001Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Annville preschool district reorganization meeting. Today is July 8th, 2025. call the meeting to order at 54 p.m. In attendance at this meeting right now is myself, board president Lisa Johnson, first vice president Carol Seahawk, second vice president Megan Meman, trustee Leslie Critz, Caroline Fanning, and Chris Near, and Juan Leon is here, but step out of the room for a moment. Also, our superintendent Dr. Calbert, our assistant superintendent for crical instruction, Barry Stevens, our interim assistant superintendent for finance and operation operation, Mr. Luchi Snder, and legal counsel, Don Ch. At this point in time at 5:45, can I have a motion to enter into executive session for advice from council? So a particular person's employment history. Usually you go a little bit longer. Megan Westman and and Carol
002I I was going so advice from council and particular persons employment. Those in favor I I motion carries 6. We will resume our meeting at 7:30 and that will be the reorganization meeting at 7:30. Thank you for attending this open session. Chan. I'm an attorney with the law office of Gerscio and Gerscio. I'd like to call to order the reorg the annual reorganizational meeting for the board of education of the Amityville Union Free School District. Please note the emergency exit exits closest to you. Smoking is not allowed on school grounds. And please silence your cell phones during the board's business. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. The flag of the United States of America stands nationy and justice for all. Thank you. At this time, I will administer the oath of office to the
003newly elected board members of the board of education and conduct the signing of the oath office book. First is Mr. Christopher Naring. Please rise. Repeat after me. I state your name. I Christopher do solemnly swear domly swear I'll support the Constitution of the United States that I'll support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and the Constitution of the State of New York and I will faithfully discharge and I'll faithfully discharge the duty of of a member of board of education the duties of a member of board of education of the Union School District of the Union School District. That's my bill. That's why I thank you. The next is Mr. Juan Leon. Please rise. New York office of trustee of the family. The office of board
004of the family. This time I would like to administer the oath of office to the student exeicio board member Sere Mullings. I got Sariah Ms. I will state your name for the Constitution of the United States. the constitution of the state of New York and then I'll faithfully discharge and then I will faithfully discard the duties of the office of Exeicio to the best of my ability. Now call Aliyah McQueen, student ex official member. I f your name of the United States from the constitution of the state of New York office. Congratulations What? At this time, uh, understand that the student exeicio members would like to make a statement. Sariah. Good evening, community members and board members. My name is Sarai Mullings. I'm going into 11th grade, and I'm truly honored to represent my school
005and community as a student exopicio board member. Throughout my time in Amniville, I have always made it a priority to advocate for my peers. In this new role, I look for I look forward to continuing that advocacy while also strengthening my communication and collaboration skills. I'm excited to share my experiences at Amniville Memorial High School with the board by presenting a monthly student report at public board meetings. These reports will highlight important aspects of student life, including academics, athletics, the arts and music, special events, and most importantly, student voices. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role and look forward to embarking on this new journey for the 2025 2026 school year. Thank you. Thank you very much. Aaliyah. Hi, I'm Malia McQueen. I'm 16 years old and for the upcoming 2526
006school year, I will be a senior. I take pride in helping out within my community and being involved within my school. Hence why I'm a part of the National Honor Society and the Tri Music Honor Society along with attending school events and community services held at the Amityville Public Library. Since we this will be my last year in high school, I want the school year to be just as if not more successful than last year. I'm honored to be a part of this honored to be a part well one of the student board members and my goals are to be an example for my peers, keep the school in the know about what upcoming events are happening within the school/ community and express any concerns that my peers may have. Thank you very much. I
007will now call for nominations of the office of president of the board of education. I nominate Megan Mesman. I nominate Lisa. Hold on. Hold on. I got I got paperwork to do here. Runs a little different with John. I have uh Trustee Fanning nominating Trustee Mesman. Any other nominations? I'm nominating Lisa Johnson. Trusty Seoff nominating Trusty Johnson. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, I ask for a motion to close the nominations for president. May I have a motion? Second. Second. I have motion by trusty Johnson with a second by trustee Leon nearing. Excuse me. Okay. Now, this is a roll call vote. Do Do we have to just vote on because it's first and second. Do we need to vote? Excuse me. Do we need to vote to close the nomination? Oh, vote to
008close the nominations. All in favor? I. Thank you, Trusty Johnson. Okay. The first nomination was for Trusty Mesman. Trusty Fanning. Yes. Trusty Seoff. No. Trusty Johnson. No. Trusty Mesman. Yes. Trusty Nearing. No. Trusty Leon. Yes. Trustee. No. Nomination fails. 34. Have a nomination for Trusty Johnson. Trusty Fanning. No. Trusty Seahhoff. Yes. Trusty Johnson. Yes. Trusty Mesman. No. Trusty Nearing, yes. Trustee Leon, no. Trusty Gretz, yes. That nomination passes 43. Congratulations. Start my ability. I will now hand the meeting over to Trusty Johnson as board president. Thank you, Mr. Sheen. At this point in time, I call for the nominations of first vice president. I nominated Juan Leon. Trusty Merin nominated Leon. Are there any other nominations for first? I nominate Megan Musman. Trustee Fannon. You nominated Megan. Are there any other nominations for first vice
009president? Seeing none, all those. Can I have a motion to close the nominations for first vice president? So moved. Second. Carol Seahhoff, Caroline Fanning. All those in favor of closing nomination. I I did I did you make it too? Yes. Motion carries 70. I call for the first vice president, Juan Leon, and I will do a roll call. Trustee Fannon, no. Trustee Seahawk, yes. Johnson. Yes. Megan, no. Nearing. Yes. Leon, no. And Chris, yes. So, it passes 43. I call I I have to do the other one still. Correct. For the first Okay. For the first vice president, Megan Mesman. Oh, you don't have to do it. I'm sorry. It came out 43. Do I still need to do Megan? No. Okay. All right. So it is now closed. Juan Leon is declared first vice
010president. John. Yeah. I'm sorry. Nominations are closed. Sorry. But first, vice president, right? Oh, okay. All right. Sorry. I'm sorry. I call for nominations for the office of second vice president. I nominate Christian. Hold on. Hold on. Trustee Fanning. Trusty Megan Mesman for second vice president. Any other nominations for second vice president? I nominate Chris Nearing. Trusty Seahhore nominated Oh, trustes nominated trustee. Any other nominations for second vice president? Hearing and seeing none, can I have a motion to close the nominations for second vice president? Moved. Carol Seahhoff, Leslie Cretz. All those in favor? I I. Motion carries 70. Calling for the vote for second vice president for Megan Mesman. I'll start off with Caroline Banning. Yes. Trustee Seahawk. No. Trustee Johnson. Yes. No. No. Messman. Yes. Nearing. No. Leon. Yes. Correct. No. Motion fails.
011Three four. Call for the vote for second vice president for Chris Nearing. Start with Caroline F. Trusty Fanning. No. Trustee Seahawk. Yes. Trustee Johnson. Yes. No. Megan Mesman is no. Nearing. Yes. Leon. Yes. Correct. Yes. Motion carries. 5-0. So, congratulations Juan Leon for first vice president and Christina for second vice president. We'll now admit the oath to the first vice president. board. I will now administer the oath to the second vice president. My first [Music] vice president. Right. I'm going down to agenda item 4B, which is the appointment of the deputy district clerk, which is going to be our interim, Mr. Richard Snder. So, can I have a motion for the appointment of the deputy district clerk, Mr. Richard, as Mr. Richard Snder, the interim assistant superintendent for finance and operation? Moved. Second. Carol Seahhoff,
012Juan Leon. All those in favor? I I I motion carries 70. Congratulations, Mr. Sheen. Do you want me to keep going down the line and then Yes. Okay. Um have a motion for the appointment of a district treasurer. I'm sorry, my papers are out of order. Apologize. I am. So, um can I have an appointment? Can I have a motion for the appointment of the district treasurer? Motion second. Chris Narren, Megan Westman. Any questions about this item? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. And there's no motion for um 4D. So, Mrs. Sheen, I'm now finished with this portion. I know you have to do your oath. Yeah, but it has to do Mrs. Sheen. Yes. I'm up to you now. for deputy district clerk and for the superintendent of schools for taking
013the oath. Okay. I now administer the oath to Mr. Rich Schneider as deputy district clerk. Father Does a board of education need me to do anything from 5A down to Five double I separately. Yes. How how far down can I go? 5 A to 5W. Is everyone okay with 5A down to 5 W? Can I have a motion for the appointments for 5A down to 5 W? So move second. Lizzie Kretz is first. Carol Hoff is second. Any discussion on these items? Seeing and hear none. All those in favor I. Motion carries 70. Just give me one second, please. Can I have a motion for agenda item X one, please? So move. Second. Carol Seahhoff, Caroline Fanning. Any questions on this agenda item? All those in favor? I I I motion carry 70. Can I
014have a motion for agenda item X2? Motion. Caroline Fanning. Second. Carol Seahhaho. Any questions on this item? See all those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Okay. I have a motion for agenda X3. Please. Motion. Second. Caroline Fanning, Leslie Cretz. Any questions or discussion on this item? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for agenda item X4, please? Move. Second. Who was the move? Second. Leslie Cretz, Carol Seahhoff. Any discussion on this item? Seeing none. All those in favor? I opposed. Hold on a second. I got to get the eyes first. So that was Leon Caretsz. Neran, did I anything from you or no? I Seahawk was I Johnson is I all those opposed? opposed. Caroline Fanning and Megan Messen. The motion carries 52. Have a motion
015for agenda item X5, please? Some moved. Second. Leslie Kretz, Caroline Fanning. Any discussion on this item? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I do agenda items Y down to double I together? Anyone needed to be done separately? No. No. Can I have a motion for agenda items? Hold on one sec. paper. Yeah, I'm looking for the number. I apologize. Five Y to 5 I motion second. Chris Naring is first. Leslie Crest is second. Any discussion on any of these items? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70 and I have a motion for agenda item 6 A 1 through 4 second Lizzie Critz Chris Ner any discussion on on these items yes madam president discussion the bank designation New York class did not appear here on last year's reorganization meeting.
016So, this appears to be a new financial institution that we are using. Um, can someone please talk about the purpose of this financial institution? New York class is a a bank. Can you speak more into the mic? Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Can you hear me? Yes. Better. New York Class is a banking cooperative that typically offers slightly more advantageous interest rates. So the intention there would be to take what excess cash we have and instead of investing it in some of the other banks that you see there to move it to class to take advantage of their higher rates. Would you know offh hand what kind of funds would be stored here the the uh the amount of funds or interest rate or anything like that? Um I I'm not aware of the interest rates
017off the top of my head, sir, but the the funding that would go in there typically would be no less than what the district has in fund balance and reserves, which is approximately 7.5 million. At the beginning of the year, when state aid comes in and tax levy revenue starts coming in in uh January, we'll typically have more cash on hand and we'll be able to push more money into a bank like class to earn more interest. But as the year goes on and expenditures get met, what you're typically left with is the fund balance and reserves of 7.5 million. Thank you. Any other questions on these items? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Um, I need to amend the agenda to add under 6B to add 6B3 News Day cuz in
018the backup it has news day. So, can I have a motion to amend the agenda to add 6B3 newsuesday? Motion. Chris Nearing, Carol Seahhoff. Any discussion on this item? as stated that the news day is noted in the backup. We're just putting it on the agenda. All those in favor? I I I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for agenda items 6B1 through 6B3? Motion. Second. Caroline Fanning, Leslie Critz. Any other discussion on these items? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for agenda items 61 and two? Motion. Second. Chris Neran is first. Carol Seahhoff is second. Any questions regarding these items? All those in favor? I I I motion carries 70. Can I do agenda items 7A to 7K al together or do I need
019to do them separately? Can I have a motion for agenda items for 7 A through 7K, please? Motion. Second. Caroline Manning, Chris Naring. Any discussion on these items? Yeah, I have um a a point to make and a question. Um 7 I the code of conduct. Um we are just affirming that the code of conduct that is being adopted is the same code of conduct from last year which is posted on the website for the year 2024 2025. So nothing has changed. Correct. No changes. The cover pages will be updated accordingly after tonight's meeting. Okay. Thank you. I had a question about 7J, the readoption of the purchasing policy. Is that policy number 6700? I'm looking at my backup. If it doesn't come to mind, I I just don't understand why this policy is so
020important that it needs to be specified here. Um, and I just note I looked it up. It was last updated in 2018. So, something that seems to be updated every re re-updated every year and yet hasn't been updated since 2018. Why is it so important? So annually we do have to readopt certain policies. One of those is the code of conduct. Another is the purchasing policy. So if it has not been updated since 2018, that means we've been following that policy to now. And if there are changes that we do need to make, we should bring it to the policy committee meeting to update it. Okay. Um well, okay. Okay, this kind of segus into another question further down. So, I'll just wait until we get to um policy question further down. Okay, any other
021questions on these items? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I do agenda items 8 through 8 al together? Motion. Can Caroline Fanning for 8 A through 8 E. Is there a second? Second. No. Right. Hold on. All right. So, just for clarification in the backup, it has 8 A down to 8 G. So I'll keep the motion on the table for 8A to 8E and then we can go back to FNG if that's okay with the board. So any questions regarding agenda items 8A through 8E. Right. All those in favor I I motion carries 70. Yes. Please tell me the G which is on page 16 that was a part of seven G petty cash funds which we voted on in seven. Just for clarification, are you stating that for 8
022G 8G where it says all other personnel covered by a blanket bond? So 8 A is bonding of personnel and then there are sub letters listing those named positions who are covered under the bond. So that G would not be a separate Okay. All right. That was okay. Any any clarification on this? Everyone understand what what happened here? Let me let let me ask because the backup includes the backup includes bonding for the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and we did not approve that on the agenda. Right. And what else is missing? It's C and D. Yeah. And it's C and D. Assistant superintendent for human resources. Right. So those were left off the agenda for voting. Yeah. Well, superintendent is all these other ones are still in there just in a different order.
023I'm not sure how this happened. So, um, right now, so just for clarification on the agenda, it has under 8A, the school district treasurer. That's correct. 8B has the assistant superintendent for finance and operation. That's correct. on the agenda has 8 C as claims auditor, but on the backup it it's listed as 8E. On the agenda has 8 D as a superintendent. On the backup, it's listed as 8F. And then 8E is other personnel covered by a blanket bond and it's listed as 8G. So legal, I just need a little bit of guidance. So, being that the lettering is off, but we did vote for these individuals. Do I need to resend that motion and start all over again? You don't need to resend the motion. You just need to add C and D. Okay.
024Just want to make sure. Can I have a motion for agenda item 8 C, which would be assistant superintendent for curricular instruction, and 8 D, the assistant superintendent for human resources. No. E that's so D and D will be added as F and G. Sorry. So you're going to amend the agenda to add F and G as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. And then can I go ahead? Okay. I'm going to amend the agenda to add 8 F as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. I'll do one by one. Carol Seoff is first. Leslie Cret is second. Any question or clarification on this item? All those in favor? I can I have a motion for agenda item 8F, please? Motion. Megan Messman is first. Leslie Crest is second. All those in favor? I
025I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion to amend the agenda to add 8G, which would be the assistant superintendent for human resources? Second. Carol Seahhoff is first. Chris Ner in a second. All those in favor? I Can I have a motion for agenda item 8G? Motion. Second. Chris Narren, Megan Mesman. All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. I'm up to 9A. Can I have a motion for agenda item 9A, please? Motion. I don't I I resend that motion. Sorry. Can I have a a motion for agenda items 9A through 9C? Motion. Second. Chris Naring is first. Megan Mesman is second. Any questions regarding these items? No. All those in favor? I. Motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for agenda item 10A? Second. Carol Seahhof, Chris Naring. Any questions regarding
026this agenda item? All those in favor? I I I motion carries 70. So for the appointment of the um each of the committees, I'm going to do them separately. Right. Okay. Have a motion for agenda item 11A, which is the policy committee. Motion. Second. That's Caroline Fanning and Chris Naring. So another discussion is um the me the members for the policy committee. So I guess first to um there's an error that it should be three board members. Yeah. You know what? Um that's correct. I guess there's seven trustees, three committees. So we have three, two, and two. So, but on the same token, all the other committees have two. Do we need three for the policy committee? We had three last year, but do we need three? There was times where only two of us
027could attend the meeting. So, it still has add substance to it. Okay. So, I'll just I can just change it to three. Correct. I don't have to go through Oh, can I have a motion to amend it to? Okay. Can I have a motion to amend it to change it from Before you start that, I have another this there's another thing that's different about this from last year. In last year's um item, there's a sentence, you know, the board of ed hereby re authorizes the re readoption and continuation of the district's policies currently approved. That's not included in this year's. So, uh, legal was consulted on that and last year that sentence was struck from the approval because it was not necessary to add it or to approve all of the policies that were in
028place, right? So, there's no legal obligation to reappoint all your policies and roll them over at the reorg meeting year to year. the code of conduct and purchasing have to be readopted and they were. But there's no obligation to have that blanket statement that all policies are readopted. They're all They're adopted. They're adopted. They're adopted. Yes. Got it. Thank you. Right. So, can I have a motion to amend 11A to add to change the number from two board members to three? Motion. Second. Chris Narren, Caroline Fanning. All those in favor? I motion carries 70. Now that it's amended, now can I have a motion? Well, not yet. So, now we're up to discussion in terms of what's to be on a policy committee. Okay. I would like to be on a policy committee. I would
029like to be on Megan, Lisa. Anyone else want to be on the policy committee? Uh, well, I would also like to be on Chris. So, Lisa, Megan, and Chris. Everyone's okay with that? So, can I have a motion? I already got the motion. So, the vote is now going to be for the policy committee for three board members. Lisa Johnson, Megan Nestman, and Chris Ner. All those in favor? I I motion carries 70 for the safety committee. Have a motion for the safety committee. Lizzie Critz, Carol Seahhore, what board members would like to be on the safety committee? I would like to. I'll be honored as well. Leslie Cretz and Carol Seahhoff. So, can I just say that we had other members as well last year on the safety committee because we opened it up
030to the community. We had additional representatives. So, this doesn't reflect where we landed with the health and safety committee, but that it still would allow other committee members to be part of this committee because they're not appointed. Correct. We didn't appoint them. They just So, this just says that they're appointed to the safety committee. The safety committee is as per policy. So, it's like these are the required individuals. These are these are the ones that are being appointed by the board, right? because then we had opened it up for community member participation. So we would still strive to do that and involve Yeah. Thank you. stakeholders are required for that policy. Any other questions or comments on this? All right. All those in favor of Leslie Cretz and Carol Seahhoff for the safety committee. I
031I. Anyone opposed? So motion carries 70. Have a motion for the wellness committee. Motion. Chris Nearing. Caroline Fanning. Who would like to be on the wellness committee? I'll sir. One. I was on it last year and I'll stay on Caroline. All those in favor of Juan Leon and Caroline Fanning. I I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for the order committee? motion. Hi, Chris Nerin and Leslie Cretz. Um, the one thing that I would like to consider for this year right now just appoint the board, but I really would like the board to um open it up to and not have the board to be the audit committee just to um because we had talked about this before, but maybe considering consider having um community members and whatnot to be part of the
032audit committee. But for right now, we'll have the board. Let's look into this and and address it relatively. You mean community members in addition to the board? There's different ways that it can be done in terms of the order committee. Some some school districts have it as all community members. Some school districts have it as a mixture of community members and board education. What are you advocating for? I'm open. That's why I'm open for the discussion on it. I would advocate for it being like the wellness committee which this year similar to the safety committee had other stakeholders but well it was supposed to have two board members. I was the only board member on it this past year but for the audit committee um I certainly think there should be board members on it.
033Yeah, I didn't have a preference for one or the other. just I wanted to bring up for discussion, but I just wanted to I just for now if if it's okay, we can just appoint the board as the audit committee, but then move quickly to look to change it within the next month or two to have the audit committee that will just have two board members and then determine who else will be on, you know, selection process for the audit committee. Yeah, that's permissible. just that in terms of the timing of it, you will have your end of the year audit which is a an audit committee function. Right. So, if you're going to make that change, just be wary of the timeline. Are you referring to the external or internal? External. Madame President, if
034I can give you my opinion, my my opinion would be to keep the board as the auditing committee. I believe that every board member should at least have working knowledge of that aspect of the finances and should be able to ask questions and weigh in on that. I think every board member should be afforded that and have that knowledge when it comes to finances. Okay. Thank you. That I have I have a similar opinion. I would just leave it as it is because I thought we were having a presentation from I guess the internal auditor like that was scheduled for July and as John said this is going to move quickly. So that's one well go ahead to build upon that you could have a more robust audit committee that includes community members that meets
035once a month but then the bare minimum we should be doing and have not been doing um is having an annual meeting with we we do have the annual meeting with the external auditor actually last year there were two it was at the reorg meeting where Alan Yu kind of gave his introductory spiel about what would happen but not actual findings um But we're still waiting to put on the calendar the internal audit meeting which should be with the entire board. But that I don't think would preclude another bigger committee that can includes community members kind of serving as a function um or in similar capacity to the um citizens budget advisory committee. So one does not necessarily cancel out the other. Okay. on. So I I'm just bringing it up for now and we
036can vote on this. So I I I'm like you Caroline, I'm okay with having, you know, community me community members on the on the committee. So we'll vote on this and then we need to revisit this and to make a decision what we're going to do. And I heard Juan and I heard Megan. All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for agenda item 12A, please? Motion. Second. Chris Naran is first. Carol Se. Any discussion on this item? All those in favor? Sorry. Sorry. One second. I I just What is the um I can't We can't hear you. Okay. Hold on. Page 19. 19. There we go. Uh, we have the list in our backup for who gets or is available for cell phones. What is summer athletics? Does
037that mean the director? Dr. shelter. Uh if it's needed, then the director or his appointee would get a cell phone on an as needed basis. I had a similar question. I I don't like the district clerk I What does as needed mean? Like just all of these individuals just choose if they want to have a cell phone and did everybody have a cell phone last year on this list? Actually, um, only three of the persons on this list had a cell phone last year. On page and then on page 18, two out of the three, to my knowledge, had a cell phone. The others are as needed. If they're traveling on school business or need to utilize a school cell phone to conduct business, then it's made available either temporarily for or as long as
038needed. So, do we have cell phones that we already have available and they're just on standby for when somebody travels? There are cell phones that have been turned in that are old that are on standby. Yes. Are we currently paying a service for them? No, it's I'm not sure how that bill is run, but it's usually um a a package pricing. I'd have I'd have to look at it, sir, and I'll again I'll report back to it's an easy thing to pull, but they're they're not widely used that. So, I guess if it's not widely used, I think I would prefer that the list would have reflected just who actually uses it. Um that's my opinion. So on page 18 it says cell phones has been assigned as listed below and then it says cell
039phones are available to the following on an as needed basis. So we'll follow up. Um but that sort of like distinguishes who has one permanently and who has one on an as as needed basis. Like is there any guidelines to if so if any of these positions just decide I want to permanently have a district cell phone does this us approving that give them that opportunity? Approving this states that if a need arises and one of these persons in these positions need a cell phone then we have permission to give them one for professional business use. But who so who determines how long they would have use of the phone? The person who gets the phone collaboratively between the superintendent and the person with the phone. Right. That's what I'm saying. Like if somebody has
040a justifiable reason while they're traveling to use the district phone, what's preventing them from then saying, "All right, I'm going to use it for the rest of the year because I I want to." But just as a point of clarity, none of these persons on this list other than myself, me, board of president, and the district clerk has a cell phone. Right. And then and for the district clerk, the person did not the district clerk has not used the cell phone. So I I used a cell phone and Dr. Tel used a cell phone, but the other district clerk, the previous district clerks have not utilized a cell phone. They only want to utilize their own cell phone. Any other questions on this item? All those in favor? I I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. 7
041Z. Wait a second. I didn't get a motion. I stand corrected. I don't think I have a motion for that item that I didn't get a first or seconded. Motion second. Naring off if I got to do this again. All those in favor? I I motion carry 70. I didn't have it noted on my paper so I apologize. I did do it. Can I have a motion for agenda item 13? Motion. Caroline Fanning, Chris Nearing. Any discussion on agenda item 13, which is the school year calendar? Yes. Discussion. Yes. So looking at this calendar, it looks like about five months out of the year, the board is only scheduled to have one meeting with with the amount of work that I think that we have to do. I'm not sure if we can go through
042nearly half the year with only one meeting per month. I'm not sure if the audience has this in front of them, but going into August, there's a combined session for the 13th and then we have the 26, which I assume is a um is that is that a retreat of some kind? Dr. Talbert or August 26th? August 26 is a special session um primarily to address any staffing needs prior to the opening of school. Okay, fine. Either either way. October there's only one session. November has one plus an audit committee, so that's really one. December we only have one meeting. January is one meeting. I I just feel that if we can I feel like we're going to need two meetings in these months or we're going to end up calling extra meetings as needed.
043So that's my opinion. So Trusty Leon, I have to say that I was the biggest one not in favor of having a combined meeting and I kind of switched over last year. Um, but I think we we can take a look at it as we move forward. If we feel that there's a need to definitely go back to two meetings, we can go back to two meetings. But I do hear you because that that was that was me, right? And and and not not only that to give Well, if we're going to discuss it, it has to be done now because our calendar is getting printed. I'm well okay to to follow up I am of the I like being you know tight and efficient um with our time. However, I feel that January is
044when budget season starts to ramp up. So that could be a month where I could see us going back up to two meetings. Um calling them as needed. We always know we're on call. We lately have been averaging one to two meetings a week. So, not putting on the calendar doesn't mean we don't meet. Um, I had another comment I want to make. Um, not to interrupt people who might also want to weigh in on that, but the audit committee meeting in November. I don't remember the exact dates and I don't remember what exactly was due when except that it felt that we were running up against a deadline and we would be better off having that meeting in October. Yeah, I actually have the same markup on my on on the calendar. I said,
045"Wasn't it due to the state at that time?" Yeah. Yeah. So, the audit report is due November 30th to the state. Well, I'm going to yield to Snyder. However, in speaking with our external auditors, the time is needed to go through October before they would be ready to present. Um, Mr. Snder, could you weigh in on that with a little more specificity? The the hard deadline to submit the external audit to the state is November 15th. There is a deadline of October 15th, but there's a 30-day grace. Many districts utilize it, some do not. See, I'm not comfortable with scheduling a meeting a day or two before the hard deadline. I would rather schedule it a month in advance. And what I recall from last year being told that that's what other districts do as
046well. it would be contingent on knowing that the audit report at least in draft form is ready to be reviewed. So, what I also recall from last year um was it took longer than it should have for us to basically close the books for all um the I'm not going to use the words right, but everything that was encumbered to be reconciled to make sure that you know whatever reports were getting passed on to the auditors were were closed. It seemed that that could have been done sooner. Therefore, the auditor could have gotten to work sooner. Therefore, we wouldn't have been running up against a hard deadline. We could have come on under a comfortable, you know, B. It would have been more comfortable. So, can can we set that goal for ourselves? I would
047say that a goal of October 22nd, if you want to leverage that meeting to have the audit committee review the draft is reasonable, but I'm really going to have to sit down and with the staff and make sure some of the things that you mentioned, which I had heard about, ma'am, about incumbrances being left open and some of the things you see in those appropriation status reports that need to be corrected so that the auditors can get clean reports to audit. Okay. However, I My staff I'm sorry. No, go ahead. My staff doesn't feel like they need November the November 15th deadline. They want to close sooner, but I don't know if I could commit to that too early in my tenure here. Is it possible that we could move it up to maybe November
0485th? Yes. Or even October 29th, something like that. One or the other. somewhere in that range because we have to get a draft report from them that the cabinet looks at then we forward it to the board and then we meet that you know there's a one to two week time period prior to November 15th that that has to happen so even if we left it at the 12th and I agree that seems like a cutting it pretty close just speak a little bit more into the microphone. Yeah, you got to bring it closely that we would have a lot of reports to review and meetings to discuss prior to putting it on an agenda November 12th for approval. So there's no doubt that I think that October 22nd is a fair date for us
049to have audit reports in our hands. But the only thing I wouldn't advocate having it the same day as a combined session that would be too much for then at that point I feel that we should add another meeting to the month. We'll switch. Why can't we November meeting to October, right? Why can't we just make it October 12th? Could I propose October 29th and conversation with our external auditor to let them know what our deadline is and then we would back up to make sure we have something to offer by then? Yes, ma'am. Would October 29th be an agreeable date? It's progress. I would. Yeah. I mean, other districts are meeting October 15th. Other districts meet October 15th. Some do. Yes. So I So why can't we strive to at least be meeting and
050reviewing the draft report in early October? So why not? It doesn't have to be like the final be all and end all. You think it's completely buttoned up. Like it shouldn't be like that. the board and the audit committee should be able to see this document and meet with Alan U and just go through it. So why not or why not October 15th as as a board meeting and the 22nd as as the order committee so it gives the um Alan you enough time I'm sorry can you can you repeat that? I said October 15th as the board meeting and October 22nd as the audit committee. That's that's fine with me. Is there is there any desire to schedule a second meeting for November, December, or January? I I don't think there's a need for
051it. Um Okay. That's that's that's my opinion. Okay. So you're saying October 15th as the combined session and 22nd 22nd becomes the audit. That's more progress. A little bit better. A little bit better. Maybe next year we can get it to October 15th. Right. Um, the other thing that I would have liked to see on here, uh, before we go, is everyone okay with with that October 15th as a as a as a combined meeting and the 22nd as an audit committee? Yes. And then will we be removing the the special session in the November? Then we'll remove the 12th as a Yes. as an audit committee. Everyone has it. October 15th combined the 22nd as the audit committee as a special meeting the audit committee right Caroline go ahead trusting Manning I would have
052liked to see on here um an annual meeting with the internal auditor but because we have not yet met RS Abrams that would be a question for them because as I understand it everyone's cycle is a little bit different so it would pay to know what works for them Um, nevertheless, it's unfortunate that it's not in this calendar. Do you have any idea what could be a I I was actually hopeful that it would be on the 23rd that they would come and present to us. So, they've been on hold. They were scheduled to come in July um as we had discussed and after tonight, we are confirming the date with them. It seems like the 15th has now shifted to the forum which would not be another option for them. So now we would
053be proposing the 23rd. So they had on hold two dates the 15th and the 16th but it appears that now maybe the 23rd would be the 23rd is a reason a very reasonable day for internal audit to come. Yes. So if if Okay, so this is not going out to print tonight, but they should be able this calendar. I'm I'm joking. I know. So you will find out very soon if they're coming on the 23rd. Correct. Yeah, we we told them to give us until tomorrow. Okay. Once the dates were firmed up because they had the 15th and the 16th on hold because we had gone back and forth between those two dates through our drafts. This is draft number five. Okay. So we were discussing with them based around the drafts. So now we'll
054ask them for the 23rd. Okay. And let's presuming they say yes, I would like to see printed on the calendar just to get it into our muscle memory that we also meet with the internal auditor once a year. And if they come on the 23rd and say you know what actually mid July is not the best time for us to present findings. It would actually be better in September or whatever other month then next year we can change it. but at least to see a calendar date once a year that says internal audit just like we expect the external auditor to come well it used to be November now we're up to October okay yes any other questions any other comments on this um I have two different versions in front of me but we
055have July 23rd combined session then yes the special sessions in July with the 8th and the 15th yes and then which one of these meetings Are we setting superintendent goals and district goals for the upcoming year? Is that the August 13th? We're going to have to or are we adding a special meeting? I would love to get it in in sometime in July, if not early August. The absolute latest, the first week in August. In July? No, no, no. I I said I would love to get it in July, but we're at the end. So it has to be like the first week in August. It's um So you're proposing a special session. Why can't we just do it on the 13th? If there's not a lot on the agenda, we could Dr. Talbert. Yeah.
056I mean, if there's not if there's not a lot, I mean, there'll be, you know, personnel, of course. Okay. Um on the 13th and again on the 26th to catch the extra. Okay. So that doesn't sound like overwhelming. Let's try. Right. Superintendent goals and district goals. Let's let's plan for it right now. Yes. Let's plan for it. Okay. So can I just go back for a moment? Yeah. Because go ahead because we So at the end of August is when I have my administrative retreat. And so what happened last year because we weren't where we needed to necessarily be, I had to move forward with goals because the administrators have to develop goals and open the school year. We originally spoke about the week of July uh 12th. We said that we would utilize that
057week for a retreat and that we would also have a meeting that week and leave the rest of the month of July open. Since then, there's been a change. We've added the 23rd. If there's any way possible to have this discussion in July, it would help us to plan more effectively for our administrators who will be implementing extensions of the goals that we derive during our discussion. So, is there any way maybe on July 15th because we have the the cell phone form at 7:30? Are we having executive session before that? I don't think it's executive session. We just had a few like action items. We were just going to appoint the clerk and the hiring committee. So, prior to your discussion about the few action items, this had been on all of our four
058drafts, the 15th or 16th, and so there are some personnel items that we will need to bring that are timesensitive. And then we'll save the bulk of those for the 23rd. I'm just asking the board to consider if they are available. It may make it a a long night, but if we're able to meet starting at 5:00 to do the the superintendent goals and if we want to look at the district goals and go from there. So, instead of instead of having another separate night, that's only I'm just I'm just thinking I can't guarantee that I'd make it here by 5:00. Gotcha. Okay. Okay. the July 23rd that why? Well, right now we have the um internal auditor coming on July 23rd. Okay. And it'll be it'll probably be packed to do it. We can
059try. Why don't we want another July? Try and at least try there. Yeah, try. We'll try a lot. Yeah, we need a lot. The question, do we want to do the 14th? But that makes it another night. Do you want to try? I'm just trying to So, can I have a consensus? Do we going to do the try the 23rd to get it done or you want to try July 14th? No, I'm sorry. I'm more inclined for the 15th. I mean, it's if it's a combined session, there's going to be a lot on that. Is there supposed to be a lot on that agenda, do you think, Dr. Talbert? It won't be a lot, but I think our schedule for the 15th was exec at 6, board meeting at 7, and the cell phone forum
060at 7:30. But the exec I don't think there really wasn't much in exact. It was just two. It was two approvals. Oh, no. We had to discuss the hiring committee. The people I Okay, now I remember. And that is a lengthy discussion. So, all right. Can we just make it exec at 5:30 when we normally have it? Why isn't this open discussion? Wouldn't it be open? So, I'm hearing two different things. I think he's he's talking about executive session starting at 5:30 versus 6 o'clock. Correct. Um, yeah, we would handle whatever executive session items earlier. I think Megan's right. It's not exact. It's open. And we're talking. No, I'm just saying we would shift everything that we were going to do a half hour earlier. Yeah, I got you. But I'm just thinking about how
061many big different things we're going to discuss in one night. The hiring committee, district goals, superintendent goals, cell phone policy. Like our brains are going to explode. That's a lot for one night. Can we do the 14th then? I hate to throw another meeting in there, but I Well, because if we if we can't squeeze it into the 23rd, then when are we going to do it? I'm just I'm sort of confused why we don't have the agenda for the 23rd. Normally, we would have had it. Then we would know. Yeah, it's two weeks combined. So, no, not not yet. All right. So, All right. So, just kind of let's let's wrap this up and move this along. So, we have a couple options. We believe the 15th is out the window, but that's what
062I'm going to hear. The 23rd could be an option to do it. So, let's start with that one. How many people want to meet on the 23rd? We'll have the a combined session internal auditor as well as discussion of the superintendent goals and district goals. Who wants to do it all on the 23rd? That's fine. 23rd. Sounds good. I'm I'm fine with that, but I'm just not so certain that we are going to have a finished product by that time. So, so what I'm saying is it's it's going to need a continuation. And where is that continuation going to be? That's why I said the 14th. That's why I I I'd like I don't want another meeting. Trust you. Trust me. I really don't. But at least the 14th will be just dedicated to that.
063Maybe the internal auditor can come on the 14th as well. Get it out the way. I mean, I I'll make a suggestion. I I don't know if I don't know if anyone will go along with it, but with the 15th, I know we have a lot to do, but if we can dedicate 20 minutes, a half an hour to open up the discussion knowing that we're going to come back to it and finish it up on the 23rd because I feel like, okay, on the 23rd, we're going to have our first discussion and we're not going to finish it. Okay, I like that idea. I'm fine with that. All right. So, the 15th will we'll like set aside like um a certain amount of time. All right. Sounds good. What? So, so the 15th a
064certain amount of time because we just posted for that meeting already. We already have a you know clearly defined timeline for that night and I So, one you you know weren't on the board but we we updated the district goals pretty recently. Yes. So, I don't know that it's going to take all that much time. Um, and you know, obviously we have to collaborate with Dr. Talbert on her goals, but um, I don't know that it would take two meetings. If you don't think it's going to take two meetings and you would like to do it on the 23rd, is that is that what I'm hearing? Well, I also just because we already posted for the 15th. Sure. I mean, I I I was just throwing out a suggestion. What I don't mind is on
065the 15th if we have time to have the discussion. If we don't have time, then we'll wait till the 23rd. So, we'll do it that way. Okay. Right. All right. So, we're settled the 15th. If we have time, we'll start with district goals and superintendent goals. Okay. Anything else on the count? So just to summarize July 23rd internal auditor July 15th we the gin is already posted but we're going to also if time permits we'll discuss district goals andor and superintendent goals. Um nothing for August nothing for September. October 15th will be the combined session and October 22nd will be audit committee with the external auditors. And at this point in time, there is nothing else. No other any other recommended changes to this calendar. Well, I So to one's point, like should November have
066a work session like November 12th and at because we spoke about having the budget process start much earlier this year, this upcoming year. So, you know, again, just kind of striving to do to be more e- efficient. We should start to see a draft agenda for the next year. Draft budget in full. I'm You said agenda. I said agenda. So, a draft budget in the pool. So, you're suggesting that for November. So, make make October 12th session start. Make October 12th a work session and then the 19th a regular session. So now we're going back to the 12. So instead of making an I mean December is you know we have one January we still have one. So let's leave it. So recommendations for no leave leave November 12th not as an order committee but
067for a work session and the 19th as a regular session. We're getting close to what I'm asking for. We're not going to go there. another another two months and we have meetings. And if I um in NISPA recommends in the fall with regards to like starting to rev up for budget prep, that being the time to um engage community members for their input. So like not necessarily a a forum, but some some designated meeting where the community has an opportunity to ask questions, establish priorities back and forth. So, that seems like a reasonable target meeting to have that happen. I don't know what sort of name you would want to give it, if anything, but the board did discuss previously wanting to have um a more formalized budget calendar that does start in the fall.
068Yes. So, what about if we leave and I'm not leave the 19th as combined and make the 12th as like a a budget session meeting, preliminary hearing or something like that? Like, what would you want to call it to I have no idea, Dr. Talbbert or is this knife? Yeah, call it call call it budget session. So therefore the dedicated it'll be just dedicated to budget. Mhm. Should we do the same for January and the 19th? So let's finish October. So the n the 12th will be special will be budget. That was November. I'm sorry. November. November is it special session? It'll be a special meeting, but the focus will be the budget budget session and the 19th will remain as a combined. Why does it why is this special? Why can't it just be
069a work session? Then we make there'll be action items that we will vote on. So we can do the work I thought we were striving to not have action items at work sessions, right? Wherever we want to go. Leave it. That's been our goal. We have a lot of goals. Definitely discussed that multiple times last year. So it's kind of just to talk about business and it could be the first one where we actually achieve the goal. So that's absolutely fine. We can leave it as a work session but make it as a budget work session. Okay. I know it's like a technicality but I just you know we're talking about it. It'll be a work session but it'll be a budget budget presentation work session. That's the 12th of November. All [Music] right. So,
070November 12th will be a work session with the focus will be the a budget session and the 19th will be a combined session and there's no audit committee in November. Okay. Um, can can we get these changes over to the printer to make sure that they are adequately reflected on our calendar? Okay, thank you. That's the plan tomorrow. We're waiting for the confirmations for tonight. Thank you. All right. So, we did not vote on this yet. Right. So, all those in favor. So I got a first and second already. Hold on one second. So once again just to July 23rd internal auditor and combined session. July 15th will be the special session with the cell cell phone policy and the appointment of a district clerk. August 13th and 26. Then September 10th and 17th work
071and regular. October the 15th will be combined and the 22nd will be an audit committee. November 12th will be a work session with a focus of budget session and the 19th will be combined and there's no other changes from that. December 10th, December 21st, February 4th, February 11th, March 4th, March 18th, and then March 7th for the budget line by line. And then we have the 15th as combined, the 21st for the western subies, and then we have the sixth for budget hearing, the 13th for combined, and 19th for the for the budget vote. And then in June, we have the 13th and 17th. third and 17th. I apologize. So all those in favor after the discussion I I motion carries 70. Now, we're going to leave the reorganization meeting and go over to the
072special session meeting. So, closing out the reorg meeting at 857. opening up the special meeting at 8:58. Right, we already did the right. So, we're at the point where we are taking community input regarding board agenda items. Okay, hold on one second. We just have to do the timer. Just hold on one second, please. I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, thank you. Good evening, Evan Farcus, president of the Amityville Administrators Association. Um, Sarai and Aaliyah, great job tonight. I hope you had a nice day. Are you sure you don't want to stay longer? Uh, good evening. First, I want to acknowledge the agenda item for the appointment of Mr. Snider. Welcome. as the interim assistant superintendent for finance and operations. This is a critical position for our district and it is our expectation that resolving our
073long outstanding contract will be one of his priorities as he steps into this role. If he's not aware, July 1st marked the start of our fourth year without a contract, over 1,000 days. And to be honest, the more I think about that, it makes me wonder similar questions that I had last time on why we wouldn't want to settle any contract, why we would not want to offer competitive salaries, why we would not want to keep our employees feeling supported and motivated to stay. And it makes me question, and I hate to feel this way, whether or not as a district we are truly making moving forward as a district our priority. I would love to stand here tonight and say that we are excited to work together to have another amazing year, but the
074reality is very different. Our administrators continue to work tirelessly despite frustration, added responsibilities, and reduced staff. We do this all while receiving no increase in pay and for seven of us, no increase in pay since July 1st, 2021. Some of us face enormous challenges every day, but remain deeply committed to supporting our students, our staff, and this district. And I ask you all, when is the district going to support us? We urge you all to show respect for our work and time by placing an emphasis on finalizing a fair contract for the dedicated administrators of Ammonville this summer. Thank you. Thank you. Hi Margarville. Quick question regarding uh the agenda with the banking institutions that were listed. So my question is is New York class FDIC insured? Dr. Talbert Snder. Yes. Okay. Um you're incorrect
075because I just Googled it and it is not FDI FDIC insured. It said it's not. It's a consortium. It's not insured at all. whereas the other three are FDIC insured. Ma'am, I'll have to do that research and report back to the super. Okay. In your position, in your role, you probably should know that. And who was the reason why we picked added the New York class banking institution have been cages interest rates. Who selected New York class? It's my understanding the district treasurer did. Okay. And what percentage of funds are generated towards this uninsured FDIC banking institution of all four banks? What's the percentage of how it's rolled out to each institution? I don't believe in the treasur's report that the board has I believe before them or it's coming there is any money currently
076invested in class and I will confirm the FDIC insurance. Okay. So, I'm going to say it's probably not because that's what I just investigated while I was sitting here. And like I said, in your role, I think you should know that. Um, and the other question was I'm really confused on the whole cell phone situation. So, if I'm correct, I think three people had a cell phone last year. That That's correct. And three people. Yeah. And honestly, um, the the questions that you're asking are not relevant to the current agenda. Well, it was it's it's on it's on well, it's on the agenda of this evening's meeting regarding it's not relevant to the current agenda. So, yes, there were three people who had the cell phones. We did discuss who the three people who had
077them. So, then you voted tonight to have arbitrarily possibly 13 to 15 cell phones, but they have they have not used them. So, but it's there for the taking. They have not been used. So, do you own 13 cell phones? We can double check. There may be 13 cell phones. I'm not too sure cuz they have not been used. I don't know. Yeah. See, see the ambiguity of not sure. Don't know. Maybe they'll use it, maybe they won't. It sounds so ridiculous. All right. So, do you have any comments regarding this particular agenda? No, you'll hear from me later. Thank you. Any other agenda comments on agenda items for for the special session meeting agenda? That's what we're focusing on right now. Well, there's there's two agendas, so I think you should give your audience
078an opportunity to come both. Right now, for the reorganization, there was no committee comments for the reorganization agenda. So, I'm taking comments on agenda items connected to the special session meeting agenda. Um, okay. First, I just want to tell you that the audio is horrible that I'm sitting here and probably some of the $2 million should be used on the audio. You actually can't hear any of you. So, please take note of that. Cannot hear anybody. Um, okay. As far as the recisions listed on here, um, you know, the the people overwhelmingly voted for change. They want change. You're rescending uh the abolishment of HR. When we're they the board was looking to do a director to be more efficient and cost effective, but then again, if the majority votes for this, it's the same
079people that overspent the budget by $3.6 million. I guess you wouldn't understand saving money. Um, as far as the um recision of um I'm sorry, the superintendent reporting requirements. That's funny. Um, every employee has to report to a boss having her report her time off, what days she uses, or her availability for meetings. I don't understand why that's controversial, why that needs to be rescended. That's what accountability is. And Seahawk, Johnson, Kretz, and Leon all voted for the same thing for Dr. Kelly. So, I have no idea why you would be against this now. So, the vote will be interesting. So, it depends on who politically you're in favor with. Um, your job, all of you elected individually, is to hold your superintendent accountable. That's your job. Number one job. If you rescend it, it's
080gross. Um, as far as the recruiting policy, the recruiting policy, the language now is problematic because it's in violation of section six because it only addresses certain races. Um, the new policy as it's written complies with the federal anti-discrimination law. There's nothing to expand upon. There's nothing to add about it. you are actually following the anti-discrimination law that lists everything out that you cannot discriminate against. All of this is politically motivated. I see who comes to the meetings. I see, you know, Dr. Talbot's church people come here. I see outsiders come here. They yell. They book. I'm allowed to speak. I'm allowed to speak. Superintendent's allowed to be criticized. That you all work for the people of Amityville School District. You don't work for her. She works for you. You work for us. Those are
081our tax dollars that you're supposed to be protecting. Last thing, cell phone. Big book. Big problem that you just approved that. It's outlandish. Three cell phones, 16 approved. Now, all of you, I'm surprised and really disappointed that you didn't do better on that vote. Why in God's name would you just randomly approve arbitrarily so they could do what they want? Everybody has a cell phone these days. Every district doesn't give everybody a cell phone. I mean, I've called and texted the board president and the superintendent before who don't even answer their cell phone. Thank you. Any other committee comments on agenda items? Non-aggenda items, I should say. Excuse me. Hi, I'm Deborah. So it's interesting the claim that the removal of policy 902040RR was in violation of anti-discrimination law. The claim is misleading and inaccurate.
082Federal anti-discrimination laws prohib prohibit discrim discriminatory hiring not diversity outreach. There is nothing illegal about sending job postings to organizations like NNET H.B.CU CUS or the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities or participating in diversity hiring fairs as outlined in the policy. These are standard and lawful practices used by school districts across the country to promote equal opportunity and ensure a broad qualified applicant pool. Policy 9024R did not require quotas or give preferential treatment based on race or background. It simply aimed to expand access and awareness so that all qualified individuals including those from under reppresentative communities had a fair ch chance to apply and serve in our schools. If the policy was lawful and equitable, what was the real motive behind its removal? Okay. Why remove a policy that supported efforts to create a
083faculty and staff that better reflects the diversity of our student body? A student body that is largely black and latino, many of whom reside in North Amityville and East Masipua. Thei decision was not about legal risk. It was a political choice and one that sends a very clear message to our community. Our students in this district deserve to see themselves reflected in their educators and role models. They deserve to know that our district values inclusion, fairness, and representation. Please board visit the decision and stand on the side of equity, opportunity, and truth. Thank you. Any other comments regarding um agenda items? Good evening, Rose Taus, 19 South Ronald Drive. I have one thing about the agenda item. I want a question about um this program for the academic success program for teaching assistance. When does
084that program will begin? It say tomorrow or it started today? Dr. Talbert, the academic success program is a summer program for the high school. Miss Stevens, you want to give any details? So, uh, these are actually for the program at Northwest. These and they did begin on Monday. Okay. So, then, um, I have one question. There's a person here. I don't like to use names, but there's a person here that we have that's working um started yesterday at Park Avenue in our program, the ESY program, but now he's appointed to this program. So, which program is going to be? If you want the end, I can give you their his person's name. Um the next one if it's okay to everybody I would like to it's off the agenda but however I would like you
085all to know is it about the agenda item? No it's just personal thing just to give you so this personnel items are not appropriate for public discussion and I can talk about it later. So I I would refer that question to the superintendent of schools. It's a personnel matter. I just want to know who want I just want to express who I am. to the board. Oh, you are. No, but you have to wait for that. That's a um I'll do that later. That's a not agenda item. All right. Thank you, Diane. Egginger, Amityville. Um I just need some clarification. The academic su success program is the same program that we discussed at the last meeting. Correct, Dr. Talbert? This is the summer program that's done through the grant. Correct. summer programs you just alluded
086to at Northwest. You want to further explain? So, summer academic success is the overarching for all of our summer programs. Okay. So, in line with that, um, at the last meeting, I asked for some clarification on that program because I, um, heard through the grapevine that the attendance was not going to be that great. And I was told that you would come back with numbers because now I see even more people being hired for that program. And of course last week, I guess it was last week, you know, I was told it's a grant funded program and I shouldn't be worried about it, but I am worried about it because grant money is our money also. Tax dollars, same as budget money. So all I see is these tremendous amount of people being hired for
087this program and I would love love to know what the estimated number of students were that we were planning these numbers around and how many students have applied for the program. You don't have to go by school. I'd like it's easier for me in my head to know we are budgeting these 50 people for 400 students and 125 students have applied. Uh so for those programs that are the grant-f funded programs the we budgeted students we expected districtwide would participate. So we divided those into two classes on each grade level. One for reading, one for science. Um the attendance numbers for the last two days indicate that almost every class is full. Um so the preK1 there were 18 in each class. I think there was only one class with 16, but there were 18
088in the others. How many classes is that? 18 times how many classes? Uh one two on each grade level. So there were 36 for each grade level that we budgeted for. On the other grade levels, we budgeted 20 for each class. So 40 at each grade level. Um other than the middle school, they were at 18, 19, 20 for all of them. Um the middle school had a total of 56. So we did some combining of sixth and seventh grade. So, you're telling me that in addition to everyone that was uh appointed for these positions, a few I don't remember when that agenda was, but it was an endless agenda of people being hired for these positions. These are additional people that you need for that program. So, um every person is budgeted for and
089staffed. We do need additional ones. So some of these are for the high school program which was just based on student needs for summer school. Um so on the original list for the high school we anticipated needs. Not all of those teachers are being used. We are remaining within the budget on that as well. Okay. I have one other question. I know the buzzer went off but I I just I how this this program is open to the district, correct? Doesn't have to be just public school student. It could be any students. Am I not Is that right or wrong? Dr. Talbert. Correct. Every student in Amityville could apply for this. Correct. How were students in private schools, families notified that this was available? So, the information was on the website. Um, that's primarily how
090it was advertised. Okay. My question is for next year which I don't I my kids went to private school went to the public high school we were never aware of these programs I learned of these programs through a teacher that was in this school who knew of my students and that's how my kids got in and I truly believe that the people who go to p private school do not even know that these programs exist and putting it on the website is not enough for families amilies who would take part in these and their give enrichment to their students. So, it's too late now. So, next year, I don't know why a mailing can't go out to everybody in the in the district letting everyone know that these are available. And the other thing I
091wanted to know is I know you have to wrap it up because I'm I'm go past now for the breakfast and lunch program. Never saw them before. I lived in Mville my whole life. What was the need for putting those signs up? Because we wanted to build awareness that if any child or teen wanted a hot lunch or breakfast that it was available. So, how do you budget to know you have enough food for students who can walk in from anywhere? How does that get budgeted? So, I'm going to I'm going to have you stop there and then um so Dr. Talbert is anyway just to answer that question and then I'll let you because I let you go a little bit further. Thank you. It's a summer feeding program that's open to all of
092the students all of the children who are residents of Ann. So we don't budget for it. But how do you budget that? How do you You're funded for it. Well, we're funded for it. You're funded. So this is another grant. Yes. So come come back after for Thank you. Next person please. Jacqueline Cruz Stevenson. So, I'm just going to piggyback um off of the past two people that were talking about the summer program. First of all, I'm grateful for the summer program. My children were super excited on the first day of the summer program to get up. I was shocked, but they were super excited to get up and see their friends again, see their teachers again. So, I'm grateful for the program. But my question is um will there be and I think someone
093mentioned this in a previous meeting as far as the summer program goes. Will there be any followup at the end of the program? What are the goals of the program? Some sort of followup presented to the community to say this is what our goals were. This is what we accomplished during the summer program. Um any sort of presentation? Dr. Tal. Sure. Miss Stevens. Uh our goals are to continue to work on reading with our students. Uh they are primarily focusing on non-fiction reading as it relates to science and we chose the science curriculum to align with it because the testing and the standards are changing and we want students to think differently about science. There are uh pre and post assessments and then there are assessments along the way so we can monitor student progress.
094Um, and if the board would like a presentation, we'd be happy to do one. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions on non-aggenda items? Good evening, Done and Amity Bill. Um, is there a policy about how board members respond to residents via an email? If an email is sent to a board member, what is the communication from the board? The policy was just updated and I don't I think we have to do it within like 48 hours and usually what happens is just a general email saying that your email has been received. So you have 48 hours to answer a taxpayer. Is that what the policy is today or is that the update? I believe that's the update. I'm trying to think of time because we made some changes. I believe that was the update. Yes.
095Okay. When was it updated? Just in the last couple of months. Okay. So, when I look at the policy, the policy is going to read that you have 48 hours to indicate that an email was sent to the board. I'm just I'm trying to remember off the top of my head and I don't recall. I can look it up on the computer just to see. Okay. Would you mind doing that before I leave this evening? Sure. Thank you. Just talk to me afterwards. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Um, I just want to address um Oh, sorry. Um, there was a topic that was what about the summer program, right? So, I just heard that the summer program is open for all students that resign in Ammyville. Correct, Dr. Ter? Yes, that's a loaded question. It's
096it is open to all eligible students. Yes. Okay. Does that also include for children that are not in a 121 setting in an integrated class? When you say all student, does that also um does that also for students that might have a onetoone that might be in an integrated class? When we say all students, do they qualify also to be a part of that program? So allow me to clarify that it's open to all eligible students and that eligibility depends on various factors. If a student has an IEP, what that IEP may require um versus the academic success program and then the extended school year program and determining what's the best fit. Okay. Um, so based off the ch if it's based off the child's IEP, then you will determine if that summer program fits
097their need, right? That's the primary factor because the summer program offers science reading that I'm hearing. Anything else besides science and reading? Just science and reading. So if a student is behind because a lot of our students are behind. I think that most of us if not all of us is for me it's heartbreaking being here cuz I think we lost the focus and the focus is our children and we start it seems like the focus now is about money and who's in what role and who's doing what and it's not aligned to the children and our children are suffering. My son is suffering because it's trickling down to their children. And as a parent, it is heartbreaking to come here and hear the same thing over and over and over again. So, I'm asking
098for each and every one of you when you go home tonight, ask yourself, what really matters? What really matters? Because we're all going to leave this earth at some point. And are you really fighting for what's really matter which is our children? That's the most important thing. We have people that I don't know why they're even in certain positions. I really don't because the genuine when I was going to school, the care, the compassion that teachers had, it seems like it's out the window. And you find that parents now are feeling more comfortable putting their children in private school. And who suffers? The district. I'm asking for a change. But to circle back around, the reason when asked that question is because a lot of parents were rejected for that summer program because their child
099needed a onetoone even though everything else on their IEP meant for them to be a part of that program, but because budget or whatever excuse that chair people want to give parents is inter it's interfering with how our children learn for the summer. because the district can't afford a onetoone. We need to do what's best for the children. All children. That's the goal. Because they're going The thing that people fear to realize, give me a second, please, Miss Lisa, please. I know my time is about to Yeah. Yeah. Your time is up. to realize is that regardless if your child goes to school in the district, rather they go to to the private school, our children are going to connect some way or somehow rather in Amville, rather in Masipua, rather in Babylon, our children
100are going to grow up and be adults. So why not provide the fair education for all students? That's all I'm asking. All students. Thank you. Any other input on um on agenda items? Hello. Uh I want to commend the Hold on one second. Are you ready? You ready? Okay. I just want to commend the parent that just spoke. Great special ed advocate. Hope to see you around more. Um just to get back next to the business of the board. Um policy 9240 was passed with a 61 vote on June 26. Why is it on this agenda? It's coming back to rescend it and it see what happens. It may not pass or may may not Who who brought this? Who brought this on the agenda? I did. Okay. So, it passed 61 in overwhelming passing.
101Um you had a 72 meeting with a directive to send out selection committee um applications and that didn't help. That didn't happen. So, does that mean that one trustee stopped that from happening? It passed. There was a directive from the board of education to send out the selection committee to the public. Nothing. No, I did not stop anything from going out or anything like that. So, so why didn't it happen if there was a directive for that Monday? It didn't happen. And I actually updated the application myself. So, the word file was updated and then it wasn't distributed. Okay. Last thing. So, when you say what's wrong with the policy, the policy is geared towards certain races. It doesn't say that we're going to go and solicit um to places for white applicants, for Asian
102applicants, for Indian applicants. It's going specifically for certain races. And here's the thing, and I'm sure we all know this, and there's an anti-discrimination law. You hire the most qualified candidate regardless of skin color. As a reminder, when there was an open seat and we had, I think we had 13 people apply to be appointed, the most qualified person was actually black, holding multi-million dollar businesses. Um, and by far surpassed anybody, Seahhoff, Johnson, Cretz, um, and I think there was one more. Um, I forgot who the other one is. Santos all voted for the white person. Big All right. So, we're Are the mics still on? So, we're we're actually at the end of of input. Let's kind of wait to make sure everything's every mic still going. A minute left on the overall. Yeah.
103But more um what happened was for non-aggenda items, it was um only 15 minutes and you set it for 30 minutes. So, we're we're actually at the end. We've gone too far. So, are we okay? Can we keep going or are are we are we still recording? Are we still recording? Oh, yeah. Are we still recording? Right. So, we're really at the end. We we we far exceeded our time. So, I'm going to ask you to come back at at the end of with with um non-aggenda items. Thank you. All right. So, I'm going to move on with with the agenda. Can I have a motion for agenda item 2 A1 through nine, please? Motion 2 A1 through A9. All right. So Chris Naran and um Carol so there's a number of um changes for
104for the minutes. Yes. So I I have I have some for May 27th for that particular meeting. There were people noted at that meeting that were not there for that particular meeting. So it was a pol it was a policy committee meeting. It was only um Johnson and Kestro that was there and Dr. Talbert and Stevens. So Batsi Wade and Larson were not there. So that needs to come out and there were zero people in person. So that needs to be updated. And if you look at the video, you can you can see that there for June 4th for June 4th for that particular um minutes. Um Mr. Leon did come to the meeting, but he came at 5:38. So he should not be noted in attendance in the beginning of the meeting, which is
105not a big deal. And also Dr. Wait was not there as well. But more madam, I'm sorry to interrupt, but it seems like there are major discrep discrepancies here. Are we better off tableabling this and re-examining and coming back with these? I'm okay with that, but I just need the board I can send to the board all the things that I have picked up on on the different minutes and if anyone has any additional things, then we can merge it all together. So, I'm fine with that because I have a number items on the on the fourth that does note who voted, what was the vote or anything like that. So, I have a number of items too on most on all of the All right. So, let's let's merge it all together and then
106we we can we can give it back to the board. Okay. I'm fine with that. That's fine. Just one question. June 14th. So, June that was a Saturday. We had didn't even have a meeting that day. I think No, I think it was the um maybe the meeting that was cancelled. So there that that was one that was it cancelled because I it's just completely remember we had like a meeting that wasn't posted correctly Saturday but no I don't think the dates wrong but I was trying to make sense of this too I and so the minutes I was not ready to accept I any of them so no so I think what's most important um trusty fanning is is this is that that was another one that I had a question on so I
107had a question on basically all of them. So, if we can merge them, then that would be great. Well, I I guess I it almost just seemed like because we were asking for these to be finished and they were just sent to us unfinished and us trying to merge them. Is there someone who could just finish them rather than us trying to like have a seven-way text or email thread? So, I I have no problem adjusting the minutes and getting it back to the board. And then if there's something that I that I missed, then just please let me know. Okay. All right. So, Mr. Sheenan, there was a motion that was called, so I just called just to resend that motion. So, can I have a motion to resend a motion to A1 to
108A9, please? Motion. Chris Nering, Harold Seahhoff, all those in favor. I I motion carries 70. So, can I have a motion just to table these items? Motion to A1 to A9. Second, Megan Nesman and Caroline Fanning. All those in favor? Well, just as a reminder, I will revise these and get you get them back to you by the end of the week and then that way everyone can review them and provide any additional input. All those in favor? I motion carries 70. Um, I'm going to do each of the items for 2C separately. Can I have a motion for agenda item 2C1 please. Motion Chris Nearness is first. Second. Carol office second. Um discussion on this item for this particular item. It's in it's contractual. It's in the um contract in terms of reporting of
109the time and the time has been um reported. Information has been provided to the board of education and more importantly the superintendent has not missed any um board education meetings. So that's why I put this up as to resend this reporting of time. I I have a discussion item. So with regards to C1, right now there is no adequate way for the board of education to know the hours worked by the superintendent of schools. The only person that the superintendent reports her hours to is the board president. This is not adequate. It's not transparent. The resolution passed by the board of education on June 18, 2025 requires the superintendent to report to the board monthly how many vacation days, sick days, personal days we use during the month. Prior to this resolution, the superintendent only
110reported to the board president. The superintendent keeps track of our own days used. This is the official record that I understand that we use. It's not in any kind of computer or tracking system. If I'm incorrect, please correct me. And the only individuals that see the record are the superintendent and the board president when it should be the entire board. So, I'm not really sure why there is an objection to this or a reason to resend it. So, just for clarification, when the um the superintendent requests for time off, um that that request comes to the board president per the contract and that once it's signed and information is then disseminated out to the board. Um I already shared with the board previously where all the um time sheets are located and so in a
111requ and then also it is noted in news and notes not news and notes but it's al also noted via email in terms of any time that the superintendent takes off. So that's why I feel there's no need to to to have this information and to request this information because it's something that's already being being done. So I I agree with Juan's statements. I think he stated it very clearly and I completely agree. It has been inadequate our ability to just understand the tracking of time this year and it's really I don't see it as a big deal. I just see it as the entire board of education being apprised of understanding how many days off contractually tracking it more efficiently. the more I learn, the more I see. So much is just not tracked
112efficiently. This paper, it's just like really just mind-blowing. So, I really didn't see it as an issue as well. So, I'm going to jump in. Um, the resolution put before us, the way it reads, I'm trying to find the right thing. Whereas the board has reviewed and reconsidered the necessity, efficiency, and appropriateness of such reporting requirements. It basically says it's not appropriate or necessary for the board to provide oversight, but that is our job. So, it's like asking us to abdicate our responsibility. And it it has been haphazard. Lisa, you say that we know where the time sheets are. I have never seen a time sheet. Occasionally we get emails or notifications that the superintendent will be out but there's no nothing that we can count on. There's no site online electronically where we can
113go to refer back to time and in any job this is a standard thing that you do whether you are an employee at low down or even at the top. I manage a staff they always know where I am because that's how a team works. you need to know where people are if you need to schedule meetings. And as a one example of um an instance that came up where it really showed how we as a board suffer in our ability to do our job for lack of this information last um February we were trying to hash out a timeline for the midyear review because it is um a multi-step process where there needs to be a certain amount of time allowed and suddenly there was uncertainty with regards to whether or not the superintendent
114was going to be off for the winter recess. We had no idea and we were scrambling trying to figure out does does her taking vacation time that we didn't know about it um interfere with us being able to conduct the review and in the end it threw a wrench into the process and the review was late and that was disappointing for to us because the board previously never conducted the end of year review and we were trying to get back on track with regard regards to providing the oversight that is our job. So to repeat what Megan said, it shouldn't be a big deal to ask for simple time tracking. I have a question on this. Uh the need some clarification on um where it says uh we the board should receive a weekly notice
115in writing of her availability to perform her duties and responsibilities including notice of any evenings she is unable to attend board meetings. Is this asking for the board to be notified when she's able to uh perform her job within her normal working hours and then when there's regularly scheduled meetings? Or is this asking for her availability for like any evenings that there's nothing scheduled for when we are trying to schedule another policy meeting or something like that? you talk about the the original one. Yeah. Go ahead. I mean, it's the latter. I mean, it's so we we struggled throughout the year to establish meetings, you know, it was we're constantly going back and forth like look at us struggle over this calendar. So, it's just a matter of knowing availability so we can be more
116efficient. Efficient efficiency is should be a goal of everybody at this table so that we can actually get back to focusing on the students. This is not hard. This is really not controversial, you know, and then at the end of the year when there's leftover days not used, she we also have in the contract to get paid out for those days. So it should be clearly documented for the board of education so that we are all aware and following this. This is not so I'm sorry I I answered your question at the beginning and then I expanded. So I think there's two things. Go ahead. I don't have any opposition to being included in the reporting. I do think it's necessary that we're all informed on days off and things of that nature, but I
117feel like it's overstepping for us to just ask when any employee is in available is available outside of their normal working hours. It's not it's not a it's not our our job to No, no, from the community. Thank you. I I find it hard to believe that every salaried employee in every job has to provide their boss when they're available outside of their normal work schedule and that for so go ahead Mr. I trust an error because I I think for me and and I do take all the time that um any time that has been requested off the board has provided with the documentation for the time the days off vacation days that um that have been requested have been provided to the board of education. I've told the board about the location of
118where they were. I shared it with the board of education. That's number one. Number two, um our superintendent has been here for all meetings, right? So I I don't feel I don't I don't it is not necessary as a salary employer like Chris already said it quite well. I don't think this is necessary to do. So that's why I put it up. So is does anyone have anything else to say on this particular item? I do remember when there was a time when um Dr. Tala was not available during a certain week and this is when the subject came up from other board members that they would like to know when or where she is or what's going on in the evenings uh when she can't uh be there for a board member. And I
119do think that's way overstepping. I think we're micromanaging. She's been there for every other meeting, every other meeting. and and it's okay that she can't make these special meetings or these meetings that come out of the blue and other board members aren't even asked about the date that has been stated. You know, I I'm calling for a meeting such and such at night and three of you, you know, three of you or four of you know what that date is and we're the after fact. So I don't think that is fair or very transparent either that meetings are called please no comments for the community. Okay but that's a little bit that's a different topic right and that is bring up a lot of different topics also among so so I'm just let's let's wrap
120up this convers this any other additional comments one more could anyone provide clarity on the similar action that was um taking place for Dr. Kelly, I I I can't We're not allowed. No, we can't. No. Okay. We're not allowed to. N I I have one more question and it's it's more directed towards legal. Um if John can weigh in just so the board knows and everyone else knows. I heard some individuals talking about normal working hours. Maybe you can shed some light on what are normal working hours for a superintendent. They don't have normal working hours. There's no specific working hours in in the contract. Well, that kind of speaks to So, so I'm sorry. Is there an expectation that the superintendent needs to be available in the afternoon, 6:00 p.m., 7 p.m.? Is there
121that kind of understanding? So there's there's no there's no specific provision in the contract that provides for uh no more working hours for the superintendent of schools in terms of of uh you know the process that you're going through in terms of set um establishing meetings for the calendar. You know, it is the it's a process that the board sets those meetings at the beginning of the year and that uh the superintendent has is available for those meetings as established by the board of education. So that is a provision of your policy uh and it's a provision of the contract that the board that the superintendent of schools will attend uh board meetings uh and superintendent also in uh is present at various activities of the school district um as required by her position and
122and that is t what is what is typical in the industry and so that is that's really that the standard by which uh superintendents are judged but not to their call right to the I'm sorry go ahead to the extent that we are all volunteers and our meetings are in the evening and it is hard for us to when we have to schedule things not just you know official board meetings but perhaps retreats or interviews or other items it's as much in consideration of the superintendent as well as each other to know okay if you definitely can't come this day because you have, you know, a previously scheduled engagement. It's good for us to know that. So, we won't try to schedule you then. We'll try to figure out a day that works for everybody
123else. But that's where the discussion takes place that we all open up our calendars to determine a day and time that's convenient for whatever. If it going to be a special meeting, if it's going to be a retreat, whatever it's going to be. Um, because we all have commitments. We're volunteers. She's salaried. So, we all have commitments. So to say that upfront right away that you know this is what's happening. So my my concern would be like hypothetically if dates and times were provided but then changes something changes in in her schedule then all of a sudden we're going to hold her accountable to say well you said you were going to be available on November the 5th but now you're saying you're not going to be available. So like like like already said, I
124feel like we haven't had an issue with her being available for meetings, for her being accessible and for different events within the within the within the district. So that's why I brought it back up again. And if the if the board has a every time there is request for time off, it's given to the board of education. So according to the contract, it goes to the board president. the board president either approves it or not approves it and then it's given to the board of education that has happened on a consistent basis and then it's followed up in an email from the superintendent. So this is like this is very very very common in today's world to have shared calendars with availability. So it's really you know we can think about the format of how
125we want to do this but this is really not unusual. It's very unusual for a superintendent to have to report their time on on a daily basis like this. So at this point in time and yet Lisa, let me just say one more thing. I think part of this board is just wants her there at their beck and call and some of these issues is that she is at our beck and call and not there for the students and her staff and there's too much going on and she's trying to please the board before she's wants to she can you know take care of the issues she's supposed to be doing and her job that we are giving her the job to do what she should be doing and she's not we're not allowing that
126because we're restraining her in so many ways. So, any final comments and it closes out. Final comment. Um, I want to first of all just thank the board for bringing this resolution back for reconsideration. I have been the superintendent here for two years and I have not missed a board meeting. There was a policy meeting that was called perhaps 48 hours or so before. I was not able to attend that policy meeting because I was being a mom. And it appeared that after my inability to attend that policy meeting, I am then presented with a tracking GPS monitoring resolution. Whereas I have checked in with other superintendent who were very shocked that even such a resolution was presented and none of them have ever been presented with such. My absences are reported to the board
127of education prior to the day taken via email. My attendance forms are submitted to the board president as I am contractually allowed or uh required to do. I have followed all of my time and attendance requirements and thank you trustee cretz. I do look forward to walking my days out as an active, engaged superintendent, putting children first, engaging with my faculty and staff, engaging with my parents to make a difference in our school system. So, all those in in favor, I'm sorry, Madame President, if if there's no objection, can I request a roll call for all items on C C12? I'm going to do that. Okay. Yeah. I apologize. Not not I'll I'll go see who all's in favor and if not then we'll go down the line. So, all those in favor of 2C1.
128I'm sorry. All right. So, I'm calling for a roll call. I'll start off with um Leslie Cretz. Yes. Juan Leon. No. Hold on one second. I gota Chris Narren. Yes. Megan Mesman. No. Lisa Johnson. Yes. Carol Seahhoff. Yes. And Caroline Fanning. No. Motion carries. 43. Can I have a motion for agenda item 2C2, please? Second. Hold on one second. Carol Seahhoff, Leslie Cretz. Um, I brought this one up as well. The reason that I brought it up first and foremost, I don't have a problem if this position is no longer going to be utilized. That that's most important. What I have a problem with is that there was no planning that occurred in the possible elimination of this position. All I'm asking is that so the position is limited. It would be abol has been
129abolished. Since it's been abolished, the roles and responsibilities from this position has been designated out um by our superintendent to various individuals. I think the most person that's getting most of the work right now is Mary Stevens. And I may be um I may be incorrect on that. So part of my problem is that if we're going to eliminate a position, the roles and responsibilities of that position should be clearly determined prior to eliminating that position. Right? We just had a process here in terms of hiring and once the process once with that with the hiring process um then the followup is who's going to make sure that the candidates are notified back the HR person has to follow up with the with her staff to make sure that it's done or he or she
130has to make sure that it's done. So I'm just requesting that this be rescended to allow the opportunity for Dr. C Dr. Talbert and her cabinet to take a look at what a new structure could look like. That's number one. And number two, to allow for the proper budgeting of any positions that would need to be budgeted for um if this if the position is going to be eliminated. So that that's my feeling. So therefore, if there's new positions that's going to be established, who's going to be doing what? Who's going to be overseeing things? right now the the person in the HR position was responsible for overseeing certain areas. So who's now going to pick it up? Does it go to Dr. Talbbert? Does it go to um um Mrs. Stevens? So that's my
131concern of take a look at it, make a decision. My suggestion is coming back, come back to the board like in October. We're going to have a budget session. I don't remember the date whether it's October or November. Come back at that time and say this is what I'm recommending even before that. So therefore it can be part of the budget process. That's why I brought it back to the table. So, Madame President, I have one question and one comment. My first question is just because I wasn't on the board when the um assistant superintendent for HR was exiting. Um I don't know the terms of which she exited and my question is does this person have rights to come back to this job? Um I don't think the person has rights to come back
132to the job and I'm not looking for that person to come back to the job and that I think. Yes. Right. So that that's not that's not the focus behind it all. It's just a focus to get someone else as an interim into this position and to a decision is made what the structure is going to look like. That's all it is. So not to bring the person back. No. So, so this is my comment with regards to C2 um to resend the abolishment of the position of assistant superintendent for human resources. The assistant superintendent for HR that recently left our district started off in this district as a director of human resources before being promoted to assistant superintendent. And of course that came with a pay raise. But the job was being done but
133the job was being done while she was a dire excuse me a director. Prior to this person being our director of HR the hiring process was a function of the office of the superintendent of schools with some help from clerical staff. This board has discussed going back to the model of having a director of HR as opposed to an assistant superintendent. The 2025 2026 school year budget, which is which is right here, allocates $185,000 for this position of assistant superintendent of HR. A director of HR would not draw that kind of salary. They may draw a salary of maybe 125,000 to maybe 150,000 which is a potential savings of 35,000 to 60,000 potentially. Those funds could be applied to hiring a director of IT which is a position that's desperately needed. those funds could be
134used um or applied to hiring a director for ESL, which is another position which is desperately needed and or those funds could be saved for emergencies that come up during the school year or these funds could be infused directly into the classrooms immediately helping our teachers and students. So, I urge my fellow board members to think long and hard if this district really needs another assistant superintendent of HR at a cost of $185,000. Any other comments? Yeah, I'm going to jump in. Um, companies and institutions restructure all the time. It is very complicated. It can be painful, but it can be done. The fact that we are simply asking to go back to a setup that we previously had leaves me as confident now as I was when I voted to abolish the position in
135the first place that this is something we should do because to Trusty Leon's point, we need to find savings wherever we can. We are still trying to recover from the financial crisis that of two years ago. So this is seems to me like lowhanging fruit and it's just a matter of will. So I can see considering a director of HR but I cannot see totally abolishing the position. I was here when that was done I don't know how many years ago. Um but it was done. It was done rapidly and it caused a trickle down effect causing many problems for our staff. It did not work. That's why the district went back to a position of HR. So I do not want to see the position abolished. And once again, it was just done. No
136plan in place. And this is not how you efficiently operate a school district. I would be in favor of the director. Any other comments on this? Yes. Um, so Trusty Leon, what was the number that you gave for a director position? We are budgeted for $185,000. No, director position. If you we made this a director, what was the number? You gave a number. It's it's potentially potentially $150,000. Okay. So, and I got So, the question is where did I get that from? I got that from other another school district that's actually hiring for a director at this moment. Does that number include uh benefits? Well, well, I'm not really sure what you're trying to get at. What do you think a director would cost? I I don't know. You You're the one that looked it
137up. I'm just asking if that number included benefits because if I would think if we had the um assistant superintendent of human resources and hired at an interim position that wouldn't include benefits. So that might make up a difference if that number you gave of 135 for the director. I don't know how much health benefits cost might be. Maybe um Mr. Schneider could give that family plan is $43,000 a year gross. Okay. Okay. Well, while while we're on the subject, I mean, Mr. Schneider, I mean, you've been in this profession for some time. Yes, sir. What do you what what do you think is the going rate for a director? Not not an assistant superintendent. Because if we if we pay 185,000 for an assistant superintendent, a director would have to be less. I mean,
138I'm not asking for an exact number. A range would do. I would say what it would depend on the direct directors of athletics typically command higher salaries. Directors of tech. Just go a little closer to the mic. Oh, I'm Thank you. Right. Um I don't know. I I haven't seen a director of HR in a while. 180 might be a reasonable number for it, but I'm guessing, so I don't want to I don't want to get in Well, at at 185, you you you you earned the salary of an assistant superintendent in Amityville. Uh yeah. Yes. But to Trusty Naring's point, as an interim, you're not paying any of those benefits. I I'm not sure how that plays into the conversation, right? But as as an interim myself, there's no health insurance, no pension expense,
139there's nothing like that. What I what I was getting at is does the Not sure if that was the question though. Sorry. Would the number that we would pay an interim superintendent of HR equal be more or less than a director position including benefits? Is that I mean really really that opens up a bigger question. the the bigger question is do we want to continue with intros, right? Or or do we want someone that we can that we can hire as a director and possibly grow at the district. That's the bigger question for me. So I think but more importantly is also that if we're looking at to your point, do we always want intram? No, we don't. Right. But on the same token, we don't even know what we want in different positions in
140in this district. We've talked about um director of what' you say technology, right? Technology, right? So we so we talked a lot about a lot of different things. So we don't know exactly which one we want, how much it's going to cost, where's it going to be budgeted at. So my point is we we're eliminating we abolish the position. My only ask is that they bring it back to allow the opportunity to make a decision for this year. What we're going to do for next year, whatever that structure is going to be. Is it going to be a director of HR? Is it going to be a director of data and technology? What is going to be the structure? So therefore, we know how to plan. We know how to budget accordingly. And if we
141got an interim in here, it would it it's not going to be it's going to be for a short period of time. I'm not looking at getting an interim to be here for a year, two year. That's not it. We need to make a decision. Dr. Talbot needs to look at everything with a cabinet, make a decision, bring it to the board. So therefore, we know how to plan when the budget comes out. I'm sorry. That that was the motivation for my question of comparing it to an interim because I wanted to be able to evaluate the positions to see what if what would be the right fit but at the same time having a position filled so the job is getting done and allow the um the other people that are now filling this
142position to do their jobs. Absolutely. But but madame president to your point you want to bring possibly bring back a position of assistant superintendent for HR and then go through the hiring process of hiring them. So we are at the crossroads where we could hire a director right now if we wanted to. We have the funds. My focus in Can I jump in? I've been Thank you. I would have been waiting to say that if we're going to go out for a position, why are we not just going out for a director? It sounds like we're in agreement that we can do it with a director. And we only had one conversation so far about restructuring in central administration. There are other positions that were identified, a confidential secretary that was needed that there were
143other things that sort of needed to be cleaned up in central administration. So, why would we jump back in? If we're saying we can do it with a director, why would we not just go out for a director? I think at this point in time, my my feeling, and I've already stated, just resend it, bring it back, allow the decision to be made about what we want as a structure. If we go for a director, what else do we want? So, that's my point. I I don't think we should just jump directly to a director. I think we should put the position back, do an interim, determine the structure, determine what we're going to pay, and then move forward. Can we be given some clarity as to the different job functions of a the superintendent
144of HR compared to a director? And no, there I have the job description for the assistant superintendent for human resources. There's certain things in here that the director cannot do that the assistant soup does. So, I don't have the a director's um job script. I only have the assistant soup. Does anybody here know what those job functions are that wouldn't be able to get done by a a director? With a director, you can delegate task. That person has to have a supervisor um which would normally either be Mary Stevens or myself direct. The assistant superintendent is more of a strategic leader who can uh have delegated authority to make decisions. Ammonityville has an operational deficiency and we have gone through several rounds of variations of personnel throughout the district. To remove a key position um
145as quickly as it happened has left a deficit where we are picking up um the pieces. We are in the summer months where there is usually some turnover. There are exits from the district and there's entrances to the district. As you heard from AAA, there are also other bargaining units who are still without a contract. An HR person is pivotal in those negotiations. Um in those mediations they are the uh labor person who is the walking encyclopedia of the contracts and they work very closely with the business official to ensure that we are making progress. Um there are so many responsibilities that this person is responsible for. Um, just recently with the most recent personnel between Miss Stevens and myself, we were reaching out, following up, having to check references, working with the um, support
146staff in the HR office to try to bring closure so that that person can get in place as soon as possible. Um it's important that whatever is decided that there's someone in that position so that we can um align ourselves to properly open school and meet all of the certification requirements, the civil rights reporting requirements, all of the mentoring certifications that must be signed off on, all of the evaluations that must be signed off on. Um there's so many things. The list goes on and on and on. This position is uh important, essential. Any other comments on this? Well, Madame President, would we would would we entertain a um maybe not a motion, but just a question to see if we would be okay with a director. Maybe we can get direction right now. Let's
147just ask the board members, would you like to hire a director or would you like to hire an assistant superintendent? Let's just do that and then we and then we know. I would add to that full-time director or part-time director. I I I would say full-time. Definitely. I I'm not I'm fine with part-time or I'm fine with entertaining part-time. I think sometimes you can be more efficient. Full time. Well, we just I I voted to abolish the position. So, considering I'm coming from Z, you know, ground zero, I think a part-time director is something I'm willing to consider because I think once again, we're going back to the same thing. We're making recommendations about for for a position. I'm going to I'm address Mr. Le um Leon's um statement about pulling the board. We're going
148back to saying that we want a director for this position. I'm going to pull the board in one second. But when we go to do that, there's still certain aspects like for example the assistant soup conduct can can conduct superintendent here. So now that responsibility would now would go over to the assistant soup for curriculum instruction. So there's people that the assistant superintendent for HR oversees. Now that that organizational chart now needs to be restructured. So therefore, who will determine who that those people are going to report to? So I go back to the same thing. I am not opposed to going from assistant superintendent to a director, but I also want to know how it's going to be encomp accomplished. Who's going to pick up all the roles and responsibility? Is there another director,
149another position that we would like to have in in conjunction with this or something separate? So, so I will pull the board. I will ask the board right now in regards to are you looking at it? Do you if we resend the embossment? I'm still Let me slow down one second. Mr. Sheenan question on the table. There's a discussion that's taking place about resending the abolishment position of the assistant superintendent for human resources. We're doing discussion right now. Got a first, got a second, and we're talking about it. So, the question that I have is that do we finish this out and then ask the next motion about um the director or do we now adjust this to say about the director? Because now that what's Mr. Leon is out asking is to look at
150a director um for this position. It's just part of the discussion. So, you know, in terms of asking for board members position on on the director or not, if it's part of the discussion on this major motion, then it's permissible. it but made sure that asking a position is not the same as making a decision by consensus. Right? So if it's if there's four that are for it or against it, it doesn't constitute board action, but you can have it as part of a discussion. Okay. Thank you for clarification. So, so any the questions right now that was posed by um um first vice president Leon is to ask each board member their thought process on a director for um assistant superintendent a director for human resources. Yeah, just go go go around. We go.
151I do not want to abolish the uh position of the assistant superintendent of HR. So, you would like an assistant superintendent? Yep. Okay. I'd be open to director, but you know, right? I'm I'm in favor of a director. Chris, I would like to entertain the a plan to get to the director position, but I would I don't want to do it without having the structure already in place and not knowing what jobs would be done by who. Um, okay. Trusty Mesman. Yes. Right. I would I'm in favor of a director and I think it's a step in the direction of being able to bring back other directors that Juan mentioned and I had mentioned that previous meeting. Um and I think that we're going to go out for a position the same time frame that
152we would go out for an assistant superintendent and in that time frame we can reook at who's reporting to who. Excuse me. I already gave my my position. I just want to bring the position back, make a determination of what the structure is going to look like, and then from that point, if we need a director of HR, then we can go for a director of HR. I would be in favor of the director, but I want a a complete plan that goes along with it. Um, absolutely not part-time position. Uh once again I have seen this in the past and part-time would not be able to serve the amount of staff that we have in the district and once again I will revisit the director but a plan has got to be put in
153place. Trusty Banning I can support a director. I think part-time is possible if you know there was a plan to make it happen. I don't think that going back to an assistant superintendent with the intent of figuring out how to get to director is smart. It seems like going backwards to try to go forwards. So, since we're already at the point where we don't have an assistant super, but there seems to be building consensus for a director, that seems to be the obvious direction to move. Thank you. At this point in time, I'm going to call for a vote and it's regarding to resend the abolishment of the position of assistant superintendent for HR. So, if you want me to do a roll call, I'll do a roll call. Um, Caroline, no. Carol, no. So,
154no. To resend the balls from the position. That is correct. So that means you're going to you want the position to go. I don't want to I don't want to resend the abolishment of the assistant superintendent of HR. Okay. So that's not the same as saying I don't support a director. All right. So what what's All right. So what so so what what's on the table right now is is the motion that was Carol was first Leslie was second which was to resend the abolishment of the position for assistant superintendent for human resources that's what's on the table right now that that's it so if we want a director it sounds like we need a different resolution right so one thing at a time so exactly so thi this is but if you resend the
155abolishment of the position for assistance super for HR that means that that position comes back. So everyone because we've been doing a lot of discussion right now. So if we send if we resend it then that means the position comes back. The position of assistant superintendent for HR comes back. So everyone's clear. We're not talking about director anything like that. All we're just talking about the assistant superintendent for HR position. Do we want to keep it or do we want to get rid of it? And what's on the what's on here right now is to resend the abolishment, which means that the position would come back. Everyone's clear, right? Essentially, the question is that you have to answer yes or no is would you like a super would you like an assistant superintendent for HR,
156right? For HR. That's the question. Question. Do you Right. So that that's that's what's on the table. Just table the rescending and come up with a new resolution. Right. So we're not we're not we're not tableabling the rescending. I'm sorry, Mr. H. Say that again. Why don't you just table the rescending motion? No, we're voting on the motion and then we're going from there. So, Caroline said no that she does not want to keep the assistant superintendent for HR position. So, now I'm going to Carol that you don't want to keep the position. I think I think everyone's confused. No, I'm not confused. No, right. We We have to address We have Let's keep going. Lisa wants to keep the position. Um, Megan, no. No, she wants the position to go. Chris Narren, yes. Yes.
157Chris wants to keep the position. Juan, no. Juan wants the position to go. And Leslie, yes. Leslie wants to keep the position. So, the motion fails. So right now the position for assistant superintendent for HR has has remains abolished. Right. So the motion fails three four. Now we're going to I mean, mad madam president, before we move on to the next um agenda item, should should we maybe at least discuss for five minutes a plan of what we would like to do going forward trying to get a director? Um so can we call a resolution? There's no need to call there's no need to call a resolution. I mean look at a director. No, there's no need to call a resolution. What we're having discussion right now about about about the positions an action. It's
158just a formal vote. So, what what's what's happening right now is that the question that's coming up is for um we already voted on 2C 1 and two. So now what you're asking me to do now is to have the discussion about whether or not we want to bring we want to go out for a director for um for human resources. So So right. So so really really my my So can I can I just can what I would like to do is can I can no can I just finish 2C3? Can we finish that and then I can if we're going to amend the agenda to add going out for a director then I can I can add it in as 2C4. That's I don't I don't mind that but we're going to have
159a whole another discussion on the next item. All right. So let's finish this. So we can just go ahead. The the discussion is looking to go out for a director for HR, right? Well, Lisa, my my question is really this, and it's a question to my fellow board members. Are are we are we ready to be in a position to say yes, we hire, you know, hire a director, you know, um, you know, put it out on Olas, we want the job, or what I hear from certain board members is that they would like a little bit more information about structure. Do we want to talk about structure first or do we want to talk about hiring this person, getting this person in place and then and then we talk about finer details about the
160structure? So go ahead. I just want to answer at least for myself that question. Uh, I would think if we're at the point where we clearly need to fill that that role, um, the structure is really going to be dictated on what they're not able to do that the HR position of the superintendent would be doing. So that it's it's an important question, but I don't think that'll really dictate the director position itself. It's really we fill the position and then we could have a separate discussion on who's filling those other responsibilities that are now left. also add I really feel like that's the job of the superintendent to figure out how to pick up the pieces and put them all together. It's not our job to get into the weeds and figure all this
161out. We decided that we don't want to spend this much on this position. So now you just kind of have to pivot. So okay, now we will hire a director. That's what we seem to be moving towards. and then it'll be the superintendent who figures out how to plug that person into the operations and I think it'll be pretty obvious quickly where you know the the help is needed most. So um so far in in in my perspective I still do agree that we need to look at the structure and who's going to be responsible for what with the with the abolishment of the H assistant superintendent HR position standing then we do need to fill this position with someone right so if we're going to fill the position with someone let's go out for
162a director of human resources and as we're going up for director of human resources then Dr. Talbot and her cabinet can look at who could who could be doing what who will pick up the other roles and responsibilities of that the HR person was doing right. So um so I'm we we need we need someone in here to do this job. That that's the bottom line. So can we call a motion to pass a resolution to go out? We don't need a resolution. All I did all I need to do is I think I think we do. So all excuse me Mr. Sheenan just for clarification. So for what I was looking to do was to amend the agenda, right? To add an agenda item in regards to the director position. I know it has
163to be written out as a resolution, but we don't need to just that I just need clarification on that. So I would have to amend the agenda to add. So the the board of education can create positions and amend and when it does that it it is amending the table of organization which means you're going to be establishing a position with a job description and a salary range. and you're going to say where that position is in terms of the table of organization. Um and and that would be my if you have that information for resolution that would be um what the board know typically when it creates the position it creates the position of director. If it's a director the director is there's a typically a direct report. So when you're putting that out
164on OLAS or whatever that's stated in the job description that this is this is the position, this is the this is the area of responsibility. This is where it is in the organization and as required by law you have a salary range. So the question I have is then how can we how can we do it tonight without having all that clear information? I'm not trying to kick the can down the road. I'm going to let you jump in one second. But but my question is how do we get this information? We're going to be meeting next week on July 15th. So on that particular day, can we in between now and the 15th get the information, determine the structure, determine the the salary range, and so therefore when we go to vote on it,
165we know exactly what we're voting on. That's because Mr. Leon gave us a number, but we we he did some research, but we need to get more research so we know exactly what else what the salary range would be. So, it can be posted. That's that's my my suggestion. Madam President, I mean, what we could do is the the assistant superintendent for HR that's no longer with us, like I said, started out as a director. We can find that salary, but we need the salary in order to do the vote. as would well can the resolution be for the superintendent to create the job description which could be what the former superintendent had. So the only thing the only thing I'm worried that I'm concerned about is I I know you want to get everything
166lined up before then but every day we don't take action is another day that that work falls on someone else and and I I understand that so and that's why I understand that. So my my thing is I don't think we need a resolution. We can just say to Dr. Talbbert to provide information to the board of education by Friday that will give us information about the salary range and the things that would be needed for a resolution. Yeah. A proposed job description including salary. We can we can So I would like that as an action item though. Yes. So I would like to propose a motion. Um what do you mean as as an action item? Motion. Motion. motion to provide direction to get the job description by Friday. You said, Lisa. Oh, yeah.
167That that's what I'm saying to Dr. Talbert. We just we we're saying to here right now, Dr. Tabot, please provide to us by by Friday. Doesn't have to be a motion. Doesn't have to be a directive by Friday, the job description along with the salary. This way, it'll go into the minutes so that we have something to refer back to. But it's going into a power outage tonight and the audio might be gone. So, we want to have some record that it's going into the minutes right now. Right now. It doesn't go into the minutes unless it's like an actual Excuse me. Please stop calling out from the audience. Thank you. From calling out to clapping or whatnot. Please stop. Right. Can we just So I So you just So Caroline can call a motion
168though, right? She can call it. She can call. Go ahead, Doc. All right. So, we're right now at item C on the agenda. Yeah. Two. We're We're finished with 2C2. Okay. C2. Right. So, in terms if you if you're I believe if you're going to have a new agenda on a new item added to the agenda, either you're going to have a motion to amend the agenda or you're going to bring a new motion under new business. So, but what is what is what is the motion? The motion is just to have Dr. So, either you can there's there's no action by consensus, right? There's either a request by the board president that goes to the superintendent of schools or there's a motion passed by the board of education directing the superintendent to provide what
169the board wants by a certain date. So there's no action by consensus under Robert's rule. It's either a statement by the board president making the request or the specific action that says direct superintendent to prepare a resolution for board consideration at the July 15th meeting that provides for a director position with job description and salary. I I like that. What I would what I would recommend is if we want to amend it the agenda and make it item 2 C4. And if John if just to make sure we have it precise, we have a couple minutes. Can can you write up the uh the resolution for the board? But does it need to be a resolution? Is it just it's just a does that's my question. Does it have to be a resolution? Is it
170just so there's a you can't do it by consensus. The board the board president can make the request but and board action is by resolution. That's the that's the distinction. So yes, the board president may make a request but it doesn't constitute board action. There's no action by consensus. I know there's always a consensus that's discussed as but by by the board but that's not action. If you want action by So, can I do Dr. Talbot has it? She she has the assignment. So, no, the board would like to pass motion. No, I just go go ahead and do the motion. Go stop calling out. Please stop calling out. Please stop clapping and whatnot. Whatever you So, we we can get this settled. So, go ahead and and call the the motion. Fine. I propose
171a motion to agend uh to amend the agenda to add agenda item 2C4 which is please assist uh resolve that the board of education hereby directs the superintendent of schools to bring forward to the board meeting on July 15, 2025 a resolution to create the position of director of human resources with a job description and salary range. Okay. So, I'm a first. Second. Hold on a second. Okay. So, who was first? I was first. Second. Megan. So, first is Juan Leon. Second is Megan Mesman. So all those in favor of amending agenda to add this resolves the director superintendent to establish a resolution for the director of HR position for job description and the salary age. I I I motion carries 70 and I have a motion for agenda item 2C4. Motion second. Uh Chris
172Narin, Caroline Fanning. All those in favor? I All right. 70. All right. Now we're going to agenda item 2 C3. We have a motion for agenda item 2 C3. Chris Nearing. Carol Seahhore. Discussion on agenda item 2 C3. Yes, I do have discussion. This is the rescendment of hiring and and recruiting policy 9240. Um I looked into this a little bit. So we we held our first reading of this policy on June 18th, 2025. We held the second and final reading of this policy on June 26, 2025. There was discussion and this policy was passed with a six to1 vote. Um all trustees in attendance voted in it. All trustees in attendance that night voted yes uh with except for one. Um I recall as part of the discussion which we had in open session
173there wasn't anything particular that the board wanted to add to this policy. I just remember I just remember um the discussion saying that it you wanted to review and you wanted to see what else could go into it but nothing really nothing really uh solid came from that. Um, right. So, this policy that was adopted six to1 by the board of education gives parents in the community members a voice in shaping our district and the opportunity to work alongside the school union leadership to help select our principles and assistant principles, a practice that is widely accepted in other school districts. If the board would like to add specific verbiage into the policy, I would recommend following the protocol. I would recommend not repealing the policy, but rather amending the policy. The policy committee and the
174board can review recommendations that weren't brought up during the first or second reading. But what we did was, in my opinion, something very special that hasn't been done before. We put in we put it in writing. We detailed a policy, a specific makeup of a hiring committee. We opened the door for parents and community members to have a seat at the table when it comes to hiring our assistant principles and principles. So, I'm urging my fellow board members to not close the door on the parents and community. Keep it open. And if the board would like to amend the policy, let's have that discussion. Right. So I just want to state that um I did bring this one forward as well. So the reason that I brought it forward and that was the reason that
175I did not vote for that policy on that particular night that there's a polic there there was there's a 92 there was the 9240 policy then it was a 9240 regulation. So what I did not have in front of me that night and to clarify bring more information forward was to find out was there anything in that particular um regulation and or policy that we wanted to bring into the current 9240. So that's number one. number. So I'm just requesting that we go back to the old policy to allow the policy committee to look at what aspects from the 9240 9240R are that we want to make for this that we want to put into the 90 to the current policy. That's number one. Number two, the previous policy did allow for parents to be
176part of the the process. So parents did participate. It was typically the APC that was contacted to have a representative at at the meeting. So that was that was already in existence. So that was not something new for this particular policy. What was new for this policy was community members. I do support community members being part of the policy, being part of of the hiring process. It's not that I don't support it. I do support it, but I also want other aspects of what was in the previous one to be looked at. And so therefore the policy is definitely inclusive for all individuals for for that want to um apply for the position. So that's the reason why I wanted to um resend that that particular policy put the other one back in place. The
177policy committee the policy committee excuse me has been established. We can meet this month. We can look at it. we can look at the um the 9240 regulation, make decisions what we want to put in it, and then move forward with also adding community members to be part of the process. So that I just want to make that point that I'm not opposed to committee members. Let's be clear. I think it's good to have them on part of the process for these key individuals and also parents were already a part of this particular committee. I mean already part of the process to be on the highway. Do I understand that there was only one member of the policy committee going through this? I don't remember I don't remember how it started. I really don't because
178I would want I would want the entire comm you know commit policy committee to go through it or two at least two people and not just have one come to the table with it. Understood. But there were two opportunities for the full board to discuss this and it was passed six to one. I mean, if you want to repeal it, that's up that's the prerogative of the board. That's up to the board. But Madame President, I I think what you're talking about, which is trying to incorporate some portions of the regulation into what we already have, that sounds more like an amendment. I think it's more advisable that we maybe look at this at the policy committee at a policy committee meeting and see what we can integrate into this policy that was in the
179existing policy that is now not has not been approved because this was approved as um Mr. Leon said 6 to1. Um I wasn't on the board when this was approved. Um but everybody else here was. Yes, it was approved 6 to1. We deliberated for quite some time on a number of community members. We created an application. We then voted with a board vote, board action to remove the regulation from the website and it still resides on the website. It's not on its website. Was it finally taken down today? It's not there. This must have been taken down today. And then we made a decision to send out the application and have should have been by yesterday so that we can start reviewing community members that could be part of this hiring polic committee right away.
180That's why we were meeting in public session on the 15th for that particular reason. So, I'm not exactly sure why that didn't happen either and I know a community member already asked that and I updated that file so that it could happen. So, the fact that this is coming before us when we just already voted six to one for the new policy is you know just upsetting. I you know why why is one person deciding to bring that back? So can I just make a just like in previous resolutions one pe one person did bring bring in previous resolutions. So one person me is has brought this resolution back. So that that's absolutely fine. So that's number one. Number two um I just I just kind of feel like I've already stated so so other
181people can talk. I don't need to repeat myself again. I'm I'm going to jump in. Um at the June 26th meeting and in two two and now three meetings since then, you know, we listened to community members and Lisa expressed how important it is for the policy to have the diversity, equity, and inclusion language. I also heard on June 26th a former trustee express how certain language can have a chilling effect on white candidates. Both can be true and it is not surprising that this issue has become so divisive. But to you know trusty Leon's point you know we can revisit it and amend the policy as appropriate through the policy committee. We don't have to undo what was already done with a six to1 vote. What is surprising and continues to be surprising is
182the opposition that we seem to be receiving with regards to trying to include, you know, more community members in the hiring committee. Um, I don't see anything in the old policy that calls for parents, even the APC or outside community members. So, outside community members were not part of the old policy, but the APC was I I they were there. They were part of the policy. The APC is in this policy. It was It was in there. Yes. Because they they were part of the committee, the hiring committee. Yeah. Well, apparently, maybe I messed it. This policy is page along, but regardless, at the June 26 meeting, we we heard um Dr. Wait explain that the committees that have actually functioned did not include parents. It was one assistant superintendent and the heads of the
183seven seven collective bargaining units. So there was no parent representation even if it was included in the policy. So what we or many of the trustees are excited for is to have a robust new clearly articulated policy that calls for a committee with all the new um members. that being one assistant superintendent, the heads of the seven collective bing units, and five community members, a committee of 13. That's clearly defined. So, I don't want to lose that um when it was already approved with six to1 vote. If we need to revisit the language to address other community concerns, we can do so through the high the policy committee through an amendment. anything else anyone wants to speak on? And so once again, I just stand with with what I feel that I feel that we
184need to bring just rescend it, go back to the old one and allow the opportunity to go through the regulation and and everything. And so everyone had their voice. So anyone else need to say anything or no? So you're concerned about the regulation that we don't even have in front of us? I can't I don't even know where it is. I'm concerned that um that there that yes that we I just want to look at that received a copy. So I'm just concerned that we just need to look at it and so I just feel that if you'll go back to the other one until we take until we look at it and once again I need to make it very clear I am in support of community community members being part of the process.
185I do support that. So that's that's going to be most important. It's not it's not like not not like I oppose it. So I'm in support of it. But if we go back to what we have for right now, then policy committee meets, look at the regulation, look at everything, the old the new one, the old one, merge it together and go from there. That's just my recommendation. Any other discussion on this item? Okay. So I will do A roll call. Leslie. Um I'm in favor of rescending because I would like to re um we look at 940R the policy. Three of you. Lauren. No. Chris, I would like to look at 9040R at a policy meeting. Uh but I would voting no for this so we could look at it later on. So, no
186to resend. Okay. Megan, no. Chris, I'm just You're saying you're saying no that you want to rescend it or yes, you want to rescend. I'm saying no to rescend. Okay. Just want to make sure. Okay. I'm not trying to persuade. I'm just trying to make sure that I I'm hearing that. Um Carol, no. Yes. For me and then Caroline, no. Right. So, the motion fails um 25. Right. So, now we're going to um 3B. Is there anything that I can do together or can I do anything? Can I do it all together? Do I need anything do separately? Um Madame President, I would request that item number three be 54 be done separately. All right. So, can I do agenda item 3B 1 through 3B53? Is everyone okay with that? Yes, but there was a
187comment from uh one of the community members that there might be a duplicate in the assignments. So, is that something that would let me just call for the motion and then we I will Oh, for the discussion. Yeah, discussion. All right. have a so can I have a motion for agenda item 3B1 to 3B53 motion Chris Naring is first second Juan Leon is second discussion so I was looking at it as well to see if there was any duplicates and well it might have been on a previous agenda I I wouldn't I don't know that we would pick it up right now but if there was a duplicate in an assignment of this one so Go ahead. Go ahead. Dr. Tal is asking if there was a need to pull any person listed for any
188concern. Okay. Were any other questions or comments about this? If we do vote on this and there is a duplicate, could we then we'll address it on the 15th? Okay. because we can't talk about the names in public. All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3B54? Carol Seahhoff Leslie Critz. Um discussion. Am I allowed to do a discussion on this? We just vote just vote on right so all right those I'm sorry did I miss discussion no I think am I allowed to discuss it because it's personnel or I mean the position itself you can discuss the merits of the position not not the employment history of the individual in the position go to so madame president and uh Um sorry with with regards to
1893B54 which is the appointment interim assistant superintendent for finance and operations. Um my comment is this. The board of education currently has an active job posting for this position. It's on OLAS right now. It's posted. The job posting closes next Wednesday at which time the intention is or maybe was to review all applicants, put them through the hire uh the hiring committee process and determine who is the best person for the position of assistant superintendent for finance and operations. This is a critical position in the Amityville school district, especially given the financial issues of the district in the past few years. Our current uh interim assistant superintendent for finance of operations could and should apply for the position, but then let the district and the board determine who is best to fill the position and
190move our district forward. Right now, there are a number of candidates that have applied for this position and are waiting for a call from us for an interview. There is no need to give this job away tonight without hearing what other candidates have to offer. So, I strongly urge my fellow board members to reconsider approving this resolution tonight. It's not a resolution. It's a It's an reappoint. This motion tonight. Yeah. My apologies. Um so I feel that we went through the process and everyone was actively involved. Um previous board members that were here each person had opportunity to speak and so I feel like for this particular position to stay with where we're at and then we can move forward to fill the position down the line. So I I that's just my feeling of
191it. We already went through the process. We already looked at applicants for an interim position and I'm guess I'm going to leave I'll leave it there because I can't go too far. I don't feel the process was adequate which is why we there was so much emphasis on putting together the hiring committee. So now that the committee is set to be in place, you should utilize it. Any other comments on it? I'm not sure that I need to say it, but I over this course of being getting to this point, I didn't think the process was adequate either. I called, they asked for the resumes, was denied. They asked for the backup, was denied, eventually got it. And to one's point, we have this new policy. We are actively trying to engage the community. Why
192would we stop that momentum? Any other comments on this? The hire for the interim assistant superintendent for finance and operations followed policy 9240 and the regulations were followed. There was no violation of the process and the best candidate was recommended for the position. I just want to be clear that while some may feel it was inadequate, it the policy was followed as written and the process rendered um a viable candidate who is already making a great progress in the position. Now I'm just going for a vote. So all those in favor I So it's So we're calling for we just we already did the vote of we did first and second. So now I'm just calling for the appointment of the interim assistance to finance and operation. So I have Lisa Johnson, Leslie Cretz, Carol
193Seahor, Chris Naring. Um opposed opposed. Opposed Megan Mesman, Juan Leon, and Caroline Fanning. The motion carries. 4 Z. Um, can I have 43? I'm sorry. 43. Thank you. 43. Sorry. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3 C one? I'm sorry. Three. Oh my gosh. 3E1. Sorry about that. Motion. Chris Naring. Carol Seahhoff. Any discussion on these items? All those in favor? I. Motion carries 70. Okay. Have a motion for agenda item 3 F1. Please. Motion. Chris Nearing, Carol Seahhoff, any discussion on this item? Uh, yes, Madam President. Discussion and and this this might be um a a question that's more directed towards our assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Well, directed towards Dr. I'm just giving you and then she'll she'll hand it off. Perfect. Just giving you some notice. So with with
194this I look I looked at this and this is for nonviolent crisis intervent inter intervention at a cost it's some kind of training opportunity at a cost of $4,699 which um is is a bit pricey. I know it is coming from a grant and specifically the grant is the idea grant which is individuals with disabilities education act. Um I'm not I'm not a grant expert. I tried to read a little bit about this and that's why I might we might have to defer this to someone else but and if if I'm if I'm incorrect, please correct me. But my impression is that from my research that this could be used for special education teachers. This grant it could be used for administrators. It could be used for related services such as psychologists. Um could be
195used for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. uh counseling, um medical service, school aid, paraprofessional services, speech therapies and and so on. My my question is more geared towards is this the best use of the grant and can this grant be used for the things that I just mentioned, Dr. Talbert? Yes, the IDA grant is used for all of those listings that you just shared and training is one of them. Uh crisis prevention training is an expensive training uh overall but this person comes back and turnkeys the information and trains the staff here in district. This is one of the initiatives for our superintendent conference day and this person will be uh back in district helping to turnkey this training and provide staff with this training before the school year opens. Miss
196Stevens, would you like to add anything more to that? I would just add that we have in the past been training teachers every two years in this to make sure that their current impractices. This is a train the trainer model. So, it will actually allow us to save money. Instead of training each person, we would have one person in district to do the training. I I I appreciate that explanation and I do believe that this is valid. I just question if we can use that $4,699 to help our students directly with speech intervention or speech therapy or psychologists. That's I'm I'm more questioning of the is this the best use of the grant money. So I'm not so I'm not exactly convinced that it is at this point that's it. That's my opinion. Okay. Any
197discussion on this item? Yeah. Is is there travel involved with this or does that amount cover just those three days of the actual training? It covers the three days of training. So just the training itself. It's not not anything additional that no that price is just for the training and that's it. It's for the training. It's local. Yes. Any other questions on this item? All those in favor? I Megan as I have I think Caroline Banning, Chris I mean Carol Seahhoff, Leslie Cretz LJ Chris Naring opposed. One opposed. Juan Leon Megan opposed. And again, not because I think the training is bad training. It's just could we use that directly to help kids instead. Motion carries. 52. Lisa, I realized that um on item 3B48, I had noted this in executive session, but we didn't
198say it out here. There was no end date. Yes. So, so Mr. Um, for agenda item 3B48, the backup did not have the end date of 73025. Can I just amend it at this point in time or do I The board approval of FMLA is really ministerial. Okay. So, we don't have to. You don't have to. Okay. Yeah. I just because we talked about it. All right. So, at this point in time, we're going to go to old business. And I just need to step away for no talking to you. I just need to step away for a second. So, I need need you to take over. There's no anyone. Okay. Members of the board of education, we are at item F4, old business. Is there any old business for discussion? Seeing none. Well, no,
199I do. I do. Oh, no. I have like um Okay. So, we had been discussing the district calendar and there was a draft at some point emailed to us and I'm trying I have to go back through my notes, but I did have some feedback and I'm going to try to just go off the top of my head. um when you have parent teacher conferences, why why do we have to schedule them so that they're on different days per building? because I find and I get feedback from parents that it's very challenging when you have kids in multiple buildings to have the early dismissals and it's spread out and I haven't looked at the district calendar in a few weeks now the draft but you know as an example it's like right before Thanksgiving maybe
200the day before Thanksgiving we're going to have an early dismissal and then like right when you get back from Thanksgiving you can have an early dismissal if you have a kid in another building and I think that we should be more aware of that because it's very challenging for parents to have to accommodate these early dismissals. Um, and I had, you know, another scenario came up when I was at the moving up ceremony of, uh, second grade, I think, and it was right at the same time that Park Avenue was dismissing and parents were in the hallway going, I can't get my other kid, and I'm waiting to get my kid. So, it's just being like very mindful of the scheduling of those early dismissal type days is something that jumped out at me and
201has been challenging. Um, I don't know if there's other comments on the draft calendar. I'd have to go back if anybody else has comments on the draft calendar uh that we were emailed. Um, I'll see if I can remember what else I had, but um, I guess no one else has anything right now. Uh there was discussion of a rooc call um to alert I think it was to alert the community for the cell phone meeting on the 15th and also that we were having that hiring committee application going out which um now I'm not even sure if we are right we just we didn't resend that policy. So what's the status of that rooc call Dr. Talbert? So for the co for the cell phone forum yes a parent square notice has gone out
202a social media notice has gone out and a website posting has gone out. Okay the robocall will go out on the day before uh which is the 14th. Okay. Thank you. And um how can community members that are not current district parents sign up for robocalls because I there was interest expressed in that as well. Right. So that was a question that I needed to follow up with legal on. Okay. in terms of um what allowances are available to us for that outside of our immediate uh student parent contact information. Okay. So, you're going to follow up on that. Um there was already a request again for presentation of the summer program. So, is this something that we formally have to agree to as a board of education or is this like do we want
203to get it on the calendar in August? Miss Stevens and I are doing the calendar for presentations which we will share with the board and you can give us feedback from there. Okay. Thank you. Um, I just wanted to note that there was a question about the $2 million and in our last public meeting there was reference that it might be um available in September, but then you followed up and you clarified that it was probably more likely November that we would. So, I just wanted to note that since for anybody that's listening, right? So, the question was asked, how do we receive the 2 million M and the money is wired to us which was my initial response and I wanted to confirm that. And so the money is wired and it is likely
204it was received last year November. And so we anticipate the same time frame. We were told in the fall beginning in September to start looking for it. However, last year it came in November. So, we're November 4th. Okay. Thank you. Um, is the are is the board of education going to have an opportunity on one of our upcoming meetings to talk about that $2 million and how we can allocate that $2 million. We I guess I'm asking board officers. I don't know. I mean, I think was gonna say something. Okay. Go ahead. So, the $2 million is a part of our state aid. It's a bullet grant. It was given uh specifically uh to assist us in retaining Northeast Elementary School. Um so, in our discussions, we are looking at planning for next year's budget.
205And so, whenever the board is ready to further discuss that, um we can do that. Okay. I remember last year there was discussion that it was noted that it was earmarked specifically for Northeast, but it really wasn't clear that it was actually earmarked for anything specific. So, I guess you're saying there's a letter that accompanies this $2 million that's specific to Northeast. It's not in writing, but the request was made of the public officials for Northeast. So in good faith, they rallied for that for that purpose. And so I'm sure in good faith in return, we would like to honor the purpose for which the funds were given to the district. So just for clarification, if there was a discussion about the 2 million being used slightly different, that's something that could occur. I'm just
206Okay. So, um that brings me back to a previous request that I had had during the budget season to understand the operating cost per building. So, I guess now that we have an interim, you know, assistant super finance, can can I please request again that the board be given, you know, the operating cost per building? So we can begin to better understand holistically a solution for the future. Sure. So that was one of the very first conversations we had was about building utilization. We know that you've received some of the information in part. Um but that's one of the charges that we have before us to produce that information. Is there a timeline that we can anticipate that? I don't I mean I don't want to just sit here and set a deadline. So I
207just I would like to ask you what what is your timeline to give us the operating cost per building? My first objective is to work with the coding system that I've inherited so that I can isolate everything from c custodials to teachers to aids by building and then furthermore isolate the utilities by building. So there's a little bit of behind the scenes leg work and then maybe some recoding. Mhm. And recoding isn't something to take lightly because then you lose the history of other codes. So it's still something I'm talking about with my staff. But utilities as an example is just book lump sum into a code and you can see that in your budget status report. But we have the invoices that break it down by meter which is essentially we can isolate buildings.
208the staffing is easy enough to pull out and there are some right minutia to how they're coded especially with split FTEES. The the answer to your question is I I'd like to get deep into the budget cycle which for me really is the end of December when I have a pretty good projection on where I think the budget is going that I can discuss with the superintendent and then we roll that out in January if the the board's intention is to move that cycle up. Mhm. Then I'll I'll abide by the board's wishes, but there is some leg work to isolate certain types of costs by building, but I'm very interested in seeing that. Okay. Yeah, we definitely we did just talk about in the calendar that we want to move up that cycle to
209early November. Um, and I think that it's very critical that we have this understanding early on. I I could tell you it's November. I could probably give you one year of history isolated, but as I had mentioned when we first met, I was looking to go back 5 10 15 years. That's a that I probably couldn't pull off by November, but giving you 24 five isolated, right? I mean, it doesn't even have to be like an exact number. I mean, we're talking like an understanding a a range or just then by November. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Al also I'm not I'm not sure if there really is a value to go back 10 or 15 years but I mean I yeah I had spoken earlier sir when we had first met about
210looking at how the district arrived at the fiscal position that it's in and it started 10 to 15 years ago and I need to know what happened in those early years around 10 I believe it started probably with the gap elimination adjustment the state aid cuts So, I want to make sure that's the reason and that there isn't anything else, but that's sort of a secondary thing I have to look into. All right. Anyway, Madam President, we we ended off with C4. I'm still going. Oh, I apologize. Sorry. All right. So, I know I I mentioned about the presentations. Uh you Dr. Tabby, you said we were going to get a calendar of presentations. I'd love to see the curriculum presentation part two, um part three, part four, whatever we need. you know, maybe to
211even hear or invite to have the curriculum advisory council here. Uh, that's a thought. I will send it to the board when we see the calendar of presentations. Um, tonight I was wondering, are we bringing back the budget advisory committee? We had said a two-year commitment. Did we re need to reappoint a different head of that budget advisory committee formally or is that just established? So that was one of the questions. There was two things I but I that was my other question. I believe the the citizens budget advisory committee was only for one year but person who oversaw it the both are gone. So we do need to reappoint someone else to be oversee the citizen budget advisory committee. We we need that committee. Yeah. So I would like to get that that I'd
212like to get that going. I'm sorry. Go ahead Megan. Then I'll jump in. No, no. And I, you know, I thought at first it was a two-year, but I think we changed it to one year, so we just need to do the same thing and right uh seek participation, right? We have to do the whole the whole process all over again. Not not in the bad way. It's a good way that we need to go ahead and go out. And I would I'm sorry, they can finish up in the note. Okay. I do a few more. I have um we were going to get $43,000 from the DOT. Did Did that happen? The Got to get my government agencies. The county department of highway needs to meet to pass a resolution which contains a full
213release that they in turn give to the town and once the town has that they cut the check. The town believes they'll have that resolution in September. So, I believe the earliest we would see the money would be late September and how long sometimes these things take, but certainly by October, I believe we'll be paid. Okay. Thank you. Um the as far as the cell phone meeting on Tuesday, will there be slides used? Um and will so and if so, then we would anticipate seeing the slides in our Friday transmitt or is there I don't know are there going to be slides used I don't know we are meeting tomorrow to discuss the forum and the setup so maybe by Friday you might receive a draft okay um but it's going to take us shifting
214some gears to um prepare for the forum which is Tuesday the 15th okay thank you draft sounds Good. Um I do we know at this time of the year how many students are going to charter schools because we had very specific discussion of how many to carry in the budget. So I was curious if that's like a known there is the same deadline for private and parochial to request transportation that might not capture all of them. so I can get the data for you. I wouldn't say it's a hard number, but it'll give you a good idea whether or not we're on target for budget. Okay. That I think that would be helpful to see. I'll get that to you in Friday. Okay, great. Um is there um the VAD report that goes to the
215state for the end of the school year? What's this timeline to do that? And can will the board receive a copy? Dr. T. Yes. That report is not due just yet. Mary, do you have the timeline on that? It's due at the end of the month. The end of July. Yes. Okay. So, do we formally accept that or is that we would just get a copy of it for our information? um we enter it into the business portal, but we could provide copies of what's submitted. Okay. But it's not like a resolution on July 23rd. Okay. I'm not sure if the actual print out can come from the portal. We'd have to double check that. But we could provide the data if the actual report is not printable from the portal. Um, I had requested
216the region's passing rates at this point in time. Can that also be included in this Friday's transmitt? I'm seeing an shake. Yes. Thank you. Yes. I just I just have Okay. Thank you for entertaining my bullets here. Um, any other old business? I do. Um I I just want to be totally clear because I had a question too about the um cell phone form. Is the the format hasn't been worked out at all or are you close? We've not designed it on paper. We've had some preliminary discussions. Okay. Too soon to say. Um okay. um the culture and climate survey that went out in May. When will BB be able to see those results? We'll be finalizing that in the coming weeks. When will I know you have to wait for the summer graduation, but
217when will graduation rates be available? So that should be sometime in August because it's graduation rate is around cohort or will it be a little later than that? Okay. So I'm going to request that when we get the the beta report the regions rate um passing or the region's grades and the graduation rates can we also get them for the uh two years prior so we have three years worth to compare. Um, is it is the other use online? Well, even if a a link to where to find it because sometimes Yeah, I'm not I think it's a good idea. I'm just I'm just just double checking. Is that information online as as well or is that something that I feel like it should be. Yeah. Is it something that um maybe slightly different than
218what we have? I'm just curious. I'm just I I just want to be able to do like a sideby-side comparison. How is this year compared to last year compared to previous year? No, I I I'm not I'm not disag I'm not disagreeing with you. I think it's a good idea. I'm just asking the question that was all I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt the people. Okay. Um so it seems we're rolling out the new website. Um which is exciting. On the page, the budget page. Um well, first let me ask, are there elements of the website that are not complete yet? Okay, so got it. um I clicked on the budget archive link and it was didn't lead anywhere. So I just assumed okay that hasn't been um finished yet. But even with the
219previous website during budget season what I found was the archive such as it was there did not seem to be a standardized um format to it in the sense of what was posted. Maybe for one year, you know, there would be the um proposed budget but not the adopted budget or there would be some pres budget presentations but not everything. It would be nice if for um the last I would say at least five years and ideally even more than that a standardized list of all the links that should be included with regards to budget information. um all the presentations, the the draft budgets, the approved adopt the approved budget, the or I guess the adopted budget, the voted budget. So like three different versions, multiple versions. Um the internal and external auditor reports um
220because those are hard to find and sometimes they're mislabeled. You think you're finding one report and it leads to another. Um, and as a new thing, I would say, uh, minutes from the community, um, the citizens budget advisory committee. Just for clarify, you're talking about the old minutes or the new ones that are going to be upcoming or both. the well we only had the one year's worth but what I'm what I'm asking for is basic like kind of what we seem to have the beginnings of in the old website where you could go back and on the side tab you can see years worth of budget information but it wasn't completely standardized I would like to see that standardized so that you know I can compare can compare five years worth of auditor reports
221adopted budgets approved budgets etc um so since we are rolling out a new website now will be time to kind of come up with what are the the things we want to include for each year budget-wise. I mean, I can follow up with an email saying these are my top picks for what I would like to see on it. I just rattle them off, but I could put it to writing. Anything else? Yes. Um, oh, sorry. This is the last one. The um the library project whose money filters through the board. What responsibility for oversight does the board have with regards to making sure that everything is happening as it should? It's an outstanding question. I'd have to defer to legal on that one. A legal one. Not to put you on the spot, John,
222but thanks Rich. That's right. I'll take that question direct. Um, so there for change orders as part of the project, uh, the superintendent of schools does have to sign off on change orders. Uh, you have an overall uh, fiscal responsibility because the funding comes through you uh, with respect to the overall project. So with the since the library doesn't have the ability to pay taxes. The funding obligation, you know, in terms of the budget and the funding obligation is something and the final cost reports are something that you have to watch for. In terms of the uh library has the obligation uh to have an architect and a project manager if necessary and to uh ensure that the day-to-day obligation of that uh project is uh on track and being supervised. uh with respect the
223district's responsibility it's primarily to do with the funding but also SED requires certain submissions that are required for the project to come through um the district office I'm scratching my brain trying to think what besides approving the budget itself within which this was aligned have we seen to show us like nothing nothing has come across Ross our you know desk as far as papers regard like relating to the library. Well the board the board wouldn't it it's primarily through the superintendent. So if there's a change order the board wouldn't see it. Well so the the change the board wouldn't see it because it's a it's a it is something that is really a an SED requirement. So the SED um the project number is still under the district um and the overall supervision of it
224is through the architect that is in charge of the project. Uh but the board does have funding not the board but the district has funding obligations for that project. So can I jump in on that? Sure. Did have there been change orders because that project seems to be very delayed. So just out of curiosity, have you been I'd rather go back to my files and see exactly what they have funneled through the district um and then respond accurately because we have worked closely with them on approvals that they've needed through SED for the approved project. I could add to it that the district Megan, it has been delayed. It is in your browsers and stuff. Why? There's a lot of water issues and they had to have more rain. They had to have so that
225was trusty. Chris, can you go more to the mic? Oh, sorry. It's my understanding after having this discussion with the district's external auditors that the school district pro facilitates the borrowing for the library. The library itself runs the project. So if there are change orders, it's my understanding that the library deals with those change orders. We at the end of the school year would get expenditure reports and reflect their debt and their expenditures and everything in the project on our books. so that it would appear in the district's audit report. Okay, that's kind of simplistically high level. We facilitate the borrowing form. That's old news. We've always done that. The new thing that has sort of surfaced is we have to reflect the library's actual construction expenditures on our books. And we have now reached
226out and had communication to my staff and theirs to get that information so that it can be reflected on the audit report that is going to happen as of June 30th. Okay. And I can go back and look to see whether or not when the project was first established whether there were any agreements delegating authority as between the district and the library. Uh sometimes uh there is an agreement to uh to make sure that this sort of strange relationship is uh addressed in a delegation between uh the board and the superintendent and the library board. So I can take a look at that. Yeah. Yeah, I guess I would just think that if at the end of the day this board is ultimately like responsible for making sure that everything is, you know, being kept
227fiscally sound, there would be some sort of reporting that we would see if for nothing else than to reassure us, yes, everything is on track. There is a library board and there is a director and there's financial people there and and they're all on target. Well, that that's just what not our job is micromanaging the library renovation. I'm I'm just trying to understand the dynamic because this is a strange unusual relationship and the money does filter through us and we approve it. So um I just want to understand it better and yeah I can provide you with greater information as to what happened in this project and what if there are any agreements in place as between the district and library. Thank you. I only have one more thing madam president and this this has
228to do more with our finances. Um, just going back to the designation of our banks, our financial institutions, just looking at New York, I'm sorry, what was it called? New York class. Um, I I'm I'm I'm assuming that since this bank was not on the previous reorganization agenda and was only approved now, they are not holding any of our funds. Is that correct? I'd have to say you're making a logical statement, but but I don't I would hope not because they were an approved deposit, right? I mean, you haven't transferred any funding. No. Okay. All right. That's the uh bay treasures report. There's no funding in there. And I and I would just want to add based on an earlier question that happened that class collateralizes all of our deposits to the tune of 102%.
229So there's collateral for all the money we we would prospectively invest with them. Right. So I I'm not sure. I mean, this might require a bigger discussion and definitely looking into what this financial institution does. I'm I mean, I'm on their website. Uh it looks like a lot of municipalities go into them like fire departments and uh villages and things like that, but they are not it doesn't they do not appear to be FDIC insured. And it appears the reason for that may be because they sell they put they put you in a portfolio with all kinds of variable investments. So they can't they can't guarantee that you won't lose your money and they can't guarantee that it can't you know can't go the wrong way. So that's why it's not FDIC insured just like
230the stock market is not FDIC insured. So they're not traditional checking accounts that would warrant FDIC insurance. So the community member is correct about that, but they are collateralized deposits which effectively provides a level of protection for right. So so for me I'm I I need to read a little more into this to see how I feel about it. But this is the first time I've come across this. I just have just to go to circle back and then I have two things for um new business for the citizens bud budget advisory committee. Um, thank you for bringing up trusty investment because that was one of the thing that was on my list. So now the um do we have to appoint Mr. Snider as as the as the person that's going to overseed or
231because the last time I think we did an appointment. So I'm not too sure we need to appoint appoint him. That was one question. And then two, can is the board willing to utilize the same process as last year in terms of the application and everything? So therefore, it can go out um as soon as possible and just be updated. So Mr. Snder, get all that information and updated. Is the board okay with utilizing the same process as last year? Yes. All right. So that that was all that I had. And um Mr. Sheenan, in terms of the re do we have to appoint Mr. Snyder as the as the person who's going to oversee the citizens of the budget advisory committee? Is it necessary or is just Yeah, it's a it is a committee.
232It would be an appointment. Okay. So, that's something that we probably would have to do at least by the next time around to admit the agenda to add. Yes. Okay. So, any other old business? Because I have like two things for new business. I did have old business, but I consulted with legal. is not advisable for me to ask that at this point, but he will follow up on my question and get the information to us. Okay, that's correct. Thank you. All right. So, I do have um two things for my um new business for the um ex official student board members. There's a manual that I'm working on putting together and I do have information that I will share with the entire board by the end of the week. I did share with the
233board questions, not questions but areas of that the um the students could potentially speak on. I just want to find out whether or not if the board had any feedback that they wanted to provide for those particular areas. I also asked the students. So I just need the feedback from you guys. So therefore I can finalize that list and put that in the manual. So in the manual will be the information about board meetings that the dates now that we have them um finalized um what areas that they can speak about um and there's other things that NISPA has that is not that that great but I will include in that way and so far I have not been able to get a student manual from another district so once I whatever I have I'll
234share with everyone and therefore you can take a look at it before I give it to the students. When I got your email, Lisa, the the thought that came to mind was that, you know, these students and all students, unless there are other districts that have had these officers before, um, and I'm not aware of any. This is the first year the laws in effect, um, although perhaps they do exist. I I feel like these are the students that will write the manual. They'll take notes all year, and at the end of the year, they'll write what I wish I'd known, you know, when I started. Um, and that'll just be the beginning of it. So, I I just think it's it's it's it's a task that you're suggesting to put together a manual. Like
235I think it's kind of a cool special moment to just let them be the ones experiencing it and writing the manual that will get tweaked and revised as the years go by. So, um, thank you for that, um, input. And that was one of the things that I did say to them that whatever I give them, part of their task would be to look at and record what they've been doing this particular year and make um, adjustments because they're the first ones that are doing it. But simple things is like like certain acronyms that we may talk about that give them those acronyms. So therefore, they're a little bit more aware of the process. And that's also it's not going to be a thick man. It's very very very very slight. And then also um
236and this was discussed previously from the last year by um trustee Fanning. I really want to get a timeline for the superintendent evaluation to do the to do the process so we can get it all timeline out and and be able to make sure that we stay on target board. So I will get that to the board as well. So those are the only two things that I have for new business. Anyone else? I had one other thing that I had jotted down the um at the moving up ceremonies to make sure that or any gathering like that to make sure that the translation devices are on hand. All right. So there's no more new or old business. um community. Oh, there is one other new thing that I just want to mention. I do
237want to um look at just and I have to give some examples from other district looking at just changing the order of the agenda. So therefore, the students can do their report in the beginning of the board meeting and they don't have to wait until the end of the board meeting. And some of the things that I have seen from two other districts, they typically do the I think it's superintendent report first and then the student report or could be vice versa. So, um I will share that with the board to take a look at so therefore we can have them present early on so they don't have to wait and wait. Lisa, I'm I'm not sure if we have to change much because we could put them right in at like 1C presentations. I
238don't think it's really a presentation. It'll be more sort of report that they would be given. It's a report. So I'll just I'll provide examples and then the board can make a decision from there. Right. So at this point in time I'll take community input input regarding non board agenda items. So before we get started um Mr. Snder this is when we're going to use the 30 minute one. Yeah. Hold on one second. I have to do the the time please. Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead. Hi, Margaret Shopville. Just a couple of things. So, um, Superintendent Talbert, LA, the last meeting I got up and I distinctly discussed the cell phone forum and the design of it. And I basically said, you know, how what's the cadence? How's it going to go down? What's
239going to happen? And I said otherwise it's going to be a free-for-all and it all turned to hell because everyone's just going to be yelling out ideas. And you basically said that it there was some type of forum that you did in middle school and this and the process was good and so on and so forth. And then you just said 10 minutes ago that you haven't even drafted the design of the meeting. So were you lying then or you lying now? Tell me what the deal is with the forum. I I don't understand. You said it. You said the for you said the format first in the middle school. Let's not refer to lying. Okay. That's inappropriate. Were you telling the truth then or were you telling the truth now? Mrs. Sh, we we
240we welcome your input in anything. But but that's one thing on one meeting and then you say that at the next meeting because President Johnson is the one who alluded to the forum at Northeast. I never said it and I apologize for that. Well, thank you for that. My recollection was our cell phone forum will be well designed. We have several priorities that we're working on simultaneously and just because I'm not able to report out item by item to you tonight what the forum will consist of, the board has stated that they want a forum. my cabinet and I have discussed the particulars and will design it. But again, it's dual information that was received incorrectly from saying it was a great system that you had previously and then you said you were all ready
241for going for this one and it doesn't seem to be the case. Just pointing that out. And did on the correspondence that you sent out for the cell phone forum, did you include the law? so that people can view the law ahead of time. Did we include the law on the forum flyer? The information that on the on the cell phone forum you said a mail something. It was a reference. Did you see it? It was a reference to it. The law? Yes. On the on the flyer? No, I didn't see it. I didn't get it. I didn't receive anything from the school district regarding the cell phone. I'm assuming because I my kids don't go here. Did it only go to parents? It was on the the website. It went on parents square where
242it went on in social media, but nothing. Okay. And you made the reference to the law. Is you made a reference that there's going to be a law or did you actually know the law? That there is a law. So they'll the parents are going in blind with the fact that they not they do not know the law before they go and sit in this forum. If you look, there's a reference to the law, right, that was that was established. So, it's it's on there. So, at the time of the forum, there'll probably be information that will be provided. That's the details that work on. So, yes, there's reference to it on the on the flyer. Okay. Thank you. And um for the sub programs that the other community member mentioned for the um the
243community as far as not knowing it's available or not. That's that's when your tool of this the calendar comes through because I had my kids in private school. I still looked at the Amityville school calendar all the time. So for May and June, you make a notation like don't forget to look for all the summer programs that are available. look on the website, tell them where to go, send them a link, do do whatever you have do whatever you have to do to get that done. And for the um finance uh budget coming up, everything else, I I plead that you do not go back 10, 5, 10, 15 years on the body building uh numbers because that would be busy work and a waste of time. But I do hope that you hone in
244on your PowerPoint skills and your glossery for the budget because that's one of the biggest meetings of the year every year. Mr. Snider. Yeah, you direct. Thank you. Committee input non-aggenda items am um I just have a question about the hiring application that was supposed to be on the website and when I looked it wasn't there and then I realized that there was possibly a rescending of that. So what's happening with that application for the public? So, it's going to go up because the um because the date, you know, was I think the 10th or Yeah. So, it will go up because it did not. Um so, it will go up. So, we'll make sure that it gets up till probably tomorrow. And then what's the date that it has to be in by Friday?
245That's the 10th. The 14th. 14. Yeah. Okay. And um in in alignment with that, uh Trusty Mezman asked that there was supposed to be a ROO call about the hiring application also, and I don't think the superintendent answered that. She answered the robocall about um the forum, but I believe there was supposed to be a ROOC call about the hiring application, too. So that means it would have to go up tomorrow. That Yeah, that will it hasn't gone out, but it can go out tomorrow. Tomorrow. Okay. Um, I have a big question about the $2 million because I in my brain remember speaking about this $2 million many times at board meetings and when the budget committee was going through the budget in order to lower the cost of the budget, I believe we were
246pulling money from the fund balance. And I specifically asked, so if you're pulling money from the fund balance to lower the budget, that $2 million should go back to the community in the fund balance. So, I didn't quite understand the discussion here about what we're using that $2 million for. I specifically remember this because $2 million to me is a lot of money. So I know for sure that was the discussion because I had it with Mrs. with Miss Watson. Yes. Dr. So the $2 million that it takes to run Northeast or a little uh underneath that was utilized from district funds fund balance. Yes. Mhm. So, your earlier suggestion about the money needing to go back to the fund balance to replenish it, I think it's a great idea, but that is to be
247discussed by the board and a determination to be made by the board at large. I I take I take issue with that because that was exactly what Mrs. Bazi said was going to happen because I know I had this discussion with her because it only makes sense if you're pulling from a fund balance that you want to maintain in case of emergencies to help our budget because at the time we didn't know we were getting the 2 million definitely. And I specifically asked so when we get that 2 million it will replace what we took out of the fund balance. So, I'm just stating what was discussed because I remember it emphatically. The other thing I think is a great idea is how to get other people on the robocall list who are do not
248have children in the district. So, if that can come about, I think that'd be great because I would love to get those robocalls. And my fourth one is I'm going to go back to that food plan, the the the the food. Okay. Um, my question is it does come from grant money, correct? No, it's not necessarily grant money because it's administered by the USDA and it's a per meal reimburseable to the sponsors and the public school system is a sponsor. So that's how it's funded, but it comes from the government which is comes from the federal government. Yes. Okay. Okay. Okay. But my question, okay, my question is then how do you calculate how on a daily basis how many meals you need and if you have a surplus of that food, where does it
249go? Because I think I would think on certain days that you're going to have surplus. So why not find a spot where that money can go to families in need? You mean where the food can go to? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, we do have a director who based on uh trends and based upon the enrollment in the summer programs, they plan accordingly. That's how you calculate. Okay. And in terms of excess food, I know there are dos and don'ts that a school district can um I know there's laws about food and things, but I think um there has been some leniency with that because I know grocery stores are now starting to give food away when they instead of throwing it in the dumpster, they bring it to places. So, I just think it would
250be worth looking into. And my other comment is now that we have those big signs up all over the community, maybe the calculations are not going to work out just from the kids that are students. Thank you. I don't know if it was uh Jacqueline Stevenson. I don't know if it was mentioned tonight anything about the board self-evaluation status of that. The board of education did not do a self-evaluation for the 24 25 school year. the timeline that I spoke about and establishing. That's what a superintendent evaluation, but I can also add in there um board evaluation different times that we can do the board self-evaluation. Sometimes there's recommendations of when to do it, but we can decide as a board. When I say when to do it, sometimes they say do it mid year
251and at the end of the year. Sometimes boards do it a little bit sooner. So, I'll I'll add that into my my list for the next for this for 25. Okay. And I I mentioned earlier about hearing uh update at at the end of the summer program just to find out if goals were met. Um and I think another board member spoke of this as well. I really enjoy hearing from Mary Stevens when she gives her reports on the status of how how the children are performing and I would I I would like to see more of that in uh the upcoming year just to hear status status and statistics. Uh if that can be considered I would greatly appreciate it. um I don't have one, I don't have two, but I have three students
252in the district and it's very um important for me to know um you know where they stand, how how the entire district stands. So I I appreciate um the information that she provides. And the last thing I wanted to talk about was the uh Zoom recording from the June 18th meeting. Now, for me personally, I I think I mentioned this before. I go back and I listen to those meetings and that's how I get my um you know my follow-ups. I come up here and I say what's the status of this and this. So those listening to those meetings is very crucial for me. So I wanted to know uh Zoom has an option of uh a a transcription option where meetings can be transcribed. So is it possible for the transcription of that missing
253meeting if if that could be uploaded where the uh video is absent but the transcription can be provided to the community so we can look into that and and I'll let you know. Okay. Okay. I just are making a note of it here. And if it's not available, could the district please look into the future into transcribing meetings because if that ever happens again, at least the community would have access to the transcription. Thank you, Dron Emityville. Um, quick question. I'm just going to tally in off what Diane was saying. I noticed the big signs, too, at the high school. Is there a staff that's dispensing the food at the high school or like what's what is the process? So, it's the summer feeding program. It's taking place at the high school, park, and northwest.
254So, there are three locations where we have our three summer programs taking place. And so staff is employed during the summer to serve the food. Okay. And then I do note that there is uh an update on the district website. I just wanted to confirm is the all of the emails for the um board trustees. Are they the current they are are you using your old email addresses or do you have new email addresses? No, it's the same email address. Okay. So I'll be awaiting Miss Johnson your response to my question earlier. Thank you. Yes. No. Um that's why I just asked um Trusty Neran was that um according to the policy that's here, it does not give a time frame. What I definitely try to do is respond back within 48 hours. But when
255with something like that, it's just sort of a generic response that yes, we have No, it's right here. I'm looking at it. There's no there's no time on here. No, no, no. You're welcome. Hi again. These meetings are long, but yeah, it's worth it. Um, first I want to say just give your name again. Oh, Daffany Baptist. Um, I know there's a lot of concerns tonight about um the lunchon or the free meal that's provided in the district. Um, I want to say thank you for that because I know there's a lot of children um that attend the Amville School District that are probably homeless or probably in need of food. So having those signs around in the community reminds um parents, caregivers that there's lunch that's available at school that their children can come
256and eat and not have to be ashamed of um asking for food. So that's very important. And also I would like to say for those that are concerned about the free lunchon um maybe volunteer sometimes and you'll see the need of students needing access to free lunch. Um also I wanted to ask why is the topic of removing diversity off the board a topic now? Um because diversity is not just black and brown people. Diversity is a wide range of different things. So why are we looking to remove that? So what happened tonight? The policy um what happened was um the vote the vote was to um resend the reinstatement of the um hiring hiring policy. Right. But it does not mean that as a policy committee as a policy committee that we still can
257relook at it. One of the suggestions was stated that we could look at it to amend the current policy that we did not that that we're leaving in place. So it was a question that came up. Um there are some concerns that the word diversity um and the fact that the regulation talks about sending information to um like historically black colleges um and a couple other locations that it's sort of stating that we're only looking for um African-American employees for the district. So that was the perception of some individuals when they looked at the the hiring policy. What does diversity mean to the district? I think diversity means very different to many people within the district. To me, diversity is looking at number one individuals who are qualified for the position who um also um
258who reflect our students, but also it could be someone who is Latino, someone who's Asian, someone who's black, someone who's white, um someone who's Indian, someone in Pacific Island, whoever it may be. That to me that's diversity. Diversity represents so many different people. That's number one. It also represents to me um gender, right? Male, female, right? So I think that's another thing that's important as well. So it's just spreading the net wide when you're looking at diverse candidates coming into our district because and more importantly that the candidates are qualified. Just because you're looking for diverse candidates and looking for diversity does not mean that you're putting um qualifications to the side. It means that you're looking at all these candidates along with the qualifications to make sure that those individuals that are coming forward
259will be the best fit for the students in our in our district. Okay. When hiring for um a board seat, have the district ever hired someone based on being Caucasian, Latino, or African-American? No. That it's it's done by election. So what what happens is the community will decide who um so it's not the community votes on on the individuals then. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Long meeting. I wasn't there so you can't blame me tonight. Um so there's an overarching theme tonight. You know, whenever there's a reorg meeting and somebody's reelected, there's always like this little glimmer of hope, small glimmer of hope that maybe they'll do the right thing, you know, represent the taxpayers, be in our corner, but really what I saw tonight is the reelection of a board president that impedes progress to
260the district. Um, it took you 25 minutes to talk about a calendar. It took you even longer to talk about the abolishing or rescending of the HR um assistant superintendent. Um and I watched the board president repeat probably a dozen times, you don't need a motion or resolution. All of you need to know you can call a resolution or a motion. She has an equal voice to you. She has no more power than you. She has one trustee. Take your power back and be an effective board member. Um, like I said, the overarching theme is like the district is just like status quo. There's no progress. You're making decisions that are not in the best interest of the district. You're elected to represent students and taxpayers. You're elected to be the oversight of the superintendent.
261um when you make pitches that oh she's too busy like this is her job like she answers to the board of education you're oversight it's like really discouraging and and I really think that a lot of you don't understand your roles even after all this time on the board um you know when a we see the results tonight in real time when you uh have a board president um that will do everything to protect a superintendent. It impedes the process. It interferes. It interferes with your job as trustees, you should do a better job. Not only are you here to hold the superintendent accountable, you hold each other accountable, other trustees. Um, when you have a weak candidate, um, weak candidates for board of education, we're seeing the results again tonight with these votes. I
262mean, the votes were terrible, but I will say you basically handed your election over for next May. So, thank you for that at least. Um, because we will be taking your seats. Um, lastly, it is wildly, wildly unethical that you allowed your superintendent to advocate for a resolution that directly affected her, to lobby for your votes to influence you. It is an ethical breach. You are the governing body. You oversee her. Wildly inappropriate. Get your nose in the NISBA book. Start learning your role. Should never have happened if you you had an opportunity to have an effective board president. Somebody that could could streamline meetings. A board president says 12 times the same thing to get her point across. You know why these meetings are so long? Because your board president makes them this long.
263If she doesn't get the votes she wants, she just keeps saying the same thing over again. if one of her, you know, allies votes differently. Oh my god. Question again. Are you did you mean to vote that way? It's like it's so blatant to everybody in the audience. Um I am enjoying being on this side of the of the uh podium now. I really want you to be successful. I want the district to be successful. The students lose out when you make poor decisions. How you wouldn't want a permanent business official is not in the best interests of the district, the staff, the students, or the taxpayers. I saw how you snuck it on as an appointment after it was terminated. That was cute, but we caught it. Um, that was a terrible vote. We're
264coming for all your seats. Thank you. Any other input on non-aggenda items? And I have a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:56. Motion second. Uh Chris Ner is first. Carol Seahhore is second. All those in favor? I I motion carrying 70.