and >> I'm sorry, ma'am. Go ahead. >> I understand. No. So, I completely agree with you, Juan, and I'm not exactly ecstatic about this because we told our community, we told the community that we needed $17 million budget to provide educational
072services for our students and we didn't spend $10.3 million. Now, that wasn't transparently conveyed to the board of education. We kept being told over and over again that we actually were being projected that we were going to get $2 million extra in revenue and we were only going to save $2 million out of our expenditures. So, it's completely different what we're being told now at the end of the year that we actually in fact have a negative $2 million in our revenues with the $2 million from the state and we didn't spend 10 and a half million of our voter approved budget. And yes, it was special education, regular education, co-curricular, undistributed. I like I looked at this and I thought like we're not a for-profit organization. We're we're here to present a budget to
073the community and use the budget for educating the students to break even. Um and I know at the beginning of the last year um in one of our preliminary September meetings there was discussion about trying to sh save $2 million out of the budget. But now we went way beyond that and saved $10.5 million out of the budget. So that is not something that I am agreeing. I I don't think that that was a great thing. I mean I see that we want to rebuild our fall back money. But we did not we were not transparent with the community. We told the community that we had a negative $6 million deficit to make up for and we absolutely needed every cent of that budget and we were going to make that budget by making all
074of these cuts but we made all these cuts and we didn't spend all the money. So I I think Go ahead. >> Well I mean look excuse me excuse me first President Leon I think Megan was still trying Yeah. I was, but you interrupted my train of thought. So, go ahead. Either one of you. No, no, no. Either one of you. >> So, tell me if this is correct. Essentially, the board of education and the voters voted for a budget of 117,000 roughly >> and off of that we saved $10 million. So, we ran the school on essentially $107 million budget, more or less. Yeah, I agree with that. >> All right. So, can I can I make a recommendation um that maybe what would be beneficial to the to the community because there's a
075lot of conversation that's taking place and they don't have this report in front of them that maybe as a board education um possibly at the next board meeting that there could be a presentation that can explain some of the numbers that that they're talking about and whatever and maybe put it up and have that accessible for the community to take a look at. So therefore, they can have a better understanding of what's being stated and if whether or not we were being transparent or not being transparent. >> Well, I I would say to that that budgets are plans >> and there's no such thing as a a perfect budget. $10 million is certainly a large surplus. There's no getting around that, but it's the most welcome news we could possibly have given where we were,
076right? 15.7% is certainly better than 7% but we are not out of the woods and remember we budget and then things change there. There's no way of getting around it. I can't retroactively go back and judge our predecessors about what they did or did not do except to say we have to sort of come to some sort of consensus. Do we want more than 15.7? Because of all the things that concern me, it's the volatility from year to year of going from surplus to deficit, surplus to deficit. That to me is priority number one in the budget process to try and figure out why that's been going on for the better part of 15 years. Then this then we say is the 10.5, which is really 8.5 because of that one shot, but are there
077other one shots in there? And I believe there are those get peeled out. How much of it gets rolled forward to this year then to next year. So now we're two years away from a projection. So there's there's guesswork here. There's no doubt about that. And it's easy to look back and say, well, we put a budget before the voters of 117 million, but it seemed reasonable at the time. Other districts have these sort of issues. There are districts that run massive surpluses. They were up on the screen for you. And I think that the news here gets us out of the woods. It gives you room to breathe. The real work is going to be did that 10.5 million roll over and how do we get away from this volatility? That's just my take
078on the whole thing. But I don't disagree with anything you've said. >> Yeah. >> Don't disagree. >> Again, I again I I agree with that. And like I said, you know, what I said was I would rather have a surplus than a deficit. Again, what concerned me was how we save the money and what impact does that have on our on our mission. But in other school districts, and you can, you know, please weigh in. If they had if if they had a surplus of of that amount compared to their budget like what what is that seven 7% roughly >> you jump from seven to 15 so it was really eight full points and >> right all right eight points in some in some school districts the school districts will can actually refund the taxpayers
079>> I think we have to be cautious as an organization. >> No, that's that's what happens. >> You have to be cautious as an organization to what your fiscal position is. You we were once at 15.7%. >> And we fell and that volatility is not something we have a pulse on now and it is my mission for you as your assistant soup to say we have to know and it's a question I would ask the board to ask your auditors next week. What do they think of that volatility? Had they seen it before? It's not unheard of, but that to me is our our fiscal challenge. >> Understood. >> Well, isn't aren't we supposed to have only a 4% in our unassigned fund balance? >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, don't we have more than that?
080>> Yes, ma'am. >> So, don't we have to give use the the difference of that as our revenue for next year and as we're balancing the budget for next year? >> No, not at this time. time that it's a compliance flag that'll happen in the audit report one year from now or actually in June. We will have resolutions to fi take some of that excess and move it into the reserves. >> To your question, the 8.8 is overfunded, >> right? >> It's a compliance violation, >> right? >> And the solution, a corrective action plan is resolutions in June to transfer that amount to some of those other reserves that really are in dire need of funding. So that that's not going to come in next week's recommendations. Why are you saying in June? It will.
081>> Oh, next week's recommend. >> Yeah, but the corrective action has to happen in June. >> I see. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you very much. >> Oh, I'm sorry. One more question. You mentioned we're not getting the $2 million from the state >> or you're saying that we would not be like >> trying to get it again because we don't need it. >> I I believe we were informed that We will not get it for this year. >> It's not ant it's not anticipated that we will receive it again. We received two >> but we're getting it for >> bullet grants for $2 million. >> We're talking 20 2627 budget. >> Thank you for clarifying. >> Right. >> Yes. >> I just want to make sure I Yes. >> Yes. Thank you. >>
082Thank you. Thank you Snider for the presentation. Mhm. >> Um, at this point in time, is there any committee input regarding board agenda items only? >> All right. At this point in time, we're going to move forward. Um, can I have a motion for agenda item A6 through 2 A15, please? Can you stop at 14 please? Motion for agenda item 2 286 to 2A14 you say or 13 14. >> Um >> and I'm sorry Madam President that um we do number six separately. There's a correction that has to be made. >> Can I have a motion for agenda item 26, please? >> Motion. >> Second. Hold on one second. 26. Chris Ner is first. Megan Mesman is second. Can we have a discussion on this particular agenda item? >> Yes, Madame President. The the record
083reflects uh an inaccurate recording of a vote. I'm trying to pull it up here. I know not everyone's going to have it in front of them, but it was item C4, which was the uh settlement. It says motion carry 70. I recall abstaining because I wasn't here part of that discussion. I wasn't a member of the board. So, there has to be a correction to this. >> All right. So, one of the problems that we have with this one and then um was that in the information that was sent home to to the board education that it was noted that um that you had abstained, but in listening to the audio, they were unable to hear um whether or not um you had abstained. So, my question for you legal, do we just go by
084what the recolition was or do we have to go by the audio for this particular matter? So, it's a it is a a motion to amend the minutes that the member uh states that he abstained. >> Okay. >> And you have nothing definitive from the video to contradict that. My recommendation would be good to go with what the member stated. >> Okay. So, we can just make a motion to amend the minutes to reflect that for agenda item 2C4 that the vote was actually six yes and one abstain. And the abstain was for um Juan Leon. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All right. So, we've amended it. to add that and that is Juan Leona's first Chris Nan second. All those in favor for this amendment >> I I motion carries 6. Can
085I now have a vote um for the amended minutes for 26 please? >> Motion to approve. >> Juan Leon is first and Leslie. All those in favor >> I motion carry 6. Can I do um 2 A7 through 14 altogether? >> Yes. >> Okay. Have a motion for agenda items 2 A7 through 2 A14. >> Motion. >> Chris N is first. Second. >> Carol Seahhoff is second. Any discussion in these minutes? >> All those in favor? I I >> I motion carries 6. Have a motion for agenda item 2 A15. Please >> Oh, sorry. Um intervening motion to table 15. Um I had sent comments back to Amarie to update the minutes and they haven't been addressed yet. Um, so there's a motion. There's an intervening motion. Do I have a second for intervening motion?
086>> Second. >> All those in favor of supporting the intervening motion. >> I so intervening two tables >> actually before the vote. Um I'm the vote took place already. So I have to take it as as count. So I'm I'm a no because um the for this particular agenda item for 2 a >> sorry you're a no on the intervening motion >> to table it because this is a this is an item that this particular um minutes that it was an intervening motion that occurred and that intervening motion was not accepted. So therefore this that what you want what you want to add to the minutes can't be added to the minutes because when you listen to the audio that did not pass that intervene motion did not pass for that particular agenda item. So
087that was one of the things that you wanted you wanted that to be added in and that was not that intervening motion did not pass. So that was one. So, okay. So, yes, we just approved minutes in June that had resolutions spelled out in the minutes and I want the resolutions that were called to be reflected in the minutes for September 10th. No, what what you but the resolutions that you want reflected for September 10th are not like there's there was an intervening a motion to accept the superintendent that goes and requested evidence as provided as attached exhibit. what you have provided to us is not the same thing that you presented at the meeting you have it is not the same language that's number one and number two more importantly that intervening motion was
088not ex that was not accepted so I we'll take a look at it further I can discuss it with you I have all the details here so it's been tabled but it's not what you what you want in here is not accurate so okay I >> so all right so sorry just you circumvent this, but can we just figure this out? So, my understanding is that Trusty Mesman did an intervening motion. The motion did not carry and is not reflected in the record and she would like it in the record. Is there any advice from legal? So, the the action is in the minutes, right? So, the the minutes reflect the actions uh taken by the board. So with respect to a resolution uh resolution to appoint X Y and Z that that resolution that
089action plus the vote that's what's recorded in the minutes. >> So if there is a if there is an intervening motion the motion would be would show up in the minutes but >> but not the resolution >> but that it but that it failed. >> Right. And that and that's what happened on that particular night. There was an intervening motion to amend this for the superintendent goals and it failed. So, um, my thing is that being that it failed, that res resolution does not go on the agenda because it it would it failed to put that onto the agenda. And I I can show you the the the minutes. >> But my I I guess my question is, is there a record of it failing? >> Yes, it's on audio. >> No, no, no. It's
090there's a there's also has to be a record in the minutes that Yeah, >> it does. It's in the minutes that it failed. >> Okay, >> I can show you the table. >> So, this is not really like a legal issue. This is the board of education. I'm asking the board of education to document that I did that work. You asked me to do that work. You asked me to go back, put my thoughts down as to how I want would suggest to modify the superintendent's goals and requested data and backup. And I'm simply asking that it be reflected in the minutes. That is all I'm asking. >> And all you that this is a this is a legal legal. >> So let me because it needs the minutes have to be reflected correctly and
091it was it was brought to the table as an intervening motion and it failed. So we've documented in the minutes and the the resolution does not need to be in there. So the the item has been tabled and we can go from there. I'll move forward. it the legal issue is to the extent that there's a policy on minutes, right? So you got a you've got you've got a policy on minutes with respect to what appears in the minutes, right? It it records the actions and the votes on the actions. >> That's it. >> It doesn't necessarily it the the backup is not recorded in the minutes unless you have something read into the minutes. >> Right. And the only reason that we did it back in June was for the simple reason that other
092people were doing I'm excuse me I'm talking but the only reason that we did it back in June for those particular minutes was the fact that other board members were doing the minutes to help out the district clerk at that point in time and all those resolutions were placed on the minutes. We typically do not place the resolutions on the minute. Moving forward, I'm going to agenda item 2B. Can I do 2B, one, and six all together, or does anyone need me to do it separately? >> Can I have a motion for agenda item 2B1? So, move to 2B6. So, move >> second. >> A discussion on these items are the following. Um, the policy committee met on these particular items. And just to give an update, >> excuse me. >> Yeah, it was Chris
093Narren was first. >> I mean, Carol was first and Chris Ner was second. So, at the policy committee meeting for policy number 0101, um, as noted in what was given to everyone, the committee recommends use option number two. It has, this policy has been reviewed by legal. And just so the board is aware that there have the board has received updates in regards to number of bathrooms that have been identified for this and the signature has been ordered and some of them have already been installed. Um for policy 1900 there was no recommended changes and this was reviewed by Mary Stevens and was reviewed by legal. Policy 4321.13 there was no recommended changes and has been reviewed by legal. policy 4321.14 um legal confirmed that the titles that the title that we have in there
094was fed u that we didn't have to put the name for 4321.2 there was no changes and reviewed by legal and for policy 90 9520.6 um the gray area was removed um and legal recommended a couple changes in there and the policy committee um approved those changes and Dr. Orlando has made walkthroughs of the buildings and has identified space at the high school and he's going to continue to look for other spaces at the other schools to be identified. Do the policy committee members have anything else they would like to add? So, um my notes indicated that 4321.2 was not reviewed by legal. I know you just stated that it was reviewed by legal. Um my understanding was that it has been reviewed by legal. We can double check for legal. John, do you know
095whether or not do you have record that 4321.2 was reviewed because I was >> I I believe it was reviewed by legals, but I legal, but I will double check. >> Okay. during the policy committee meeting. I guess we didn't have the answer to that. So that was >> there was a follow-up that occurred on that >> and we did not I did not see any followup from the policy committee. So is there oh can we just change that a little bit and have the followup with the policy committee so that we see it ahead of it getting presented to the board. We can do that in the future >> because we also went over other policies that aren't on here. Investments in regulation, purchasing those policies are not not on here for tonight. Um
096so we we're not presenting them to the board tonight. It's only the policy. >> We had left the policy committee meeting with the understanding that those had been reviewed and we're going to go on to the agenda, >> but they're not on the agenda for tonight. So, we're not going to discuss them tonight because of policy because the board members have not been able to >> the board members have not received those policies at all. So, we're just focusing on the ones that are here. >> So, any questions on the policies on the ones that are that are here? Any questions on the policies that are here? >> I'm allowed to ask you questions. I'd like this is actually a board meeting. >> Excuse me a second. Excuse me a second. I'm referring Let me
097Let me finish the policies that are here on the agenda first. If no one has any other questions about the policies on the agenda, then I can take other questions about other policies. So, I'm focusing on the policies that we that we put up for vote. Are there any other questions on the policies that are here on the agenda? So, for policies um for item agenda item one two um there will be the second and final reading. All right. And then for policy now we can make that decision. Do we want do do we want to do all of them for the second and final reading or we just want to do policy number one and two as a second and final reading. Yeah, Madame President, I I have no issue with all of these
098being a second and final reading because they have appeared previously and they have been reviewed and the public has had the opportunity to review them in between meetings if they wanted to. >> All right. So, I'm just going to I'm going to amend this motion. Amending the motion to have agenda items 2B1 to 2B6 to be the second and final reading. >> So I'm amending it to be the second and final reading. Can I have a first on this >> motion? Chris Ner is first. Leslie Cret second. All those in favor >> I motion carries 6. So go ahead, Megan, about the other policies that you were >> I just was wondering why the policy committee had reviewed policies and we thought that they were ready to go to the board and it didn't make
099it to the board. That's why I'm questioning. >> Okay. >> I I don't have an answer for that. Why it didn't make it to the agenda. >> But you but you're the president and the >> like I said, I don't have an answer. You asked me a question. I don't have an answer. >> Why? >> I just say that for I know there's scuffling in the audience, but you set the agenda. Go, go ahead, Marian. >> Oh, do you know the answer? >> If you're talking about policy 6240, >> y >> um there were questions that we had for the attorney's office. >> Um 6700 we have you had questions for the attorney and 6741. >> So did those questions go to the attorney? >> Yes. >> Okay. So when you get the responses, you'll
100share them with the policy committee. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> And then they'll be on the Thank you. >> All right. Can I Can I do agenda item 2 C1 and two together? Have a motion for agenda item 2C 1 and 2 C 2. Please >> motion to approve. >> Juan Le is first. >> Second. >> Carol Seov is second. Any discussion on these items? Hearing and seeing none. All those in favor? >> I I >> I motion carry 6. Um can I have a motion? >> I have a motion to call under board action. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Okay. I move the following resolution regarding budget surplus regarding $8.5 million a superintendent memo and incumbrances for by the external auditor. As elected officials, each board trustee is required to have all information
101that the individual trustee determines they need in order to perform their duties and due diligence. And whereas the annual Union Free School District external auditor is appointed by and reports directly to the board of education. Therefore, be it resolved that the external auditor Cullin and Zenowski LLP is hereby directed to provide each board of education trustee directly via their individual board member district email no later than October 21st with the following regarding the AUFSC current fiscal budget. Provide an analysis of where the $8.5 million excess funds came from as referred to by Dr. Talbert's September 26, 2025 memo to the board of education. Provide professional opinion that all required monies had been encumbered for the year when we were told that there was a $6 million shortfall and we are now told there is a
102$8.5 million in excess. provide professional opinion whether or not these excess funds is a result of poor fiscal management or lack of required controls or non-compliance with current internal controls. Yeah, I think I gave it over to um >> So there is a motion to amend the agenda to add agenda item 2C3. So the motion is there's a motion to amend the agenda to add agenda item 2 C3. Have a first for this. I am first. First, Megan Misman is first. Who is a second? >> I will second this to get to the discussion portion. >> Discussion. >> Can I ask Megan how many more resolutions you have for this evening? >> I um a few. >> Okay. I thought that we did um >> just speaking to the mic, please. >> I'm sorry. I
103thought we did agree to receive these resolutions before We went into open session so we wouldn't have could look at them before we decided to vote. >> I Yes. I >> Now we're going to go six or seven more resolutions. >> I don't support it. I'm sorry. No, >> this is ridiculous. >> I'd like to comment on that. >> We don't get it ahead of time to review it. The community doesn't get it ahead of time. This is not fair to us. that New York State Board Association recommends that resolutions be brought to the board and the board of education not be blindsided at a meeting just getting a resolution for the first time. I also believe that council may comment about resolutions should be provided to the board ahead of time for review. There's
104absolutely no reason for a board of education member not to act as a team member and allow the >> No comments from the please. No responses. Nothing from the community. Thank you. >> To have time to review and realize a motion being brought to the table. It is not good business. It is not effective. It is not team building and it has got to stop. It is not the way a board of education should be ran. It's not it's not >> Are you asking a question of legal? Because I I believe that of Robert's rules, you can bring an an resolution. We we did just reference policy. It's in the policy. Board of Education members can bring resolutions. Um I think that you all saw that I was catching up on board work today. I
105was writing emails during my workday, catching up. So, this is a resolution that I'm bringing to the table for the board of education during a board of education meeting that where I'm asking that the external auditor to provide additional detail. They're going to be here next week. It's it's a heads up to them that it's not clear. It's not clear from what we were given. I mean, you can tell by Juan and I looking at the appropriations report. Why? Why? Why did we budget for this and not spend it? So, it's not clear. And going into the audit committee meeting next week, I'm asking for additional information be provided by the external auditor so that we have the information. So, Ma, can I just ask you if you were planning on doing this, wouldn't it
106be a considerate thing to do to your fellow board members to send it out in an email to let everyone else know to have time to think about it before a meeting? Because now, how many more resolutions do you have tonight, Megan? >> All right. So, I'm going to >> at 10 to 10 at night. >> So, what I'm going to do what I'm going to do here, this this has been placed before the board. >> Is any other discussion on this particular item? Yes, Madame President. I I just want to ask legal how he feels legally about this uh memo. Is is this something that would be in good order to vote on? >> I'm not sure I'm clear on your question, Juan. >> My question is, is this legal? >> Is the resolution
107legal? You're just asking? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh so uh the you have an external order. Um the external auditor has a contract uh and uh the the job of the external order at this time uh is to uh audit your uh fiscal statements, your financial statements. Uh in my opinion, this resolution is beyond the scope of the of the stated work for uh an external auditor at this time. Uh this would require an amendment of their their contract and would be beyond uh the scope of their current work. Uh they they have an obligation to uh audit your financial statements. uh that boarding process requires independence and and in my experience uh they are they are not charged with uh the analysis or the professional opinions that are required or requested by uh this
108resolution. >> Understood. Um, Megan, would it satisfy you if our um, assistant superintendent for finance would go over the appropriations report with us and have it on the screen at the next meeting? Would that satisfy you? Um, so the intent would be to have a third party look at it and it's another set of eyes looking at how did you budget each line, how did you spend each line and why did you not spend what you budgeted for. So I think it's sort of common practice to have an outside entity looking at it. I think that's what an external auditor is. Um and if it were to cost an additional fee then they can come back and tell us that. Okay. Any other discussion on this item? All right. So the motion is to amend
109the agenda to add agenda item 2 C3. All those in favor for adding this item. >> I that's one Leon and Megan missing. All those opposed? I >> I >> motion fails to um amend the agenda to add this item. Anything else you want to add before we keep going? >> Well, I Yeah, I do. Um so I guess I'll just read them. I won't hand them out so that you can vote them down. >> We need to hand You want me to hand them out? >> Yep. We need to see them. You might as well give them all at one time. >> Okay. All right. 2C3. >> No, it's actually 2C4. >> 2C4 regarding the John Deere tractor missing or IPS it that way. Missing August 2025. I move as elected officials each board
110trustee is required to have all information that the individual trustee determines they need in order to perform their duties with due diligence and whereas the superintendent is afforded by and reports directly to the board of education. thereby be a resolved that the superintendent is hereby directed to provide each board of education trustee directly via their board member district email no later than Friday October 17th with the following regarding the John Deere tractor that was reported by United A and Turf that the tractor is missing while in their possession. Date and name of the company employee that made the district aware of the tractor is missing. The name of initial Amonyville employee that was made aware the tractor is missing. Name of the district employee responsible for filing reports and filing claims. Copies of all police
111reports filed by the tractor repair company and all responses. Copies of all police reports filed and all responses to those reports. Copies of all insurance claims filed by the tractor repair company and responses. Copies of all insurance claims filed by Amityville and all responses to those claims. Copies of all in district staff communications emails regarding the missing Amityville Union Free School District. John Deere tractor. So Megan is a first on this. Who's a second? >> I will again second to get to the discussion portion. >> Discussion. >> Today we're on the resol on our agenda. We're supposed to be accepting a replacement tractor and I feel as though more tangible information as to how it happened. Um, it would be appropriate to have shared with the how like all of this that I just listed
112would be appropriate to share with the board of education as it is a district asset that went missing. Any other comments on this item? This this was explained to us numerous times that it was at in the possession of the vendor and was removed from their premise and that's where the trailer was the uh tracker was lost. I understand but there should be documentation uh that we filed with the police and the insurance and we the board should be privy to that. Um I don't think that we should be approving this without understanding the culpability. >> What what is the significance of us knowing all those exact details >> and having all this paperwork? >> I don't microman >> I'm not trying to micromanage it. I'm just I'm literally here as a fidiciary as representative
113of the community to understand the picture of what happened the the process that occurred afterwards and to understand the culpability. >> So that was explained to the board of education from the get-go every event that happened. >> Well, we don't have we have >> this is micromanaging. All right. So, this is the job of our administrators, not the job of a board of education. The report that was given to the board of education is an ample report for the board of education. Any other discussion on this item? All those in favor of amending the agenda to add this item? >> I. >> All right. I >> Megan and one. All those opposed. >> I >> motion fails to add add the item to the agenda. >> Anything else? >> Yes. I'm sorry. to C5, the
114vending machines currently on Amnivville property. I move that as elected officials, each trustee is required to have all information that the individual trustee determines they need in order to perform their duties with due diligence. And whereas a superintendent is reported or reports directly to the board of education, thereby be it resolved that the superintendent is hereby directed to provide each board of education trustee directly via their board emails no later than Friday, October 17th, with the following information regarding all vending machines on Amigo property. The specific location of every vending machine on AIO property, including outdoor areas, the name, names of the owners of each machine, all phone numbers, contact information attached to each vending machine, copies of the vending contracts, andus authorizing each, the specific names of the person responsible for filling each, the
115specific names of the people responsible for accounting for the money from each, copies of the assistant superintendent of business correspondents, and financial reports regarding those monies. Copies of all board of education approved resolutions regarding vending machines. Copies of all board policies and regulations regarding vending machines. >> Megan is the first. Who's the second? >> Second. >> Any discussion on this item? >> Yes, Madam President. So, this this is similar to a motion that I introduced I forget when but failed. Um, my motion wasn't seeking the names and phone numbers of individuals. My my my motion, the spirit of my motion was that there are vending machines operating in the district. Nobody knows where the profits and money goes to. And number one, they should be part of our food program. And number two, they should
116comply. They should comply with our wellness um policies, which they're not in compliance. So, I know that um Mr. Schneider did address this somewhat in the corrective action plan, which is on tonight's agenda, and that's kind of where what where I want to take it up. Um I But I I'm sorry. I I don't need the names and phone numbers of each owner of the machine. >> So, I mean, that's just the contact information. So, it's identifying that we know who owns each vending machine. And I know we did talk about it. There was discussion of putting together a table. There was discussion of maybe some of them are owned by an entity and maybe some of them aren't. But this is just asking that it be compiled because the corrective action plan speaks to
117seven vending machines. it doesn't speak to all of the district's vending machines, >> right? So, um, for me, I know that Mr. Snder has been actively working on this matter and looking into everything and once he has all the complete details of the vending machines and who owns them, who doesn't own them, he will provide all that information to us as well to as well as addressing the healthiness of the items that are in the vending machine. Any other discussion on this item? Uh yes, and just like to point out that so far all three of these resolutions have been typed up and could have been easily provided to all of us in an email prior to this meeting where we would have had the chance to review some of these. >> Yeah, I know.
118I because sometimes I come and I don't have it typed up and then it's hurry up. in the past in the past you know if you write one up by hand or it comes to your head at the day of the meeting like you don't have a chance to write it up I understand it's not that easy to provide it to us but this was typed up attachment could have easily been put into an email and given to us so it just doesn't seem right that we're getting all this information at the last minute and asked to vote on all these items >> any other comments on this item >> the comment that I have Megan, I just want to bring to your attention that I am not the second vice president. On each one
119of your resolutions, it states me as second vice president. >> It's that's just a tracking at the top. So, thank you. >> It's just a tracking. It's an error. It's an error. >> Any other discussion on this item? Madame President, if I may, uh, this discussion on vending machines, uh, has been ongoing since it has been brought to our attention. In tonight's corrective action plan, it reads, "The district has established direct oral and written communication with the two companies that operate these seven machines. As the board was previously informed, legal and the business office have been working collaboratively on this issue. We have requested copies of any executed contracts or agreements that may that may be on file as well as a full historical accounting of all revenue earned and commissions paid related to these
120machines. We expect a full accounting to be provided to us before November 1st, 2025. Any prospective contract for vending machines must conform to the district's wellness policy, purchasing policy, and regulations from the state of New York. Uh we can continue on, but should we elect to bid a prospective vending machine contract, we anticipate being out to bid before December 31st, 2025. There has been ongoing work uh around the vending machine matter. Any other discussion on this item? >> I just wanted to state that all of this information has been provided to the board of education. So this resolution is redundant. >> I >> any discussion on this item? >> All of this information has not been provided. We don't know who's filling the machines. We don't know who's counting for the money. We do not
121have this information. Any other discussion on this item? All those in favor of amending the agenda to add agenda item to C5. >> I All those opposed I >> I >> motion fails five. >> Anything else you'd like to add to the agenda? >> Yes, I have one more. Um I move um the following resolution regarding transportation contract for 2025. As elected officials, each board trustee is required to have all information that the individual trustee determines they need in order to perform their duties with due diligence. And whereas the superintendent is important and directs reports directly to the board of education. Thereby be it resolved that superintendent Dr. Dr. Gina Talbert is hereby directed to provide each board of education trustee directly via their board member district email no later than Friday with the following
122regarding the transportation contract executed in 2025 that includes but is not limited to the name of the vendor and the date awarded the copy of the executed contract with the vendor awarded. Then provide a written report of an investigation of each school specifying which school and reason done regarding if there is any use of any union Amnibill's bus for transporting any student home for any reason other than the beginning of the official date of the school day or for the official end of the school day included but not limited to specifying the reasons for those transports. Example, sickness, lateness, need to leave school early. So Megan, is it first? Just need a second for this item. >> Second >> discussion. >> Yes, Madam President. I I do find this to be valid because I do
123remember our previous assistant superintendent for finance um noting that um students were transported home for sickness, which I'm not sure is really correct. Um, but for us to receive the existing contract, that doesn't seem like a lot of work. Just put it in email and send it to us. So, um, this seems easy. I support this. >> Any other discussion on this item? >> All those in favor of amending the Oh, >> can we just get an answer to that question instead of being provided with the entire contract? Well, I I mean I'd like to look at the contract. >> All right. Any additional discussion on amending the agenda to add agenda item 2 C6. All those in favor? >> I that's Juan Leon and Megan Mesman. All those opposed I >> I >> Motion
124fails to four. And Madame President, at some point we probably should, not now, but in the future, discuss about putting, if we're allowed to put contracts um on our website, definitely our audits should be there. I think we're making more of an effort to do that, but historically as well, I think we should make a move to put that out into the public so that anyone that wants to review these things can. >> Thank you. I'm going down to 3B. Um, can I do 3B2? Is anyone Does anyone need anything done separately? Let's just do that one. >> Um, 20 to 25 stop at Yes. >> Okay. Can I have a motion for agenda items 3B2? >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Kevin. Motion. I'm going back to 3A. Kevin. Motion for agenda item 3A1. I
125apologize. >> Motion to approve. Motion. >> Juan Leon is first. Chris Ner is second. Any discussion on this item? >> Yes. I just had Yeah. Um noted on the contact list, we had to update um it was listed as assistant superintendent for human resources. Um but we have to update that to director of human resources and add Dr. Lando's name. And then also update the contact for Amityville police. It is listed as Chief Burton, but it is now Chief Caramatica. >> I'll get back to you on that. >> I'm sorry. Any other um comments on the correct >> Can you just Can someone just point out where the cardiac arrest plan was added? >> Uh yes, I can tell you right now. Hold on one second. So, if you If you go to either it's
126page number five or on the bottom it says 653 on the bottom of that page it says in July 2025 that um New York state legislator passed dashes law as a cardiac emergency response plan. That's one part where that's there. >> I'm sorry what I'm sorry what page it has five but it has also six of 53. So go to six of 53. And then on the next page seven of 53 under number four it talks about um sudden sudden cardiac arrest. On page 21 of 53 it talks about sudden cardiac arrest. On page 22 or 53 it talks about sudden cardiac arrest. So that's where it was added into. It wasn't like a a separate pool or whatever, but the information was added in there. >> Embedded into the >> It's embedded. >> Yes.
127>> Um Okay. We Thank you for pointing that out because that was not evident to me. Um the we appointed the district-wide school safety team on August 13th and the names have changed in this version of the document. Was that an intended change too because I think we were on >> page 9 of 53. >> Yes. >> What names are referring has changed? Well, the school board members changed. >> Who was it before? >> It was Carol and I on it. >> It's me. It doesn't make a difference. And go back to Carol and you. It doesn't make a difference to me. >> Well, I guess I pointed out because we approved a document on August 15th. It was we were told that it only had a changes of incorporating the cardiac arrest. So, are
128there other changes in here? Because this jumps out because it's a table with names in it. At the time, it was brought to our attention that certain names needed to be updated as well. We can make whatever adjustments are necessary. Trustee Seahhoff was a member of the health and safety committee. Um, if she is also a member of the district safety plan committee, we can certainly put it back our interpretation from the discussion prior that these were the corrections, but please clarify and we can make those adjustments here. >> Yeah. >> Well, >> put it back. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Well, I was named as well. >> That's fine. We'll put the names back. It's not a problem, >> Madam President. I think I think the bigger issue is that the board of education
129voted and adopted and approved the document and then it has changed maybe not in substance but it has changed without board approval and now we're we're looking to approve it again. The changes were made. I'm sorry, President. The changes were made based upon the discussion. Trusty Mesman, you made it very clear that you were not a member of the district safety committee, so your name was removed. Our interpretation was that because Carl uh Trustee Seahhoff was on the health and safety committee, the name was removed. Please clarify the names that should be added, we can insert those and have the board to approve it with the insertions. So that's fine. Put Carol, put Megan. Doesn't make a difference to me. Put them back in. We'll approve. We'll make a motion to approve with the with
130those changes because it's the changes adding those names as well as the corrected names from um that Mr. Near and Trusty Naring had just mentioned as well. >> Also, the lead nurse has changed. Yes. The Pat. >> Yeah. So, we can make those changes. So, we're going to approve it tonight. >> Assuming those changes are being made or >> changes will be made. >> We'll provide the board with an updated copy in Friday's transmitt reflecting the changes inserted tonight, which would include the lead nurse. Now, the nurse that is listed here is the union leader of the nurses. And I think that's the intent when we say >> yes, >> please just send us these two pages with the and not everything else. That would have that would be appreciated. >> All right. All right.
131So, >> you could if that's easier. >> All right. So, we're going to the the changes that will be made will be the board education names as well as the police department name and I think there was one other one >> uh HR director. >> HR director. Okay. Make that title change. >> So, can we approve as amended? Yeah, that's I'm just going over the changes everyone's So motion is to approve it as as amended with those changes. >> Motion second. Hold on one second. Um maybe all those in favor >> I motion carry 6. Now can I do 3B2 where I'm going down to 3B20? You said >> yes. >> Have a motion for agenda item 3B2 to 3B20. >> 19 I'm sorry. >> 3B19. Motion for agenda item 3B 2 to 3B19. >>
132Yep. Motion to approve. >> Secondly, make amendment. Any discussion on these items? >> Hearing a seeing none. All those in favor? >> I I motion carries 6. >> Um can I do 3B 20? >> Yeah. Can I have a motion for agent a 3B 20 to 3B 25, please? 3B20 to 3B25. >> Second. >> Uh Lesie Cretz is first. Juan Leon is second. Any discussion on these items? >> Seeing hear none. All those in favor? >> I Megan. >> No. >> Oh, five yes and one no. No. Is Megan Mesman. Can I do agenda items 3B 26 down to 185 al together >> right if there's no objection motion to approve >> first >> down to 185 >> so 3B 26 of 3B 185 W on first >> um Leslie Cretz is second any discussion
133on these items Um, so there's so many uh leaders of tomorrow, instructional leaders. Um, we've been told that they're all receiving a program. They're all going to be leading a program. So, it's not that they're not defined yet and they will have the role. And we were told that we need all those substitutes for coordination issues um to ensure that we have coverage at each building at all times. because there's a lot of substitutes and I question that. >> What number are we going down to? >> 185. >> Any other discussion on this item? >> All those in favor? >> I. Motion carries 6. Um, can I have a motion for agenda item 3B1 that would also state there's a revision to the resolution which would state the salary is prorated. >> Motion >> second.
134>> So that's Megan Mesman is first. Chris Nerin is is second. Any other discussion on this item? All those in favor? >> I motion carries 6. >> Can I do agenda item 3B187 to 3B 213 al together? >> You can go. >> I think you can keep going, right? Because it's intentionally blank. 14 two 214s removed and those two 16. >> Yes. >> So John, just for clarification, if it's intentionally left blank, can I I just I don't want to vote on that item. >> Yeah. Just don't call. >> Yeah. So 3B 187 to to 23 213. >> Motion to approve. >> Juan Juan Leon is first. Leslie Crest is second. Any discussion on these items hearing? I see none. All those in favor? >> I. >> My motion carries 6. Can I have a
135motion for agenda item 3B and up to two 220? Actually, I'm going to do 220. 220. Okay. Motion Chris Narren is first. Carol have a second. Any discussion on these items? Hearing is seeing none. All those in favor? I >> I motion carry 6. Have a motion to amend the agenda to add agenda item 3B221 which would be for the appointment of the director of curriculum in director of curriculum and the person's name is Dr. Jessica Kimla and the effective date will be December 1st 2025. probationary period is December 1st, 2025 to November 30th, 2028. Um with the rate of compensation of 170 motion >> second. >> Okay. >> All right. So Carol Sehoff is first, Chris Near in a second. Any discussion on this item hearing? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I
136I motion carries 6. Dr. Um, Dr. Kimlo, would you just kind of stand up? This is Dr. Jessica Kimler. >> Go ahead. >> All right. Welcome. >> Dr. Kimler, as you're stating, may I as you're standing or you can have a seat at this point, we would just like to say that she has served in diverse roles from an accomplished teacher and building principal to her current position as district testing coordinator. She is a data-driven administrator. She analyzes trends to design effective professional development for staff, engaging workshops for parents, and cohesive curriculum for students. We are enthusiastic about having her join us as we expand our college and career pathways to enhance student opportunities for future success. Welcome to the Amityville Union Free School District. Um, can I can I do agenda items 3C1 through
1373C8 altogether? Does anyone need them done separately? >> Um, >> no, but I do have discussion >> questions too. >> Okay. Have a motion for agenda items 3C1 to 3C8, please. >> Motion. >> Chris Near is first. Carol Seahhoff is second. Any discussion on these items? >> Yes, Madame President. Um, for the sake of brevity, I'm not going to go through all the questions I had regarding the corrective action plan. But as we know that that is a motion that I called to have it sooner than this, but it failed. But a lot of the correction, the corrective action plan appears to be work that can just be be done. And I don't see why the, you know, why there's a wait. A lot of it has to do with um individuals having access, you
138know, old employees having access to systems, different payment systems, having different um standards set for as far as wire transfers. Even though we don't do that many wire transfers, it's really just basic cleanup work that I don't know why it just hasn't been done up to this point. It's not labor intensive. Wasn't a lot of it noted as it was completed. >> So yes, if you read through the corrective action plan, um there are different items that it clearly states um that like for example um um for the accountant software has been removed as access. So those things have been have been removed or already been addressed. Um there are things like with the um entering uh with the review of wire transfers. Um it has already been stated that develop they have developed a
139hard copy wire transfer approval form that's already been addressed and it will be it was implemented on October 1st. Um, so there's other stuff that was addressed on September the 16th. There are things that will take a little bit longer to be addressed and so there is things additional software training is required in order to implement this recommendation. This is in regards to a dual review of time sheet data entries performed and that training will be implemented prior to October 31st and documentation of time will begin effective November 1st. So things are being addressed. I would say the one thing that is still being worked on is the with the whole vending machine that's still being addressed. >> Madame President, I assure you it's more than just one thing. >> No, I'm I'm I have
140it all highlighted here. >> It also like time sheets being approved by administrators like effective November 1st. So not everything has been addressed. >> So it says here additional software training is required in order to implement this recommendation. And this trainer will be implemented prior to October 31st, 2025. Documentation of administrative approval time sheets will begin effective November 1st, 2025. So are these are things that are in the process. Some have been addressed and some are in the process of being addressed. >> Right. Okay. So I I mean I didn't want to go through it, but I guess since we're open, let's go through it. So, a couple of things that I noted was um some of the recommendations that this that the district get together with legal counsel to develop and adopt a formal
141fund balance and reserve policy, which is very fitting to some of the um to what we saw today. Um and it's recommended by the state office of the state controller. So, that's important. Uh also recommendations a fund balance management strategy. >> Which which which corrective action plan are we referring to? Which I mean which item which item is on the first page page. >> Yeah. >> Recommendation. We recommend that the board of education in consultation with district management and legal counsel develop and adopt a formal fund balance and reserve policy as recommended by the New York State Office of State Controller. So, >> but it but the response that was provided by Mr. Snder states that um the assistant super the interimm assistant superintendent for finance operation will provide the board of education detailed guidance
142on this topic before October 31st, 2025. board of education the policy committee will be will then develop a policy related to this topic. So it's being >> it's being addressed >> correct from the beginning ever since we received the corrective action plan. It's being worked on. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. And then you know it's it's still it's still still on the way. Um, >> but first President Leon, >> I mean, >> first Vice President Leon, there are things in here that have clearly been addressed. There are things that are in the process of being addressed. >> And so, like, for example, let's look at the first one. It talks about the different policies that need to be done. It says the board of education in cooperation with legal counsel and the policy committee
143will take appropriate action to adopt these policies no later than December 1, December 31st. Well, we adopted those policies tonight, right? So there are there are deadlines that are saying no later than a certain date. Some things have been addressed already. Some things are still being addressed. >> So it to me, >> Madame President, those policies I obtained from NISBA and I sent them to legal counsel so that they can be reviewed and be put on this agenda. Respectfully, I moved that. >> So So congratulations on that that you that you were the one that was instrumental in doing that. My my point is this. even talking about this. >> No, my my point is this is that you're you're acting as if nothing has been done. Things are being worked on. Some things have
144been completed, other things are being worked on. >> So for for something like this, it's a risk assessment. And for a district that has been very troubled in the past financially, this should take a top priority. >> And it has. >> Thank you. It has some and I think just based on the name of what it is, it it's a plan. It's corrective action plan. It's not >> it's not a checklist of things that have been done. It's things that may have been done and will be done. >> But that's part of the risk assessment tells us what needs to be done, Chris. >> Right. >> Yes. And that's why it's on a plan. >> And some of the things are some of the things that has already been brought to our attention. Some of
145the things are items that are are low risk. >> Okay. >> So, it's any other discussion on this on the correction? Keep going. >> I I don't want to be talking about this stuff going into the next school year. Please, >> it's all within the time parameters. >> Go ahead. Trust me. >> A few times there's multiple times throughout that the response says it should be noted that no inappropriate transactions were entered into the system. So, can how how is that verified? That's my question. >> Audit logs. >> Okay. So, you went through and you >> Yes. >> personally verified. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, >> any other questions? >> Yes. Under the um vending machines, there's it says revenue earned from these machines belongs to the school lunch fund to the
146extent that the revenue occurred during the official school lunch period. So, how how how do you know when the the somebody buys money something from the vending machine? >> Vending machines are on timers now. >> So, every bail is locked with the time. And any sale that happens during a lunch period, that revenue belongs to the school lunch fund. >> And where does the other revenue go? >> It would belong to the general fund of the district. >> Okay. And you've been able to in your investigation of these vending machines identify that that's actually been happening? >> No, I'm still waiting on contracts and data from the vending providers which they've told me that I will have by November 1st which is also in the report. >> Any other discussion on this item? >> No.
147Um, >> any other discussions on items 3C 1 through 3C8? >> Yes. Yes. >> The first one, the motion to increase the budget makes sense. We talked about it, $14,000 for the cell phone policy in the state. But there's in the back page there's a payment of $742,000. And I was just questioning what what is that? That payment page is showing you the $14,000 coming in. There are other payments that the district received. I just didn't feel like I should redact anything just to give you the full report to show you the money came in. That's other aid the district received that is unrelated to the cell phones. Oh, >> okay. So, that table is just showing other >> it was part of a larger wire transfer, but it was in Okay. Right. >> All
148right. Thank you for clarifying. Um, I do I need to I wanted to vote separately for number three. Um, >> well, Madame President, when when will the board be receiving the next update on the >> corrective action plan for the outstanding items? >> Go ahead, Dr. In in the correction action plan, there's a response and most of the responses have dates. We can provide the board updates in the transmitt um as we approach the deadline dates. Any other questions or comments on these items? Yes. Uh the school bus stop arm program. So, I didn't realize this, but there's a proceed of $26,000, $26,775. Um, but that we need to propose, we need to utilize those proceeds within 9 months uh associated with bus safety. Um, so how do we intend to do that and did
149we do that last year as well? >> Um, I believe we did do it last year, ma'am. plan for the money this year is to include those speed radar signs so that people can see the speed they're traveling in school zones as well as safety cones, speed bumps, and signage. That's the intention for the money. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Sure. >> I'm sorry. Any other questions on these items? >> All right. So, Trusty Mesman, you stated that you wanted to vote separately on something you said. >> Yes. Number three. >> Okay. So, I have to resend that motion. So, I have a motion to resend the motion 3C1 to 3C8. So, motion to resend. Motion >> the motion 3C1 to 3C8. Did you say >> I said motion? >> I just need
150a second. >> Second someone >> second. >> Leslie Cret. So all those in favor of resending the motion. >> I I >> I motion carries 6. Okay. Have a motion for agenda items 3C1 to 3C2. Please >> motion. >> Chris Naran is first. >> Motion. >> Megan Mesman is second. All those in favor? >> I motion carry 6. Kevin motion for agenda item 3C3 please. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Chris Nan is first. Megan is second. All those in favor of this item >> I >> no >> 51 Megan meman is no motion carries 51. Can I do 3C4 to 3C8 altogether? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Won is first. Leslie Crest is second. >> All those in favor? I >> I motion carries 6. >> Can I have a motion for agenda
151item 3D1, please? >> Motion. >> Chris Nearing is first. >> Second. >> Leslie Cretz is second. Any discussion on this item? Hearing and seeing none. All those in favor? >> I. Motion carries 6. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3 E1 A through 1J? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Carol Seahhawk was first. Chris Ner in a second. Legal, you reviewed all of these contracts. >> Yes. >> Any other discussion on this item? All those in favor? >> I. Motion carries. 6. Okay. I have a motion for agenda item 3F1. Please >> motion. >> Chris Ner is first. Leslie Crest is second. Any discussion on this item? >> There's some um to be determined in there. Is that Did I see that? >> So, this is a conference that we recently became aware of
152that we have to apply for through New York State. The date there are four cohort sessions. The date of the first one um would be before the next board meeting. It is free. Uh so the application is due this week. We're just waiting for approval on it. >> Thank you. And it would be a mixed middle and high school team with administrators and teachers participate. Thank you. >> Any other discussion on this item? >> All those in favor? I >> I motion carries 6. >> Any old business or new business? >> Hearing is seeing none. Can I have any community input regarding non board agenda items? Good evening Deborah Lequa. Good evening board members. Thank you board appreciation week. As a community taxpayer, I have to speak up because what is happening is simply not
153fair and it's not right. Time and time again, we are seeing a particular trustee bring forward resolutions without notice, catching both the board and community offguard. This kind of behavior erodess trust and goes against the very principles of transparency and accountability. This board should stand for. We the taxpayers >> deserve honesty and openness. >> Um hold on a second for >> go ahead. >> So I think >> um Amry just kind of pause that please. >> Thank you. >> So my recommendation it should you know issues should be addressed to the board as a whole and to the board president as a whole. >> Yes. You have to go back to you can't you can't identify >> any any specific Okay. >> And then also the the timing you have to do the the 30
154minutes. >> No the 30. Yeah. Go ahead. And then one thing that I did not do in the beginning is that we do have a board policy when it comes to coming to the mic and for community input on non-aggenda items and we need to start adhering to it as as a board education. There's a couple things. one is that um I'm going to start it for next month that if someone has a question for the board, the question should be written down and then that way and provide your information and if you need a response, we will be able to respond back to you um that way. If someone comes comes to the mic, they cannot um talk in terms of any um defamatory comments about anyone here at at the board table. And
155so I'm requesting for everyone as they come forward that they be respectful as they come to the mic. And if you're not respectful, then I'm going to ask you that your time for the mic is going to be over. Thank you. Go ahead. This kind of behavior erodess trust and goes against the very principles of transparency and accountability that this board should stand for. We the taxpay taxpayers deserve honesty and openness in every decision that affects our community and our children. When information is withheld or resolutions are rushed through, it sends a message that our voices do not matter and that is unacceptable. I am urging the board to please consider my message to uphold integrity, communicate openly and to stop these last minute surprises. Transparency with the community absent of transparency within the school
156board itself is not transparency at all. It not only reveals lack of openness but it reinforcs the conditional and selective nature of actions. True transparency is not option optional. It's a responsibility. It is a responsibility to the people you serve. Please please reconsider your actions. Thank you. You just when you come to mic just give your name please. Thank you. Next person to come forward. Just give just give us one second for her to re for Amory to reset it. >> Okay, go ahead. >> My name is Ken Egan. I have a kind of a basic higher level question and I'm not sure if that even can be answered. There's been a $43 million increase over the last 15 years as far as our operating school budget for the revenues coming in. Is that do
157you have an opinion whether that's consistent among other school districts on the island? Is that something we can look for as pretty being pretty consistent going forward? And could you budget against that um going forward over the next five years, the next 10 years? Because that obviously has an impact on our taxes and and how that how that goes. But I was curious if you guys have an opinion whether this is normal across other school boards, other school districts. >> Right. So we Y do you have the the question? Okay. So, we have the question and it may take a little bit of investigation. We'll get back to you. >> All right. Thank you. >> And just let us know if you can provide the um best way to communicate with you the response to
158your question. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Emry, you just need to reset it again for me, please. Thank you. The next person can come forward. >> Good evening. Aia Wolf, Amityville Teacher Association President. um just a question that it is that I had relative to um the mentors that were approved. Um it seems as though I see mentor appointments uh for approval for secondyear mentors. Um but I don't see any for thirdyear mentors. Um I don't know uh what was the rationale behind that. I don't know whether or not that is principal's recommendation. Uh my concern as a union president is that without having those mentors and having the supports for those teachers as they go through their probationary period um they may not have the necessary supports that they need um as they move
159on their journey to tenure. So, I just since we don't have anything in place that states um for the release of a teacher, whether or not there's any documentation, whether or not they've had opportunities for corrective action, um I'm asking how this process came to be, how many uh third-year teachers do we have, how many of them are not receiving mentors, which obviously is all of them. Um, and this goes back to the resolution um that was approved on June 18th of 2025 where it is that the resolution reads to eliminate the second and third year teacher mentors. I just want to go back to what it is that I said before. That is contractual language that has been agreed upon. you can't come up with a resolution to say that you're eliminating something from
160our contract. So, I'm wondering whether or not that resolution, which was 2C6, is going to be removed because it says, "Now, therefore, be it resolved that the board of education hereby directs the superintendent or her design to eliminate second and third year mentors for the 2025 2026 school year and thereafter. your resolution is to eliminate contractual language. So, um I would like for some type of response as to where it is that we go from here. Um and I'm requesting that this resolution be removed. >> So, thank you. We have your your question, your comment. Well, hi Dell Cronin in Amityville. Just a quick question in reference to the assessment. Can you verify when was that assessment received by the board of education in reference to the corrective action plan? >> So, we have your
161question and we'll we'll um if you give your name and your um >> you don't know when the report was written to the board. >> I'm taking I'm taking the questions and then um I'm taking the questions and I'm being consistent. All questions that are taken I will I will respond to. >> Okay. And then I'm going to ask a question in reference to the tractor and maybe you can answer that to me in an email that I'll provide. Um, was a report an insurance report filed by the Amityville School District? >> If you could answer that question, I would appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Hi, Caroline Fanning. I have a question because I'm confused um and a little perplexed by Mr. Schneider's report about um the state of our
162fiscal finances because it seems like it's following a different kind of language. In all the time that I was following the district finances, we were very much um concerned with our appropriated fund balance and the percentage that we were accustomed to was anywhere under 4%. What you showed us was talking about appropriated fund balance plus reserves and pegging us as being painting a really rosy picture at us having 15%. It's to me apples to oranges, 15%. I just don't understand how that relates to concerns we had prior. Um, reserves is money that we're responsible for but really can't meddle with much. It relates to pensions and capital and things that we don't have much control over in a year-to-year basis. Trusty Mesman asked, "If we go over 4%, don't we have to give the money
163back?" We do. Um, Mr. Schneider, you mentioned other districts getting into trouble for having too much money. >> Miss Bann, you just have to address the question. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Um, thank you. >> Yes, districts have gotten into trouble for holding on to too much money. Um, which is why now the controller insists that we give it back once we go over 4%. A particular district that did get audited by the controller for going over was Freeport. And one of their tricks was, well, if we have more than 4% and we want to hold on to it, we're going to sneak it into our reserves. So now to see this report that says appropriated fund balance plus reserves is 15%, but don't worry, everything is great. It it's not an accurate picture. Um,
164as someone on the outside who was always worried that our appropriated fund balance was down to 6% two years ago and we're trying to get close to 4% but not too much because we also want to spend money on the kids. The math just isn't mapping for me. 15% isn't relevant to things that the community had heard before. So, um, the report just didn't make much sense to me. And the idea that we're going to hold on to extra money. Oh, and apparently we underspent by $8 million. I'm sure everyone here could think of other >> Oh, 10 million. Sorry. >> Um, yeah, that's that's a lot to underspend by. So, it's not encouraging to me to hear that. Um, we're on the up and up financially. I I don't speak the same language. what
165we heard a year ago to what we're hearing now 15% that's not relevant to what the comproller says to what News Day reports speak in terms of the unappropriated fund balance. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other community input on um non-aggenda items? >> Um Deborah Lee again, one quick question. I am asking tonight that we revisit the removal of policy 902040RR which address diversity initiatives. Other Long Island schools are already taking action. Valley Stream has made progress in recruiting and retaining teachers of color with retention rates above the state average. So Monica and Roosevelt are partnering with the Deli University to train staff through its diversity certificate program. These steps strengthen schools and communities. I urge the board to reconsider the removal of policy 9024 and to share a plan for how our
166district will recruit hire and retain qualified minority teachers. Thank you. Any other comments on non-aggenda items? Seeing none, John, can I just say something real quick? Excuse me one second. Sorry about that. Um, can I have a motion to go back into executive session at um 10:51 for advice from legal counsel? Motion to approve. Second. >> Juan Leon is first. >> Chris Narren is in is second. All those in favor? >> I motion carries 6. Open to adjourn the meeting, but there's no action that we're going to be taken when we come out. Thank you. I'm resuming open at 11:25. Um, president open right now is President Lisa Johnson, First Brights President Juan Leon, second vice president Chris Naring, and trustees um, Megan Nesman, Leslie Cretz, Carol Seahhoff, and our attorney John Sheen. Can I
167have a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:26? Motion second. Carol Lesnar Cretz is first. No, Carol is first. >> Carol Seahhoff is first. Leslie Crest is second. All those in favor? I >> I motion carries. 6. Thank you for joining. >> Very good. Good night. >> Wait. I want