001Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Um, we call the meeting to order at 5:36. Today's date is June 18th. Welcome to the Amville Union Priest District Board Education Meeting. Um, at this point in time, president of meeting is myself, President Lisa Johnson, your superintendent, and Dr. Calbert first vice president Carol Sabar trustees Leslie Cres and Caroline Fanning. It is anticipated that trustees um Juan Leon and Winnie Kestro as well as second vice president Megan will be arriving into executive session once we go into that session. Also present is our assistant superintendent for curricular instruction. Mary Stevens, our assistant superintendent for finance and I'm sorry assistant for um human resources Dr. Richard White and also present at this time is our legal counsel John She and at this time also just walked in. Can I have a
002motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of advice legal counsel and particular person's employment history? No, not me. Carol sorry second all those in favor I motion carries 5 open roughly around 7:30 thank you for joining us for the open session disgraceful the thickness of the venom towards her was so apparent it's not supposed to be personal it's supposed to be professional. This is a professional forum that is for children. I have been a member of this community for 20 years. Everything that you do here is about the child. trying to take away the third year of training teachers. A $500 per teacher based on the discretion of the principal is an atrocity because strong schools are based on strong leaders that are based on strong teachers that make students success. And that's
003what we want to see stu students succeed. the the animosity to put somebody on on on point the way she was put tonight to have to stand and defend herself. And I too commend you for standing and commending and and and defending yourself, Dr. Talbert, because you should. Too many times we allow people to do things that step on us that malign us and it is has nothing to do with children. This is not supposed to be about politics. This is supposed to be about learning and there are members that I watched not only tonight who are not here for the right reason and you need to leave and put people who are for the children and the community and giving the community an opportunity and while yes you do have the right to say
004that the community does not have to speak but if you look at New York State Association for school boards They say inclusiveness and transparency builds community. Strong communities, strong schools. Thank you, Jack and Cruz Stevenson. So, I'm going to start with 4410 updates. Dr. Talbert, good evening, Miss Stevenson. Good evening. We do have somewhat of an update for you, Miss Stevenson. Would you like to share that? We've been working with the state on the 4410 application, but because our vacant rooms have shifted to another building, we do have to do amendments to our original application. So, that's the status right now that we're working on the amendment for the Northwest building. Okay. Thank you. Uh, I just wanted to say I know the school year is ending. you're starting to think about, you know, plans
005for next year. And I just wanted to mention, Dr. Talbert, and I think you already know, I enjoyed the community connections meetings that you had about six to seven of them. And I hope that you're able to continue them. Um, I will definitely try my best to be there, and I will also try to get more people to come. I was disappointed in the fact that more people didn't come to those um to those meetings, and um I appreciate them. Um, there was a resolution brought up at the last meeting regarding forming a gifted and talented program, which I think is going to be excellent. And I caught the last part of your presentation where you said you're going to be looking into that. Um, the resolution stated grades three through six, which is great,
006a great start, but I would ask that you consider earlier grades for a talented and gifted program. I remember when I was in school they formed TA it was called TAG talented and gifted and I want to say it was in first or second grade so please don't forget about the you know kindergarten first and first and second graders who are also uh deserving of a talented and gifted program. Uh I wanted to mention about the policy committee. I know it's not really the public is not allowed to speak, but I do, Madame President, I do attend on Zoom and I appreciate the effort that the policy committee has put forth this year. I've learned a lot from just listening to you go through the various policies. I know it's been a lot of work
007for um I think it's the three of you um Trustee Chris, Trusty Kesho, and yourself. And I hope that that those efforts will continue uh next school year. And oh, the last thing I wanted to mention, a lot of times when I talk to parents or in various community meetings, the question is why don't more parents show up? Why don't why doesn't the community come out to meetings? And I wanted to know has have you ever put out a poll? I know you've done polls throughout the school year. Have you ever put out a poll asking parents, you know, what is what is the reason that you're not able to attend? And if not, could you possibly consider doing that in the future? Okay. Thank Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Hello, Chris Nering. Um, just
008want to point out perhaps the um, information that you were looking for from the business official might have been more forthcoming if he was not terminated publicly in his last meeting. Um, and the transportation committee that was voted down last week, there was just a lot of discussions this meeting about transportation. Um, and just because we just passed that voter referendum does not necessarily mean that there's not going to be any other big hot topic because it is one of the largest budget items on a year-to-year basis. Um, and was any of the discussion council can weigh in on this um earlier of the meetings that was happening for the uh attorney interviews? You have to give it to me. Okay. Um, the attorney interviews when stuff was spoken about that happened during executive session,
009is that a violation of executive session itself? I I I think it was sort of in the um I don't think there was anything that was detailed in that discussion. I think it was probably with within the purview, but I'll talk to legal about it afterwards. So, but no, go ahead. Right. but not like specific people's actions at the meetings. Yeah. So, I'll talk to legal about it, but I don't Okay. And the superintendent responsibility uh resolution. I I find it it's I I don't understand why we're expecting any employee salary or hourly to give a weekly availability outside of their normal work schedule to just say, "Hey, I'm available. You can fill fill up my schedule here." Like that. That seems like a complete overreach. I'm sure there's many other people here that work
010on a salary basis that don't have to provide a weekly availability report of when I have nothing scheduled. It's it just seems like it's completely unnecessary and a far overreach that seems beyond any employer's responsibility. And that's all I have. Thank you. How are you? Sorry I haven't been around in a while. Been busy. I got to say this is the first meeting in my entire um school life being your name. Oh, Debbie McCullen. Sorry. Thank you. Amity Bell. I know it. But yeah, my um this is the only meeting I've ever been to in 25 years where a resolution to appoint the lawyer receive public response. I thought that was simply amazing. I just had to say that. Um don't know why, but okay. I just wanted to take a moment tonight um just
011to show a little appreciation, but you did bring up uh the pouches earlier. I just wanted to kind of remember with you maybe I remember Dr. Boatsi not this school year of the prior school year they were purchased and she stated so at a meeting and the board was quite astonished that that took place. So you may want to look into that. They they were returned. They were returned. Oh you okay? You didn't mention that. Okay. They were returned. Fine. Thank you. Um okay. I would like to take this time to express appreciation and gratitude to Wendy Kestro who is completing her elected term on June 30th. I want to acknowledge that her time here on the board was meaningful, transformative, and has opened the eyes of many Ammonville residents. She campaigned for change, meaningful
012change. Not just changing who sits in a seat, but change that is addressed that has addressed the mountain of problems that Amityville was facing. Her experience and her service on two other school boards, her prior leadership roles and as a natrina, that's the New York State school boards was a welcomed bonus. Wendy did not need to watch and learn and listen. Amityville was at a pivotal point at the time of last year's election. A forensic rep management and controls and the staff and the students were paying the price which I wish everybody would remember with every dollar lost. It's out of the students and the teachers. Despite the opposition to her campaign and the continued undermining of most of what she did, she did not waver. If you were listening this school year, truly listening,
013every question, statement, opinion she gave tied directly back to the students or the budget. We learned new info at every meeting because of what she brought to the table. Her votes were not thrown away blind or unearned. She was modeling the role of a school board member and the public must understand that this is a deliberative process and this was missing in Amityville and I'm so glad to see all trustees talking and we understand how you arrived at your vote that was non-existent. So I wanted to thank Miss Cedestro for doing that. You raised the bar in expectations and you're leaving the board in a position of strength. Trustees Mesman and Fanning followed your lead and started their first year right out of the gate. The depth of the questions has again allowed the public
014to witness the process of local control on the school system. I'm sure they will continue to bring daylight into the meetings. I can give many examples and I won't because it's late. You you just have to thank you. Um but just remember one question transformed this school year. What is our mileage? Miss Kestro asked that. What is our mileage guideline? Could not find it. Relied on the bus company to give historical data. We were providing transportation to private schools in the lower grades that weren't entitled to it and denying our own public school students transportation because we didn't know that the youngest students were supposed to be getting a bus. So, Miss McQuillin, you're going to have to wrap up. Thank you. Um, so with that, money was saved also because guess what? every student
015that was transported without voter approval was money that was taken away from the students. So I want to thank you very much. Next person So I am Bishop Walter Willie, 3550 Great Nicole Amville. To our esteemed president, to madame superintendent, to the board, to everybody here on tonight. Tonight we have these meetings every two weeks I believe to come to discuss to inform to enlighten and trying to work out the issues of our communities. The community is made up of professionals, nonprofessionals, people from every walk of life to come together to speak their concern for this community. In Amville, there's over 20,000 people in Amville. But if you ever notice, only 10% normally vote or less than that. which mean that majority of them never know what goes on in these board meetings. But one
016thing for sure, praise God, every community has concern and therefore the board must give recommendation with feedbacks from the community what's happening at these meetings. The board should consider understand that we don't work on our feelings but on facts and therefore there's two things that are considered are important. First one is respect. To have respect you must get respect and people in certain positions deserve respect. On your job you respect those on your job. In school respect those person in charge. Respect the government officials. Why can't in this meetings we respect those that are in charge whether or not you agree with them or not. Second thing is accountability and good stewardship. The superintendent been doing that for the last couple of years. She's fair. She's reliable. She considerate of other people. Therefore, her speech
017was amazing. this board. When you do things, you must consider and be carefully understanding how the community has an impact what you're doing. The board, whatever you do, should always get the feedback from the community. At the end of the day, the community going to come together and speak their peace. Therefore, I'm the president. Amen. We've been making her. She's a president. We honor her as a president and the board members the superintendent. She is a superintendent doing an outstanding job. Why would you want to release a person that's doing a excellent job that don't make no sense at all and anything that's worthwhile people fight for it. Therefore, I urge this board, for the superintendent that let her be extended cuz you're doing a good job, not just for the students, but for all
018of us. God bless y'all. And Wolf, Mville Teachers Association, 100 Avalon Court. Matt, you kind of took almost everything, so thank you on that. Um, but just in terms of just in terms of uh wrapping up sentiment, we are going into a new school year. Um, and I'm hoping that when I can sit and listen, I can sit and I can understand where it is that many of the board members are coming from in terms of yes, there was a need for uh transparency. Yes, there was a need to ask questions. That's one of the reasons why um not having enough information led us to where it is that we were. But when we use transparency and when we have good points that are um shrouded in sometimes contradictory statements or hypocrisy, you almost kind
019of lose sight of some of the positives that may have come out of those things. So in moving forward as you work as a board irrespective to who ends up up there um it is in your best interest to be exemplars of what leadership is um students who are who sit here people who listen at home uh leadership stop starts from the top and basically whatever it is that your goals that you want to move forward with um as per your policy committee if climate clate and culture are truly important, then that should start here. Um, this has not been a reflection of a positive climate and culture. Um, yes, there have been some times where it is that you guys have been able to agree and you're not always going to agree. We're not
020always going to agree and that's okay. I don't really need to agree with you. All all that I want is to make sure that our students are being served and our community is taken into consideration. So going forth, I hope that's something that it is that you choose to do. Um because we are not going to be better off while you are uh putting forth an example that is not reflective of your goals. Mr. Grace, before you start, um board members, can we just extend it for just like five minutes so therefore the last two can speak? Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Good evening again, Matt Grace, ATA vice president. I was asked uh by a teacher and community member to share some words. So, um I would like to share with you now um her
021thoughts. Good evening. My name is Michelle Morales Cretz and I'm an ENL teacher at Amville Memorial High School. I typically refrain from doing or saying anything that might thrust me into the spotlight because I truly enjoy coming to work each day, collaborating with my colleagues, and most of all being in the classroom with my students. But I felt compelled to speak tonight because of the recent incident at Northwest. Hearing what happened was deeply painful, not just as an educator, but as a member of this community and as a Hispanic woman. It's especially troubling in a district where most of our students are African-American and Hispanic. What happened struck at the heart of what many of us work hard to protect, the safety, dignity, and inclusivity of our schools. What's most disturbing is not that someone
022holds a particular belief. That is their right. What's upsetting is that a space meant to celebrate children was used to send a message that could instill fear. In a district where many families are workingclass and often unable to attend school events due to job constraints, it's disheartening to think that parents who made the effort to show up were met with something that was at best insensitive and at worst threatening. Let me be clear. There is no place in our schools for messages that alienate or intimidate. It was inappropriate. It was callous. And it was cruel. I speak tonight to give voice to those who may not feel they can speak for themselves. those who may be afraid or unsure of how to express what they felt in that moment. Our schools must be spaces of
023inclusion, equity, and safety. Individuals whose values do not reflect those principles should not hold positions in a district that proudly serves a predominantly minority population. I'm a proud graduate of the Amityville School District. I attended every school in this community and went on to further my education, an opportunity made possible by my parents sacrifice and the support I received here. That journey has made me who I am today. An educator, a mother and community member, and someone who believes deeply in the power of public education to uplift and inspire. I leave you with this. The only thing that separates any of us from an immigrant is the circumstances of our birth. Some of us were simply born on the right side of the border. That's why empathy and respect must be at the core of
024everything we do, especially in our schools. Our students deserve to be surrounded by an adult who cares deeply about them and who creates spaces where they can feel seen, valued, and safe. Thank you. Hi Margaret Chamneyville. Um I just wanted to give you a sense of the feeling that this meeting is leaving me with is that I never more so thought than now is that the staleness of these the majority of this body is so glaring that nothing is ever going to change. I've been coming to these meetings for years now since Dr. Bale and nothing has changed. We're chasing the dollars. We're chasing the stats. We're chasing a decent superintendent to to change this school around. Everything is so freaking stale. It stinks. Here we are. There's not a new set of eyes. We're
025begging for new vision. We're begging for new eyes. And here we are. you have a vote in front of us to get new vote, new eyes, and it it's panned out because we've always done it this way. Well, I can tell you right now, we've always done it this way is so ridiculous in a failing situation. And you talk about I I mean, again, this is not personal. It's business. And when I talk about talk about needing a new fresh of eyes, yeah, your contract wasn't is not going to be extended because I c I can't think on one hand what major accomplishment you've even done. The stats are 60% you can't read. We we've established today that 60% of the kids are not on or or reading level. Michelle, that that's not appropriate. Okay,
026you can't. It's not appropriate, but we're having accolades up the storm, but I'm countering the accolades because they're just not there. And if you can count on one hand of major accomplishments that you've done for this district in the time that you're here, then yeah, all right, prove me wrong. But I can't think of one thing that you've elevated in this district the whole time you're here. And the majority of its body is so stale and so stagnant that you're never going to move forward. So, you better wake up one day and figure out what improvements you can do to help these kids read, to help these kids do math, and to get all about the kids because all you do is just sit there and say, "We always did it this way, and guess
027what? It doesn't freaking work." Thank you very much. Can I have a motion to join the meeting at 12:01, please? Motion. Second. Second. All those in favor? I I