001Is there any way to make? >> Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Am School District Board of Education meetings. Today is September the 4th um 2025. and follow the meeting to order now at 5:34 um p.m. Any van life event emergency please note the ex clearly marked um at this point in time in attendance at the meeting is myself or president Lisa Johnson first vice president Juan Leon um second vice president Chris Nar will be arriving roughly about 5:25 and our trustees are Leslie Cretzman and Carol Caul also in attendance is our doc our superintendent Dr. tablet, our assistant superintendent for currical instruction, Mary Stevens, and our assistant superintendent operation, Mr. Rich Snider, and legal counselor, John Sheen, is here at this point in time at 5:35 p.m. Can I have a motion
002to enter into executive sessions for update the legal regarding AAA negotiations? >> Motion. >> Oh, >> sorry. Go ahead. Can we just take a moment just to talk about something that is not executive session when will we come back up? >> Okay. Motion motion to enter executive session for permissible >> executive session reason. >> It's update for legal counsel regarding triple negotiations. >> Motion >> second. Juan Leon is first. Carol second. All those in favor. I I motion carries 5. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We're zooming open at 71. Currently at open session at this point in time is myself, vice president Lisa Johnson, first vice president Jon Leon, second vice president steering, um trustees Carol Seahhawk, Leslie Pretz, Megan Meman, our superintendent Dr. Talbert, our assistant super instruction, Mary Stevens, our assistant suit finance
003operation, Richie Snider, and our legal counsel John Sheen. At this point in time, are there any questions from any board members? Anyone want to say anything? So, so my I guess my my first question is this and this has more to do with um the function of the school board in in in with regards to schedules. Um what I'm seeking is for us to have a schedule that we can agree on for agenda reviews. Um we used to do them on Thursday. I think I've been part of one since I rejoined the board. So just just for an organizational standpoint and because I live my life on a calendar, if we can try to figure out what's best for agenda review as well as policy committee for the school year and also I believe health
004and wellness. So I just like we have a school board calendar, we know when the school board meetings are. I would also appreciate the same thing for agenda review, our policy committee, health and wellness because then that also makes it easier. Like for instance, we have three outstanding policies that we have to correct from from that um was it an audit or whatever it was. I don't know when the next policy meeting is so that we can try to get that done. I'm I'm talking about the flow of things and try to get keep things moving. So is there any discussion? >> So yes. So for the policy committee last time that we met we discussed differently. We're going to meet again. We were supposed to meet in August. Unfortunately there was circumstance that occurred
005with me that I was not able to meet and other things >> actually the 25th was supposed to be our policy meeting. >> Correct. So that's right place. >> Then we have another one in September that we the 29th of September that we had agreed upon as a policy meeting. So the policy committee has um had agreed upon certain dates and I know I know it was August September September >> is this calendar that we had. So we can share the calendar with the board of education. So therefore the board of education has to know the policy committ when it comes to agenda review. With the gender review um last year we did speak about we're going to do a gender review. um as executive team this is something that we just need to communicate
006with in terms of gender review. Um typically we try to do it on a Thursday morning uh because that way allows for um typically we're trying to we try to Thursday morning but if possible we try to do a Wednesday afternoon because it allows more time for the cabinet to do so we can discuss with um with Dr. Talbert um via emails in terms of uh dates and times for a June review. Just like you you're not the only one who lives by calendar. So do I. So we need to determine which interviews and has to be flexible because sometimes our lives change and it may be that we may not be available to do an interview on that particular day. >> That that's understood. >> Health and wellness committee. I'm not too sure where
007that's at so we can find out about that. >> How how often I'm sorry madam president or whoever else can answer this. How often what is the frequency of these meetings? So agenda review every time that there is a a board meeting it will be the Thursday or Wednesday previous I understand that prior to that policy committee are we trying to meet every month? Yes, we had dates. We'll get the dates. >> Okay. I never saw the dates. >> We'll get the dates to the form. >> And health and wellness. Are we looking to do the same thing and meet monthly? >> I have no idea. >> Okay. Well, I'm a member of that committee. So, who else is on this committee with Oh, Caroline chair. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We'll reach out to the
008chair. This is a committee that just the school just started back up again. So, they have >> it just the school just restored. So, they have to get the dates for those other people to take. So, it's one of those things where >> But how often do we want to meet? It's a board committee. >> The health and wellness >> I thought so, right? The policy committee >> well the wellness committee met quarterly, but we'll have to double check it. I think it was quarterly. >> So, we'll find out and we'll get it done. >> Well, well, the the question is what do we want? >> You if you're on the committee, I've got to communicate with Dr. Talbert, whoever's going to be on that committee and and you can determine what the dates could
009be for the um wellness committee. So that >> so I believe since the policy committees monthly, the health and wellness should also be monthly. >> It all depends on what the needs are. So you need to talk to the other committee members and that's what we did when we got together as a as a policy committee. We decided that we wanted to meet monthly because there are different policies that we need to review. So my recommendation would be that you meet with the entire committee and as a committee you guys to decide what are your dates going to be for the meetings. >> But when is this when is this going to happen? >> I can reach out to the chair and ask him to >> okay >> send an email to all the committee
010members. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Okay. Um, as far as other items for opening, um, perhaps for the 10th, I do want to talk about something that was given to us, um, from Dr. Talbert in the um, in the transmitt, and that has to do with the cost to comply with the New York State with the mascots. I think that that's something that the public really should know. So, if there's no objection to that, um I know that those figures were in there in the transmitt. Can we also show that to the public at at our next meeting? >> The budget's actually saying for the cost to >> Sure. >> Right. I I removal I I I >> Right. I'm not asking for anyone to do any work on this. It looks like
011the work has been done already >> and it's in the transmitter. I just think that that's something good for the public to see as well. >> Can we put on the website? Yeah, >> especially considering the numbers that we were originally given. >> I was just going to say >> put on the website and not schoolboard meeting. >> I mean, you can mention there, but I'm going to be another way to reach more people would see. You can do both. >> Not okay. >> You can do both. It's not a big deal. Do both. >> Not a big deal. It's been done. >> Right. So I I I'm expecting to see it at the tent on the screen. Um if if you don't >> screen on a presentation, >> I mean I don't really need
012a presentation. If >> the superintendent's report >> if if if the superintendent would like to designate Rich to say, hey, listen, you know, this is us complying with the mascot ban. This is how much it's been costing us so so far. This is what it is. We're just trying to keep the public open and, you know, informed about this. That's really all that's all I'm asking. >> Okay. Um other other than that, um there also was a statistic about our current uh students talking about numbers. Um I edited up for the buildings. It's 2,631. Those are the numbers we were provided by um administration. No concerns here except that we have to be mindful of I went on to the New York State, you know, Department of Education and to to give you a little
013bit of reference in in 2013 2014 school year, we had we serve we serviced 3,31 students. 10 years 10 years later um just you know 23 to 24 we service 2721 which is a 10% drop. So now from 23 to 24 which is 2721 to where we are which is 2,631 that that's nearly another hundred. Just just to be mindful that we try to keep services up and we have a dwindling student body for for a lot of reasons. Yes, charter schools part of it, but also there's a lot of statistics that people aren't having as many kids as they used to and people are moving out of state for, you know, Florida and the Carolinas. Something to be mindful of while we run five buildings and the amount of teachers and the amount of
014resources. Just something to keep in mind. That's all. >> Thank you. Anything else? >> I I just want to piggyback on that. I saw those statistics as well, Juan. And I found that very interesting because there um before the bond was passed, there was a presentation um by the company at the time that the superintendent decided to hire at that time. And the report that came out was >> to tell the community we have to do this bond because over the next 10 years there's going to be such an increase in student population. So actually that did not happen. So that is very interesting. I read the same thing and it didn't lay out the way that study was presented to us. >> Right. And and again a lot a lot of the factors are
015really out of the control of >> anyway >> administrators you know a lot of it has to do with federal politics state politics things like that the cost of living >> right yeah this wasn't even administrated this was a study that was done but it really >> and don't get me wrong when I looked at the data from for over the 10 years it you know it did increase a little bit but the overall trend was a decrease of 10% over a decade So, just be mindful. >> Megan, do you have anything? >> Yes, I do. I um I was hoping to discuss transportation. Um there's been a lot of um public outcry uh in particular regards the to the combination of the northeast and the northwest bus routes. And I as a board trustee
016was not aware that that was going to be happening this year. Um, so it was an inquiry that I had emailed. Uh, I had actually questions because since it wasn't discussed during the budget season, I am under the impression that our budget was approved with the separate bus routes for Northwest and Northeast. And since then, we are now have are proceeding with combined bus routes for the two facilities. And as a result, our youngest students are riding the bus until I'm hearing till after 4:30. They're getting home when they're supposed to be getting home at 3:40. Um, so I am not interested. I I um don't like that plan. Um, and we had never discussed it. So, Dr. Talbert, when you responded to me in writing, you had said, "We're monitoring the situation." um it's
017the first few days, let's give it a little bit of time. Um but I had also asked about you know what was budgeted versus this plan here of combining routes. So, um, with the transportation budget, uh, there have been conversations about combining the routes, um, with the previous, uh, business official and transportation department during budget season. I don't think it was clear that it was combined or that it was not combined. I just don't think the conversation lended itself to be a conversation. Um, as we began to open the school year and um, there was discussions of of how transportation was actually taking place and how the routes had been configured, um, we began to design a plan that could support what was already in place. So yesterday it took a long time um for
018the buses being that it was the first day the buses leave the high school. As you know we're have a whole bus reconfiguration plan with the high school alone. Um the high school is doing a great job of getting the buses out. They then go to Park Elementary. Um Park Elementary is working quickly to get their buses going and then those buses go to Northwest Elementary School. Um pick up the children at Northwest and then they head to Northeast. Um in the discussions with the bus company and our transportation coordinator, this is deemed an efficient way, although the time was lengthened yesterday. deemed an efficient way to get the youngest students home quicker. So, for example, if they picked up at Northwest and then left and drop those students off and then have to come
019back to Northeast, it's anticipated that there will be additional delays, a longer turnaround time. So this was built in to build efficiency. So we met yesterday. We looked at the the gaps, some of the contributing factors. Today our timing was much better. Um not what we wanted, but I would say today we got ahead of it maybe about by 30 minutes >> about >> certainly better for day two. Yeah, it's much better today. Um, so tomorrow, uh, once again, you know, we will be on site particularly at the northeast school to, um, do the timing to ensure the kids are not waiting a long time. And we devised a plan to expedite loading much quicker. So, we wanted to give it an opportunity to play out so that we can see if we're um able
020to experience success with it. The younger uh students are sitting at the front of the bus and the older students are in the rear of the bus. Um >> is there a monitor on every bus? I'm sorry. >> Yes. Okay. There's a monitor on every bus. >> Thanks. >> Um did you Okay, because I had heard that there wasn't a monitor on every bus. Unless someone may have been absent or but there's a scheduled monitor for heavy bus. >> Um what about the middle school buses? I thought that the middle school buses you didn't mention used to go to Northeast after to pick up Northeast. >> So the middle school buses are doing private school routes and charter school routes routes when they leave the middle school. So this again, so that was not communicated.
021I um we talked about transportation, so we're blew in the face. So I'm really surprised that we wouldn't have talked about such a change that we would go pick up our K through two or what is it? One and two and go over and get our K and PreK. You know, I for one would not be happy as a parent knowing that my kid is got an extra stop. I know that the buses stay in the driveway and they wait now. So now your bus is loaded with your one and two first and second graders and now they're waiting in the driveway outside of Northeast for each of those little kids to come out slowly and load. I hear what you're saying trying to improve the efficiency but um to have not communicated that much
022of it they it's a drastic change in my opinion to have not communicated it with the board with the community um is problematic and there's obviously people that are very upset now we we're getting emails uh people are voicing their concerns on social media um I I mean I would be interested in just separating the buildings, the the routes for the two buildings again going forward just for this school year. And I don't know if any of the board members have any other thoughts on this as it is I know that's a big deal. Um but again, you don't need want kids sitting on a bus for a half hour, 40 minutes. They just spent an entire long school day uh and now for them to have to sit even longer on a school bus.
023So my my preference would be to get the additional information as it finishes out this week and if we're still in the same situation by early next week then look at what will be the course of getting additional buses etc. So on that rate, I'm look I want to see what's going to happen at the end of this week into early next week and then from that point and we have to look at additional buses. What will be the cost for the buses to get the kindergarten students? Because the difference is that last year K through two went all into Northwest. Now that K is going to northeast, what will be the cost of bus transportation for more? >> K. >> Yes. Because prek is not on the bus. is just kindergarten >> kindergarten of
024us next week. >> So, we just need to look at that. >> Madam President, can I just intervene for a second too? Um, and this is for the superintendent uh for our next scheduled meeting which is September 10th. Um, if our coordinator of transportation, the Daniel Spence, um, I I don't know how to phrase it. I I I would expect them to be there because I because I do expect there to be parents that have transportation questions. So, is uh Dr. Taber, is he expected to be at our meeting? >> Oh, yeah. >> Great. Thank you. And um and no fault to anyone, but other than unfortunately um that there have been changes made to transportation, but we do have students, young students, third, fourth grade, walking a long distance because they're no longer eligible
025for transportation. Uh I know there's been major concerns about that. People are not happy with the change. Um, and I'm really hoping that at some point we can revisit that as well. We should not have fourth graders walking 20 minutes from East Masipa along Merrick Road, over uh, County Line Road, over Ketchum Avenue. And it's really a shame that this situation was created. >> That was all due to the voter referendum from many years ago. >> So, it's not anything that was done recently. >> Exactly. We're now something that we should have been doing >> but was never done for years and years because there were previous boards of education and superintendent that really felt it should just be left alone for the safety of children. >> But if you could weigh in >> right
026>> but you can't do that without voter approval. >> That's what I'm saying that we have a special vote on that. >> Um maybe not right now. Let's see how it plays out. But >> you need a child's safety and all, >> right? >> So that's specifically to address. >> If you want to address a specific area that is without that area impacting all the other busing >> in the district, right? >> Then you need to establish a child safety. >> And I think that was going to talk about year or so. He said right they said about a year. >> Okay. >> So maybe Nate can give us an update on that. >> Maybe not right now. >> He's Dr. T. I think he could at least refresh everybody because they could refresh. >>
027There are community members that maybe don't know. >> So even if it's not anything new right now, I'm sure there's priorities. >> Are there any other open session discussions that we want to have? Because like I do this or I I have to Just clarify. So the board does not have the legal authority to make any changes >> without does not >> right. >> Okay. So >> we can't make any changes right now. It's just either voter referendum >> or the child safety zone which >> which is voter approved also. >> Okay. >> So I'm working if there's anything else that is for open session. Can we bring it to the September 10th meeting? Is there anything of urgency? Unfortunately, this meeting was just supposed to be for my negotiations and it was nothing supposed
028to be in open session. So, I made I made plans to do something. I got to be there by 8. So, >> I have two really quick things. >> You have to go. >> Yeah, I'm going to I'm going have to go. So, >> okay. So, on 910 we're going to have a resolution for the superintendent evaluation tool and BS and you've g you gave it to us the draft and the email. So, I'm just requesting that we be provided with the tool filled in with the goals because it will be that will be attached to the resolution. >> Okay. Um, and then the other thing that's sort of on my mind is that there's a shift to the PTA, which is a great thing, APC to PTA, but the that meeting happens to be
029at the same same day and time as the schoolboard meeting. Um, and I'm just sort of wondering really like how does this all work and what is the district's involvement? Because the APC might have leftover funds. I mean, they made an announcement that they were still paying for things, but I thought they dissolved like they paid for the balloons or something, right? Um, so, you know, does it have to be addressed, Lisa? I asking. No, no, I'm saying that that that may be something that may have to be addressed a little bit more further in detail because I'm not too sure what our role is when it comes to to the PTA and whatnot. So, it may not be something that we may be able to give a response to tonight. I may be wrong.
030I didn't mean to jump in. So, >> well, I guess that's what I'm questioning. What is our role? Because, you know, we're that organization is dissolving. We're creating two new organizations, which is fine. Great. you if you want to have your question provide the the the >> parameters of your question to the superintendent and I'll provide you a memo. >> Okay. But it's unfortunate that like there's been no like district communication about the start of these organizations and they're like doing the voting for the officers. >> But that's not our responsibility. Well, let let me just let me I don't I think I don't mean to cut you off Megan, but I I'm not too sure and maybe John will be able to respond to it. I'm not too sure what our >> I don't
031I just don't know enough about the organization you're referring to. So there relationship in order for me to give an opinion right now. >> That's why I'm suggesting that the information be provided to me and I'll provide you with their house. >> Okay. But I brought it up because they're doing like this sort of important meeting next Wednesday where >> they finalize their >> their officers. >> Yeah. Right. >> Well, they're they're organizing. They're they're setting up. >> Yeah. I'll provide >> So, how about if you question Yeah. to to Dr. T Dr. Taba can send it over to John or whoever and that way we can get clarity. >> I'll provide you the medal on the fourth meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. But it it is unfortunate that they're doing that the
032same night as our board meeting. So I I that's going to you know I I I don't know if you know so if if that's going to take away from more people that want to come speak about whatever they want to speak about or if that's going to take away from members attending their event. I you know what but I we were scheduled in advance so >> all right so I'm sorry but I have to go. So if you guys want to continue then I will step out and then we can take Is there anything else anyone has to say that's it? >> No it's fine. Can I have a motion to adjourn at 7.6 So second Carol